October 31, 2010 - Hebrews 10:19-25
God wants to teach us to trust Him, to have confidence in Him so that we have a growing and intimate relationship with him. The Bible makes it clear that God uses people in our lives to grow our faith. If we really want to have a growing faith, it becomes a big decision to hang around and build friendships with others who have a growing faith. Christian community is designed by God to be a healthy spiritual environment where everyone is encouraged to step out and grow in the faith, growing a confident and trust based relationship with the God of the universe.
Faith Fertilizer: Fidelity
October 24, 2010 - Matthew 6:1-6
Jesus spoke of "acts of righteousness," done in secret, that are an expression of genuine faith. These are things that God expects from us, that are not to be seen by man. These are to be done as an expression of faith, "not by sight." Whether anybody ever knows that we are practicing "acts of righteousness," it does not really matter, because God sees and God will reward. In fact, if we do these "acts of righteousness" to be seen and honored by men, that will be all the honor we will receive.
Jesus spoke of "acts of righteousness," done in secret, that are an expression of genuine faith. These are things that God expects from us, that are not to be seen by man. These are to be done as an expression of faith, "not by sight." Whether anybody ever knows that we are practicing "acts of righteousness," it does not really matter, because God sees and God will reward. In fact, if we do these "acts of righteousness" to be seen and honored by men, that will be all the honor we will receive.
Faith Fertilizer
October 17, 2010 - When Jesus spoke, it was not uncommon that He made people angry. One time people wanted to throw Him off a cliff after a short sermon. Why? Because Jesus didn't just tell people what to believe; He told them how to live and what to do. Jesus' preaching was application oriented, giving people direction on how to actually walk by faith in a way that pleases our Heavenly Father.
Why Am I Not Dead?
October 10, 2010 - From the beginning, God's agenda has been to call to Himself, a people of faith who would worship Him and trust Him in the midst of a sin cursed world. He provided miracles, prophets and the scriptures to give people what they need to develop faith and trust in Him. That trust was violated, leading to a broken fellowship with God, broken by a lack of trust in God who provided that perfect Garden of Eden. Because the relationship was broken through lack of trust, the way back to a right relationship with God comes through trust, through faith in God. There are many things we can do on this earth but only one that brings pleasure to God, and that is living a life of faith.
Hell: Ditching The Diabolical
October 3, 2010 - Matthew 25, Luke 16
It's not popular to talk about hell. It's not surprising that in one survey, 76 percent of the people polled believed in heaven, and only six-percent believed in hell. A lot of people cope with the idea of hell by denying its reality. Some argue that hell is a leftover superstition from the Dark Ages and that we are too enlightened in the twenty-first century to believe in such an antiquated concept. It's definitely not politically correct to believe in and teach hell today. But our job is not to be politically correct, but to be eternally accurate.
It's not popular to talk about hell. It's not surprising that in one survey, 76 percent of the people polled believed in heaven, and only six-percent believed in hell. A lot of people cope with the idea of hell by denying its reality. Some argue that hell is a leftover superstition from the Dark Ages and that we are too enlightened in the twenty-first century to believe in such an antiquated concept. It's definitely not politically correct to believe in and teach hell today. But our job is not to be politically correct, but to be eternally accurate.
Heaven: Anticipating The Incredible
September 26, 2010 - John 14, Revelation 21
Seventy-six percent of people polled believe in heaven. Six percent believe in hell. Does it really matter what we think? God is not looking for counsel on the subject. The Bible is very clear that there are two opposing powers; the kingdom of heaven as opposed to the kingdom of darkness. The choices we make on this earth will determine which of those kingdoms we will enter. Consider God's heaven, a place beyond anything the mind can conceive.
Seventy-six percent of people polled believe in heaven. Six percent believe in hell. Does it really matter what we think? God is not looking for counsel on the subject. The Bible is very clear that there are two opposing powers; the kingdom of heaven as opposed to the kingdom of darkness. The choices we make on this earth will determine which of those kingdoms we will enter. Consider God's heaven, a place beyond anything the mind can conceive.
Will You Be Blindsided?
September 19, 2010 - Have you ever experienced the horror of being blindsided in a traffic accident? It motivates you to drive more defensively and look in your rear mirror more regularly. Pop quizzes in school can blindside you if you aren't prepared and have neglected your schoolwork. It is not uncommon for people who have been blindsided to wake up in the hospital and say, "how did I get here?" The Bible tells us that there will be people who will be blindsided in the afterlife, thinking that they are destined for heaven, who find themselves in hell, saying, "how did I get here?" The Bible tells us that Satan is actively seeking to blind unbelievers, deceiving them with a false sense of security, that has eternal consequences. This Sunday we dig into Matthew 7:21-23 that speaks of the worst "blindsided" experience of all time. Yet, God has provided us with the best early warning system to guard us from being a victim of Satan's deception. Bring a friend with you as we discuss this critical subject of our faith.
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