My Brother's Keeper

Eternity in my Heart

August 27, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Ecclesiastes 3:1–15

Many theologians and writers have spoken of the "God shaped hole" in every human heart. There is more to that than mere sentimentality. King Solomon contends in the book of Ecclesiastes that God has placed eternity in the heart of every person. This innate reality creates a spiritual hunger within us to connect with glory. Therefore, since we know that God is already at work in the hearts of the people around us, the question becomes, how can God use us in the work that He is already doing to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives?

What is Truth

August 20, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • John 17:1–19

Some 2000 years ago a man named Pontus Pilate asked the timeless question, "What is truth?" In the absence of an answer he went on to crucify the embodiment of truth, the Lord of Glory. He stands as the prototypical example of humanity's quest and need for truth. In our day, we act as though there are multiple and even contradictory truths. But is it possible for all of us to have our own truth? This week we will consider the objective reality of truth and the need to root our understanding of it in Christ and His Word because what one believes matters and has eternal consequences.

Tell Me Who I Am

August 13, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Titus 3:1–7

Every human being, at some point in their life, will ask the question, who am I? We are inherently meaning seekers and meaning makers and central to that effort is the development of a sense of self. The quest for identity begins in childhood and continues through each new season of life. God, as the Creator, has the right to define us and what He says is the truest thing about us. So, what if our starting point with each person we meet was, I know this person has an incomplete view of themselves, just like I do. How can I help them root their identity in Christ?

Looking for Love

August 6, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • 1 John 4:13–21, 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, Mark 12:29–31

When is Fear the Correct Response?

July 23, 2023 • Pastor Andy Shanks • Psalm 27

Fear is one of the most basic human instincts. It is an emotion that is ingrained in us from the time we are infants. Fear is designed to protect us, but can easily turn into something that enslaves us. How do we know when fear turns to a sinful response and how do we conqueror ungodly fear? What if the starting point with every other human being we meet was this: I know that everyone has fear, just like me. What I don’t know is what they fear, and what that fear is causing them to do. This morning we will be looking into David’s response to fear and why he had so much boldness, and how we can be like him.

Prone to Excess

July 16, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Ephesians 4:17–19

The natural human heart is plagued by an almost constant desire for more. It's the drum beat of our lives. That creates an unsustainable pressure within us because we're limited by talent, access to resources, time, opportunities, and a whole host of other things. What if our starting point with every other human being we meet was this, "I know that this person's heart is full of insatiable hunger, always desiring more, and that has created a multitude of problems in their life. How can I help them find their greatest pleasure in Christ alone?"

The Danger of Expanding Needs

July 9, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Matthew 6:25–34

The human heart is a fertile field that specializes in growing wants into needs. Because of the indwelling presence of sin, we are constantly giving birth to new desires and the heart has a way of turning those desires into life defining needs that begin to have an ever growing influence on the lives we live shaping our ambitions and what it means to be content, happy, and successful. What if our starting point with every other human being we meet was this, "I know this person is prone to add needs to their needs, just like me. Where have they done so, what has that cost them, and how can I help them see the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ to meet their legitimate needs?"

Everyone has Purpose

June 18, 2023 • Pastor Andy Shanks • 1 Peter 2:1–12

We know that everyone needs a purpose for their life, but what we don’t know is where they are looking for that purpose. People spend their lives searching for purpose and meaning. Oftentimes, this search for purpose is sought outside of Christ and when it is, it has devastating consequences. Even as believers, if we don’t stay focused on glorifying God in all we do, we can easily start to seek our purpose outside of Christ which leads to pain and suffering. This morning we will look at exactly what our purpose ought to be, how to pursue it, and the results of it.

Suffering is Universal

June 11, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Psalm 6

There are certain realities that bind us all together in this human experience. One of them is the sad and painful reality of suffering. Because of the sin in us and around us, we all know what it means to hurt physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pain speaks every language on the earth and no human being gets through life without having to walk through it at some point to some degree. What if our starting point, with every new person we meet, was to ask ourselves, how is this person hurting and how can I help?

Sin is Universal

June 4, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Ephesians 2:1–3

What does it mean to be a human being? What does it mean to share this planet with over 8 billion other human beings? The reality is we have far more in common with one another than we do differences. How might our culture change if our collective starting point with one another was, what do I have in common with this person rather than what separates me from this person? This series we will consider 11 realities that are common to the human experience. This week we will explore the fact that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.

Idolatry is Universal

July 2, 2023 • Pastor Doug Forman • Exodus 20:1–21

Idolatry is a funny reality. We tend to dismiss the idea of it as an antiquated experience of superstitious and bygone cultures, and yet more people have died of idolatry than any other single factor in human history. It's at the heart of the human heart and it's the root cause of every human problem. What if we took the time to understand which false saviors the people around us are running toward, how those false saviors have failed them, and how we can point them to the one and only Savior, Jesus the Christ of God?