Beauty
Feb 21 - Mar 27, 2016
Easter - God's Radical Takeback
March 27, 2016 • Dr Charles Kyker
Easter is the great take-back. God gave His Son so that we could be forgiven of sin and rescued from this broken world. Have you received this wonderful gift of love? Close by reading John 19:38 – 20:18. Perhaps like Mary Magdalene and the little boy in the class- room, the Lord is calling you to share the message: “I have seen the Lord!” Who is the Lord putting on your heart to speak truth in love? Are you willing to share with sincerity and simplicity what the cross and Easter mean to you?
Throw In The Dirty Garments
March 20, 2016 • Dr Charles Kyker
If there was ever anyone who stayed focused in the midst of chaos it was Jesus. From the beginning of His public ministry He was surrounded with criticism, skepti- cism, misunderstood mission, name-calling and slander at times – and yet, He kept right on teaching, proclaiming the Good News, healing, even raising the dead. Jesus is our supreme example of remaining faithful in the fire. Luke chapter nineteen gives us the story of Zacchaeus, the parable of the Ten Serv- ants, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and the clearing of the Temple. Each account is about doing the right thing in the midst of chaos and criticism. If you have been waiting for the right “season” to do ministry – waiting till your life gets more in- control before you begin to serve your Lord – the wait is over. There will always be “stuff” in your way. Ministry is messy anyway, so you might as well jump in with your mess and be about your Father’s business. Jesus says: “Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest”
Busting The Myths - Live Q & A
March 13, 2016 • Dr Charles Kyker
Most of us know the Golden Rule, but do we practice it? It’s hard in day-to-day life—when things aren’t going our way, when the kids have gotten on our last nerve, when our spouse is out gallivanting and we’re holding down the fort—to “do to oth- ers whatever you would like them to do to you.” Often when we are stressed in one area we take it out on third parties, like folks at the grocery store, in traffic, or at work. And yet, Jesus says treat others always the way you want to be treated. He goes on to say: This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the proph- ets” (Matthew 7:12).
Is the church boring?
March 6, 2016 • Dr Charles Kyker
Many people would say church is one of the most boring places to be. Interesting, when the early church was anything but boring. Look at the life of the Lord Jesus – not boring. Look at our God from the beginning – certainly not boring, but brilliant. Why is it that we’ve somehow made the experience of church boring? Could it be that our desire to put on a show has sabotaged the mission of Christ’s body, to in- fuse the world around us with His DNA? When we got lost in promoting ourselves, we run the risk of losing the precious people Christ wants us to reach with His love.
Take Back Or Take Over?
February 28, 2016 • Dr Charles Kyker
Acts of wickedness and abuse of power have infected creation from the time of the Fall. And although evil seems to have the upper hand, the Lord Jesus Christ has promised that one day He will return and make all things right. There is a date set on Heaven’s Calendar that no man or force of darkness can reschedule. One day the unmatched radiance of our Lord’s appearing will pierce through this dark world like a million suns, and everything deserving of judgment will be struck down by the sharp sword in His mouth. Everything shifty (underhanded) and all things shakable (deceptive) will be revealed for what it is and consumed by the devouring fire of His presence (see Hebrews 13:29 and Revelation 19:15). His cleansing fire is coming.
Is the church disconnected?
February 21, 2016 • Dr Charles Kyker
Why is it that although most of us know we need help, the idea of going to church – for many – is a turnoff? And yet the question in the minds of millions of people is, “Can you help me? Can you make me better?” David Kinnamon says in his book, You Lost Me, there has been a 43% drop in church attendance among teens and twenties. In fact, he likens the absence of young people, or young people who go missing after attending church in their earlier years, to a “black hole.” Christ’s church is intended to be beautiful and yet, often to the watching world, followers-of- Christ (who make up the church) misrepresent the work of beauty it is meant to be.