How much is enough? That’s an important question to ask ourselves as Christians living in a very affluent society. We may not be rich ourselves, but the truth is, even the poorest of the poor in the U.S. is so far better off than the rest of the world, it’s truly amazing. Unfortunately, that affluence can breed in us a very insidious sin known as “greed” as we look out only for our own interests and not the interests of others. We can become greedy, hoarding for ourselves, rather than what the Lord calls us to be...generous...giving to others. In fact, it really doesn’t matter how much or how little we have, we can all be driven to greed rather than what the Lord calls us to...namely, “Taking Up Generosity”. Today we remember that the Christian life is a generous life.
Taking Up Generosity (Johnson)
March 21, 2021
Taking Up Kindness (Meyer)
March 28, 2021 • Pastor Joe Meyer
Our last message was about giving up bitterness in our hearts and it naturally follows that we’d talk about actions connected to letting go on the heels of that subject. You see, if we allow bitterness to take root in our hearts, then the fruit of that root is bound to be seeking vengeance against the person who wronged us. We often “just want to get even” with the person who has wronged us. But that is not the way of the disciple of Jesus. The opposite attitude is what we’re called to display. We are different from the world around us who sees vengeance as the right of the wronged. We are different in that we love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us. We are different in that we leave vengeance to the Lord and His will and instead we love and even serve those who have hurt us, no matter how deep the pain. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No...because nothing is impossible for God and God lives within http://you...so God lives through you and moves you to the place of “Taking Up Kindness” with everyone, even enemies, every single day.
Taking Up Kindness (Johnson)
March 28, 2021 • Pastor Ben Johnson
Our last message was about giving up bitterness in our hearts and it naturally follows that we’d talk about actions connected to letting go on the heels of that subject. You see, if we allow bitterness to take root in our hearts, then the fruit of that root is bound to be seeking vengeance against the person who wronged us. We often “just want to get even” with the person who has wronged us. But that is not the way of the disciple of Jesus. The opposite attitude is what we’re called to display. We are different from the world around us who sees vengeance as the right of the wronged. We are different in that we love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us. We are different in that we leave vengeance to the Lord and His will and instead we love and even serve those who have hurt us, no matter how deep the pain. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No...because nothing is impossible for God and God lives within http://you...so God lives through you and moves you to the place of “Taking Up Kindness” with everyone, even enemies, every single day.
Taking Up Letting Go (Phillips)
March 24, 2021 • Pastor Tim Phillips
All of us will be hurt by someone at some point. It’s simply http://inevitable...living with other sinners in a sinful http://world...you will get your feelings hurt and sometimes you will be hurt in very serious and deeply permanent ways. And the truth is, even if you are hurt only http://once...it can breed bitterness in your heart. Having said that, since you live in this sin-torn world and you will very likely be hurt multiple times throughout your life, and so bitterness can become a very real part of your heart and mind and root into the core of your being. But bitterness is not the life of the Christian. Bitterness is in fact the antithesis of the Christian life. We live a life of kindness, joy and forgiveness instead. We don’t hold onto things but instead live a life of “Taking Up Letting Go” every day, as we follow Jesus into this sin-torn world.