Sunday Sermons

Forgiveness begins with acknowledging that something we or others have done is truly wrong. Then we choose to trust God to make the guilty person pay (or not). Then God forgives us. Then we are free. Series: Others First: Recalculating ... Speaker: John Pryor Notes: We must forgive to be forgiven. As we re-sync ourselves daily with our Heavenly Father, we must daily make sure that nothing is separ...

God guides and provides when we trust and obey. The God who provided manna for Israel and Jesus (the ultimate Bread of Life) still longs for our daily and total dependence and dedication. Series: Others First: Recalculating... Speaker: John Pryor Notes: We must depend on God daily. Whether we like it or not, we are all totally dependent on God, but it's deeper than that: He designed us for deep, o...

We don't make the rules; God does. We get our purpose and power from Him; though He counts us as friends and family, He is still our King, and we must keep actively building His kingdom together. Series: Others First: Recalculating Speaker: John Pryor Notes: God makes the rules. As we daily re-sync ourselves with our Heavenly Father and relentlessly make choices that honor His Name, we must rememb...

We must celebrate and unite around God's goodness and glory in our daily lives as well as in our weekly worship. A relentless pursuit of justice and unity means more to Him than songs and prayers. Series: Others First: Recalculating... Speaker: John Pryor Notes: We must celebrate God's goodness and glory. Even when we face the hardest seasons of life, God's unchanging character, power, and perfect...

The purpose of the church is to make disciples who make disciples. As His disciples, we're accountable to fulfill that commission. We need to examine how we are doing and see if what we are doing is mirroring what Christ had in mind. Series: OTHERS FIRST: Recalculating Speaker: David Pryor Notes: Are we doing what we're supposed to be doing? Our enemy works to minimize the most important things so...

From the beginning, Jesus consistently submitted to human authority, but doing so clashed with His true Identity and purpose, He submitted to this higher authority instead. While He deserved ultimate authority to begin with, He also earned it--and now He uses it to change our roles in His Story from victims and enemies to family, friends, and teammates who help Him save the world. Series: Ultimate...

Elisha was unique as an individual and as a prophet, but we can still learn a lot from the way he interacted with God and others. Like him, we can choose to follow God boldly, making it hard or impossible to go back, investing deeply in our relationships with God and others, and giving God a chance to display His power by using what we have on hand and trusting Him to do the rest. Series: Ultimate...

As Christ's body, each of us must play our own part well and consistently choose love. It means aiming for what's right more than what looks good to others, whenever there is a difference. This means refusing to label people but honoring good character when we see it. It means working together as a symbol of God and His love. Series: Ultimate Authority: For Such A Time As This Speaker: John Pryor...

Since we submit to human authority out of reverence for Christ, we should almost always be the most respectful team players around. Nevertheless, we must refuse to pledge allegiance to anyone or anything that claims higher authority than God in our lives--even if those "tyrants" are our own doubts, fears, or questions or peer pressure from people we love. Series: Ultimate Authority: For Such a Tim...

God never abandons His people, but sometimes He does lead them through seasons of waiting, isolation, and even suffering. No matter the circumstances, we must remember that He blesses us so that we can be a blessing, and no matter how confusing life gets, we must find a way to trust and obey. Series: Ultimate Authority:For Such A Time as This Speaker: John Pryor Notes: God never abandons His peopl...

Our heroes in the Bible were people just like us. They asked the same questions and had no way to prepare for the crises they had to deal with--but they bet everything that God would guide and provide if they trusted and obeyed. We have the same opportunities they had today--and the Holy Spirit living in us! Live strategically. Series: Ultimate Authority: For Such A time As This Speaker: John Pryo...

Jesus did not just die to save us from the power of sin in this life and judgment for sin in Hell. He rose again to make it possible for us to live fully, with full access to His power and love, making real choices that affect the growth of His kingdom on earth, experiencing fellowship with God and with others, and knowing that our lives on earth have eternal consequences. Series: Wise Choices: Wh...

Fear of reaching out traps us in "shelters" that ultimately make things worse. No matter how scary or hard it is, we must build our lives on Christ's teaching--and reaching out was one of His major themes. Like the early church, we must fear not reaching out more than we fear whatever keeps us from trying. Sharing Christ's love drives fear out of ourselves and the ones we are serving. Series: Wise...

Fear of suffering makes us obsessed with safety, clinging to the illusion of control. We only have control of the choices we make--preferably wise choices that are likely to benefit us and others, but often we must simply choose how to react to circumstances beyond our control. Fear can cripple us, but when fear of not doing what needs done more than we fear suffering, we can make a difference in...

Fear of freedom makes us slaves and prisoners--even though we don't have to be. Christ has set us free, and we must not take that lightly. We must not only refuse to allow ourselves to be entrapped by anything, but we must use the freedom, the power, the love, and the sound mind He has given us to accomplish His goals for His glory. Series: Wise Choices: Whom Shall I Fear Speaker: John Pryor Notes...

We were created to crave life, health, responsibility, belonging, and significance, but sin has twisted this into chronic fear of missing out and an endless, pointless epidemic of busyness. The cure is fearing God and fearing missing out on His perfect will. When we know Him as the Ultimate Father He is, we find the acceptance, purpose, and joy we were designed for. Video referred to can be found...

Wisdom is much more than profound quotes and avoiding foolish choices. Biblically speaking, wisdom means making the best possible choice. Failure risks all of the most common human fears and social anxieties, but failure is inevitable and an integral part of learning. The solution is found in fearing God more than anything or anyone else. Series: Wise Choices: Whom Shall I Fear Speaker: John Pryor...

Faithfulness is a choice; all shallow, fickle, and otherwise selfish choices depend entirely on us. Faithfulness requires forgiveness and patience, and God is faithful by nature, but even God Himself expects faithfulness in return. Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants Speaker: David Pryor Notes: Faithfulness is how faith expresses itself. Faith is belief that produces action. Faith is more tha...

Courage is not believing in yourself; it is understanding that something must be done and choosing to help make it happen. Never a lack of fear or any form of self-delusion, true courage faces responsibility, no matter the cost. Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants Speaker: John Pryor Notes: Courage accepts responsibility, no matter the cost. Courage is not the absence of fear or being unaware...

Avoiding pride and selfishness is only the beginning; biblical humility is all about realistic cooperation and teamwork. Because they believe in their cause and in their team, humble people play their own parts well and never stop trying to improve. Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants Speaker: John Pryor Notes: Avoiding pride and selfishness is only the beginning; biblical humility is all abo...

Both mercy and enabling are costly, painful, and messy, and both include giving people multiple chances—but they are NOT the same. Enabling helps people stay trapped and enslaved in an attempt to make ourselves look good, and mercy frees and empowers people by connecting them with God Himself. Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants Speaker: John Pryor Notes: Mercy strategically provides ti...

Justice includes consequences for evil, but biblical of justice is making God's will happen “on earth as it is in heaven.” Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants Speaker: John Pryor Notes: Justice is more about pruning than punishing. Things work best when they do what they were designed to do, the way they were designed to do it. People are the ultimate example of this rule—no...

Truth includes “not lying,” but God wants much more than that. Things work best when they do what they were designed to do, the way they were designed to do it. We only reach our full potential when we follow The Way and when we know, live by, and share The Truth (John 14:6). Series: Moral Boundaries: What God Wants Speaker: John Pryor Notes: We must live within God's moral boundaries....

As we look back and look forward, we find purpose and clarity for what to do right now. God has big plans for MHCC in 2020 as we strive harder than ever to prepare for Christ's return His way. Series: Love Incarnate: The Arrival Speaker: John Pryor Notes: Come to Jesus. Jesus meets us where we are to rescue us—but He expects us to trust, obey, and follow Him when He shows up—then help...

Only the Father knows exactly when Jesus will return, but we do know many things that must happen first, signs to watch for, what will happen when He returns, and what we must be doing to get and stay ready. Series: Love Incarnate: The Arrival Speaker: John Pryor Notes: Jesus is coming back again. Only God the Father knows when , but Jesus promised that He will return. As always: He keeps His prom...