What Shall We Do?

Friendship Community Church

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What Shall We Do?

May 3, 2020 • Pastor Logan Ames

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I watched a movie scene recently where one of the characters said, "Talk is cheap, and I'm not buying any". For years growing up in the church, we were taught that we can't just talk about faith in Jesus; we've got to walk the talk. Yet, a survey in the mid-2000s showed that 42% of Americans claimed the title of "evangelical Christian" while just 22% showed consistency with the core doctrinal values of the evangelical faith. In other words, our country is littered with CINOs - people who are "Christian in name only". I believe this pandemic we're all facing is an opportunity to look in the mirror and see what is staring back at us. Do our behaviors line up with the Christian values we trumpet? Are we setting an example for the world around us in not only speech, but action as well? What must we do when presented with a truth about Jesus that exposes an area of sin in our lives? This week at Friendship, we'll be talking mainly about the need for repentance among believers. We can talk all we want about how our country or our world needs it, but it begins with US. The early believers were spiritually moved by a great sermon, but still asked, "What shall we do?" We must ask the same question in 2020, AND be prepared to act according to the answer we receive. The empty tomb means an appropriate response is required. Are you ready?

More from Previous Sermon Series "Journey From The Empty Tomb"

Eyes On The Prize

May 31, 2020 • Pastor Logan Ames

As we've entered into the period between Memorial Day and Independence Day, between remembering those who sacrificed for us and the freedom they provided, it's a time when many will be thinking about our blessings in this country. One of the symbols of our great nation is the bald eagle. I remember learning once about the unique ability of the eagle to focus on its prey. The eagle already has vision that is 6 times better than that of humans, but it can be flying up to 100 mph over 200 feet above water and still spot the fish that it wants for a snack swimming beneath the surface. That's why they usually time it perfectly, swooping down to grab the fish just as it gets to where the eagle thought it would be and then returning skyward again. The biggest reason the eagle has this laser-like focus as its secret weapon is because it rarely, if ever, gets distracted by what else is around it. The eagle doesn't look back or side-to-side, but remains singularly focused on the goal, which is to win the prized prey. The eagle is always looking ahead and working as such. This week at Friendship, we close out our post-resurrection series by considering the goals of the Christian walk and how we might remain focused with our "eyes on the prize". We must endure hardships and challenges to the end because we know our full reward is with Christ in heaven. This message will challenge you to do away with any earthly gains that our temporary and to live for the eternal prize that is promised us if we remain faithful.

The Resurrection Memorial

May 24, 2020 • Pastor Logan Ames

Before becoming the pastor at Friendship, I rarely, if ever, used a calendar and it certainly wasn't part of my routine. When God gives you a great ability to recall information, it's easy to be overconfident in it. As a single person with very few others depending on me or anything I do, it wasn't hard to remember meetings or other important things. But in the past 4 years, I've gotten married, had two children, took over as pastor in a congregation with hundreds of regulars, and bought our first home. To say the least, I'm now in the real world like the rest of you and absolutely depend on my calendar or others to REMIND me of certain things. We always think we'll remember the important stuff, but how's that working for you? I find that it's getting harder and harder, especially with more things keeping me busy. I share this because I'm sure most of you can relate. This week at Friendship, for Memorial Day weekend, we'll consider what it means to REMEMBER the sacrifices. How easily we forget! We'll also talk about Jesus, who bled and died and then rose from the grave, yet is just as easily forgotten by the world and even by his followers. What does it mean to be his living, breathing "resurrection memorial"? How can we live in such a way that others see us and think of Jesus? Find out as we gather in person - for the first time in 2 http://months...yes LORD! - to worship and hear the word this weekend.

Entertaining Angels

May 17, 2020 • Pastor Logan Ames

There are times when what God commands in His word and through His apostles flies in the face of what we are taught by the world, and even by well-meaning and kind people around us. When it comes to strangers, for example, we are taught as children not to speak to them. Then, as we grow up and become more aware of the evil that is out there, we still do our best to avoid strangers even though we have more capacity for protecting ourselves. Jesus tells us to be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves - when dealing with the WORLD! But God's word calls us to a different reaction to those with whom we may not be familiar in the body of Christ. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about hospitality; not the kind you show your best friends and family members, but the kind we are commanded to show to the body of Christ even when we don't really know someone well. Too often, even in church, we are hesitant to get to know new people and show personal love and hospitality to them. But God says that when we are hospitable to Christian strangers, we may be "entertaining angels" without even knowing it. Gather with us online Sunday for this challenging, yet very practical message!