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. 
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  • 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 23, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 4: The Way of Reconciliation (Matthew 5:21-26)
    Oct 23, 2022
    Sermon On The Mount Part 4: The Way of Reconciliation (Matthew 5:21-26)
    Anger can creep in the heart of any of us, but when that anger manifests into hatred or a grudge we are in danger of murdering our brother's or sister's soul.  God takes this very seriously.  Good thing he tells us how to handle such anger through reconciliation.  If at anytime you are upset over someone's sin towards you or towards God you must go to them one on one and deal with it like adults.  Stop playing little childish "he said, she said" games with one another and find the love you have for one another in the love you have for the savior.  
  • 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 25, 2022A Reminder From The Caption of The Lord’s Army – Homecoming (Joshua 5:13-6:2)
    Sep 25, 2022
    A Reminder From The Caption of The Lord’s Army – Homecoming (Joshua 5:13-6:2)
    Series: Stand Alone
    When Joshua stood before the Captain of the Lord’s Army he had no idea that he was standing before God himself. In that moment he was not alone, he was given a clear command, he was on holy ground, and he knew he would win the victory. We can know the same when we choose to stand with our God.
  • Sep 25, 2022A Reminder From Joshua & The Captain of the Lord’s Army – Homecoming (Joshua 5:13-6:2)
    Sep 25, 2022
    A Reminder From Joshua & The Captain of the Lord’s Army – Homecoming (Joshua 5:13-6:2)
    When Joshua stood before the Captain of the Lord's Army he had no idea that he was standing before God himself.  In that moment he was not alone, he was given a clear command, he was on holy ground, and he knew he would win the victory.  We can know the same when we choose to stand with our God. 
  • 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.