Springwell Sundays

Myrrh was used as an antiseptic and to embalm the dead. Most likely, it was used in Jesus’ own burial. This is another foreshadowing of the sacrifice Jesus would make for us on the cross when He died for our sins. He rose from the dead to extend to us His gift of grace.

Frankincense oil was a very expensive gift useful for treating sickness and wounds. It was used by the priests during sacrifices in the temple. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us and it was foreshadowed in this gift that He was given at His birth.

Because of its scarcity and value, gold has been known as a gift fit for a king. It was one of the gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus at his birth - a kingly gift for the King of Kings. Do you treat Him like the king of your life? Often, we start off good and then we let the problems of life distract us and we end up putting Him aside.

What holds you back? What are you waiting for? We all have things that seem to hold us back and stop us from being all we want to be, but that doesn’t mean they have to stop us. How do we move past what seems to hold us back?

Sometimes, it can seem as if God’s late. It can even feel like He doesn’t keep His word when life gets complicated or tough. What if, though, those tough times are actually our best times in disguise? Bring a poncho because you may get a little wet!

Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to follow God. He is a direct reflection of all that makes God, God. His example of baptism is one that is often overlooked. Jesus being baptized, though was more than just an example, it said something about who He was. For those of us that choose to get baptized, it says a lot about us as well.

Our expectations often set us up for failure. We expect certain things of ourselves, others, and our life. We have to be willing to let go of expectations in order to take hold of what God really has for us. It’s easier said than done, but it is possible.

Fear is a real thing. It will take hold of us and take us down quickly if we let it. How do we escape fear and move forward into the life God really wants for us? We have to look fear in the face and say, “You won’t control me any longer."

Good desires that are met in bad ways lead to bad things. How do we fight the temptation to choose to satisfy these desires in ways that lead to bad things? It’s all in who we listen to and how we fight temptation.

Everyone wants to find their purpose in life. Often, we start to think that our purpose is stripped away with no hope of finding it. No matter how young or old, fearless or fearful, or how broken we may be, we have to remember that we are all created with a purpose.

Pain. Sin. Mistakes. Rejection. Hurt. We all experience them in one way or another. The key to living a life of freedom and faith, in spite of the pain and hurt, is in how we move forward after it. It’s time to bounce back.

Celebrate Recovery is a big part of Springwell Church. Jesus wants us to live in the freedom He has for us - freedom from our hurts, habit, and hang-ups. It’s not just a recovery program for drugs and alcohol. At Celebrate Recovery, we deal with the sin-issues everyone struggles with.

Realizing you’re broken opens you up to receive God’s grace. Maybe you’ve forgotten the beauty of grace as you go through the daily grind. Maybe you don’t realize that God is a good father and He disciplines His children in order to bring us back to the way He knows is good for us. The truth is that we are all better off broken.

Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you stay in an abusive relationship. Forgiveness means that you let go of what you can’t control and choose to not hold that thing against that person anymore. It’s stopping the root of bitterness from growing up inside you and living in the freedom that Jesus has for you.

We celebrated Springwell's 25th anniversary on Sunday, September 13, during the 11:00 AM service. Join as we recall our past 25 years, look forward to the next 25 years, and have some fun hanging out with each other! It's a party!

Have you ever held a helium-filled balloon and then let it go? Rarely do you worry about where it will land, and what may happen to the balloon during the journey? Why? Because we understand that we aren't in control of what happens to the balloon. Instead of fearing the unknown, let's focus on what God is doing during our journey into the unknown.

Our life is a reflection of our thoughts. How do we sort out the truth, from lies, when it comes to what goes on in our thought life? We have to learn what thoughts to allow to dominate our minds and which ones to push away. That’s the key to living a life of joy.

Our hurts are real. When people let us down or betray us, it hurts. It hurts, but it can also drag us down. How do we let go of the past and deal with it through forgiveness? We have to let go.

Relationships are a tricky thing. When they go wrong, our tendency can be to blame the other person or try to force them to apologize or forgive. The truth is, we can all only do what we can do. We’re not responsible for reconciliation, we’re responsible for our own heart. That can revolutionize our broken relationships.

God uses our ups and downs. Ultimately, everything we endure in life is an opportunity to learn and grow. The things you’re going through right now, while difficult, could be the very things that are preparing you to be the person you need to be.

There is a purpose to the pain.  We can trust God even when our circumstances are tough.  God never leaves us or checks out of our lives. Jesus was tempted in every way we are and lived in the world we live in, He understands your pain. So, go to Him and you’ll find mercy and forgiveness and strength.

Life is full of unfairness and tough times…life is just messed up!  In spite of that, though, there’s a God who’s not absent in those things.  He doesn’t cause evil, but he arranges it and he steers it and he uses it for his purposes. If you believe that, it will so change your faith.

Race too often divides. It divides cities, neighborhoods, and even churches. The truth is, God never intended for us to let it divide us, but for it to diversify the world we live in. How do we unify instead of divide? By talking honestly about our pasts and our presents. We talk about our fears and our dreams. Racial Unity Sunday will give us all an opportunity to learn more about each other.

We all have those chaotic or desperate times in our lives when nothing seems to be going right. How can we continue to stay sane and not just give up? It really comes down to what you’re willing to do and how you’re able to trust.

Conflict comes from what I want, being different than what you want. We’re even in conflict with God. It’s only when we humble ourselves and give our lives to Jesus that He can begin to work inside us and empower us to live humbly as He did. God wants us to not only deal with conflict with Him but to deal with it immediately and face to face.