Fusion Christian Church Messages

"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. 

This is part 1 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 we examine his prayer, "Father, forgive them," and ask: why did Jesus pray this?To show you that Jesus is the promised Messiah.The most important question you must wrestle with is whether or not Jesus Christ is the Son of God. To help you find that answer, Jesus fulfilled prophecy on the cross to show that he was from God. Demonstrating the divine character of his mission on earth, Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies. Several of these prophecies indicate that he was not just a human man, but also the Son of God. By praying for those who had wronged him, he demonstrated the intercession he would make for sinners.To show you the power of prayer.In praying for the very people who had put Jesus on the cross, Jesus demonstrated how powerful prayer can be. While he was still on the cross, the thief beside him came to believe that Jesus was the messiah, and a Roman soldier who crucified him exlaimed, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" Jesus' prayer produced immediate effects, and from that we learn to never stop praying for others. Though Jesus was beaten down and exhausted, he still prayed for others. Though the thief on his side seemed hopeless, it was not too late for him to be saved.To show you your need for a mediator.Finally, Jesus came and died so that he could act as mediator between God and men. Without Jesus, we would be hopeless in our efforts to reach God. Through Jesus and him only can we be reconciled to God.Decide for yourself: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

This is part 5 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Pastor Zac teaches us five steps to connect better with other people, and all are focused on in-person relationship.Put Down the Phone.Too many of us are addicted to our phones. We allow them to keep us from personal connection and it is destroying our relationships. Put down the phone when you're with other people and pay attention to them.Look at and Listen to People.When you are interacting with others, look them in the eye and listen to what they say. As Christians, we should desire that others know we are genuinely interested in them and that we care about their lives. Maintain eye contact and listen to other people to demonstrate your care for them.Speak Words of Life.It is overwhelmingly easy to be negative, especially because we are surrounded by it all the time. Because of this, choose to speak positively to people so that you stand out and shine a light in this dark world. Choose to lift up others rather than bring them down. If we can do this it will stand as a strong testimony of the light of Christ.Practice Hospitality.When is the last time you invited people to your home? Hospitality was perhaps the foremost characteristic of the early church, and it should be one of our strongest attributes in the modern church as well. Being inviting and kind to others should never go out of style, and God has told us in his word that he desires his people to be hospitable.Be Fast to Forgive.Bitterness will kill your relationships faster than almost anything else. Remember that all people are broken, and so if you have a relationship with anyone, you are likely to be hurt at some point. Choosing to forgive rather than resent the one who has wronged you will preserve your relationships. Christians must be forgiving people, because God first forgave us.

This is part 4 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Pastor Zac teaches about the dangers of isolation and how to stay connected instead.We need relationships! Those who are isolated face not just loneliness, but have increased health risks. It is time for us to choose to ditch the disconnection and build our relationships. Let's examine some ways that we disconnect:If you want to be disconnected, be a backstabber.One of the quickest ways to become disconnected from your relationships is to be a backstabber. If you talk behind others' backs and betray their confidence, you will soon find yourself alone. Even the people you have not betrayed will find that they do not want to be friends with a backstabber! You must keep the confidence of others if you want to stay connected.If you want to be disconnected, be a taker.Nobody likes the person who takes and never gives back. Become a generous person to create a generous spirit in others, and this will drastically improve all your relationships.If you want to be disconnected, hate everyone who's different than you.While it can be difficult to get along with people who differ from us, Paul the Apostle had a different perspective. Paul chose to adjust his own behavior so that he could get along with others and win them to Christ. If we are not willing to look past our differences, then we will be hindered in spreading the gospel. What should we do to ditch the disconnection?Live your life with your hands lifted to the Lord.Lifting your hands to God is a sign that we are surrendered to him. Choosing to put God first is the key to getting your life in order. Put him in the number 1 spot and it will be much easier to make your other relationships fall into place.Live your life lifting others up.Just as you desire to be lifted up and encouraged by others, you also should lift up others. Don't become so focused on your own problems that you neglect to help others.Live your life standing with others.In a similar way, standing by others when they need you will help you to maintain relationships. Don't stand alone and be left vulnerable, but instead stand with others and add your strength to theirs.Live your life with your banner high.Jehovah Nissi means "God is my Banner," and choosing to make God a banner over your life will inspire you to fight for what is right. It gives all of us a common cause as Christians. Choose to fight for the Lord's cause.

This is part 3 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Elder Todd teaches about the importance of perseverance and determination.As a church family, we must persevere together. While some Christians like to think of their faith as only personal, it is essential that we do not forget the value of the community around us. This is why being planted in a church is key to a healthy Christian walk. That said, it is equally important that each church member has an active relationship with the Lord. If we want to be part of a spiritually healthy church, we must engage in the habits that make us spiritually healthy individuals. Both communal and personal devotion to God are necessary for a strong Christian community.To persevere we must understand it will get better.Being a Christian means we trust God to deliver us in times of trouble. Christians should know that even if it never seems to get better in this life, God is a good God and he wins in the end. For those of us who are in Christ, that means we win in the end! To persevere we must understand it won't get better.What this means is that it won't truly get better in this life. Sin pervades the world and only when God finishes redeeming the world will things truly be fixed. Our hope is in the next life, not in this one alone. We must persevere together!One of the purposes of the church community is to provide support for each and every Christian as they seek to follow God. A good church encourages and assists other believers through persecution and when we stumble. We are stronger together, so we should bear the burdens  of others and lift each other up that we might all persevere to the end.How can you help others to persevere?

This is part 2 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Pastor Zac tackles the issue of conflict resolution in this part of the series, teaching us how to handle it the Christian way.Great relationships are built on great conflict resolution.Wherever you find people you will find problems. Therefore, you must learn how to resolve conflict and to do it in a godly way. If you never learn to resolve conflict, you cannot maintain lasting relationships. Let's take a look at how to deal with conflict like a boss.Always take the high road.It is important to consider others as more significant than ourselves. When we view ourselves as superior, we will not treat others properly. Learn to treat others as more important even when they are not.Don't spill the tea.Gossip destroys relationships. If you have an issue with someone, go to them and talk about it one on one. Too often we go to other people to complain when the situation could be remedied by simply talking to the person. Learn to deal with interpersonal problems head on to succeed.Build a bridge, don't blow up the dam.Patience is a key virtue in maintaining relationships. Rather than blow up a relationship, choose to look over or look past the offense and build a bridge. Be patient with other people, remembering that other people need to be patient for you as well.Choose blessing over bitterness.It is both easy and natural to become bitter when someone wrongs us. God calls us to reject bitterness and choose to bless our enemies instead. Deciding to bless others instead of cursing them will bring greater peace to our hearts and our relationships.Let the Lord be the Mizpah over your relationships.Mizpah means "watchtower." When we let God sit over our relationships and bring everything before him, we set ourselves up for great success. Learning to turn everything over to God and to consider how God views things will take us very far.How can you improve at conflict resolution?

This is part 1 of our sermon series, "Relationships on Lock," at Fusion Christian Church. In this series, we discuss the importance of relationships and how to create and maintain healthy ones. Here, Pastor Zac teaches us that the first place we should look to improve our relationships is at ourselves.Strong relationships lead to a stronger and more meaningful life.In case some people doubt the value of relationships, it is important to recognize that no one is meant to live life alone. Everything in your life will rise and fall on the relationships that you keep and the relationships that you don't. If relationships are so important, then we must learn to improve them.To get your relationships on lock, you must first look at yourself.Wherever you go, you take you with you! This means that if you consistently have problems with your relationships, the most likely source is yourself. If we are the problem, how can we change?You must let Christ change you.We lack the power to make true and lasting change in ourselves. Turning to Christ for help will lead us to success. The way to let Christ change us is to ask him work on us. What happens when we let Christ change us?You become a new creation.When a person accepts Christ, they become a new creation. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside the believer and transforms them from the inside. In order to make lasting change for the better, pray to God that the Holy Spirit would mold you to become more like Christ.You become a child of God.Regardless of your family situation, when you are united with Christ you become a child of the King. You are adopted into the family of God and you gain a new family: the church. This means you have the benefit of gaining new relationships that can help strengthen you and provide deeper meaning for your life. You are loved and accepted.God loves you, and when you accept Christ, you allow that love to change you. Because God loves us, we then are able to love others. This is the most central method for improving our relationships: the love of God working through us.

Tune in to Rooted, a message at Fusion Christian Church about the importance of growing in our faith. In this message, Pastor Matt explains how we can grow both individually and as part of the church.We are called to grow in our Faith.If we want to grow closer to God and produce fruit in our lives, we must grow our roots down deep. There are many ways we can grow, but often the tasks that should help us grow become a chore for us. To orient ourselves properly, we must remember the most important commandment of God is to love. First, we love God; second, we love others. If we are genuinely motivated by love, we will continue in healthy growth. While internal and external motivations fade away, eternal motivations never pass away. This is why we must root our desire to grow in love.How can we best grow in our faith?1. We grow closer to God in solitude.It is crucial for a healthy spiritual life to spend time alone with God. Make it a priority to set time with God in your day. When you have that time, make sure you limit distractions so that you can focus on God and build your relationship with him. 2. We grow closer to God in community.You are not meant to live life alone. Connecting to a local church is essential for the life of a Christian. You cannot be a healthy Christian if you are not part of a local church.At Fusion Christian Church, we encourage everyone to join a small group because personal relationships are crucial for building up one another in Christ. Our goal is that 100% of our church members would be part of a small group (or several!). Will you get connected? Will you join a small group?

In the finale to our Dream Big series at Fusion Christian Church, we look at how we can expand the kingdom of God. As we celebrate our Missions Sunday, Pastor Zac interviews missionaries from both local and global ministries supported by Fusion Christian Church. We have so many ministries to get involved with, so pray about how you can get involved with either your time or your giving. Evan and Pam - YWAM in JapanOur time starts with a video update from Evan and Pam in Japan. They update the church on what they have been doing for the last year. From disaster relief and festival outreach to college ministry and team coordination, the couple have been busy. On top of all the missions work, they introduce the newest addition to their family: baby Olive. Continue to pray for the work they do bringing the gospel to Sendai, Japan.Project Touch - Temecula ValleyProject Touch is one of Fusion Christian Church's oldest ministry partners. They are a homeless outreach program that attempts to get people back on their feet. Anne, a longtime friend of the church, heads up the program and gives some updates on the ministry along with a new building project.Birth Choice - Temecula ValleyBirth Choice is a local pregnancy resource center. They strive to save babies from abortion by providing resources and assistance to parents in need of help. Hear from Jessica as she explains more about the ministry, shares an encouraging story, and tells us how to get involved. Circle of Care - Temecula ValleyChuck and Terri run Circle of Care, a local foodbank that regularly provides groceries to hundreds of struggling families in the area. Hear from them as they describe the unique challenges and blessings of a relational ministry like theirs. They also describe some of the needs they have, so if it is on your heart and within your ability to fill a need, reach out to us to get connected.Olive Crest/Strong Families - Riverside CountyStrong Families is a ministry underneath the Olive Crest umbrella that seeks to provide short-term care for children in need. This is a hospitality ministry that steps in to offer support to families who have nowhere else to turn. Addison describes the sort of situation that Strong Families is able to help with and how you can help.Student Venture - Temecula ValleyMonty and Karen head up Student Venture, a program which works within the school system to reach 6th-12th grade students. The program seeks to win kids to Christ, build them up, and send them out to do the same again. Monty describes the unique way that Student Venture is able to connect with students and change lives. Camino de Vida - Lima, PeruNext, we receive a video update from Nick Balcombe in Peru. Theirs is another ministry that Fusion Christian Church has supported for a very long time. Camino de Vida (Way of Life) church in Lima is a massive church that reaches thousands of people throughout Peru. Hear from Nick and continue to pray for their success in preaching the gospel.World Mission Adventure - InternationalMark and Debbie Blum are the founders of World Mission Adventure and longtime friends of Pastor Zac and his wife Laura. They work to set up mission trips and send people to many places around the world. They believe that going on a mission trip will provide help in foreign countries and change the perspective of Christians who go.Casa Esperanza - Ensenada, MexicoCasa Esperanza began as a shelter for women and children and has now expanded their ministry to offer schooling to the children there. Gabriel and Gabbi offer the sincerest thanks for the support we've given and describe the unique ministry challenges they face.

"Dream Big" is our series to kick off 2025 at Fusion Christian Church where we look to set godly goals. In this message, Pastor Zac lays out three biblical goals which we should all set for ourselves.Make it Your Goal to Grow Closer to GodThe first of our three goals is to grow closer to God. If you don't aim at it, you won't hit it! Aim to grow closer to God and make an effort to do so. God created you, so his plan for your life is better than yours. Getting closer to God gets you where you need to go. Growing with him also leads to a life of significance. Here are several ways you can grow closer to God:-Turn from sin and turn toward God.-Read and memorize your bible-Never stop praying-Be a faithful member of God's houseMake it Your Goal to Love Your Friends and Family MoreJust as with God, you need to put effort into your relationships with other people if you want them to succeed. You must aim at better relationships by putting in the effort! Here are a few ways to improve your relationships:-Tell your friends and family you love them and why they matter-Set punch-out and punch-in times (Make time for the people you care about!)-Take care of yourself physically and spiritually-Get your finances in order and be generous (Nobody likes a moocher!)Make it Your Goal to Excel at Your WorkIn all things, Christians are called to work "as unto the Lord." The work that you do, whether good or ill, is a reflection of your character. As a Christian, your character is an example of Christ. Decide that you are going to do good work so that you represent Christ well.

"Dream Big" is our series to kick off 2025 at Fusion Christian Church where we look to set godly goals. In this message, Pastor Zac explains the vision of our church and the simple truth behind our mission statement: Love God, Love Others, Tell Everyone.To fulfill a big vision, we must build on a godly foundation.If God is not the cornerstone of the church, we may as well quit building. If God does not direct the building, the building will fail. We must continually work to ground our church in God and his word. With that said, what is the purpose of our church? Why do we exist as a church?We exist to Love God.The first and greatest commandment is to love God, and we can show our love for God in three major ways. First, by loving Christ the Son. Christ is the image of the invisible God, and if we do not love Christ, we do not love God. Second, we love God by loving and obeying his word. If we love God, we should love to read what he has written for us. To take it a step further: we should love to live out the commands he has given us as well. Third, we show our love for God by loving prayer. It does not make sense to say we love someone if we never speak to them. Prayer is our way to communicate with God, and if we love God then we should love prayer.We exist to Love Others.This is the second greatest commandment: to love your neighbor as yourself. At Fusion Christian Church, we believe that the duty of all Christians is to love other people. How can we love others? One of the best ways is by serving them. If we are willing to serve others and work for their good, we demonstrate our love for them. On a personal level, we can also show our love for others by expressing care and interest in them. Simply getting to know people is essential for knowing how to love them better. We exist to Tell Everyone the good news about Jesus.The most important way to love someone is to tell them the gospel. In fact, the most loving thing anyone can do for another is to tell them about Jesus Christ. Salvation is found in no other name than the name Jesus, and we, Christians, must share that name wherever we go. How can you share the gospel with those around you this year?

This is our series to kick off 2025 at Fusion Christian Church where we look to set godly goals. In this message, Pastor Zac will teach us why it is important to set godly goals and how to do so.To fulfill big dreams, you must set godly goals.If we want to live full and satisfying lives, we must set goals that are within God's will for us. He knows what is best, so we should strive to live according to what he has prescribed for us. This is not to say that anything we selfishly desire will be fulfilled if we have faith, because our next big point is...Godly goals align our dreams with God's heart.God does not merely give us the desires of our heart. What he does is much grander than that. Instead, God changes our hearts so that the things we desire match the good things he wants already. Submit to him to change your whole heart.Godly goals are a sign of faith.When we choose to set a goal that aligns with God's will, we demonstrate our belief that his way is better. The greater our godly goals, the greater the faith we demonstrate. This also leads to our next point:Let the size of your God determine the size of your goal.We serve a mighty and powerful God who can do all things. If our goal is godly, we should not shy away from it because it seems impossible. Instead, we should see that our God has done mighty works and can do them again.Godly goals keep me growing and going.One of the primary benefits of setting goals is that they help us grow. When we choose godly goals, it helps us grow in godliness. When we continue to grow and mature in our faith, as we should, it motivates us to keep moving forward. Ultimately, this will help mold us into the people God wants us to be.How do you set godly goals for your life?To help us set goals with God's will in mind, we should ask three questions:1. Do my goals honor God?2. Are my goals motivated by love?3. Will my goals deepen my dependency on God?If we ask these three questions, they will help us to align our goals with God's.

This is part 4 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God wants to be with us for eternity. For this reason, he has given the offer of Jesus so that we might go to heaven with him.Only Jesus can calm a troubled heartWhen the disciples were worried about Jesus leaving them, he reassured them by saying, "Don't let your hearts be troubled." Jesus promised that he has gone to prepare a place for those who are in Christ. If we believe in him, then this promise is secure for us. This leads us to the question: What eternity are you living for? Are you living for eternity with God or without God?God has a special place for youGod sent his son into the world to reunite us with him. He made a way for us to be with him in heaven. If we accept his son, Jesus, then we have a special place prepared for us for eternity. We don't have a perfect picture of what heaven will be like, but we do know that it will be free from all wicked things and full of every good thing. If you are a Christian and worried that heaven might be boring or unpleasant in some way, then you probably have gotten some of your ideas of heaven from other sources. The bible describes heaven as a place of joy. There is no reason to think we might be unhappy there.Jesus is coming back, and you're invited to his HouseThe central belief of all Christians when it comes to the end of time is that Jesus is coming back. We must prepare for his return by accepting the invitation he has offered us to be part of his kingdom and to live in the Father's House. This brings us to ask: "How do I get to the Father's house?"You have to accept God's invitationChrist came the first time to provide a way to be with him. He will come back again to bring home those who have accepted him. Jesus is God's special invitation to eternity, and we need to trust in Jesus if we want to go to heaven.You have to live in his truthIn addition to trusting Jesus, we must live in him. He told us that he is the truth, so living in Jesus means we live in God's truth. There is no other way to the Father. If we want to be in the Father's house, we must accept the Son.

This is part 3 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God is with us when we feel overwhelmed. When we are overwhelmed, we should remember God has a greater plan. When you feel like you are being buried, think of how you are being planted.Jesus is the seed of salvationThe first thing to know is that Jesus was the chosen seed of Abraham to bring salvation to all of us. Like a seed, he was buried in death so that he could be raised to life. This opens a door for us to undergo the same process.Bury your old life to be planted in ChristBecause Jesus died and rose again, we too can be raised to new life if only we will bury the old life. Baptism is a symbol of this death and rebirth. When we are baptized, we are "buried" in the waters and rise again as a new creation.To be planted in Christ means you die daily so you can live dailyJesus said that we must take up our cross every day. The battle with sin is real and constant. We must die to sin every day in order to have victory over it.What happens when you're planted in Christ?Your whole life should change when you become planted in Jesus. We leave sin and loneliness behind us as we grow. Bearing fruit becomes normal for us when we plant ourselves. As we grow, we begin acting and speaking in a life-giving way. Finally, when we are planted, we will glorify God and God will honor us in return. How can you make sure you are planted in Christ?

This is part 2 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God is with us in the storm.God doesn't leave you in the storm, so don't let the storm pull you away from God.Sometimes our lives become overwhelmingly chaotic, but we must not let that pull us away from God. God stays with us through all our trials, so when we face them, we should remember to turn to him.When we are in the storm, we are faced with many questions. What is happening? Where is God? Why God? Whose fault is this? Does God even care? It's important to remember that God never leaves us, and that he cares for us through our trials. When we are looking for someone to blame, it helps to remember that many of the storms we face are our fault! God does bring storms into our lives as a way to test us, but often we cause the problems ourselves! This brings us to an important truth:Don't blame God in the storm; acknowledge him.It is easy to blame God when things go wrong, but if we turn to him in faith instead, we can be comforted. God knows far more than we do, and he always sees around the corner. We should always trust him to know what is best in every circumstance.When you're in the storm, turn to the one who can calm the storm.As said, it's easy to blame God, but when we need comfort, we should look for him. Blaming God will never lead you to feeling whole when you suffer a storm. If we instead seek God for help and comfort, we can find healing and safety.Who is in your boat?Is Jesus with you? Have you given your life to him? If you want to be safe from the storms, you need to make sure that Jesus is with you. The only way to do that is to surrender to Jesus and let him take control of your life.What's at the end of my storm?There are two main results when we weather a storm God's way. First, we become stronger through the trials. Second, we become someone who can help others through their own storms.Remember that God has a greater plan for your life. Will you submit to his plan?

This is part 1 of "God With Us," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we examine what it means for God to be present with his people through Jesus Christ. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us that God is with us through both good times and dark times.God is with you in the good timesThe most important thing to do when we are in good times is to remember the God who brought us here. It's easy to forget about God when things are going well, but remembering God lets us show him gratitude. We also should learn that good times are not for us, but for us to give glory to God. In the good times, we should say: "I didn't get here on my own, God was with me." We most often forget God when everything is going well. Try to avoid falling into that trap!God is with you in the dark timesJesus came as our Emmanuel, which means "God with us." When he came down and took on humanity, he took on our weaknesses as well. We do not have a God who is distant, but one who walked through the trials of a human life. Because of that, he is able to comfort us through our own trials. What should you do to help you through the dark times?Get your strength from GodGod's power is made perfect in our weakness. When we feel weak, we must rely on him for strength. Let him restore you.Fix your mind on GodYour focus sets your course. If we set our eyes, our minds, and our hearts on God, we will be able to endure through all sorts of trials and obstacles. How can you focus on God throughout your week?

This is part 3 of our series, "In __ We Trust," where we examine the things that we wrongly put our trust in and compare them to the God we should trust in. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about how important it is to live our lives for other people and not for ourselves. Teaching from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, he draws out biblical truth about how we should treat other people. What does it look like when we start loving others?I value others above myself.In the parable, the rich man knew Lazarus but never offered to help him. He only ever valued his own comfort and left Lazarus to suffer. As Christians we should value other people more than ourselves, putting their needs first. In humility, we should consider others to be of greater value than ourselves.I care for others more than my comfort.It would have been uncomfortable for the rich man to offer care for Lazarus, so he never did. Christians are called to set aside our own selfish desires and put first the good of others. Discomfort should not discourage us from giving comfort to others. I show kindness to those who are different than me.This means not only that we are kind to people from different backgrounds, but also to people who disagree with us. According to the bible, we must show love even to our enemies.My love for others is a mirror of my love for Jesus.We should be honest about ourselves and ask whether or not we truly love others. If we truly love others, it shows that we truly love Jesus. On the other hand, if we do not love others, it shows that we do not know Jesus at all. Don't be a hypocrite, but instead love God, love others, and tell everyone the good news.

This is part 2 of our series, "In __ We Trust," where we examine the things that we wrongly put our trust in and compare them to the God we should trust in. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of gratitude in our lives. We choose to focus on our ingratitude and negative experiences when we should be grateful and focus on the blessings we have instead.In Gratitude I TrustIn our story for this message, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one of the ten return to thank him. While many of us are unfamiliar with leprosy today, in Jesus' day it was a deadly disease. Many of those who contracted leprosy would lose feeling in their limbs, causing any minor wound to become infected. Quite often, lepers lost limbs because of this. Much like sin, leprosy destroys the body from the inside out.Leprosy and sin have more in common as well. Both are more than skin deep and both infect a whole person. Leprosy caused a person to be cast out of society, while sin, much more seriously, causes people to be cast out of God's kingdom into hell. Both lepers and sinners are essentially dead men walking. Finally, just as the only hope for the lepers was healing through Jesus, the only hope for sinners is salvation through Jesus. What can we learn about showing gratitude from this story?We can cry out to Jesus, our MasterWhen we recognize Jesus as Master, we subjugate our sinful desire to reject authority. At its core, sin is rebellion against God, and when we cry out to Jesus as Lord and Master, we put him back in charge.When we walk in obedience, miracles happen.We must choose to walk according to what God designed. The lepers were healed when they did what Jesus told them to do. If we ever want to see miracles in our lives, we must walk in the way God laid out for us.We need a rapid return to gratitudeWe should be as quick to show gratitude as the tenth leper was to return to Jesus. Some of us are very quick to show other responses, but how often are we quick to say, "Thank you"?In God's healing I trustWe must recognize that Jesus is the healer and we should look to him first when we need healing. God might work through modern medicine or doctors or any number of means to heal us, but all good things ultimately come from God. Turn to God first.

This is part 1 of our series, "In __ We Trust," where we examine the things that we wrongly put our trust in and compare them to the God we should trust in. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the new life we have in Christ, and why that means we shouldn't live in our old life any longer. We start with the question: What does a new life in Christ look like?We died with Christ - We are alive with Christ - We are raised with ChristTo die with Christ means we die to sin. We are no longer to indulge our sinful desires, but instead we must live a life that is transformed. We have been freed from bondage to slavery, and now we can live for Christ. Just as Christ lives, we can also live with him. Just as Christ has been raised to new life, so, too, are we raised to new life with him.We are hidden with ChristBecause we are hidden with Christ, we are protected from danger and our salvation is secure. There is nothing that will separate us from the love of God expressed in Christ Jesus. Take heart! If God is for us, then who can be against us?We are glorified with ChristA deep mystery of the faith is that just as Christ was glorified, so will we also be glorified. Christ's resurrection is a promise of our own future resurrection. On that day, we will receive glorified bodies free of sin or any blemish. When Jesus returns, he will raise all believers from the dead and restore our bodies to a perfected and glorified state. This is the hope which Christians have eagerly awaited for 2,000 years.What should you do now?Because of this, we must strive to put to death all our worldly desires. It is not only that we try to stop sinning, but that we try to purge even our sinful passions. With God's help, we must replace our earthly natures little by little with something that resembles heaven.How can you defeat your sinful desires this week?

This is part 4 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this message, Pastor Matt teaches us how we can build our faith in a way that's different. Starting with 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, we will walk through how to build our faith.You need a foundation before you can buildIn our main passage, we read that each of us must start with the foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the chief cornerstone, and we must build our faith beginning with him. We can and will and should build on top of that foundation using good materials, but it is essential that the building begins with Jesus.We need to build wiselyAgain, returning to our main passage, we see the admonition for each of us to "take care" how we build upon our foundation. Once we have Jesus Christ as our starting block, we must choose carefully how to build after that.We need to build with materials that will lastWhen the day of judgment comes, what we have built will be tested. We need to be sure to build with good materials so that when testing comes, our work stands the test.What material will last?The first material which lasts is the word of God. When we build our faith using God's Word, we build a faith that will last. There are four steps to building our faith with God's word, the first being to simply read it. If we do not read it, how can we make any use of it? The second step is to meditate on the scriptures, keeping them always in mind so that we can fully digest their meaning. The third step is to memorize it. Obviously, memorizing the whole bible is a tall task, so start small and memorize what you can! Any scripture memorized can be a benefit to the believer. The fourth step is to apply God's word. Knowing what God's word says is not much help if we don't ultimately put it into practice.The second material which lasts is people. To build our faith with people, we need to participate in the ministry of reconciliation which Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5. God designed us to be in relationship with him, and our duty as Christians is to bring as many people as possible back into that relationship.

This is part 3 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this message, Elder Reuben teaches us how we as Christians are built to serve.We Are Blessed to Be a BlessingThe blessings God gave us were given so that we could be a blessing to others. Abraham was able to become a blessing to many nations because God blessed him with a son. What gifts do you have that you can bless others with?We Have the Power of the Holy SpiritOften we feel as though we are inadequate or unequipped to serve, but the Holy Spirit can enable us to do more than we ever thought possible. The Holy Spirit will empower you with gifts so that you can boldly step out in faith. If you are hesitant to step out and serve, pray that the Spirit would strengthen you and lead you to serve in the way God has for you.We are Wired to ServeGod has given each of us unique gifts. We are to use these gifts to serve God and others. God did not design us to sit on our hands, but to go out and serve. How is God calling you? If we learn to recognize our gifts, we will learn where we should serve. Consider speaking to other Christians about what your spiritual gifts are. Perhaps you have giftings you haven't yet discovered!In all things, we must remember that serving God and others is a primary goal for a Christian. Consider checking out some local service opportunities.

This is part 2 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this sermon, Pastor Zac finishes teaching through the book of Jude and we continue to learn how to build our faith. He begins with teaching what the result of bad building is.What does it look like when I build the wrong way?Here are 7 characteristics of a person who has built the wrong way: grumbling, boasting, manipulating, scoffing, self-centeredness, divisiveness, and lack of the Holy Spirit. Are you guilty of any of these? If so, examine your life and make sure you have been building it on Jesus and not your own desires. Christians should not look like this, so what do we do to look different?How should you build?There are several ways to build our lives based on what Jude says. We build our faith; pray in the Spirit; keep ourselves in God's love; and plunder hell to populate heaven.Build your faith.Our faith will not magically build itself! We must intentionally build our faith by doing the things Jesus commanded of us.Pray in the Spirit.Praying in the Spirit is sometimes made too complicated for believers. What it primarily means is to pray that God's will be done. When we pray for God's will to be done, it helps align our hearts with God's.Keep yourself in God's love.Love is a choice, not a feeling. If you base your love on feelings, it will collapse. Love is a commitment that we must stick to even when we don't feel like it. To love God, we must try to keep his commands even when we don't want to.Plunder hell to populate heaven.Among God's commands is to evangelize to those who are in danger of the fire of God's judgment. Our job is to pull people from the jaws of hell and bring them to God. One of the best ways to grow our own faith is to share it with others.Choose one thing you can do to start building your faith.In a final word of practical advice, choose one small area to start in. Don't try to tackle too many things at once, but instead pick one small thing that you can do first. 

This is part 1 of "Built Different," our series at Fusion Christian Church about how Christians are different from the world and how we should act because of that. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches through the first half of the book of Jude, offering insights into how we should stand out from the way of the world and not be like those who fall into judgment.How are we built different?According to Peter, we are like stones being built into a spiritual house. From the first half of Jude, we will see four ways that we are "built different" from the world.We contend for the faith.As Christians, we must stand up for our beliefs. We should not be like those who desire to be in God's army but aren't willing fight for our beliefs. It is essential that we combat false teaching and refuse to let it spread in the church.We live in reverent fear of God's judgment.Though the subject is unpopular, we must not forget that God's judgment is very real. If we forget God's judgment, we will downplay our sin, because his judgment serves as a warning that our sins are deadly serious. As the bible teaches in many places, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowing this, we should maintain a healthy fear of God's judgment.We walk under authority.We must always remember that God is the only true authority. Though some Christians are fond of "rebuking" things in their prayers, Jude tells us that not even the archangels do that. Instead, we submit to God and offer every situation up to his judgment.We learn from the examples God gives us.Pay attention to the examples of evil behavior Jude gives so that we might learn to avoid the mistakes they made. Cain thought he knew better than God and refused to offer a worthy sacrifice. Balaam tried to curse God's people for money, an when that didn't work, he encouraged seduction as a way to draw them away from God. Korah despised Moses' leadership, rebelling against the one God had chosen to lead the people. God severely punished the sin of all three men.Through it all, remember that God has made you a new creation, and that we should respond to that by acting differently in the world.

This is Part 5 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches about the importance of building a place of worship by examining how it was done in the bible. He also makes an important announcement about future plans for Fusion Christian Church.As our church looks forward to purchasing a building, getting ready for that significant cost must be a priority for us. This sermon follows two stories in scripture about the construction of God's house and the lessons we learn from them. To begin, we ask the question: what does it take to get ready?To build the house, we must give from the heart.The first story is the building of the tabernacle of Moses. In this story, we see that God's people offer their own treasures to the building of God's house. God tells Moses to collect whatever is on the heart of the people to give, and they give so much that Moses has to stop collecting donations. God had richly provided for the Israelites when they left Egypt, and the people gave those riches right back to God for the building of His house.To build the house, we must give creatively.Some of the things given by the people may seem odd to us, but there is more which we can offer to God than a lump sum. Other material possessions can be offered to God as well, and God can use what we offer Him.To build the house, we must give willingly from what we have.It is not for us to demand from God's people, but it is more blessed to give than to receive. God desires that we choose to give out of love for Him and His house. We should desire to give, not do so merely out of obligation.To build the house, we must also give of our God-given skill.Just as described when Moses built the tabernacle, many skilled workers from God's people contributed to the construction. What skills do you have that can help?To build the house, we must give as an example to others.David set the example for his people by giving his personal treasury and asking the people to do likewise. David knew that if he could not build the house, it was his job to ensure the project was ready for his son to carry out. How can you set an example with your generosity?To build the house, we give to the Lord.Ultimately, if God is not involved, our plans will fail. We must remember to keep God at the center at all times.

This is Part 4 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this message, Pastor Matt teaches us four elements to a heart for the house.UnityThe first element is that a heart for the house has unity. If we are not unified, we will never be effective in ministry. We must avoid divisions in the church so that we might be prepared for the work God has prepared for us to do. This also means we must speak the truth in love and not avoid confrontation.No GossipThe second element is that a heart for the house refuses to gossip. As Christians, our job is not only to refuse to participate in gossip, but to put an end to it when we hear it. We must encourage each other to speak directly to those with whom we have disagreements rather than gossiping to others about our problems with them. Few things breed disunity and destroy churches faster than gossip does.Love One AnotherThe third element is that hearts for the house love one another. We don't have to like everyone, but we do have to love everyone. Love is an act of the will that aims for the good of others. This can be done regardless of our feelings towards another person. When we demonstrate love for each other, this becomes a witness for unbelievers. When we love one another, we will...Shine in this Dark WorldThe fourth element is that a heart for the house shines in this dark world. As Jesus described it, the church is a city on a hill and a light for all to see. By persevering through trials and doing so without complaining, we demonstrate the hope we have in Jesus.Finally, our mission is offensive: we will build God's church on the confession of Jesus as the Christ and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

This is Part 3 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this part, Pastor Zac tells us what it takes to have a heart for the house. Through Jesus' parable of the Great Banquet, we learn how to stop making excuses and bring others to the party.A Heart for the House Makes No ExcusesThe first lesson we pull from the parable is that many people make excuses which get in the way of their heart for the house. Here are some excuses we see from people in the parable:"I've got too many things going on." Some people have made many commitments, prioritizing them over the needs of God's house. Ask yourself if you have made too many commitments and let them get in the way of serving God and your church family."I'm too busy with work." Often, we let work dominate our lives. While it is important to ensure that your family is provided for, don't let your work fill your life too full. Leave room for yourself to do God's work too."I've got too many family commitments." Family is important, but if we are to best serve our families, we must maintain godly priorities. Further, training your family in the importance of serving the Lord is essential to their spiritual growth. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." -Joshua 24:15.A Heart for the House Never Comes AloneThe second lesson we pull from the parable is that God's servants don't come to the banquet alone. It is our responsibility and our duty to invite others, bringing them with us into the house of God. As the parable says, we must go out into the countryside and bring in anyone we can find so that God's house will be full. It is God's ardent desire that his house be filled, and he has tasked us with that mission. Let us invite everyone we can so that we complete the command God has given us!

This is Part 2 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In this message, Pastor Zac reads through the description of the beginning of the church from Acts chapter 2. From this passage, he pulls several truths about the importance of being in a godly community.To begin with: what does it look like when we love godly community?We love to study God's word together.-The early church was committed to the apostles' teaching (preserved for us in scripture), having both leaders who loved to teach and a people who loved to learn. We should be the same way: excited to open and learn the word of God.We love building relationships with other believers-The early church was devoted to fellowship, which is a supernatural bond that can only be shared with other believers. This fellowship is what brings unity within the body of Christ. In order to maintain fellowship, we must love one another.We love sharing meals and the Lord's Supper-The early church met together regularly in homes, breaking bread together and partaking in communion. Eating together helps foster a strong sense of community. The early church also maintained a spiritual element in their meetings by taking communion. This practice of keeping Jesus at the center of our meetings is crucial to the health and unity of the church.We love prayer-An active prayer life being central to the health of both individual Christians and congregations, every believer should be diligent to pray continually.We encourage all Christians to commit to God's word, to prayer, and to fellowship, believing that we will see miracles, generosity will become a way of life, faithfulness to God's house will increase, small groups will become a priority, and, crucially, we will share our faith and grow God's kingdom.Do you love God's word? Do you love people? Do you love fellowship? Do you love prayer?

This is Part 1 of "Heart for the House," our series at Fusion Christian Church on growing and maintaining a heart that is passionate about God's people, the church. In the opening sermon for this series, Pastor Zac walks through the first example of worship we have in scripture, the story of Cain and Abel. He explains what the difference is between Cain and Abel in terms of attitude and behavior and encourages us to keep an attitude like Abel, which desires to give the best to God and make sacrifices for and to Him.Key Question: How can I have a heart for the house?Main Points:A heart for the house brings its best to God-Don't just give what is convenient for you. God desires a sacrifice from us. If it doesn't cost you anything, it isn't a sacrifice.A heart for the house loves what is good.-Like Abel, we should love what is good and hate what is evil. If we love God, we will also love the things which God loves.A heart for the house walks in obedience.-God told Cain, "You will be accepted if you do what is right," but Cain became bitter and hated his brother, choosing instead to murder him out of jealousy.A heart for the house comes before God in faith.-At Fusion Christian Church, we teach that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9. Only by coming humbly before God, believing in the savior, can we be saved.-Will you choose to live like Cain and rebel against God? Or will you live like Abel and do God's will in faith?

This is Part 7 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In today's sermon, Pastor Zac explains what it means to live in God's will and how to know when we are in it.

This is Part 6 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In today's sermon, Pastor Zac tackles the questions of people who are at their wit's end. When we don't know where to turn, we turn to Jesus.

This is Part 5 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this week's message we look at the importance of the words we say. Focusing on James chapter 3, we learn about the power our words have for both good and evil.

This is Part 4 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In preparation for our annual beach baptism, Pastor Zac gave us the biblical perspective on baptism. At Fusion, we teach that baptism is for those who believe in Jesus Christ.

This is Part 3 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this message, Pastor Zac answers the question of whether or not a Christian should share their faith. He examines the relevant passages and gives the answer based on what the bible says!

This is Part 2 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this message, Pastor Zac answers the question of why bad things happen to good people. If you doubt that God is really good, this message is for you!

This is Part 1 of "You Asked For It," our sermon series at Fusion Christian Church where we answer real questions from members of our church community. We look to give biblical answers for the questions people have and the problems people face. In this message, Pastor Zac answers the question of why good things happen to bad people. He also spends a little bit of time answering the question of what Jesus looked like.

This is part 10 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us how to go through our troubles to triumph.

This is part 9 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us what to do when we want to give up.

This is part 7 of "Stay the Course," our sermon series on the book of Hebrews. In this message, Pastor Zac teaches us why we should Keep on Keeping on!