Sermon Reflection from January 1, 2023  | A New Word

Pastor Alex’s sermon to kick off our New Year was filled with challenge, chaos and change.  Why is that?  He was looking into God’s Word that is always ageless, alive and active.  Are you looking for a new beginning this year?  Are you hoping this year will be different than those of the past?  If so, the answer lies within God’s Word. 

God’s Word is timeless and can be applied to our 21st century lives.  Amazing but true that the principles set forth in God’s Word are always true no matter the time period in which one lives.  Not only God’s principles but the examples He provides in the lives of Abraham, Sarah, David, Peter, James, Paul…. show us how to live godly lives through their successes and failures.  God includes His promises in His Word, many of which have been fulfilled especially in the life and death of Jesus, but also those we can claim for our lives today and ones that give us hope for the future.  God’s Word challenges us to live our lives on His terms using His ways.  It is contrary to our old nature but doable through the power of His Holy Spirit which indwells each believer.  Take up the challenge to live by the Word this year seeking to use His truths to guide you each day.

God’s Word is also active and will cut deep into our lives to uplift, prune and aid in discernment which we desperately need to survive the chaos of our times.  Hebrews 4:12b tells us what the Word of God can and will do, “penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”.   The Word of God gets right down to who we are and helps us see the errors of our ways, the errors in our thoughts and motives and it judges or convicts us of things were are doing that are not according to God’s standards.  God’s Word holds us accountable, 4:13b “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”.   God knows all things and will hold us accountable for what we say and do.  God’s Word leads us to confession, hope and repentance. 1 John 1:9 reminds us of His way, “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”   God’s way turns the chaos of today’s living into hope and direction as we listen to His Word for our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 also speaks of God’s Word being active. “ For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword”,   God’s Word will not be passive and non-interactive in our lives.  The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to convict and transform us into the ones God can and will use to give out His Word to a hurting world. God’s Word leads to change in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.  God’s Word has power and will move you into 2023 in a new way if you listen, seek and allow Him to penetrate your heart and soul with His Word.

Lastly, Pastor Alex challenged us to search God’s Word for a guiding word for the year.  This is something I’ve done for the last 5 years and have found it profoundly helpful in seeing how God is moving in my life in tangible ways. Here are some thoughts from my blog today about choosing a guiding word.  
Just like Pastor Alex, I would challenge you to pray about a Word from His Word as you read and study this week.  Ask God what Word he would give you from His Word for this New Year.  He may give you more than one word to pursue so do that and see where He leads you. The Word you have for your focus has others that are or will be related to it.  Make a list of your main word and then 5-10 related words.  God will guide you to hone and zero in on the Word He has for you.  Now that you have your list, look to scripture for verses that use your word or words and see how God guides in choosing your focus verse for the year.  I generally end up with 1-2 verses.

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking and praying: 
Joy- Psalm 16:11, Psalm 63:7, Habakkuk 3:18, or James 1:2
Hope- Psalm 62:5, Psalm 147:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Lamentations 3:21-22, Romans 5:4-5 or 1 Timothy 4:10.
Trust- Psalm 28:7, Psalm 31:14, Proverbs 3:5-6, or Jeremiah 17:7
Grace- John 1:16-17, Romans 3:24, @ Corinthians 12:9 or Ephesians 1:7.
Peace- Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 5:9, John 14:27, or Philippians 4:7

Or you many choose to examine words like: unity, compassion, mercy, steadfastness, stability, generosity, service or enough.  When examining words like these you need your list of 10 related words to aid you in your search for verses.  Remember Pastor Alex said his word for last year was More than.  Your Word may be conventional or unconventional word.   Be open to His leading.

Have fun with this and make it an adventure in listening to God and hearing what He has to say to you about your New Year!  When you are done, go to the free website www.wordart.com and make a graphic of your word and related words.  Here is my graphic from last year to give you an idea.  Enjoy God’s Word in a new way this week. Make your graphic and post it where you can refer to it all year!

By 
Linda

SERMON LINK
A New You | A New Word
Click Here to View the Sermon
Sermon series, "A New You" Today Alex Hardt share how God's Word is Eternal

​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.   

Alex Hardt    The Altitude of Gratitude, Clicked Into Others on November 20, 2022

Pastor Alex and Pastor Damon gave us a sober reminder this Sunday from Ezekiel 33:2-7.  Did you identify with the watchman? Do you see yourself as one who is a herald for Jesus?  The passage was clear that if we know there is trouble coming and don’t take heed ourselves then the destruction is ours to bear.  If however, we see trouble coming and do not shout a warning to others of the coming destruction then their deaths are on us and God will hold us accountable. 

As a culture we like to think of ourselves as independent and the masters of our own destiny.  The truth for every believer is that we are inter-related to one another in love because of Christ’s love for us.  He loved us first as Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Christ specifically commissioned us to tell others and love them.

​John 13:34-35 ““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

You many ask, what does love have to do with it?  If you know something is going to happen to a love one, then you act and try to prevent it, right?  God tells us that each and every believer is a loved one of His and we are to act in love towards them.  He also includes non-believers.  We are to act differently from the world and love them, show them grace and give them the message of salvation.

Romans 10:16-17 remind us, “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”    We have to tell them about Jesus and His love and sacrifice for all. 

Pastor Alex reminded us that refusing to open your mouth and tell others is considered by God an Act of Rebellion.  It sounds like the child that whines, why me Lord?  Why do I have to tell them?  Why do I have to warn them that “the wages of sin is death” Romans 3:23 and that “ Jesus is the way and no one comes to God except through Him”  John 14:6.  Can’t someone else tell them, I’m busy, I don’t like them, they are mean to me, they aren’t worth it….. Jesus’ answer, is NO!  It is your privilege to tell them about me because you LOVE ME and I LOVE You and I Dwell within you!  Jesus empowers us to tell others and gives us the words and love for them.

This Thanksgiving be bold and speak of the love of Jesus to those around your table.  Tell them of what Jesus has done for you and continues to do each and every day.  Let them know and see your love for Jesus.  I spoke at the memorial for my best friend earlier this year.  The line that God gave me to repeat was, “My friend Joan loved Jesus”.  It was evident in how she spoke and acted.  Words of praise and encouragement were on her lips and she loved to talk about her Savior. She loved Jesus.  What about you? What is on your lips- words of praise and thanksgiving or words of discouragement and selfishness?  If you love Jesus, it will be easy to speak about Him and what He’s done for you.  Damon exemplified this in the story he shared about the job he miraculously got at Safeway that allowed him to share his new faith and new found love for Jesus with others. 

Remember Psalm 107:2 “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
    whom he has redeemed from trouble”

SERMON LINK
The Altitude of Gratitude | Climbing the Relationship Mountain
Click Here to View the Sermon
Sermon series, "The Altitude of Gratitude" Today Alex and Damon teaches from Ezekiel 33:2-7

​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.