REJOICE
We are people that need joy, but too often we find ourselves held captive by the ever-changing circumstances of our lives, which are out of our control. We chase the wrong joy from the wrong source when true joy from the right source is closer than we think.
Rejoice in Christ-Sufficiency
When self-sufficiency is the real desire of our hearts, two things will happen: (1) We will never know true contentment. (2) We will inevitably worship and live for something else other than God. Self-sufficiency is an illusion. Christ-sufficiency is the key! That is true freedom! That is true contentment! That is true joy!
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- May 24, 2020Rejoice in Christ-Sufficiency
Rejoice in Christ-SufficiencyWhen self-sufficiency is the real desire of our hearts, two things will happen: (1) We will never know true contentment. (2) We will inevitably worship and live for something else other than God. Self-sufficiency is an illusion. Christ-sufficiency is the key! That is true freedom! That is true contentment! That is true joy!
- May 17, 2020Rejoice in Opportunities to be Generous
Rejoice in Opportunities to be GenerousConsciously or unconsciously, every one of us is developing a spirit of greed or generosity. Which do you want to model? The fruit of joy in Christ is a generous spirit. The generosity of Jesus flows out of us because of what He has done in us.
- May 10, 2020Rejoice in Doing the Right Thing
Rejoice in Doing the Right ThingOne of the fruits of joy in Christ is doing the right even when it’s hard and even when no one else is. It often means stopping the self-justification, admitting we were wrong, changing what we think and how we think, and living as the redeemed people in Jesus that we now are.
- May 3, 2020Rejoice with Thanksgiving
Rejoice with ThanksgivingAnxiety is real. While not everyone will suffer from extreme anxiety, everyone will struggle with it sometime. The question is if we will be Problem-Centered or Jesus-Centered when we do.
- Apr 26, 2020Rejoice with Gentleness
Rejoice with GentlenessIn the world we live in, anger and aggression begets self-justification, which begets more anger and aggression. That's normal and we're miserable for it. The spirit of Jesus produces something very different. Jesus' gentleness in us creates a spiral of gentleness toward others.
- Apr 19, 2020The Source of Lasting Joy
The Source of Lasting JoyJoy doesn't come our way because we work hard and earn it or because we have enough merit to deserve it. It's a gift from God that we receive when we realize what we have received in Jesus, instead of what we deserved.
JESUS’ LAST WORDS
A person’s last words can be pivotal, telling you who they really are and capping off the purpose of their life in one final statement. Jesus had seven last words as He was on the cross, nearing death. His last words can be a catalyst to our first steps of faith and the fuel for our ongoing life in Him.
Jesus’ Earthquake is our Aftershocks
Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus caused an earthquake when He rose from the dead on that first Easter morning! That earthquake shook the foundations of reality, history and our relationship with God. Every response to Jesus since then is but an aftershock.
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- Apr 12, 2020Jesus’ Earthquake is our Aftershocks
Jesus’ Earthquake is our AftershocksNearly 2000 years ago, Jesus caused an earthquake when He rose from the dead on that first Easter morning! That earthquake shook the foundations of reality, history and our relationship with God. Every response to Jesus since then is but an aftershock.
- Apr 7, 2020Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit
Into Your Hands I Commit My SpiritBecause we will all place our lives in someone's hands, we need to be sure to choose the right ones. Only God’s hands can hold you! Only His hands can keep you grounded when your foundations are shaken. Only His hands can sustain you through suffering and trial.
- Mar 29, 2020It is Finished
It is FinishedWe are not in control of our futures. And our losses still hurt. That will never change. But the thing that matters most in all of eternity is secure and none of our losses can compare to that. That is redemption in Jesus to all who would receive it and follow after Him.
- Mar 22, 2020I Am Thirsty
I Am ThirstyWe are all thirsting for something. We were created that way. In the midst of Coronavirus chaos, we all want some normalcy, but when normal returns, then what? What will be the deep thirst of your heart?
- Mar 15, 2020Why Have You Forsaken Me
Why Have You Forsaken MeIt's easy to think that we have rights that we deserve and privileges that we have earned. Our idea or rights and privileges seeps into everything, but there is a hard spiritual truth: Because of our sin, we have no rights before God. Only because Jesus was forsaken for us can we be welcomed in.
- Mar 8, 2020Here is Your Son … Here is Your Mother
Here is Your Son … Here is Your MotherIf you have been a Christian for very long, you have probably been asked a bunch of times, "Do you trust Jesus?” But there is a far more challenging question, one you may have never been asked before: Can Jesus trust you?
- Mar 1, 2020Be With Me in Paradise
Be With Me in ParadiseJesus doesn't promise Paradise to those who do everything right and earn it. That's not the issue. It never it. Jesus promises Paradise to those who do everything wrong, but then get Him right. That's the issue. It always is.
- Feb 23, 2020Forgive Them
Forgive ThemGod's forgiveness has a high cost, the life of His Son. It's never about merit. It's only about mercy and grace to the completely undeserving and spiritually bankrupt. When you receive it like that, it is everything.
ONE DEGREE
At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train. Just one extra degree makes all the difference! What if your heart was EXCITED by Jesus more than that one other thing? What if you removed that one EXCUSE that keeps you from stepping out in faith? What if your LOVE FOR OTHERS increased just one more level? That one small, spirit-empowered act of obedience could make just one degree of difference, but have huge impact.
Do You Care About the Needs of Others
It's pretty easy to tell if someone smells refreshing or repugnant. Do their words tear down or build up? Are they accepting or judgmental? Selfish or generous? Givers or takers? Jesus was always refreshing. And Jesus makes us refreshing too!
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- Feb 16, 2020Do You Care About the Needs of Others
Do You Care About the Needs of OthersIt's pretty easy to tell if someone smells refreshing or repugnant. Do their words tear down or build up? Are they accepting or judgmental? Selfish or generous? Givers or takers? Jesus was always refreshing. And Jesus makes us refreshing too!
- Feb 9, 2020What’s Your Excuse?
What’s Your Excuse?What excuse is keeping you from doing God's kingdom work? "I'm scared." or "I don't have time!" or "I'm not ready ... " or "After what they did?" or "I don't know anyone!" In this message, we wrestle with our excuses and explore what it looks like to take one more degree of action in God's kingdom.
- Feb 4, 2020Does Jesus Excite You?
Does Jesus Excite You?Whatever really excites you is going to take over and permeate every area of your life: consuming your thoughts and plans, capturing your heart and attitude, and orienting your words and actions. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we will worship and serve whatever really excites us! So, when push comes to shove, are you ultimately excited about Jesus . . . or something else?
KNOWN SERIES
God is holy and righteous – hating all sin and evil – and simultaneously loving and gracious – relating to us as our Heavenly Father, our Abba. During this series, we’ll be walking through 1 John, tackling what it means to know who God is, to know what he wants for us, to know when He calls us to act, and to know why he has a clear vision for our church.
Know Why
Your heart controls your thoughts, words and actions. If your heart is closed, there is always an excuse to say NO, wait, or maybe next time. But if your heart is open, there is a deep and growing desire to grow in Christ more and more. So, if your heart open or closed to the things of God?
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- Jan 26, 2020Know Why
Know WhyYour heart controls your thoughts, words and actions. If your heart is closed, there is always an excuse to say NO, wait, or maybe next time. But if your heart is open, there is a deep and growing desire to grow in Christ more and more. So, if your heart open or closed to the things of God?
- Jan 19, 2020Know When
Know WhenGod is not just present in the preferred future, when everything is as it should be. God is present NOW and He placed us at this point in history for a reason. When you find your NOW and you love your NOW, you will clearly reflect WHO you are and WHOSE you are.
- Jan 12, 2020Know What
Know WhatThe answer to our problems and to the world's problems is not love in a generic sense. We need a supernatural love that comes from the ultimate source of love, Jesus Christ. God's love is like a river that flows into us and through us to others.
- Jan 5, 2020Know Who
Know WhoTo know God is to love God and to love God is to obey God. It's that simple.Obedience is the litmus test for a life that loves God.
