Cowplain Church

We talk about love, sing about love, we try to find love. But what actually is love? Maybe we know it when we experience it. But is that really love, the kind of love the Bible describes, the kind of love that is a fruit of the Spirit? What if its possible to love better? To love better is to learn to love like Jesus. But how? In our fallen world where every heart and relationship is marred and damaged by sin, how can we love like Jesus? In the message we will discover what kind of love heals, restores, and deepens relationships by looking at three steps we can take to start to love like Jesus. Download the outline here.

We all want to change. We don't just want to be different, we want to be better people. The problem is, so many people look in all the wrong places. The word fruition means the state or action of producing fruit. And when we display the different fruits of the Spirit in our lives, we live the type of lives that God created us to live. Through the Holy Spirit, God wants to transform our character. In this series we are going to look at what it takes to be a disciple of Christ. We begin in this overview message and look at this disciple idea. When we follow the teachings of Jesus, when we show the 9 fruits of the Spirit in our lives, like Jesus did, we are more attractive. It not only changes the way we live our life, but it reflects God, and it points other people to Him. Download the outline here.

During the message, we bring the series to a close by looking at how a true church will always bring glory to God though its work and witness. Life isn't about making a name for ourselves. Life is not about our own glory. Life is all about living for and bringing glory to God. But what does that mean and what does that actually look like? In the message we look at how to glorify God personally as well as together as a Counter Cultural Church. Download the outline here.

In the message we will look at a fascinating and tough time in the life of the Apostle Paul and discover 4 transferable truths that don't change. Understanding these 4 truths will help us to reflect God's glory and goodness back to him in all situations. Download the outline here.

In the message we will discover why it's crucial to know why Jesus is the only way. We will also look at three great myths about belief and what the Bible has to say. Even though it may seem controversial, a Counter Cultural Church holds firm to the truth that it is only in Christ alone are we saved. Download the outline here.

Jesus was the most counter-cultural person who ever lived, and he said some amazing counter-cultural statements that are guaranteed to turn our life upside down. One of those statements relates to how we should live as part of the Counter Cultural Church. Jesus says, if you want to be great, be humble. In the message we will discover why that is the best way to live and why living like that is so different to the  culture we live in today. We are going to look at how radical humility works and the ways it impacts our lives. Download the outline here.

We live in a society of consumers and in a world that defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige and position. But God has a totally different view of life. It's a life where we can serve others. And the place that does it best, is the church. In the message we will see why serving others is the best use of our time and talents. And as we do that, we will be blessed beyond what we can imagine. Download the outline here.

We live in a society that is obsessed with the physical outward appearance. Image and beauty are what our society seems to value. But once again, the church offers a totally different view of life than what society offers. The church sees that the inner spiritual life is more important than the external, that it's what we become when we really put into practice the principles that help us to grow spiritually mature. And yet, even mature Christians struggle with how to grow. In the message, we are going to look at how does spiritual growth happen? We will discover how to develop our inner spiritual life and take care of the inside part of our nature as opposed to society that's all about the outward appearance. Download the outline here.

The church offers a totally different way of life than what society offers. The church brings together people of all backgrounds and ages and connects them together. It's what the Bible calls fellowship and it's amazing and wonderful. Church is not a place you go to. Church is a family you belong to. And the truth is, in God's family there are four levels of fellowship. We're going to look at each one in detail because we were not meant to be here on earth alone, to go through life on our own. The fact is we need each other. In this message we discover the different levels of fellowship and how we can grow together. Download the outline here.

Today we start a new series of messages looking at why the true church of God is the most radical, transformative, subversive countercultural movement that has ever existed and ever will exist. In this series, we will see how different the people of God, the church, should be to the culture and society we live in. The more society turns its back on God, biblical teaching and morality, the more the church can and should stand out as different. Download the outline here.

How do you cope with overload? As a society we spend a lot of money on trying to relieve stress in our lives. Because the problem is when you are overloaded and stressed it affects our body. But what if there was a better way to deal with overload? What if you could recognize if you are suffering from stress and overload early? In the final part of our series looking at the life and faith of Moses, we see a classic case of overload. The good news is that help and advice came to Moses. The steps he took, we can take today to overcome stress and overload. Download the outline here.

If we are going to be “living in faith” we need to make sure that we have faith in the right things. During this message we are going to look at how with faith comes responsibility – the responsibility to fight the right battles in the right way with the right people with the right power. Download the outline here.

God uses tests in our life to grow our character and to strengthen our faith. It's one of the fundamental laws of spiritual growth. If you want to be the person God wants you to be, God will test your faith. During this message we look at a test that Moses and the Israelites had. We are going to see some of the dangers of testing God and then how to trust God in the tests of life. Download the outline here.

How do you deal with disappointment? It's something we all face at times in life. But the danger is, if you allow disappointment to get a hold of you it will lead you to discouragement which can be quite debilitating. Disappointment can cause you to give up trying, hoping, and caring. It can even cause you can give up believing. The good news is that the Bible has a lot to say about disappointment. In fact, in the life of Moses, he had to face disappointment many times. In Exodus 15 and the story of the bitter waters at Marah, we see three facts of life that we need to be prepared for in order to deal with disappointment. Download the outline here.

What do you do when you're in a tight spot in life? It might be personal, or relational, or financial, or work related. Exodus 14 is the famous passage where the Israelites and Moses are at the Red Sea and they find themselves in a tight spot. And when they had an opportunity to be tested in their faith, they responded in fear. But it doesn't have to be like that. In the message we will discover what it takes to make it through a tight spot and learn to take steps of faith. Download the outline here.

The one thing that we're all responsible for is the healthy condition of the inner life of our soul. The challenge then is to make choices that enable that to happen. One of the places that answers that question comes out of Exodus 4 where God is helping Moses to make the right choices before He sends him back into Egypt. In the message we will discover the three choices we need to make, like Moses, each day that will maintain a healthy spiritual life. Download the outline here.

One day, God got Moses' attention in a rather dramatic way. Moses' immediate reaction was the same as we have. He was confused. He had some questions. In fact, he had four questions that he asked God. We will discover the answers God gave and how they also help us today when we face our own turning points in life. Download the outline here.

Why was God able to use Moses so effectively? It was because Moses was a man who lived by faith. But he also had settled some basic questions in his life. In every one of these crucial issues Moses responded in the right way. In the message we will discover what were the issues Moses settled and how they relate to us today. Download the outline here.

We're going to look at his example of endurance and learn from Him. We will also learn the seven secrets of endurance from Jesus' own words. Follow along with the outline here.

We are going to look at some wonderful words of Jesus that help us understand how to keep our spiritual tank filled instead of running on empty and what Jesus does when we come to him. Follow along with the outline here.

How do we rely on God in all the different seasons and changes in life – both the good and the bad? Today, we are going to look at how do you trust God during changes you don't like. We are going to look at five biblical truths we need to remember and five things we need to do. Download the outline here.

'Away in a Manger' is a carol that speaks of 'The little Lord Jesus'. Unfortunately, in some ways, focusing on the baby Jesus may not be helpful. There's so much more to what God intended. In fact, the angels proclaimed to the shepherds that a Saviour has been born and he is Christ the Lord. If Jesus is Lord, what does that mean in everyday life? In the message we will answer this question. Download the outline here.

Silent Night is a carol that gives a sense of serenity and peace. It speaks of the birth of Jesus as the dawn of redeeming grace which reminds us that the birth of the baby who lies at the heart of Christmas was all part of God's great plan to rescue humanity. Let's explore it further and how this links to Mary, and us, trusting Jesus. Download the outline here.

We're going to think about how we can share the message of Jesus and how we can connect with those people in our lives who are sometimes not just turned way from God but who are running in the other direction? Download the outline here.

We are going to look at ten building blocks of real fellowship and how to build the kind of relationships that provide deep, satisfying, meaningful fellowship with others. Download the outline here.

Jesus tells a story to help us understand the principles of forgiveness. And with all Jesus' stories, there are always truths, insights, and purposes behind His parables. In the message we are going to look at the three reasons why we should learn how to forgive and what it does for us as well as for the other person. Download the outline here.

When you look at the life of Jesus, you see He healed a lot of people - physically and emotionally. And there are certain patterns and principles that come up over and over again in the way He dealt with people. In the message we are going to look at five principles in God's process of healing of memories. Download the outline here.

We are going to look at James 3:13-19 and we will discover the six things wise people always do in relationships, especially with those people, the difficult people in our lives. Download the outline here.

In the message we are going to go through what the Bible says about how to deal with the difficult people in our life and discover the six steps which flow from a life filled with love. Follow along with the outline here.

Life is full of different people and mostly they are people we get on with, friends and family we enjoy being with. People who enhance our lives and build us up. But you also find in life people who are critical where something is always wrong, or those who are hypocrites who aren't what they seem, or those who try to manipulate you and get you to do things you really don't want to do. In this 7-week series of messages we are going to look at how to live with, deal with, care for, or in fact love 'those people' as we take a deep dive into relational health. Download the outline here.

We may not think this is a big deal, but the Bible says God measures our spiritual maturity by how we handle money. In fact, if we're not responsible with our pounds and pence, with the physical possessions God gives us, then He can't trust us with spiritual blessing and responsibilities - not only here on earth but forever in eternity. How we manage our money has eternal implications. We are going to look at how to get out and stay out of debt looking at Solomon's advice - biblical advice - on money management and God's 5 principles for financial freedom. Download the outline here.

God wants us to learn, even in tough difficult times, how to manage our money well. In the message we will learn 7 biblical ways to manage money. Download the outline here.

Jesus never asked for anybody's money, yet He said more about money than He did about Heaven. Why? Because He knows that money impacts our lives each day: earning it, saving it, spending it, worrying about the lack of it. This series will go through what Jesus taught about the purpose of money, how to manage money, and how to stay debt free. Download the outline here.

We are going to discover how to have a renewed mind. Romans 12:2 says, 'Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.' In the message we are going to take this verse apart and see how we can have our minds renewed. Follow along with the outline here.

We all know what it is to have a cluttered mind. The cluttered mind is not a good thing and that's why God calls us to a clear mind. But what does that look like and is it actually possible in this day and age to have a clear mind? Follow along with the outline here.

We continue in our series by talking about how to think like Jesus. Philippians 2:5 says, 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.' It seems to say that we can have the same mindset, the same mind that was given to Jesus. To have the mind of Christ means that we can learn to look at life the way Jesus looks at life, having his values and his desires. In the message we will discover what this can look like in our lives. Follow along with the outline here.

How can I love God with all of my mind? We will discover that the Bible has some very practical ways we can do this. That if we choose to do this each day it will impact our lives for the better. We will see things differently from the way culture wants us to think, we will make better decisions, and we will have a confidence to live each day as God intends. Follow along with the outline here.

We begin our new series by looking at what the Bible teaches about our thoughts and that we cannot change our lives unless we change our thoughts. Whatever you hold in your mind will tend to occur in your life. In the message we are going to take an overview and look at several passages in the New Testament that outline the priorities of this incredible mind that God has given to each one of us. Follow along with the outline here.

We've been following along in John's gospel of the seven signs. This week we come to the culmination and climax of John's eyewitness account as we focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Have you ever said, or heard someone say, "If God would just do something spectacular one time that I saw, then maybe I would have bigger faith or more faith or I would understand better"? Have you wondered what God thinks of that? In the Gospel of John, we see a man begin to follow Jesus based on limited information. This man, who was born blind, said he only knew one main thing—and that one thing was enough to make him curious about who Jesus really was. Download the outline here.

How do you deal with fear? None of us want fear or worry or even anxiety to control our life. And for most people, there is an element of fear or worry that plagues us, and from time to time in some particular area of our life, fear easily takes over us. The fascinating thing is that Jesus talked a lot about how to deal with fear. In fact, he went further than that. He demonstrated through a number of dramatic occasions how to turn fear into trust. We will see two dramatic occasions that Jesus taught his disciples how to overcome fear, and in the process, pointed them to his identity as we look at the 5th sign John wants us to know. Download the outline here.

Early in our faith journey, there is a danger where we view God as someone who can give us everything we want. We may not say it like that, but there is this sense of when we pray, we are praying for what we want. In other words, we can either be a consumer or a follower of Jesus. In the message, Pastor Phill will help us understand what the feeding of the 5000 has to say about this. Follow along with the outline linked here.

Here we meet a severely disabled man who has spent most of his life in a desperate situation. Jesus sees him, speaks to him and then heals him. There was a group of people who hated Jesus for doing this because Jesus broke one of their rules. But Jesus knew exactly what he was doing because he wanted to teach them, and is an important principle. In the message we will discover what that is and see if we are on the right or wrong side of love. Download the outline here.

This Sunday for our special Jubilee service we give thanks to God for her duty. As the Queen, she is seen as and set aside as having a position of greatness. But the greatest King that the world has ever known is Jesus Christ. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He's the king whose power is absolute, whose reign is infinite, whose throne is incomparable. In Sunday's message we are going to look into His royalty, and we're going to examine it in two ways: His royal titles and His royal throne. We will discover how and why we too should give honour to King Jesus. Follow along with the outline here.

We look at Jesus healing an important official's son, and He does something that is so confounding that would test all of us. And yet, the official believed in spite of seeing any evidence. He walked by faith. But what does that actually mean? Download the outline here.

We begin this new series by looking at what may seem like an insignificant event early on in the earthly ministry of Jesus. But it's extremely significant and speaks to us today living in 2022. We will discover what Jesus was doing and more importantly, what it says about Jesus and what that means to us today. Download the outline linked here.

As we bring our current message series to a close, we are going to look at a surprising secret to spiritual growth. It's something you might not have thought of that will help you grow but in fact, it will grow you faster, deeper and in ways that you will only experience when you do this. Download the outline here.

Spiritual growth is not a solo act. It's something that we do together because God has designed us to grow together. We grow by building each other up. And God uses the different ways He has made us so that when we get together we can grow together. Follow along with the outline here.

For some people their feelings and commitment only last as long as the emotion of an experience. For some when the feelings of a spiritual high begin to fade, so does their interest. And for others when following Jesus gets hard, or when a crisis hits or some unexplained circumstance comes, rather than go on, they will choose to give up. How do we avoid this? Follow along with the outline here.

Physical thirst is a real thing, but spiritual thirst is even more real. Every single person is thirsting for something in their life that needs to be quenched. Jesus said that only He can satisfy our thirst. So, how do you maintain a relationship with God? Maybe you have put something else in the place of God in your life. There was a time in your life when you were enthusiastic about God, and now, you're not so much anymore. What do you do if you have allowed your heart to drift? The good news is that the Bible helps us not only diagnose the problem, it also gives us a solution. In the message we will discover how to get our hearts back on fire for God. Follow along with the outline here.

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and that He is alive! Follow along with your outline here.