Sermon Reflections from God at the Movies "Kingdom of the Planet of Apes" | Damon Hopkins | June 9, 2024
It was a pleasure to have Damon back with us sharing his heart about God’s Kingdom. He had seen the movie, Kingdom of the Planet of Apes but did not spoil the ending for us. He summarized the action by saying the main character Noah wanted revenge for wrongs done to him and wanted the person in charge to ‘pay’. Revenge is a powerful motive in movies, novels and in real life. The Bible gives us some examples of this as well as Jesus’ point of view so that we can think biblically and not act worldly. We are to be more focused on heavenly principles and not seeking worldly answers to our problems. Exodus 2 recounts the story of Moses, the young privileged son of Pharaoh’s daughter, who goes out to watch his people, the Israelites, at hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. He killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Later, other Hebrews confronted Moses when he asked them why they were fighting. They wanted to know if he was going to kill them too. When Pharaoh heard of the killing, he tried to kill Moses, so Moses ran away to Midian. Moses sought revenge for the brutal treatment the slaves were receiving and was forced to suffer himself. Could Moses have sought another solution to the harsh treatment? Could he have interceded for the Israelites with Pharaoh? We don’t know, but we do know that revenge caused great suffering for both Moses and the Hebrews. A New Testament story of revenge involves the Pharisees. They were driven by jealousy, greed and power to seek the end of Jesus’ life. John 11:46-48 gives us an example of their thinking, “but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” They later went to Pilate, the Roman Governor, and sought the death penalty for Jesus. John 19:15 “They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Jesus confronted them repeatedly with words of truth and justice not revenge during his three years of public ministry. Damon pointed us to Matthew 5 to take a look at Jesus’ way of compassion. The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12, speak of blessing ready for those that believe and walk in His ways. He went on to remind us of how we are to be salt and light not bearers of revenge and hate. We are to be pointing others to Jesus with our lives of love and compassion. Later in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us of the ‘old ways’ an eye for an eye, verse 38. He then leads us to a ‘new way’ that is based on love and compassion. He encourages us to go the extra mile and even to pray for our enemies. This was a new and radical way of thinking based on God’s love and forgiveness. The Bible does tell us in both the Old and New Testaments that we are not to seek revenge and that revenge belongs to God! Deuteronomy 32:43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people's land.” Hebrews 10:30-31 “For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The Word of God is filled with stories of God defending and upholding the honor of His people. I particularly like the promises in Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “ Isaiah 49:15b-16 “yet I will not forget you. 16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” I we are not to seek revenge like the character in the movie, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. But, we are to be about God’s business in the ways of His Kingdom. Jesus wants us responding with compassion and love to thwart our enemies. Leave the vengeance to God, He is more than able to fight any battle. Paul reminds us that we are to be in a battle, a spiritual battle winning the world to Jesus. Ephesians 6:10-13 “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Remember that the ways of the world put us in opposition to God’s Kingdom ways. It is a battle for sure and we can rely upon Jesus as He promised in John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 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 Forgiveness | Karyn Sorenson | May 26, 2024
What a pleasure it was to hear from Karyn Sorenson this Sunday. As her sending church, we take ‘pride’ in claiming her as one of our own and marvel at the way God had mightily used her counseling and teaching ministry gifts. We stand alongside her in prayer for the suffering people of Micronesia that are held in bondage spiritually and culturally by sin. She has been witness to many of these chains of bondage being lifted and cleansing redemption take hold of lives in the name of Jesus. She spoke to us from her heart this Sunday as she pointed us to forgiveness and the mighty character of God. In Matthew 18:21, Peter asks Jesus about forgiveness. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answers this question with a parable which is the text of Karyn’s sermon. Matthew 18:23-35 recounts the story of a King, who is the picture of God in this parable, and his servant who owed him a ‘ton’ of money. When settling up his accounts the King finds out the servant owes him way more money than he could ever possibly repay. He tells the servant he is accountable for this and that his wife, children and he himself will be sold so the King can at least recoup some of his losses. The servant begs, ‘Please be patient with me’. The King took pity on him and forgave his debt and let him go. Directly after being released the servant found another of his fellow servants who owed him a bit of money. The forgiven servant grabbed him and began to choke him. The fellow servant begged, ‘Please be patient with me.’ The forgiven servant did not listen, was not moved or wasn’t even reminded of his recent close call with the same situation and had his fellow servant thrown into debtor’s prison where there was no possibility that he would ever get any monies from him- nothing but punishment without hope. Other servants saw how the first servant was forgiven and how he was unmerciful towards his fellow servant for the same exact problem. They were outraged and went and told the master, the king. The master, king, took immediate action and called the forgiven servant before him. He called him wicked for being forgiven and yet refusing to show forgiveness to his fellow servant. At that point he was handed over to jailers and was to be tortured until he should repay the debt he owed. Since there was no way to ever repay that debt, his was he was left without hope. Jesus concluded this parable saying in verse 35, ““This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” What do we learn about the King, God, from this parable? Karyn named several attributes of God that are clearly portrayed in Jesus’ parable. God is compassionate. The servant did not deserve his forgiveness and there was no possible way he could pay off his debts. The king forgave him all of it. God did this for us through Jesus’ work on the cross. Colossians 2:12-14 “ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” God is calling us to be compassionate too. Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. The parable also revealed that God has forgiving love. The king forgave the servant all his enormous debt. It was all wiped clean away. That is what God does for us when we accept Jesus into our hearts and trust in him. What the servant deserved was death in prison. Likewise Romans 6:23 tells us how God responded to our debt of sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s word tells us why God did this in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love motivated him to seek us out and offer us forgiveness, John 3:16-17 “ 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Lastly, Karyn reminded us that God holds us accountable too. Just like the king in the parable, God desires that we ‘pay it forward’ and treat others with the mercy and forgiveness that was shown to us through Jesus’ work on the cross. The heart of our forgiveness needs to rest upon how we were forgiven completely when we did not deserve it at all. James 2:12-13 puts it this way, “ Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” God expects us to live lives filled with mercy because we have received such mercy from God our father. God will hold us accountable for the way we treat others. He expects us to be forgiving, loving, compassionate and merciful even when it is undeserved. This is an unattainable attitude for our human nature so it is only through Christ within us that we can walk this pathway. Matthew 19:26 ““With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Thank you Jesus! 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 Feel | Alex Hardt | May 19, 2024
We know that emotions are unavoidable. God created us with emotions. He created Adam and saw that it was not good for him to be alone. Loneliness is part of the human experience. When Jesus was on the cross, he was separated from God by our sins and he felt alone and even cried out from the cross, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 God created the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve and put many wonderful things for them to eat and plants and animals to see and experience. Feeling pleasure, joy, love and awe are all emotions that God created in us. After the fall and sin entered the world, sin corrupted our emotions and made things more difficult. The only way to navigate all our God given emotions is through the help of Jesus. Remember all God’s promises are Yes in Him! 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.” Our feelings are unavoidable as God created us with them. How we deal with them is a matter of choice. Pastor Alex gave several examples of how Jesus dealt with his emotions as he faced the cross: fear, dread, anxiety, etc. Jesus did exactly what 1 Peter 5:7 tells us “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Jesus knew that God loved and cared for him. He laid his fears and anxieties before God in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Bible is filled with godly people who made the right choice- taking their problems to God and those that did not. Genesis 12 tells of a time when Abraham went to Egypt with Sarah. He was afraid to tell the Pharaoh that Sarah was his wife because he feared they would kill him as Sarah was beautiful. So he lied. God sent a plague on Pharaoh’s household and discovered that Sarah was Abraham’s wife. It all ended in their leaving Egypt but all this could have been avoided if Abraham had told God in prayer what he was facing and sought His help. Elijah was pursued by King Ahab in 1 Kings. He was afraid and ran for his life but God answered his prayers and fed and led him to safety. David, Jeremiah, Elisha, Ruth and Esther were all people of God who turned to Him in their time of need, in prayer. They acknowledged their need and humbly relinquished their emotion filled requests to God. Where do you need to turn over your worries and doubts? I had a good friend say, Linda, “I turned it over to God last night. But I got into trouble today when I decided to pick it up again!” We need to turn our worries to God and let him truly have them. He promises to guide and help us. He is sovereign and in control of all things. He sees the beginning and the end. Claim Romans 8:28 and hide its precious words in your heart. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” We can trust God- He has this! What was the end result for Jesus after relinquishing his worries to God in the Garden of Gethsemane? He got up and went to the disciples filled with resolve and purpose. Luke22:46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Jesus was at peace with God’s pathway for him. God listens to our prayers and gives us guidance, release, comfort and hope. Our memory verse for this series is Hebrews 4:14-16 “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” God’s Word tells us to take our worries and concerns of this world and seek His help. It is a system He put into place for us here on earth and He desires that we use it effectively just as Jesus did. Jesus got the strength he needed to see his mission through. Prayer brings peace, resolve and hope and His grace when we need it the most. Seek His throne and feel His grace today. 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 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 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. Prayer Guide Based on Love Incarnate | Alex Hardt | December 24, 2023
This week because of Christmas and New Years we thought this would be a good way to prepare our hearts. INTRODUCTION Begin by finding a quiet place to pray. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself and invite the presence of God. OPENING PRAYER Glorious and Gracious God, we come before you in awe of the gift of Love Incarnate, your son, the embodiment of Your love among us. As we reflect on the narratives from Matthew and Luke, guide our hearts and minds to understand the depth of this love. May we learn from the example of Christ and embody that love in our lives. Amen. Matthew 1:18-24 - The Birth of Jesus Christ 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. REFLECTION Take a moment to reflect on Joseph's obedience and willingness to embrace the role God had chosen for him in the life of Jesus. PRAYER POINTS
Luke 2:10-11 - The Announcement to the Shepherds 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. REFLECTION Reflect on the angel's proclamation of joy and the significance of the birth of Christ as the Savior. PRAYER POINTS
CLOSING PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Love Incarnate in Jesus Christ. As we embrace the lessons from Joseph and the shepherds, may our lives reflect the depth of Your love in our actions, words, and thoughts. Help us to embody this love, sharing it with everyone we encounter. In Jesus's name, we pray. Amen. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 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 Dazzled By the Divine | Sara Wade | September 3, 2023
Have you ever wondered if the impossible is possible? Sometimes in our moments of desperation and pain, when we feel overwhelmed and have no idea what to do... we become open to God and seeing his handiwork. So much of what happens in our life is beyond our capacity, skill set, talents, gifts, intelligence, or strength. There is no way that either you or I could do or handle everything alone. We need someone to come alongside us and give us wisdom, someone to give us strength, someone to lead us and guide us, someone to help us do what seems to be impossible. This someone happens to be God. Matthew 17:18-20 says it like this... 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” The disciples of Jesus couldn't do what was asked of them. Jesus had trained, showed, and instructed them how to cast out demons. And yet they still couldn't do it. And I know what your thinking... Of course, they couldn't cast out demons...that's out of this world...that's impossible. Jesus, God, is asking humans to do only what God can do. And you would be right, except Jesus doesn't give them a pass. He calls them out for their little faith. They didn't believe that God could use them to do the impossible. They just needed an ounce of faith in God and God's plans to cast out the demons through them, but the disciples (the closest friends of Jesus) didn't even have that. Jesus wasn't upset that they didn't cast out the demons...he was upset because they didn't believe they could. They didn't trust God or believe that God would use them. They didn't trust that God, the creator of the universe, could cast out and destroy demons. How is the world supposed to believe and trust in God, if Jesus' own disciples are doubting the Almighty?!? Every day people are encountering situations where it seems impossible that any good could come out of the situation or that the situation could be resolved or that anything could be done. We feel overwhelmed, hopeless, lost, broken, empty, and afraid. But if we have even the smallest of faith. The faith of a mustard seed then we can move mountains the scriptures says. I don't know about you, but I am sure glad I don't have to face life alone. That I have a God who is there by my side, leading me, guiding me, and helping me to make the impossible possible. I can see a different path forward because of God. My future no longer looks dark but full of light. It doesn't mean it will be easy, it just means it's possible. And that possibility gives me hope of a brighter future. May you trust God, may you be dazzled by the divine, and may you know that the impossible is possible with God. ] 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 Transform the World | Damon Hopkins | August 27, 2023
This Sunday Damon embarked on part 2 of the sermon he started last week. He reminded us that the first step is to take in from God. Be that going to church, from Christian radio, podcasts, or your own study, we need to avail ourselves of hearing the Word and encountering God. When we do, the next step is to take it and share it. Our love for God is energized by encounters with Him. We are to use opportunities within the week, within our sphere of influence to share about Him. God commands us to do this in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Part 2 of this process is to make the sharing real. We are not perfect for sure, as we are all sinners saved by grace, but our sharing should be authentic and genuine to the core. We should seek to reflect Jesus in our lives then the hearer or seer will see that our walk with Jesus reflects our talk about Jesus. Damon had several examples of this from his life and pointed out to us that humility is required. One needs to be quick to admit their inconsistencies and praise God for His forgiveness and righteousness that covers our sin. Admitting our own constant need for the Savior requires humility. Although humility is difficult, scripture teaches us that it has great benefits. It is the high calling of all Christians and helps us reflect our Lord and Savior to the world. Benefits of humility: Rest for our souls, Matthew 11:29 Salvation as our crown, Psalm149:4 Wisdom, Proverbs 11:2 Guidance and His teaching, Psalm 25:9 Grace, God’s unmerited favor, Isaiah 66:2b Exaltation from God, Matthew 18:4, Matthew 23:12 So when Damon encourages us to be real, vulnerable and open in our sharing, it is the attitude God desires. To be like Jesus we need humility in our walk with Him. Our lives are constantly being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. We need to listen, accept and respond with boldness so we may show Christ to our needy world. If we seek to show Christ in our lives, we will see a growth in the fruit provided by the Holy Spirit. Check yourself, think back and reflect on how you have changed in regard to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your life. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.’ How have you seen growth in the fruits of the Spirit in your life? Are you more forgiving, patient, faithful? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to use you to comfort others? 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 “ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” How about your desire to talk to others about Christ? Do you feel His boldness spurring and engaging you in conversations that before you would have wanted to avoid? Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Scripture also speaks of a hope that comes from His indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 15:3 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you feeling this, are you more hopeful in Christ and willing to share that hope of a solid affirmed future with others? Do experience peace when you know the situation is desperate but God gives you peace and joy? That is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life! How about your time with others at work or church? Do you seek unity of Spirit or demand your own way? Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The Holy Spirit imparts gifts to every believer. Think about your gifts and ask yourself- am I allowing God to use them within me? 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-6,7-11 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. There is much to ponder and evaluate this week. If we are to reflect Christ in our lives we need to be humble and use the gifts God imparts to us through His Holy Spirit. Thanks Damon for your encouragement to dynamically seek to live for Jesus in both word and deeds. It requires intentional living for Him! Thankfully, those He calls he equips! (Hebrews 13:21 and 2 Timothy 2:17) 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 Transform For God | Alex Hardt | August 13, 2023
Pastor Alex began his message on Transformation by God by helping us to see who God really is. We know our finite minds cannot fully comprehend God, but He has given us reason and intellect to see that He is undeniably good. His attributes describe His character both the things we cannot obtain like His incommunicable attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, eternality, immutability and omnipotence. God also has communicable attributes like love, holiness, grace, peace, faithfulness, wisdom, and kindness. In these communicable attributes we cannot attain the fullness of His character but we can draw nearer and have those as part of our character too. It is like saying He wants us to be more and more like the character of Jesus, His Son. I was reading Psalm 89 this morning and came across these verses that seem to mirror what Alex was saying. Psalm 89:6-9, 14-15 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. The psalmist was seeking to understand and praise Almighty God. God is above all and worthy of our praise and love. Once we grasp who God is, we see Him in stark contrast to the sin-filled world we live in. We see His motives, ways and actions are above this world and are pure and driven by his Omnibenevolent character. The world is motivated and driven by greed, hate, discrimination, hopelessness, division, and strife as a result of SIN. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they brought sin into a perfect world. Sin corrupts both man and the world in which he lives. Pastor Alex reminded us that when we identify with the world and let it dictate who we are and what we are doing, we buy into a destructive narrative that leads to death. We see the truth of Romans 3:23 in our own lives. “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” If we follow the world’s standards we fall short of what God has for us. We let sin invade and pervade our lives. If we turn to Him, we can see an end to the destructiveness of the world and its influences. Romans 6:23 reminds us of the joy of turning to God “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christ is the answer and the way to God. Pastor Alex’s final point in our transformation to God was to receive the promises of God and to reorient ourselves to God and His plan. We know from 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 will never fully understand God but we can know His character and His promises. His promises are true and are tangible hope we can cling to as we seek to follow Him. He are a few life changing promises you can claim. The accessibility of God Almighty in my life: Psalm 86:5-7 “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.” The faithfulness of God in my life: Lamentations 3:21-23 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” And Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The Forgiveness of God towards me: 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” The Guidance of God in my life: Deuteronomy 31:6 “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.” The Hope God give into my life: Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. The Salvation God gives through my faith in Jesus: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. And 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.” The Love God inputs into my life for now and into eternity: 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.” Which promises of God will you claim today? Which will you use to reorient your life and your thinking towards God? God keeps His promises- ALL of THEM! Linda If you want to study more about living a life that is more and more like Jesus, try my devotional book “Strategic Living.” If you want to study more about specific promise try my devotional book “Promises for Dynamic Living.” I have copies of both or you can order them from Amazon or Certa Publishing. Both are topics I am passionate about. 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 Addiction | Stevan Cox and Alex Hardt | June 25, 2023
Pastor Alex reminded us that addiction is a powerful tool that Satan uses to capture and ensnare our thoughts and lives. His good friend, Steve Cox, shared this truth from his own life and how he saw the consequences of sin play out in what happened to him. To begin, Pastor Alex shared the movie example from Stay Awake where the lives of those surrounding the addict mother were affected by her addiction. Even though the addict thinks they are only hurting themselves the repercussions of their actions reverberate around them as others seek to ‘make things better’ and enable them to continue with their addictive behaviors. Steve continued with his own story of redemption from addiction and evil life choices though the power of Christ in his life. His transformation was complete, whole and filled with restoration and hope. God is good and showed himself in Steve’s life in extraordinary ways. Praise God! As I reflected upon the power of God’s great love for Steve, I was drawn anew to the scripture passages each chose to rely upon. Steve choose 1 Corinthians 15:32-44. This passage speaks about the truth and reality of Christ’s resurrection. Without the power of the resurrection all would be lost. Without the healing power of Christ and what he did on the cross when He died and rose again, Steve, you and I would be desolate and lost without hope. Without the reality of Christ in our lives, it would simply be as verse 32b states, “If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” All our world would be temporal and of and for itself. With Christ in our lives, we gain hope, purpose, salvation, an eternal home and a relationship with God Almighty. Pastor Alex chose Matthew 5:12-12. In this portion of scripture Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount and gives a listing of the attitudes that Christ desires us to have in our lives. We will receive God’s blessings if we are sorry for our sins and mourn over what we have done. With a humble attitude we will be uplifted and filled with His purpose, righteousness, purity, peace and the power to sustain us during persecution. Once one turns to Christ, a life filled with blessings awaits. Repentance will begin the process towards all that Christ has for each of us. The power of God’s love and forgiveness is greater than any addiction and is strong enough to break the chains of sin that can bind us. Steve reminded us that addiction does not have to be about drugs and alcohol alone but can be anything that takes the place of the love in Christ in our lives. This is a sobering reminder to constantly examine our priorities and pray, pray, pray. I loved his main point saying, ‘Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than you talk talks.’ Taking this apart, I see how you live your life- your daily actions speaks to others about who you are. Your words of course speak to who you are. The loudest witness to others is when our words and actions match and thereby speak in unity of Christ in all ways. God uses us to show Himself to those around us as others see and hear us. God desires that our lives are committed and aligned to Him. Micah 6:8 puts it this way, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Take some time this week to examine your walk, your words and ask yourself, how they are matching up? Do your words and actions align with God’s Word? If not, take time to pray and seek God’s help. Let Him direct you and point you in the way you should go! 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. |
AuthorA collection of thoughts from our community Archives
July 2024
Categories
All
|