SERMON SUMMARY As we begin a new year, it is the ideal season for us as a church to re-examine and determine our priorities. We find some guidance in Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica, a letter written to a growing group of Christians who were not so different from us. In this…
Sermon Summary The Christian life is meant to be one of progress and growth. 2 Peter 3:18 says: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” How can we know if we are making real spiritual progress, and not merely deceiving ourselves with spiritual activity? You are growing as a…
SERMON SUMMARY Every year there is a new hot Christmas gift that everyone has to have. In 1985 it was Cabbage Patch dolls. In 1989, Nintendo’s Gameboy was the big thing. In 1996, Tickle Me Elmos were flying off the shelf. A couple of years late everyone had Furbys on their shopping list. The big…
SERMON SUMMARY Not only is Christmas a time for celebration and for reconciliation, it is also a time for salvation. When we talk about salvation, we are generally referring to God’s deliverance FROM sin, ourselves, and hell. God offers salvation as a free gift to those who accept Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Our salvation is not…
SERMON SUMMARY In 1951 an unwanted baby, conceived outside of marriage, was born to a family in Portsmouth, Virginia. The ensuing chaos destroyed the lives of the mother, her husband, and Glenda’s older half-sister. That baby was Glenda Revell1. Glenda begins her autobiography with these words: “If this were just a story about my suffering,…
SERMON SUMMARY Christmas is a time to celebrate the entrance of God’s son into this world. The Bible contains the original Christmas Story (Luke 2:8-14), in which the angel revealed to the shepherds Christmas’ threefold purpose as a time of celebration, a time for reconciliation, and a time for salvation. Today we are going to…
SERMON SUMMARY There are two questions regarding Christianity that many people have asked at some point in their lives: “Is Jesus really the only way to God?” And if so, “How is God going to deal with those who have never heard of Jesus? Is there any hope for them?” Why are these questions so…
SERMON SUMMARY How we relate to guides: Human nature: We’d rather not have a guide because we don’t want to need one. Conditions so severe that we accept the help of guides: When the place is really unknown When the topic is really important When the outcome really matters Connecting the need of guides to…
SERMON SUMMARY We’ve been looking at Scripture’s “Great Commandments” and “Great Commission”. The Great Commandments of Scripture are that we love God and others. The Great Commission is that we share God’s love with others around the globe. Jesus linked love, outreach, and prayer (Luke 10:2). What happens next is informative: Jesus told his followers…
SERMON SUMMARY Matthew 9:18-38 Empathy is powerful. Principle: Scarcity increases value. Empathy/Compassion is hard to find. Believers are prepared by God to enter into the emotional world of empathy. We love it when we emotionally resonate with others. Sometimes it comes naturally. Sometimes it is a choice We can make the choice to draw near.…