Are you just going through religious motions, or are you truly on fire for God? Discover how the Holy Spirit's fire can transform your life from lukewarm faith into a powerful force for good. The same voice that spoke creation into existence calls you beloved - how will you respond? 🔥✨
Read MoreWhat gifts can you bring to honor God today? 🌟 The wise men brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh - but the most precious gifts we can offer might surprise you. Discover how your daily choices can become powerful offerings that transform lives and point others to hope.
Read MoreDuring the Christmas season, we celebrate Jesus as Emmanuel, 'God with us,' reflecting on the profound significance of His birth. This time of Advent is not just about waiting for Christmas but also anticipating Christ's second coming, filled with hope, joy, love, and peace. Galatians 4:4-7 emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promise, where we are adopted as His children, moving from the obligation of the law to the grace found in Christ. This new relationship with God is intimate, like the pre-fall relationship Adam and Eve had with Him. Addressing God as 'Abba, Father' signifies this intimacy, transforming us through the Holy Spirit. We are no longer slaves to sin but beloved children of God, called to shine His light in the world. Embrace your identity in Christ, live out this truth, and deepen your relationship with God, reflecting His love and grace in your daily life.
Read MoreIn the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it's easy to lose sight of the peace that Christ offers. Advent is a special time in the church year to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, reflecting on hope, love, joy, and peace. The peace of Christ, as foretold by the prophet Micah and fulfilled through Jesus' sacrifice, is not just a future promise but a present reality for those who believe. This peace, rooted in the new covenant, is eternal and unchanging, regardless of our circumstances. The church plays a vital role in helping us experience and maintain this peace, equipping us to share it with the world. By embracing the peace of Christ, we can transform our families, workplaces, and communities, bringing comfort and hope in a world filled with unrest. As we approach Christmas, let's focus on the peace that Christ brings, creating moments of stillness to reflect on His peace and sharing it with those around us.
Read MoreAdvent is a time to remember that we can have JOY no matter what… because of Jesus’ coming, and his imminent return! As St. Paul says, “Rejoice! I say it again, rejoice!”
Read MoreIsn’t it the love of God to tell and proclaim repentance and faith in Jesus? John the Baptist, in today’s text, prepares the way for the Messiah with this message. Seeing that John’s ministry is talked about in all 4 gospels, we better believe his message is important! How will you use this season to get your heart aligned in the love of God so that you can go forth to show his love to others?
Read MoreIn this topical sermon about the season of Advent, we look at the hope that is promised in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This is HUGELY important for us as Christians — that no matter how chaotic and dark it may seem, the light of the world has come! And he’s coming AGAIN! Amen, come Lord Jesus!
Read MoreMessage from this Christ the King Sunday 2024. Listen and we pray you have a blessed week.
Read MoreAs we approach Thanksgiving in the US, it’s interesting that in the church “calendar”, we are preparing for Advent and the coming of the Messiah. And, the readings leading up, tell of judgment, tribulation and persecution…prophecy (some which has already occurred and some, still to come) … and it’s all a part of getting us ready for the main event: Jesus coming again in final victory. Amen, come Lord Jesus!
Read MoreThis “poor” widow in our story today… is RICH in the Lord’s eyes! Why? How? Listen and find out the deep truths behind this Word from Mark’s gospel. It all points to Jesus!
Read MoreThe “Greatest Commandment”? Jesus breaks it down for us REAL simply… or does he? LOL. Love God. Love others as yourself. Easier said than done, but it IS our holy calling as “saints”. Listen to this message from the All Saints Sunday service.
Read MoreJesus has set his face like flint towards Jerusalem for what purpose? To suffer and to die. To enter into his passion. But the disciples still see Jesus as the Messiah through a worldly lens. One of power, control, domination. They still fail to recognize him as not only the Messiah but also the suffering servant that Isaiah prophesied about that we heard of today in our first reading. Jesus is the one who is crushed for our iniquities, but this is not some kind of Trinitarian schizophrenia. Rather it was always the plan from the beginning to establish redemption, to make the many righteous by the Son offering himself in obedience to the plan that the Father put in place. He indeed, as Hebrews was read for us he indeed is the great High Priest who offers himself as the Lamb of God slain for our peace. Not the blood of bulls, goats, rams or sheep, but the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
Read MoreThe story of today’s gospel text taken in a (perhaps) new direction with all that’s happened in our area with the recent hurricanes. We pray that you will listen and be blessed.
Read MoreIn times of great tragedy and suffering, we see (as Christians) God’s grace and peace in such powerful ways. As we continue to walk this road of pain and loss, in the power of the resurrection, we rely on God’s grace and peace until the end.
Read MoreThe narrative has shifted… and Jesus’ passion and death is being taught to his disciples with more and more clarity (even though the disciples clearly don’t understand). In today’s story, Jesus overhears his disciples arguing about “who is the greatest”. Therefore, Jesus takes a little child in his arms and says, “Whoever wants to be first, MUST be last and servant of all.” This is hard for us to grasp, but necessary to strive for (by God’s grace and Spirit). Listen and be encouraged.
Read MoreOne of the most authentic cries in the Bible comes from Mark 9:14-29, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” If this is your cry today, please give this message a listen.
Read MoreJesus (in this miraculous story) shows us his love and care for all the world. He heals a man who cannot hear and has a speech impediment —something only God can do — as told by the prophet Isaiah (Ch. 35). As soon as Jesus speaks the word, “Ephaphtha!” (be opened) over this man, he was able to completely hear and speak instantly, and could not help but to “zealously” tell everyone about Jesus. This story has a LOT to do with us. Listen and find out.
Read MoreJesus is once again confronted by the Pharisees because his disciples don't adhere to their tradition of ritual hand washing before a meal. He points out that their traditions subvert God's law rather than complement it, thereby exposing their hypocrisy and hardness of heart. However, the point of the law was to teach the right ordering of the soul. Ultimately, it is the interior act of the soul (what comes out of the heart) and not what materially happens to the body that “defiles” or “profanes” a person in the sight of God.
Read MoreJohn 6 is one of the most radical and mysterious of Jesus’ teachings about himself. In hindsight, we Christians know that Jesus was speaking about the Eucharist (or Holy Communion). But most of the crowd (or those on the fringes) weren’t interested to stay around to discover what Jesus was speaking about. They just said, “This is too hard”, and walked away. And you know what? Jesus let them. He asked, “Do you want to go away as well?” to his closest disciples. Peter then said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we have come to know and believe that you are the Holy One of God.” How about you?
Read MoreJohn 6:53-59 are some of the most radical verses in all of Scripture. But, Jesus is not mincing words here. He clearly says, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” So, let’s “chew on this” text and ponder the magnificent mystery of it all! Ready? Let’s go.
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