Sermons

We live to praise God. This is powerfully demonstrated in our worship.

We live on a pluralistic world. To many, one choice seems just as good as another. Is it really that wide open? The world has differing opinions of Christ. Some are competing claims about Him. Who do you say that He is?

The Holy Spirit empowers us to openly admit that Jesus is Lord. The Spirit also deliberately gives us gifts for the building up of the body of Christ. These gifts are from the Spirit and are for us to use in the building up of the body of Christ and for each other.

Jesus' message was aimed at the Pharisees. He shocked them by telling them that repentant sinners still also be in Heaven. The first will be last and the last will be first. The initiative of Grace lies with God. All of us are in desperate need of God's Grace.

When we talk about faith, some think of the terms belief and trust. We are not called by God to be successful. We are called by God to be faithful.

We make or decisions based on certain authorities in our lives. Rules, experience, money, desires, advice... Many are not comfortable with someone else being the authority for making decisions. It is in our best interests to follow the direction of authorities. The authority of Scriptures stands the test of time, being the inspired word of God.

What motivates you to give to others? What motivates you to serve God?

Saul's heart was hardened for the Law; he was a believer in God's Law and was on a mission to put an end to those of The Way. He encountered Jesus on his mission and learned of his errors. His zeal was terribly misguided.

Do not be afraid. The battle is not yours, but God's. The church has to show up for the battle. The enemy is prone to destroy itself.

What would you do if you could pick your family? How would your choices go?

Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us. Through Jesus, God becomes more involved in the lives of people. In Christmas, God's power spread to all the people, very real in our lives. Frosty came alive and brought joy to children, yet ultimately he sacrificed his life for others.

We are ask just misfits, trying to make our way in life. From the time we were children, couldn't we remember something about ourselves that wasn't just right? Not good enough? God rushes to meet us even when we feel unjustified.

No matter how one feels about the Gift of Christ to the World, there is no stopping the importance of the Salvation God gave us.

Choice is built into the structure of our lives. When we follow and conform to the world, we will become bitter and dismayed.

What we feel inside becomes our outside personality. Sarah laughed because she was promised a joy she thought would never come and saw the humor in it. The Bible does celebrate laughter, while telling of the Good News of Salvation.

The life of the believing Christian is a life of risking the unknown. We take on risk as we leave the security of the familiar. The risky life of faith is the only way we can take on the world. Abraham's faith was shown in his belief in God. What needs to be done to take that risk and step out?

People can organize to create great things, but to what purpose? Is personal pride involved? Make a great name? Too many try to create an identity apart from God and His Law. They want to achieve and self-worship without acknowledging God. One cannot look up (to God) while looking down (to the self). Remember, nothing quite fails so grandly as a success without God.

What kind of witness have we been, as a church? Aren't we a little hard on each other, politically or socially? What is ministry supposed to look like? To witness means to open our hearts and tell others of what happened, speaking in truth.