Sermon Reflections from Jesus is the Point | Alex Hardt | April 28, 2024
Pastor Alex’s sermon this Sunday had many places where your heart and spirit wanted to shout “Amen”. This month Pastor Alex sought to imprint upon us that in various ways the truth of our memory verse from Matthew 16:15-16. “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” If you were asked today, who would you say that Jesus is? Would you agree with Peter and recognize him as the Messiah, the Christ who came to save you? Or would he be just a good man to be looked up to? In Sunday’s sermon, the case was made that Jesus is who he says he is and did what he said he did for you and me! He wants us to be able to live for Him with God honoring lives and to be in relationship with Him. Pastor Alex started in Matthew 5:17-20 where Jesus states why he came and proclaims that all scripture points to Him. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Jesus came to fulfill every single bit of the law leaving nothing undone. Later in Matthew 11 where John sends his disciples to question Jesus whether or not he is the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus tells them to look and see what he is doing or has done and match it with prophecy of what the Messiah would do. Exodus 4:11 “Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” Later in Isaiah 29:18-19 it was foretold what the Messiah would do, “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. 19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.” Jesus was saying, look at what I’m doing and you’ll see that I’m doing exactly what it was said I would do. Seeing is believing- look and see! In Isaiah 53 Isaiah writes about the suffering servant, Messiah who would suffer and die to save us. “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” All these ancient words describe in detail who Jesus was, what he did and why he came. All scripture points to Jesus as 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Do you ever ask yourself, what do I know about God? Who is He, what is He like? Jesus points us to God. I love Hebrews 1:3 and the description the writer gives of Jesus. “ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Jesus embodies the very nature of God and reveals God to us in all he says and does. God’s Word is filled with the examples of who Jesus is, what he did here on earth. The Word tells us Jesus came with God’s authority to act and reveal more about God to the world. Jesus spoke of his authority often, John 12:49 as he sought to help his followers see who he was more clearly. “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” Jesus embodied the authority of God as well as all His character. He was longsuffering, loving, kind, gracious, merciful, forgiving and wise. He totally reflects God the Father in his character while reaching out to us with love. Jesus revealed God to us while here on earth. He often spoke of the oneness he shared with his heavenly father. He even prayed for us to be united with him as he is with the Father in John 17:20-22 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,” Jesus wanted us to be a part of Him and know that connectedness to the Father. He desired that we know Him and take refuge, hope, strength, courage…. From the Father. Most importantly Jesus wanted us to believe in Him so that we would be saved eternally and joined to His family. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” Are you a part of God’s family yet? If not, why not? Jesus is waiting for you to come to him. His arms are open wide to surround you today. Linda Thank you Pastor Alex for a clear sermon that points us to JESUS! MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass Sermon Reflections from Jesus is Alive| John Klobuchar | April 21, 2024
It was a pleasure to have John with us this Sunday giving the message and telling us more about the Bay Area Chaplin’s ministry. John oversees this ministry and works directly with inmates on a daily basis. His goal is “To Make Christ Known.” Working with the segment of society that is incarcerated is a calling and requires understanding, insight and wisdom as he seeks to make Christ relevant and meaningful to those in hard circumstances. Regardless of where we are in life, Christ is the answer. Showing the inmates the pathway to life and true freedom holds a spiritual challenge for the one who is delivering the message. Knowing that God is impartial and His Holy Spirit can cut across any boundary or barrier is essential. John knows this and walks this pathway each day. John encouraged us from the book of Colossians as he read 3:1-17. As John does with the inmates, he sought to show us that the things we have in Christ are already there, accomplished, finished. We have these things by faith and are now hidden within Christ ourselves. We are secure in Christ. Knowing this we are instructed by Paul to put aside our old self, our old nature and put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to leave that old life and those sins that came so easily to us and take up a new course with Christ. Even though we may not be in jail for crimes, we too have committed crimes against God. We are all sinners as we are reminded in Romans 3:23 “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Thankfully, in Christ we are all new creations 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” All of us, regardless of who we are or where we live or what we’ve done need Jesus. He is the answer, John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Jesus is the answer. Whether John is at the prison, at home with family or with us, he is striving to make Christ known as he knows that Jesus is the answer! 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass Sermon Reflections from Sustenance From Heaven | Alex Hardt | November 5, 2023
After a very difficult week physically, Pastor Alex shared with us his journey that led him to focus more clearly on what is important and why God’s love transcends all pain and supports us in ways nothing else on earth can. Sometimes the greatest lessons come through our pain and suffering as we learn to focus on Him and what He provides 24/7. His support will never fade or diminish and is always available. The passage Pastor Alex had chosen to focus on is one that answers our needs and points us to Christ. As I read through the passage, I was almost knocked over by all the promises contained in those few verses in John 6:35-40. They are eternal promises from our good God who sees to our every need. Many times we focus on our wants and think that is what we need, but God knows and provides exactly what we need. Pastor Alex needed his focus to be rebooted and his priorities realigned. I too needed that and took the pain filled lessons to Pastor Alex into my life. God was trying to get Alex’s attention to realign his life and priorities, He has done that to me also. Thanks Alex for your heartfelt sharing. Now to the eternal promises in this passage. I pray that they will dive deep into your heart and help you to adjust yourself anew to His kingdom work and life. These verses come after Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 and walked on water to join the disciples during a storm. The crowd was surprised as they saw the disciples leave in a boat to go to the other side but did not see Jesus with them. Later they saw him on the other side. They questioned him about how he got there and were looking for him to perform more miracles. Jesus knew what they needed was spiritual food-sustenance from heaven! 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus promises that belief in Him will provide heavenly food and drink that will satisfy our souls. We do not need to look anywhere else as all is found in Jesus. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” This promise is comforting as when we come to Jesus in faith, He will NEVER send us away. We belong to Him and will never be cast aside as worthless or useless. We are precious in His sight and are loved by Him. This promise sends my thoughts to John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Praise God!! 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. These 2 verses have 2 precious promises. 1- Those who put their faith in Jesus will never be lost by Him and 2- He will raise us up to be with him eternally if we die before He returns. Our salvation is an eternal promise from Jesus to be kept for, with and by Him for all time. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” Here Jesus repeats His promise to raise us up to be with Him eternally and that belief in Him gives us eternal life. Jesus has repeatedly told us in John that belief in Him secures eternal life for the believer. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 5:24 ““Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 17:34“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Which of these precious promises did you need to hear today? Take it to heart, thank Him for His promises and life changing Word. Claim His promises in your life this week and experience a realignment yourself as you refocus on Jesus, the one who sustains and holds us close. Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Alex Hardt September 4 What is my Center?
As I reflect today on Pastor Hardt’s sermon, I am in total agreement that having Jesus Christ as the center of my life makes sense. The question is asked in scripture, who is like you God? Psalm 71:19 “Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?” Psalm 89:8 “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.” Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. If I can choose to have God at the center of my life rather than man made things, goals, money, power, knowledge…. Why would I not choose God? He is eternal and not bound by this temporal world. The other goals will fail and fade but God will endure forever. Reading Psalm 121 here in the Message translation. It helped me see more clearly God’s desired role in my life. 121 1-2 I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. Creator God gives me strength for living. 3-4 He won’t let you stumble; your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. Omnipresent, Sovereign God knows my every move and seeks to protect me. He is awake on the job 24/7! 5-6 God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you-- Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God is a loyal guardian, seeking to protect me day and night. 7-8 God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always. God protects me both physically and spiritually. God is eternal and will be with me always. If you could choose, and you can, a God that is kind, loving, merciful, faithful, forgiving, protector, defender, sovereign and eternal over doing things yourself in your own power? What is the wise choice? Seek today the creator of the universe and bow humbly before Him. God promises if you seek Him, he will be found. To know Him is to love Him more and more! Linda SERMON LINK Hope Unites | What is my center? Sermon Link https://youtu.be/prQHCutHx7c Sermon series, "Hope Unites." Today Alex teaches from Psalm 121 If you are local, please join us for our weekly service. Our Sunday service is held at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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