Sermon Meditation for Sunday, February 12th
Looking to Jesus, Part 19
Make My Heart Good Dirt
Read first: Hebrews 6:7, 8; Matthew 13:18-23
This Sunday, we finish our three part mini-series on the Eternal Security of the Believer . . .
A brief recap ~
First Sunday: We focused on historical context and the audience receiving this word.
Second Sunday:, We examined what the Holy Spirit was saying when He used words like “enlightened,” “tasted,” and “shared.”
I pray that this was helpful to you in your consideration of the nature of God’s eternal grace. Both messages are still available on our app along with the accompanying Powerpoint presentations.
Our third and final part of these messages will reveal the biblical proof of our eternal salvation. The Bible reveals that all who are truly in Christ will persevere with Him forever. It is God’s grace that holds us by the power of Jesus’ shed blood. We contribute nothing to our salvation other than sin. But, what is the biblical measure of our salvation; how can we know we are in Christ?
The simple answer to this question is provided by Jesus and the author of hebrews. The lives of those who are born again will bear fruit and so “prove to be” His disciples (John 15:8). Fruit = Christ-like character. The Father “chose us” that we may become more like His Son (Romans 8:29). A true believer will stumble now and then, but the character of Christ will come forth more and more each day. In this way, we enjoy increasing measure of the abundant life He promised with every passing year (John 10:10)!
We will seal this series with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. There’s nothing left to say except “thank you Jesus!”
Pastor Steve
Week of 2/12/2017
Make My Heart Good Dirt
February 12, 2017 • Pastor Steve Pope
Week of 5/21/2017
May 21, 2017 • Pastor Luke Dailey
Church Family, "Give us today our daily bread." - Matthew 6:11 (H.C.S.B.) I'm fairly new at this wild journey of a ride that we call "parenting." I have an adorable 20 month old daughter, and an 8 week old Gerber Baby model daughter (she's not really a model, calm down). So as far as time and seasons of life in parenting, my experience is lacking. However, I can tell you that I'm looking forward to ALL of the seasons with my kids. Every stage of their development is my favorite. Parents are "strongly encouraged" (or pushed) to parent well. And everyone has an opinion on how to parent well! So there's a lot of information and suggestions being thrown my way as a fairly new dad. One of the strongest suggestions that I hear, and that you have probably been told as well, is that we, as parents, must teach our children to be independent. In our culture, we truly believe that individualism is the key to success. The more independent you are, the better off you are! But when we open God's Word and seek His truth, I find the opposite to be true - we are meant to be DEPENDENT. We are, first of all, supposed to be dependent upon God as the source of all things, and we are meant to be dependent upon the Church, and we are meant to be dependent upon family. When we open the Bible we are forced to see that our culture's view of independence is a shipwrecked idea. This Sunday we will examine the Bible, be convicted, be encouraged, and be built up as we understand the reasons behind our dependence upon our God! See you there, Luke Dailey
Week of 5/14/2017
May 14, 2017 • Pastor Steve Pope
Sermon Meditation Learning to Pray with Power, Part 4 “Heaven on Earth!” Matthew 6:10 & I Peter 3:10-12 Many of us grew up attending religious communities that practiced rote and ritual recitation of the Lord’s prayer, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” We spoke the words out loud in unison without ever considering the Spirit-inspired power of each and every phrase. Even more concerning, we were never encouraged to consider the application of these words to daily living. Jesus’ model prayer was never intended for rote or ritual recitation, but is to serve as our guideline for daily times of intimate prayer with Jesus. This Sunday, we will drink in the beautiful and powerful next seven words; “on earth as it is in Heaven.” This phrase is as much a prerequisite to prayer as it is a request. What would life be like if our lives were in harmony with the perfect will of God? If the will of God was perfectly established “on earth as it is in Heaven?” We know His will is “good, pleasing, and perfect,” but have we often prayed that our lives and the lives of our loved ones would be brought into full submission to the beautiful will of God? When we answer this prayer with lives of obedience to God, we receive this powerful promise from the book of I Peter, “The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.” I Peter 3:10-12 Join us this Sunday as the Scriptures instruct us on the promise of having the Lord’s eyes watch over us, and having assurance that our prayers are being heard by Almighty God. Hope to see you this Sunday! Pastor Steve
Week of 5/07/2017
May 7, 2017 • Pastor Steve Pope
Sermon Meditation for Sunday, May 7th “All the Best!” Matthew 6:10; II Corinthians 10:3-5 I think we’ve all experienced the pain and sadness of watching a son or daughter, husband, wife or close friend stray from the Lord. Often, we’ve tried everything in hopes of bringing them home again - begging, pleading, and rebuking in tears. All our words and efforts only seem to drive these prodigals farther from God. And we watch helplessly as they march down the broad path leading to sure destruction. (Matthew 7:13, 14) The truth of our loved one’s situation is not easily observed with the eyes of the flesh. In Scripture, however, we learn the actual condition of our prodigals. They are in bondage, trapped in a high-walled fortress built of lies. No light can penetrate their chaotic and self-destructive minds. Before our prodigals are set free to experience the love of God, these fortress walls must be demolished. This Sunday morning, we will learn God’s instructions for seeing our prodigals set free. The apostle Paul gives us a clear understanding of the nature of the battle and the powerful weapons at our disposal. In this season of life in America, more and more people are walking away from God and from His church. Rather than grieving and wringing our hands with worry, it’s time to take action. Not with the weapons of this fleshly world, but with the powerful weapons at our disposal in Christ. This day we fight! Come and learn how to fight for your marriage, family and church. Blessings, Pastor Steve