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

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SUSermon Reflections from Transform For Mission | Alex Hardt | August 6, 2023

Pastor Alex sought to answer the basic questions we all have: Who am I? Where do I belong?  Why am I here?   When we succeed in answering these questions basic to life, we become more self-assured, hopeful and motivated.  We can all agree that without the answers to these questions we will be doubting life, drifting, not connected and without purpose.  Those without Christ seek answers in the world with things, people, projects, education, etc.  Those with Christ know He holds the answer to each questions providing us with hope, motivation and value.

Pastor Alex began with Who am I?   He wanted us to see how God sees us and gives us value. Our identity and our value is given to us by God.   God was intentional in our design and loves us even when we do not love Him!  I particularly liked Ephesians 1:4-6 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”  We are loved and valued by God and He made a way for us, sinful man, to be blameless in His sight through Jesus. Our value and identity come though Jesus as God loved us so much He made the ultimate sacrifice in sending His Son to redeem us. “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16.   God’s motivation was LOVE.  He desires a relationship with us and He made a way for that to happen. My heart is always gladdened when I read Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in his: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   God loved and valued me even before I came to Him.   How wonderful is that?!!!

Next, Pastor Alex tackled the question of Worth with the concept of where do I fit in?  Where is my place in this world?  Where do I belong?   Our worth comes from God.   We are His treasured possession as proclaimed in Exodus 19:5 “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,”   How does that make you feel?  The God of the Universe loves and treasures you!  Jesus also spoke of his family and our adoption into His family. Romans 8:15 tells us that we belong to Him and can call God our Father.  “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  We are adopted into His family.    Mark 3:34-35 “ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”  Each and every believer Jesus considers His brother and sister.  How much more valued can we get?  Belonging to the King is a special place and honor. Galatians 4:6 tells us how we can know for sure we belong to Him. “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  His Spirit within us is our proof.  I claim the truth of Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  Praise God we can know and feel His presence in our lives and know for certain we are loved by Him!

Lastly, Pastor Alex answered the question, Why am I here?   The basic answer is God created us for a purpose to glorify Him and for His pleasure.  His pleasure will bring us pleasure too. His purposes will give meaning and definition to our lives.  One of my favorite scriptures I claim is Jeremiah 29:11-12   “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”   We are made for relationship with him.  He promises direction, a listening ear, hope, a future and plans that are for my benefit.   There are multiple scriptures that guide us in seeing God has a plan and a purpose for which we were made.  Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’  God has a purpose and plan for all things.  Colossians 1:16  “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.“  This gives me comfort in knowing God has a plan for our world and nothing happens without His allowing it. 

We know that God has a plan and purpose for us but how do we know what that is? 1 Peter 4:10 gives us a glimpse into this. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”   We are to use our gifts given though the Spirit in addition to His Word as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 suggests. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”   He has good works for us to do that will benefit the body of Christ. “  How personally are we to take this work God has for us.  Here is Paul’s perspective in  Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”   How serious are you about serving, using your God given gifts, studying the Word for direction and guidance and prayer?
​
Blessings as you ponder life’s questions and the answers God gives through Jesus.  Comb the scriptures and you will see abundant proof of His LOVE, Your WORTH in Him and Your PURPOSE! 
Linda
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Sermon Reflections from A Future For The Faithful | Alex Hardt | March 26, 2023
 
Considering our world today, Pastor Alex’s sermon topic was exactly what I needed.  Our world is in turmoil and chaos following a worldwide pandemic, natural disasters, wars, famine, economic downturns, etc.  It is hard to watch the news without being depressed.  However, there is light for those of us who believe in Jesus, our Sovereign, and Omniscient God.  As we look to the words of Isaiah the prophet again this week, we see hope and a future guaranteed by God.

What can make this possible?  God and God alone is able to reform and transform our lives and world.  Isaiah 66:1-2a shows God’s perspective on our world. “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me?    Where will my resting place be?
2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. 

God reminds us that He alone is creator and brought our world into being by His Word.  I know that God did not desire the world to be filled with sin and corruption.  Man brought about those things through his sinful nature and disobedience towards God. 

​How can things be turned around?  Look into God’s Word for the answer.  Isaiah 66:2b shows us “These are the ones I look on with favor:    those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”  To be transformed by God one must be willing and humble yourself before Him, have genuine sorrow for you sins and look to His Word for guidance.  Jesus is the living Word of God- look to Him.  The Bible is the written Word of God-open it and read for guidance and restoration.  God will give us what we need if we are willing and to look to Him.  Above all God desires our hearts and wants to receive us with open arms if we turn to Him. 

What does God see for you and me?  We can’t seem to see beyond tomorrow let alone next year?  God is omniscient and He knows the beginning from the end.  When the Israelites were languishing in captivity in Babylon, God sent this message though Jeremiah the prophet.  Jeremiah 29:10-12 “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”  His message gave them hope that their time of captivity was not unending.  We can find hope in that too, as trial and tribulations are time limited.  They will not go on forever!  Praise God!  Further, God had great plans for them, and He has great plans and a purpose for you and me. They are not plans to hurt us or bring us grief but to encourage us and bring us hope.  God sees a future that we can’t envision.  I am so grateful for this truth.

Lastly, God ends the book of Isaiah with hope as He shares a bit of what He has planned for us.  Isaiah 66:22-25  “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. 24 “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”  God promises a new place, a new heaven and new earth, which will be enduring.  He also lets us see what will become of those who do not turn to Him.  That is a grim sight that none of us want for our loved ones.  Since God provides us with a Hope that is enduring and future that is secure, why not share that ASAP with those who do not know Him.  None of us wants the alternative reality for those who do not know Him.  Who can you tell today that, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6 or John 11:25-26  “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”   

Looking to the future we see the truth in the fact that our HOPE is in surrendering to the future God has envisioned for us.  He knows. He sees ahead.  He can and will guide us.  Tell others so they can be with us too.
Linda
 
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Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
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Sermon Reflections from Unmatched Strength | Alex Hardt | March 12, 2023
Pastor Alex used one of my favorite scriptures as the text of his sermon this Sunday. Isaiah 40: 27-31 are beloved verses as they give hope in the midst of our troubled, stress-filled lives.  It gives us perspective on the world and our troubles and leads us towards and attitude of HOPE!

I like to start with verses 25-26 “To whom will you compare me?
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.”      

We are to be reminded that no one or nothing is greater than God.  Who could even be compared to Him?  He is the Holy One and Creator of all the heavens and the earth.  All that is was made is by His hands and at His Word. 

Isaiah 40:27 follows with another question.  Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”? 

Do we adopt this same attitude when we approach God?  Do we try to chastise God because He has not revealed everything to us?  Do we often cry, Why, Lord?  Isaiah answers these questions with God’s character in verse 28  

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.”  

Isaiah says, haven’t you heard that God is the Creator and source of all strength?  You want strength- Look to the Lord.   Don’t spend your time questioning God?  He is God and He will let us know what we need to know.  We need to have some perspective and realize the truth of   

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  

God is infinite and his ways are perfect.  He will do as He pleases, but God is and can be the source of our strength.  When we turn to Him, He will give us strength.  Worshipping God lead us to the source of all strength.
Isaiah continues in verse 29-30.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;    

Have you ever prayed and asked God for strength?  I’m sure you have as I know I have on multiple occasions.  Why is that?  When we realize that our present circumstances are beyond our physical or emotional strength, we know we can turn to God for help. 

Claim Hebrew 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” and Hebrews 13:6 “So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”  

Our response to weariness is answered when we stretch out to God and seek His strength.
Lastly, we come to verse 31 “but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.  

​This is a verse with a promise!  If we will put our hope, faith, trust in the Lord He promises to renew us and cause us to soar!  He is the one with everlasting strength, the eternal one upon whom we can rely.  Does our hope in the Lord cause us to wait upon Him? Yes, it does, but waiting will lead to greater faith and renewed strength.  

I love David’s resolve in Psalm 27:13-14 “I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord”.    

May this be our resolve as well that we will wait with confident Hope in the Lord.  His ways are perfect and His timing never ceases to amaze me!  Wait in hope as God is faithful.  Lamentations 3:21-23 “But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.”   

Our hope is found in God’s faithfulness, so wait for Him.
Linda

SERMON LINK
ISAIAH: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE | Unmatched Strength
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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 Hope In Pursuing A Holy God | Alex Hardt | March 5, 2023

A new month and a new theme to receive a new perspective from God about His Holiness and our great sinfulness. Isaiah is the perfect place to begin as it is often referred to as the Gospel of the Old Testament.  Isaiah has many words of wisdom and encouragement for us today as well as prophesies that increase our faith as we see their fulfilment in the New Testament through Jesus the Messiah.

Alex started us off with Isaiah’s vision of the throne room of God and his encounter with God Almighty.  We see that God is Alive and desired to communicate with Isaiah.  God had a mission for him but wanted him willing.   We are created with free will and just like Isaiah God has a purpose and mission for us but will not order us to do His will.  As we looked at the scripture we see why Isaiah was willing to go and do what the Lord asked.  When he first saw the throne room, the seraphim and heard their proclamations of the holiness of God, he was overcome with the realization of his own sin.   “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5  The seraphim heard his distress and immediately came to him with cleansing fire in a coal.  The touching of the fire of God provided cleansing and forgiveness of sin for Isaiah.  We can experience that same cleansing and forgiven when we confront and confess our sins to Jesus. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Once Isaiah was clean he was able to hear and speak to God. Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

 What is your response to God when He presents you with a task?  Are you willing to go like Isaiah or do you hedge and say “I’ll think about it” or “maybe later would be better?”  God in His aliveness spoke to Isaiah and we can be assured that He can and will do the same for us.   Are you willing to listen?

Isaiah was humbled by the appearance of the throne room and the presence of Almighty God.  He did not treat it lightly but realized what a privilege it was to be in God’s presence.  He knew he was sinful and became painfully aware of that leading to His cleansing. How would you response to the earsplitting sound of the seraphim saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;    the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke?   

Would you humble yourself and surrender to God’s will like Isaiah.  
You might ask, what is it you want Lord?  If you can’t think of something specific look at what God says in 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.” 

Or perhaps Jesus’ words came to your mind from Luke 10:27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Or 1 John 2:17 “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  God tells us in His Word what He desires of us.  Are you willing?

Lastly, think about the holiness of God. Alex defined holy as ‘set apart from the world.’  God is high and lifted up. He is set apart from His creation. Our English word “holy” is from the same root word as “whole.”  God is whole- perfect in goodness and righteousness.  No one is like God. Even God’s holy angels tremble in reverent worship before Him.  God sets apart His children for Himself and commands us to be holy as He is holy.  Being holy makes you whole, what God intends you to be.   Isaiah wanted to be aligned with God and His holiness. 
He replied to God, “Here am I. Send me!”   Then God replied, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’  

The mission God had for Isaiah was to give His Words of praise and comfort and to confront their sinfulness.  It was not an easy task. What God has for us is not easy either but we are assured in 2 Timothy 2:16-17 that His Word will equip us to do His work, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Christ himself will be with us, Ephesians 4:11-12 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”   Are you willing to say Yes to God and go where He sends you?

Let Isaiah’s encounter with God open your eyes to your own sinfulness and need for repentance and surrender. Let his encounter open your eyes to the majesty and grandeur of God. Let his encounter open your eyes to see and experience God’s holiness and His desire for you to be holy through His Son Jesus.  “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” in John 14:6. 

Let Isaiah lead you to Holy Savior in Jesus.
Linda
 
 
SERMON LINK
ISAIAH: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE | Hope in Pursuing A Holy God
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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.