Fusion Christian Church Messages

"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 5, Pastor Zac teaches about how to win in our relationships.You can't win with people if you forget who you represent.The most important aspect of winning in our relationships is remembering Jesus. As Christians, we represent Christ in what we do and sometimes we forget that. If we remember that we are ambassadors for Christ it can help us to maintain a Christlike attitude. When we do forget, we will find ourselves acting selfishly rather than selflessly. Love others as if you were Christ himself!Get the right surround sound in your life.The company we keep is incredibly important for every aspect of our lives. It is especially important in our relationships. Who you choose to spend your time will impact the success of your relationships more than almost anything. It will affect who you are in relationship with and how those relationships go. If you choose ungodly people, you will act like them and think like them. You will become more ungodly yourself. Choose, instead, to surround yourself with godly people who will encourage you. By surrounding yourself with godly people, you will become more godly through their influence. Why fight against the cultural current among worldly people to be like the world? Opt to spend most of your time with godly people that want to pursue Christ.Always fill the tank of others.Filling the tank is all about being an encourager. Have you ever been around someone who is always negative? They tend to leave you feeling drained: like your tank is empty. Don't be like those people! Instead, be an encourager and a life-giver through your speech. Uplift people with your words and actions and leave them feeling refreshed rather than parched.

"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 4, Pastor Zac teaches about honoring your parents.We honor our parents, even when it's complicated, because it's right.Honoring your parents is what God calls us to do even when it is difficult or confusing. Sometimes understanding honor properly is easier when we define what honoring our parents is NOT. Firstly, honoring your parents does not mean blind obedience throughout your life. As a child especially, obedience is right and even necessary. As an adult, you are no longer required to blindly obey everything your parents say, but you are still called to respect them.Honor also does not mean approving of sinful or destructive choices. Sometimes your parents will do the wrong thing, you do not have to approve of that. Honor also does not require you to remain in an abusive situation or relationship. If it is not safe, you are not required to stay. Finally, honor is not compromising your own marriage, faith, or calling in order to make your parents happy. Within these limitations, do your best to show respect to your parents in all situations.Choosing respect over disrespect.This can be most difficult when you disagree with your parents. However honor does not require agreement. You can still show respect for your parents even if you end up choosing something other than what they would. It is up to us to choose to respect rather than disrespect our parents.Choosing care over caring-less.As parents age, it is important for their children to take care of them as best they can. We should not put off care of our parents onto others when we are able to do it. Showing honor and love for our parents means ensuring they are cared for in their old age.Choosing forgiveness over bitterness. Family can hurt us worse than anyone else. The wounds are deeper and harder to mend. Christians are still to forgive. Forgiving others does not mean we must allow them to hurt us again, but it does mean we cannot cling to bitterness. Unforgiveness has destroyed millions of relationships. Christians should not allow this to happen with our relationships by harboring an unforgiving attitude. Christ calls us to forgive, and if we cannot forgive our parents, who will we forgive?

"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 3, Pastor Matt teaches about the right approach to parenting.We must equip our children rather than enable them.Often parents don't equip children to succeed in life, but enable them to misbehave. Instead of learning discipline, the children learn to do whatever they want. One day, the parents won't be able to keep their kids' lives on track anymore. When that happens, the kids will have to make their own choices. Then it will truly be revealed how well they were raised.Equip them with your Example.What kids learn from their parents is more "caught" than "taught." What this means is that they will learn more from your example than what you tell them. This means parents cannot be hypocrites! If you speak one way and live another, your kids will see right through it. This means we should focus on the example we set before anything else.Equip them with the Word.Learning the word of God is the most important education any person can receive. That means parents should make it a priority to keep their kids in the scriptures. This also means that parents should know the scriptures. It's hard to equip someone else with God's word when you are not equipped yourself.Equip them with Discipline.Children need discipline. This is an unpopular position in modern culture, but children are not perfect and need correction. Out of love, out of a desire for what's best, children must be given discipline. If parents refuse to discipline their children, their children will almost never grow up to live healthy lives.Equip them with with Grace.On the flip side of discipline, parents must also offer grace. God is perfect in justice, but also in mercy and grace. In the same way, parents need to try to strike a balance between discipline and grace. Your children need to see both of these modeled because it will affect the way they relate to God later. If you can strike a balance between the two extremes, you will be on your way to godly parenting.

"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In Part 2, Joel Pierce (our worship director) talks about how to have a godly influence on the people around you.Influence is wasted if it does not point to Christ.We can influence people in many ways, but unless we point to Christ we are wasting our time. People might remember you fondly for telling good jokes and being a fun person, but these things are temporary. By pointing people to Christ in all we do we can have an impact on their eternity, not just their present.Give God the Glory.In leadership, as in all things, we must learn to give God the glory. Any time you attempt to influence people, you are attempting leadership, even if you have no official position. By giving God glory, we not only recognize our creator, but we help keep ourselves out of the spotlight. in that way, giving God glory is really about keeping ourselves humble. If you desire influence in order to make yourself look better, you have the wrong attitude. Glorifying God instead maintains a humble attitude.Start Small.If you're trying to have a positive impact on others, it's important to focus on the people around you first. Stop worrying about the people who are not in your sphere of influence and focus on the people who are. If you are faithful with the few people God has placed around you, God will reward your diligence and increase your influence according to your abilities.Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy.Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy refer to right teaching and right practice, respectively. When you combine them, they encapsulate what we believe and how we live out that belief. If we can maintain those two things effectively, then we are on our way to setting a right example in our lives. God calls all Christians to set an example for those around us. If we can keep our doctrine and practice sound, then we will encourage those around us through our example. 

"It's Complicated" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on relationships. Everyone knows our relationships are messy, but not everyone knows how to navigate them. This series will provide godly, biblical principles for keeping your relationships much less complicated! In part 1, Pastor Zac teaches how to honor God with our sexuality both in dating and marriage.Fall in love with someone who loves Jesus.The most important decision any person makes after deciding to follow Jesus is deciding who to marry. For those of us who have decided to follow Jesus, marrying someone else who loves him too is of utmost importance. The bible is very clear that those who follow God should not marry people who don't follow him. If you have, the best thing to do is to honor God in that marriage. But if you are an unmarried Christian, you should not marry anyone who is not Christian.Honor God with your sexuality.God designed sex for marriage and designed marriage to be between one man and one woman. To honor God with your sexuality, therefore, means to maintain purity outside of marriage and faithfulness within it. Pornography, adultery, and extra-marital sex are all dishonoring to God and should be avoided.Lifelong marriage is God's design from the beginning.Part of God's design is also for marriage to be lasting. Although the bible allows for divorce in certain limited circumstances, God hates divorce, and desires that reconciliation happen instead when possible. Marriage is meant to be for one man and one woman to be joined for life. When this happens it allows marriage to properly mirror the relationship between Christ and the Church.Move from selfishness to selflessness.The single biggest obstacle to healthy relationships is selfishness. If we can teach ourselves to put the other person's needs above our own, we will find that selfishness disappearing. When both partners in a relationship do this, the relationship becomes healthier. How can you put others above yourself in your relationships?

Before Jesus left earth, he told his disciples to let the whole world know about the gospel. That's why our vision at Fusion Christian Church is to "Tell Everyone" the good news of Jesus Christ. On our Mission Sunday, we celebrate the ways in which we participate in that mission locally and globally. In this sermon, guest pastor, Mark Blum, teaches about our role in carrying the gospel to everyone.If you are a believer, you ARE qualified.God doesn't always use the most impressive and qualified people to carry his message. In fact, he prefers to use people who are lowly in the world's eyes. The truth is, anyone who has been saved by Jesus has a story to tell about how the gospel changed them. Sharing that story is enough to get started with telling everyone. You'll learn more along the way, but if you have a Jesus story, you are qualified to start sharing it!Love God, Love Others, Tell Everyone.These three simple commands comprise our mission statement at Fusion Christian Church. They are drawn from Jesus' summary of the law into two commandments as well as the Great Commission. Part of the simple beauty of this mission is how each part of it logically flows out of the command before it. If we begin be loving God, the natural overflow of our love for God will be love for others. If we love others, the natural expression of that is to tell them the good news of Jesus.Live a life of LEGACY.Most people live their lives in survival mode. They are barely scraping by and don't have time to think much about the future. Fewer people live life in success. These people are comfortable. They don't have any major struggles and are usually content. This is better, but is it what God has for us? Fewer people still life a life of legacy. These people have moved beyond success and are living a life with a goal of making a difference in the world around them. It's not enough for these people to have success for themselves, they need to expand God's kingdom and leave a legacy behind them that will affect others for generations.

At Fusion Christian Church, Loving others is a major part of our church vision. This is because Jesus told us it is the second most important commandment, only beaten out by loving God. While this could easily be its own series, Pastor Matt will summarize some ways to love others in this message.We love people equally.God hates partiality. Partiality is when you show favoritism and don't treat people fairly. At Fusion Christian Church we strive to treat all people with justice and fairness, as God instructs. The bible leaves no room for us to be unfair. We must love all people equally.We love people by serving them.Serving others can take many different forms, but it is an essential way to show the love of Christ. All Christians need to be serving in one way or another, because that is an irreplacable way to show love. Just as Jesus showed his love by washing the disciples' feet, we too must show love by serving.We love people by forgiving like Christ. If serving is sometimes difficult, forgiveness can be even more difficult! Much could be said about forgiveness, but in short, Christians must not hold grudges. Whether or not another person accepts forgiveness, it is our place to offer it. If we refuse to offer forgiveness when God has forgiven us so much, we make ourselves hypocrites. Don't cling to bitterness, but forgive others as God forgave you.Three ways to embody love:-We love people in the gathering of believers.-We love people in the small groups.-We love people in relationships.What these three points encompass is three different levels of relationship. Christians need to love at the church level: we cannot neglect church! We also need to love at a small group level, participating in close-knit community with other Christians. Finally, we need to love individually, maintaining one-on-one accountability and familiarity. If we do these things, we will be well on our way to embodying the love of Christ.

Love God is the first part of our mission statement at Fusion Christian Church. We believe that everything we do and believe starts there. So how exactly are we to love God? Listen in as Pastor Zac answers that very question.We must go to the source.In order to Love God we must draw near to him. He is the source of all things, especially love, because God is love. If we are going to learn how to love God properly, we need to know what love is. The only way to do this is to get to know him for who he is. Knowing God's character on a personal level gives us a personal understanding of love and enables us to reciprocate it. When we know God, not only do we experience his love for us, but we will be able to love him in return.To love God is to delight in listening to Him and obeying Him.Loving God is not an idle exercise. Loving God means we choose to listen to and obey him. If we say we love God but we don't listen to him, we make ourselves liars! If we say we love God but we don't obey him, we make ourselves hypocrites! Loving God includes following his commandments. We don't do this merely out of obligation, but in joyful adoration of our King and Savior.Where there is love, there will be service and obedience.This is the natural state of a believer. Because God is our Creator and King, it is natural for us to serve him. Because he is good, it is a service of love. If we truly love God, service and obedience will flow from that spring. Service will not be a burden, but a joy. The Lord is not a harsh taskmaster, but a loving Father who desires close relationship with his children. Loving him is the greatest endeavor of the Christian life.

Clear, Focused, and Godly describes our Fusion Christian Church vision for the year 2026. On Vision Sunday, Pastor Zac teaches about how to expand God's kingdom through serving at the church.God's plan A has always been to build his church.Jesus told us his plan for the gospel before he left earth, and that plan is to spread it through the church. Building the church means going out into all the world and making disciples. As we add more disciples to our number, the church grows, because the church is not a building, it's the people. The spreading of the gospel and the building of the church are ultimately the same mission.When you grow, WE can grow more.Pastor Zac is fond of saying, "We will never be corporately what we are not individually." What this means is that if individual church members do not grow, the church will not grow either. Every Christian must take it upon himself to grow spiritually. This is the only way for a local church body to stay healthy, because if you aren't growing, you're dying.When you step up, WE can serve more.Similar to growing, the church is more limited on the service it can offer to people when the congregants don't get involved. The church needs its members to step up and serve so that more ministry can happen. There are needs all over the place just waiting for someone to step up and fill them. If you aren't involved, you need to be!When you give, WE can do more.Ministry doesn't happen for free. The reality is that everything costs money, and it probably costs more than you think. The church relies on the generosity of God's people for ministry to happen. If people are not giving, ministry is not happening. Prayerfully consider giving to your local church body and help support the work of the gospel.When you go, WE can reach more.Fusion Christian Church is involved in missions projects both locally and globally. We believe in spreading the gospel both near and far, but we need people to carry that gospel out. Will you join the mission and go where God needs you?

"How to Have the Best Year Ever" is just that: a quick guide on having the best year ever! At Fusion Christian Church, we believe that living a godly life is the way to have the best life. In this year's end sermon, Pastor Zac teaches through the principles of godly living and how to have the best year ever by applying them.Train yourself to be godly.Godliness requires training; it doesn't happen by accident! There are no short cuts or easy routes to spiritual maturity. Instead, growing in godliness takes discipline and training. Here are four ways to sum up what training this way means:1. Training means preparing in private for what God wants to do in public.2. Training means developing godly, healthy habits that produce kingdom results.3. Training means preparing today for the life God is calling you to live tomorrow. 4. Training is what separates intention from transformation.Training for godliness requires God's training plan.If we are to train, we need to know how to do it. God gave us instructions for growing through his word. This is the first place we should turn to when we are trying to learn how to train. God hasn't left us feeling around in the dark for answers, but has given us the light of his word to guide us.The eight spiritual muscles of the Christian life.1. Bible reading and study 2. Prayer and fasting 3. Worship—both private and corporate 4. Generosity 5. Serving 6. Witnessing to others 7. Faithfulness to God's house 8. Loving God and loving others Nine benefits of training in godliness:1. You'll become more like Jesus. 2. You'll grow in patience. 3. You'll experience less guilt and shame. 4. You'll experience less fear, worry, and anxiety. 5. You'll become a more loving person. 6. You'll become better at your work. 7. You'll become wiser with your money. 8. You'll build a stronger family and relationships. 9. You'll become the person God is calling you to become. 

The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. In part 4, we conclude our series with a teaching on how Jesus Christ is our great High Priest.Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice.The priests in the Old Testament had to offer sacrifices constantly in order to atone for the sins of Israel. This is because the animal sacrifices could never truly take away the sins of the people. What the sacrifices did was point forward to the future sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus, by offering his own body up on the cross, did what all the priests who came before could never do. He made a once for all, perfect sacrifice that could finally make people clean. Jesus entered the perfect place.Under the Old Testament system, the High Priest entered the "Most Holy Place" once a year on the Day of Atonement. The Most Holy Place was the room in the Tabernacle (or later the temple) that housed the Ark of the Covenant. Here the High Priest would act as a mediator between God and his people, making peace between them. The Most Holy Place, however, was only a shadow of the true Most Holy Place in heaven. Jesus, as the perfect High Priest, passed through the heavens himself, and therefore entered the "perfect place." By doing so, Jesus was able to reconcile God's people to him in a way no other high priest could.Jesus sat down on the perfect seat.On the Ark of the Covenant, which sat in the Most Holy Place, there was a space between two angels called the "Mercy Seat." This is the place where God's presence rested and where he would meet with the High Priest. Like with the Most Holy Place, this Mercy Seat was a shadow representing God's throne in heaven. According to the bible, after Jesus had offered his perfect sacrifice (himself) he sat down at the right hand of God in heaven. What this means is that Jesus can sit in the seat reserved only for God (because he is God). Jesus sits in heaven's Mercy Seat because he is the one who gives mercy to his people.You are now part of the priesthood.If you have been saved by Jesus, then his blood has washed you clean and set you apart for his service. God has a job for all of us to do, and that is to serve him and his gospel. All Christians are part of a priesthood where we live in service to our Prophet, Priest, and King Jesus Christ. How will you serve him?

The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. For part 3, Pastor Zac talks about how Jesus speaks as a prophet and we need to listen. Chapter 5 – The prophet speaks, and we must listen to Him.Throughout redemptive history, God has used prophets to get his messages across to people. God had five main duties for his prophets. 1. To preach his word - at the most basic level, God's prophets were to tell what God said.2. To confront sin - God's prophets were to call out the wickedness of the nations.3. To call people to repentance - beyond just pointing out the sin, doing so was meant to be coupled with encouragement to repentance.4. To announce either judgment or forgiveness - the prophets were to warn of impending judgment from God or to tell of his wrath turned away.5. To reveal God's present and future plans - God meant for his prophets to foretell of future events.How does God speak?There are two primary ways God speaks to us today. The first is through his word. The best way for us to know what God is saying is to read what he has written down for us in the scriptures. The second is through the Holy Spirit, who lives inside each believer and helps guide them in daily living. Beyond these, there are a few ways that God has given us to confirm what he has said. Great confirming voices are biblical preaching, prayer, worship, and godly counsel.How do I hear from Jesus?Here are three practical steps to hear what Jesus is saying and better apply what he says to your life:1. Stop listening to the mockers, haters, and dissension creators.2. Stop listening to your doubts and fears.3. Start listening to God's word.If you do these things you will be equipped to hear God speaking and put his words into practice. 

The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. For part 2, Pastor Zac teaches about the ultimate end of the story, when Jesus returns to rule the nations.What you bow to has command over your life.We often allow the wrong things to run our lives. Sometimes our schedules make us feel like passengers on a train that runs itself. What we choose to bow to will control us. That is why we must choose to submit to the right throne, and Jesus' throne is the one above all others. What are some reasons to choose to submit to Jesus?Jesus is the everlasting king.The bible clearly teaches that Jesus is eternal and will be king forever. If his kingdom and throne are established forever, then he is the ultimate ruler. So the question is: why do we stop following him? Why do we continue to rebel instead of submitting to Jesus? This question is brought into more light by the next point.Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.There were many kings and many lords on earth when Jesus came the first time. They did not want to submit to him. The same is true now, There are many rulers on the earth, but Jesus is Lord over all of them. This does not mean they all recognize Jesus' authority. They deny it for the same reason the average person does. We want to keep control for ourselves. We don't want to bend the knee to someone else. Jesus is the King who is coming.The bible does not end with Jesus leaving his followers behind. Instead, not only does he promise to send the Holy Spirit to us, but he promises to come again. This is the hope of Christianity: that our savior will return as Lord and King to rule the nations and set all things right.

The Greatest Story Of All Time is our Christmas 2025 series at Fusion Christian Church. In this series we look at some of the ways God foreshadowed the Christmas story throughout the bible. For Part 1, Pastor Zac teaches about the earliest promises of Jesus found in Genesis.Chapter One: Before Once Upon A Time.Before Jesus was ever born, before anyone ever wrote a letter of the bible, God had a story in mind. From before he even created time, God knew what he wanted to do. Like a skilled author, God used foreshadowing throughout his scriptures to point to what was coming. He has designed all of history to culminate in his specific plan for the salvation of his people. The bible is a collection of books that tells us about it.Chapter Two: In the Beginning - The Conflict of Christmas Begins.All the way back in the Garden of Eden, we see the central plot of God's story begin to develop. The serpent deceived Eve, and our ancestor Adam fell into sin. In that story, we see that God cursed the snake and promised his ultimate demise. Eventually, the offspring of the woman would crush the head of the serpent and gain victory for all of us. As the story goes on, God will begin to fill in the details about this future champion.Chapter Three: The Promised One.Later in Genesis, we see God's promise to Abraham to give him a son. Through this son of the promise, God would eventually bring about the blessing of all nations and the salvation of many. When Abraham's faith is tested by God asking for his son to be sacrificed, Abraham believes that God will provide a lamb for the sacrifice instead. God kept Abraham's son, Isaac, safe, and promised again that there would be a future savior. Through this we see the ways Jesus' birth and even death are foreshadowed even back in Genesis.

This is part 4 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about "True Religion" vs. "Fake religion."Real religion is your inward faith made visible. The bible teaches that good works are the fruit of a good tree. If a person has true faith in Christ, good works will result. Works do not happen by accident, but are the natural outgrowth of faith. True, real religion, then, is the visible part of someone's invisible faith. No one but God can see into the hearts of men, so the only way we can know if someone's faith is real is by their outward expression of it. True religion starts with love for Jesus.Loving Jesus is what kicks it all off. If we don't have a genuine love for Jesus Christ underneath our good works, then it is all worth nothing. Maybe our good works help others, but they do nothing to help us with God. God is not interested in our good works if they are not resting on a relationship with him.True religion proves itself in your love for others.We see true religion proven when we see a Christian loving his neighbors. Christian love is not an idle feeling, but a decision to do what is best for someone else. As Christians, God calls us to love those around us. This means we must choose to do what is best for them even when it costs us.True religion demonstrates itself by meeting the needs of others.Finally, actually doing the good works is where the rubber meets the road. Our love for others and desire to have the best for them propel us to meet their needs. Good Christians love God first, love others second, and demonstrate both of these by meeting their neighbors' needs. How can you meet the needs of your neighbors this week?

This is part 3 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about the dangers of greed and the need for gratitude.There's only ONE provider.God is the ultimate source of all things. Everything we have comes from him, which means we should be grateful to him for it all. Generosity should spring from that gratitude, and that will help us to combat one of the more sinister vices: Greed.Greed always gets in the way of what God wants to do in your life.A greedy attitude seeks to hoard wealth for itself, but ironically, it actually becomes a thief. When we give into greed, it actually keeps us from being used by God to bless others, which should be the desire of every Christian. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive, but a greedily clenched fist can do neither.Worry shifts your focus from God to yourself.When we worry, it is because we have stopped trusting God to be a provider for us. This can result in greedy behavior, because we seek to provide for ourselves instead of relying on God. We attempt to hoard wealth so that our future will be secure, but only God can guarantee our future. Faith shifts your focus to God as your true provider.If we choose to trust God instead of worrying, we can rest easy knowing he will provide for us. God is faithful to keep his promises, and he will be faithful to supply all the needs of the Christian as he sees fit. Choosing to rely on God's faithfulness instead of our own abilities will ease our anxieties about tomorrow.

This is part 2 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In part 2, Pastor Zac teaches about what we choose to invest in.Kingdom Generosity is the only investment that lasts.As part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we should not expend ourselves storing treasure on earth. Instead, we should devote our time to storing up treasure in heaven by living for God's kingdom. It's far too easy to spend our time collecting and amassing wealth and comfort for ourselves. What Jesus encouraged us to do is to spend our time and our treasure to further his kingdom.Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals your heart.When we choose to spend our treasure on the kingdom, we demonstrate that God has changed our hearts. Other people will be able to see that we genuinely love God through our generosity. By contrast, refusing to be generous or to give to God indicates a heart that is not God's at all. It is our job to help spread his kingdom here on earth. If we aren't contributing, then do our hearts really belong to God?Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals your health.What we focus on affects our health. When we focus on the light, it enables us to see and fills our whole body with light. When we focus on the dark, the opposite happens. Choosing to follow the light reflects throughout our whole body. We should keep our focus on things of heaven and not just things of earth.Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals whom you serve.When we choose to be generous with our limited time and resources, we show we are truly devoted to God. Why do we claim to follow God in every way except in generosity? Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money. We deceive ourselves if we claim to serve God but refuse to put him first in our finances. How can you choose to put God first this week?

This is part 1 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In the inaugural sermon for the series, Pastor Zac discusses the relationship between gratitude and generosity.Thanks leads us to generosity because everything we have comes from God.When we reflect on God's nature as the source of all things, we should become grateful as a result. We ought to know that everything we have comes from God, and as such it does not truly belong to us. This should naturally lead to generosity. If what we have is not truly ours, giving it away should be easy!Thanks leads us to generosity because Jesus gave up everything so we could gain everything.When Jesus came down to earth he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. By becoming man, he gave up the privileges of divinity and took on the infirmities of being human. Not only this, but he died the death of a sinner even though he was perfect. He did all of this so that we could have access to the grace of God. He took the punishment we deserve so that we could have the rewards he deserved. By foregoing the advantages of being the Son of God, he made a way for us all to be adopted as children of God. Thanks leads us to generosity because love always gives.Love is generous by its very nature. To love is to will the good of the other, and one of the main ways to will another's good is to give of yourself. If you love someone you give them your time, your talent, your treasure, and your talk. You make an effort to give them the best of what you have in order to ensure their good.Thanks leads to generosity because its not an option: its obedience.Jesus said that those who love him keep his commands. If we love him, we will choose obedience, and choosing obedience means being generous. To be obedient to God means we must cultivate an attitude of generosity in our lives. How can you choose to be generous this week?

This is part 7 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Matt closes out this series by teaching about God's presence in times of need.He is the God of both the mountaintop and the valley.There are few stories which demonstrate the ups and downs of life as clearly as that of Joseph. He was the favorite son of Israel, but this created jealousy among his brothers, who sold him into slavery. When Joseph arrived as a slave in Egypt, he earned favor in his master's house through his diligence and faithfulness. Unfortunately, he also earned the favor of his master's wife, who attempted to seduce Joseph. When Joseph rejected her advances, the spurned woman falsely accused him and had him thrown into prison. Finally, God provided a way out for Joseph by giving him an opportunity to interpret dreams for the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh raised Joseph to second in command over all Egypt. God is always faithful to his promises.Throughout all of this, Joseph recognized that God had been there with him. Joseph knew that God had orchestrated events to put Joseph in a place where he could eventually save his family and all of Egypt. Scripture is filled with promises from God, and filled further with examples of God keeping those promises. God has never once broken a promise to his people, and knowing that, we can trust him to never break one in the future.God's presence is not proven by the absence of suffering, but by his faithfulness through it.Though God has promised many things, he has never promised that we will not suffer. What God has promised is to see us through our suffering. Not only that, but by living a human life in the person of Jesus, God has experienced our suffering. We do not have a distant God who does not understand, but we have a God who suffered and died like any man did on the cross. For that, we can be grateful and confident that he sympathizes with us in our weakness.

This is part 6 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Elder Reuben teaches about what's fair in light of God's justice and grace.God's Just Grace.Reading through the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, we see that God's standards don't line up with ours. The owner of the vineyard hires many laborers to work for him throughout the day. At the end of the day, he pays each the same wage regardless of how long they worked. Some complain, but the owner responds that they received the agreed upon amount. In addition, the owner's riches are his to dispense as he chooses. This story ultimately depicts the grace of God in giving out salvation to all people.When Life Feels Unfair.Job provides an example of how we ought to respond when life feels unfair. Job had every reason to complain about his treatment, but instead he chose to praise God. He chose to trust in God's plan rather than accuse God (at least until his friends gave him some bad advice!). When we feel life is unfair, we should make the same choice and bless God rather than blame him.Making It Make Sense - God's Faithfulness.When life feels unfair, we can trust that God is still faithful. He doesn't promise that everything will feel fair, but He promises that everything will work for good. What seems unfair to man is often the perfect justice of God working through grace. Be thankful that God may not seem fair to us, but He is always just. That's our greatest hope.

This is part 5 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Zac teaches about overcoming sin as a Christian.Why do I still struggle with sin?There are two main reasons believers continue to struggle with sin. The first is that we have not come to terms with the fact that we are at war. There is a real spiritual war going on within us: a battle against our sinful nature. If we do not recognize it, we cannot take the proper steps to ready ourselves against it. The second reason we struggle is simply that we like our sin! If sin was not pleasurable it would not be tempting! Because sin is fun for a time, we must remember the consequences of sin later.How can I overcome the sin in my life?The first thing to do is to train and discipline yourself spiritually so that you are ready for the battle against sin. The next step is to pray over the battle, knowing that you need God's help to win it. Thirdly, you need to get dressed for battle by putting on the full armor of God. Once you have prepared for the battle, remember that your battle with sin is to the death. Our goal in fighting sin is not merely to manage it or reduce it, but to kill it entirely.To go back to sin, after surrendering your life to Jesus, is to go back to death.We, having been raised to life, must not go back to death! Sin kept us in death and bondage, why would any of us return to it? Thankfully, Jesus has set us free and given us the power to overcome through him. These are the final pieces of the puzzle in the struggle against sin. First, to fight with that power which only Jesus gives. Second, to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. If we will continue to do these things, sin will not ensnare us, but we will overcome.

This is part 4 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Zac explains what the bible says about heaven and hell.What was hell created for?The bible teaches that God prepared hell for the devil and the angels that fell with him. God didn't create hell with humans in mind, and he wants none of us to end up there. If we choose to reject God, he will give us what we want and send us there. God's justice is perfect, which means he must punish sin. If we do not want to accept that Jesus took that punishment for us already, then we can pay the penalty ourselves. But why choose that when salvation is free?For love to be love, it must be freely given.As stated, if we choose to reject God, he will give us what we desire. He will send us to hell, separated from his goodness. God has decided, in his grand calculus, that he values our free will. Therefore he will not force us to love him. If God were to try to force us to love him, it would not be love because love can only exist as a result of a free choice.Hell is a quarantine of evil.Because God is perfect and holy, he cannot coexist with evil. That is why heaven will be a place without any evil whatsoever. Instead, God will cast all evil and all evildoers into hell, sequestered for eternity. There, in hell, God metes out just punishment to those who deserve it. Hell is separation from God in that it is a separation from his goodness and mercy, but God's presence is inescapable. In hell, God's presence persists, but it persists in the fullness of his wrath.God does not want anyone to perish in hell.In light of the terrifying prospect of hell, it is important to remember that God does not want to send any of us there. God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice in our place so that we could escape hell and go to heaven instead.Heaven was custom-built for you!Unlike hell, which God prepared for the devil and demons, heaven exists for all of us to enjoy God forever. When Jesus comes back, God will renew heaven and earth so that all of us might live there with him. Jesus is there now, preparing a place for all those who trust in him for salvation. If you believe in him, all of us from the least to the greatest will go to heaven to experience unspeakable joy and fulfillment forever. This is God's plan; this is God's endgame. The only question is: will you be a part of it?

This is part 3 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In our First Wednesday installment of the series, Pastor Matt teaches how to navigate faith and feelings.God's presence isn't based on our feelings but on the truth of God's word.Every Christian feels far from God sometimes, so it is important to know what to do when we experience that. The most important thing to remember is that God is not distant only because we feel he is. In fact, God is not distant at all, but is near to all of us.The Lord is our shepherd.God is like a shepherd who watches over his people, his sheep. When we feel far from God, we can know that our shepherd is still there by the scriptures that promise it. This means that God leads us, feeds us, and protects us. He preserves his people because he cares for them. He restores and refreshes our souls when we are weary. If we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we know that God is there to comfort, to guide, and to keep us from evil. When you feel far from God, remember what he says in his word and look to him for strength.

This is part 2 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In week 2 of the series, Pastor Zac teaches how to deal with suffering in our lives.Suffering follows evil.Suffering is a consequence of the fall of creation as described in Genesis 3. Because humans sinned, we all experience the consequences of that sin through suffering and pain. While some choose to blame God, each of us has committed more than enough sin to deserve our own pain. Though choosing to blame God is tempting, there are some things we should remember about the God we would accuse.Jesus entered our suffering on the cross.The God who some choose to accuse of evil is the very God who entered into creation to suffer an excruciating death on our behalf. We do not have a God who is distant or uncaring, but a God who experienced human suffering in full. Therefore God is able to understand our weaknesses and sympathize with us. Not only this, but God can strengthen us in our time of need. Remember that God is able to take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. In light of this, how should we respond when we face suffering?Worship God - in suffering and in joy.When we experience intense suffering, the last thing we may want to do is praise God, but it helps. As shocking as it may be, choosing to praise God through the trials instills hope when we would otherwise despair. To help in times of trouble, train yourself to praise him in the hills so you are ready to praise in the valleys.Let suffering open your heart and eyes to see God more clearly.Paradoxically, God's goodness is revealed most clearly in our suffering. If we choose to praise him through it, we can feel his comfort and learn to know him more closely.Don't let suffering crush you - let God use it to make you stronger.Suffering can easily cause us to turn bitter. That temptation is strong. Choose, however, to let God strengthen you through the experience instead. Trust God to lead you through it and you will end up stronger in faith because of it.Remember: suffering in this world is temporary for the Christian.This world is not all there is, but rather the Christian has hope for the next one. There will come a day when God will wipe away every tear and set all things right. God is loving and just, and he will both establish justice and save his people.Use your experience to comfort others.When we experience trials, we should remember them so that we might comfort others in the same situation. Our trials are not ours alone, but they equip us to help others when they face similar circumstances. Whatever the pain you face, trust in God to deliver you through it.

This is part 1 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In the first week of the series, we look at the problem of evil and ask how a good God can allow it to persist.Sin is real, but so is salvation.Many people struggle to believe that God exists in the face of so much evil. However, if you remove God from the equation, we still face evil but now we do it without hope. In truth, evil is evidence that God does exist. The fact that we recognize evil in the world means we have some notion the world ought to be different. We all intuitively know the world ought not just to be different, but to be better. Simply recognizing that the world ought to be better forces us to ask: What do we mean by better? At that point, we must realize that without an ultimate standard of right and wrong, we have no grounding for our idea of "better." That ultimate standard comes from God, and it cannot come from humans.Evil exists because we can choose.God created the world and instilled it with the freedom of choice for mankind. Man needed the ability to choose in order to be able to love. Love is a decision, an act of the will, and without free will it cannot exist. Evil exists because when God created beings with free will, we used that will to turn against him. Humans, like some of the angels before us, violated God's law and introduced sin and death into the world.God will destroy evil.Fortunately for us, the introduction of evil into the world is only the beginning of the story. God sent Jesus to break the power of sin and conquer death by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. The time is now coming when Christ will return and deal the final blow to sin and death, putting them to an end. God will not allow sin to continue forever, but will destroy it for good at the second coming. Because of the work Christ has done, nothing can separate us from God's love. Therefore we must choose life in Jesus in gratitude for what he has done.

This is part 22 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In our series finale, pastor and missionary to Peru, Nick Balcombe, teaches about the evangelist attitude all Christians should have.Mars Hill and the Unknown God.In Acts 17, Paul visits Mars Hill in Athens where he spots an altar to an "unknown god." Observing the Athenian desire to honor a god they don't know, Paul uses that very altar as a starting point for sharing about the one true God. By paying attention to the culture he was entering into, Paul was able to connect with the people he desired to reach and share the gospel in a more accessible way. By learning about the culture he was evangelizing, Paul demonstrated a deep love and care for the Athenians.Look, Listen, Love.Paul made himself aware of what was important to the Athenians and thereby showed his love for them. Christians should follow Paul's example in our own efforts to evangelize others. No matter who we are targeting with the gospel, Christians should try to understand who we are trying to reach. When we understand our audience, we can apply the gospel to their lives in an effective way and we can show them why it matters to them. The gospel is a message that everyone needs, and it is our job to help people see that need. By applying the three simple words: look, listen, and love, we become more effective evangelists. 

This is part 21 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches how to live life according to God's will.Ask God for his will for your entire life.Often people will surrender a part of their lives to God but try to reserve portions for themselves. This is not enough. Christianity is not a part-time faith and that means we must surrender all to God. If we want to live in God's will, we must submit fully to his will. God knows better than we do anyway!Ask God to close every door no man can open and open every door no man can shut.What this means is to recognize that God's decisions are final and not changed by the whims of men. If we make this our prayer, we also recognize the wisdom of God's will. If God intends on keeping a door open, it is a fool's errand to oppose him. Likewise if he keeps a door shut, there is no use trying to worm our way in anyway.Align your life with God's word.Perhaps the most straightforward way to live according to God's will is to apply his word to your life. God's will never contradicts his word and vice-versa. The bible is more accessible now than it has ever been, and we should not let it sit on a shelf. There is no substitute for reading it and applying it to our lives.Start trusting that God has a better plan than you do.It is sometimes very difficult to see God's plan in the chaos of life. It can be equally difficult to humble ourselves and admit that we don't make the best plans. However, if we do this, we will be better off for trusting in God's plans, which are perfect.Surround yourself with people who want God's will too.Christianity is not practiced in isolation, but in community. If we want to continue in God's will, we should surround ourselves with other Christians seeking the same thing. In this way we may all push each other toward the same goal.

This is part 20 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac reads from the story of the first church council and teaches how we are saved.We are saved from God's wrath.The bible is clear that all men have sinned and that the wages for our sin is death. Because God is righteous, he cannot allow unrighteousness to be near him. Because he is just, he cannot allow injustice to continue. God has every right as a perfect and just creator, to deal with humans as he sees fit. Fortunately for us, God does not desire to punish but to save us. We are saved by the blood of Jesus.God's chosen way of saving humanity was through the willing sacrifice of his own son on the cross. In the Old Testament, he established the principle that without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. In the New Testament, Jesus died as a perfect sacrifice, shedding perfect blood, that there could be perfect forgiveness for all time. You're never saved by works.All the religions of the world and sometimes different versions of Christianity will make salvation about works. This is not how God designed it. Rather, God gave us our salvation as a free gift and we do our own good works as a response to that gift. Salvation can sometimes seem simple and sometimes complicated. At a basic level, salvation is for good works and not because of them. Salvation is fully dependent on God's grace and there is nothing which we do to contribute to it. If you have not believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, perhaps it is time to give your life to him today.

This is part 19 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt uses the Apostle Paul's teaching in Acts 13 to explain how we should be like King David.A heart after God trusts.David learned from his youth to trust in the Lord through his trials. Trusting God in battles against wild animals gave him the confidence to challenge Goliath, knowing that God would be with him. If we are to have a heart after God like David did, it starts with trusting in him.A heart after God worships.When David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he danced with all his might. David was fully committed to praising God in that moment and declared that he would become even more undignified for the sake of the Lord. This ought to be the attitude of all Christians. With a heart after God, we are dedicated to praising God.A heart after God repents.Perhaps most importantly, David exemplified a lifestyle of repentance. Repentance is not a one-time event, but a continual choice for every person. Since we will not be able to stop sinning before death, we must keep repenting each time we do stumble. David did this throughout his life, and it is why he was called a man after God's heart.What God promises he will fulfull.For those who put their faith in Jesus, God has promised to finish the work of salvation within them. Like repentance, salvation is not a single event, but an ongoing process completed at the final resurrection. God gives the Holy Spirit to believers as a guarantee that he will complete our salvation. In the meantime, there are a few ways we can and should serve God's purpose.Work hard.Christians should not be lazy. Our actions represent Christ to the world and we ought to reflect him well.Work intentionally.When we work, we work with purpose. Christians are called to make the most of every opportunity and do all our work as though it is directly for God.Live with joy, prayer, and gratitude.Christians who maintain these three things will shine like stars in a dark world. Joy, even in sorrow, is a great testament to the hope Christians have in Jesus. Prayer keeps our thoughts continually on God. Gratitude keeps us humble and positive by helping us to hold God's blessings in mind. How can you cultivate these three in your life?

This is part 18 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches that God is worthy of all glory and warns about what happens when we don't offer it to him.The downward spiral of being a glory hog.Glory hogs start with pride, chase applause, are left empty, and end in death. When we pursue our own glory instead of God's it stems from a place of pride. It starts by thinking that we are greater than our creator. The result is that we continue in a neverending pursuit of something that will never satisfy us anyway. We were made to worship God, and worshipping ourselves does not fill that void. Ultimately, those who worship themselves and live as glory hogs will die apart from God.Glory hogs steal what belongs to God.Part of the reason worshipping yourself leads to death is that we are stealing from God what is rightfully his. It is crazy for us to steal from God and think that there will not be consequences. Of course, by trying to take glory from God, we also starve ourselves of joy bit by bit. So how can we avoid stealing the glory for ourselves?Redirect the praise.By redirecting our praise toward God, we place him back at the center. When we praise God above all else, we are choosing to focus on him. By deciding not to play our own fanfare and instead to prioritize God, we recognize that he is greater and eliminate our own pride.Don't just give God more glory, give him ALL glory.It's not enough for us to give God just a little bit of praise, because he deserves all the praise. We must choose daily to give God all glory, honor, and praise, because reserving any of it for ourselves creates a bastion of pride. We owe God everything simply because he created us and sustains our every breath, and much more because he sent Jesus to die for our sins. It is only right for us to pay what we owe.

This is part 17 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac continues the "series within a series" by teaching five more ways to identify a real Christian.You believe and participate in global missions.The church is not just a place you go on Sundays, but all of God's people around the world. Participating in global missions means being a part of growing the church even in far off places. Whether that means going to those places or supporting financially, Christians should be involved in growing the church worldwide.You intentionally learn the bible.God's word is the bedrock for the Christian church and it needs to be a bedrock for our lives too. Although it is easy to get distracted from studying the bible, a healthy Christian life requires the discipline to stay in the word. Learning what God says on Sundays is not enough. We need to be in the word during the rest of the week as well.You care for the well-being of the church.This point applies to both the local and global church. All Christians are part of the church, which means all Christians should care about the health of the church. We, the church, are the bride of Christ, and we need that bride to be as healthy as possible. This means praying and serving so that the church can thrive.You give generously.This is a difficult area for many, but Christians are called to be generous with their resources. We must remember that everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and it is only right that we give back to him. You belong to a local church family.Too many people claim to be Christians but refuse to participate in local fellowship. Just as a tree needs roots to grow, so does the Christian needed to be rooted in community. Likewise, as a hand cut-off from the body can do nothing, so too is the Christian cut-off from the church. How can you get involved in your local church?

This is part 16 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac begins a two-part series within the series about what makes a Christian stand out.You believe in the good news of Jesus Christ.The most basic marker of a Christian is that Christians believe in the gospel. Everything in the Christian life begins with faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in accordance with the scriptures. If someone does not believe in this, they are not a Christian. This is a very simple mark of a Christian.You take Jesus with you everywhere.In Acts 11, the followers of Jesus took their beliefs to Antioch, where they were first called Christians. No matter where his followers went, Jesus went right along with them and became known to the people in that new place.You tell other people about Jesus.Just as Christians take Jesus with us everywhere, we also should talk about him all the time. Christianity is not a private faith, and it is the duty of Christians to share our faith with the world. Your trials make you stronger.Christians are not like the world when we suffer, but rather we are to consider it a joy when we face trials for Jesus. Jesus promised his followers that we would face persecution, but also that he would be with us through it. Since Jesus suffered for us, we should consider it a great honor to suffer for him in turn.You earn a good reputation because of your godly life.We, Christians, are called to be like Christ. As we grow to be more like him, the world should see our godly character and recognize the change that comes from God. Godly character is one of the best markers of a Christian, because without Christ there is no hope at living a life that pleases God.

This is part 15 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches from Acts 10-11 and explains how we can move past the spiritual walls in our lives to reach God.Start seeking God and you will find Him.This statement is a promise direct from God himself: that if we seek him with all our heart and mind we will find him. God desires to have a relationship with us, and he sent Jesus to make a way for that to happen. God is not distant, but he remains close so that if we reach out to him we can find him. When you are up against a wall, the first thing you should do is look for God.Let God get you ready.Neither Peter nor Cornelius knew exactly what God was doing with them in this story. Both, however, were willing to let God make them ready. They both trusted that God had a plan for their situation, and God used them to open the door for the gospel to be spread throughout the nations. Before this, the apostles ran into barriers preaching to gentiles, but God broke down that wall.Focus on Jesus.Jesus said to "seek first the Kingdom of Heaven," and how better to seek the Kingdom than to focus on the King? Jesus rules all; he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we focus on Him, he takes care of all our needs. If you are hitting a wall in your life, focusing on Jesus one of the best ways to break through it. If God is for us, who can be against us? 

This is part 14 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt teaches through the conversion of Saul and what we can learn from it.Without Christ I am considered an enemy of God.Before Saul's conversion, he was an enemy and persecutor of the church. He approved Stephen's execution, he dragged Christians from their homes to put them in prison, and he was on his way to Damascus to do even more damage. What many people don't realize, is that without Christ, we are enemies of God just like Paul was. We might not have hunted down Christians like Paul, but sin makes us all enemies of God by nature. Fortunately, we don't have to stay that way.God loves me as he finds me.Despite being God's enemies, God made a plan to reconcile us to himself. He demonstrated his love for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross even though we were dead in our sins. God loves us even at our worst.God's love is too good to leave me there.The next part of God's plan to save us is to actually change us from the inside out. He makes us alive and sends the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we might become more like him. Nobody is beyond the grace of God.Paul called himself the worst of sinners, and what his dramatic conversion story shows us is that nobody is too far gone to be saved. As long as we draw breath there is time for us to turn back to God. I change from adversary to ambassador.When we do change, when we do believe in Jesus, we go from being God's enemies to his emissaries. Instead of fighting against him, we fight to deliver his message to everyone who will listen.Paul's story can be your story.If you have been far from God, or if you feel like the worst of sinners, it's important to remember that God can change you too. If you repent and put your faith in Jesus, God will adopt you as his own and begin to change you from the inside out. Will you make that choice today?

This is part 13 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian, explaining how God appoints circumstances.How God Works Through Divine AppointmentsThe story of Philip and the Ethiopian is one that shows how God works behind the scenes. Philip is traveling on the road when he encounters the Ethiopian reading a prophecy about Jesus in his chariot. First asking if he understands it, Philip then offers to explain it when the man says no. The Ethiopian was far from home and in the perfect position to receive the gospel message from Philip, and Philip was in the perfect position to give it. God orchestrates events so that encounters like this can happen, and not just in the bible. God does this today, and Christians need to be ready for it when it does happen.Listen for God's leading.There are a few questions we can ask ourselves to confirm that something we should do is godly. First is: Does it contradict scripture? If the answer to this is yes, then what we are thinking of is never from God. God will never contradict himself, so anything that contradicts his word is automatically wrong. The second question is this: Does it bring peace or fear? God gave us a spirit of courage, not fear, and his perfect love casts out fear. If there is no sense of peace about something, it may not be from God. The third question is: Does it encourage obedience or excuses? Often when we are faced with a decision, one option will lead us into obedience to God and the other will lead us to making excuses for not following him. We should always choos the option that makes us obedient to God. Lastly: Does it point you to Jesus? This question is simple, but we often get distracted by issues that don't point us to Jesus and must be careful to stay focused.Be ready with an answer.When Philip found himself in front of the Ethiopian, he seized the opportunity to explain the gospel. He didn't let the situation pass him by, he didn't make any excuses, and he didn't leave it for someone else. No, Philip jumped right in and asked the man if he needed an explanation. Then he used the very passage the man was reading to explain who Jesus was and how he had fulfilled it just a few months prior. The bible tells Christians to always be ready with an answer for the hope that we have. How can you prepare that answer in your own life?

This is part 12 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches that God can turn and use evil situations for good purposes.God can turn it for good.The bible is full of stories where God takes a terrible situation and flips it around for the good of his people. Acts chapter eight is one of those stories. The church began to face its first real wave of persecution following Stephen's death, scattering the believers. As it happened, this scattering forced Christians to carry the gospel outside of Jerusalem. The result was that people in neighboring cities began to hear the good news and Jesus' kingdom began to spread. We see that God can turn things around for good, but what are some ways in which he does it?God turns grief into joy.When we picked up our story in Acts 8, we saw a church that was mourning the loss of Stephen, one of its leaders. By the time we reach the end of the passage, however, we see great joy in Samaria because of the gospel being brought there. Just like the early church, modern Christians are not immune to sorrow. The promise of God is that sorrow is not the final word, and that when we enter his presence there will be fullness of joy. God turns opposition into open doors.We have already seen that God arranged for the gospel to be preached because of the scattering of believers. God does the same sort of thing now. Often we complain about any opposition we face, but if we remain patient, we may see God work wonders. Make it up in your mind to wait on God and trust that he will be faithful through our trials!

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about Stephen, the first martyr, and how we can stand to the end like he did.Ask God for His Wisdom.Before his death, Stephen answered every question with God-given wisdom. Both the old and new testaments advise us to ask God for wisdom and tell us that if we seek it we will find it. Christians are to use wisdom in all that we do. Seek wisdom from God, the source of it all. Let your light shine.When Stephen sat before the Sanhedrin, his face shone like an angel. In the same way, Christians are to shine the light of God's grace in our daily lives. The gospel is a light to all who hear it, and Christians who don't share it through word and deed are neglecting their responsibility. Make sure to let your light shine for all to see!Know where you're headed.When Stephen knew his life was over, he was able to remain at peace because he knew what his destination was. Stephen knew that he was on his way to the arms of Jesus, and that emboldened him at the end. When you know the future is secure and your hope is in heaven, you can live confidently for Christ. Take no grudges to the grave.With his last words, Stephen asked God to forgive the very people who murdered him. Like Jesus on the cross, Stephen did not harbor any bitterness toward his enemies, but instead forgave them. Stephen's desire, even in death, was that his enemies would repent and that God would forgive them. We, too, should live our lives free from grudges and bitterness. When we let go of our grudges, it frees us to live the way Christ wants us to.

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of having christlike servants in the church. There are three key ways Christians need to be Christlike in order to take the church to the next level.Christlike CultureTo understand how the culture of a church should be Christlike, first we should see two major obstacles to this. The first major obstacle is division. A divided church will never be able to maintain a Christlike culture because a house divided cannot stand. Jesus prayed for unity among his followers, and if we promote disunity and division we will never live up to the calling Christ has for us. The second major obstacle is complaining. Complaining is a critical killer of Christlike culture because it keeps our focus on anything but Jesus and his mission for us. There is no purity in complaining, and we need to avoid it if we are to have Christlike culture.Christlike CharacterAll Christians are meant to have character like Christ (hence the name "Christian!"), but this becomes even more important as the church grows. The church will never be corporately what it is not individually, so the individual must seek Christlike character in order for the church to have it as a whole. Christlike character consistently does the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reason. On the flipside, bad character consistently does the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way for the wrong reasons. As a follower of Jesus, you can choose to be like him in character through the power of the Spirit.Christlike CompetenceGod has gifted every believer with certain abilities, and we are called to use them to serve the kingdom. Christlike competence means that we use our skills and talents in order to build up the church. What are you competent in? How can you use that knowledge and ability to benefit God's people and his kingdom?

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches why we need to have right motives.Ananias and SapphiraIn Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira sell property and donate a portion of the money to the church. Ordinarily, this would be an honorable thing to do, but the couple lied about their contribution. They had every right to donate only some of the money, but they told the church that they gave the entire amount. Their motivation was to appear more generous than they really were. God is not fooled by this display, and he strikes both husband and wife dead on the spot.Let God be your motive, not the recognition.By lying to the church, Ananias and Sapphira were essentially lying to God. They did this because they desired the praise and approval of men more than the approval of God. If they desired to please God, they would have been honest about the amount donated. When you do good deeds, is it to be seen by men or by God? If you seek the praise of other people, Jesus said that will be your only reward. If you seek to please God, not caring about human attention, your reward will be in heaven.Let truth be your motive, not lies.Some people struggle greatly with telling the truth. The bible emphasizes the importance of truth and honesty all over the place. For the Christian, therefore, honesty should be a life goal. To walk in the truth is God's desire for us, because God is truth. How can you become a more honest person in your daily life? What would it look like to live in the truth? 

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches us about how we can live in the power of the Spirit both individually and communally.Walk in the power of unity.In the early church, the believers were all of one heart and mind. If Christians today are to be the same, we must make every effort to promote unity ourselves. Promoting unity means that we refuse to give in to divisive attitudes or indulge in toxic behaviors. A healthy Christian community refuses gossip, slander, backbiting, envy, and bitterness. Saying "no" to these behaviors and emotions will keep divisiveness to a minimum and foster community within the church. This means not only refusing to engage in them yourself, but speaking up when others try to fall into them around you.Walk in the power of generosity.Often a church's potential is limited solely by a lack of generosity from its members. If the whole body of Christ maintained a godly sense of generosity, there would never be a need left unmet in the church. Sometimes the temptation for individual believers is to think that generosity is not our responsibility, but this is not so. God calls all Christians to be generous because generosity is a beneficial character trait for every person. We are to be generous not merely because others have needs, but because there is a need in our own hearts to develop generosity. When God gives opportunities for generosity, he is helping us grow. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive.Are you a Barnabas?Barnabas means "son of encouragement." In the bible, Barnabas was a generous servant who built people up wherever he went. Are you an encourager? Are you generous? Are you a unifier? If not, you should not expect to be the church to be something you are not.With all of this in mind, how can you embody unity and generosity in your life this week?

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches us about the name (Jesus) that is above every name, and how the name of Jesus is specifically above your name.Jesus is the name of your healing.Jesus has the power to heal anyone of anything, and Christians can often see his miraculous power working. However, the most important healing that Jesus offers us is the spiritual healing we receive when we believe. When we become Christians, God works in our hearts to regenerate our spirits and bring from death to life. Physical healing is temporary, but the spiritual healing brought by Jesus through the gospel is eternal. One day, those who receive this spiritual healing will also receive new bodies like our present ones, but free of all weakness. This is accomplished when Jesus returns.Jesus is the name you obey.Many people want Christ's healing, but they have no interest in submitting to him. When it comes to God's kingdom, if you are only in it for the perks, you are not truly in it at all. Jesus said that those who love him keep his commands. To ignore God's rules is not the way of the Christian. Christ came to transform us into new men and women, not merely to grant us wishes. If we are to be transformed, we must keep his commands to the best of our ability.Jesus is the name you build on.The first stone laid in any building project is the most important one, because it orients everything that comes after. When the bible calls Jesus a "capstone" or "chief cornerstone" it means that he is the foundation for our faith and our lives. Is your life built on Jesus? Have you been trying to build on another foundation? If you make Jesus your cornerstone, it will orient everything else in the right way.Jesus is the name of your salvation.Christianity is exclusive. The gospel is available to all people, but there is not another gospel. When Jesus said he was the way, he meant it. All who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved, and there is no other name in heaven or on earth by which we are saved. Call upon the name of Jesus for your salvation.

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt teaches about what caused the early church to explode in growth and why God cares about the numbers.God Cares About the Numbers!Sometimes churches and the people in them become too caught up in the numbers, but the opposite can be just as much a problem. At Fusion Christian Church, we care about how many people attend because each one of those "numbers" represents a person who Jesus died for. God loves people, and by reaching more people we show God's love to more people. If we stop caring about the "numbers" altogether, we limit how many people we can love on God's behalf. We do not want high numbers simply to have them, but because numbers represent real people who need the gospel.A Church that Gives God the Glory Continues to Grow.God draws people to himself when Jesus Christ is lifted up. This means both that Jesus draws people through his death on the cross, and that Christians can help with this. When we glorify our God, we lift up Jesus and point our attention toward him. This helps direct others toward the one who can save them, and the Father draws them into the church.A Unified Church Continues to Grow.Unity does not mean that we agree on everything, it means we agree on the most important things and are gracious in everything else. Many people confuse unity with uniformity, thinking that because Christians are not completely uniform in all things, we are not united. This is not the case. Complete uniformity is usually the sign of a cult group, whereas true unity accommodates a wide range of practices and beliefs. If we believe in "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (Eph. 4:5-6) then we have unity on the essentials.A Generous Church Continues to Grow.One thing that united the early church was their willingness to give what they had to provide for others. Generosity is a tangible expression of the love Christians should have for everyone, but most of all for each other. When we give to the church, we help ensure that its needs are provided for. Giving to the local church is a primary way to facilitate this.A Church that Gathers both Corporately and in Small Groups Continues to Grow.The early church would meet regularly both in large and small gatherings. They met daily in homes, but also met in larger groups at the temple. Both types of gatherings are valuable for the health of the church. Those who go only to large meetings and not small groups are unable to develop the close relationships that help bind the church together. Those who only go to small groups and not large meetings miss out on the larger vision of the church.Every person in the church is essential. When you are not active in your church body, not only are you missing out on the church, but the church is missing out on you! You have something to offer God and to offer the church. Don't deprive the rest of the body of Christ of your unique gifts and abilities!

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches from Acts 2 about the four elements that make a church healthy.Be unshakeably devoted to God's word.The early church committed to learning what God had spoken through the apostles. They received the Old Testament from their ancestors, but received new revelation from the apostles, now recorded in the New Testament. Because they knew God had spoken in this way, they were attentive to his word and determined to learn what they could from it. This sets an example for us to follow today. We should study and learn God's word both as individuals and within our church community.Be devoted to authentic fellowship.Fellowship is more than simply "hanging out." Fellowship is when the body of believers lives out their common faith in Jesus. When we fellowship with other Christians, our faith expresses itself in our relationships and interactions with each other. Love should be demonstrated above all when we fellowship.Be devoted to breaking bread with others in the church.Breaking bread is closely bound with fellowship, but is two-fold in expression. We should both eat together with other Christians and develop our relationships in that way, but also take communion together regularly. In the early church, these two often went hand in hand, as communion would often be taken as part of a larger communal meal. However we choose to partake in these two activities, they are important for our spiritual development as individuals and as a church.Be devoted to personal and corporate prayer.The church will never be corporately what it is not individually. This means that if we desire a church that prays, we need individuals who pray. Prayer is an undeniably crucial aspect of a healthy Christian life, and we must discipline ourselves to pray consistently. If we do not pray, the church will suffer as a result. How can you help yourself to become more disciplined in your prayer?

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about how the Holy Spirit empowers believers and how the Last Days are upon us!The Holy Spirit empowers the coward - and he can empower you.Most of Acts chapter two is a sermon from Peter the apostle. Peter, the same man who abandoned Christ and denied him three times, is now giving a sermon in front of thousands of people. Through the Holy Spirit, God is able to empower believers to be bold and courageous where before they were cowardly. If God can make Peter into a pillar of the church, he can certainly use you!The last days have begun— the countdown is real – are you ready?According to the bible, the "Last Days" are the period between Jesus' first coming and second coming. This means we are in the last days right now. Knowing this, we all have to ask ourselves if we're ready for Christ's return. Are you living the way you should knowing that Jesus will be coming soon?The Holy Spirit was poured out and is yours to receive.In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit briefly enabled people to accomplish tasks. In the New Testament, in the "Last Days," the Holy Spirit lives inside of believers. The same power that led heroes of the Old Testament to do mighty deeds in God's name now lives inside every Christian. This means that God is always with us and that through him we can do great things to grow his kingdom.Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.To receive the Holy Spirit, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and submit to him as Lord. This promise is for everyone, because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. If you repent and believe, you will be saved.

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost and what it means for us today.Your first fruits always belong to the Lord.God chose to initiate the church at Pentecost because of what the day meant in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, Pentecost was the day that Israel would bring in the "firstfruits" of their belongings as an offering to the Lord. In the New Testament, Pentecost was the day that God took the firstfruits of the church. The 3,000 people saved in Acts 2 represent the first part of the whole of God's people, whom God has been bringing to himself out of every nation since that day. Just as Israel brought in their firstfruits, we, too, should offer the first of all we have to God.You must surrender your heart to God.Fifty days after the first Passover, Moses went to meet God at Mount Sinai. Fifty days after Jesus' death (at Passover), God sent the Holy Spirit to meet the church. Moses brought the law on stone tablets, but the Holy Spirit came to write the law on our hearts. When we surrender our hearts to God, the Holy Spirit fills us and gives us the ability to uphold God's commandments. Before we have the Holy Spirit, no good thing we do provides any spiritual benefit. Through the Holy Spirit we are enabled to do spiritual good and to truly love God.Jesus has reversed every curse.Through the gift of tongues given at Pentecost, the church is able to reverse the curse of Babel. At the tower of Babel, God confused the languages because the people were united against him. Now, in the New Testament era, God has given the gift of tongues to his church so that people of every nation, tribe, and tongue could be a part of his people. Instead of humans being united against God, we can now unite in exalting God.The reversing of this curse is also the firstfruit of all other curses to be broken by Christ's power. For the believer, no curse cannot be overcome through the power of the Spirit. Whatever sin or curse is in your past has been nailed to the cross and you need bear it no more. Surrender to Christ and be freed from the bondage of sin and death. 

"The After Party" is our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about how we can be a part of God's story through the Holy Spirit.Don't doubt, believe.What ought to strike us when we read through the opening of Acts is that Jesus presented many proofs to his followers that he was truly alive. The resurrection is at the core of Christianity, and it is important to know that it really happened. Jesus was not ambiguous with his followers, but he showed clearly that he had risen from the dead. He did this so that you and I would believe.Don't do it alone - Rely on the power of the Holy SpiritBefore he ascended to heaven, Jesus promised that he would send the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and strengthen his followers. Christians who follow him today have access to this same Holy Spirit from the moment we place our belief in Christ. Don't struggle through issues on your own, but lean on the Holy Spirit.Who is the Holy Spirit?To lean on the Spirit, it is important to know about him. The Holy Spirit is God. He is not an impersonal force, but is the third person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit living inside us is how God's presence rests upon the life of a believer. The Spirit is also the change agent for godly living. Only through the Holy Spirit is the believer empowered to keep God's commands and live according to God's design. Become a bold witness for Jesus.Through the Holy Spirit, the apostles became confident in the Lord Jesus and became witnesses of his resurrection throughout the world. We take part in that legacy by spreading the gospel through the same Holy Spirit that lived also in the apostles.Live like he's coming back tomorrow.Finally, the angels present at Jesus' ascension told the apostles that he would return in the same way. Knowing this, we should always be ready and live like he's coming back soon. Keeping that mindset will help us to live the way we should.

"Your Story Isn't Over" is our message to you at Fusion Christian Church this Easter. Have you ever felt that your life is over? Have you ever been lost and not known where to turn? In this message, Pastor Zac will teach us what the resurrection of Jesus means for us and how to live accordingly.You have two lives: one mortal and one immortal.Though many deny that there is anything beyond the grave, the bible teaches clearly that there is. Further, we not only have both mortal and immortal lives, but the two are intrinsically connected. What you do with your mortal life will impact your immortal life. As a result, you have two choices.Choice One: Live your life rejecting Jesus.With choice one you choose death for your immortal life. This may seem like a contradiction, but the bible is quite clear on this point. If you reject Jesus, then you must pay the penalty for your sins on your own. Jesus has offered to pay it for you, and indeed he did pay it on the cross, but if you reject him then his payment will not cover you. Since the penalty for sin is death, refusing Christ will result in death since we are all lost in sin. Sin is serious, and the consequences are dire. If you reject Jesus in this life, you will face death in the life to come.Choice Two: Live your life accepting JesusWith choice two you receive life everlasting. When you accept Jesus, his blood covers your sin and his death cancels your debt. This is the most important choice anyone can make. Choosing to accept Jesus will change your life both now and forever.You end up on the wrong road when you start looking for life among the dead things. Just as the women at the tomb were looking for Jesus in the grave (though he was alive), we sometimes look for life in the wrong places. In order to make sure we end up on the right road, we must repent and turn to Jesus. This is what it means to accept Jesus: to turn from death to life and from sin to righteousness. Will you make that choice today?

This is part 5 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this Good Friday sermon, Pastor Zac closes out the series by teaching on the last "last words" of Jesus and asks the question: when does a bad day turn into a good day?When your debt is paid and your record wiped cleanIf Jesus died on Good Friday, why do we call it good? Because by his death he completed the work he was sent to earth to do. By finishing his work on the cross, Christ bought us back from death and sin and made a way for us to be reconciled to God. He nailed our sins to the cross along with himself and took them to the grave. For those in Christ, we no longer face the penalty from God for our sins. Christians should remember that our sins were nailed to the cross and no longer seek to dig them back up. God has forgiven them, and it is time to let them stay dead.When your spirit is safe in the Father's hands.When Jesus died, he committed his spirit to the Father. The best decision anyone could make is to follow this example. Trust God with your life and your spirit. With God alone are we truly secure. Jesus knew that, and he not only showed us the way to the Father, but he made a way when there was none. When we look at the cross of Christ, we should remember his sacrifice so that we could have peace with God. Rest in the Father's hands today.

This is part 4 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about Jesus saying "I am thirsty." Beyond the physical, what spiritual drink did Jesus desire from the cross?What is the right kind of thirsty?-You thirst for God's word to be fulfilledWhen Jesus said he was thirsty on the cross, he fulfilled scripture. His desire was that God's word would come to pass through what he did, and he willed it to be so. Like Christ, we should also desire to see God's word fulfilled both in the world broadly and in our lives specifically. God's word does not return void, and we should act in a way that helps bring it to pass. This means we should bear fruit and, especially, that we should preach the gospel. -You thirst for God's righteousness.As Christians, we should desire to be right with God. We should desire goodness, and the only way to be good is through Jesus. If we are to satisfy our desire for righteousness, we must find the source of living water, which is Jesus. When we are in Christ, he renews us through the power of the Holy Spirit and gives us the ability to do good works. Without Jesus, nothing good that we do has any value for us spiritually. We must be made alive together with Christ before we can drink from the water he gives us. Will you choose Christ? Will you desire his righteousness?

This is part 3 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this message, Pastor Zac doubles up and covers two statements of Jesus from the cross. In the first are words of love, in the second are words of anguish.Words of Love.Jesus entrusted care of his mother to John, the beloved disciple. By doing this, he demonstrates two biblical principles. The first is that we should honor our Father and Mother. This is a principle so important that God included it in the Ten Commandments. Even though it is difficult to get along with our parents sometimes, it is still imperative that we honor them. By choosing to honor our parents we honor God as well. God placed you with your parents, and by honoring them you respect the sovereign will of God.The second principle Christ demonstrated by ensuring the care of his mother, Mary, is to care for others. Jesus is especially demonstrating the scriptural command to care for the poor, the orphan, and the widow (since Mary was a widow at this point). By caring for those around us who need it the most, we demonstrate the love of Christ.Words of Anguish.In the next statement of Jesus on the cross, he cries out to God the Father. In his statement, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me," he references Psalm 22, which is a prophetic passage written almost a thousand years before his birth. Jesus makes this cry not only to fulfill scripture, but to show the anguish he felt at the wrath of God being poured out on him. He underwent this punishment so that we would not have to suffer it ourselves, for we could not endure it.Jesus, being perfectly righteous, died a sinners death in order that we, being sinners, might be considered perfectly righteous. When we put our faith in Jesus, God looks at us and sees Christ's perfection rather than our sin. This is the beauty of the cross. 

This is part 2 of "Last Words," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine the final seven sayings of Jesus before he died. What is the significance of Jesus' last words? As we look forward to Easter, it's time to reflect on our Savior's final moments on the cross. In this Sermon, Pastor Matt takes a deep dive into the thief on the cross next to Jesus and his last interaction with Christ.Prophecies Fulfilled:One of the most significant aspects of Christ's time on earth is that he fulfilled prophecies from hundreds or even thousands of years before. Two that are fulfilled in the story of Jesus and the Thief on the cross are that Jesus would be "numbered with the transgressors" despite being innocent, and that his enemies would surround him and mock him. Isaiah and David both looked forward to Jesus' coming and made predictions about it through the Holy Spirit.We should identify with the criminals.We should fight our tendency to view ourselves as the hero and recognize that we belong on the cross next to Jesus. The thieves on either side of Christ deserved their punishment, but Jesus did not. We, too, like the thieves, deserve punishment. Let us remember that we are not the hero, Christ is.Jesus took our place on the cross.God loves us so much that he provided his own Son to take the punishment we deserve. In the heroic climax of history, Christ died the death we deserved so that we could be saved.We are Justified by Faith.Since God has offered us salvation as a free gift, how do we access this gift? The scriptures make clear, and this story demonstrates, that we access the free gift of God through faith. When we believe in God who sent his Son for us, God grants us salvation. He makes it "just as if I'd" never sinned. This is what it means to be "justified by faith."PropitiationThis is one of those words that you will only ever hear in church. Propitiation means that God's wrath was diverted from us and onto Christ. For this reason, we no longer pay the penalty ourselves, but rely on Christ who paid it for us.The criminals' last words sealed their eternal destinationWhile the one criminal mocked Jesus, the other repented and expressed faith in him. In these final moments, each thief sealed his own fate. One sealed his eternity in heaven by putting faith in Jesus. The other condemned himself by refusing to put his faith in the only one who can save.Ultimately it is Jesus who removes our condemnationThe most important point is that Jesus is the one who saves us. He is the only one who can. When you put your faith in him, you move from death to life, and from condemnation to reconciliation.