Jesus Unleashed
Scripture: Acts 1:8 and Mark 1:8
Uncharted Territory!
January 12, 2020 • Pastor James P. Broughton, III • Acts 1:1–11
Jesus made it clear that it would be the Holy Spirit living in us that would carry us into the uncharted territory with power and purpose beyond what we could ever do on our own! The Church is being asked to do something on such a high spiritual level that we would never be able to achieve in our own power and will. Aired on 820AM The Word on 1/19/2020
Jesus Revolution Unleashed!
January 5, 2020 • Pastor James P. Broughton, III • Acts 1:1–11
The power of the resurrected Jesus in the church unleashed to confront us in our fears in order to free our faith!! The church empowered is release from being spectators to participators! Aired on 820AM The Word on 1/12/2020
A Resilient Faith
October 4, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
A resilient faith makes room for big shifts in our lives and is our greatest ally in our time of extremes changes! How do people deal with difficult or very challenging events that change their lives? The key is resilience! Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats and other challenging situations. It means "bouncing back" from difficult experiences!!
The Question That Opens Doors
August 30, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
THE QUESTION THAT OPENS DOORS Text: Luke 9:18-20 NASB 18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" 19They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." 20"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "God's Messiah." Luke 9:18-20 Theme: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change Jesus uses two questions strategically. He uses them to as a tool to accomplish his objectives—to open the door to discernment, discovery, and deeper intimacy with God! Big Idea: A beautiful question is one that sparks action!! (1) The question is an invitation to experience the revelation of God in Christ! (2) The question reveals an opportunity to spark change in my life! Warren Berger, author of “A More Beautiful Question,” says, “A beautiful question is an ambitious yet actionable question that can begin to shift the way we perceive or think about something – and that might serve as a catalyst to bring about change.” Beautiful questions have the power to: • Bring about change, innovation, and new initiatives. • Create a safe environment for us to explore, discover, and imagine. • Force us to think from a new perspective. • Unearth ambiguity and bring clarity, focus, and unity. How will you respond to Jesus’ questions? Are you going to be led by public consensus or personal conviction? • Public consensus: Are you basing your relationship on Jesus based on popular opinion? “Who do the crowds say that I am?” • Personal conviction: Are you convinced that Jesus is the Messiah—the Savior of the world? “Who do you say I am?”
When God Has BIG in Mind
August 16, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
BIG IDEA| God has given you an assignment with an unlimited reach! He has had big in mind all along. The purpose of this message is for people who want to think or dream BIG again! "You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people." Genesis 50:20 HCSB ▪ Planned|[c]hasab= this is a verb of deliberate action--it involves intention and imagination. It is not an accident!! THEME| Providence: to see beforehand; a prior seeing; foresight ▪ To know what the family needs in advance (essentials in life)--the one who provides and makes provision ▪ God is fully aware of who I am, but He has an assignment with an unlimited reach. He has "Big" in mind! “God planned it for good…” (Genesis 50:20(b) HCSB BACKGROUND| At first life can seem like a series of random events--only by looking back do we see the providence of God leading us from a known past to an unknown future. In between these spaces, we make our choices. Years later I can reflect back on my decisions to discern which ones were beneficial and which ones were fateful. “Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.” (Prov. 19:21) NASB COMPLICATION| Maybe over the years your dream has become smaller. If you dream big and it doesn’t work out, you’re left with a broken heart. People give up on their dreams all the time because circumstances make them feel SMALL. The problem is, as beings created by a BIG God, we were meant for BIGGER! “Where is God in all this?” A look back to move forward! "Then Joseph had a dream…" (Genesis 37:5) NASB ▪ Jacob evoked in Joseph’s life a sense of his being bound for something more and something better beyond the competence of his older brothers. ▪ When I look at the 'bigness' of the needs, and the power needed to make a difference or impact, I seem SMALL.
The Journey of a Dreamer
August 9, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
Text: Genesis 37:1-5 Dare: to have the necessary courage or boldness for something; Dreams often portray events which are impossible, or unlikely in reality, and are usually outside of the control of the dreamer. BACKGROUND| The power of a dream and its conflict with business as usual BIG IDEA| God is still at work in the lives of His people to impact the world! COMPLICATION| The ways of God are at work, regardless of human attitudes or actions. DISCUSSION: How has dreams affected your walk with God? How can a dream motivate you to deal with contemporary issues? • Dreamers develop an attitude that produces energy—cf. Langston Hughes “A Dream Deferred” • Dreamers have a sense of purpose & meaning to our lives • Dreams reveal Potential that must be shaped into Promise! • Dreams have the power to set us on a transformational journey from isolation to formation. • Dreams are the unsettling work of the Lord upon which everything depends! • God’s dream in you will cause you to prevail over any circumstance and the plans of the enemy!
What Does God Require of Me?
August 2, 2020 • Reverend Blake C. Johnson
Problem: Man does not realize that God is aware of the gap between His perfection and man’s sinfulness. Even during the time of Micah, the Prophet, it was revealed that judgement was coming to Samaria and Jerusalem. There is a constant tension between that gap in our disobedience toward God today which is like the sins of Samaria and Jerusalem during those times of judgement. Big Idea: 1). We learn from the Prophet Micah that we must understand God desires us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. 2). Paul says it best in Colossians 3:2, Set your minds on things that are above, not on earthly things. 3). Solomon stated in Ecclesiastic 12:13, “Now all has been heard here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the duty of all mankind.”
Turning Towards The One Who Promised
July 26, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
Situation: What to do with those perplexing moments that open my horizons and challenge my comfort zone? God invites us with an irresistible call that shakes up my “normal”! How can I leave “normal behind”? It is encouraging for every child of God to be reminded so emphatically that the Lord is caring for us, and watching over us no matter where we go, or what we do. He will be with us always and will certainly fulfill every promise and pledge that He has purposed towards us! Big Idea: NOTES: Turning Toward the One Who Promised! God stands with us Remember: • Everything changes when God speaks! • The promises of God still hold faithful regardless of my circumstances! He promises: 1. Divine Companionship “Know that I am with you…” 2. Divine Protection “I will keep you wherever you go…” 3. Divine Guidance “I will bring you back…”
Finding A Familiar God In An Unfamiliar Place
July 19, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III • Genesis 28:10–19
Sermonic Aim: The way we view everything around us will begin to change! No longer will the world be restricted to what I know through observation. No longer will it be restricted to the church building; but my mind will be opened to the wider reality around me! • God works in unexpected places, at unexpected times, and in unexpected ways! • It is when we least expect it, we CAN know that we are not alone, that God is there and has been all along Complication: Being too preoccupied by our own concerns to notice Him “Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran.” Genesis 28:10
God Sees ME!
July 12, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
Big Idea: Faith transform my vulnerability into strength--by inviting me into a deeper level of intimacy with God through Jesus Christ! Background: The wilderness wanderings are the backdrop to chapters 3-4. Like in contemporary time, the Israelites find themselves constantly challenged and overwhelmed by the unexpected challenges of the day. They were uncertain as to where they are and uncertain as to they were going. Can you relate to their crisis?
Living Right in a World Gone Wrong
June 14, 2020 • Reverend James P. Broughton, III
I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it;