FBC Platte City

What Jesus did:  in very nature God, he emptied himself and was humbled- even to death on a cross  What God did:  exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name above every name  What we must do:  every knee must bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

Here's a few key takeaways from this message:  1. Selfishness is a recipe for disaster. If you want to find joy, you need humility.  2. Disunity and division in our relationships steals joy.  3. Humility isn't about being passive, people pleasing, or thinking lowly of yourself. Humility is looking to the interests of others before yourself.  4. As followers of Jesus, we grow in humility by...

We started a new 4-week series using themes of joy found in the book of Philippians. Paul found resilient and eternal joy because he found his hope in the Lord. As we enter the whirlwind of the holiday season, let’s look to God to reorder our priorities so we don’t settle for distractions or circumstantial joy. 

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 10 Second Timothy is the last book that Paul wrote before his death. As we wrap up our series on the book of 2 Timothy, we’re encouraged to finish well: -staying faithful in our relationships -persevering in our daily walk -relying on Jesus' presence to sustain us to the very end

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused- Part 9 Helping people find and follow Jesus isn’t just the responsibility of a few- it’s a group effort. As individuals and as a church, we are called to share Jesus with the people in our circle of influence.  We can all be engaged in this work together by serving, giving, praying and inviting.  3 points to remember: Be prepared (ready) “in season and out of season...

The Greatest Commandment:  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength."   -Mark 12:30 How's it going with all that?

In chapter 3, Paul continues warns Timothy about being influenced by people who aren’t following Jesus. Paul urges Timothy to instead imitate the life that Paul has been developing: embracing the teaching of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection using the Word of God to instruct your way of life staying focused on your purpose of helping other find and follow Jesus developing a faith (trust in God)...

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 6 When Paul is writing to Timothy in the book of 2 Timothy, he says “there will be terrible times in the last days.” “The last days” refers to the period of time from Jesus’ first arrival to his return.  In a world where wickedness continues to increase, when there are hard days, how do we respond as followers of Jesus? Don’t let your heart grow cold Don’t get...

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 5 Here's a few takeaways from this message: 1. Rightly handle the Word of God so you have a firm foundation and aren't led astray.2. Stop quarreling and fighting over nonessentials. Your conduct matters if you want to be effective for the Lord. 3. Want to be counter-cultural? Be kind to everyone, not resentful, be patient and gentle (strength under cont...

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 4Here's a few takeaways from this message:1. As follower of Jesus we endure by relying on the grace of Jesus. 2. As followers of Jesus we endure by having the proper mindset (focus, sacrifice, discipline, conduct, hardworking, patient). 3. As followers of Jesus we endure by remembering the faithfulness of the risen Lord Jesus.4. Take comfort in this: though...

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused  Part 3 of 9  Here's a few takeaways from this message:  1. Following Jesus involves being disappointed by other followers of Jesus.  2. Hold onto the truth of God's word when others disappoint us.  3. When some people disappoint you, God sends others to encourage you.  4. How can you be faithful to other followers of Jesus?

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused  Part 2 of 9  Here's 3 takeaways from this message: 1. The good news about Jesus can bring hostility- sometimes in our reputation, sometimes in our relationships. In the midst of hostility or indifference, there's still a hunger for the hope that only Jesus can give.  2. Apply the gospel to your own life when experiencing fear, timidity, or shame. The gospel...

Find, Follow, and Stay Focused Part 1 of 9 2 Timothy 1:1-7 We’re starting a new series called “Find, Follow, and Stay Focused.” We’ll be looking at themes from the book of 2 Timothy.  Here’s a few questions for reflection: What is your next step?  How can you be engaged in investing in others to help them find and follow Jesus? Is there a gift of God that you need to “fan into flame”? Have you bee...

Peter- one minute he's saying that he'll give up his life for Jesus, the next he's denying that he even knows Jesus.  The details of our stories may be different, but the big takeaway remains: Jesus stays consistent no matter how many times we turn away from him.

Martha's Epic Meltdown Questions: 1. What are some next steps you could take to cut out distractions that are pulling you away from Jesus? 2. Are you trying to earn God's love and acceptance through your "doing"? 3. Are you staying busy because you're trying to avoid the Lord? 4. What ways can you grow in your relationship with Jesus so your relationship is more like a friend...

King Nebuchadnezzar's boastful pride wrecked his life until he ultimately acknowledged God. Do you have a story like that? On the other hand, are you wrecked by hopeless fear? You may or may not be driven to the wilderness in isolation until your fingernails resemble the claws of a bird, but there's likely something you can relate to in Nebuchadnezzar's story.

Feel tired? Burnt out? Overwhelmed? Elijah did, too (even after God had used him in some pretty miraculous ways). Here's a few things to keep in mind and apply to ourselves when we're struggling:1. God is tender and compassionate to those who are struggling.2. We can tend to only focus on the spiritual, but you are a created being that has physical, emotional, and relational needs.3. God i...

Sometimes the people in the Bible are almost too relatable. Case in point: Moses We’re looking at Moses’ epic meltdown and asking these questions: 1. Have you ever tried your best but everything went wrong? 2. Ever held in together only to lose it in the end? 3. What if God could give you grace anyway? 4. BONUS: Are you in the midst of a slow burn right now?

We're finishing our last message from the life of Joseph with a powerful conclusion. In looking back on the extreme ups and downs from Joseph's life, he sums it all up by saying, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." This phrase has comforted generations of Christians and it's important to clarify what it actually means as we apply it to our own lives. &q...

Caleb Smagacz with Hope Alive shares a message with us from the book of Nehemiah. He left us with this challenge: can we be more like Jesus and live for the sake of others? For more information about Hope Alive and the work they’re doing in Uganda, visit https://hopealiveafrica.org.

As we've read through the book of Genesis, a constant theme has been waiting. Joseph's life has been no different. When he was a kid, he had a dream about being put in a position of power. Shortly after that dream, he was sold into slavery by his brothers and then later wrongfully imprisoned. Thirteen years passed until his dream came to fruition. Yet even in the waiting, God had a purpose...

One of the lessons we can learn from the life of Joseph is that fighting temptation is possible. Here's 5 actions to take when facing temptation:1. Be concerned with how your sin affects others.2. Call sin what it is. 3. Fear the Lord. 4. Pay attention to the warning signs. 5. Run away! Hebrews 4:15-16 explains that Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are, but he did not sin. Because Jes...

We're starting a new series on the life of Joseph. Here's the theme verse: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20) Here's the New Testament equivalent of that verse: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom...

Bad news: In our spiritual journeys, all too often we find ourselves off track.  Good news: 1 John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  Where are you at in your spiritual journey?  Do you need to return to the Lord? Do you need to reaffirm your identity in Jesus?  Do you need to recommit your life to...

“Remember” is a verb- some memories call for worship, some apologies, others forgiveness. Almost all memories call for some sort of action. As we wrestle with our memories, we often wrestle with God. Regardless of our circumstances, the most important thing to remember is who God is- God is good, He loves you, and lives in you.