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Current Sermon Series (April 8 - June 17)

     "Looking More Like Jesus"

April 8, 2018 | Who Is Christ? | Gal. 5:22-26, Phil 2:12-18 (NLT)

The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control – we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His (See John 15: 4-5). We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law – to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?

Our lives should characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will be “lights” in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God’s Word. Are you shining brightly, or are you clouded by complaining or arguing? Shine out for God.

April 15, 2018 | Christ: Human and Divine | Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 1:20 (NLT)

The angel declared to Joseph that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be a son. This reveals an important truth about Jesus – He is both God and human. The infinite, unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so He could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in Him.

What kind of God does nature reveal? Nature shows us a God of might, intelligence, and intricate detail; a God of order and beauty; a God who controls powerful forces. That is the general revelation (both in the Bible and with the coming of Jesus). We learn about God’s love and forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. God has graciously given us both sources that we might fully believe in Him.

April 22, 2018 | Courage of Jesus | John 16:33, 2 Corinthians 5:5-8 (NLT)

Jesus summed up all that He had told them. With these words, He told His disciples to take courage. In spite of the inevitable struggles they would face, they would not be alone. Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles either. If we remember that the ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times.

The Holy Spirit within us is our pledge, our guarantee, that God will give us everlasting bodies at the resurrection. We have eternity in us now! This truth should give us great courage and patience to endure anything we might experience.

April 29, 2018 | Strength of Jesus | 1 Peter 4:7-11, Mark 12:28-33 (NLT)

Some people, well aware of their abilities (gifts), believe that they have the right to use them as they please. Others feel that they do not have any special talents at all. Peter addresses both groups. Everyone has some gifts—find yours and use them! All of our abilities should be used to serve others; none are for our exclusive enjoyment. Peter mentions speaking and serving. Paul refers to them as well.

God’s laws are not burdensome. They can be reduced to two simple principles; love God and love others. These commands are from the Old Testament. When you love God completely and care for others as you care for yourself, then you have fulfilled the intent of the Ten Commandments. According to Jesus, these two commandments summarize all God’s laws. Let them rule your thoughts, decisions, and actions. When you are uncertain about what to do, ask yourself which course of action best demonstrates love for God and love for others.

May 6, 2018 | A Knowledgeable Jesus | Matthew 4: 3-11 (NLT)

The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only fall down and worship him. Today the devil offers us the world by trying to entice us with materialism and power. We can resist temptations the same way Jesus did. If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus’ words to the devil; “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”

May 13, 2018 | A Loving Jesus | John 3:16-21 (NLT)

God’s love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here, God sets the pattern of true love, the basis for all love relationships – when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of his Son, the highest price he could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins; and then offered us the new life that he had bought for us. When we share the gospel with others, our love must be like Jesus’ – willingly giving up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God’s love.

May 20, 2018 | Pentecost – Receiving the Holy Spirit | Acts 2:1-21 (NLT)

Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit onto and into the people – the temple is the place where the Spirit of God dwells and Pentecost is the pouring of the Spirit into the lives and lips of people who come and follow Jesus. Peter gives the first Christian sermon-rooted in the ancient promises given to Israel given in the Old Testament. Peter remembered the teachings of the memories and sacrifices of those who have gone before and they become the springboard for what is possible with God in our midst as the church.

May 27, 2018 | Who Is the Holy Spirit | 2 Corinthians 2:6-16 (NIV)

God has given to all believers a divine Person who helps us to receive and understand the truth. The Holy Spirit, who perfectly knows the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:10) and who receives and communicates to our spirits the truth that God wants us to hear, lives within all believers. God wants our understanding to grow in three primary areas…

1. The truth about Himself. God wants us to grasp His majesty, His holiness, His power, His love, His grace and His joy. When we begin to comprehend these mighty truths about the person of God, we find our lives enriched, enabled, and energized. Paul wrote that his ultimate aim in life was to know Christ (Phil. 3:10). Almost two thousand years later, can we think of anyone who has experienced a richer life?

2. The truth about ourselves. God wants us to realize our importance in the scheme of His eternal plans; but most of all, God wants us to know our position and who we are in Christ. Since we are one with Christ, all His divine privileges become ours. His righteousness is ours because He abides in us. His wisdom and His sanctification we can now appropriate. Our enrollment in the Lamb’s Book of Life carries all the glorious distinctions of our new status.

3. The truth about other people. God wants to view people as His chosen instruments and His creations. When we begin to understand the truth of who God is and gain better understanding of ourselves and others, we become thoroughly equipped to be fruitful, productive servants on earth.

Charles Stanley, Life Principles Bible, page 1333

The following descriptions are taken from the NASB Life Application Study Bible

June 3, 2018 | Living in the Holy Spirit | Galatians 5:13-26 (NLT)

Paul distinguishes between freedom to sin and freedom to serve. Freedom or license to sin is no freedom at all, because it enslaves us to Satan, others, or our own sinful nature. Christians by contrast, should not be slaves to sin, because we are free to do right and glorify God through loving service to others.

Have we talked behind someone’s back? Have we focused on others’ shortcomings instead of their strengths? Remind yourself of Jesus’ command to love others as we love ourselves. When we begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of that person’s positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront in love than to gossip.

Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between our feelings and His promptings. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the Words of Christ will be in our minds, the love of Christ will be behind our actions, and the power of Christ will help us control our selfish desires.

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively (crucify them). These desires include obvious sins such as sexual immorality and sorcery. They also include less obvious sins such as strife, jealousy, and anger. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life.

June 10, 2018 | Jesus’ Hands and Feet | Psalm 147 (NLT)

Sometimes we feel as if we don’t understand ourselves—what we want, how we feel, what’s wrong with us, or what we should do about it. But God’s understanding has no limit, and therefore He understands us fully. If we feel troubled and don’t understand ourselves, remember that God understands us perfectly. We must take our minds off of ourselves and focus on God. Strive to become more and more like Him. The more we learn about God and His ways, the better we will understand ourselves.

We spend much effort trying to sharpen our skills or increase our strength. There is nothing wrong with doing so, and, in fact, our gifts can be used to glorify God. But when we use our skills with no regard for God, they are indeed worth little. It is our fear (reverence) and trust that God desires. When He has those, then He will use our skills and strengths in ways far greater than we can imagine.

The descendants of Jacob were special to God because it is to them God brought His laws, and through them He sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Now any individual who follows God is just as special to Him. In fact, the Bible says that the real nation of Israel is not a specific people or geographic place, but the community of all who believe in and obey God (Galatians 3:28-29).

June 17, 2018 | ”Farewell” | Deuteronomy 28: 1-14 (NLT)

Noted theologian, Warren Wiersbe states that God promised to bless His people in all places—the city, the field, and the home—with all that they needed. As they went in and out in their daily work, He would care for them and prosper their efforts. He would give them victory over their enemies so that they could maintain possession of the land. He would supply the rain for the fields, for water is a precious commodity in the East. They would receive rain in the growing seasons and grow abundantly. They would sell their surplus harvests to other countries and would not have to depend on others for their supplies.

God promised Israel these blessings and then after Pentecost these blessings were awarded to all believers. These material blessings were God’s way of reminding His children that obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings chastening. Yes, wicked people were blessed, also, as God blessed the believers because all the land was blessed. That is why there is more to obedience than just doing what is right and being rewarded.

We can stand on God’s promises. The wicked cannot. God loves all peoples, however, believers have God’s heart!