Home Salvation History Activities Children Map
News Prayer Concerns Testimonials Events Reflections Contact

 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."  Matthew 16:24

 

Sunday August 28th

Made to Count
Made With a Plan in Mind


Sometimes it’s amazing what we have and don’t even realize it!

A. God Has Given Every One of us a Personal Call
God Has Given Every One of us a Personal Call…WHY?
1. He wants YOU to have a relationship with HIM.
2. He created YOU for that purpose.
3. He wants YOU to communicate with HIM.
4. He wants YOU to be transformed by HIM.
5. He wants YOU to love HIM

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”  Jeremiah 31:3
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."  Deuteronomy 6:4-5

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  Mark 12:30

Jesus earthly ministry was regularly filled with the invitation:

“Come unto me…”
“Come follow me…”
“Come be with me…”

He had a plan for YOU before you were born:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  Psalms 139:13-15a


B. There is Only One Way to Experience God’s Personal Call: by...FAITH
Jeremiah had a choice

The New Testament describes FAITH as the key that unlocks the door to personal relationship with God.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

 

Have you personally responded to God’s call for your life?
God’s design for your life.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10
Our dilemma…separation of God.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…"  Romans 3:23


Sin manifests itself through:
1. Things we say
"For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:37
2. Things we do
"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4
3. Things we think
"But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?" Matthew 9:4
4. Things we should do and don’t
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17
God’s deliverance the CROSS.
 

The Only Answer...JESUS
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  Acts 4:12


The decision…what to do with Christ
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Romans 10:9-10


C. There is a Purposeful Call for YOU.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

 

Sunday August 21st

God’s Recipe for  Happiness

How  to be happy according to God’s Word.

1.Practice Humility.
"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:1-3
 

2. Share the Pain of Others.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  Matthew 5:4
 

3. Relate to Others in Meekness. (power under control)
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  Matthew 5:5
 

4. Have a Deep Desire to be Close to God.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."  Matthew 5:6
 

5. Have a Forgiving Heart.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."  Matthew 5:7
 

6. Have a Deep Desire to be Right with God.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."  Matthew 5:8
 

7. Strive to Make Things Right with Others.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."  Matthew 5:9
 

8. Be Willing to Suffer for Christ’s Sake.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:10

 

Sunday August 14th

What God Says About Nothing

1. Out of Nothing God Created the World.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters".  Genesis 1:1-2
 

2. Man Brought Nothing into this World and Will Carry Nothing Out.
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  1Timothy 6:7
 

3. Without Jesus We Can Do Nothing.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."  John 15:5
 

4. Religious Acts Minus Love Equals Nothing.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."  1 Corinthians 13:1-2
 

5. Christians Without a Witness Are Worth Nothing.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”  Matthew 5:13
 

6. If We Lost Our Souls, We Have Gained Nothing.
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"  Mark 8:36

 

Sunday July 31st

Cultivating a Heart of Forgiveness

1. We are commanded to forgive

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32

 

2. We are to forgive completely

"...the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn't pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. But the man fell down before the king and begged him, `Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt."  Matthew 18:23-27


3. We are to forgive repeatedly

"Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?  No! Jesus replied, seventy times seven!"  Matthew 18:21-22


4. We are to forgive sacrificially

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16
 

5. We are to forgive pursuingly

"If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you. Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good."  Romans 12:20-21
 

6. The Perils of Unforgiveness

"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.
My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."  Mathew 18:34-35

 

Sunday July 24th

What Does it Mean to Fear the Lord?

1. Why we should Fear the Lord?

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness."  Romans 1:18

“My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”  Hebrews 12:5-6

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."  Rev 3:19 (NIV) [Jesus]

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.  Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV)

"Do not forget that God can be severe as well as kind..."   Romans 11:22
 

2. The Benefits of Fearing the Lord
The Fear of the Lord "is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7

The Fear of the Lord "will cause one to hate evil."  Proverbs 8:13

The Fear of the Lord "will prolong life."  Proverbs 10:27

The Fear of the Lord "provides strong confidence and is a fountain of life."  Proverbs 14:26-27

The Fear of the Lord "encourages one to depart from evil."  Proverbs 16:6

The Fear of the Lord "leads to a satisfying life."  Proverbs 19:23

The Fear of the Lord "is the way to riches, honor, and life."  Proverbs 22:4


3.  Developing the Fear of the Lord

"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God."  Proverbs 2:1-5

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."  1 John 4:18

Back To Top