Taking The First Step

Friendship Community Church

Taking The First Step

September 19, 2021 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

OK, quick question: how many of you that were given working legs by our Father remember taking your FIRST STEP? The answer is no one! You were way too young to remember, but you may have witnessed many first steps in your life, and God willing, you'll witness many more! FIRST STEPS can be frightening at times, but they are also blessings because they bring in change, something different, and it's usually something better. Do you remember the first step you took to go to grade school, high school, or college? The first step going on a first date? The first step down the aisle if you were married? The first step in seeing your first child being born? We experience so many firsts that we do not even acknowledge them any more. What if I were to tell you that there is a first step that, when we take it, we can never and will never want to go back? It is such a GREAT STEP that you want to tell everyone about taking it and you cannot stop talking about it! Do you want to hear about it? This step will change lives FOREVER! This week at Friendship, we'll continue in our "Run the Race" series by talking about "Taking the First Step" of following Jesus as His disciples.

Multiply

November 21, 2021 • Pastor Logan Ames

It all started with Jesus and a few rejects of Judaism who couldn't quite cut it as disciples in the self-righteous, overtly religious world in which they were raised. They had gone back to their fathers' trades, until a new and different Rabbi came along and promised to change their lives for all of eternity. They had many failures and life lessons along the way, had to die to themselves, follow their Lord, and let Him renew their minds and eventually fill them up with the Holy Spirit. It started with them, but has grown into a worldwide movement of billions covering the past, present, and future. That growth happened because people were willing, against all odds and their own personal safety and security, to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Sometimes it was with their lips, other times just their courageous living. They willingly risked the lives they were bound to lose anyway in order to MULTIPLY what they had in the lives of as many bearers of God's image as He would allow them to encounter. They did it all by the power and authority of the One who had saved them and sent them. This week at Friendship, we close out our "Run the Race" series with a look at how we too can and must be multipliers of discipleship. It's what we were born again to do!

Approaching The Finish Line

November 14, 2021 • Pastor Logan Ames

Does anyone ever start a workout and the just enjoy it so much that by the time it's over, you can't believe it's done already? If that describes you, I desperately need whatever you're having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! For me, and I would assume for a lot of people, I can't wait for the end of the cardio workout and start thinking about it only a few minutes after it begins. The closer it gets to the end, the more motivated I am to press on. This can also be true with other goals or projects in life that take a long time, such as college degrees, training for certifications, home remodeling or painting, landscaping, getting out of debt, and getting through early childhood with your kids. In each of these things, we must reject the desire for immediate gratification and instead look at the bigger picture. The same is true with our Christian faith and the race we run as disciples. There are a lot of pains along the way and the process can be grueling, but the bigger picture tells us it's not forever. This week at Friendship, we talk about "Approaching the Finish Line" in our race. How does knowing the end is coming help us press on and keep striving for Jesus? Join us this weekend for answers and encouragement!

When We Stumble

November 7, 2021 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

Okay, time to be honest: when was the the last time that you STUMBLED? A good friend of mine and I were walking the other day and she stumbled in front of a strip mall because she did not see the small depression built into the walkway for wheel chair access. We chuckled a little, and I thank God that she did not fall! Many of us have tripped or fallen because of something we did not see or something that came out of nowhere. As Christians, we always have things that come up which challenge our faith and potentially cause us to STUMBLE physically and spiritually. In my MTI class on Tuesday, we were studying the Book of James, and lo and behold, the Holy Spirit of God reminded me of what James said in his letter: James 3:2 NKJV For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body. The Holy Spirit through James goes on to tell us that our tongue will make us STUMBLE for sure. It is like a fire and could "burn" someone we are talking to if we are not careful. I recently STUMBLED because of my words and it caused a misunderstanding this week. Thank the Lord I was forgiven! Join us this weekend as we explore what to do WHEN WE STUMBLE and how to continue the race marked out for us!