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Scripture References: Luke 11:1; Matthew 6:5-13; John 5:19, 30; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12 Intro: Welcome. We're continuing our series on prayer, exploring the model Jesus gave His disciples when they asked, "Lord, teach us to pray." We've learned principles from others and from studying, but today focuses on moving beyond theory to intentional practice . Like any skill, growth in pr...

Scripture References: Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2; 1 Chronicles 16:23-31; Psalm 23; Romans 15:8-9; Psalm 100; Psalm 103 Intro: Welcome! We continue our series, "Lord, Teach Us to Pray." Last week, we saw prayer is fundamentally relational ("Our Father"). Today, we explore the very next phrase Jesus taught: "Hallowed be Your name." This reveals prayer is also inherently wor...

Scripture References: Luke 11:1-4 / Matthew 6:9-13; Ephesians 2:18; Romans 8:15-16, 26-27; Mark 14:36; John 17; Matthew 7:7-11 Intro: Welcome to our series, "Lord, Teach Us to Pray." Like Jesus' first disciples, many of us feel inadequate or unsure about prayer ("Need to pray more," "Am I doing it right?"). The good news is prayer can be taught! While prayer styl...

Scripture References: Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4; Romans 8:26 (implied) Intro: Welcome! If you're feeling thirsty for something more, know that Jesus promises living water – satisfaction found only in Him. As a church, everything we do, from singing loudly to dedicating babies, isn't about empty ritual. It’s about consciously reorienting our entire lives around Jesus, who frees us from...

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Scripture References: 1 Kings 18:41-46; James 5:16b-18 (Main); Matthew 6:6; Acts 6:4; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Daniel 9; Luke 11:5-13 Intro: This sermon by guest speaker Dave Patty focuses on prayer, drawing powerful lessons from the example of Elijah, whom James highlights as "a man just like us" whose prayers had extraordinary results. Moving beyond prayer as mere duty, we explore how Elijah...

Scripture References: Acts 1, Acts 8, Acts 9, Acts 19, John 7, 1 Corinthians 14 Intro: Recap of the church's focus on prayer and God's presence. Acts 1:4-8: Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit's power. Emphasis on the transformation from weakness to power through the Spirit. Key Points: The Promise of Power: Jesus' command to wait for the Holy Spirit. "Dunamis" pow...

Scripture References: Hebrews 1, John 1, John 2, John 4, John 13, John 14, Galatians, Acts Intro: Jesus is the exact image of God. Encountering Jesus is encountering God's presence. John 2: Jesus' first sign at a wedding, revealing His glory. The wedding at Cana: a setting for divine intervention. Key Points: The Problem: Running out of wine: a metaphor for life's shortages and cris...

Scripture References: Ephesians 1:11-19; Deuteronomy 32:9; Romans 8:17; John 1:12 Intro: Welcome. This sermon concludes our series on identity in Christ. We've explored God's gracious labels replacing worldly ones: We are Saints (holy), Children (adopted), Redeemed (free). Today's final identity: Heirs (Eph 1:11-19). This truth counters feelings of insecurity and striving. Key Point...

Scripture References: Ephesians 1:3-10; Galatians 4:8-11; Titus 2:13-15; 2 Timothy 1:7; Exodus (narrative) Intro: Welcome to this sermon exploring the crucial question, "Who am I?" We often adopt worldly labels (the smart one, the provider, the good parent), leading to a rollercoaster of pride and despair, and constant exhaustion. The Gospel offers glorious, secure, life-changing identit...

Scripture References: Ephesians 1:1-8, 5:8, Romans 8:15, 1 Corinthians 13 Intro: Recap of identity series, highlighting the struggle to find true identity in the world. The gospel as a gift of new, heaven-sent identity. The four-part gospel: God's identity, God's actions, our new labels, and our resulting actions. Focus on the identity of being "children of God" (adoption). Key...

Scripture References: Ephesians 1:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:8-10 Intro: Welcome. Speaker Tom Shaw kicks off a new series: "Who Do You Think You Are?" exploring identity. We constantly ask "Who am I?" and adopt worldly labels (funny, clever, ugly, laid-back, mom, dad, provider). These labels, based on performance, lead to a draining cycle of pride (when meeting them) or...

Scripture References: Matthew 9:35-38; James 3:16 Intro: It’s a privilege to gather around God's Word. Today, we look at Matthew 9, a passage showing us the heart of Jesus – the one who perfectly reveals God. Before Jesus gives His followers direction, He shows us what He feels and sees, giving us insight into the motivation behind His mission. Key Points: Jesus Saw and Felt: As Jesus encount...

Scripture References: Isaiah 9:1-7; John 1:12; Romans 4:5; 2 Corinthians 1:3 Intro: Good morning. Visiting speaker Tom Shaw observes American enthusiasm, especially around holidays like Christmas. While cultural celebrations (trees, lights, Santa) are common, true Christian enthusiasm stems from the core message: God came to earth as a child. Despite darkness and pain, God dove headlong into our w...

Scripture References: James 5:7-11; Galatians 5:22; Exodus 34:6; 1 Peter 4:12-19; 2 Peter 3:8-9 Intro: Welcome. We continue our "Good Ground" series on the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Today's focus: Patience . In our instant gratification culture ("McDonaldization"), patience feels difficult, even impossible. James 5:7-11 calls suffering believers to patience, defining...

Scripture References: James 5:1-6; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:15-21; Mark 10:23-27 Intro: Good morning. Today we tackle a "deep track" in our James series: James 5:1-6, a harsh warning to the rich. While perhaps initially addressed to wealthy unbelievers oppressing the poor, its message serves as a crucial warning for all of us (who are rich by global standards) ab...

Scripture References: James 4:13-17; Isaiah 14:12-15; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:33; John 4:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Intro: Welcome. We continue our series in James, today looking at James 4:13-17. James confronts a specific way of speaking and planning: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go... trade, make a profit...'" He's not condemning planning itself...

Scripture References: James 4:1-10; Proverbs 3:34; 1 John 2:16; Romans 8:13; 1 John 1:9 Intro: Good morning. James 4 asks a probing question relevant any time, especially during potentially stressful seasons: "Where do wars and fights come from among you?" James uses intense language – wars, fights, murder, adultery – to wake us up. He argues the source isn't primarily external circ...

Scripture References: James 3:13-4:3; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Psalm 73; John 3:25-30; Philippians 2:3-11 Intro: Welcome. Continuing our challenging journey through James, today we explore James 3:13-4:3. James contrasts two types of "wisdom" operating within the Christian community. One leads to disorder and conflict; the other leads to peace and righteousness. He asks: Which wisdom is gu...

Scripture References: James 3:5-12; Luke 6:45; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Peter 2:9-25; James 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Intro: Welcome. Last week we discussed James 3 and taming the tongue. Today, speaker Tiffany Aven extends that vital principle to our modern reality: Taming the Thumb . In just over a decade, smartphones have radically changed communication. How do the biblical principles about our wor...

Scripture: James 3:1-12, Matthew 12:33-37, Isaiah 6:5-8, Hebrews 3:13 Intro: James, Jesus' half-brother, addresses the disproportionate power of the tongue, highlighting its ability to both bless and curse. He uses vivid analogies to illustrate the tongue's influence and the challenge of controlling it. Key Points: The Power of the Tongue: Words have the power to direct (bit, rudder). Wo...

Scripture References: James 2:14-24; Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:17-19; Romans 4:1-5 Intro: Good morning. In our James series, we arrive at a challenging passage: James 2:14-24, where James insists faith without works is "dead" and "useless." This can feel jarring alongside the doctrine of justification by faith alone. James uses Abraham offering Isaac (Genesis 22) as his prime...

Scripture References: James 2:1-13; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 10:17-19; 1 Samuel 16:7; Ephesians 2:4-5 Intro: Good morning. Guest speaker Betsy Slate continues our James series. Last week focused on being doers, not just hearers. Today, James 2:1-13 confronts a specific way our actions often fail to align with our faith: Favoritism or Partiality . James declares this incompatible with faith in...

Scripture References: James 1:21-25; Matthew 7:24-27; James 2:14; Hebrews 11 Intro: Good morning. Today in our James series, guest speaker Jared Turner addresses a core challenge: moving from simply hearing God's Word to actively doing it. James 1:21-25 famously warns against the self-deception of being hearers only. Let's examine this vital call to put faith into action. Key Points: Fou...

Scripture References: James 1:19-20; Exodus 34:5-7; Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 16:32; Nahum 1:3; Matthew 21:12-13 Intro: Welcome. We continue our series in James, today focusing on James 1:19-20: "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry , because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.&q...