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When we consider recent events in our world, we realize that everyone is looking for peace. What has you nervous today? What has you frustrated, anxious, or afraid? Whatever it may be, you need to discover that the only source for real peace that meets your need is Jesus Christ. The world tries to give you peace by changing your circumstance. If your neighbors are frustrating_ move. If your spouse is hard to live with — divorce. If someone has something you want— take with force. If don’t like your job— quit. Too much stress— escape. Jesus does not try to change your circumstances, He offers a change of heart instead. Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has a purpose for you— and this purpose is unique to you and unlike anyone else’s. Once you understand the uniqueness of you, it will put you well on the way to pursuing the purpose for which you were created. The Apostle Paul encourages the early church to press on toward the goal of the upward call. Are you chasing after your God-given dream? Let us pursue everything God has for each one of us
We’re moving forward with our God-given dream and are focused on Jesus. What else would we need as believers, followers of Christ? Well, it takes a bit of risk. Most of the time when we think about risk, we think it is a negative thing. However, as we will discover this weekend is that there is the Safe Zone or the Faith Zone. If God has given you a dream, do you really think He will let it fail? This is where stepping out with a bit of risk and a whole lot of Faith ought to be how we walk in this world.
The Wisemen long ago were guided to the house where Jesus was in order to worship the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the light of the world. Let’s think about that Light. Light cannot be anything other than what it is. It's bright; it dispels darkness; it enables people to see what they are doing. If we look at the moon it glows, but it doesn’t glow because it has a light, it glows because the sun’s light is reflected by it upon the earth. When we follow Jesus, the Light of the world, we are to reflect His light in the world.
We end our series on Understanding Spiritual Gifts this Sunday as we gather together to celebrate Holy Communion. Through this series, we’ve discovered that our spiritual gifts are given by God, used for His glory, and each one of us has a different one to build up the Body of Christ. Now that we know that, what are we going to do about it? Each one of us has a passion, something that burns inside of us to do, a heart to change our world. That fire is connected to the use of our gifts for the glory of God.
In order to continue using our gifts, being effective in this world for the glory of God we must be plugged into Christ. It bears repeating, no one can do anything without being plugged into the source of all things, especially when using and perfecting the spiritual gifts God has given you. Scripture reminds us, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me [plug into me], you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5, emphasis mine). So, how do we remain plugged in for life? Well, glad you asked. Listen in on the Sermon today.
Unless you are a die-hard athlete do you even think of stretching. Physical stretching is one of the best things we can do to keep ourselves in the game. But what about spiritual stretching? God sometimes asks us to go out of our comfort zones. He stretches us. Our faith enlarges and we reap a host of spiritual benefits like restoration, influence, and the promise of things we can’t even imagine.
We can rejoice knowing that it is through the righteousness of Christ and our faith in Him that we are redeemed people of God. We find out this week it takes perseverance in faith to stay on track, to set our eyes on the goal of knowing Christ. There will be some who come along our pathway and try to lead us off the mark set before us. Let us remember we are people who are growing in their knowledge of Christ and growing in our understanding of just how powerful God is. It is in His strength we find the assurance to stand firm, to press on, to journey toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
As we enter the book of Philippians, we need to start with a solid foundation. Every book of the Bible is put there to help and assist us to know God more intimately through His Son Jesus Christ and to encourage us to stand firm in the faith. Philippians is no different. This letter written by Paul to the Church of Philippi is a friendship letter. He knows them intimately and therefore knows what they are going through as an early church, believers following Jesus. Take this journey with us as we walk through Philippians and learn what it means to partner with Christ.
Easter is over— or is it? The resurrection of Jesus brings us new life, eternal life for those who believe in Him and that’s the truth of what God's word says. In today’s culture it is difficult to determine the truth because of all the messages that we are receiving and yet as a believer, we know the truth and are called to declare the truth of Jesus Christ, His life, death, and resurrection. Easter is not over, it is only the beginning for us to move out and declare His truth!
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