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 based on from Rhythms-Refuge in the Almighty | Alex Hardt | February 4,2024
Pastor Alex was in teaching mode this Sunday. He wanted us to see God as viable hope and security in our ever-changing chaotic world. He also wanted us to see that we too could draw nearer to God Himself by practicing some basic connecting activities. Psalm 46 is a wonderful psalm that gives us hope and courage in the face of adversity. God promises to be our refuge (safe place, fortress) when we are in trouble. The psalmist describes the world as a place where things fall, decay, roar, shake, in contrast to Holy God who is eternal, unfailing, and the ender of wars. He will prevail and the nations and the whole earth will one day exalt Him. Pastor Alex suggests that we should read His word, meditate upon it and pray. The psalmist suggests a similar pathway in verse 10, “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;” We have to be still to read His Word. We have to be still to pray. I’m not talking about being still as in not moving but still in our minds, focused upon God’s Word. This means not letting our minds wander to the grocery list, tasks for the day, worries, and life’s problems but to keep our minds still and present as we read the word and pray. Focusing upon God Almighty as our refuge will allow us to absorb His strength and power into our daily life and keep ourselves from fretting, worrying or being consumed with fear. He promises to be our refuge and God keeps His promises. James 4:7-10 is a powerful reminder that focus upon God will send Satan away and be life changing. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. God promises to come to us if we go towards Him. Sometimes the most we can do is one step, but know that the one step is the beginning of change. If we are sorry for the wrongs we do and grieve over them in our hearts, God will change our sorrow to joy and gladness. It is humbling to come to God as we are independent, pride-filled, stubborn people. But that one step towards God in faith will lead to step after step. With each step our faith grows stronger and our hope and trust in Him is confirmed. Each step causes us to trust more fully in Him and the plans He has for our lives. Lastly, Pastor Alex led us to participate in 2 Rhythms that are essential for drawing closer to God the Reading of God’s Word and Prayer. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us of the power of God’s Word in our lives. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” James speaks of reasons to pray and the power of prayer. James 5:13, 15-16 “ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Paul speaks of the need to be consistent with our prayers, Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” I so enjoyed the exercise Pastor Alex lead us through by reading Psalm 46 repeatedly and focusing on different messages God has for us in His Word. With prayer, Pastor Alex walked us through good steps to follow when praying. Praising God, Confession of sin, Thanksgiving, and lastly Petitions or Supplications. The Anonym, ACTS, for this practice is easy to remember to guide us as we pray. A-adoration of God for who He is, C-confession of our sins and shortcomings, T-thanksgiving for all the ways we see God working in our lives, His providential care, S-supplications or requests for ourselves and others. I would suggest one activity that helps to draw me closer to God. When I read a passage like Psalm 46 I will often read it in multiple versions to see what insights God has for me. I often use the New International version, English Standard version, Amplified translation, the Message translation, the New King James and I love the New Living translation. Some of these are more accurate translations and some paraphrased but all can help me see God’s message for my heart. Whatever we do, taking that 1 step in faith- opening our Bibles, saying short or long prayers, will always bring us closer to God if we focus upon Him and let go of the cares of the world. God is faithful and will meet us there! Guaranteed, as God keeps His promises. 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 A Faithful Tomorrow | Damon Hopkins | March 19, 2023
We had the privilege of hearing from Damon Hopkins again this Sunday. His text was from Isaiah Chapters 36 and 37. This is a very rich passage that has much to teach us in 2023. Damon pointed out that King Hezekiah was remembered for his faithfulness to God. What a wonderful legacy that I know each one of us would love for our lives. 2 Kings referred to King Hezekiah 18:3 “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. And 18:5 “He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.” King Hezekiah chose to believe God when he was in a situation that was ‘against all odds’. He saw no physical way he could defeat the king of Assyria, Sennacherib. The Assyrian army was brutal and overpowering. They had marched through northern Israel and taken them captive. They had conquered lands and people around Judah. Sennacherib had his eyes on Judah and was marching towards Jerusalem. He sent a messenger to ‘scare’ King Hezekiah into submission. The messenger announce publically that they were doomed and that their God would not and could not save them from the mighty Assyrians. King Hezekiah sent word to the prophet Isaiah asking him to inquire of the Lord. Isaiah brought this message of hope from the Lord, Isaiah 37:6-7 “Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’” I’m sure Hezekiah was encouraged by this news. Then, Sennacherib heard that Cush was going to come to Judah’s aid and join the fight. He sent a letter to King Hezekiah defaming the power and might of God. Isaiah 37:10 ““Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” When Hezekiah got the letter he made a bold choice. He went to the temple and laid the letter before God and prayed: 37:16-20 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.” What does King Hezekiah’s prayer say about Hezekiah’s faith? He knew whom to trust. He knew that Sennacherib was just a man but God was God and sovereign over all people, place, times and events. He knew that God was bigger than his greatest fears. He knew that God would defend His name. He knew where he should place his trust He prayed so that he could move forward. At present he was blocked in by Sennacherib but that was only temporary as God was greater than this earthly king and would deliver them just like Isaiah had told him. He chose to trust God when things got difficult. What about you? Do you choose to trust God to provide, rescue and deliver you day by day? Hezekiah’s hope was propelled forward though prayer. How do you face difficulties? Do you chose to go it alone or turn to God and ask Him for help? Hezekiah followed the advice James gives in James 1:5-6 “ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 4:2b-3 You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” King Hezekiah knew that God had the wisdom and power to save them so He asked in faith, not doubting. He also knew He needed to humble himself and ask God for help. I pray you will take some time this week and read Isaiah 36 and 37. Let King Hezekiah’s experiences speak to you as you consider how you can incorporate prayer into your life in a new and vibrant way. Prayer brings results- ask Hezekiah or someone at Crossroads. God answers prayer! Linda SERMON LINK ISAIAH: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE | A Faithful Tomorrow 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 Reflection from January 8, 2023 | A New Prayer
As we begin a New Year, Pastor Alex is challenging us to look at the ‘old’ ways were have been doing things and seek a New way which through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit will produce a New You! Last week, he looked at God’s Word and challenged us to dig in, dive in and immerse ourselves so that our Newer You would be pointed to God through His Word. This week he is challenging us to talk to God and establish a firm and lasting connection to carry us through this New Year of 2023. To start this New journey we need to have a conversation with God. That sounds easy enough but in reality it can be difficult. Finding and taking the time to stop the distractions that surround us and focus on communicating with God and be a challenge. There are some tools that might be helpful in this: your Bible is a great resource of how to talk with God, what to ask of Him and why you need to talk things over with Him. For example in Psalm 23 the psalmist, David, point us to God’s ability to provide, calm, guide, eliminate fear, protect from evil, provide tools for me to use, has prepared a place for me to be and will always have my best in mind. As you read the psalm you can pray for these things to be manifested in your life or the life of someone you are seeking to uplift. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Another idea of how to start this conversation with God is to use the ACTS method. A- adoration. Start your prayer time with praise and adoration for who God is. A way to do this is to use the alphabet and pray an attribute of God with each letter, thanking him for his character that sustains you. C-confession. Over and over in scripture we are told to repent, which is being sorry for our sins. Tell God your failings and ask Him to help you over come through His Holy Spirit which dwells within you as a believer. T- thanks. Before we ask God for more, we need to be aware and thankful for all He has done for us. It puts things into perspective as nothing else can. Lastly, S- supplication which is talking to God about your needs and the needs of others. Hopefully, you will find scripture, the alphabet or ACTS helpful in starting that conversation with Almighty God. How does one create a connection with God? Through prayer certainly but also reading His Word and fellowshipping with other believers helps us to see the importance of family, hope, relationships and strength that comes from linking ourselves together by faith. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we join God’s family. He is our Father and we belong to Him and with Him. That is a connection that cannot be severed. I love John 10:28 “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Through faith in Jesus, I belong to and with God for eternity, and no one or nothing can remove Him from me or me from Him! Praise God! Why wouldn’t you want to have the Newer version of yourself? You can talk with God anytime or anyplace. You can be assured of your place in His family and will always have brothers and sisters in Christ to share in your hopes, joys and sorrows. You have a permanent relationship with God that no one can take away from you, ever! You belong to God and He desires a relationship with YOU! Take time in this New Year to cultivate this God provided relationship through faith in Jesus and let the benefits spill over into each and every day of 2023! Linda SERMON LINK A New You | A New Prayer Click Here to View the Sermon Sermon series, "A New You" Today Alex Hardt share how Prayer Transforms the Heart If you are local, please join us for our weekly service. Our Sunday service is held at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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