Illuminate Community Church

The phrase, "Not of this world" is perhaps best known for a clothing company. However, these are words spoken by Jesus about His kingdom. I think they sound pretty cool. Like something from a sci-fi movie. In truth, these words carry more practical implications than anything found in Star Wars. You see, Jesus is telling us that in the midst of the cracked, brokenness, and fractures of this planet,...

In Old Testament times, attorneys didn't really exist in Israel. Defending the accused was such a sacred duty that the judge refused to delegate the work to anyone else. The judge himself served as the defender of the accused. The Jewish Encyclopedia gives insight: “attorneys at law are unknown in Jewish law.” Their legal code required judges to “lean always to the side of the defendant and give h...

We've all felt the sting of rejection. Jesus knows the pain. In John chapter 5 we see the religious leaders reject him, in chapter 6 most of his disciples leave. In the beginning of chapter 7 we see his family refusing to believe in him. In 7:25 -52 we see his own people question his credentials. Through all of the scorn Jesus stays on mission when in the middle of a massive gathering for a Jewish...

You've probably noticed that it's easy to get swept up in the crowd mentality. Mob psychology is very powerful and it causes us to act without thinking. Perhaps you've even seen this in yourself. It's not hard to get carried away by the tide of culture. You don't even have to put forth an effort. Simply step into the current and you're floating along. This is what Jesus experienced not long after...

In John 6:1-15 we read John's account of Jesus feeding the 5000. In this story, we see how God can use what little we have and turn it into something beyond our imagination.

As we continue our "Who is Jesus?" series in a study of the Gospel of John we see Jesus claim to be God and point to John the Baptist as His witness confirming this, yet the religious leaders rejected Him.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am - John 8:58 " - Marvel at His works - Trust in His power - Honor His authority Check out Phillipians 2:1-11

In John 5 we read of the account of Jesus healing a lame man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. Jesus did this to make a statement about the man made laws that the religious leaders had put upon the people.

"How much do you have to hate someone to not proselytize?" - Penn Jillette Jesus is an evangelist. The motivation for evangelism is love. If Jesus is Who He said He was, then a private faith is cruel.

As we study the story of the woman at the well in John 4 we learn more about who Jesus is. He compares himself to a spring that won't run dry, being in the desert, just as in the Middle East we understand water to be the source of life, thus Jesus is saying he is the Source of Eternal life. Please subscribe to our channel for future sermons and videos of our church!

Turning Tragedy Into Triumph: As we remember Good Friday and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ we celebrate the power Jesus has over death and the grave. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” - early followers of Jesus on the first Palm Sunday. Jesus is the true King. The King comes in humility. The King comes to liberate you.

“Nothing is so suicidal to a man’s soul than to turn away from the only remedy which can heal his soul.” J.C. Ryle “God”...The greatest Lover “So loved”...The greatest degree “The world”...The greatest number “That He gave”…The greatest act “His only begotten Son”…The greatest gift “That whosoever”…The greatest invitation “Believeth”...The greatest simplicity “In Him”...The greatest Person “Should...

"I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him." Charles Spurgeon Jesus makes a scene at the temple and here's what we learn: Jesus wanted to keep the old temple holy. Jesus is the new temple. The Spirit of God resides in us, therefore we are a temple and Jesus wants to make us holy. 1 Corinthians 3:16

"Churches should feel more like the waiting room for a doctor and less like a waiting room for a job interview. In a job interview, we all try to look as good and impressive as we can. Weaknesses are buried and hidden. But in a doctor's waiting room, we assume everyone there is sick and needs help." - Tim Keller 1. Why must one be "born again"? 2. "I will remove from you a heart of stone and give...

It's Jesus' debut miracle. What could it be? Heal a leper, give sight to a blind person, raise a dead man? No. Jesus' first miracle keeps the party going. Jesus' "hour" is not yet come, but it is in focus. Jesus is the giver of joy. Don't settle for cheap wine.

"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." G. K. Chesterton The call to discipleship - "Come and see." Leaving the old life behind. The opportunity to find your life by losing it.

As we continue our series "Who is Jesus?" we look at what John the Baptist said about Jesus. John the Baptist considered himself unworthy to even untie the sandals of Jesus, and yet Jesus referred to him as the greatest man. What was the reason? How does one who considers themselves low in the sight of God be considered righteous and lifted in His sight? Testify. "John the baptist is the greatest...

"God will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly His own boundless power and delight and goodness." C.S. Lewis Who Is Jesus? The giver of a new life. The giver of a new family. The giver of a new futu...

Who is Jesus? Who did Jesus claim to be? As we begin our new sermon series in the Gospel of John we will explore these questions that John answered. "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." - C.S. Lewis Jesus is eternal. Jesus is God. Jesus is the logos. (The reason for life)

Before Jesus left the earth He left us with the Great Commission to go and make disciples. More than 150,000 people die every day, many don't know Jesus. Someone brought the gospel to you. The command in context: 1. Jesus has the authority, so then... 2. Go and make disciples, remembering... 3. Jesus will always be with you. The Roman's road gospel… Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 5:8 Romans 10:9-1...

Spiritual growth means growing to know how God wants us to live so that we seek to please Him in all things. Agents of growth… God's Spirit. God's Word. Trials. God's People.

Belong, Grow, Go - three simple words keeping us focused on achieving our mission of Knowing Christ and Making Him Known! (Romans 8:15 - the church is a family.) Belonging to a church family helps you understand yourself and God. Belonging to a church family keeps you from falling away. Belonging to a church family helps you stay focused on Jesus. Hebrews 10:24 -25 Romans 12:4-5