Works Both Ways

Gratefully Generous

November 24, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Mutual Accountability"

November 17, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned" ~ Galatians 2:11 This one short verse seems problematic without properly understanding the context. "Cephas" is another name for Peter, so what we have here is a confrontation between two of the most influential apostles in the history of the Church. Paul's boldness to publicly oppose Peter, then also to turn around and write about it, seems like the very thing we might condemn today. Some would even say it's an example of "toxic masculinity". But Paul gives his clear reason - Peter stood condemned. The rest of the passage outlines Peter's sin; he behaved according to fear of his peers rather than the gospel. Paul's willingness to oppose him was ultimately based on a love for Peter and an urgency to maintain the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ. Peter was a leader in the Church, and his sin would lead others astray as well. Paul was willing to risk losing friendships and being labeled a "meanie" in order to stand in truth and love. This, my friends, is the responsibility of ALL believers. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about "Mutual Accountability", another mark of the faith that helps us work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Join us to hear about God's plan for you to stay accountable, as well as help restore others who currently stand condemned.

"Made to Serve"

November 10, 2024 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4 NIV Now that the elections have ended, are you ready to serve your neighbors? Regardless of who is in the White House, there is only one King of kings and Lord of lords! His reign is FOREVER, and there are no term limits. As followers of Jesus Christ, our purpose in life is defined by our desire to follow Him to heaven for an eternity. That means we are "Made to Serve" and that is the title of our message this weekend. If you are suffering from a lack of purpose and are not sure what you are supposed to be doing as a believer, then the Holy Spirit is calling you to service this weekend! Bring a friend or family member with you! We will also have two servants that will be telling us about their ministries join us for Sunday services, and one of them will be with us on Saturday also! 

"The Body International"

November 3, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory" ~ Isaiah 66:18 It has always been God's plan since the beginning to use His people to draw others back to Him. While He began with Israel as His chosen and blessed people, their failure to voluntarily aid in bringing the nations to Him didn't stop Him from gathering them Himself. In the same way, Jesus gives a clear command to His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, but if we fail, God will surely find another way, and we will be judged for our disobedience. We ought to allow this reality to inform our approach to the issues of immigration and border security, which have become extremely volatile during the election cycle. Do we see those from other nations as immediate threats or as opportunities to share the gospel message? Should we accept lawlessness because of compassion, or represent Christ in truth AND grace? This week at Friendship, we'll address these questions and more as we talk about "The Body International". Don't miss this chance to hear God's perspective on one of the most politically-charged issues of our day.

"The Author of Life"

October 27, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies" ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 There is a lot of talk these days about people having a right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. Of course, that claim is irrelevant when we are talking about harming the body of someone else, even if that someone else is housed within another human body temporarily. But beyond that, the verses above indicate that for the Christian, even our own bodies don't truly belong to us anymore. God purchased us by the blood of Jesus, and everything we are and everything we have now serve His purposes in this life. It doesn't mean that we will always want to do as He asks, and at times it may even seem unfair, but it's the only appropriate response to what He has done for us. Furthermore, we will only find total fulfillment in serving Him. This week at Friendship, we will talk about the perspective on life, from "The Author of Life" Himself. What was His purpose for creating human life? What does He say about it? In what ways have we de-valued it? What must we do to stand for life now? These questions and more will be answered this weekend, so join us for this important message.

"Reborn and Rebranded"

October 20, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived" ~ Colossians 3:5-7 When we come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, a change takes place, one that should be pretty obvious to those who know us. Sadly, many who called themselves "Christians" do not understand this. It's treated like a label we can slap on when we get a little scared of judgment and hell, rather than a lifestyle that impacts every area of our lives. It's okay to be a Christian who USED to walk in the ways of sin and darkness, but being a Christian means you can no longer walk in them. You will still be tempted, and you might even fall, but the new life into which you've been spiritually born dictates that you get back up, repent, and move forward living in Christ. I encourage you to self-reflect right now: is there a noticeable difference in your life because of Christ? If you still live in the same ways you used to, are you truly saved? This week at Friendship, we'll talk about being "Reborn and Rebranded", because coming to salvation in Jesus means we are identified by our association with Him, not the sinful ways in which we used to live. We'll specifically talk about this truth as it relates to our sexuality, and what God desires for this area of our lives He created for us. Join us to hear more about the blessed life He has in store for you if you are willing to walk in His ways!

"Christians Engaged"

October 13, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” ~ President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address While we usually start this preview off with Scripture, today we pull from a great speech delivered 161 years ago just thirty minutes or so from where our church building sits today. Scripture is God-inspired and will always hold prominence over any man's speech or writing, but it is reasonable to think that President Lincoln was led, at least in part, by the Holy Spirit on that day as he reminded the people of the uniqueness of our great nation and the gift and responsibility of self-governance that God bestowed upon the United States. Of course, even self-governance is submitted "under God", but as long as we remain humble before Him, we must recognize that He has entrusted to us a government "of the people, by the people, for the people". That means that we have to be involved, my friends. We don't simply clamor for a new king as Israel mistakenly did in 1 Samuel 8, and we certainly can't be content to merely grumble and complain about the things we don't like in the current public servants we have chosen. Instead, we carefully and prayerfully seek God for how He wants us to use our gifts in this nation - namely, a vote and a voice - and then we act in humble obedience to Him. This week at Friendship, our title is "Christians Engaged", and we'll explore what that means not only in light of the current election climate, but also for ongoing civic engagement by God's people. Make no mistake about it - it's got very little to do with alignment to any political party. If you are ready to put aside all the divisiveness and vitriol of the ridiculous onslaught of political ads and seek the Lord for what He wants from you as you work out your salvation with fear and trembling, then this message is for you!

No Reason to Hide

October 6, 2024 • Associate Pastor Ben Sorbello

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. ~ Psalms 139:7-10 NIV God does not HIDE His light from us, and there is no reason for us to HIDE our light. This weekend we will be exploring why we should never hide our faith from the world, and we should never try and hide from God. As the world continues to try and hide from God by living an unholy and godless existence, we cannot fall into that same trap. What are we doing to avoid hiding our faith from others, and to instead have an impact in our families, workplaces, and communities through the sharing of our faith? Why is it important that we do not hide our faith? Is it the difference between going to heaven or hell? Are we approaching our faith with fear and trembling? We will be exploring all of these questions with the Holy Spirit of God, so invite some friends and family that can use some encouragement in shining their light in the darkness!

"The Case for Reconciliation"

September 29, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility" ~ Ephesians 2:15b-16 In this passage, Paul is talking about the bitter division that existed between Jews and Gentiles, both of whom were included in the "new humanity", the body of believers saved and justified through faith in Jesus. It was important for them to remember that, whatever they had against one another, reconciliation was possible and required in Christ. The same is true for you and I today. We are still in a fallen world even while we are being sanctified more each day, which means we will offend one another and be offended. Yet, in Christ, who made reconciliation between God and His offenders possible, we can and must pursue reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. It's not easy, but it's obedience, and obedience is always worth it. This week at Friendship, we'll make "The Case for Reconciliation", as a follow up to last week's message on forgiveness. We'll address why it's a requirement of those who follow Jesus and the damage done when we are unwilling to pursue it. Join us for this challenging but encouraging message!

"The Case for Forgiveness"

September 22, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" ~ Ephesians 4:32 One of the most important things for Christians to remember every day of our lives, and one of the things many sadly forget, is just how much God has forgiven us. This remembrance should go a long way in dictating how we will react toward others. Some believers pretend that the choice to forgive or not to forgive gives them some power in a given situation. But if we persist in unforgiveness, it's not power that we are ingesting but poison. And it's poison that not only sickens you for the rest of this life, but also prevents you from spending eternity with Christ - a much more severe penalty. Part of the change that must happen when we experience salvation - when we begin to learn what it means to work out our salvation with fear and trembling - is that we no longer count others' sins against them. This is not optional for believers; it is a command. This week at Friendship, we'll make "The Case for Forgiveness" and look at the eternal danger of refusing to let go of others' sins while knowing that God has let go of ours. We all experience pain at the hands of others, which means this message is for all of us!

"The Three Stranded Cord"

September 8, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband" ~ Ephesians 5:33 These words by Paul come at the end of a long section in which he commands husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church - which means sacrifice, service, and godly leadership - and he commands wives to submit to their husbands. This picture of a godly marriage is what God had intended when He first brought Adam and Eve together. Sadly, as soon as sin entered the world, marriage was greatly impacted, and the two who were brought together in perfect unity and matrimony then saw every imperfection as a reason to point the finger and blame. Instead of mutual submission, love, and respect, marriage became full of discord, tension, and battling for control. Thus, it has become one of Satan's great breeding grounds for sowing destruction in society. Yet, the problem is not with the institution of marriage. It was created in perfection, and the only way to return to God's plan for it is to - no big surprise here - turn back to God! This week at Friendship, we'll talk about working out our salvation with fear and trembling in the area of marriage, and we'll focus on the picture of "The Three-Stranded Cord", with God holding husband and wife together. If you are married, have ever been married, or might be married someday, you don't want to miss this message.

"Let's Work Out"

September 1, 2024 • Pastor Logan Ames

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24 Think back to a time in your life when you had to endure pain, problems, and pure exhaustion in order to achieve some goal. Did you love the entire process? Probably not. But you were willing to go through with it because you were motivated by the prize at the end. In the same way, the Apostle Paul reminds believers that their Christian walk must keep the end goal in view. Since we know that we will stand before God and give an account for what we've done, we must "run our race" in such a way that we are striving for the prize. Too often, a lack of fear of the Lord has led believers to the wrong assumption that their eternity is secure based on what they say they believe. Yet, our Lord and Savior Himself talked often about the requirement to do the Father's will, to stay vigilant and ready for the return of the Son, and to care for the least of these as clear marks of true disciples. When the Church is spiritually asleep waiting for Jesus to come and wake us and take us home, we've forgotten about the race we must run. This week at Friendship, we'll begin our new sermon series WORKS BOTH WAYS, based on Philippians 2:12-13, with a message called "Let's Work Out". We are commanded to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, as a response to the work God has done and continues to do in us. We only work out what He is working in us by His Holy Spirit. And knowing how He is working in us, we must continue striving and persevering toward that prize. Join us for encouragement, motivation, and truth for your daily walk with Christ!