Shartel Church

Pastor Steve shares about Shartel's partnership with RightNow Media to bring devotionals, Bible studies, Kids' videos, and more to your house!

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Learning to trust God on our journey is a KEY part of our walk with Him! Hebrews says, “Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.” This message will explore why faith is so critical to our journey and what it means to put confidence in the One who is leading us. If this new year is ANYTHING like the last one, we will have to WALK BY FAITH!

Christmas Eve 2020 by ShartelChurch

The story of the Wise Men reminds us of God’s desire to guide our lives. Jesus came as the “light of the world” to illuminate the way before us. But even before Jesus came, God was guiding. He led Abraham to Canaan. He led the Israelites to the Promised Land. He led Joshua into battle. He led David to the throne. And God will lead US into this new year, despite all the confusion around us, if we w...

The message of Jesus’ ministry was clear: He came for SINNERS! The fact that the angels came to a group of roughnecked shepherds made that point from the very beginning. But if you look back across history, even in Jesus’ lineage, you will find God’s hand of grace had been at work from the Garden! God is a Redeemer. He has ALWAYS been a Redeemer. Jesus was simply the final piece in God’s redemptiv...

From the beginning of His Covenant with us at Abraham, God made one thing very clear: He wanted to BLESS us! Before Jesus showed us how loving God is, we often thought of Him as a God who was out to get us. But He wasn’t! He was a God who wanted to lavish His love and pour out His blessings on His Children. He is FOR us! When the angel came to Mary to tell her what was about to happen, he told her...

Jesus was the direct voice of God. Even before Jesus came, God was speaking. He spoke through the prophets. He spoke through the scriptures. He spoke through the angels. When Joseph got startled by finding out his fiancée Mary was pregnant, God spoke to him to assure him that this crisis he was in was all under control. God is speaking those messages of assurance to us still today!

Jesus said that as we grow in our faith, we have to be careful about sneaky weeds that can choke us out. They are weeds that distract us. They are weeds that steal our focus, our energy, and our focus. They often look like pretty flowers. But they're not. They are the things that take us away from being fruitful for God and the purposes for which He made us. This message will explore what those "w...

Are you prepared for the pain that comes with the promise? Getting the seed of Christ planted in your heart is an incredibly joyful experience. But no sooner do you decide to follow Christ than the problems come. Obstacles. Setbacks. Struggles. Hardships. They are all a part of growing in Christ on this fallen planet. This message looks at how to prepare yourself for the trials and develop the end...

Jesus said that the Enemy wants to steal the seed that God is planting. Do we know how he does that? This message will look at the Enemy works. We'll look at the excuses he gives us, the lies he tells us, and the temptations he places before us. Spiritual warfare is real, and if we're going to be successful, we need to know our Enemy!

"The farmer went out to sow some seeds…" That's what God does EVERY DAY! He is sowing seeds of wisdom. He is sowing seeds of conviction. He is sowing seeds of hope. He is sowing seeds of warning. The only question is, "Are we aware of them?" This looks at how to prepare our hearts and minds for the seeds that God is scattering.

In one of his most powerful discourses, Paul talks about what it means to be “content.” It seems that so much of our happiness is dependent on what we think we have to have. Paul reminds us that happiness is an INSIDE job. Contentment can be ours, whether we have a lot or a little. It’s not what you hold in your hand. It’s what you hold in your heart!

The key to Paul’s success through his trials was how he THOUGHT. In this passage, Paul gives us some great tips on the power of focusing our minds. What gets your attention gets your emotions, and what gets your emotions takes control of your behavior! If you want to change your life, it all begins by letting God transform the way you THINK. Stinking thinking leads to a smelly life!

One of the things that hardship should do is give you a better perspective. So much of what we make a big deal about isn’t really a big deal at all. This is especially true in our relationships. Paul says we should take on that same attitude that Christ had and think of ourselves as servants and helpers instead of rulers. This message looks at how to stop putting our “rights” ahead of our relation...

Going through difficulty makes people long for the “good old days.” The problem is, they really weren’t all that great! In fact, the “good old days” were once called “these trying times!” Paul reminds us to let go of the past because it’s not coming back. Fixing our eyes on where God is taking us keeps us reaching for the future and finding the “new things” God has ahead!

Many people would look at prison and see it as a dark cloud. Paul saw the silver lining in that cloud, and it turned out to be a gold mine! Instead of cursing his luck at not being able to preach in the streets, Paul seized the opportunity to preach in prison! This message will look at how we can find opportunities in the face of overwhelming obstacles. Focusing on what you CAN do, instead of what...

Paul begins his letter by sharing how important the Philippians were to him. Knowing that they were there for him helped his heart to be at ease. He may be facing a tough situation, but he knew he wasn’t alone. That makes a world of difference! This message will look at how to keep relationships strong in the midst of social distancing and fears of a viral outbreak.

There are many statements that Jesus makes that seem counterintuitive. This statement is one of them. Generosity brings back blessings. The truth is that people who are generous and giving are also those who feel the most “blessed” and the most content. We think by clinging to what we have, we’ll keep it. Jesus says by learning to give; we MULTIPLY it! Today we’ll focus on the joy that comes when...

This great story reminds us of Jesus’ ability to make us WHOLE. Four friends bring a buddy who is paralyzed to be healed by Jesus, and he is! Jesus does more than healing the man’s legs. He heals his SOUL! Jesus is the one who can forgive our sins as well as heal our diseases. This sermon will invite people to experience the wholeness of healing that Jesus offers them: Body, mind, and spirit!

In a world that treats people as disposable, God considers us to be precious and priceless. Jesus reminds us that God is so caring that not a single bird falls to the ground without His notice. But WE are much more valuable to God than birds! This message will remind our audience of their intrinsic worth that God has given them. We’ll also remind them that God sees them too…no matter what they are...

We are powerless on our own. We don’t have the wisdom or the strength to do God’s work without God’s help. Jesus reminds us in this passage that we are to “abide” in Him. That means we are to stay close, stay connected, and stay tapped into God’s Spirit. This message will look at how we do that and the symptoms of living out an “unrooted faith.”

What a great challenge! In our passage for today, He reminds us that He’s not just pouring Himself INTO us, but He wants to pour Himself out THROUGH us! We are His “salt” to this world. We are His “light.” Every day, we get to diffuse the life and love of Jesus to everyone we come into contact with. This message will focus on what that looks like and how we can keep from just keeping all of Jesus...

The world’s most recognized verse is one of the most sacred.  It’s is Jesus’ declaration of why He came:  Because God loves us so very much!  This message will focus on the fact that God is not mad at us but is compassionate towards us and wants to lavish His Love on all who will believe. Through the years, lots of great love letters have been written, but none more life-changing than this one.

This week, we'll continue exploring the powerful Presence of God! He is our Immanuel, who promises to be with us no matter what we face. He is the difference-maker. He is the steadying hand upon our shoulder. He is our source of strength. No matter what you are facing in your life, God promises to be there with you every step of the way. Let His Presence lift your head and give you what you need t...

One of the great themes and promises of scripture is God's powerful Presence. He has no desire to be a distant deity. He wants to be WITH US. It is His Presence that gives us courage. It is His Presence that gives us peace. It is His Presence that gives us hope in the darkest of times. This week, we'll look at how we tap into that Presence and invite God to walk with us each day!