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 Jesus is Here | Julio Barros | April 14, 2024
It was a pleasure to welcome Pastor Julio to the pulpit today as he and his congregation had worked alongside us in packing meals for Rise Against Hunger. It was a glorious time of serving together in spite of the fact that there was a language barrier. It was a glimpse of heaven as we know all believing peoples will be there on day worshiping the Lord together. The text of Pastor Julio’s sermon was Luke 18 and the parable of the unbelieving judge who was constantly bombarded by the widow coming to him seeking justice. She was persistent until the judge finally relented and sought justice for her. Her persistence was likened to our prayers and our need to be persistent in prayer. God is listening and desires to know our hearts. That which one prays for repeatedly is truly on their heart and matters to them. God knows this and honors persistence. Pastor Julio spoke on the importance of prayer in various ways. First, he mentioned that prayer has a physical effect on the one who prays. This close time with God makes one happier and even will cause one to smile. Taking time to pray daily will make a difference in your life as it is what the Bible would consider good medicine. Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Spending time with God will change your heart and provide an attitude adjustment for better living. Next, Pastor mentioned the spiritual effects of having a prayer life. When you pray you build something around you that adds protection and hope for your family and wisdom for daily living. It is a time when you tap into the wisdom of God and let it flow into you. Prayer is not just mindless repetition but communication and relationship building with God himself. How do you build friendships with others? You do it by spending quality time with them, sharing your heart and working together. God allows us to spend quality time with Him, share our hearts and serve Him with others to strengthen our relationship with Him. Jesus called himself our friend in John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command.” Our question to ourselves should be, how do I know what God commands of me? Through His Word He reveals himself to us, through faith in Jesus and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit we can learn of God’s ways and through prayer God speaks to us. Being the friend of Almighty God is an awesome thing. Now to the actual praying and the need to be persistent like the widow in the parable. God will answer prayer but in His time. Isaiah 55:9 “ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We do not know the times of life, the interactions of relationships and the whys and why nots of all things like God does. So His answers are sometimes, “Yes”, sometimes “No” and sometimes “Wait”. We must keep praying and trust in God’s timing and sovereignty. We must always remember that God gave man free will and what God desires may not come to pass if the person is unrepentant and rejects God. Pray diligently that the Holy Spirit will be able to soften your loved ones hearts towards God and that they will come to know Jesus. I lean on 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God desires that all come to know Him- so keep on praying. Pastor Julio closed with this thought, “May our daily life be an act of prayer.” That would truly bring a change of heart to us both physically and spiritually. Praise 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 Jesus is Grace | Alex Hardt | April 7, 2024
As Pastor Alex preached from Luke 15 this Sunday, I caught a vision of the many facets of Jesus’ character. Our God has many attributes to who He is. Some are ones that are for him alone like- sovereign, creator, Savior, glory, Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient and others are ones that He has in perfection but desires that we emulate like love, mercy, justice, goodness, kindness, compassion, patience, etc. From the parables in Luke 15 and Jesus’ actions we can learn much about our Lord. As Pastor Alex noted, Jesus began by confronting the narrow minded thinking of the religious leaders. Luke 15:1-2 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” The religious leaders were criticizing Jesus for associating with known sinners. Their idea was that their sins were small in comparison and they were more worthy. However, Jesus showed by his actions and words that He is impartial. He loves all sinners and desires that all would come to repentance and faith. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The first parable Jesus told the crowd was of the lost sheep. The shepherd loses one sheep and leaves the 99 in search of the lost. His conclusion in verse 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” This attitude shows Jesus’ incomprehensible love. It is a love beyond our understanding. Alex put it this way, the pursuit of the lost.. is a reflection of the Father’s love for His children. We do not understand that kind of full love that would lead Him to send his only son to die on our behalf. John 3:16 says it this way, “ 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’s love is complete and beyond our understanding. Thanks be to God for His great love for us! The second illustration Jesus told the crowd was of the woman who had 10 silver coins and had lost one. She went in search of this lost coin and like the lost sheep she rejoiced when she found it. Luke 15:10 “ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” This speaks of God’s great joy when someone turns to Him and accepts Jesus as their Savior and Lord by his infinite grace. His joy at our turning to him shows His kindness that we do not deserve. His grace is favor that is undeserved. He gives it freely, feels His joy freely and we did nothing to earn it. The joy of redemption is the restoration of the lost by the GRACE of God! Thanks be to God for His marvelous grace towards us! The last parable in this series is the story of the prodigal son. The son who takes his inheritance and squanders it recklessly. When he comes to his senses in the depth of despair, he realizes at that the servants in his father’s house are better off than he is. He returns home and his father unexpectedly welcomes him home and prepares a feast of celebration. Jesus was trying to explain the concept of mercy and forgiveness. The father is merciful and forgiving towards anyone who repents and turns to Him. Without Him, they were lost and now they are found. They have moved from death to life which is what we do in Christ through our faith in Him. Alex’s statement is so true, only the compassion of the Father can turn sinners into repentant citizens of heaven! The other son who had worked diligently all those years was upset over the father’s welcome feast. However, the father shows understanding and wisdom when he tells the other son in Luke 15:31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” The son who stayed has had the benefit of the father’s love and care all those years and has a full inheritance plus time with the father. The father desires that the other son understand the love, joy and compassion towards the lost when they come home. They were dead and now are alive. Ephesians 2:4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Thanks be to Jesus for His amazing Grace towards us! 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 Palm Sunday- The Triumphal Entry | Sara Wade | March 24,2024
It was nice to have Sara Wade back to speak this Sunday. She is passionate about sharing the love of Christ with others, and it certainly comes through as she speaks. This being Palm Sunday, she wanted to see the events of Palm Sunday through the lens of 1 John. The Palm Sunday events reveal a willing Christ who humbly entered the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This showed humility as He was the Son of Almighty God and deserved a chariot and crown if not more! Yet, he did not demand recognition or the things that go along with being a king. The people willingly praised Him and shouted Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The city was teeming with those coming for Passover and many in the crowds had heard of the great miracles Jesus had performed and took control of the scene. They waved palm branches and sang praises to God. The proclaimed Jesus as Messiah. His disciples were confused at by all the happenings and did not fully understand them until after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Sara spoke about John’s words of love, proclaiming God is love from 1 John. The people who praised Jesus were doing so to show their love and devotion foe who He was and who they thought He was. John knew later in his ministry that this love, selfless praise, can only come from God. Love originates with God. The mission to come to earth and be the sacrificial Lamb of God to die for our sins was accomplished by Jesus on the cross. He knew where he was headed that day as he went down the steep road into Jerusalem. I’m sure the human part of Jesus soaked in those brief moments of praise and love the crowd provided. Jesus knew their ‘love’ was going to be fleeting and He would end up at the cross. Sara questioned each one of us to think about our commitment to God’s love. 1 John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” The love we have for one another comes from God himself. He brought love into the world and showed us the ultimate in love by sending Jesus. To be able to truly love one another and be unified in faith we must love God. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, He fills us with the power to love others in a way we cannot humanly love. How can you love strangers? How can you love those who would do you wrong? It is only possible with God because God is love and He will give us the love we need for one another. She gave a powerful challenge that forced us to realize a new that love must be done in community. We have to be united in love to give out the gospel message of love and hope. A church divided will not move forward. I am reminded that Jesus prayed for the unity of all believers in John 17:22-23 “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” Jesus wanted us to know and feel the love He has for the Father so that we will feel 1 with Him. He even shares some of His glory with us so that we can know we belong to Him. This is the love Sarah is talking about that we need to access and apply to our Christian walk. May your feet feel lighter as you walked the Palm Sunday road today with Jesus. Knowing his feelings of love and devotion for you can uplift and move us forward to love one another in a more profound and genuine way. He deliberately went down that Palm Sunday pathway for you and me! (PHOTOS BELOW) Palm Sunday & Eastern Gate The road ends at the eastern gate through which Jesus entered the city. It is now closed. In later times the gate was blocked to keep Messiah from entering, not realizing that Jesus had already come that Palm Sunday so long ago. 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 United in Love | Alex Hardt | February 11,2024
Pastor Alex continued this week teaching us about the concepts of Rhythms- those things we do to keep ourselves connected to God. As we saw with prayer the connectedness is doable and needs to be exercised daily, weekly, yearly = all the time. This week Pastor Alex focused on the fact that to stay connected to God we need to stay connected to each other in a loving way. Love is an intangible thing as it needs to take the form of words and deeds. It needs to be shown. Christ showed His love for us as described in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He also expressed his love while here on earth by healing, casting out demons, befriending the friendless, serving, feeding, etc. His love took action and it was felt by everyone who came into contact with Him. God’s love towards is was sacrificial, 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.” God showed his love for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross and raising him from the dead. What about your love is genuine, sacrificial, kind, serving or helping? When you see others, do you look for ways to bring them to Christ? What about your Christian friends? Do you look for ways to show them Christ’s love? Christ healed- who can you heal with words of kindness or a loving deed? Christ cast out demons- who do you know that needs to know of the love of God and be free of their demons? Can you talk to them or pray for/with them? Christ befriended the friendless- who do you know that needs a friend? Christ served others- do you have a group where you can serve in his name? Christ fed many- who do you know that needs physical food like a meal or an invite to lunch. Who do you know that needs spiritual food from God’s Word? Do you have a verse, a word of encouragement or prayer to give to them? Authentic love in Christ is transforming and His Holy Spirit will motivate us to be more and more like Jesus as we walk with Him each day. Being connected to God through and for others means we actually have to join in, be there, stand with other physically, hold hands, pray together, speak, eat and enjoy one another’s company. In Acts 14:27-28 Paul tells what he did upon returning to Antioch from his trip. “ On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” Paul was excited to tell other believers of the work God was doing in the world. In Acts 12:5 we hear about the church praying for Peter’s freedom “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” In Acts 2:41-43 we see the church being about supporting one another “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.” In each of these scenes in Acts we see the church being together and connecting. Are you part of our gatherings? Do you want to learn about our missionaries and pray for them? Do you join with our 24 hours of prayer as we lift Crossroads and each one of us before God’s throne? Do you regularly come to worship? How about a home group or bible study group, are you there? Do you join in social events to break bread and visit with one another? Without these actions, we can’t be invested in each other’s lives. Christ desires that we connect with one another to uplift and encourage each other in our walk with Him. Remember Christ’s words in Matthew 18:20 “ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” When we gather with others, acknowledging Him in our hearts and lives, He promises to be there in our midst. You would not want to miss out- join us to connect. 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 Feasting on God's Word | Dean Honnette | November 12, 2023
This week Pastor Dean Honnette, shared from the passages of John 6:26-49 about feasting on God's word. Crossroads not only feasted on God's word but on food as we indulge in a potluck after worship. In the Gospel of John, particularly in chapters 6:26-35, 47-49, we encounter a powerful metaphor that Jesus uses to convey profound spiritual truths—the metaphor of feasting on the Bread of Life. This imagery not only resonates with the physical act of eating but goes beyond, inviting believers to partake in the sustenance that transcends the physical realm—the Word of God. To appreciate the significance of Jesus' words, it's essential to understand the context. In the preceding verses, Jesus miraculously feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, showcasing His divine power. The crowd, amazed by this sign, seeks Jesus not for the eternal truths He embodies but for more physical sustenance. Jesus responds by redirecting their focus from temporal needs to the everlasting nourishment He offers. He declares, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35, ESV). This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of feasting on the Word of God. Feasting on the Bread of Life: Spiritual Sustenance: Jesus challenges the crowd—and by extension, every believer—to recognize that physical sustenance is fleeting. The Bread of Life, however, provides spiritual nourishment that endures beyond the constraints of time and circumstance. Just as we eat daily to sustain our physical bodies, we are called to partake in the Word of God regularly for the well-being of our souls. Deepening Relationship with Christ: Feasting on the Word of God is not a passive act but an active engagement with Christ. In verse 47, Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." Believing in Christ involves more than intellectual assent; it is a relational commitment. The act of feasting on His Word deepens our understanding of who Christ is and strengthens our connection with Him. Transformative Power: The Bread of Life has transformative power. Just as physical food sustains and energizes our bodies, the Word of God has the capacity to renew our minds and transform our lives. As we internalize the truths found in Scripture, we become more Christ-like, experiencing the renewing of our hearts and minds. Eternal Promise: Jesus emphasizes the eternal dimension of feasting on the Bread of Life. In verses 48-49, He says, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat of it and not die." Unlike the manna in the wilderness that sustained temporarily, the Bread of Life ensures eternal life for those who partake in it. Feasting on the Bread of Life is an invitation to a continuous, intentional engagement with the Word of God. It goes beyond a casual reading; it involves a deep, transformative relationship with Christ. As we feast on the Word, we find sustenance for our souls, deepen our connection with Christ, experience transformation, and embrace the promise of eternal life. May we approach the Word of God with a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. Blessings, Pastor Alex 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. Sermon Reflections from Reckless Ambitions | Alex Hardt | June 11, 2023
I was not acquainted with the movie Blackberry but I am more than familiar with the term reckless ambition. All you have to do is look around at companies that seek to dominate the market, governments that put their desired and ambitions above others so they can control them, or in the pages of the Bible where we see kings seeking to subdue or enslave others and even the Pharisees who sought to dominate and control Jesus. Ambition is a good thing in many ways as it keeps us motivated and working towards our goals. Being reckless can be more than hazardous and is often associated with the young who think they are invincible! Pastor Alex pointed out the 2 sides of reckless ambition which show the faces of greed and selfishness in regard to the world, which was shown in the movie, and adventure and hope for future gain towards God and His kingdom as described in the pages of Matthew and Luke. Every person can access the way of Jesus and follow His adventure that is filled with hope and glory for God. As we know, we all have that choice to follow Jesus when we hear about Him. We know from experiences in life that the world has a strong appeal to our sin nature. Jesus described this in Matthew 7, in His sermon on the mount, 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Why is it harder to follow Jesus instead of the world? Following Jesus and living an obedient life take perseverance and time to study His Word, pray, accept the fellowship of other believers, witness to the truth of Jesus in our lives and to serve the body of Christ. There are many benefits to living a life obedient to Christ. John 15:10-11 speaks of our being able to remain in God’s love and the joy that brings. “ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Being obedient to Christ we gain forgiveness and eternal life, John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” With faith in Jesus comes the empowering and indwelling of His Holy Spirit, 1 John 3:24 “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” Knowing and loving Jesus allows us to reject the ways of the world and seek to live for Him, He promises us in 1 John 5:3-4,” In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” Jesus proclaims His way is for all but sadly we know not everyone will chose to follow Him. Once the way of the cross through Jesus is chosen it becomes the driving motivation in our life. He empowers us to follow Him with diligent perseverance, hope and clarity that leads to passion for Christ. The Bible refers to this as zeal! Zeal is intense enthusiasm, passion and fervor with a purpose. Jesus wants us to pursue Him with ‘reckless’ love and ambition that is zealous for the honor and glory of His name in all the world. Jesus had this passion as he cleansed the temple of corrupt money changers. John 2:17 ‘ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Apostle Paul described himself as zealous for the law before being confronted by Jesus on the Road to Damascus then he became zealous for Jesus! In his letters to the Romans and the Corinthians he exhorted followers of Jesus to lead with zeal and talk about Jesus with zeal. In Revelation, Jesus admonishes the church at Laodicea not be to lukewarm but to be zealous. Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” Our attitude and service for the Lord Jesus needs to one filled with zeal for the Lord and lived with reckless ambition for God and His kingdom. How can one do this? Pastor Alex reminded us that it takes focus and complete surrender to Christ. A life lived for Christ is empowered and directed by Him. When we fall or stumble or struggle in our walk, we can claim 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 over our lives. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. Power filled words of promise! We can lean into God’s promises in Deuteronomy 31:6 for strength and hope. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” He can seek comfort and hope from Philippians 1:6 and 4:19 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” “ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” The Bible is filled with promises for us to claim as we seek to live each day for Jesus. Linda Need a promise? See me for a copy of my book, Promises for Dynamic Living. It is filled with promises we can claim for our lives. SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon 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 The Bible is An Invitation | Damon Hopkins | May 21, 2023
Damon was filled with renewed joy this Sunday as he shared from God’s Word and his life challenges. He pointed out worldly sayings that do not hold up when compared to God’s standards. For example, “God helps those who help themselves,” was one he gave us to analyze. If we could help ourselves he pointed out, we would not need God. We cannot truly help ourselves; our dependence needs to be upon Him. Damon went on to speak of God’s creation, his glory and how He meets our needs in His time. We just need to trust in Him and walk each day knowing He has us covered. Damon’s health issues were a glorious example of how God meets our needs and does it in a complete way, beyond our imagining. Pastor Alex had titled this sermon The Bible is an Invitation. He started the series with the Bible is a Love Letter from God and last week pointed us to the Bible as our Guide. As I was reflecting on God’s love letter and His guidance, I see The Bible as an invitation in written form inviting us to a life of faith in Him. This was the life Damon was describing from His experiences. The Bible points us to the good life God has in store for us. John 17:3 speaks of eternity, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. “ God wants us to know Him and to experience eternal life. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us that God has given us what we need to live for Him, “ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” His Word, an invitation in written form, provides power, promises and protection from evil. That is SOME invitation to a life filled with hope and promise. Another aspect of an invitation is that, it is not a command. When we are invited to a party, the host is asking us to come but we can turn them down. God’s invitation to eternal life is just that – an invitation. It is not a command but refusing to accept His invitation brings consequences. You will not be invited to the eternal party in heaven and do not have the benefits of God’s love and care while here on earth. God loves us, John 3:16, and wants us to come to his eternal party. “ 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.” Refusing His invitation means you turn down salvation through Jesus, John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” You are choosing to live under the curse of death, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” and make your own way. Damon pointed us to many of the benefits given in God’s Word for accepting God’s invitation. James 1:17 “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God is our Father and gives good gifts to His children. He also does not change His mind about things or change His character. He is immutable, unchanging. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We also have a home in heaven to look forward to that has been prepared for us by Jesus. John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” God has also promised us every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 told us that we have God’s precious promises to live by and lean upon. Damon also quoted Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” God has plans for our lives if we join with Him and accept His invitation. His plans are to prosper and grow us, for our good and His glory. We just need to turn to Him in faith and call upon Him. He promises to listen to us, comfort and guide us. I’m sure Damon would be quick to agree with Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.” When we accept God’s invitation to life, eternity with Him, hope and blessings, we need to accept in faith TRUSTING God to know the way that is best for us. Then we need to walk in FAITH believing all He has promised! Take Hebrews 11:6 into your heart and determine to seek and please God. “ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” God will reward, just as He promises. Linda SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon 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. |
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April 2024
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