Anchor Way Church Sermons

Uncertainty almost certainly leads us to a scarcity mindset. As life feels up in the air, our natural inclination is toward self-preservation. This is why the practice of generosity is so important! Intentionally practicing generosity can undermine our desire to horde in a time like this. This morning, pastor Rick unpacks the disciplines of generosity in three ways... Why we should be generous How we can be generous The consequences of our generosity. We pray you are encouraged and maybe even challenged that no matter where you find yourself in this season of uncertainty and anxiety we can all still practice generosity.

Each Wednesday we'll be bringing you practical ways and encouragement to practice last Sunday's discipline. Last Sunday we unpacked the discipline of "gratitude." How will you practice gratitude this week?

Our present circumstances would suggest there is nothing to be grateful for. While this point in time is painful and frustrating for so many, followers of Jesus do have opportunities to be grateful. This morning we jump back into our series on Spiritual Disciplines and we explore the discipline of "gratitude" in Colossians 3:12-17. Paul encourages us to... Look behind us Look in front of us Look around us To see God's goodness and how he is at work. We pray that this sermon strengthens you faith and propels you to take inventory of God's faithfulness in you life.

If Jesus was really raised from the dead then it changes everything.  It means that Jesus is who he said he is, it means that his death has accomplished something for us. In this time of uncertainty, fear and anxiety we wanted to focus in on one thing that resurrection secures for us. Peace. And specifically... A peace that is RELATIONAL A peace that SURPASSES A peace that EMPOWERS The resurrection is the proof that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient and that we have peace with God, it secures an eternal peace that surpasses our present suffering. And it is a peace that empowers us to live in a broken world with boldness.

Why in the world was "Good Friday" good? Every year Christians reflect on the brutal execution of a man named Jesus and call it "good." But why? We reflected on 3 words that shed some light on what is happening in Matthew's account of Jesus' crucifixion. The Rejection The Reversal The Reason The rejection of Jesus, the reversal of sin's curse and the reason God did this, show us the deep cost of this moment but also why it is such good news for us on the other side of the cross. We pray this sermon illuminates God's love for you and shows that while God's grace is freely given, it wasn't cheap.

We are living through a time that no-one would have expected a few months ago. Now we find ourselves adapting to the unexpected. This morning we're unpacking how God gives us hope in the unexpected because God has and can weave redemption into the most unexpected circumstances. Nothing shows us that more clearly than the cross. On Palm Sunday Jesus is welcomed in as the Messiah, the one who saves! By the following Friday he is rejected as a criminal to be hung on a cross. Jesus wasn't what Israel was expecting - and the cross  certainly wasn't what His disciples were expecting. Yet God knew exactly what He was doing. The most beautiful expression of love and redemption came from the most unexpected source and that can offer us hope in these unexpected and terrible times.

What we need most is what we seemingly can't have.  In this moment of intentional social isolation, many of us are realizing just how wired we are for connection and community. With anxiety and fear at unprecedented levels, we need one another more than ever. It has been 3 consecutive weeks since local churches have been unable to gather in person for worship and more recently gather for any type of in-person fellowship.  In light of this, we've decided to unpack our crucial need for community as followers of Jesus. We need one another, to remind each other of our hope in Jesus and spur each other toward love. The "church" isn't a building or an event but the people of God. Therefore, it's deeply important that we adapt and get creative in how we can connect as a church, because this is the worst time to cut ourselves off from one other.  We pray you find this message hopeful, encouraging and challenging. 

What does our faith look like in these uncertain times? During these unprecedented times of COVID-19 we have decided to launch a new sermon series to help encourage and equip us to pursue God individually, with our families and even with our church family in unique ways.  So we're launching a series on spiritual disciplines. In this time of isolation, rest, anxiety and even some boredom, we'll be exploring practical ways to pursue our relationship with God and express our faith.  We felt it an appropriate place to start was with prayer. We unpack Paul's words to Timothy, in hopes of becoming people of prayer. 

Feeling anxious? Feeling dismissive? Depending on who you are, you could be feeling very different things in this uncertain and chaotic time that we find ourselves in, during the spread of COVID -19. As the church we believe Jesus models how we should respond. We do not believe the church should fear, but we also don't believe we should be dismissive or indifferent. We believe Jesus models a third way, compassion. This is an opportunity for the local church to step up and show love and concern for our neighbors when some need it most! While AWC did not gather physically this morning, we did worship together online. If you missed our live-stream on our Facebook page we hope you find this time of worship and teaching encouraging. If you'd like more information, please visit www.anchorway.com

Jesus tells us he's "not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it." What does he mean by that? In order to understand what Jesus is saying we need to look at the broader story that the Bible tells. We believe that the Bible tells a unified story that points us to Jesus and that is what we unpack in this sermon.  Scripture and points below. MATTHEW 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 1) THE BIBLE TELLS A UNIFIED STORY  2) THE STORY POINTS TO JESUS 3) JESUS ACCOMPLISHES THE PROMISES OF GOD 4) WE NOW RECEIVE THE BENEFITS BY GRACE  

Jesus tells his disciples, "you are salt and you are light." It is a reality of a discipleship, that Jesus' followers will be witnesses to the world about Jesus and his coming Kingdom. In this sermon, we explore what that means to engage our culture as witnesses to the coming Kingdom of God.  Scripture and points below... 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 1. WE HAVE BEEN SAVED FOR A PURPOSE “It is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world, as that God has a church for his mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission.” - “God’s Mission” - Christopher Wright 2. SALT PRESERVES AND ENHANCES 3. LIGHT REVEALS AND REFLECTS 4. CULTIVATE KINGDOM CURIOSITY

We are launching a new series called "Kingdom Come" which all about the coming kingdom of Jesus. In Jesus' sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7, Jesus shares the posture, values and practices of his now and coming Kingdom. It it a description of our new life in him.  Scripture and Points below... MATTHEW 5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. THE KINGDOM IS COMING THE KINGDOM SEEMS UPSIDE DOWN  THE KINGDOM IS EXPERIENCED THROUGH OUR        SUBMISSION TO THE KING

We're wrapping up our Galatians series and the Apostle Paul leaves us with a deep question to wrestle with. Do we boast in the cross of Jesus Christ?  While we've become used to it, the cross is actually offensive on multiple levels. It either offends our sense of self-righteousness, or our sense of moral relativism. It doesn't matter where we fall on that spectrum, the cross will make us uncomfortable. So what does it mean to boast in the cross? Scripture and points below.. Galatians 6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.  13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. CONFIDENCE IN THE CROSS IDENTITY IN THE CROSS “It is written that we shall “stand before” Him, shall appear, shall be inspected. The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us who really choose, shall actually survive that examination, shall find approval, shall please God. To please God…to be a real ingredient in the Divine happiness…to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.” C.S. Lewis – The Weight of Glory NEW LIFE BY THE CROSS  

Paul has spent the first 4 chapters of Galatians defending the good news that our salvation and justification comes through Jesus Christ and not our obedience to the law.  This passage shows us how a Gospel shaped community functions. Paul's perspective is that the Gospel will have real-life affects in how we treat one another - and it will bear fruit in community.  Scripture and points below.  GALATIANS 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  RESTORATION NOT RETRIBUTION 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.  HUMILITY NOT COMPARISON 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. ETERNAL OVER TEMPORAL

Each of us is motivated by something in life. We follow our passions down different roads. The apostle Paul argues that our sin issues can be traced back to what we worship. That sin is actually a symptom of our the idols in our life. He pleads with the Galatians not to return to the idols of their past (irreligion) or the idols that are being sold to them (religious moralism).  Instead, Paul offers a third way, a Gospel way... scripture and points below WE'RE WIRED TO WORSHIP Galatians 4:8-11 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. IDOLS HOLD OUR HEARTS CAPTIVE Galatians 4:12-14 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. THE GOSPEL OVERSHADOWS ALL OUR IDOLS Galatians 4:15-17 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. FOLLOW YOUR SIN TO YOUR IDOL Galatians 4:18-20 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.