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.  
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  • 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.  
  • Oct 30, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 5: Forgive Your Enemies (Matthew 5:38-48, 6:14-15)
    Oct 30, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 5: Forgive Your Enemies (Matthew 5:38-48, 6:14-15)
    The hardest thing you will ever have to do for Christ may just be the most influential thing you could ever do for Christ; love and forgive your enemies.  Nothing shows the world that we are different like loving and forgiving our enemies.  Jesus knew this and that is why he focuses on it so prominently in the Sermon on the Mount.  Who is your enemy?  How are you blessing them, praying for them, and forgiving them?  The world seeks vengeance and retaliation but as believes we must do something totally unexpected; we must turn the other cheek and show them the love of Christ. 
  • Oct 16, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 3: To Fulfill The Law (Matthew 5:17-20)
    Oct 16, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 3: To Fulfill The Law (Matthew 5:17-20)

    Jesus has fulfilled the law and still wants us to live according to it.  He fulfilled it by coming as the Messiah and proving such by fulfilling over 456 unique prophecies and doing small miracles such as... raising from the dead.  He fulfilled it by keeping the law perfectly; meaning he never sinned and his enemies admitted as much.  He fulfilled it by paying our sin debt by dying in our place on the cross.  He has fulfilled the law completely!   But that doesn't mean that we no longer have any use of the law.  Just because we aren't beholden to the law for salvation doesn't mean that we shouldn't want to live according to it in order to worship our Lord. If Jesus has saved you, why would you not want to love him the way he wants to be loved? He clearly wants to be loved by us through an adherence to His word. The Law shows us our sin and need to be saved. Jesus fulfills the Law by forgiving us and being our savior

  • Oct 9, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 2: Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16)
    Oct 9, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 2: Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16)
    After showing us what attitude Christians must adopt, Jesus then shows us the application we must act upon.  When our hearts are aligned with the Beatitudes then our lives will be Salt & Light in a dry and dark world.  That is why we've been called to be salt that preserves the morality of the world and light which shows the Gospel to the world.   We have an influence one way or another.  Will you use your influence to draw people to Christ's glory or not?  
  • Sep 18, 2022Outcasts Part 7: The Faith of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36)
    Sep 18, 2022
    Outcasts Part 7: The Faith of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36)
    Series: Outcasts
    Unlike John the Baptist, Peter, Mary Magdalene, or Zacchaeus, the Pharisees were accepted by society but outcasts of the kingdom.  They stood on the fringes of salvation choosing to live in hypocrisy and legalism rather than placing their trust in the Christ.  As the enemies of the Gospel, it was much less likely to see a Pharisee become a follower of Jesus than the most evil and vile of sinners.  And, yet still, some became disciples.  No matter how bad you may have been or how warped your worldview has seemed, all may come to Christ if they are willing to change. 
  • Sep 11, 2022Outcasts Part 6: The Faith of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
    Sep 11, 2022
    Outcasts Part 6: The Faith of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
    Series: Outcasts
    The story of Zacchaeus shows us how a true faith is revealed through transformation and repentance.  It also shows us how Jesus exemplifies to us a true missionary by specifically going to Zacchaeus and saving him.  We should all have a specific mission to reach one person who Christ has put in our area of influence.  We are all missionaries who either stay locally to reach those here while also supporting others who go to the foreign mission field, or we can go to where people have never heard of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  
  • Sep 4, 2022Outcasts Part 5: The Favored Sisters of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3)
    Sep 4, 2022
    Outcasts Part 5: The Favored Sisters of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3)
    Series: Outcasts

    In Jesus' day there was a huge portion of the population that was effectively set aside as second class; women. I know in our day and time that seems silly. Women can work any job a man can, women can make the same money men make, women have all the same freedoms that men have. We've come along way from the days of women suffrage. But in the first century women were a little more than slaves. They were outcasts.

    But not by Jesus. Jesus loved them, cared for them, interceded for them, made them part of his disciples, and promoted them in the public square. For Jesus, there were no second class citizens. There were simply those who would follow him and those who would not. And many women followed Jesus.

  • Aug 28, 2022Outcasts Part 4: Peter (Matthew 16:18-23)
    Aug 28, 2022
    Outcasts Part 4: Peter (Matthew 16:18-23)
    Series: Outcasts

    But, even after agreeing to follow Christ as a disciple we still find him making a mess of things every time we turn around. He keep sticking his foot in his mouth, losing his temper, flying off the handle, or rushing into things without thinking them through. In his weakest moments he even allowed his old sinful self to open the door for Satan's influence to rebuke Christ and eventually deny him. Peter did nothing... listen, NOTHING, to deserve the love, care, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and discipleship of Christ. And yet, Jesus, in the flesh, not only made him a disciple but allowed him to take the unofficial leadership spot of the 12 disciples. The application is simple. Let Jesus pick you back up. You've messed up just like Peter. You've been a very strong cup of coffee to say the least. You've said the wrong thing. You've done the wrong thing. You've denied Christ. You've failed to proclaim Christ. You've cut off an ear. You've sunk beneath the waves. You've gone back to fishing. All of that. Who cares! Stop thinking that you aren't worthy. Of course you aren't. You never were. But he is. So let him pick you back up! Through every stupid mistake, the patient, merciful love of Christ prevails

     

     

  • Aug 21, 2022Outcasts Part 3: The 12 Disciples (Matthew 10:1-26)
    Aug 21, 2022
    Outcasts Part 3: The 12 Disciples (Matthew 10:1-26)
    Series: Outcasts
    When we take a deeper look at the twelve disciples we find a group of rag tag outcasts whom no respectable CEO would ever choose to lead anything, and yet Jesus chose them to change the world.  He called a group of impoverished, dirty, smelly, depraved, traitorous, blood thirsty, and yet ordinary people to become the apostles.  We are tempted to ask why, but then we are confronted with the question, why would Jesus chose any of us?  We aren't the best or the brightest.  We aren't the strongest or the most worthy, and yet he calls us to be his disciples.  Could the reason he chose the 12 be the same as the reason he has chosen us - to use the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.  Jesus has chosen us, thoroughly ordinary people, that through us he might show himself without a doubt, an extraordinary God. 
  • Aug 14, 2022Outcasts Part 2: John The Martyr (Matthew 11:1-19, Mark 6:14-29)
    Aug 14, 2022
    Outcasts Part 2: John The Martyr (Matthew 11:1-19, Mark 6:14-29)
    Series: Outcasts
    It's often been said that Stephen was the first Christian Martyr but that's not the case. John the Baptist was. He was killed because of his faith in Christ and His unwillingness to waiver on the truth of the Word of Christ. And this is where we need to learn a very hard truth this morning. Though one of Christ's plans in creating us and saving us is that we would be satisfied in Him in this life, our greater purpose has very little to do with our satisfaction. As Paul says in Romans 14:8, “for if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” Our purpose is to live and die for the Lord. It doesn't matter whether you are physically or financially blessed in this life as a Christian, all that matters is whether or not your life and death glorify God. It doesn't really matter in the greater scheme whether or not you can find satisfaction in your hardship. All that matters is whether or not you fulfill your purpose for the kingdom.  And yet, what a joy to be able to find joy and satisfaction in the hard times. What a joy to be set free from the pain and find a peace that passes all understanding. God will do what he must, but we can still be blessed by learning how to find satisfaction in the hard times. This is God's desire for you and for me. I can assure you, John the Baptist fulfilled his purpose, and I hope he found satisfaction in knowing that Jesus was using him for a much greater plan then he could ever understand. The main point this morning is simple, blessed are those when hard times come, they are not offended by God who has purpose in their hardships.
  • Aug 7, 2022Outcasts Part 1: John The Baptist (Luke 1:5-25)
    Aug 7, 2022
    Outcasts Part 1: John The Baptist (Luke 1:5-25)
    Series: Outcasts
    Jesus had a circle of friends, but in this circle every single one of them was different; they didn't fit. From lowly fishermen, to adulteresses, from tax collectors to pharisees, Jesus was known for keeping company with the fringe of society. And this of course was for a reason. He wanted different. He wanted to take those which others thought were incapable of great things and use them to show the power of God. They were outcasts, and they would change the world. 
    One of those outcasts was John the Baptist. What did Christ see in him and how did he use him for his glory? We should all want to be used for God's glory right? We should all want to be seen as a one who prepares the way for the Lord, right? And shouldn't we all want Jesus to say of us, as he does of John in Matthew 11:11, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist." In this sermon we are going to focus on two of John's greatest attributes, his righteous indignation and his humility. Like John, we must be different from the world in the ways we unwaveringly stand for the truth and redirect the spotlight towards Christ.
  • Jul 31, 2022The Stories of Jesus Part 12: Persistent Prayer (Luke18:1-14)
    Jul 31, 2022
    The Stories of Jesus Part 12: Persistent Prayer (Luke18:1-14)

    We definitely need to pray and we definitely need to be constant, consistent, and persistent in prayer. But there are a couple of things to remember. God isn't just going to give you everything you ask for. He is always going to give you what he has promised to give you. And if he doesn't give you what you want he is giving you something better. It doesn't always feel better but I assure you it is. And, we have his assurance that no matter what, he will give us the peace, patience, and fortitude to walk through it. Just don't give up praying! Secondly, always pray with humility and repentance. Never stand before God with your self-righteousness. You aren't! He is! The more your acknowledge it the more you are going to grow in your walk with him.

  • Jul 24, 2022The Stories of Jesus Part 11: Rich Fools (Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31)
    Jul 24, 2022
    The Stories of Jesus Part 11: Rich Fools (Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31)

    Today we are going to be looking at two parables that cover our favorite topic here, money. Of course I'm joking, no one likes sermons on money, especially me, but it's in the scriptures, and Jesus cared enough about it to make it his most talked about topic. In fact, if you've been paying attention, 11 of his 39 parables deals directly or indirectly with the issue of money. The two we will tackle today are the two which talk most directly about the issue. Why did Jesus talk about money so much? Could it be that he knew that the one thing we would struggle with more than anything else would be the pursuit of money, the love of money, the lack of integrity when dealing with money, and the misuse of money?  Jesus knows this is a struggle for us. In Luke 12:15 He tells us to “take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. It is clear this morning that... we need to be reminded frequently that our wealth should be used for things of eternal value rather than temporary trinkets.

     
  • Jul 10, 2022The Stories of Jesus 9: Spiritual Stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30)
    Jul 10, 2022
    The Stories of Jesus 9: Spiritual Stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30)

    Those who use what they have to build the kingdom of God, they will not be forgotten. When we invest the kingdom in others we will see a return. We cannot escape the fact that we are all called to be Stewards of Christ's love and salvation. And, we most certainly cannot determine to merely exist as “Christians” and do nothing for the kingdom. The Bible tells us that those who take the salvation of Christ and all that that entails and refuse to reproduce it in the lives of those around them, that they are wicked and lazy.  Some play it safe and choose not to risk their lives for the sake of building the kingdom of God, while others risk it all to please their God and multiply themselves in the lives of others. Some have no thought of how to strategize and plan to see Christ glorified through the transformation of a dark world into light, while others methodically, and tactically plot ways to grow the kingdom of God in their community. The question to us is simple: “When It Comes To Being A Steward Of The Kingdom Of Jesus Christ, Are You Going To Play It Safe, Or Risk It All?”