Feb 5, 2023
He Said What? Part 6: It Would Be Better To Drown (Matthew 18:1-6)

Again we see here some seemingly shocking statements from Christ - not the least of which is this where in Matthew 18:1-6 he says; “it would be better to drown than to tempt a child to sin.” Jesus is straight up saying, that it would be better for you to die than to cause a child to sin against God. That's pretty serious.  Why does Jesus care so much about the purity of his children to the point that if someone causes them to sin they should die? There are many reasons but here we see three main ones. First, children belong to the kingdom of God because they are innocent. Secondly, children exhibit a genuine faith. And Third, the humility of children is one of the greatest virtues. Protecting our children's souls from the pagan ideals of this world is the responsibility of every believer; for both their sake and ours.

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  • Feb 5, 2023He Said What? Part 6: It Would Be Better To Drown (Matthew 18:1-6)
    Feb 5, 2023
    He Said What? Part 6: It Would Be Better To Drown (Matthew 18:1-6)

    Again we see here some seemingly shocking statements from Christ - not the least of which is this where in Matthew 18:1-6 he says; “it would be better to drown than to tempt a child to sin.” Jesus is straight up saying, that it would be better for you to die than to cause a child to sin against God. That's pretty serious.  Why does Jesus care so much about the purity of his children to the point that if someone causes them to sin they should die? There are many reasons but here we see three main ones. First, children belong to the kingdom of God because they are innocent. Secondly, children exhibit a genuine faith. And Third, the humility of children is one of the greatest virtues. Protecting our children's souls from the pagan ideals of this world is the responsibility of every believer; for both their sake and ours.

  • Jan 29, 2023He Said What? Part 5: Take Up Your Cross Daily (Luke 9:23-27)
    Jan 29, 2023
    He Said What? Part 5: Take Up Your Cross Daily (Luke 9:23-27)
    When Jesus said, "take up your cross daily," he was telling his followers to take up their electric chairs; to take up their lethal injections.  He's calling them to a spiritual death.  A death to this world and to the sinful mindset of the old man.  Unless we die to this world and to our own sinful desires we cannot follow Christ.  So how are you dying daily?  How are you denying yourself the things of this world for the sake of Christ?  How are you carrying the cross? 
  • Jan 22, 2023He Said What? Part 4: Who Are My Mother And My Brothers (Mark 3:31-35)
    Jan 22, 2023
    He Said What? Part 4: Who Are My Mother And My Brothers (Mark 3:31-35)

    One time Jesus was doing his thing and his Mom came to visit him and.. with his momma standing right there and everyone telling him, “Hey Jesus, your momma is here.” He said..... “who?” “Who is my mother and my brothers?” For real, check it out in Mark 3:31-35. Now, if I didn't know better I would think Jesus was acting the fool! You don't disrespect your momma by saying, “who is my momma, when she's right there.” But again, Jesus didn't mess up. He meant every word he was saying because again he was trying to teach us something by shocking our ears. Sometimes you got to shock them ears so people can hear.  So what exactly in the world did Jesus mean when he said, “who is my mother and my brothers?” Well, let's start by what he didn't mean. He didn't mean that his mother, Mary, was not his earthly mother. He didn't mean that he didn't love her and that he didn't respect her and treat her like any good son should. Jesus loved his momma. It didn't mean he had some beef with his brothers or that there was a domestic issue that needed to be addressed. Jesus loved his brothers; most of which followed Him in his ministry. So what did he mean?  He meant that while it was clear that he had an earthly family that he loved and cared for, the family that matters the most is spiritual family! Jesus isn't minimizing the importance of family relationships; rather, He is emphasizing that having a right relationship with God is more important. While you can't control which family you are born into, each of us must make a choice to be born again into the family of God. That's his point Blood may be thicker than water, but spirit outlasts blood! Many of us have family who are not our spiritual family. The cold hard fact is that unless they accept Christ, unless they submit to the will of God, your relationship with them will not extend beyond this world. But, for all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, your relationship with them will last forever. So what really matters? One, those who are your spiritual family and two, doing everything you can to bring those who aren't into the family! The focus this morning is simple; We should celebrate our spiritual family by increasing our spiritual family!

  • Jan 15, 2023He Said What? Part 3: I Came Not To Bring Peace But A Sword (Matthew 10:34-39)
    Jan 15, 2023
    He Said What? Part 3: I Came Not To Bring Peace But A Sword (Matthew 10:34-39)

    In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus makes one of his most shocking statements; "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What does a sword represent?  Most of the time the sword represents war. It represents battle, and blood shed. It is the tool of choice when diplomacy has failed and the only way to find a resolution to our grievances is combat. It usually doesn't represent a good thing.  But, sometimes the sword is a metaphor for the Bible; the Sword of the Spirit. And of course we know that the Bible holds the answers for all of life's dilemmas. So which sword is Jesus talking about? Well, it's neither, and it's both. The sword represents division from the world or division from Christ. It represents a choice, and that choice can't be made apart from the Word.  And that decision, regardless of which one you choose, will bring chaotic wreckage in your life; a battle you will not be free from until eternity.  Either directly or indirectly Jesus brings division and his words divide mankind. It divides us into two distinct camps; those who take up their cross and follow him and those who ignore the cross and reject him; those who love the world and find their life in it and those who love Jesus more than the world and lose their life for his sake. And make no mistake about it; no one can ride the line with a foot in both worlds. You must make a decision or the decision will be made for you!  And unfortunately, regardless of which side of this decision you finally fall on, it will bring division to your world, to your family, and to your dreams.  But, in the end it will be worth it.  The bottom line is this; Following Christ will inevitably wreck your life; and thats a good thing.

  • Jan 8, 2023He Said What Part 2: I Came Not To Call The Righteous But Sinners (Mark 2:15-17)
    Jan 8, 2023
    He Said What Part 2: I Came Not To Call The Righteous But Sinners (Mark 2:15-17)
    It's a shocking statement that Jesus would rather build his church with wicked and depraved sinners than the observably righteous.  But Jesus can spot a fake can't he?  We can stand before God pretending that we are righteous, hoping that somehow he will be appeased by our religious efforts, but in the end we will find that he hates our half-hearted attempts at playing christianity.  What he desires is for us to come before him as we truly are, wretched, depraved, and broken over our sinful state.  What is the point of standing before the altar as a pharisee when we are nothing more than tax collectors unworthy of lifting up our heads to heaven?  Jesus isn't looking for the righteous for the righteous who see no need for him will never have any use for him.  Jesus is looking for those who know they can't make it without him.  Jesus is looking for those who know that if he doesn't come through then they are through, and the only way Jesus is going to come through is if you seek him in your contrition.  
  • Jan 1, 2023He Said What? Part 1: Unless You Renounce Everything You Cannot Be My Disciple (Luke 14:25-33)
    Jan 1, 2023
    He Said What? Part 1: Unless You Renounce Everything You Cannot Be My Disciple (Luke 14:25-33)
    Salvation is a free gift, but following Jesus will cost you everything! It may cost you your earthly possessions, it may cost you your earthly relationships, and it may cost you your very life.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer once famously said that "our earthly possessions dazzle our eyes and delude us into thinking that they can provide security and freedom from anxiety. Yet all the time they are the very source of it.”  Francis Chan also said that "God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.”  We must understand that being a disciple means that whatever else is in our life comes in at a far second priority.  We are not called to hate our family in the way we understand hate; we are to hate them in the way that we place them and their needs behind Christ and his will.  At times choosing Christ will look like we've rejected those competing for his position.  We must choose Christ; nothing else matters in the long run.  As Jim Elliot put it; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
  • Dec 25, 2022Merry Christmas Part 2: The Birth Of The Messiah (Luke 2:1-35)
    Dec 25, 2022
    Merry Christmas Part 2: The Birth Of The Messiah (Luke 2:1-35)
    We always knew he was coming, and we now know why He came, but do you know Him? 
  • Dec 18, 2022Merry Christmas Part 1: The Light Of The World Become Flesh (John 1:1-16)
    Dec 18, 2022
    Merry Christmas Part 1: The Light Of The World Become Flesh (John 1:1-16)
    Jesus has always been the light of the world, but at Christmas he came to shine that light in our hearts.  
  • Dec 18, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 12: Firm Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)
    Dec 18, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 12: Firm Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)
    If you take the sermon on the mount, if you take the teachings of Jesus seriously and apply them to your life then when the storms of this life come against you, you will remain standing strong. And when your life comes to an end, if you've built your life on the foundation of Jesus and his teachings, the wrath of God will not come against you; your eternal soul will stand strong through all of eternity. That my friends is what I call a firm foundation.  But, if you don't listen to the teachings of Jesus and if you don't apply them to your lives then when the storms of life come against you, you will crumble beneath the waves. And when this life is over, the wrath of God will come against you and destroy you for all eternity. The only thing that will keep us standing strong in this life and through all eternity is a firm foundation built on Jesus Christ.
  • Dec 11, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 11: The Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-23)
    Dec 11, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 11: The Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-23)
    In the end it all boils down to which path you are on.  The problem is that a lot of us will think we are one path only to find out at the last minute that we've been on another.  By that time it will be too late.  So how do we know?  How can we know if we truly are on the narrow path that leads to eternal life or the broad path that leads to destruction?  We will know and be known by our fruit and by our walk.  So first we must determine which path we are on and then when we are assuredly on the right path we must help others who have wandered from the path to make their way back as well.  This is called accountability.  When we see those who call themselves Christians falling off the narrow way, we must lovingly and graciously show them the error of their way and gently lead them back to the path.  Otherwise we are hanging them out to dry.  The Christian motto should be that of the Rangers; no man left behind.  Christians don't let their friends wander into eternity without Christ. 
  • Dec 4, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 10: Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6,12)
    Dec 4, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 10: Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6,12)
    When we judge others based upon conceived motives, because of grudges, or to shame them and burden them with guilt we clearly are not interested in their spiritual growth.  Righteous judgment is in love and for the concern of accountability and discipleship, unrighteous ungodly judgment is self-righteous and sinful, and we will be held accountable for how we judge others in this manner.  When we unrighteously judge others we misjudge God's authority, we misjudge others as beneath us, and we misjudge ourselves as righteous.  
  • Nov 27, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 9: Overcoming Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)
    Nov 27, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 9: Overcoming Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)
    If you are struggling with anxiety and worry and fear can you allow Jesus to overcome that with his care for you? Can you hand your anxiety over to Christ? 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all of our cares on Jesus because he cares for us. One, do you truly believe that God cares for you? Look at the way he cares for nature. Look at the way he cares for seemingly unimportant things like birds and flowers. Do feel that he cares for you even more? Look at how he has sent his son to die for you on the cross. Guys, God loves us more than we could ever know. He cares for you and your needs. Two, are you seeking him first? If you are trying to do it in your own strength then there is cause to worry. We will mess it up. But if you are seeking him first he assures us that he will meet all of our needs. Don't put your faith in you and your abilities, put your faith in the one who had sustained the universe and holds the world in his hands. Third, Worry is dumb. It doesn't help, it only hurts. It empties today of its strength. You can't do anything helpful by worry. You can do a lot though with faith. Worry almost always assumes the lies that God either doesn't care about us or that he is unable to help us.
  • Nov 20, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 8: Prayer & Fasting (Matthew 6:5-13, 16-18)
    Nov 20, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 8: Prayer & Fasting (Matthew 6:5-13, 16-18)
    Prayer and fasting are the keys to unlocking personal growth, church growth, and worship! 
  • Nov 13, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 7: The Gift of Giving (Matthew 6:1-4,19-24)
    Nov 13, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 7: The Gift of Giving (Matthew 6:1-4,19-24)
    We must give with the right motives and with the right perspective.  It's a matter of the heart.  Is your heart that people would praise you for your generosity or is it to truly help those in need and glorify Christ?  The rewards of God are so much greater than the rewards of man.  Store up treasures in Heaven where they can not fade or fail for all of eternity.  
  • Nov 6, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 6: The Sanctity of Marriage (Matthew 5:27-37)
    Nov 6, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 6: The Sanctity of Marriage (Matthew 5:27-37)
    If we don't hold to the sanctity of marriage, if we don't hold fast to our oaths and vows before God, if we allow ourselves to wander into lust, then the path towards sin and divorce is easy and accessible. The main point this morning is simple; the two greatest threats to your marriage is lust and lying.