“The Fish Bowl Effect – Being Living Testimonies”
How many times as a child did you drag mom and dad (or perhaps your kids or grandkids are dragging you) to the fish section at Walmart or any pet store. It is always so much fun to see all the different kinds of fish and how they interact with the other fish and even just move around the tank. Tanks are often made out of clear material for the very purpose of being able to do this. Have you…
“For this Is the Will of God…”
People often question what the will of God is. They search for decades, spend hours in prayer listening for a distinctive voice. However, the Word of God gives us His will pretty explicitly. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul conveys what the Word of God has said all along about sexual immorality. We live in a world that worships it though. The world approves of it as we see the pornography industry gross billions of dollars each year. Hollywood glorifies affairs…
“Salvation Is of the Lord”
Kossi ministered with us last summer and is preparing messages for his internship in Togo, Africa this coming summer where he will be challenging men and women in the work of the ministry. Listen to this encouraging message from 1 Samuel on the faithfulness of our God, His grace, and stories and application concerning the salvation He provides.
“Excel Still More”
For many people who played sports, you remember the coach and knew the abilities that were contained within you and challenged and encouraged you to push and on strive to be better. They brought out the absolute best skill and crafted in within you. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians in their walk with God. He was pleased to see how they were following their Savior. He commended them for their walk. Yet he challenged and encouraged them to excel…
“Would You Give Up Christianity If…”
Would you? Do you have a price, a limit that if it, you would turn your back on it all? Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 and then listen to what Pastor Paul has to say about this question that he has posed to us.
“God’s Word Changes Lives”
We all have witnessed this as we hear people’s testimonies of faith and see changes in people’s lives. Let’s bring a question close to home though. Do you believe that the Word of God is true? Do you believe it is really real? Your actions reflect your belief. We can take a lesson from the Thessalonian believers and what the Apostle Paul writes about their faith its reflection into their lives. God’s Word does changes lives. The most important question…
“Three Angles of Relationships”
The title is not what you think. It isn’t about manipulating a friend or spouse or family member. Take some time to read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 and listen to this sermon. Discover what indeed are the Three Angles of Relationships.
“The Message & the Messenger”
As you look at 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, you will notice several different “for”s in the passage. Each of these answer a question. Listen to this sermon and learn what those questions are in this letter to the Thessalonians. We pray you will be encouraged by these words as you read through them and apply them to your life today.
“Encouraging the Church”
The church at Thessalonica had been through “much tribulation”. There were in need of some encouragement and that is exactly what we see Paul doing here. He had heard the report from Timothy and testimonies from area residents. He also remembered his time with them. Combining all that, he uses those reports and knowledge to lift up this body of believers. From it we are challenged as well to encourage each other as a church as well as follow the…
“A Letter from Corinth”
The Apostle Paul throughout his many years of ministry had the opportunity to proclaim the gospel all throughout the Roman Empire and start a number of churches. Most of his epistles in the New Testament are letters to those churches that he started over the years. Thessalonica, located on the Agean Sea, next to Philippi, was one of those churches. Over the course of the next weeks, we will be walking through both 1st & 2nd Thessalonians and studying the…
“God’s Servant – the Valley Before the Mountain”
The Messiah was going to be one who would provide salvation for His people. Little did the Jews know that at His first advent, that Jesus Christ did not come to bring physical salvation from the Romans but spiritual salvation from their sins. Isaiah 53 records what would end up taking place hundreds of years later as Christ ascended the hill to the cross of Calvary. Isaiah 53 is an important part of the picture portrayed in this book of…
“The Potter & the Clay”
Remember the days of elementary art class. It was always a great day when the teacher brought out that great big block of gray clay. You often got to make some sort of pottery that was your very own design. You got to select the color and glaze. You were so happy of what you had created. What great days those were looking back. In the Bible, we find a clay too. The metaphor though is a reference to mankind…
“Qualifications of Being God”
Despite all the pictures on the internet and what we have seen here and there throughout our lives, God is not an old man with a long white beard. He is not some frail being. We serve a sovereign God. We serve an immense God. Isaiah beautifully unfolds the characteristics of God in chapters 40-48. As he does so, he shows how no other “god” of this world could possibly compare and that there really is only one God. He…
“The Messiah of ‘Instead'”
There are many passages throughout the book of Isaiah that give us details about the Messiah who we believe and know to be Jesus Christ. Come and explore Isaiah 61 as we continue to look at the Messiah through the book of Isaiah and see how He is indeed the Messiah of “Instead” from this passage.
“Isaiah’s Messiah – His Identity”
The Old Testament tells us much about Jesus Christ before He came. What does Isaiah 9 have to say about His identity? We will be looking at the four famous names of title so of the chapter – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. As we examine these we will see how Christ has fulfilled them in His character already and what things are yet to come. It has been a fascinating study this week and one…
Al Stader – Update on Mission Projects
Al has been involved with mission projects all throughout Africa and Central America. This week he shares about what motivates his service to the Lord and updates us on the recent projects he is involved in and how you might be able to help.
“Isaiah: Bad News/Good News Prophet”
The story of Jesus Christ is not found only in the four gospels of the New Testament. Much was said about Him before the Son of God was ever born as a man in Bethlehem. For the next four Sundays we will be looking at the Messiah from the book of Isaiah. We will be looking at the predictions, the prophecies concerning Him and even how those things have been fulfilled.
“Loving God. Loving Others.”
We have spent the last few months talking about the “one anothers” found in the Scriptures. We now look back and review what we have learned these past months and focus on applying them in our lives. The focus of this church, this local body, for many years has been Loving God. Loving Others. The “one anothers” are at the core of this. The love we have for one another is seen as we practice these things from Scripture. And our…
“Service – A One Another Not Just A Department”
We are still talking about the one anothers and for good reason. The one anothers are vital to the health and ministry of the church. Service is one of the most important. It is through service one another that we even have the ministry of the church. Christ, Himself, set the example and manner in which we are to serve. How does that look in a present day context and why should I even be motivated to serve? We look…
Eugene Lempert (Chosen People Ministries) – Q & A
Eugene takes some time to answer personal questions from those in attendance after his testimony and message.