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Scripture References: Philippians 2:12-16; Romans 7:15-25; Acts 16:16-34; Habakkuk 3:17-19 Intro: Welcome back to our series "Living in the Tensions." We often experience the Christian life as "ups and downs" based on circumstances or feelings. But Philippians 2:12-16 invites us into a different rhythm: the "ins and outs." God working in us, and us working out our sal...

Scripture References: Philippians 2:1-11; Proverbs 6:16-17; James 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:5; Isaiah 66:2; Mark 10:35-45 Intro: Greetings. While we desire spiritual progress, growth is often hindered. What's the biggest obstacle? Scripture is clear: God hates pride (Prov 6:16-17). It led to Satan's fall and humanity's expulsion from Eden. Conversely, God looks to and gives grace to the humbl...

Scripture References: Philippians 1:27-30; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:10-13; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 1 Samuel 14:1-15 Intro: We're exploring Philippians, seeking joy, unity, purpose, and contentment. But it's crucial to understand: stepping into these kingdom realities involves a fight. The Christian life isn't just a peaceful journey or playground; it's often a battleground. Pau...

Scripture References: Philippians 1:12-18; Romans 14:17; Romans 8:38-39; John 15:11 Intro: Greetings! It's a joy to be with you. Mission involves presenting the Kingdom in a way that invites people into life. But how do we maintain life and hope ourselves, especially when facing obstacles? Today, drawing from Paul's experience in Philippians 1, we explore how to be awake to joy even amid...

Scripture References: Acts 16:11-40; Philippians (Context); Galatians 3:28; Matthew 28:19-20 Intro: Welcome! We're starting a study in Philippians, a unique letter Paul wrote expressing friendship and joy to a maturing church. But to understand Philippians, we first look at its radical beginnings in Acts 16. The founding of this church reveals the diverse, unstoppable, barrier-breaking power...

Scripture References: Matthew 4:19; John 13:35; Zechariah 7:9-10; Psalm 68:5-6; Isaiah 58:6-12 Intro: Welcome to today's sermon. We explore a crucial question: Is our community our ultimate mission , or are we a community on mission ? Community is a precious gift from God, but it's meant to point beyond itself. When good things become God things, they become idols. Let's discern if...

Scripture References: Acts 1:6-8; Psalm 68:5-6; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Matthew 28:20 Intro: Welcome to today's sermon! We've explored following Jesus into love, worship, and service. Now, we take all that and follow Him into mission . Faith isn't meant to be held inward; it's meant to go outward. My hope today is to stir possibility in our hearts – what co...

Scripture References: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15, Luke 11:2-4) Matthew 5:38-48 Hebrews 12:15 Intro: Welcome to today's sermon. Over the past couple of weeks, we've been exploring the complex topic of forgiveness. If you missed those sermons, I encourage you to catch up on our website. Today, we're addressing the crucial question: How do we actually forgive? We all agree...

Scripture References: Matthew 18:21-35 Romans 6:23 Hebrews 12:5-6, 15 Matthew 5:43-48 Intro: Welcome to today's sermon. We're continuing our series on forgiveness, moving beyond the "what" to explore the crucial question of "why." Forgiveness is not optional for followers of Jesus; it's a sacred duty. We've all been hurt and have hurt others, making forgiven...

Scripture References: Matthew 6:9-15; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:30-32; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Psalm 130:4; Isaiah 53:6 Intro: Welcome to this sermon. Let's be honest: our actions and lives often contradict what we say about forgiveness. For the next few weeks, let’s be teachable and willing to face the truth about where we stand. Understanding and practicing forgiveness is crucial for our future i...

Intro: Series recap: Following Jesus into various aspects of Christian living. Today's focus: Following Jesus into prayer. Introduction of guest speaker (Glenn) and his passion for prayer. Prayer for the speaker: Blessing and empowerment. Key Points: David's Example (Psalm 27): David's immediate response to God's call to seek His face (Psalm 27:8). Contrast with our tendency to...

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12 1 Corinthians 14 Romans 12 Romans 8:26 Intro: Today's sermon delves into the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12. This is a vital topic for our church, and I encourage you to further explore these gifts beyond this overview. Remember, these gifts are for the edification of the church, not for personal gain. Key Points: Unity in Dive...

Scripture References: 1 Peter 4:10 1 Corinthians 12 Ephesians 4:11-12 Romans 12 Acts 5 Intro: As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve, mirroring His example. Today, we'll explore the gifts God has given us for this purpose, focusing on the gifts from the Father (Romans 12) and the Son (Ephesians 4). These gifts are for the edification of the church and should be exercised within scriptu...

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 13:8-12; Ephesians 4:11-14; John 1; Philippians 2; Acts 6:8; Acts 8:6; Galatians 3:5 Intro: Welcome. We're continuing our series on Following Jesus Into Service, focusing today on spiritual gifts, particularly the miraculous/revelatory gifts (1 Cor 12). This is a debated topic: Have these gifts ceased (Cessationism), or do they continue (C...

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4, Acts 4:29-30 Sermon Title: Eagerly Desiring: The Gifts of the Spirit and Service Intro: Welcome and context: We're in February, focusing on service, building upon servant attitudes and stewardship. Shifting focus to the gifts of the Spirit, emphasizing their purpose in serving and building up the church. Addressing pot...

Scripture References: Matthew 25:14-30, Psalm 50:10, Haggai 2:8, 1 Peter 4:10, Luke 16:11, Psalm 90:12, 1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Genesis 14, Genesis 28, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 9, Galatians 6:6, 1 John 3:17, Ephesians 4:28, Galatians 2:10, Malachi 3:8-10, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Timothy 4:7 Intro: Series reminder: Following Jesus into love, worship, service, etc. Today's focus:...

Scripture References: Philippians 2:1-16; John 1:1-3, 14; Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17; Ephesians 5:26 Intro: Good morning. This month, we're following Jesus into service. Today, we behold Jesus as the ultimate servant. The goal isn't just more information, but that the absurd profundity of the eternal God taking the form of a servant would pierce our hearts, changing how we live and serve H...

Scripture References: Ephesians 5:22-33, Romans 13:1-2, Ephesians 5:15-21, 1 Peter 3:1-7 Intro: Series recap: Authority and submission (Scripture, Jesus, church). Today's focus: Authority and submission in marriage. Key principles of submission:  Freedom found in submission, not independence. Submission to delegated authority (home, church, state). God establishes authority; rebelling against...

Scripture References: Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 4:15-16, Revelation 2, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Acts 20:28, Matthew 18 Sermon Title: Authority and Leadership in the Church Intro: Recap of previous sermon: Jesus' model of submission and suffering. Focus shift: Moving from what submission is to how and when it is practiced. Series overview: Authority in the church (today...

Scripture References: Luke 24, John 1, John 14, Romans 5, Romans 13:1, Genesis 16:9, 1 Peter 2, 1 Peter 3, 1 Peter 4 Intro: Six-month series: Exploring God's call to Radiant Church. January focus: Following Jesus into submission. Upcoming topics: Service, forgiveness, mission. Goal: Inviting members to commit to these values. Review of previous sermon: Authority of Scripture (God's autho...

Scripture References: Isaiah 51:1-3; Genesis 12-14; Ephesians 4:31-32; Hebrews 12:15; Luke 6:45 Intro: Welcome to this sermon exploring faith through the life of Abraham. As Isaiah encourages, let's look to him as our example. True faith builds trust in God, which empowers us to do two critical things: release hurts and offenses, and reach out in love, even when it's difficult. Let'...

Scripture References: Luke 12:35-40; Hebrews 11; Luke 1; Psalm 27:14; 1 Peter 4:7-11; Hebrews 10:23-25 Intro: Welcome to this sermon in our series on faith. Last week, we explored faith as an active expectation and a refusal to settle, using Abraham as our example. Today, we explore another dimension: faith also asks us to wait . This might seem contradictory, but Hebrews 11 shows faith manifests...

Scripture References: Hebrews 11:1, 6; Isaiah 51:1-3; Genesis 11:31-12:1; John 11:40; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 13:7-8; Romans 14:23 Intro: Welcome to this first sermon in a three-week series on faith. Preaching this requires faith, as I don't always feel full of it! We'll explore faith using Advent themes: Expectation, Preparation, Trust, Response, and Celebration. Today focuses on Fai...

Scripture References: Matthew 24:12-14; Psalm 34:5; 1 Corinthians 13; Matthew 6:5-6; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; Matthew 18:3 Intro: Welcome to today's sermon. A question has been running through my head: Is my love growing up, or is it growing cold? Jesus warned in Matthew 24 that in the last days, "because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold." But He also said...

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 13; Romans 12:9; Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 10:22-25; 1 John 4:19; James 3:14-16 Intro: Welcome to today's sermon. Like contestants on "The Price is Right," we constantly assess value in life. It's easy to misprice things, letting petty things become important and crucial things get ignored. Our church community...