Dec 31, 2023
What Have You Resolved to Do?
Series: New Year
Well, here we are on the final day of 2023.  As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I want us to ask ourselves to consider how we want to live in just one area of our lives.  How are you going to choose to live as a child of God?  If Christ is your focus, how ought that to show up in your daily life this coming year?
 
There is a portion of Paul’s letter to the Colossian church that speaks to this very issue.  In Col. 3:12-18, Paul tells us what we discover when Christ is our focus: 1) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Love; 2) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Live; 3) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Learn.
 
Make Christ your focus in the coming year – live your life to glorify the Lord.
 
 
Colossians 3:12-17
Dec. 31, 2023
 
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  • Dec 31, 2023What Have You Resolved to Do?
    Dec 31, 2023
    What Have You Resolved to Do?
    Series: New Year
    Well, here we are on the final day of 2023.  As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I want us to ask ourselves to consider how we want to live in just one area of our lives.  How are you going to choose to live as a child of God?  If Christ is your focus, how ought that to show up in your daily life this coming year?
     
    There is a portion of Paul’s letter to the Colossian church that speaks to this very issue.  In Col. 3:12-18, Paul tells us what we discover when Christ is our focus: 1) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Love; 2) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Live; 3) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Learn.
     
    Make Christ your focus in the coming year – live your life to glorify the Lord.
     
     
    Colossians 3:12-17
    Dec. 31, 2023
     
    To watch the video of this message, click here.
  • Dec 24, 2023A Courageous Christmas
    Dec 24, 2023
    A Courageous Christmas
    Series: Christmas
    Matthew 1:18-25 records for us the occasion when God revealed the upcoming birth of Jesus to Mary's husband, Joseph.  The short account gives us the details, but there is even more going on behind the scenes.
     
    There is a story behind the story here that I think is important for us to learn from.  Joseph demonstrates courage in 3 ways that I believe should be instructive for us today as well: 1) We Should Practice Personal Integrity Regardless of Public Pressure ; 2) We Should Prioritize God’s Will, Not Human Wisdom; and 3) We Should Pursue Sacrificial Action Instead of Superficial Anger.
     
    God uses our courageous obedience to accomplish His objectives.
     
     
    Matthew 1:18-25
    Dec. 24, 2023
     
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  • Dec 17, 2023So, How Was Your Day?
    Dec 17, 2023
    So, How Was Your Day?
    Series: Christmas
    We can tend to take our days for granted, because often, day after day, it’s the same old thing.  Then, once in a while, we have a day that really stands out from the rest.  Christmas can be either one.  When you’re young, it’s an amazing day, full of excitement.  But, after a few dozen Christmases, and especially when you’re footing the bill, it can sometimes slide into being another one of those days.
     
    How should we respond to Christmas?  If someone were to come up to you on Christmas and ask, “So, how was your day?”  How will you answer?
     
    Mary gives us a great example in Luke 1:46-55.  After being told that she would bear God’s promised Messiah, she breaks forth in praise.  Her example to us suggests 4 things we can do: 1) Praise God for What He Has Done; 2) Praise God for His Power and Mercy; 3) Praise God for His Justice; 4) Praise God for His Faithfulness.
     
    We need to pause and praise God for His gift of a Savior.
     
     
    Luke 1:46-55
    Dec. 17, 2023
     
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  • Dec 10, 2023When God Leaves You Speechless
    Dec 10, 2023
    When God Leaves You Speechless
    Series: Christmas
    Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful, joyous time of year.  But, there are sometimes things going on in our lives which make it difficult to be joyful.  Struggles and trials can definitely hinder any desire to celebrate.
     
    Today's message is a look at events surrounding another birth which took place shortly before Jesus’ – that of John the Baptist.  John’s parents give us some examples, both positive and negative, of how to continue to seek God even during times of suffering.  We learn that we should: 1) Serve God in Times of Struggle; 2) Rejoice in What God Reveals; 3) Don’t Let Doubts & Disappointment Derail Your Faith; 4) Give God the Glory for the Good in our Lives.
     
    Continue to seek & serve the Lord, even in times of struggle – trust Him and His promises.
     
     
    Luke 1:5-25+57-66
    Dec. 10, 2023
     
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  • Dec 3, 2023What’s in a Name?
    Dec 3, 2023
    What’s in a Name?
    Series: Christmas
    In the Bible names were frequently given to express something about a person or circumstance.  For instance – Isaac means “laughter” and was named so because Sarah laughed when told that she would have a son.  Samuel means “heard by God” as a sign that God heard his mother’s prayer.
     
    In a prophecy from the book of Isaiah, we find 4 names given to Jesus, some 700 years before He was ever born.  Each of these names tells us something about how God interacts with us in important areas of our lives.  1) Wonderful Counselor - Jesus desires to give us guidance in the decisions of life; 2) Mighty God - He has the power to see us through the difficulties of life; 3) Eternal Father - Jesus desires to take care of our ultimate destiny in life; 4) Prince of Peace - He is able to grant us peace in the disturbances of life.
     
    The Names of Christ reveal the greatness of God’s gift to us.
     
     
    Isaiah 9:6
    Dec. 3, 2023
     
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  • Nov 26, 2023What to Do When the Bottom Falls Out
    Nov 26, 2023
    What to Do When the Bottom Falls Out
    Series: Daniel
    We’ve all had days when things just seemed to go from bad to worse; times when it may have felt like the bottom dropped out of our lives.  Things like serious injuries & illnesses, loss of possessions due to fire, tough struggles at work, financial issues, relational issues, and more.  Our challenge in those moments is to remember that God is greater than the problems we face.  Prayer needs to be our first line of defense when facing problems.
     
    When the bottom dropped out of the lives of Daniel and his companions, they turned to God, and they give us some wonderful examples to learn from: 1) We Must Make Prayer Our Priority; 2) We Should Avoid Seeking Alternatives to Prayer; 3) Prayer Acknowledges Our Need for God’s Provision.
     
    When the bottom falls out of our lives, we need to fall to our knees in prayer.
     
     
    Daniel 2:1-18
    Nov. 26, 2023
     
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  • Nov 19, 2023Standing Out By Standing Up
    Nov 19, 2023
    Standing Out By Standing Up
    Series: Daniel
    It doesn’t really matter where you work, or what you do, stress and burnout can come to all of us.  It can be hard to give our best to what we do, whether at work, at school, at home, or anywhere else.  In fact, those who consistently give their best efforts tend to stand out from the crowd.  Sometimes it's just a matter of standing up and doing what God has called us to do.
     
    That’s the attitude we find in Daniel and his three companions in Daniel 1:17-21.  They stood out as they stood up for God.  There are two truths that we find illustrated in these verses: 1) God is the Giver of All the Gifts and Good in Our Lives; and 2) We Should Give Our Best Wherever God Has Us and As Long As He Has Us There.
     
    Do your best with the gifts God has given you, seeking to give Him glory.
     
     
    Daniel 1:17-21
    Nov. 19, 2023
     
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  • Nov 12, 2023Unwavering or Unwilling?
    Nov 12, 2023
    Unwavering or Unwilling?
    Series: Daniel
    Daniel and his friends found themselves faced with a difficult choice right at the beginning of their training in Babylon.  They sought permission to avoid eating the king’s choice food, in order not to defile themselves.
     
    It’s a fairly straightforward account in which we learn a few things from Daniel’s example: 1) Daniel Wanted to Honor God; 2) Daniel Cultivated a Good Relationship with His Captors; 3) Daniel Was Creative in Pursuing His Goal of Godly Obedience.
     
    These examples should find a place in our lives as well: 1) We Should Honor God with What We Do; 2) We Should Cultivate a Godly Relationship with the Culture Around Us; 3) We Should Be Creative in Our Goal of Godly Obedience.
     
    Obeying God may risk our acceptance by the world, but it is always the right thing to do.
     
     
    Daniel 1:8-16
    Nov. 12, 2023
     
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  • Nov 5, 2023Trusting God in Trying Times
    Nov 5, 2023
    Trusting God in Trying Times
    Series: Daniel
    As a Christian, it’s hard to look at our world and not feel like things are going downhill, especially in our western culture.  Things that would have seemed unthinkable a few short years ago are now celebrated as sources of pride and encouraged.  Can we possibly thrive as believers in Christ in a culture that is as seemingly godless as ours? 
     
    God answered this question for us 2,500 years ago, and I believe His answer is the same today as it was then.  In the Old Testament book of Daniel we discover that the Babylonian culture Daniel was forced to live in wasn’t all that different from the culture we live in today in many ways.  As we begin this study we'll do a little 1) Digging in to the Background of Daniel.  From there we'll look at 2 things which show up in the short introduction: 2) God is Still in Control When Things Seem Out of Control; and 3) Christ Followers Will Face Cultural Conflict.
     
    Because God has complete control, we can trust Him completely.
     
     
    Daniel 1:1-7
    Nov. 5, 2023
     
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  • Oct 29, 2023Lessons on Evangelism from Philip
    Oct 29, 2023
    Lessons on Evangelism from Philip
    Series: Missions
    Join us as we hear from Evandro & Erica Da Silva, missionaries to Brazil.  They will share an update on their ministry along with some encouragement from God's Word to be sensitive to God's leading as we seek to share Christ with others.
     
    Acts 8:26-40
    Oct. 29, 2023
     
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