Christian Life Church Sermons

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Good News! Your Best Years are Ahead of You."Click here to watch the service.There are no sermon notes available.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Take the Lid Off"Click here to watch the service.There are no sermon notes available.Revival Service with Andre Van Zyl

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Landscape of the Impossible"Click here to watch the sermon.There are no sermon notes available.Revival Service with Andre Van Zyl

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Answering Our Culture, Pt. 3"Click here to watch service.Answering Our Culture #3:  "You Can't Trust the Bible."Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands forever."Matthew 24: 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."I.  Is the Bible we have today accurate?"inerrant” –in its original autographs the Bible contains no mistakes.-Scripture itself claims to be inspired by God.2Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.-The Old Testament claims 3,808 times to be transmitting the very words of God.-The Gospels confirm O.T.Mt. 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:Rev. 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.-Jesus bore witness of the scriptures.Mt. 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."A.  Can we trust the copying process?The importance of this is that copies existed within the generation of those who wrote it, and within the lifetimes of those who could have disputed the information of the New Testament. Evidence That Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell.                                     Lee Strobel -Lawyer and Journalist for Chicago Tribune; all about facts.B.  How did the Bible come together?The test used to determine the Canonicity: “Canon”Gk.- measuring stick or rule.1. Apostlicity.2. Spiritual Content.3. Doctrinal Soundness.4. Usage.5. Divine Inspiration.C.  Aren't the stories of Jesus just legends?First, they were generally eyewitness accounts.Second, the writers of the Gospels and the rest of the NewTestament were willing to die for what they wrote.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Pruning with a Purpose"Click here to watch service video. Pruning with a Purpose                     John 15:1-10, Galatians 5:22, Matthew 13: 8 & 23, Jeremiah 29:11Just as electricity provides the power necessary for the bulb to produce light, so the vine provides the life necessary for the branches to produce fruit.Jesus is the vine, God the Father is the vine grower, and the true believers are the branches. Pruning, Fruit-bearing, and Abiding.1. First of all, Pruning…John 15 "He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit."The responsibility of pruning, shaping and trimming, is not the responsibility of the other branches. That responsibility is God's and God's alone.Pruning does not simply mean spiritual surgery. It is not just the removal of what is dead. It can also mean cutting away the good and the better so that we may enjoy the best.2. Then, there is Fruit-bearing.In Galatians 5:22, we read "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.We are not producing fruit to please ourselves, but to give to serve others.3. There is Pruning, there is Fruit-bearing, and then there is Abiding. We are called to be transformed and reflect the image of Christ, and to abide in his love.  The more we abide in Christ, the more fruit we bear; the more fruit we bear, the more the Father has to prune us, so that the quality keeps up with the quantity.We cannot conform to his image, we cannot produce His likeness unless we abide in Him. The daily inflow of the Holy Spirit, is the only power to bring forth spiritual fruit.John 15:2, Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He cuts down, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful.1. Remember that your Heavenly Father is the Vinedresser.Isaiah spoke of the house of Israel as the vineyard of the Lord. Jeremiah said that God had planted Israel as His choice vine. The prophet Hosea pointed out that because of Israel's unfaithfulness to God, they had become like an empty vine.2. Remember that our Heavenly Father has a divine purposeif there is something in my life that is preventing me from producing Christ like characteristics, He will prune, mold, and shape me, until I have fulfilled the purpose He has for my life.Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.He is shaping us to make us more like Christ, the True Vine. He is working to remove from us, those things that do not help us fulfill that purpose.3. Remember, the Vinedresser only removes what is unnecessary.He moves among us with His Pruning Knife to remove those dead things from our hearts, such as bitterness, resentment, selfishness, anger, self-centeredness, arrogance, pride, self-righteouness, and a religious spirit.Our Heavenly Vinedresser prunes us repeatedly. He prunes us constantly. He is removing from us what we do not need. He is removing from us what hinders our growth and our witness for Him. It may be painful for a time, but we need to remember that these are things that prevent us from enjoying a full and rich life in Christ.4. Remember, it is vital that we stay connected to the Vine.the single most important thing for us as Christians is to maintain our vital connection to Jesus, the True Vine.“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me”.1. God's Pruning produces fruit bearing believers if we abide in Him.2. Your Heavenly Father is the Vinedresser, and it is His hand which holds the       Pruning Knife.3. Your Heavenly Father has a purpose for your life.4. The Vinedresser removes only what is unnecessary.5. It is vital that we stay connected to the Vine.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Answering Our Culture, pt. 2"Click here to watch the service video.Answering our Culture #2 There is no absolute truth.John 8:31; 14:6Tooth fairy?  Santa Claus?  Easter Bunny?                                                     • They feel that absolute truth is too hard, if not impossible to find.• Too many charlatans.• Relativism, has no accountability to a standard.1.  IF TRUTH IS RELATIVE, THEN. . . A.  All spiritual truth is valid.Jesus says He is the only truth and only way to the Father is through Him.     Islam claims that Christianity is false.B.  Persuasion is not allowed - tolerance is king.C. No moral absolutes.II. IF TRUTH IS ABSOLUTE, THEN. . .A.  It can be found.Definition:  Truth must be objective (true for all people), universal (true in all places), and constant (true for all times).                                                         The words "truth", "true," and "truly" appear in the Bible 338 times.  Jesus says, "I tell you the truth," 80 times in the Bible. What is going to be the final authority for my life?  What's standard willB.  It must be acted upon.John 8:31 - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  32, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."C.  Anything untrue must be rejected.John 14:6:  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."III. COMMITMENTS1. I commit myself to seeking the truth.2 Timothy 4:3-43 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.2.  I commit myself to living the truth.James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.Eph. 4:14-15 We will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because somebody has told us something different or cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth.  Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times - speaking truly, living truly - and so become more and more in every way like Christ.3.  I commit myself to believing the truth.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Altar Your Thinking"Click here to watch the service.There are no sermon notes available.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Answering our Culture, Pt 1"Click here to watch the service.Answering Our Culture #1: Be Prepared to Give an Answer1Tim 4:1-4;   1Peter 3:15-16                       Book- True for You, but Not for Me, by Paul Copan;“Several Reasons why People reject Christ”2Tim.4:1-4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.I. Many will reject the truth.3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.A. It goes against previous “knowledge.”B. It's inconvenient.II. People will gather others who agree with them. (3-4)3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.This is critical – too often the church has been guilty of pushing people away, right into the arms of people who don't know Christ and don't care to know Him, because they are accepted as they are.Colleges breed anti-Christian beliefs, which does two things.First, it gives young people an excuse to reject what they have learned  about God, the Scriptures, truth, and whatever, all backed by the official sanction of a paid instructor.Second, it serves to confuse others who have legitimate questions, but don't know where to find answers. One of the things our students are being told is that we can only believe the things they can see.III. Be Prepared.A. Pray. Only God can open the heart and mind of a person.B. Bring the Word. (2)2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.The word “preach” means to herald or proclaim.C. Bring your testimony.1 Peter 3:15-16. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.First, make it personal – the hope “you” have, not just the Christian population in general.Second, talk in ways that respect the person you are visiting with. Not condemnation, or sreaming.D. Live a holy life. 1 Peter 2:11-121Pet. 2:11-12  Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Reasons to go to Church"Click here to watch serviceThere are no sermon notes available.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Greatest Gift of All pt 5"Click here to watch serviceGiving The Heart of ChristmasLuke 2:21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of doves or two young pigeons. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lords Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty- four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.Gen 7:11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner–those who are not your offspring.The amount of prothrombin present actually is elevated above one-hundred percent of normalGod initiated circumcision with Abraham.Rom 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a mans praise is not from men, but from God.Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.Not a work of man but of the Spirit.Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions –it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcision (that done in the body by the hands of men)12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with Gods people and members of Gods household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.Peace- Prosperity; set at one again.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Christmas Eve"Click here to watch the serviceThere are no sermon notes available.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Greatest Gift of All pt. 4"Click here to watch the serviceGiving The Heart of ChristmasLuke 1:39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariahs home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.From opening a barren womb, to sending visiting angels, to muting Zechariah, naming individuals with destiny upon them, and ultimately being born of a virgin just to name a few.42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!46 And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindfulof the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers. 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,60 but his mother spoke up and said, No! He is to be called John. 61 They said to her, There is no one among your relatives who has that name. 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyones astonishment he wrote, His name is John.64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, What then is this child going to be? For the Lords hand was with him.The Magnificat – Utterance of Praise.1Sam. 2 Hannah/Elkanah –son Samuel given to Eli. Mary is over joyed. verse 45- Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"Mary breaks into song46 And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindfulof the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.2. A Son Of Promise Was Given (57)Both Isaiah and Malachi prophecy of one who would come and prepare the way of the Lord. (Is. 40:3 Mal. 3:1)-And now the angel Gabriel has promised vs. 13“Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son”.Praise awakens our spirit to the Holy Spirit.Zechariah prophesied of the Savior and his son.The savior would set us free from the enemy.The son John would point people to the Savior.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Greatest Gift of All pt 3"Giving The Heart of ChristmasLast week In Luke 1:1-17.An Orderly Account Was Given.  1-4An Open Womb Was Given    5-17A Confirming Word Was Given.  18-22“When God gives something to someone; he doesn't do it just so they can receive, but He gives to enhance the destiny upon their life.Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored!The Lord is with you."Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.“ "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin? “The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.“ "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.1. AN ORDERLY ACCOUNT WAS GIVEN-(1) The things that have been fulfilled, accomplished, transpired, or have been surely believed.(2) They were eye witness accounts.(3) Investigated carefully everything.(4) So that you may know the certainty of the things you were taught.SIX- “Balance, harmony, cooperation”Gabriel (Archangel)- “The Strength of God” Joseph- “God Shall Add”Mary- “Beautiful Woman”             Nazareth- “Shoot or Spout”Jacob- “Supplanter, to take by force or trickery, or trip, leg puller.When God changes the natural order of things He is giving a physical sign of a shift that is going to take place in the spirit realm – in other words in His Domain- The Kingdom of God.AN ASSIGNMENT WAS GIVEN – 26Gabriel – Arch angel-  ARCHANGELSA GREETING WAS GIVEN – 28-3228-Highly Favored- “Very Fortunate”                                                                         30- Don't be afraid.30-You have found favor31- You will be with Child32- He will be great and will be called the “Son of The Most High”A GREETING WAS GIVEN – 28-3232- He will be given the throne of David. David ruled righteously and was known as a man after God's own heart.33- He will reign over the house of Jacob.                                                                                                           AN OBEDIENT REPLY WAS GIVEN – 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Greatest Gift of All pt. 2"Click here watch the service.GIVING-THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS                                           John 11.GOD (1,3-5, 12) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-Giving is His nature:  - Everything was made by Him (3)- Life (4)- Light; (4-5) Both physical and spiritual light.2.INVITED(12-13)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.We have been invited to be children of God. We have been invited to be born of the Spirit. John 3:3 “I tell you the truth no one can see the Kingdom of God unless He is born again”.3.VERIFIED (19-20; 6-9 Isa. 40:3)  19Now this is the testimony of John,… 20 He confessed "I am not the Christ." 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desertA highway for our God.             4. EMANUEL(14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.As E. Stanley Jones writes: “Out of the Gospels arises the Gospel. Jesus is the Gospel — the Gospel lies in His Person. He did not come to bring the Good News — He was the Good News.”“A great wind blew through the Bible and lo, it stood up a Man.”“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” John 1:14.“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8.  “He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: crucifixion.”

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Greatest Gift of All pt 1"Click here to watch the service.GIVING-THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS                                           John 11.GOD (1,3-5, 12) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-Giving is His nature:  - Everything was made by Him (3)- Life (4)- Light; (4-5) Both physical and spiritual light.2.INVITED(12-13)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.We have been invited to be children of God. We have been invited to be born of the Spirit. John 3:3 “I tell you the truth no one can see the Kingdom of God unless He is born again”.3.VERIFIED (19-20; 6-9 Isa. 40:3)  19Now this is the testimony of John,… 20 He confessed "I am not the Christ." 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desertA highway for our God.             4. EMANUEL(14) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.As E. Stanley Jones writes: “Out of the Gospels arises the Gospel. Jesus is the Gospel — the Gospel lies in His Person. He did not come to bring the Good News — He was the Good News.”“A great wind blew through the Bible and lo, it stood up a Man.”“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” John 1:14.“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8.  “He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: crucifixion.”

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "It's Time To Step Into The Storm"It's Time To Step Into The StormFour watches6 pm to 9 pm9 pm to 12 midnight12 midnight to 3 am3 am to 6 am.STORY LESSONS:Without faith it is impossible to please God!“And it is impossible to please God without faith.” Hebrews 11:6a (NLT)To not live by faith is to live in sin!“everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Romans 14:23b (NIV)The degree of faith I possess will determine the degree of blessing I receive!“According to your faith will it be done to you.” Matthew 9:29 (NIV)Faith is the key to the Christian fulfilling His call to live a Christ-like life in this world.“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” - John 20:21 (NIV)“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." - John 14:12a (NIV)“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” - John 20:21 (NIV)“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." - John 14:12a (NIV)“Faith is a way of walking, not a way of talking!” - Anonymous1. A Willingness To Get Wet.Take risks for Jesus sake.It is better to fail in an attempt to follow Jesus than to succeed in “playing it safeTouch people for Jesus' sake.John 20:21 …As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” - Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)Courage To Respond To The Call.Standing up when others don't.“It takes courage to stand up and be counted; but it takes even more courage to keep standing once you've been counted!” - AnonymousB. Stepping out where others won't.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Thanksgiving Three Ways to Look At It"Click here to watch the service.Thanksgiving: Three Ways to Look at ItPsalm 95:1-11 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10 For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways." 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest."1. An Upward Look Should Make Us Thankful.A. An Upward Look Brings Thanks for the Power of God. (1-5)1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. 3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.                                                                                                                 B. An Upward Look Brings Thanks for the Plans of God. (6-8a)6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts…Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.                                                                                                                 C. An Upward Look Brings Thanks for the Presence of God.We can come, and kneel (4); we are the people of his pasture the flock under his care (7)Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Heb. 4:15-16  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.2. An Outward Look Should Make Us Thankful.A. An Outward Look at Supplies Make Me Thankful.Php. 4:19  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.The secret of a happy life is not to get what you want; but to live with what you've have.                                                                                                   YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT TILL IT'S GONE“But, what have you done for me lately?”C. An Outward Look at Sinners makes me thankful. (8-11)Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways." So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest." D. An Outward Look at Salvation makes me thankful.v. 1b, 6-73. An Inward Look Should Make Us Thankful.A. An Inward Look at my Heart Makes me Thankful.The Art of Thanksliving is gratitude in action.B. An Inward Look at my Health Makes me Thankful.C. An Inward Look at my Household Makes me Thankful.Psalm 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. [4] As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. [5] Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Bless Us With Favor Lord" Click here to watch the service.BLESS US WITH FAVOR OH LORDPsalms 67:1May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah 2 that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah 5 May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. 6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!"1. Why Should God Bless You?Psalm 67 1May God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. 2 That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.He is not saying,"Bless me so that I can be comfortable.""Bless me so that I don't have to work hard to make a living.""Bless me so that others will be envious of me.""Bless me so that I can be successful in the eyes of the world.""Bless me so that I can bless others."God blesses ultimately so that we can bring glory to His name.1. May God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us.                   2 That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.6 Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.         7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.He wants His manifest presence to be known.1 Kings 8:60. "so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other."John 12:27-28  "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."2. What's His Intention for Blessing?That your salvation may be known among all nations. Let the peoples praise you; let all the peoples praise you.Revelation 7:9-10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."Psalm 67 tells us that God blesses us so that all the peoples will praise His name.3. What is the Impact on the Peoples?Let the peoples praise Him, let all the peoples praise Him. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.For you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.1) Do you know Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Savior and Lord?2) Do you crave God's blessings?3) Why do you seek God's blessings?

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "A Glimpse of Grace"Click here to watch the service.A Glimpse of GraceNehemiah 1-92Chronicles 36:21  The land    enjoyed its Sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.Redemptive prayer is not about  us and them; it is only about us!         The Spirit of God brings a grace to empower the project when it's done in His time.Verse 10-11Do not grieve (feel pain) for the joy of the Lord is your strength.Verse 12 the people then began to celebrate and rejoice with great joy because they had now understood the words that had been made known to them. It takes great faith to enter His presence with joy when your soul wants to weep.It's hard to celebrate His goodness when you don't know you have been accepted.In the world we rejoice because we have joy. But in the Kingdom we have joy because we rejoice!Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!1Thess. 1:6 You became imitators     of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.Verse 12 they rejoiced with GREAT JOY because the understood        the words.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "In God's Waiting Room"Click here to watch the serviceIn God's Waiting RoomGenesis 39:19 - 40:23Three ways Joseph COULD have responded.1. Anger and bitterness. He CHOSE to trust God and believe in His plan and His goodness to him.2. Manipulate his situation for his own good.3. Forsake God.The people who trust God's plan sees affliction and suffering as a time of spiritual growth. And this growth is because of a deep confidence in God and what He's doing to them and thru them.Good character rarely grows in an atmosphere of priviledge,  it primarily develops in the dark “waiting rooms” of pain and suffering.So how did Joseph respond?1. Joseph trusted God's character. (39:21-23, 40:8)Hebrews 13:5.” I will never leave you, nor will I ever desert you.What did Joseph do in response to God‘s good character?A. He responded with faithfulness.Character is built when faithfulness grows.B. He responded by serving others.When you learn to trust in God's character, your character will grow as well.“When christians avoid suffering, they never develop character“. So how did Joseph respond?2. Joseph remembered God's promise. (40:8)Joseph's confidence in God was based in God's divine revelation.God is not slow, in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness (2 Peter 3:9).The watchword for us when we're hurting, or just waiting, isn't escape, it's Endurance.James 1 says, the testing of our faith produces endurance. Hebrews 12:11 says, all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.James 1 says, the testing of our faith produces endurance. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.3. Joseph recognized God's hand. (40:1-4, 8, 14, 15)God uses adversity as a tool to chisel away the areas of our lives that don't reflect his holy character that he desired for us to show. He is intent on developing  your character, and not leaving you to stay the way he found you.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Run With Vision"Watch the service here.There are no sermon notes available.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Identity"Watch the service here. There are no sermon notes available.

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Don't Waste God's Grace"Watch the full service here.Grace is complex in definition, but complete in its expression.Phillip Yancey says trying to define grace is like dissecting a frog in biology class.2Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.2Cor. 5:21-6:2 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (Isa.49:8)Four Ways We Can Waste God's Grace:1. By relying on our own righteousness.1Cor. 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.                   2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.The definition of wretch is mean, base, and despicable.2. By Behavior That Dishonors The Lord.                                   Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,                                 A. License- “Since I'm under God's grace I can sin all I want.”                 Jude 4-5 …They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?B. Legalism- “I must obey the rules to earn God's love.”Gal. 4:9-11 How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.C. Love- “Because I am loved, I love God, so I want to obey Him.”                 John 14:15 Jesus said; If you love me you will obey what I command. 3. By Failing to Grow as a Believer                                                                                                     2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.     A baby that does not grow is tragic. (Ken can we crop adult heads of church people we know onto baby bodies? One or two)4. By Assuming I Can Live Without God's GraceI tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation 2Cor. 6:2.“On your best day you are never good enough to be out of need of God's grace, and on your worst day you are never bad enough to be out of the reach of God's grace.”“Trust me now”“You have plenty of time”                       

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Can God Trust Me" Click here to watch the service video.Luke 16:1-13 Jesus told His disciples "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' 3 "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg--4 I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' 5 "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'6 "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.'7 "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' 8 "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.  10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."1) The Accountability of the Foolish Steward. Verses 1-2a. God is the owner and we are the managers.If I feel like I am the owner, then what I do with what I have will constantly be in conflict with the plan of God.We cannot call Him Lord and answer “No” when He asks of us!b. The owner has expectations of the manager.                                                                                  Areas of expectation for our lives:A. Ourselves-Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.B. Possessions-Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.C. Time-Eph. 5:15-17 15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.D. Gifts-1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.E. Good news-1Thess 2:4  For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.2. The Assessment of the Foolish Steward.Vs. 3 What shall I do…3. The Action of the Foolish Steward.  Verses 4-7– We must use our opportunities wisely Verse 8-9Ken-  Video on how much is enough.                                                                                                                     -Trust must be earned  Verses 10-12                                                                       Matthew  25:14 - called his servant.Are you doubling your talents?Have you earned God's trust?Are you trustworthy?   WHAT AM I DOING WITH WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW?AM I TRUSTWORTHY RIGHT NOW?  - Trust can be measured Saying: You can fool some of the people some of the time, or you can fool all the people all the time but you can't fool God.                                               - Be totally devoted to God.  Vs. 13   13 You cannot be slave to two masters! You will either like one more than the other or you will be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve God and money.You can trust God… but can God trust you?

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "The Keys to Successful Living"Click here to watch the service video.There are no sermon notes available.