Sermon Reflections from God's Love and Worldly Love | Alex Hardt | October 22, 2023
Pastor Alex began his message with examples of statements that are untrue but are commonly accepted as truth or possible truth. Now we have Google and can check things almost instantly when one is in doubt. The Apostle John was concerned about believers being led astray and deceived by conflicting messages. He wanted the believers then and now to be able to discern truth from falsehood in regard to God. He tells us in verse 1 to test the messages and messengers, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. “ He wanted believers informed and not swayed by false messages and messengers. He had a fool proof method of detection. Verses 2-3 “ This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” Putting it in today’s language one needs to ask, Does the message or messenger acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior? Is their message all about Jesus and his work on the cross or something else? Do they say Jesus rose from the dead? Do they say Jesus redeemed us through his blood and restored our relationship with God or is something else involved we have to work for? If their answers do not center of Jesus and his work on the cross and resurrection from the dead, they are not from or of God. We have to know the source of our truth. We need to know about God and his plan of salvation through Jesus. Our faith needs to be placed in Jesus and his redemptive work on the cross and resurrection from the dead alone. Knowing that God is our source of love and truth, will lead us. We can speak from God’s perspective when we focus on Him and trust unswervingly in His omniscience. God knows all and has it covered. Verse 4 should help us solidify our godly perspective “ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We don’t need to worry about the world’s opinions. Our focus and listening ear should be towards God knowing for certain He hears, loves and cares for us! Listening to God, we will be able to hear His truth and know what is right. Someone may ask, how do you know? I love Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” As a believer, when I say that I believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit dwelling within me affirms that it is truth. If I tried to say that as an unbeliever, there would be no confirmation within my soul as it would be a lie. Knowing we belong to Jesus, leads us to love others. Without Jesus, we would not have that desire. 1 John 4:7-8 “ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Knowing God lead us to love others- to demonstrate His love to the world. What kind of love is this? John tells us of the sacrificial love of God in verses 9-10 “9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” In verse 11, God calls us to a higher level of love for each other, “ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Where is God calling you to love sacrificially? Who is He asking you to love even though you don’t really want to? I can’t imagine God wanted to send Jesus to his death for our sins, but He did it because he loved us so much. John 3:16 states this perfectly, “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.” God wants us to be with him eternally! God wants us filled with His love and loving others! John adds in an additional caveat for loving God. In verse 16b-18 “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” If we have God’s love within us and act in love towards others, we can live in confidence and eternal hope. We do not need to fear the future or be anxious about our sins and punishment. In God’s love there is no fear as He has washed our sins away and covered us with His love. We will be held accountable for our actions and words but there is no death penalty as faith in Jesus had rendered us ‘not guilty’. Take these verses to heart. Romans 10:9-10 “ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” And Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—“ Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Colossians 1:13-14“ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The Bible is filled with the truth of God’s love towards us and the forgiveness, restoration and redemption for all eternity. Read it and claim it for yourself. Have a blessed week walking in His love. 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 Sin and Righteousness | Alex Hardt | October 15, 2023
What do you know about righteousness? Biblically, it is right standing with God that comes through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The contrast between the righteousness we have through Christ and living a life where we are stuck in the rut of habitual sinning is the topic of 1 John 3. Pastor Alex began is sermon this Sunday with a look at our own counterfeit behaviors. It is important to know a counterfeit when you see one. Are we willing to acknowledge them and turn them over to God? In 1 John 3, John says that continual sinning on our part is not how true believers will act. Those who are pretending to be believers or who are just going through the motions of being ‘Christian’ are not of God. These are sobering thoughts that cause us to evaluate our own walk with Jesus. How do others see me? As a sincere believing Christian who tries to follow Jesus in word and deed or as a phony, a pretender, who says they are Christian but does not speak or act as one who follows Jesus? John wants us to know that by belonging, or following Jesus, we are children of God. We bear His name, His Spirit and are created in His image. As God’s children we are loved equally, cared for, protected, and taught how to be more like His Son, Jesus. He has truly adopted us fully into His family and we are HIS! I love 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” God proclaims that we are His children. The reason He gives for us not ‘fitting in’ to the world is that the world does not know Him and we belong to Him. However, we fit perfectly into His kingdom because we do know Him as our heavenly Father. What a great assurance for each of us that our value and worth comes from the Father’s love and belonging to Him. How does one recognize a counterfeit? With money, the bills can looks so perfect that they are not recognizable except by an expert. God is the expert and knows our hearts so no one can ‘get past’ God, so to speak. Our job is not to waste time trying to root out the counterfeit Christians but to live our lives proclaiming Jesus. We are to put on His righteousness daily and seek to show Him to those around us. What does that look like? It is different for each of us but evidence of our faith and the working out of our salvation will be evident in the fruits of the Spirit that are found in our lives. Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Are you seeing more of these fruits in your life? Do you see a decrease in your passion for worldly things and an increase in your desire to please and serve God? It does not happen overnight but is a lifelong process as we put on His Righteousness daily and seek to Put Off worldly standards and actions. Pastor Alex also wanted us to realize that pursuing God in our lives is a destiny making proposition. If we pursue God fully with a heart committed to Jesus and we will be mightily used by God in His kingdom. If we are ‘stuck’ in the world, driven by earthly desires, pleasures and goals, it will lead us to make poor decisions and not be kingdom effective. We have to choose- follow the world and with its goals and rewards or follow God and receive His purpose for our lives and His eternal rewards. The choices we make today affect our tomorrow. Choose wisely. Choose life in Jesus or death. I pray you will join me in saying, I choose life in Jesus. Joshua put it this way when presenting this same question to the Israelites in Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 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 Love and Hatred | Alex Hardt | October 8, 2023
Pastor Alex spoke candidly about the world’s pressures upon us to choose its ways over God’s. Our sin nature predisposes us towards that, but our Spiritual nature from God moves us towards Him in spite of our propensity to sin. We are reminded of Jesus’ words of promise in 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We are comforted by this truth for we know that we will be victorious in Him. Our text for today was 1 John 2 and begins with obedience in the face of sin. John acknowledges that we all sin and comforts us with the truth of Jesus’ forgiveness. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” John hopes that by leaning into Jesus we can avoid sin, but he assures us that we bear Jesus’ righteousness though faith. This truth can and does comfort us. John then tells us how to focus on being obedient to God in the face of all the adversity in which we live daily. *If we have come to know Jesus, we’ll work to keep his commandments (3) *Obedience to God’s word brings God’s love to completion in us (5) *Knowing Jesus gives us the desire to live and be more like Him(6) *Living in Jesus’ light means setting aside hatred for others, exchanging darkness for light (9) *Hatred for others, or yourself, creates a darkness which will surround you and cause you to be blind to Jesus and what He desires for your life. (11) By being Obedient to God’s Ways and Word, we show our love for God. The proof of our love is in how we act and speak. How does this challenge you to better align your actions to God’s Word? Do you see a need to know more about His ways so you can better show Jesus to those around you? Join a home group- a bible study and dive into His Word with fellow believers. See the Church Website for groups and when they meet. In 1 John 2:15-17, John specifically talks about avoiding the world’s influence in our lives. “ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” John warns us not to put our love efforts into loving the world. Because if we do, we are committing ourselves to many undesirable things that are opposed to God and His ways. He names pride, lust, fleshly pursuits which would include craving physical pleasures, power, greed, advancement, achievements for self-gain, etc. Many of these can start out harmless enough but when fueled with pride, greed, lust and envy they become perverted. We do need to work hard and take pride in our work and achievements, but not be filled with boasting, self-love and entitlement. John also reminds us that the worldly things are just that, worldly and will only endure for the here and now. They are temporal and NOT eternal. Only things done for God will stand for all time. Lastly, John warns us of opposition we will face from without. Before the opposition has been within our own character. This opposition in the form of antichrists which are very real and powerful. Verse 22-23 “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” Each one of us faces antichrists in our lives. John classifies anyone who denies Jesus is an anti-(against) Christ. We need to be watchful and aware of those in our lives that oppose us because we love Jesus and desire to live like Him. Jesus prayed for us as He knew we would face opposition. John 17:20-21 “ My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Paul warned of spiritual opposition in Ephesian 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” James encourages us in James 4:7-8 “ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Pastor Alex concluded with the fact that Satan with all his worldly enticements opposes Jesus with His love assurance, protection, eternal life, hope and guidance and are competing for our love. The choice is up to us. God created us with free will and we have to choose. Not choosing is denial. There is no fence sitting. Why wait? Walk with Jesus and taste of His eternal love, commitment, guidance, protection through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Be assured that those God who answer God’s call He will equip and empower to follow His Son! 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 Divine Connections | Joselin Hernandez | September 10, 2023
Have you visited the grocery store, coffee shop, or gas station this week? Chances are, you've stepped out of your room or bed at some point during your week. And what happens when you do? You encounter people. What if we viewed every interaction as an opportunity to share the Gospel? Millions of people haven't yet come to know Jesus, our Lord and Savior, but we can make a difference one person at a time. Maybe striking up a conversation with the barista at your favorite local café could eventually lead to a chance to share the Gospel with them. Or perhaps taking your dog on your usual route each day could provide an opening to impact someone's life. The truth is, we can't predict the impact we might have on someone's life with just one encounter. Often, it feels easier to remain silent about our faith to avoid offending anyone. But what if the person you encounter is the one whom God has placed in your path to lead to Christ? Would you feel regretful if you missed the opportunity to bring them into God's kingdom? Perhaps the initial conversation won't immediately lead to their conversion, but you could plant a seed, offer them a starting point, and help them experience Christ's love. Throughout the scriptures, we see ordinary individuals called by God to share His message of goodness. When they obeyed, something extraordinary often occurred: those they shared God's message with came to know Him. Reflect on your own faith journey—did someone introduce you to Jesus? Was it a friend, family member, or perhaps a stranger who handed you a pamphlet or offered a prayer? Maybe it happened while you were on a sports team, at work, or at camp, and someone had the courage to discuss Jesus with you. The pivotal point wasn't necessarily your immediate decision to follow Jesus; it was that someone recognized your worth and importance and decided to share the most significant news in human history with you—that Jesus was a manifestation of God's love, and His love was meant for you. What could be more crucial than that? It's easy to talk about our favorite sports teams, jobs, or coffee orders, but imagine if we focused our conversations on Jesus instead. What if we shared something that could genuinely shape, mold, and transform lives? In one Bible story, this is precisely what happened. Philip, prompted by God, approached a eunuch who was already a believer but didn't fully comprehend his faith. Philip didn't hesitate to engage in conversation, and as a result, the eunuch gained a clear understanding of his beliefs. Not every experience will mirror Philip's, but in all our interactions, we have the opportunity to make God known. So, what will you choose to do—conceal your faith or share the greatest news ever? 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 The Altitude of Gratitude, Climbing the Relationship Mountain on November 13, 2022
Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: - Philippians 2:1-5 Have you ever climbed to the top of a mountain? I mean a really tall mountain. Not those rolling hills or those casual hikes that you go to get your Instagram post, but those mountains that take some sweat equity. One of my favorite places is Yosemite and one of my favorite places to hike is Yosemite falls. The main trail is about 7.4 miles round trip, but the is a bit grueling. You will climb around 3000 feet in 3 miles. The trail begins with a gradual incline then turns quickly into a steep grade. Your steps are uncertain, the rocks are slippery, you are enduring switchback after switchback, the elevation is taking your breath away, and midway through the idea of turning back is extremely tempting. You begin to wonder “Are We There Yet?” But when you get to top, your breathe is taken away. Hiking is a lot how relationships happen. When you first meet someone, you are excited…wahoo! My name is and it’s so great to meet you. Initially things go pretty smooth, perhaps you grab coffee together or watch the game or go shopping or just hang out. But as life carries on, relationships get harder Life gets harder, things get complicated. The things about that person that we use to love, now begin to annoy us. We can sometimes feel like we are going through switch backs. One day things are good, you’re the best in the world, then the next moment some drama breaks out, arrgh I can’t stand this person, then the next day things are good again, besties for life. It’s like we are on unstable ground, not sure where to plant our foot. At some point You may start thinking when CAN I GET A BREAK? …. instead of WHEN DO YOU WANT TO HANG OUT NEXT? In our minds we have this perfect, ideal friendship or relationship… If only the person did this or if they didn’t say that or if they actually listened. We imagine how our lives would be different if the other person lived out this picture-perfect scenario. If we could just get to the mountain top, life would be so much better. In the Book of Philippians, Paul is witnessing a community that used to be united through there relationship in Christ, is now divided because of personal preferences, judgments, or pride. Paul calls out their hypocrisy and their foolish behavior. He calls them to recenter their lives upon Christ. In Christ we find encouragement and love, we find comfort and commonality, we find tenderness and compassion. In Christ we find Unity. Paul also acknowledges that we live in a fragmented world that seeks to divide us, hurt us, and cause us disappointment. It is not easy living in this world and maintaining a mentality of unity, but in Christ we are not alone in this pursuit. Unity comes from centering ourselves around a central idea, surrendering our pride as we engage one another in humility, and being in a mindset of serving. Essentially what Paul is saying is that it’s not about me. We are behaving in a way that sacrifices our love for oneself and that edifies the other above me. That a life unified with Christ is one that does nothing out of selfish ambition but rather in humility value others above yourself. When I treat you well and you treat me well, then we both get our needs met in a context of love and unity. When I treat you poorly and you treat me poorly, then we experience division, pain, and disappointment. What Gods wants and Christ Models is to give you and I deep, satisfying relationships with others. God is trying to prevent us from harm and the barrenness of loneliness. Philippians 2 teaches us that the people who love humbly and unselfishly spread joy and promote unity. I don’t know about you, but for me there is enough division in the world, and I would rather be drawing people in than pushing people away. Christ was so Good at climbing the relationship mountain that even his enemies were drawn to him. A Roman Centurion and a Pharisee, who were supposed to be enemies of Jesus, were drawn to him. The Roman Centurion asks Jesus for help and the Pharisee helps to bury Jesus after his death. If you are looking to climb the relationship mountain, mirror the one who has done it better than anyone else. Like Jesus, center yourself on the Heavenly Father, live in humility and serve in love and even your enemies won’t be able to deny you. Let’s get real practical for a moment and what does this mean for you?
SERMON LINK The Altitude of Gratitude | Climbing the Relationship Mountain Click Here to View the Sermon Sermon series, "The Altitude of Gratitude" Today Alex teaches from Philippians 2:1-5 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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