Sermon Reflections from God at the Movies "Forrest Gump" | Alex Hardt | June 30, 2024
Have you ever thought about how your perspective on life alters your responses? In, Romans 12:9-21 offers us a beautiful blueprint for living a life centered on Christ. How having this perspective can alter our reality. This passage encourages us to embody genuine love, marked by sincerity, humility, and perseverance. As I reflect on the movie Forrest Gump, I see a powerful illustration of these virtues in action. Forrest’s unwavering kindness and humility, even in the face of adversity, sharply contrast with Jenny’s struggles with negativity and escapism. His life shows us that living out genuine love and selflessness can transform not only our own lives but also those around us. Romans 12:9-21 challenges us to approach love, handle challenges, and view life from a Christ-centered perspective rather than a worldly one. In a world where love often seems conditional and self-serving, Paul calls us to love sincerely and unconditionally, mirroring God's love for us. Forrest Gump’s story is a testament to this kind of love. Despite the difficulties he faces, Forrest consistently shows kindness and compassion without expecting anything in return. This sincere love is what we are called to embody in our daily lives. Facing challenges with patience and hope is another key aspect of living a Christ-centered life. The world often encourages us to avoid or quickly fix our problems, relying solely on our own strength. However, Romans 12:12 reminds us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Forrest’s perseverance, especially during his time in the military, exemplifies this. He repeatedly runs back into danger to save his comrades, driven by a relentless determination to do good. This perseverance, rooted in hope and faith, is something we should strive to cultivate in our own lives. Ultimately, Romans 12:9-21 is about transformation. We are called to reflect God's image in all we do, extending the love, grace, and forgiveness we have received to others. By living out these principles, we not only grow in our faith but also make a significant impact on the world around us. Just as Forrest’s life, filled with love and perseverance, brought light and hope to those he encountered, so too can our lives be a testament to the power of living a Christ-centered life. May we look to the word of God of how to overcome evil with good and bring glory to God in all things, making a positive difference in our world. Blessing, 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 Celebrating Easter Sunday: The Resurrection and Its Transformative Power
Introduction: Easter Sunday stands as the pinnacle of the Christian faith, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In Luke 24, we find a vivid portrayal of this momentous event and its profound impact on the disciples and believers throughout history. This event didn't just change their context but the entirety of human history. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection for our sins/brokenness, wasn't deserved or earned by humanity, but Jesus was sacrificially given to us by God because he loves us. He wanted to get us back, make us right with him, and give us new life, life eternal. On Easter Sunday, we dove deep into the narrative of Luke 24, where we uncovered the transformative power of Christ's resurrection and its enduring significance for our lives today. LUKE 24:1-8 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. The Reality of the Resurrection: Luke 24 gives an incredible depiction of the reality of Jesus' resurrection. The empty tomb, the angels' proclamation, the women who discovered the empty tomb, and the disciples' encounters with the risen Christ all serve as undeniable evidence of this miraculous event. Just as the disciples were astonished to find the tomb empty, we too are invited to ponder the reality of Jesus' victory over death and the implications it holds for our faith. This wasn't just an important historical event, it was a life changing, history altering, hope fostering, game changing event. Jesus wasn’t just for the disciple's context or point in history, but for all Human History. Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God would bring about redemption and reconciliation for all Humanity not just for that time or for those people. The Transformation of Believers: The resurrection of Jesus brings about a profound transformation in the lives of His followers. Initially they didn't believe. They were overwhelmed with grief because their Lord, their King, their Messiah was gone, and they didn't know what to do. They were terrified for their lives after defying the Roman Empire, so they hid in fear, filled with doubt, and full of despair. But when Jesus revealed himself to the women at the tomb, then to the two on the road to Emmaus, and finally to all of the disciples they still didn't believe because it seemed improbably, actually impossible. No one has ever been resurrected. How could Jesus be alive? In Luke 24, we witness the disciples' journey from doubt to faith, fear to courage, and despair to hope as they encounter the risen Christ and he revealed the scriptures to them. Their hearts burn within them as Jesus opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, igniting a flame of hope and conviction that propels them to boldly proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. LUKE 24:30-32 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” The Promise of Redemption and New Life: Through His resurrection, Jesus extends the promise of redemption, forgiveness of sins, and the hope of new life to all who believe in Him. In Luke 24, we witness Jesus commissioning His disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations, underscoring the transformative power of His resurrection in reconciling humanity to God. This promise echoes throughout the ages, inviting us to embrace the life-giving message of salvation found in Jesus Christ. There is only one path to the heavenly Father, to redemption, and reconciliation, to new life, and that is through Jesus Christ. While some may view this as narrow and limiting, it is open to all, unrestricted by race, status, or background. This reconciliation wasn’t earned or deserved by humanity but sacrificially given to us by our loving God, who embodies Love because He is Love. This divine commission echoes throughout history, beckoning all people to embrace the life-giving message of salvation found solely in Jesus Christ. In His resurrection, Jesus offers not only forgiveness of sins but also the hope of new life—an eternal inheritance that transcends the limitations of this world and promises everlasting joy in the presence of God. LUKE 24:45-48 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. What does this mean for me? As we celebrate Easter Sunday this last week and reflect on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let us be reminded of the transformative power of this momentous event. Just as the disciples were transformed by their encounter with the risen Christ, may we too experience the reality of His resurrection in our lives. May we embrace the promise of redemption and new life, and may we boldly proclaim the good news of salvation to all who will listen. Truly, Easter Sunday is a time of joy, hope, and renewal—a time to celebrate the victory of our risen Savior over sin and death. He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! Blessing, Pastor Alex Hardt MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass Sermon Reflections from Feasting on God's Word | Dean Honnette | November 12, 2023
This week Pastor Dean Honnette, shared from the passages of John 6:26-49 about feasting on God's word. Crossroads not only feasted on God's word but on food as we indulge in a potluck after worship. In the Gospel of John, particularly in chapters 6:26-35, 47-49, we encounter a powerful metaphor that Jesus uses to convey profound spiritual truths—the metaphor of feasting on the Bread of Life. This imagery not only resonates with the physical act of eating but goes beyond, inviting believers to partake in the sustenance that transcends the physical realm—the Word of God. To appreciate the significance of Jesus' words, it's essential to understand the context. In the preceding verses, Jesus miraculously feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, showcasing His divine power. The crowd, amazed by this sign, seeks Jesus not for the eternal truths He embodies but for more physical sustenance. Jesus responds by redirecting their focus from temporal needs to the everlasting nourishment He offers. He declares, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35, ESV). This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of feasting on the Word of God. Feasting on the Bread of Life: Spiritual Sustenance: Jesus challenges the crowd—and by extension, every believer—to recognize that physical sustenance is fleeting. The Bread of Life, however, provides spiritual nourishment that endures beyond the constraints of time and circumstance. Just as we eat daily to sustain our physical bodies, we are called to partake in the Word of God regularly for the well-being of our souls. Deepening Relationship with Christ: Feasting on the Word of God is not a passive act but an active engagement with Christ. In verse 47, Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." Believing in Christ involves more than intellectual assent; it is a relational commitment. The act of feasting on His Word deepens our understanding of who Christ is and strengthens our connection with Him. Transformative Power: The Bread of Life has transformative power. Just as physical food sustains and energizes our bodies, the Word of God has the capacity to renew our minds and transform our lives. As we internalize the truths found in Scripture, we become more Christ-like, experiencing the renewing of our hearts and minds. Eternal Promise: Jesus emphasizes the eternal dimension of feasting on the Bread of Life. In verses 48-49, He says, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat of it and not die." Unlike the manna in the wilderness that sustained temporarily, the Bread of Life ensures eternal life for those who partake in it. Feasting on the Bread of Life is an invitation to a continuous, intentional engagement with the Word of God. It goes beyond a casual reading; it involves a deep, transformative relationship with Christ. As we feast on the Word, we find sustenance for our souls, deepen our connection with Christ, experience transformation, and embrace the promise of eternal life. May we approach the Word of God with a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. Blessings, Pastor Alex MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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