Shartel Church

Though it’s not always easy for us to admit, there are times when we need to be able to walk away from a relationship. Like when the relationship has become toxic or harmful, or dangerously unhealthy. Or like when we recognize there is a vast difference in our values and ethics. Or like when there is abuse taking place. Here we’ll explore the times when a relationship is going nowhere and how to e...

Have you ever noticed how many times you have to merge as you drive? How about in your relationships? When you move into a new neighborhood. When you take a new job. When you marry. When you have kids. When you “blend” your family with another family. This message will look at those transitional times and how to navigate them without crashing into each other and creating relational crises.

Rough roads are a part of EVERYONE’S journey at one time or another. Though we come to expect a few twists and turns in our relationships, we usually don’t foresee all the potholes and debris we will encounter. One of the most important skills we can learn is how to navigate on troublesome relational roads. Learning how not to overreact or overcompensate can save your life while driving. It can al...

Problems occur in our relationships when we move too fast. We tend to microwave almost everything, relationships included! We make commitments before we actually know the person, or we allow others to dictate the speed. In this message, I will focus on some of the speed limits we need to consider, whether in a business, personal, or romantic relationship. If we want relationships that are healthy...

We often say that being a Christian is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. That is a very true statement. Sometimes, what we miss is that this relationship is not one where we come in and stay the same. Jesus doesn't call us into a relationship and desire us to be the same. He calls us to become a New Creation. He calls us to leave our life of flesh, to let the old things pass away, and...

This week's message focuses on what it means to be spiritually grounded, not in our accomplishments, performance, or outward success, but in the unchanging love of God.

The problem with most of our kids is US! The attitudes they have, the values they choose, the character they develop…most of it comes from what they’ve seen in their own home. Though ultimately our kids must choose for themselves, they absorb an awful lot from us. This message will look at how to address our own “stuff” so that our kids might not repeat the sins of their parents.

On this Mother’s Day, we will be doing a Child Dedication. But what is OUR role? What is it that God wants US to do with these children? This message explores the purposes of parenting and the plan God had in mind when He created us to live in families.

Paul was religious but not victorious. He knew the scriptures but he couldn’t live them out. He knew a lot about God but he didn’t really know God. In Romans 7 he details his defeated life. Then he experienced the Resurrected Jesus. Paul discovered that he needed more than knowledge. He needed POWER. And that power comes from the Resurrected Christ living in us and through us. You can discover how...

Have you ever been afraid? Sure you have. Fear has a paralyzing quality to it that can keep us from moving forward with our lives. Especially when that fear comes from failure. Peter experienced that. When Jesus needed Peter the most, Peter denied he even knew Him. Peter, gripped by fear, retreated and hid. But then came the Resurrection. And that fearful, cowering disciple became a powerful preac...

When the disciples discovered that Jesus had risen from the dead, it was as though THEY came back to life, too! Their JOY was restored. Their BELIEF was renewed. And their souls were filled with HOPE. This Resurrection Sunday, we will look at how Jesus can be that same Living Hope for you. No matter how bleak your circumstances have been, there is a Resurrection waiting for YOU!

Have you ever lost faith? Most of us have, along the way. Disappointments, losses, and setbacks all have their way of taking the wind out of our spiritual sails and filling our minds with doubt. Thomas is a good example of that. He was a faithful follower until he saw Jesus arrested and crucified. Then, doubt took over. That is, until he experienced the Resurrection for himself. May God restore YO...

Baptism is such a beautiful visual of the Resurrection. It reminds us that we can bury our past, bury our failures, and bury our shame. Just as Christ rose to a New Life, so can we! We not only come up out of the water with clean bodies, we come up with a clean slate upon which we can write a New Story. The Resurrection means that no matter how “dead” we may have been, we can live New Lives!

One of the names God revealed Himself by was “Jehovah Raphe, the God who heals us.” One of the primary ministries of Jesus was as a healer as well. So, too, as the Church, we are to be a safe place for people who are hurting. We are to open our doors and our arms to those who are wounded, those who are struggling, and those who society often casts aside. In a world filled with hurting people, we a...

The church is more than an organization. It’s an ORGANISM! It’s a living, breathing extension of God Himself. Because of that, we only have life when we’re connected to God. This message will explore how to “abide” in Christ and allow His love and strength to flow through us.

Christ came from heaven to earth with a mission: To bridge the gap between God and those far from Him. And then He gave that mission to US! Paul reminds us in this week’s passage that we are ambassadors—agents of God’s grace, emissaries of His love, and spreaders of His gospel. This week, we’ll look at how we can carry out that role in our homes, schools, offices, and neighborhoods.

From the beginning of the Abrahamic covenant, God has called His People to be His Army on earth. As we pray, speak, and step up and step out, God’s Spirit battles through us. This message will look at the armor that God gives us and the weapons that God gives us to fight the good fight of faith here on earth.

In His wisdom, God wanted His People to be more than just an organization. He wanted them to be a Family. A Family that looks out for each other. A Family that holds each other accountable. A Family that loves greatly, protects fiercely, and shares with each other generously. Anyone can join a club, but only God can make you a member of His Family!

One of the beautiful descriptions that Paul gives of the church is that we are the body of Christ. We all have different functions. We all have different gifts and talents. Only as we work together do we function as a “body.” This message will challenge each person to identify and step into their part in the Body.

You can’t microwave a love relationship with God. It takes time to get to know God and how He works in our lives. Continuous. Daily. Constant. These are the words that describe the journey that leads to growth and intimacy with God. This message will focus on what it takes to cultivate a relationship with God that lasts a lifetime.

Doubt. Fear. Insecurity. Disappointment. Shame. These are many of the emotions that sabotage our relationships. Including our relationship with God. Just like we need to have occasional “hard talks” with those we are close to, the same is true of God. God wants to hear our hearts—even when our hearts are troubled and confused. We can’t be close to a God we’re not honest with.

There’s an elephant in the room. Ever heard that expression? It means there’s something that’s a problem that no one is talking about. It happens with God. We can’t draw close to God while we’re flirting with the Devil. James says drawing near to God also involves resisting the Enemy. This message will focus on getting rid of the things that are keeping us from God.

While many ways of hearing God can be confusing, one way is clear: the Word of God! God’s Word is His most direct way of speaking to our hearts, giving us strength for our journey, and helping us understand how to live. This message will look at how we can utilize the Bible to hear God’s voice and draw closer to Him in our daily walk.

How often do we find ourselves in proximity to people we say we love, but we’re not really listening to them? You can’t be close to people you don’t know, and you can’t get to know others without listening to them. Same with God. This message will focus on the significance of listening to God—especially the importance of listening to God through His Word.

Christmas reminds us that though we drifted away from God, He has never left us. In fact, He seeks to be NEAR. The same Jesus that was born among us, walked among us, and ministered among us, is STILL with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. This Christmas Eve we will celebrate the God who is HERE.