Sermons 2016
Same Message in a Different Time Sunday December 4, 2016
Rejoice, Rejoice! Again, I Say Rejoice! Sunday November 27, 2016
Judging Others Sunday November 20, 2016
WCBA Report/Devotional Sunday November 13, 2016
You are NOT Bulletproof from Sin Sunday October 23, 2016
It’s Time for Christians to Mature Sunday October 9, 2016
What About Hell? Sunday October 2, 2016
Temptation Sunday September 25, 2016
Turning Faith in Action Sunday September 18, 2016
Spiritual Growth Sunday September 11, 2016
To Be Heavenly Minded Sunday September 4, 2016
A Blessed Home is a Happy Home Sunday August 28, 2016
Step by Step Sunday August 21, 2016
Giving Myself a Spiritual Heart Change Sunday August 14, 2016
Sharespiration Sunday July 31, 2016
A Living Sacrifice Sunday July 17, 2016
Deacons’ Talk Sunday July 10, 2016
The Family of New Life Fellowship Sunday June 26, 2016
The Father God Called Us to Be Sunday June 19, 2016
Are Christians Today Abandoning the Church? Sunday June 12, 2016
The Supremacy of God Sunday June 5, 2016
Sharespiration Sunday May 29, 2016
Praise Him! Praise Him! Sunday May 22, 2016
Living for God in an Evil World Sunday May 15, 2016
Why Church? Sunday May 8, 2016
Success According to God’s Standards Sunday May 1, 2016
Patient Endurance Sunday April 24, 2016
Christian Unity Sunday April 17, 2016
Evangelism Leads to Winning Souls Sunday April 10, 2016
Why the Celebration? Sunday March 27, 2016
Untangling God’s Vision, Which Leads to Transformation Sunday March 20, 2016
Mission Update Sunday March 13, 2016
How to Combat Temptation Sunday March 6, 2016
The Strength of a Church Sunday February 28, 2016
The Cure for Conflict Sunday February 21, 2016
What’s Love Got to Do With It? Sunday February 14, 2016
Christian Conduct Sunday February 7, 2016
Sharespiration Sunday January 31, 2016
Are We Focused on the Wrong Things? Sunday January 24, 2016
Knowing Your Relationship to God: Taste and See Sunday January 17, 2016
How’s Your Sense of Sight? Sunday January 10, 2016
How’s Your Sense of Hearing? Sunday January 3, 2016
Sermon Notes
Joy December 11th
Isaiah 61:1-3
John 15:9-13
1. Christian Joy is Connected to Genuine Love
Romans 5:8
2. Christian Joy Comes From Asked and Answered Prayer
John 16:23-24
Hebrews 4:16
3. Christian Joy Comes from Seeing God’s Work in Others
Philippians 1:3-6
Closing Song: O Come All Ye Faithful (C. Frederick Oakeley & John Francis Wade, translated to English 1841, Public Domain)
Same Message in a Different Time December 4th
Galatians 1:6-10
Acts 20:28-30
1. The Gospel Needs No Additions
2. Distorting the Gospel Is Serious Business
3. Only the Truth of the Good News Saves
4. Only the Gospel Produces Real Life Change
Closing Song(s): Thy Word (Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith, 1984) and Ancient Words (Lynn DeShazo, 2001)
Rejoice, Rejoice, Again I Say Rejoice November 27th
Luke 17:11-18
Psalms 119:162
Psalms 97:1
REJOICE BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Luke 12:6-7
REJOICE BECAUSE YOU ARE VALUED BY GOD!
Romans 8:28
Psalms 103:8-14
REJOICE BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL!
1 Corinthians 10:13
Hebrews 13:5
REJOICE BECAUSE GOD PROMISES TO NEVER LEAVE YOU!
LUKE 10:19-20
Judging Others November 20th
Matthew 7:1-6
Matthew 5:20
1. Don’t Judge
Matthew 7:1-2
2. Searching for Specks
Matthew 7:3-5
3. The Right Way to Judge
Matthew 7:6
John 7:24
WCBA Report/Devotional November 13th
Guest Speaker: John Brittain- Missions Director of West Central Baptist Association
You are Not Bulletproof from Sin October 23rd
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Isaiah 59:17
1. We should have complete dependency upon Jesus
Ephesians 6:10-11
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
2. Partial armor means partially exposed
3. We are to wrap our lives in the word
2 Corinthians 10:5
4. God’s Righteousness protects our heart against accusations
Romans 10:2-4
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
5. We are to be a peace maker
Matthew 5:9
James 3:15-17
6. Faith is my shield that resists all attacks
James 2:20
James 4:7
7. My mind is the mind of Christ
Romans 8:7
Philippians 2:5
Romans 12:2
It’s Time for Christians to Mature October 9th
Ephesians 4:1-4
1. Stability
2 Timothy 2:15
2. Speaking Truth in Love
Ephesians 4:15
3. Cooperation
Ephesians 4:16
What About Hell? October 2nd
Luke 16: 19-31
2 Thessalonians 1:8-10
Romans 3:23,
Ezekiel 18:32
2 Peter 3:9
Temptation September 25th
Genesis 3:1-7
Romans 5:12-19
Mathew 4:1-11
1 Peter 5:8
Romans 12:21
1 Peter 1:7
1 John 2:16
Psalm 119:11
Closing Song: I Surrender (Matt Crocker, 2011)
Congregation invited to write down and surrender their temptations at the altar.
Turning Faith in Action September 18th
Hebrews 11:1
1 Corinthians 1:18
James 2:26
James 1:22
Spiritual Growth September 11th
1. Spiritual Growth Through Love
1 Thessalonians 3:12
1 Thessalonians 4:9
2. Spiritual Growth Through Encouragement
Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 6:1-6
3. Spiritual Growth Through Christ
Colossians 1:10
Ephesians 4:14-16
To Be Heavenly Minded September 4th
Colossians 3:1-2
Matthew 6:19-21
Proverbs 23:7
1. Our Life Can Be a Difficult Dilemma
2. You Have to Determine Your Desires
Galatians 5:22-23
Philippians 4:8
James 3:17
A Blessed Home is a Happy Home August 28th
1. Choose to Make Your Home His Home
Joshua 24:11-15
Genesis 35:2-5
Psalm 128:1-6
2. Welcome His Presence to Your Home
2 Samuel 6:9-11
3. Build an Ark of Salvation in Your Home
Hebrews 11:7
Step by Step August 21st
1 John 1:5-8
1 John 2:1-6
1 John 1: 6-7
1. If you are in step with God, you will have the right attitude about sin.
2. If you are in step with God, you will desire to be obedient to Him.
Philippians 2:12-13
3. The third ingredient of being in step with God is to love other people
1 John 2:9-11
Closing Song: He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought (Joseph Gilmore, William Bradbury, 1800s- Public Domain)
>Giving Myself a Spiritual Heart Change August 14th
Jeremiah 12:1-17
Closing Song: Since Jesus Came Into My Heart (Charles Hutchinson Gabriel & Rufus H. McDaniel, 1914, Public Domain)
Sharespiration July 31st
Friend of God (Israel Houghton & Michael Gungor, 2003)
Tom Mallory- singing
Jennifer Smithson- speaking
Ashley Brooks- “Eye of the Storm”
Heath Brooks – “Matthew 24 (is Knocking)”
Issac Brooks- “Move (Keep Moving)”
Nathan Haun- Colossians 1:8-11 and How Should Christians Vote? (video)
Allie Thornton- “I Want to Be A Christian (In My Heart)”
Tiffany Thornton- “God Speaking”
A Living Sacrifice July 17th
Romans 12:1-8
Closing Song: Reign in Us (Ben Glover, Jon Neufeld, & Tim Neufeld, 2008)
Deacons’ Talk July 10th
Signs
Speaker: Dennis Flannery
2 Chronicles 7:14
The Light
Speaker: Jack Timmons
John 8:1-11
My Help Comes From the Lord
Speaker: Stephen Jasper
Psalm 121:1-2
Closing Song: You Are My King (Amazing Love)
VBS July 3rd
Galatians 6
Discussion over VBS, missions, and life as Christians.
The Family of New Life Fellowship June 26th
John 6:44
Ephesians 2:2-7
Ephesians 2:18-22
Ephesians 3:14-21
The Father God Called Us to Be June 19th
Joshua 24:14-24
1. He was a Pastor of His Home
2. You Must Plan for Your Family
Closing Song: Family Prayer Song (Morris Chapman, 1995)
Are Christians Today Abandoning the Church? June 12th
Haggai 1:3-11
1. Praising God has been Abandoned
2. Instruction and Education has been Abandoned
Ephesians 4:11
3. Encouragement has been Abandoned
4. Evangelism has been Abandoned
5. Effort has been Abandoned
Closing Song: Build Your Kingdom Here (Rend Collective, 2011)
The Supremacy of God June 5th
1.Jesus’ Relationship to His Creation
Collossians 1:15-17
John 1:1
John 1:14
2. Jesus’ Relationship to His Church
Collossians 1:18-19
3. Jesus’ Relationship to His Children
Collossians 1:20-23
Communion
Closing Song: O Worship the King (Johann Michael Hayden & Robert Grant, 1833, Public Domain)
Sharespiration May 29th
Memorial Day Video
Moment of Silence for Memorial Day
Michael Wakeman & Tom Mallory- America the Beautiful
Let Freedom Ring
Hiding Place- Shelter Me
Threshold of Glory
Francis Stogsdill- I Want to Know You
Tiffany Thornton- Clean
Linda Smithson- Prayer
Jennifer Jasper- Ever Be
Psalm 139:1-5
Pledge of Allegiance
Praise Him! Praise Him! May 22nd
2 Chronicles 5:13-14/ 20:5-9
Psalm 150:1-6
1. Praise Secures God’s Presence
Psalm 22:3
2. Praise Secures Victory
2 Chronicles 20:15-22
3. Praise Secures an Unburdening
Isaiah 61:3
4. Praise Secures Release
Acts 16:25-26
1 Peter 2:10
Closing Song: Let Everything That Has Breath (Matt Redman, 1997)
Living for God in an Evil World May 15th
1 Peter 4:1-19
1. Don’t Worry about the Wicked
Genesis 37:12
2. Trust in the Lord and Do Good
Hebrews 12:2-3
3. Delight Yourself in the Lord
John 4:23-24
4. Commit Your Way to the Lord
1 Peter 4:1-11
5. Rest in the Lord and Wait for Him
1 Peter 4:12-19
Psalm 46:10
Why Church? May 8th
Acts 2:41-47
1. Membership
Acts 2:42-43
2. Magnification
Psalm 34:3
3. Maturity
4. Ministry
Acts 2:43-45
Ephesians 2:10
5. Mission
Acts 2:47
Closing Song: Surrender (Marc James, 2000)
Success According to God’s Standards May 1st
John 3:22-30
1. True Success in Life Begins by Recognizing that no Success can Happen Without God’s Help
John 3:26-27
2. True Success in Life is Because of the Gifts God Has Given You
John 3:28
3. True Success in Life is Rejoices in the Gifts God Has Given Others
John 3:29
4. True Success in Life is Lifting Christ Up
Closing Song: Where He Leads Me (Edward W. Blandy & John Samuel Norris, 1890, Public Domain)
Patient Endurance April 24th
James 5:7-11
1. The reward of patience is maturity/strength.
James 5:7
2. The motivation for patience is the return of Jesus.
James 5:8
1 Corinthians 1:7
Matt. 24:33
2 Corinthians 4
3. The spirit of patience is peace
James 5:9
4. The source of patience is suffering.
James 5:10-11
5. The justification for patience is the goodness of God.
James 5:11
Closing Song: Have Faith in God (B. B. McKinney, 1934)
Christian Unity April 17th
Psalm 133:1-3
John 13:34-35
Ephesians 4:1-3
1 Peter 2:9
John 17:20-23
Evangelism Leads to Soul Winning April 10th
Acts 15:25-16:1-5
1. The Right Passion
1 Corinthians 9:16
Colossians 3:23
Romans 13:11
2. The Right Priority
3. The Right Presentation
Acts 16:4-5
Acts 15:4-5
Psalm 126:5-6
Closing Song: I Love to Tell the Story (Arabella Catherine Hankey & William Gustavus Fischer, 1866, Public Domain)
Truth April 3rd
John 14:6
1. What is truth?
Pilot asked what was truth? Many people have answers for the truth, but Jesus answered definitively. He was the way, the truth, and the life. He was the way to God, the way to live life. Jesus is the life. He is the life more abundant; He is life eternal. In the middle of His statement, He says He is the truth. He reveals the truth about God, but also about us as well.
In our world, there is a truth of many religions and many ways to heaven. Scripture tells us that truth is only through Jesus Christ.
How is our truth revealed to us?
2. How do we know this truth?
John 16:12
As humans, we begin life on milk for nourishment. As we get stronger and grow, we begin to move to bread and finally meat. As Christians, our spiritual growth is much the same. We start off on Christian milk and move our way deeper to an understanding of God.
3. How do we reach our world?
John 16:14
The spirit of truth will bring glory to God.
We are not called to be ugly to the world. We don’t yell at people, claim God hates them, picket, scream. None of that brings glory to God. We reach the world through love. Christ showed love to those He met. The woman who was about to be stoned was shone love by Christ. He didn’t join in the crowd with righteousness to throw the stone at the sinful woman. He didn’t condemn her. He forgave her.
Jesus Christ made a way for us to reach the world. We are to love others and be an example to others around us. Our actions will show love.
Closing Song: Without Him (Mylon Lefevre, 1963)
Why the Celebration? March 27th
Matthew 28:1-10
1. The Empty Tomb Means that Jesus Is Alive!
1 Corinthians 15:7
2. The Empty Tomb Means that There is Forgiveness
1 John 1:9
3. The Empty Tomb Means We Can Have a New Life
2 Corinthians 5:17
John 10:10
Closing Songs: Beneath the waters (Brooke Ligertwood, Scott Ligertwood, 2011)
My Redeemer Lives (Reuben Morgan, 1998)
Untangling God’s Vision, Which Leads to Transformation March 20th
Hebrews 12:1-3
Pastor Mike and his wife planted seeds in the fall at the funeral home. A transformation has occurred recently as those seeds have begun to spring forth.
Pastor Mike also spoke of the Miracle on Ice medal round game between Russia and the United States during the 1980 Olympics.
1. We Are Surrounded
People have come before us who have defended Christ. They had a future of what would happen after this life. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”
2. We Need to be Focused
Our focus needs to be where God wants it to be. We have to have focus. If we are to play any game successfully, we have to be focused. The author in Hebrews tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked our for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Our minds need to be fixed on Christ. When our mind wanders we are giving in to everything that hinders us.
Christ was extremely focused. So much so that he sweated blood while enduring the trials. When He met His disciples for the last supper, He could have decided then to stop. Why suffer for sinners? Why go through all of the tribulations that He knew were coming. All He asked of sinners was to have faith as small as a mustard seed and people couldn’t hold up to even that. He didn’t lose focus. He didn’t give up on sinners. He knew God’s vision. Through working in God’s vision, Christ found transformation with sinners.
3. We Must Keep Our Eyes on Jesus
Jesus told His disciples that they were to continue His ministries on earth while He went to prepare a place. We are constantly being in the process of being transformed. There are many examples in the Old and New Testaments. Those who were obedient in their walk were transformed. People were throwing their palms and robes on the ground in excitement for the coming Messiah. They shouted “Hosanna,” which is a plea for being saved or for salvation. Within the course of a week, a transformation occurred in the negative, with the crowd shouting to crucify Jesus. Christ remained focused and kept His eyes on the vision set before Him.
Closing Song: In the Secret (Andy Park, 1995)
Mission Update March 13th
Mission Update from Haley Fisher and her time with Youth With a Mission, including training in New Orleans; missions work in New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona; and missions work in Haiti. If you would like to help support Haley financially, visit, her GoFundMe page.
How to Combat Temptation March 6th
Matthew 4: 1-11
1. The Test of Temptation is Inevitable
Almost everyone has been tempted to speed. Sometimes we get mad at the law enforcement officers because they were just waiting for us to speed, but they didn’t make us speed; that temptation was ours and ours alone. Temptation can turn into justification of sin. It’s inevitable. Temptation is inevitable. let our guard down because we are celebrating everything the Lord has done. Temptation strikes. We lose our joy.
2. The Test of Temptation Normally will Follow a Time of Victory
We have Jerusalem Project in June and VBS in June. It seems like temptation comes after a time of victory. If a person isn’t reading their Bible or working for God, Satan already has them where he wants them. It’s those who are on fire for God
3. The Test of Temptation Attacks your Weakness
Matthew 4:3 Jesus was tempted to eat when He had been fasting. Satan used Jesus’ hunger against Him, but failed.
4. The Test of Temptation is to Twist the Truth
Closing Song: Living for Jesus (C. Harold Lowden & Thomas Obediah Chisholm, Public Domain)
The Strength of a Church February 28th
Colossians 2:1-5
Pastor Mike began by sharing that the current sermon was his third this week. He left home this morning with no sermon. He referenced the music message of just spending quiet time with the Lord. It is important to not get into ruts or move ahead without God.
What is our church doing? Is it a vibrant moving church or is it limping along? Our our ministries just being done or are they mission focused? Are we doing what God has asked us to do, or are we just limping along? A limping church will die.
What criteria did you use to decide if we are a vibrant church or limping along?
Was it numbers and offering? That’s man’s way of doing it. A vibrant church is not based on attendance and offering.
It is dependent on your heart. A vibrant church comes from people wanting to serve the Lord. When the church decides that their foundation is numbers and offering, and not Christ, the church will start to fail.
Colossians 2:1-5
In Sunday School, the youth discussed that church’s want to hover. Don’t want to do too much to require more expectations of us. Our doors are open and others are invited, but we don’t want to do too much. Me, me, me and I, I, I can affect the church. It might be an individual thing, but Paul says it is bigger than that?
Why do we have Bible studies, why do leaders take time out of their lives to lead others?
1. A Strong Heart
A person is only as strong as their heart. Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart…”
Everyone has a beating heart. Without a strong heart, weakness occurs. Medically, if the heart isn’t working right, it affects everything else. Spiritually, if a church’s heart isn’t working right, it affects everything. Some church’s look great on the outside, but the heart inside is hardly beating. They can’t do anything ministry wise or evangelistic wise, because they are weak and will run out of breath.
Triathletes work hard and can do what they do because they’ve conditioned their heart and trained to handle the stress. As a church, we have to condition our hearts. We have to train. We must be conditioned as a church to handle the responsibilities that God has given to us.
2. A Strong Bond of Unity based on Love
Without love, what we do means nothing. We must first humble ourselves before God and others. We are called to grow in one together. We are strengthened and encouraged by helping others. When hearing about new believers it makes Christians excited. Love is an action and should be demonstrated. We have to take the initiative to do. To maintain unity, we must humble ourselves. In Colossians, Paul talks to the church. He doesn’t have to be there in person, but his words are encouragement for others.
Philippians 2:2
2 Peter 1:10
1 Corinthians 2:14
Is our love deep? Do we understand God’s word? He wants us to thrive as a church. He wants to see lives changed.
Closing Song: Good Good Father (Anthony Brown & Pat Barrett, 2014)
The Cure for Conflict February 21st
A large statue was built between the countries of Argentina and Chile. The statue was an effort to symbolize peace between the two countries. However, since the statue wasn’t equally facing both countries, Chile wanted to fight that the Christ statue’s back was to them. A reporter then stated that perhaps is was necessary since Argentina needed more watching (joke).
Humans seem to be incredibly conflict prone.
Congregation members were asked to tell their neighbor, “It’s all your fault.” That kind of talk creates barriers and conflicts.
1. The Cause of Conflict
A. It really comes down to selfishness. James 4:1 states that our desires cause the conflict. We want things, don’t get things, conflict starts. We disagree with people’s desires, conflict starts. This is coveting.
B. We also have issues with godlessness. We ask, but don’t have the heart and right desires. James calls this bad motives. We are selfish in our prayers to God.
C. James calls us adulterous people. His adultery action is referring to cheating on God, cheating against God. The scriptures constantly refer to the church as a bride. Relationship is important, yet we often look to the world for our satisfaction rather than to God.
2. The Cure for Conflict
James describes four actions in James 4:4-12
A. Submit to God- as in military submission, following a leader, understanding that the authority is in charge.
B. Resist the devil- realize the devil is a coward and holds no power over us. Greater is the one living inside of me, than He who is living in the world (Casting Crowns, “Greater”).
C. Come Near to God- God wants to spend time with us. Even with everything that we’ve done, He still wants to spend time with us. We don’t have to be perfect to come near, but we should be working towards it. Ask for forgiveness from sins.
D. Stop judging! We don’t need to worry about everyone else. We are called to love others, but not to judge, insult, hate, stir up conflict them.
Closing Song: I Surrender (Matt Crocker, 2011)
What’s Love Got to Do With It? February 14th
Matthew 19:3-6
Three couples from the church shared a little about their marriage; one celebrating 52 years together, another 20 years together, and the last celebrating 5 years; including their top 3 priorities. God was the consistency in all marriages.
1. Romance
The first season of relationships. Couples will spend so much money on each other, can’t wait to see each other.
2. Reality
Once you have the relationship, what do you do with it? What do you do now? You’ve caught the person of your dreams and are settling in. Being in love is what romance is all about. Choosing to love is what reality is all about. Being in love is an emotion. Choosing to love is an action. True love is a reaction, an action to something. When reality sets in, what are you going to do with it? Sometimes you find that people weren’t really what you thought they were, such as the outrageous life of the party actually being an impulse problem. Reality clarifies what romance canceled.
3. Resentment
Who switched husbands/wives on me? The object of our affection becomes our object of frustration. It’s all the other person’s fault. If we don’t look at ourselves, it can be easy to blame our partner. Character is tested and the need for love truly comes into play.
Colossians 3:12-14
4. Rebuilding
Ephesians 4:32
1 Corinthians 13
If the love in 1 Corinthians 13 doesn’t occur, rebuilding doesn’t happen. Most divorces, friendships, dating ends in the resentment stage and never gets to the rebuilding stage. Resentment can destroy most everything.
You can say “I love you” as an emotion, but it needs to also be an action. You have to work at it and on it.
Closing: Broken Together (Video)
Christian Conduct February 7th
Paint starts off as white before you add color to it. When workers need to create a color they add globs of different colors into the white and then the can is shaken to make the new color.
As Christians, we can all admit that we are sinners. We are not fully white. We also have little globs of color of sin that have changed us. We we go out into the world, we are agitated and those globs of sin are no longer just separate spots on us, they become an integral part of us that cannot be separated by ourselves. Christ has the ability to take our sin and help us to become white again.
Philippians 1:27 “Whatever you do, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” We should conduct ourselves in a manner o make Christ happy with us. If we are doing things that would disgust Christ or make Him ashamed of us, we need to rethink our relationship with Christ.
1. What is Your Golden Calf?
A golden calf is anything that replaces God as your priority. It can be television, cars, work, etc.
Exodus 32:1-9
Moses left the Israelites to speak with God and the people at the bottom of the mountain felt leaderless without Moses telling them what God wanted them to do. They began to grumble and asked Aaron to make them a tangible god. They forgot all that the one true God had done for them and instead wanted the here and now god they could actually touch, but an idol that hadn’t and couldn’t do anything to help them.
Is weekly fellowship no longer a habit and a source of rejoicing and anticipation? What is the golden calf getting in the way? There is nothig wrong with doing things we like, but they cannot become a golden calf and the thing that becomes our focus and more important than our walk with God.
2. Everyone Gets What They Were Promised
Matthew 20:1-16
The vineyard landowner gathered workers throughout the day and offered to pay them for their work. When he paid the workers gathered last the same amount promised to those who began working earlier in the day, the first workers began to expect a greater reward. They were given the same amount as those who worked fewer hours and began to grumble. The landowner hearing this chastised the first workers because he reminded them the workers agreed to work for a denarius and were paid as promised. The landowner reminded them that he could do what he wanted with his money and shouldn’t be grumbled against for his generosity.
Ultimately, everyone received that which they were promised. The workers gathered later were promised a payment of what was right. It is impossible for us to truly know what we actually deserve compared with what Christ has bestowed upon us. We are not to grumble against others for what they have been given. Philippians 4:19
Cannot Christ do what He wants with His generosity? Do we know better than Christ with what we should receive? He will supply us with our needs, but we need to remember to be still and thankful for what we do have and have been given through Christ. He has promised good to me and He has given what we need.
Closing Song: Enough (Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio, 2002)
Sharespiration January 31st
Hosanna (Praise is Rising) (Brenton Brown & Paul Baloche, 2005)
Linda Smithson- Psalm 191 and testimony of God’s faithfulness
Francis Stogsdill- Still Same Old Story
Tom and Donna Foose- Testimony and Mansion Over the Hilltop
Jennifer Smithson and Misty Haun- Elijah’s Chariot
Delaney Baker- oboe solo
Tiffany Thornton- What Love is This (Kari Jobe)
Offering- Tom Mallory
Caleb Smithson and Michael Wakeman- beatbox competition
Pastor Michael Wakeman- reading “The Best Poem in the World”: We are called to judge not. We are called to share His will and with others what He has in store for them. Allow God to work through you this week.
Are We Focused on the Wrong Things? January 24th
Guest Speaker: Nathan Haun
Matthew 25:31-46
The national average of food insecurity is 14.3%. Of that national average, 14 states have a far worst percentage of households with food insecurity. Out of the 14 worst states, 11 states belong to the Bible Belt. What does this say about the Bible Belt? What does this say about our love for Christ?
Forgotten
Have we forgotten about Christ’s commandment? We do have a lot of things to remember. It can be easy to forget. But we are called to follow the two main commandments: Love Christ and love one another. We can’t claim we just forgot.
Missed the Memo
Perhaps we could say that we just didn’t know. No one told us. However, we were just told! We are called to love others and help with their need.
Missed the Opportunity
We know the scripture. We know what it says, but we just don’t have the time. We might be late to work, or get a tardy at school, so we don’t feel like we can help.
Rebellion
Sometimes it is just a simple “I’m don’t want to help.” We rebel in that we know we are supposed to help and choose not to.
It is an option to simply forget that others need help. We can choose to do nothing. We can choose to not love others. However, we can also choose to remember what Christ has told us to do. We can choose to learn more about Christ’s commands. We can choose to make the most of our opportunities. We can choose to not be a rebellious people.
Closing Song: Change My Heart Oh God (Eddie Espinosa, 1982)
Knowing Your Relationship to God: Taste and See January 17th
Psalm 34:8
1. Taste and See that the Lord is Good in Salvation
2 Corinthians 5:21
Romans 6:23
2. Taste and See that the Lord is Good in Life
Matthew 6:25-33
1 Corinthians 10:13
3. Taste and See that the Lord is Good in Eternity
1 Corinthians 15:52-53
John 14:1-3
MAKING SENSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD: SIGHT January 10th
INTRODUCTION:
A. Sight, what a wonderful sense
1. We take it for granted
2. Those who have never had it can’t really comprehend it magnificence
3. But those who have had it and lost it – what a loss!
4. It is a very important part of each of our lives.
B. Up until I was 40, or so, my vision was 20/20 without glasses
1. But somewhere around 42, 43, I started having head aches more often
a. I tried caffeine, eye drops, and Tylenol
b. Finally, for what ever reason, I went to the optometrist
c. I found out I had a condition known as “Presbyopia” (a progressive loss of the power for my eyes to accommodate near vision” – My eyes were constantly straining to focus on what I was reading, so I got reading glasses.
2. Then around 44 I went to reading glasses being put into a bi-focal so I could read and see all of you at the same time without removing my glasses.
3. Then around 45, I had to go to a true bi-focal (my presbyopia had turned to hyperopia (far sightedness), adding correction to all aspects of my sight
4. And as I speak to you this morning I need to make an appointment to have them checked again because I am having more problems.
5. From this I realized that we can slowly drift from very good sight to poor sight, and if we do not heed the warning signs we can begin to live life on a much lower level of health and clarity.
a. I did not just wake up one morning and say, “Oh, I can’t read that line.”
b. It was a gradual thing.
C. And It can be the same spiritually
1. Many of God’s children have lost a measure of clarity, and may not even know it, even though it is what is causing them headaches.
a. Spiritual speaking, some are far sighted, not being able to see up close
b. But probably the most prevalent condition for Christians is being near sighted – not being able to see afar off
2. Could it be that some of us might just need an adjustment to our spiritual eyes so that we might see better, that is clearer, without the headaches.
3. We need to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
a. It is He who can clear up our near or far sightedness.
b. He is the great physician – the great optometrist
4. It is He who can make sight crystal clear and clear up our headaches!
5. Our opening passage for this morning 2 Peter 1:9 states, But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
6. In order to correct our vision God may have to correct our sight as it
a. Deals With Our Salvation
b. Deals With Our Activities of Life
c. Deals With Our Eternal Perspective
7. May God open our eyes to the spiritual things in our lives that need to be seen and corrected!
PRAY
Lets begin by looking at how God may have to correct our sight as it
I. DEALS WITH OUR SALVATION
A. John 1:29 …John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
1. One of the most significant problems we have as Christians is that we often loss sight of who Jesus is and what Christ really did for us.
2. As John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the public for the first time he referred to Him as the Lamb of God which takes away our sin.
3. How great a blessing that is – without Christ we would still be in our sin and on our way to an eternal hell
4. We should love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength for this alone – but do we?
– John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
5. Do we see Him daily and give Him praise for being our Savior?
6. If we don’t we are slowly loosing our sight!
B. When a person gets saved they are no longer looking to the world and its things, but rather Christ and kingdom things
1. Luke 9:62 states, nd Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
2. Going to heaven is not the goal of Christianity
3. Its moving on in our salvation to live for God – to see life in a totally different perspective.
a. It is not to be living for God one day & then opting not to live for Him another.
b. We are not worthy of Christ when we shrink back from Him
– In other words, we dishonor Him, when we go back to live in the world!
c. In a more extreme case we could look at the defection as John wrote in 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest (that it might be seen) that they were not all of us.
C. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus
1. The writer to the Hebrews penned these words of admonition found in Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
2. Our life of faith began as we looked upon Him as Savior, the Lamb of God, and it is He who will lead us though life if we will look to Him as our Shepherd – the author and finisher of our faith – providing all that we need!
D. How is our sense of sight this morning – does it need some correction as it deals with our salvation?
Seeing our salvation is in Christ, from beginning to end, we might need to have some adjustment to our sight as it
II. DEALS WITH OUR ACTIVITIES OF LIFE: There are a number of items that we need to look at as we consider bringing our life activities into focus, the first might be
A. Holiness – 2 Peter 3:10-11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness
1. The scriptures make it clear that we do not know when our Lord may return – He will come as a thief in the night – unknown to all
2. When he comes He is going to make all things new and give rewards based on our action in this life
3. Hence we are to live as if He will come today!
4. We are to live every minute in accordance with His word and under the leading of the Holy Spirit.
5. Now I could spend the next week speaking to things to which this might pertain in your life, but I don’t have too, because the Holy Spirit is already doing that!
– You know what you need to do: what sin you need to get rid of, what attitude is unholy and ungodly, the lack of commitment or the blaming of others for your predicament.
6. Jesus said in Matt 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
7. If God has opened you eyes to a matter – you see the problem – then make the adjustment!
B. An area closely related to this is the idea of “fruit”
1. Jesus said that if we abide in Him we will bear fruit.
2. To this Peter speaks, But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Pet 1:9
a. Lacking what you may ask?
b. Well, Peter had just written, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; [6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; [7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. [8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8
c. It was of these things that Peter said, he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:9
3. You see if we get a true vision of the Christ who saved us, it will change our life activities – we will bear fruit unto godliness!
C. Now let me look at one other area of activity that healthy spiritual eyes see – Evangelism
1. It was Jesus who said, John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
2. One who is truly focused on the Savior cannot help but see the masses who are on the broad road to hell!
3. Those who are children of God have the privilege to proclaim the saving gospel of Jesus Christ – we are to be witnesses for him
4. If we do not see the personal need to proclaim the gospel our sight is failing us.
D. How is our sense of sight? Does it need some correction as it deals with our activities of life?
This brings us to one last aspect of our sight I think we need see, it
III. DEALS WITH OUR ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
A. We are destined to become like our Savior
1. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2. This may be hard to comprehend when it seems that we make some headway in our Christian life and then fall (2 steps forward – three backwards)
3. Yet Paul told the Corinthians that it is a slow process, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18
4. In other words, stop focusing on your failures – start focusing on the Lord who can give you the power to overcome them and be conformed more to His image.
5. For Paul wrote For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
6. We should be looking to see how our Savior can be working in us everyday to conform us to His image
B. We should also be looking for His coming.
1. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
2. You see this is where our real hope lies
a. In 1 Cor. 15:19 we read If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
b. If we only have hope in Christ in this life – that means there is no resurrection and no life afterwards: persecutions & death would not be worth it
c. IF this were true then we should to live it up – party till we drop
d. But it is not! Praise The Lord!
e. Jesus has risen from the dead is going to bring us to our home in heaven at His next coming!
3. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thes. 4:16-17
4. And because of this we can look forward to
C. New Heavens and New Earth
1. 2 Peter 3:12-14 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. [14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2. Do not be fooled by the foolishness of this world – Jesus is coming again.
3. He is coming as a conquering king – Lord of Lords and the ruler of all Creation to make all things new!
D. How is your sense of sight?
CONCLUSION:
A. If you and I were to come to find out that our eyesight was deteriorating we would do what ever it took to get it right
1. We would bare any expense
2. Take what ever actions were necessary
B. So why would we not want to do the same in our spiritual life
1. If the Lord has shown you this morning that your sight needs to be corrected – why would you not fix it?
2. Jesus once asked a man what he wanted: listen to this short conversation found in Mark 10:51-52 What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. [52] And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
3. Just as quick, Jesus can correct your sight this morning if you will but ask Him too.
HOW IS YOUR SENSE OF SIGHT THIS MORNING?
MAKING SENSE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD: How is Your Sense of Hearing? January 3rd
Heb 3:6-8
We Serve a Great God!
Take our bodies, for instance. There are seven major systems in our bodies
Skeletal – our bones which provide the body with shape and give protection to organs
Muscular – working in very close connection with the skeletal, they control the body giving strength and movement
Digestive – breaking down foods into the different proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fats our bodies need.
Respiratory – brings in air, supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide
Circulatory – moves blood carrying oxygen and nutrients supplied by the Respiratory and Circulatory systems, to all parts of the body
Nervous – its our bodies’ control system: sending, receiving, processing data
Reproductive – allowing for the birth of offspring.
There are also a number of smaller, yet very important systems as well.
Lymphatic
Endocrine
Urinary
All these systems grow and mature in humans from conception. It is a miracle that all these systems can work together – but more than that it is proof that there is a Master Designer, whom we know as God!
No wonder the psalmist declares, (Psalm 139:13-16) “thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
And that was not enough, the Lord also gave us five senses to help us interact with the world around us: hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch. Each of these give us a different perspective of our world. It is hard to do without one or more of our five senses.
Hebrews 3:6-8 “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will HEAR his voice, Harden not your hearts,…”
Hearing is important for a number of reasons
Hearing is Essential to Salvation
Hearing is Necessary for Obedience
Hearing is Foundational for Hope
May the Lord open our ears as we look into His gracious word and in the words of our Lord found in Matt 15:10 Hear, and understand:
Hearing is so important that 16 times from the book of Matthew through the book of Revelation we hear the words, “let him hear.” Why? Because
1. HEARING IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION.
As Jesus went about his ministering to the public we have recorded for us in the book of Mathew what has become known as the Kingdom Parables in Matthew 13.
At one point he made this statement to the disciples, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matt 13:15).
He people were dead, so to speak, and could not hear the words of the Lord – not the act of physical hearing, but spiritually hearing – grasping! And so it would take a miracle for them to hear! It is no different with people today. For one who is dead in their sin, it is nothing less than a miracle for one to hear. And it is a very special hearing that is necessary.
It is the hearing of the word, more specifically the gospel, we need. Paul, as he writes the great treatise of faith, the book of Romans, states in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” These words were spoken right on the heals of one of the greatest passage in the Word – Romans 10:6-10 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
One must hear the gospel, and thereby accept it by faith, believing the very Word of God. Jesus died for our sins – your sins. es you are a sinner – for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. And because you are a sinner you are bond for hell, for the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23. That is, of course, unless you come to Christ as your Savior! If, therefore, you are hearing this word and have been convicted (feeling remorse for your sin) you are in effect hearing the word – do not delay. Come to the Lord, now, while, He may be found. In the words of Peter, Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19.
How is our sense of hearing?
Hearing is essential to salvation, and….
2. HEARING IS NECESSARY FOR OBEDIENCE
We can probably all remember as a child our mothers asking, or more often than not, telling us to do something and sometimes we would not hear her; consequentially we did not obey her. Did we not hear her or did we ignore her? More often than not we probably ignored her. Hearing is necessary for obedience.
God wants us to hear Him unto obedience
In the book of Mark it says, “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. Mark 4:20, 23-25. When we hear we become responsible for the word – it is a matter of obedience, now! Over and over again in the book of Revelation chapters 2 & 3 we read the words He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; Revelation 2:7- He is speaking about listening to and acting upon, in obedience, that which he had warned the church about such as, Revelation 2:4-5 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” It is necessary that we listen to our Lord and hear what He is saying to us so that we might obey what He is saying. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Hearing is necessary, but there must be obedient action following the reception of God’s Word. If we do not follow through on the “hearing” we are only deceiving ourselves concerning our life in Christ for God. The Pharisees “heard” the word but were deceived because they did not obey it, and for them it was because they had not heard it unto salvation.
Why may we be hearing the word and not obeying?
Worldliness, anger, pride, selfishness: we are only deceiving ourselves concerning our relationship to God. Could it be that we just are not saved – again deceived into thinking we are?
How is our sense of hearing?
3. HEARING IS FOUNDATIONAL FOR HOPE
If you read the book of Acts you will come to see that those who did not hear the words of God had no hope – they were constantly looking for something else, somewhere else. The Sanhedrin was trying to find hope in a messiah (of their own making) who was not coming The populace was trying to find hope in a government that was increasingly corrupt and crumbling. The religious crowd outside of Judaism was trying to find hope in god’s (again of their own making) who were unable to help them. In Matthew’s gospel we read of a situation that involved Jesus and the masses that were all around Him, But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36
And it was Paul who, concerning those who had come to know Christ in the church as Ephesus, wrote: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Ephesians 2:12
It is through hearing the word of God that hope can be found. The apostle John recorded the words of Jesus in John 5:25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” Life is possible through Jesus Christ – there is hope! In life Jesus is our hope and the hearing of His word assures us of it – Hebews 6:19, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,…” And beyond this there is the hope of an eternity with the Lord, beyond the grave. Jesus also said, “Marvel not at this (that which He had stated in verse 25) for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,” (John 5:28)
Those that hear his word have the promise of the resurrection. Listen to the words of Paul found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” Hallelujah, we have hope in this world and the one to come!
Hearing the word of God is foundational to our knowledge and understanding of this hope! Living in obedience to His word is necessary to experiencing this hope! How is your sense of hearing?
God has given us five senses to relate to the world around us. These same senses are used, often metaphorically, to express our relationship to God.
How is your sense of hearing this morning?
HOW IS YOUR SENSE OF HEARING THIS MORNING?
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™