 Sermon Reflections from God Promises Problems | Damon Hopkins | September 17, 2023
How many of us experience pain, suffering, and difficulties in our life? The answer would be that all of us do. At some point in our life, whether it's right now, in the past, or in the future... All of us will experience some kind of suffering. In those moments we often look for healing from those within our perimeter of view or we look towards things of this world. But...What about if we looked somewhere else? What if we sought to find comfort in God? In these verses, 2 Corinthians 1:3-8, the Apostle Paul expresses praise and gratitude to God, who is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Paul acknowledges that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others in their troubles with the comfort we have received from Him. He emphasizes that as followers of Christ, they have shared in both suffering and consolation. Paul shares his own experiences of facing hardships in Asia, where he and his companions were burdened beyond their ability to endure, even to the point of despair. However, he notes that this occurred so that they would not rely on themselves but on God, who raises the dead. Paul concludes by expressing his confidence that God will continue to deliver them from such perilous situations and that the Corinthians' prayers will contribute to their deliverance. Have you ever noticed how we seem to need or want God more when problems are big? That when we realize we can't solve this thing or overcome that obstacle or achieve something on our own, is exactly when God seems to be most prevalent. Like Paul, when we are at our weakest, the best thing we can do is get on our knees and pray to God. We need to surrender our life over to God and let him take control. Is it easy?!? Nope. Being vulnerable and open is very difficult to do. Asking for help is hard to do. Complete surrender seems impossible to do, but it's the best thing we can do. God is not just some big God who lives in a galaxy far far away. Our God is close by and cares deeply for us. He knows every detail about us. God is waiting for us to turn to him instead of this world. As amazing as our friends and family are they can't do what God can do. God can wipe away every tear, overcome every fear, give us peace beyond understanding, and give us hope when all seems lost. In essence, these verses remind us to find comfort and strength in God during times of difficulty and suffering, and how in doing so, it enables believers to offer support and empathy to others facing similar challenges. I don't know what you or others in your life is going through right now, but my hope and prayer is that you lean into God during this time. Pray for God's comfort to be upon everyone present and for the ability to comfort others in times of need. 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 Divine Connections | Joselin Hernandez | September 10, 2023
Have you visited the grocery store, coffee shop, or gas station this week? Chances are, you've stepped out of your room or bed at some point during your week. And what happens when you do? You encounter people. What if we viewed every interaction as an opportunity to share the Gospel? Millions of people haven't yet come to know Jesus, our Lord and Savior, but we can make a difference one person at a time. Maybe striking up a conversation with the barista at your favorite local café could eventually lead to a chance to share the Gospel with them. Or perhaps taking your dog on your usual route each day could provide an opening to impact someone's life. The truth is, we can't predict the impact we might have on someone's life with just one encounter. Often, it feels easier to remain silent about our faith to avoid offending anyone. But what if the person you encounter is the one whom God has placed in your path to lead to Christ? Would you feel regretful if you missed the opportunity to bring them into God's kingdom? Perhaps the initial conversation won't immediately lead to their conversion, but you could plant a seed, offer them a starting point, and help them experience Christ's love. Throughout the scriptures, we see ordinary individuals called by God to share His message of goodness. When they obeyed, something extraordinary often occurred: those they shared God's message with came to know Him. Reflect on your own faith journey—did someone introduce you to Jesus? Was it a friend, family member, or perhaps a stranger who handed you a pamphlet or offered a prayer? Maybe it happened while you were on a sports team, at work, or at camp, and someone had the courage to discuss Jesus with you. The pivotal point wasn't necessarily your immediate decision to follow Jesus; it was that someone recognized your worth and importance and decided to share the most significant news in human history with you—that Jesus was a manifestation of God's love, and His love was meant for you. What could be more crucial than that? It's easy to talk about our favorite sports teams, jobs, or coffee orders, but imagine if we focused our conversations on Jesus instead. What if we shared something that could genuinely shape, mold, and transform lives? In one Bible story, this is precisely what happened. Philip, prompted by God, approached a eunuch who was already a believer but didn't fully comprehend his faith. Philip didn't hesitate to engage in conversation, and as a result, the eunuch gained a clear understanding of his beliefs. Not every experience will mirror Philip's, but in all our interactions, we have the opportunity to make God known. So, what will you choose to do—conceal your faith or share the greatest news ever? MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass.  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 Through Others | Damon Hopkins | August 20, 2023
After hearing Damon’s impassioned sermon about sharing Christ with others, I asked myself what did I learn or experience that I want and need to share this week? Damon’s premise was – if I love the Lord, then I should be compelled by my love for Him and excited to share it with anyone and everyone I meet. Many of us are so worried about the circumstances, is it the right time?, will it be received? is it the right place to share?, that we decide the answer is No- it is not the right time, place or people and say nothing. As Damon pointed out saying nothing is not an option! We are commanded by Christ to go and share. Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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.” Jesus did not say, do you want to?, He said, Go and do it! He seeks to reassure us that He will be with us and empower us though His Holy Spirit all the way! So again, what did I learn that I can share? I learned anew that it is my privilege to share God’s love with others. I have His Spirit living inside me and I feel His love and care every day. Why wouldn’t I want to share that with someone so they can feel loved and cared for by the Lord Almighty? As I was reading in Psalms this morning Psalm 107:1-3 jumped out at me. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Those of us who know Christ as our Savior are redeemed. He bought us back from the pathway to death and gave us life through our faith in Jesus’ work on the cross. We need to tell our story-how we came to faith, what God is doing in our lives, the benefits we see each day in walking with Jesus. God is good and works in my life each and every day. I need to look around, see Him and His work in my life, and talk about it to others. Say So! Another thing I learned was from Ezekiel 33:1-6 “The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’ Believers are put in this world as watchmen, like Ezekiel was. We are to watch and warn others about the coming destruction. God’s judgement on sin. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If they listen and heed our warning, praise God! If they do not, then the consequences are on them. However, verse 6 says, it is our responsibility as God’s watchmen to warn others and if we do not we will be held accountable. That is a sobering thought, Jesus asks us to tell others about His plan of Salvation and if we remain silent and do not speak of Him we will be held accountable. Damon reminded us of this with his life verse: Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Sobering words. I am convicted anew of the truth our memory verses hold for us. Philippians 2:1-2. Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. If we experience Christ in our lives tell others, say so! Thanks Damon for the challenge to speak up and speak out about our love for Christ. It is a command and good to be reminded it is a privilege with benefits. 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 Warning to Oppressors | Alex Hardt | July 30, 2023
In this week's sermon reflection, I would like to it be your response to the message. So, I have provided little bits and pieces from the message along with a few interactive components. My hope is that it gives you, the listener, a chance to reflect on the message. POINT 1 YOUR WEEPING AND GROANING… REVEALS TO THE WORLD WHAT YOUR SOWING. James 5:3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. In Verse 3 James states that the corrosion of Gold and Silver affects the WEALTHY and POWERFUL in two ways. First, it testifies AGAINST them, producing evidence of their greed and lack of concern. Take time to reflect on these questions. What is God Saying to You and What are you going to do about it.
POINT 2 YOUR PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE… REVEALS YOUR TRUST IN GOD’S PERSEVERANCE. In James 6:7-12, James redirects his focus to PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE in the Midst of Suffering. While all of us need Patience and Endurance, there are particular times when we need a bit more patience. WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNCONTROLLABLE James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. How do you respond when circumstances are uncontrollable? WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNCHANGEABLE James 5:10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. What's the most difficult thing about dealing with stubborn people? WHEN PROBLEMS ARE UNEXPLAINABLE James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. What is your initial response when problems frustrate you or are unexplainable? POINT 3 THE POWER OF PRAYER… LEADS BELIEVERS, IN BOTH DARKNESS AND SUNSHINE, TO A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD. How do you respond in times of Darkness/Trouble and in Times of Sunshine/Joy? What would it look like to glorify God in those situations? How would glorifying God look different in times of darkness than in times of sunshine? SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon 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 Boasting About Tomorrow | Damon Hopkins | July 23, 2023
Damon was on fire for the Lord this week as he spoke from the heart about James 4. However, he set the stage by referring to our memory verse for this week, Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Everything is life hinges on our faith in Jesus. We can pray to Him, feel His Spirit within us testifying to Him, we can read His Word but we cannot see Him. And yet, knowing what we feel, read, hear and share with others about Him, we can be assured of the unseen. Living a life of faith as proclaimed in Romans 1:17 “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” And 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. “ This begs the question, are you waking by faith, trusting in the unseen God? Your proof of His existence should be your life. What miracles has He performed on your behalf? What relationships has He mended? In what ways has God provided for you? Start a blessing list today and watch it grow. It will be added proof of God in your life and your dependence upon Him! Damon then launched into James 4 and tackled the admonitions from James to put away fighting amongst ourselves. What motives did Damon mention that trouble you? You own desires, things you covet, pride, hatred… the list is long for all of us. However, as a Christian we do not need to settle for repeating these sins that cause strife among us. We can choose Jesus and His better way of living. Damon suggested this recipe for following and avoiding the pitfalls Satan wants us to drop into! Examine our own behavior. Seek to look at yourself honestly. Can’t see things- ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify areas you need to work on. The Apostle Paul struggled with this and relates in Romans 7:18-20 “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Pray. Confession is good for the soul and leads to renewed life. 1 John 1:9 is one of my favorite promises. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God promises to forgive and cleanse us of all we have done wrong- not just some but all. We get a new start with each confession. God promises to bury our sins in the depth of the sea (Micah 6:19) and they are behind His back (Isaiah 38:17). God puts them away and does not refer to them again. If you are troubled by a sin that you have asked forgiveness for- know that it is Satan that is causing you to remember not God. They are behind Him. Rebuke Satan and move forward knowing you are forgiven completely. Read the Word. Look into God’s Word to know Him better, know what he desires of you and how you are to live. Here are a few places to start in your search. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew Chapters 5-7 or the Upper Room discourse in John Chapters 14-17, some of the shorter letters of Paul- Philippians speaks of joy filled living and Galatians focuses on faith in Christ alone. Discuss with other believers your struggles, hopes, dreams, and desires so that together you may be grounded and established in Christ. Fellowship is essential to growth and confirmation of our faith. We are to build each other up in Christ. I love the words of Hebrews 10:23-25 “ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” As you read and meditate upon this 4th chapter of James this week, also look into your life and see if you are a ‘war’ or enmity with God over anything. Are you focusing more on worldly things versus spiritual goals and truths? Would you consider yourself double-minded? James tell us that the solution is to focus on Jesus. 7-8 “ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Damon empathized God’s promise if we submit to God, resist Satan, draw near to God Then HE PROMISES to Come to You! You can count on it! Damon concluded with James’ admonition to not boast about tomorrow as we do not know what tomorrow holds. We only know for certain who holds our future, JESUS! God promises in Deuteronomy 31:6 about our future, “ 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.” We can count on Him! He is always with us! Linda SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon 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 Taming The Tongue | Alex Hardt | July 9, 2023 July 16, 2023 James is such a practical book as it is filled with advice and admonitions about how to live our best Christian life. A life where our walk and our talk line up with scripture and are pleasing to God. Pastor Alex took this Sunday to walk us through James Chapter 3 gleaning important truths for us to remember and put into practice. James starts with the admonition to be careful if you are a teacher. At first glance most of us would say- I don’t teach. But all of us are teachers of spiritual truths by the way we speak and act. Our children, spouses, family and neighbors all hear and see our ‘teaching’ each and every day. I know James was talking about teaching spiritual truths and the need for them to be accurate so that we give out the Word of God correctly. We do not want to cause others to deliberately stumble by what we say and do. Take a few minutes and think about a spiritual truth- God is love, God desires us to be just and righteous in Christ, etc. How have others seen these truths in your life? Are you giving a true picture of Christ and His love? James reminds us that we need to be mindful of the messages we give to others and be sure they are aligned with scripture and show who God is. Next James talks about the power of the tongue. It is a small member of our body but used improperly it can do great damage. We only have think about a time we said something to someone that was unkind or hurtful. I’m sure we have all experienced the repercussion of those types of remarks. Pastor Alex talked about the tongue being a container that we carry around with us that can greatly affect everyone and everything. He wanted us to remember that the power of the mouth has the ability to give life to those around us- positive, hope filled encouragement or to give death with putdowns, discouragement, slanderous, and even evil thoughts. We can praise God or curse God with the same tongue. It holds a lot of power and we need to be mindful of how and when we speak. When we are speaking ill of something, it is like using deadly poison or pouring gasoline on a fire. David describes a poisonous person in Psalm 140:1-3 “Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, 2 who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. 3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips. I know we all agree with David that only the Lord can rescue us from such people and their vile tongues! I love the way James 3 concludes. He talks about 2 kinds of wisdom. Wisdom from God and wisdom of the world. We know we cannot all be perfect but we can seek God’s help, wisdom and guidance to live as best we can for Him. He empowers us through His Holy Spirit to stand firm and resist the devil and his enticing desires. Worldly wisdom is described in James 3:14-15” But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” Worldly wisdom causes strife, bitterness, selfish desires and untruth to grow in our lives. The root of this type of wisdom is unspiritual and of the devil. It is filled with evil desires and leads to chaos. The wisdom of God, by contrast, is described in James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” God’s wisdom leads to peace, hope, living well with others, showing others about Jesus and His righteousness. What a contrast- chaos vs peace! Pastor Alex reminded us that God’s Wisdom produces good fruit. James calls it a ‘harvest of righteousness’. Isn’t that what we all truly desire? So how do we get there?
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.  Sermon Reflections from Favoritism Forbidden | Alex Hardt | July 9, 2023
James 2 is a very practical chapter for the church and how it is to operate. It also speaks to each believer about their own personal walk and commitment to Christ and His kingdom. Damon began with some personal examples of where he has seen favoritism in the form of snobbery within the church that caused him to reevaluate and question his own thoughts and actions. It was a good reminder how one action builds upon another and events can spiral away if we are not diligent. God calls us to look carefully at our actions and listen to our own words. Are they words and deeds that will bring Him glory? Are they edifying to Him and others? James calls favoritism sin, 2:8-9 “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” Where are you allowing Satan to lead you to sin? Is it your arrogance- thinking you are better than other believers, more devoted, more generous? Or is it your pride –thinking your way of doing things is better or you always get the right outcome? Satan is the great deceiver and we must always be aware and on guard. We need to constantly reassess and see if we are showing others Christ in and through our actions. John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Damon challenged us to align ourselves with scripture and focus on how we are acting and reacting with others. We are to constantly ask, are others seeing the love of Christ through me? James 2 is not all about how we act impartially towards all believers and unbelievers so they will see Christ but he also speaks about how our faith should be reflected in our deeds. Deeds for unbelievers stand alone as good or bad but deeds for the believer are to be a reflection of Christ within us. We cannot count on good deeds to gain us credibility with the world and His kingdom. They must be accompanied or motivated by our faith in Christ. The world’s opinion of our ‘good’ deeds should not matter to the believer. The only opinion that matters is God’s. He wants to know why you did what you did. God wants actions of the heart. Our heart for Him is to be our motivation. We do what we do because of our love for Him! When someone looks at our deeds they need to see both the good deed and the faith that motivated it. However, since people do not always perceive things correctly we should be relieved that God sees, God knows and God sees and knows what is in our hearts. He knows our true motivations. His opinion is the only one that matters! When I was working on memorizing James, I gave considerable thought to James 2:13-14. I struggled to make sense over “mercy triumphs over judgement”. Here are these verses in the New Living Translation and then in the Message. As you read and study James 2 this week, I pray they will be helpful. The New Living Translation “So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” The Message 12-13 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. Let the lessons of James 2 speak to your heart this week. Will you be more open and less judgmental? Will your love and good deeds be a reflection of your faith? Will you seek to treat others with godly mercy knowing you are going to be totally provided for by God’s grace? 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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