Aug 7, 2019
The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM
"The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM".
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  • Aug 7, 2019The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM
    Aug 7, 2019
    The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM
    "The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM".
  • Aug 6, 2019Church Growth Series #1 Sermon
    Aug 6, 2019
    Church Growth Series #1 Sermon
    CHURCH GROWTH SERIES #1 Acts 2:36-41 I want to give some ideas of what it will take to make the church grow.
    1. WE MUST HAVE A GROWTH MENTALITY
    SOME CHURCHES DO EXHIBIT POOR MENTALITY! “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Prov. 23:7 Our thinking controls our actions. Our thinking controls our lives. Where we go, what we do. We must think right to do right. We must think church growth in order to go after it and experience it. WE MUST HAVE A CHURCH GROWTH MENTALITY IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE IT! The early church had it and we need to get it. THE BIBLE SAYS: Acts 2:38  “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What happened after Peter preached those words to the people? Do you remember? Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” They were added to what? To the church! Acts 4:4 “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” In Acts 2 we read about 3,000 people being baptized. Now there are 5,000. What happened? CHURCH GROWTH! The people were thinking in terms of growth, outreach and it was happening! Acts 5:14 “More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” MORE AND MORE people. That’s church growth. Acts 6:7 “So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly...” Acts 8:1, 4 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered.... V. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
    1. WE MUST HAVE SOME DEFINITE GOALS IN MIND
    Men hit only what they aim at. Phil. 3:14 Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul had heaven as a goal in his life. Rom. 10:1 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”
  • Aug 4, 2019Church Growth Series #2
    Aug 4, 2019
    Church Growth Series #2
    Series: GROW
    Church Growth Series #2
     
    The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning.Scott Peck
      God is not done with his work when we first believe and are saved. He intends day by day to make us into what we already are in Christ.     We tend to say that because a person has natural ability, he will make a good Christian. It is not a matter of our equipment, but a matter of our poverty; not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; - Oswald Chambers     We have been talking about growth for the past several Sundays. And when we think of Growth we often skip to looking at the final product and forget the work and commitment it takes to get there.   I can think of people that I have spoken with in ministry that can relate to my experience with the garden. You grew, and now all you see are weeds……..     It’s not the Garden, it’s the Gardner 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 New International Version (NIV) 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.   27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.   28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,   29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.   31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[a]   In 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 it’s great to see that our Gardner, Jesus Christ, never changes. In fact, there is nothing Good in me but Jesus. He is our Righteousness, Holiness and Redemption.     When things begin to go wrong in my Christian life, the weeds begin to grow, my passions and desires begin to fade. The first part of seeing growth again is realizing it is me, not anyone or anything else.   I was told by a wise man a long time ago….. never allow anyone or anything to come between you and your relationship with the Lord. And if you do, don’t blame the church, the person, nor the situation, look only to you for the blame.     NOTHING should get in the way of your relationship with God.     It’s not the Garden, it’s what you allow inside the Garden     For if you and I are not careful, we will allow things in our lives that will lead to the demise of our walk with the Lord.   1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.     Every person that truly believes in Christ is increasingly transformed into his likeness. When we begin to see the things that are hindering our garden from growing, and THEN we are willing to remove that which is hindering it.     The problem is the flesh likes these things. And when the ground is tilled for Godly growth, the enemy loves to sneak in some devilish seed to hinder the growth. WE MUST KICK IT OUT.       It’s not the Garden, it’s the results we really want.       Our spiritual life is no different than the Garden. When you don’t work your garden, the results are not good.     All of us want the fruits and vegetables out of the garden, and all of us say we want to GROW spiritually, but we must learn to crave the things of God.   Once we taste and see the results we cannot get enough. You will be willing to do whatever it takes to produce THAT type of fruit.     Growing in your salvation is when you taste something that you know is good, you bend your wills and desires to make sure that you get the results Christ desires.       It’s a craving that comes and we love and we want more of it. And when we experience it, the more we receive, the more that we grow. The deeper we go the more fruits come out.
  • Jul 28, 2019Church Growth Series #1
    Jul 28, 2019
    Church Growth Series #1
    Series: GROW
    CHURCH GROWTH SERIES #1 Acts 2:36-41 I want to give some ideas of what it will take to make the church grow.
    1. WE MUST HAVE A GROWTH MENTALITY
    SOME CHURCHES DO EXHIBIT POOR MENTALITY! “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Prov. 23:7 Our thinking controls our actions. Our thinking controls our lives. Where we go, what we do. We must think right to do right. We must think church growth in order to go after it and experience it. WE MUST HAVE A CHURCH GROWTH MENTALITY IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE IT! The early church had it and we need to get it. THE BIBLE SAYS: Acts 2:38  “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What happened after Peter preached those words to the people? Do you remember? Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” They were added to what? To the church! Acts 4:4 “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” In Acts 2 we read about 3,000 people being baptized. Now there are 5,000. What happened? CHURCH GROWTH! The people were thinking in terms of growth, outreach and it was happening! Acts 5:14 “More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” MORE AND MORE people. That’s church growth. Acts 6:7 “So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly...” Acts 8:1, 4 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered.... V. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
    1. WE MUST HAVE SOME DEFINITE GOALS IN MIND
    Men hit only what they aim at. Phil. 3:14 Paul said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul had heaven as a goal in his life. Rom. 10:1 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”
  • Apr 28, 2019The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM
    Apr 28, 2019
    The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM
    Series: Rise Up
    "The Weak After Easter Sermon 4-28-19 AM"
     
    Easter is such an awesome time of the year. We celebrate the fact that Jesus defeated death and rose from the dead. We hang out with family, which means that there is a lot of cooking and preparation that goes in to that. We have to make sure that the family looks good and matching for all the pictures that we will take. All while maintaining the other responsibilities of life. It often will leave someone feeling tired and weak.   Well put yourself in the shoes of the disciples and the followers of Jesus. Their King had just been brutally executed. The man that had been their biggest influence for the past several years was now gone. They had celebrated his triumphant entry, less than a week later watch his body be crushed and bruised on the cross, took him to a borrowed tomb, 3 days later found the tomb empty, and now they are locked in a room scared for their lives.   Moments and weeks like these leave us feeling exhausted and weak. But what happened to the excitement from a week ago? Easter, He is Risen, He is Alive, you know all the enthusiasm that came with Easter. The sad news is that some of us this week are locked in a room scared for our life, weak Christians just one week since the Greatest news ever told, He is Alive. We are a lot like the first disciples……   John 20:19–25 (NKJV) 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”   Our text of John gives us a quick glimpse back to Easter and Christ’s resurrection. The disciples are huddled in fear behind a locked door when Jesus appears to them, and when he does - he not only reveals his resurrection, he breathes an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them. Now, for some reason… Thomas was absent from the disciples. He didn’t get to see Jesus that night. Now the other disciples are sharing the wonderful news with him… “We have seen the Lord!” But what proof do they bring? Only their words. Thomas’ response is “Not gonna believe it till I see it.” This catches us up with the heart of today’s lesson. One week after Easter, the very same room where Jesus appeared before… Eleven disciples sit in excitement……..And Thomas… probably sitting with his arms crossed, legs crossed, and pouting.   You know that look your kids give you when you didn’t let them win…..   As Christians I’m sure we all can relate to Thomas at some point in our life. We feel like we pulled the short straw and that life just isn’t fair.   Weirsbe says, No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity because it removes God from the throne of our lives replacing Him with our own self-interest. It causes us to open our mouths only to complain, and we simply become spiritual sponges- always absorbing, never giving, and never being satisfied. And there is nothing lovely or generous about our lives.   This part of our human nature reminds me of a story I once heard of a man out on a glorious nature walk next to some beautiful cliffs and caverns. The walk, however, quickly turned cruel when the man… walking too close to the edge found himself tumbling down the side of one of the cliffs. Luckily, he managed to grab hold of a small tree growing out of the side of the cliff. Unluckily, it was too steep to climb up or down, he was far too high to jump, and he knew he was likely the only person for miles.   Having nothing to lose, he began to shout “Help. Is anybody out there? HELP!”   After a short while he heard a response, “This is God. I am here. Let go of that branch and I will catch you.”   The man contemplated this, and responded, “God… don’t you have a rope or a ladder?” God replied, “Put your faith in me. Let go of that branch and I will catch you.”   The man contemplated yet again, and after a long pause he shouted, “Is anyone else there?”   Luckily for Thomas and for us, that is not the end of the text. Thomas is not left sitting there doubting. Often times God shows us when we finally have “nothing to lose” when we finally surrender.   Weakness Turns to Redemption   John 20:26–29 (NKJV) 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”   Jesus knew he doubted. Jesus knew he had been excluded from the special revelation the night he appeared to the other eleven. Jesus even knew what that whole last week must have been like for Thomas.   Just think about what Thomas must have been dealing with.
    • The only disciple left out.
    • The only disciple with nothing but words to go by.
    • The one disciple most like us today.
      Thomas, the one left out, spent that entire week wrestling alone with his doubts.   He could have rebuked them for their unfaithfulness and spinelessness the previous weekend, but He did not[1] Jesus does not lecture him, chastise him, or discipline him for doubting, instead Jesus wished him peace, and in his mercy, he gives Thomas what he needed to move beyond his doubt.   Jesus simply came to Thomas. He met Thomas right where he was at, and he promises to meet you this morning right where you are at. But he also promises not to leave you the same way you came.   No one has ever met Jesus and stayed the same.       Redemption Turns to Delight   John 20:27 (NKJV) 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”   Notice Thomas’s needs were met down to the letter of what he was asking for. When you really desire to know Christ on a deeper level, he will give you exactly what you need to dive deep.   Notice He has not had a conversation with Jesus about what all he needs, Jesus knows your every thought, need, and desire. And when it comes to your relationship with Him he has every resource available to help you move towards delight.   But the wounds meant more than identification; they also were evidence that the price for salvation had been paid and man indeed could have “peace with God.”   The basis for all our peace is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He died for us, He arose from the dead in victory, and now He lives for us.   In our fears, we cannot lock Him out! He comes to us in grace and reassures us through His Word. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6).[2]   These words ring clear this morning as we sit one week removed from Easter, all the hype is gone, all the emotions are gone, and we are left with these words, “Do not be unbelieving but believing.”   Once we believe …   Delight Turns to Declaration   John 20:28–29 (NKJV) 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”   I want you to go back to the day that Jesus set you free……. Can you go there…… The day that you surrendered control and asked Jesus to be the Lord and Boss of your life?   Thomas had been hurt, confused, because he didn’t know but Jesus was able to turn all his issues into Delight. We all have issues, this morning God wants to do a work in you.   When Jesus saw that the disciples’ fear had now turned to joy, He commissioned them: “As My Father has sent Me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). Keep in mind that the original disciples were not the only ones present; others, were also in the room.   You see, you can’t give someone what you don’t have.   John 20:21 (NKJV) 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”   It must have given the men great joy to realize that, in spite of their many failures, their Lord was entrusting them with His Word and His work. They had forsaken Him and fled, but now He was sending them out to represent Him. Peter had denied Him three times; and yet in a few days, Peter would preach the Word (and accuse the Jews of denying Him—Acts 3:13–14!) and thousands would be saved[3]   The good news is that it’s one week after Easter and many of you are feeling weak, but you can trade that weakness in for dominance over every situation.   He is Alive, Risen, and He has enabled us with His Spirit to be able to be more than conquers. When you get a hold of that you will want to shout it from the rooftops, declaring Jesus is Lord.   [1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 392). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 392). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 392–393). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
  • Apr 21, 2019Will Good People Go to Heaven? Sermon 4-21-19
    Apr 21, 2019
    Will Good People Go to Heaven? Sermon 4-21-19
    Series: Rise Up
    Why Good People Won't Go to Heaven Romans 10:1-4 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[b] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.   “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).   Will good people go to heaven?
    1. Because You Can Never Be Good Enough.
    “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved” (v. 1).   “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Good people don’t go to heaven–not even good people from other religions–because no one can be good enough.   
    1. Because Good People Are Deceived About The Reality of Their True Condition.
      “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge” (v. 2). Religion tends to turn people into failures, hypocrites or both. Isaiah 64:6  “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” 
    1. Because Good People Think They Don’t Need Jesus.
    “Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (vv. 3-4). they came up with one of their own  
    1. Because Good People Wouldn’t Be Happy If They Did Go to Heaven.
      Are You a Good Person? Please accept my compliments on the good life you’ve been living. Every society needs fine people like you. Are you saved? Can a good person go to heaven? Yes, if he is willing to turn away from his goodness and trust Jesus Christ for his eternal salvation. As long as you cling to the slightest shred of your goodness, you’ll never see the gates of heaven. Once you let go of the rags of your own righteousness, you can be saved.
  • Apr 14, 2019Parade or Protest Sermon 4-14-19 AM
    Apr 14, 2019
    Parade or Protest Sermon 4-14-19 AM
    Series: Rise Up
    Parade or Protest Palms or Picket Signs Crown Him or Crucify Him Hail Him or Nail Him Cheers and Tears Luke 19:28-45 Luke 19:28: After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone ask you, ‘why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘the Lord needs it.’” THE CHEERS OF THE CROWD Everyone loves a parade.
    1. PAST: Jesus entered Jerusalem as a humble King
    Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! See your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)
    1. FUTURE: He will enter Jerusalem as a conquering King
    “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True...He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:11, 13) “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west…The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” (Zechariah 14:4,9) Learn the lesson of the donkey. “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong–so that no one could boast before Him.” (I Corinthians 1:27)
    1. THE TEARS OF THE KING
    Jesus was weeping–at His own parade! Why did Jesus cry that day?
    1. Jesus wept because of superficial belief
    Today, Jesus must certainly weep when He sees the shallow level of commitment in our lives.
    1. Jesus wept because of spiritual blindness
  • Apr 7, 2019Rise Up and Be Changed Sermon 4-7-19 AM
    Apr 7, 2019
    Rise Up and Be Changed Sermon 4-7-19 AM
    Series: Rise Up
    What if there was not a Resurrection? Well, there was so…   RISE UP and be CHANGED   1 Corinthians 15:12-22   1 Corinthians 15:12-19  (NKJV)   12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?   13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.   15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.   16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!   18 Then also those who have [a]fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiful.     PLAY: (Jayson??) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxH8Q8ue65o     what if that resurrection never happened…suppose that the Lord Jesus was still in that tomb?     That’s what Paul is talking about in our text.
    1. THE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES OF A FALSE RESURRECTION
     
    1. Our Preaching is Profitless.
      - vs. 14, “and if Christ be not risen, our preaching is in vain.”   - Heart of the Gospel is this15:3-4, “That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and has risen again…according to the Scriptures.”  
    1. Our Faith is Foolish
      - vs. 14, “and your faith is in vain.”   “If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead then you shall be saved.”  
    1. The Disciples are Deceivers
      - I Cor. 15:15, “Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God,   because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise…”   - Hypocrites and Martyrs are not made of the same stuff…A man may live for a lie…but no one would die for a lie.  
    1. Sin is Sovereign
      - vs. 17, “And if Christ is not raised, your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins.”   - No resurrection, No Savior…No Savior, no forgiveness…No forgiveness, no justification…   …No justification, no cleansing…No cleansing, you have to pay the penalty for your sins.   “Living he loved me, dying he saved me, buried he carried my sins far away, rising He justified, freely forever.   One day He’s coming, Oh glorious day.”  
    1. Death has Dominion
      - vs. 18, “Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”  
    1. The Future is Futile
      - vs. 19, “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”   - Earnest Hemingway said, “It’s as though we are a colony of ants living on one end of a burning log.”   I have good news…Jesus Christ is risen and resurrected from the dead!!!
    1. THE TREMENDOUS CHANGES OF A TRUE RESURRECTION
     
    1. Through the Resurrection, a Statement was Made
    “It is finished.”
    • JOHN 20:6-7, “Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb;
    •  
    • and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, and the face cloth which had been on his head,
    •  
    • not lying by the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.”
    - SILENT SIGNATURE
    1. Through the Resurrection, Sanctification was Mandated
      - Colossians 3:1-2: “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  
    1. Through the Resurrection, a Salvation was Manifested
      - I Corinthians 15:20-22: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man (adam) came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.   For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.”   You called me from the grave by name You called me out of all my shame I see the old has passed away The new has come!   Now I have resurrection power Living on the insideJesus, You have given us freedom No longer bound by sin and darkness Living in the light of Your goodness You have given us freedom   That I'm dressed in Your royalty Your Holy Spirit lives in me And I see my past has been redeemed The new has come!   Now I have resurrection power Living on the inside Jesus, You have given us freedom I'm no longer bound by sin and darkness Living in the light of Your goodness You have given us freedom Freedom, You have given us freedom You have given us freedom, my chains are gone! Freedom, You have given us freedom You have given us freedom, hallelujah! Freedom, You have given us freedom You have given us freedom, my chains are gone oh o oh Freedom, You have given us freedom You have given us freedom, hallelujah!   Now I have resurrection power Living on the inside Now, I'm no longer bound by sin and darkness Living in the light of Your goodness You have given us freedom! Now I have resurrection power Living on the inside Jesus, You have given us freedom Now, I'm no longer bound by sin and darkness Living in the light of Your goodness You have given us freedom! (You set us free)   I have resurrection power (you set us free) Living on the inside Living on the inside! (You set us free) No longer bound by sin and darkness (you set us free) You have given us freedom You have given us freedom!     Songwriters: Ed Cash / Tony Brown / Ryan Ellis
  • Apr 7, 2019Hot Topics #6- Transforming the Culture Sermon 4-7-19 PM
    Apr 7, 2019
    Hot Topics #6- Transforming the Culture Sermon 4-7-19 PM
    Series: Hot Topics
    Transforming Our Culture 1 Cor. 3:6-7 It’s the word CHANGE. not a new program, a new building or a new emphasis. NO! To change our culture God is going to have to change our minds, our attitudes, our styles and preferences and even our behavior inside and outside of the church. Paul knew that his culture would never willingly come to him…so he made it his priority to go to them. The latest statistics show that America is now considered the 3rd largest mission field in the English speaking world. That means the American church isn’t reaching our own people, much less the people of the world! So let’s face it, WE NEED TO CHANGE! the key is found in 1 Cor. 3:6-7, “My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or watering aren’t important, but God is important because he is the one. who makes the seed grow.” Listen close all the way to the end or my may not hear what I’m proposing… 1). We have to develop a “come as you are” attitude. GRACE God saves every one of us using the exact same formula – his grace applied to our messy lives = a new creation. Matt. 22:2,9-10, “God’s kingdom is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.’ The servants went out on the streets and rounded up everyone they laid eyes on, good and bad, regardless. And so the banquet was on— every place filled.” The good and the bad! Rom 8:1-2 (NLT) “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of GRACE and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV) 2). We have to root out the “us versus them” attitude. There’s one other ingredient that’s necessary if we want to change our church culture. 3). We have to understand that spiritual life is a process. My question is – are we going to become that church or will God have to look for another?
  • Mar 31, 2019Rise Up 3-31-19 SERMON AM
    Mar 31, 2019
    Rise Up 3-31-19 SERMON AM
    Series: Rise Up
    Rise Up You can’t have a resurrection until you have a burial
    1. JESUS’ BURIAL WAS CONDUCTED BY TWO UNLIKELY UNDERTAKERS
    2. Joseph had the courage to ask for the corpse of Jesus
    “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.” Matthew 27:57
    1. Nicodemus came into the light to help the Man who told him he needed a new birth
    “He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with the Jewish burial custom.” John 19:39-40
    1. JESUS’ BURIAL WAS PROPHESIED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
    “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:9 III. WHY IS UNDERSTANDING HIS BURIAL SO IMPORTANT? FINAL TRUTH: WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED, WE IDENTIFY WITH JESUS “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4