Life Lessons
When was the last time you simply unplugged from all the other “noises” around you and took a good look at your own life? What do you hear? What are you seeing? What were you hoping you would discover? We know that at any one time there are different “voices” speaking to us, competing for our attention as well as affection. Voices that tell us who we are, what we should do and where we should go. When Jesus entered our world He gave voice to a right side message in a world turned upside down by sin and misdirection. Whose voice are you listening to? How do you know?
If the Gospel has its grip on your life then you discover and understand that you are here as His ambassador; “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. What does that look like as you head to work each day? What does it mean to be an ambassador in your home, or with your friends, family or relatives?
“Life Lessons” is a series of messages to give us God’s worldview, a right side up Gospel message for living in an upside down world. Wherever you are in your own story, God has a place for you in His story as a minister of reconciliation. As an ambassador there are basic life principles which God has for you in His Word. He longs for you to know them and practice them as we do life together. Whether you are a parent or single person, a child, youth, young adult or older adult, God’s principles are both timeless and priceless. His call to be His ambassador is both compelling and challenging.
What are some of those life lessons we will discover together this summer?
“Calling”- God calls us to make disciples.
“Grace”- God equips you to the task He calls you to do.
“Identity”- Who you are in Christ is the most important thing about you “Mercy”- Offering to others what God has lavished upon you.
“Rest”- Resting in God’s presence and grace.
Join us this summer as we hear God’s voice communicate His life lessons through His Word to us.
~ Pastor Mike
Some people equate mercy as saying yes to everything whether it is right or wrong. Others see mercy as an abandonment of God’s standards and truth. The truth is that mercy finds its origins in God Himself and it is one of the key attributes He calls us to model if we are followers of Christ.
God gives us many gifts, talents and abilities, but changing someone else’s heart is not one of them. Changing hearts is God’s job. This Sunday we will looking at the challenge in Matthew 7 that we all have a plank in our eye and how that plank affects our ability to see that we are powerless to change anyone else but ourselves.
We are saved by grace through faith, but God didn't stop there with His grace. He wants us to live by the power of His grace and has given us what we need to live for Him.
Confession can be a hard thing to do, yet it is a biblically rooted principal. With all the things that take our attention away from God (sometimes called false gods), there is much to confess about.
When people talk about you, how do they describe you? Whatever they say, it’s directly related to your character, whether good or bad. The Bible says a lot about the building up of good character, but how do we reflect the character of Jesus so that when people see us they see the heart of God?
No one on earth is untouched by folly. We are born with it and suffer the consequences of our own foolishness and that of others throughout our lives. But foolishness is nothing to fool around with.
We are living in a day when everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. How should we view authority and recognize it in our own lives?
We live in a time where our affiliations, income brackets, and political leanings keep us divided. We grumble about the people on the other side, and it keeps us from reaching the lost or from being rescued ourselves. Join me as we look at three stories and explore how Jesus rescues and redeems the lost.
We will explore the discipleship process. Our goal is not to go into the nuts and bolts, but to draw encouragement for the journey. The best view of the discipleship process may be the long view but it is also a fantastic view!
Are you stressed out, worn out, overwhelmed? Most of us would probably say yes for any number of reasons; family pressures, peer pressures, health issues, work issues,… It is in this context of life that Jesus offers us His rest. How can we obtain it?
The bible is not a boring book of laws, it’s a story. How do God’s laws fit into the beautiful and exciting story of the scriptures?
"Quiet!” You yell to silence everyone in the room but what have you accomplished? Is it enough to control someone’s behavior or to see a change of heart? As a parent, grandparent, teacher, or someone who leads others, what is it that you are trying to accomplish? Controlling behavior or changing lives?
Today’s average lifespan for a person living in the US is 71 years. What are you going to do with that time? Where is God in all of your days and nights?