Grace and Truth Community Church

12/16/18 Third Week of Advent - Joy to the World - Pastor Kevin     Call To Worship   PSALMS 100   “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”           Luke 2:8-14   "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,     and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”   Vs. 8 - Out In A Field   Vs. 9 - An Angel Appeared   Vs. 10–12 - Bringing Good News of Great Joy   Vs. 13–14 - A Sign, A Multitude Praising God, For Peace on Earth          Benediction    May we be people of of God’s great joy. May God’s Joy shine in our hearts as we proclaim Good News to those we meet. Let us share God’s Joy by blessing each other. Let us share God’s Joy as we obey the Commands of Christ. Let us share God’s Joy by praying for those lost without God’s Peace. Remember that God’s Joy will sustain us through all seasons of life. Go and share joy, love and hope with all those you meet.   Amen.

12/09/18 - During the second week of our celebration of Advent, we are looking at Love, its true meaning and how as Christians we are to see it differently than the world. - Pastor Kevin Vance   CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Psalm 103:1-4, 8–11 (Respond Together) “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all our iniquity, who heals all our diseases, who redeems us life from the pit, who crowns us with steadfast love and mercy..."   (Call) The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always rebuke us, nor will he keep his anger forever. For those who trust in God, He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him . . .”   1 Corinthians 13:1-7 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."   VS. 1-3 - THINGS YOU CAN DO WITHOUT LOVE VS. 4–7 - WHAT PERFECT LOVE LOOKS LIKE   Benediction  (A Blessing for the Road) Go now, and wherever people will hear you, speak the soul-changing love of Jesus. Do not fear your weakness, but rely on Christ’s strength at work within you. Honor those who cherish The Gospel. God is your protection and true home; Through faith in Jesus the power of Christ dwells in you; by faith The Holy Spirit is your guide forever.

Join us in celebrating Advent this year starting today, Sunday December 2, 2018. Advent means the coming of Christ. We set aside four weeks (Hope, Love, Joy & Peace) to meditate, celebrate and examine our hearts in preparation of Christmas Day, the birth of our Savior. In order to see our need for a beautiful Savior, we need to see the depth of our darkest night.   Lamentations 3:21-25 But this I call to mind,     and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]     his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,     “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him,     to the soul who seeks him.  

James 4:1-6 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Call to Worship Adapted from Proverbs 11:2 & 2 Chronicles 7:14 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Vs. 1-3 - The Source of Discord Vs. 4 - Who Do You Love?  Vs. 5-6 - God’s Jealous Love Gives More Grace  Benediction Romans 15:5-7 “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father  of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

James 3:13-18 "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." Main Point "Wisdom = Conduct" Vs. 13 - Love God and Love Others Vs. 14 - Don't Be False Vs. 15-16 - Demonic Wisdom Vs. 17 - Pure Wisdom How do we practically care for Orphans? Vs. 18 - Harvest of Peace  

11/04/18 - Pastor Kevin We all need boundaries and to know how to use our speech for good and to please God. With our mouths we can bless or curse, we can encourage or tear down.  See what James teaches us in this warning passage about the spiritual discipline of godly speech. "Speech that is not tied to our faith is deadly."  Call To Worship Isaiah 6:5–7 “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts! Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."     James 3:6–12 "The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." Vs. 6 - The Tongue Burns Vs. 7-8 - Taming Animals (But Not Your Tongue)   Vs. 9-10 - The Thing That Should Not Be Vs. 11–12 - Consider The Source   Benediction Hope of Future Glory Revelation 22:1-5 “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

James chapter 3 begins to describe how important are words on day to day and for the course of our lives, others lives, and eternity. 10/28/18 -  Pastor Kevin Vance - James 3:1-5  Call to Worship Adapted from Psalm 19 “The heavens declare the glory of God, & the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Keep back your servants from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over your people! Then we shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” James 3:1-5 "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!" Vs. 1 - We’ll All Be Judged Vs. 2 - We All Sin With Words Vs. 3-4 - Words Are Powerful Vs. 5 - Hurting Or Healing Words?   Benediction 1 John 5:1-5 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

10/21/18 - James 2:20-26 - Pastor Kevin Vance Sermon Title: Faith Working Through a Prophet and a Prostitute   Call to Worship ADAPTED FROM John 6:28-29 (After Jesus miraculously fed a multitude of people they asked Jesus:) "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Or what can we do to please God Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."    Vs. 20–24 - Abraham Faith Worked Vs. 25 - Rahab’s Faith Worked Vs. 26 - Does Your Faith Work?  Benediction Hebrews 13:20-21 “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

James 1:2 -  Pastor Kevin Vance Sermon Title: The Purpose of Testing (For God's People)   1 Peter 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”    Vs. 2 - Count it ALL Joy Vs. 3 - Testing Produces Steadfastness Vs. 4 - Perseverance Produces Perfection   Benediction/Assurance of God’s Goodness Psalm 34:1-6 “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”      

10/07/18 - Pastor Kevin Vance Call To Worship Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”   The Passage - James 2:14-17 Sermon Title - True Faith Loves Vs. 14 - False Faith Vs. 15–16 - An Example of False Faith Vs. 17 - Faith Rooted in Nothing Benediction Ephesians 6:23-24 “Peace be to you and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

10/14/18 - Pastor Kevin Vance -   Passage James 2:18–19 PROFESSION OF FAITH DOESN’T = POSSESSION OF FAITH   James 2:12 “So speak & SO act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.” Colossians 3:1-8   Vs. 18 - True Faith Accompanied By Good Works Vs. 19 - You Know Some Things About God, So What!   Benediction 1 John 5:1-5 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.” Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

9/30/18 - Pastor Kevin Vance CALL TO WORSHIP Romans 12:9-16 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”   Passage - James 2:8-13 Sermon Title: Live Like You Know God Vs. 9 - Showing Partiality is Sin Vs. 10-11 - We've All Sinned, So Why Judge Others? Vs. 12 - Speak, Act, and Live Humbly Vs. 13a - Those Who Judged Will Be Judged Vs. 13b - Remember The Power of God’s Grace   BENEDICTION 1 Peter 5:6-11 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  

9/16/18 -  Pastor Kevin Sermon Text - James 2:8  "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well."   Loving others as you love yourself is messy, but we are commanded to love God and Love others.  If we have true affection for God, we will want to please Him.  This section of scripture answers these big questions. How do I love God?  Who is my Neighbor? How Do I Love My Neighbor? Other text used in sermon: 1 John 5:3, Lev 19:9-18, Mark 12:29-31, 2 Peter 1:

9/9/18 - Pastor Kevin Our true hope and treasure is in Christ Jesus Alone. We should not look at people based on income, status, race, sex, or ability, or politics. All humans beings have dignity worth and value.    CALL TO WORSHIP    Psalm 10:10–13 KJV “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”     Sermon Text James 2:1-7 "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?"   Leviticus 19:15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”   Malachi 2:9 “So I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”   Proverbs 22:2 “The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.”   Vs. 1 - TRUE FAITH SHOWS NO PARTIALITY   Vs. 2-4 - PARTIALITY LOOKS LIKE  THIS   Vs. 5-7 - DON’T BE A HYPOCRITE!   BENEDICTION/COMMISSION   Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

James 1:19-27 9/2/18  - B. Kauk   1. What Should We Know? 2. How Should We Receive? Quickly Purely Humbly Implanted Why? 3. How Should We Respond? - What Should We Do? Bridle our Tongue Take Care of the Afflicted Keep Unstained

James continues to teach Christians wisdom during suffering. We must not believe the lie that God is not good. God is good. He is for you, those who have saving faith and trust in Jesus.   8/26/18 - James 1:16-18 (ESV) "Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." Call To Worship   Psalm 100 CSB   “Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to God! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations.”     Vs. 16 - Don’t Drift Away   Vs. 17 - All God’s Gifts Are Good   Vs. 18  - Because God Is Good     Songs:   Refuge - Sojourn Music   

James 1:12-15   "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."    Love Jesus Hate Sin!   Vs. 12 - Faith That Loves   Vs. 13 - God Tempts No One   Vs. 14 - The Source of Temptation   Vs. 15 - The Fruit of Sin (Death)    How do we conquer sinful desire? With a greater love for God! Spiritual disciplines, the things of God:  Cultivate Peace Cultivate Gratitude Study the Bible, Study God Discipleship in a community of faith Sing together songs to Jesus Cultivate a heart of Thankfulness Live your life to please God on purpose (Intentional)   Benediction   Adapted from Psalm 97:9-12     “For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above the false gods. O you who love the LORD, hate all that is evil! God preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hands of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!”  

James 1:9-11 "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits."   Call To Worship Isaiah 54:1 "Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear children; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD.”   Where Does Your Hope Lie? Vs. 9 - Rejoice in Exultation Vs. 10 - Rejoice in Humiliation Vs. 11 - Pursue True Hope   Song - All I Have is Christ 

James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."    

Introduction to new sermon series on the Book of James. This sermon outlines the context of the Book of James and overviews the epistle before diving into verses 1-4. James 1:1-4 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 

What we would call the second coming; meaning that it has yet to happen. God speaks to his enemies and ours and says, “get ready for war.” Get ready for judgment; sanctify and prepare yourself to the best of your ability because you’re going to war with God.  On one hand this is scary to think of; there’s a sense in which God is mocking the very people He’ll will one day judge. No one goes to war with God, He’s God! Also, wrapped up in this message of coming judgment is the sliver of hope that The Gospel message contains . . . “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” There will be a day of judgement for all who’ve unrepentantly sinned against God and His people, the way of escape is to return to God.   Joel 3:9–13   "Repent, The Kingdom of God is at Hand!"     CALL TO WORSHIP   Psalm 145:1-5   “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”      Vs.  9-12 - Prepare For War with God   Vs.  13 - Time’s Up!     Benediction    Isaiah 55:6-7   "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;  let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”  

This Passage highlights God’s character as a righteous judge.  In comparison to previous parts of Joel, we see God as: “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster." (Joel 2:13) Today, we’ll see that those who unrepentantly abuse God’s people, then and now, are those who incur God’s perfect justice.  We also see that to sin against God’s people is to sin against God Himself.  This is wonderful news for God’s people, and a sobering truth for those who refuse God and abuse His people.    Joel 3:1-8  "GOD IS A GOD OF GRACE & JUSTICE"     VS. 1–3 - FORTUNES & JUDGEMENT   VS. 4 - INJUSTICE TOWARD GOD’S PEOPLE   VS. 5–6 - WRONG MY PEOPLE WRONG GOD   VS. 7–8 - VINDICATION       BENEDICTION     Psalm 37:27-31   “Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints.They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.”

In Joel 2:28-32, we see God’s Grace go from great to unbelievable! Joel prophecies of the day that will come when God will “pour out His Spirit on all flesh” culminating in a promise that “everyone who calls upon The Lord” will be saved! During this time God had only (mostly) made Himself known to the Hebrew people. Today, we live in the age where Joel’s prophecy is being fulfilled. Praise God indeed!   "From Great to Unimaginable"    Joel 2:28-32   Vs. 28-29 - God’s Spirit Spilled Out   Vs. 30-31 - Announcing The Day of The Lord   Vs. 32 - Salvation For All Who Call Upon The Name of The Lord          Admonition to Live According to God’s Spirit     Adapted From Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23   “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the God’s Spirit within you, and the desires of the Spirit are against the desires of the flesh. Satan’s task to keep you from doing the things you truly want to does anew creation. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Call to Worship   Psalm 145:1-5   “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”   Joel 2:26-27        Benediction    Adapted from Psalm 32:11—33:1–34:8    “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!  Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise, worship & celebration befits the upright: those who have tasted & seen that the Lord is good.” 

We’ve turned the corner from the swarming locusts destroying the land, the people and everything else; to watching God not only relent but restoring to His people what they’d lost. “Fear not” and “be glad” convey the mood of this passage. This shows us that God is indeed “merciful” and “steadfast” when anyone turns away from sin and turns toward God’s in faith. For those who repent; the over arching message is that everything’s going to be restored and reconciled. Of course; we’ll only see this in part on this side of eternity, but we will ultimately and eternally see it. “Exceedingly and abundantly more than we could hope or dream.” Eph 3:20   Joel 2:18–25   From Fear to Rejoicing      Vs. 18-20 - Repentance Brings God's Mercy   Vs. 21–24 - Fear Not - But Rejoice!   Vs. 25 - I Will Restore You     Benediction   Taken from Psalm 113:2 – Ephesians 3:20-21   “Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

The entire Book of Joel has been building up to this segment. The plague of locusts as they’re swallowing up the people of God and destroying the nation; just when they were at the point of being crushed . . . we read verses 12-13.  “Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” Hence the title of this sermon series: “From Judgment To Reconciliation.” God offer to relent is still open to anyone who would rend their hearts and return to The Lord. This is such a great passage I can’t say enough about it.   Joel 2: 7-13 Vs. 7–10 - A Small Display of God’s Power     Vs. 11 - No One Can Withstand God’s Wrath     Vs. 12–13 - An Amazing Display of God’s Grace

Joel 2:13-17 This part of the sermon series focuses on the multi-faceted layers of God's character.      God is:   Gracious Merciful Compassionate Slow to Anger Does not Relent over Disaster Punishes the Guilty who do Not truly repent Offers Complete forgiveness and pardon to the sincere

Joel 2:1-6 God commands Joel to blast the alarm in order to strick fear in the hearts of the people of the nation; in order that they would return to God and God would relent of His all consuming plague. The overall theme of this segment is: be afraid, be stirred up, be shocked at the horror that ravages the land and threatens to destroy the people of God. The purpose for fear is so that the people then and now would reverence and honor God as we always should.     Vs. 1-2 - Wake Up!   Vs. 3–6 - Fire Devours & Anguish Grips The People       Benediction   Psalm 103:8-16   “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.”

Joel 1:13-20 God takes sin seriously, and God takes repentance seriously; so should we. In this passage Joel teaches the Israelites why they should repent; (us too). Namely because the wrath of God looms over the souls of all people, even God’s people (though not the ultimate wrath of Hell). In this segment Joel recounts how bad things are for the Israelites; and then gives voice to their need for God’s rescue in the midst of their circumstances.   Vs. 13–14 - Take Seriously God’s Call To Repent Vs. 15 - Why Repent? Vs. 16-18 - The Sky Has Fallen! Vs. 19–20 - Rescue Us From Our Suffering!

4/29/18 - Genesis 1:27-28   Book of Joel - Four Themes:   The Punishment of Plagues Brought on by the Sins of God's People  The Call to Turn Away From Sin and Return to God The Promise of Blessings from God for Those Who Repent  The Assurance Of Punishment for the enemies of God's People    PART I—JUDGEMENT (HOW WE GOT HERE?)   Genesis 3:1–13   Vs. 1-5 - Don’t Listen To God Listen To Me!   Vs. 6 - IT LOOKED GOOD   Vs. 7–10   Vs. 11 - YOU’VE BEEN LISTENING TO SOMEONE ELSE   Vs. 12-13 - NAKED & ASHAMED   PART II - RECONCILIATION (The Way Back Home)   Revelation 21:1-4         ASSURANCE OF PARDON Taken from John 6:37-40     “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me."   "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

5/6/18 - Joel 1:1-4    As we begin in Joel 1:1-4, we learn that Joel is a book of prophecy given by God to His chosen servant during for a specific time to Israel then and to the His Church now and for all time.  God displays His infinite loving-kindness by speaking to His people, calling them to turn from their dark ways and turn to Him in humble repentance.  Just like any good parent, God is gracious even in His judgement and in His discipline.   He provides a way of escape from the destruction around them, as He does for us now through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  

4/15/18  PART 1: THE WAGE EARNERS  Matthew 7:21-23 (Jesus is speaking here about Unbelievers)   Vs. 21 - SAYING & DOING ARE DIFFERENT THINGS   Vs. 22 - LOOK AT WHAT I’VE DONE FOR YOU JESUS   Vs. 23 - JESUS ANSWERS THE SAYERS     PART 2: THE STEWARDS   Matthew 25:34-40 (Jesus is speaking here about Christians)   Vs. 34 - INHERIT THE KINGDOM   Vs. 35-36 - YOU SERVED ME   Vs. 37–39 - WHAT HAVE WE EVER DONE?   Vs. 40 - BY SERVING OTHERS YOU SERVE GOD   BENEDICTION     Taken From Galatians 6:6-10   “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

4/08/28 - Luke 19:1-10     From Thief to Steward     Vs. 1–4 Jesus Comes to Jericho   Vs. 5-6 Jesus & The Town Thief   Vs. 7 What’s He Doing?   Vs. 8-10 From Thief to Steward     Benediction:   Proverbs 30:5-9 ESV "5 Every word of God proves true;     he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words,     lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. 7 Two things I ask of you;     deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;     give me neither poverty nor riches;     feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you     and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal     and profane the name of my God."

4/01/18 -  1 Corinthians 15:12-22 CSB     Resurrection Matters Eternally         Vs. 12-14 - Resurrection: The Foundation of Our Faith     Vs. 15-18 - If Christ Is Still Dead Then So Are We!      Vs. 19 - This Life Only?     Vs. 20-22 - Jesus’ Resurrection Ensures Our Resurrection!             Benediction   Adapted from 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 ESV     Call   “God’s people, When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:"     Response   "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ by fulfilling the law for us."     Call   "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

3/25/18 - Ben Kauk - "On Stewardship" 1 Peter 4:7-11 "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  

3/18/18 -"Lift Up Your Eyes" - John 4:35-42   VS. 35 - IT’S HARVEST TIME   VS. 36–38 - SERVING THROUGH SEWING & REAPING   Vs.39 - THEY BELIEVE IN JESUS   VS. 40-42 - JESUS STAYED WITH THEM TWO DAYS     Benediction     "Wherever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you are, God has put you there. God has a purpose in your being right where you are. Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit, wants to do something in and through you. Believe this and go in his grace, his love, his power. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen"

John 4:27-34   Vs. 27 - Clueless Wonder   Vs. 28-29 - She Left Her Jar Behind   Vs. 30–31 - Devoted But Clueless   Vs. 34 - Sustained By Doing God’s Will      Affirmation of Faith   Psalm 40:8-11   “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."  I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!”

3/04/18 - John 4:22-26   Vs. 22–24 - God Seeks True Worshipers   Vs. 25-26 - I Am He!     Affirmation of Faith   1 Peter 2:1-5   “Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

2/25/18 - John 4:16–21   Vs. 16–18 - The Heart of the Matter   Vs. 19-20 - Changing The Subject   Vs. 21 - Not Where, But Whom You Worship       Corporate Confession Adapted from:   The Valley of Vision & Augustine’s Confessions     "Eternal God, though I only understand in part of Your goodness I know enough to praise You for eternity. I thank You for Your personal mercies toward me. I thank You for family, friends, I thank You for the comfort of Your Church. God I confess that I don’t worship You as I should, I don’t hate my sin as I should, nor do I love my neighbor as I love myself. Despite my failures You permit me to live, so that I may seek You anew and point others to seek You. My Great God and Savior may You “command whatever You will and may you graciously give me over to to be and that which you command. May it be so, God The Father, Jesus The Son and God The Holy Spirit."

2/18/18 - Ben Kauk  Living Water - John 4:1-15 "Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour." "A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

2/11/18 - Psalm 51:13-19   Vs. 13-14 - Restored To Teach Transgressors    Vs. 15-17 - Brokenness is The Path To God   Vs. 18-19 - From Brokenness To Rejoicing         BENEDICTION   Psalm 34:1-4,8-9   "I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears."   "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed are those who take refuge in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear Him lack no good thing.”

2/4/18 - Psalm 51:7-12   Vs. 7 - Purge Me   Vs. 8 - Heal Me   Vs. 9–11 - Look Away & Do Not Forsake Me    Vs. 12 - Carry Me     Benediction   Adapted from Psalm 37:1-6 CSB   “Don’t be bothered by evildoers; don’t envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like the grass. Trust in the Lord and do what is right; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord , and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in him, and he will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, and your justice to shine like the noonday.”   

1/28/18 - Psalm 51:1-6    Vs 1-2 - Seeking Forgiveness    Vs 3-5 - Confession    Vs 6 - Acknowledgement of God’s Will        Affirmation of God’s Grace   Psalm 103:8-18   “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always rebuke, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.”

1/21/18 - 2 Timothy 3:14-17     In Today’s Passage we learn four big truths   1. The importance of family to disciple their children.   2. The Bible can create faith in Jesus making us wise for salvation.   3. “All Scripture” is breathed out by God.   4. The Bible is “profitable” for teaching us how to live and be trained in “righteousness.”   2 Timothy 3:14-17 "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."     Vs. 14-15 - Continue Firmly in The Faith   Vs. 16 - God Breathed & Profitable   Vs. 17 -The Purpose of Scripture      A Plea For Pardon Anew   Psalm 25:4-7   “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!”

12/31/17 - Ephesians 1:3-6 NEW SERMON SERIES: As we begin our new sermon series “Growing In Godliness,” instead of asking ourselves “What do I want in 2018?” we will look at “What does God want from us in 2018?”  Simply put, God wants in 2018 what He always wants from His people every year and every day; that we as His children and His Church would grow in holiness and sanctification.  Ephesians 1:3-6 highlights God’s great love for us; while giving us His purpose for loving us: that we would be “holy and blameless before Him...” The sermon title "How Then Should We Live?" is designed to reinforce our need to grow in Godliness.    Ephesians 1:3-6 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."  

1/07/18  Romans 12:1-2 After having established God’s purpose for Christians to be blessed, “holy and blameless before Him . . .” I’m unpacking the broader goal for this sermon series by looking at 5 spiritual disciplines: Bible Reading, Worship, Prayer, Stewardship and Service. We’ll be in Romans 12:1-2 where we’re told: to “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The transformation Paul speaks of is nothing short of growing in Godliness; through reading and being changed by God’s Word.   Pastor Kevin   *Please note, the first 15 minutes of sermon were filled with sound difficulties. We apologize for a poor recording, but know that God will use His Word regardless!

John 15:12-17   “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."   Vs. 12-13 - Commanded To Love Like Jesus     Vs. 14-15 - Friendship With Christ Is Followed By Obedience     Vs. 16-17 - Appointed To Bear Fruit and Love One Another       Benediction   Adapted From   Romans 8:38-39     “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor tragedies, heartache, worldly success or anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Isaiah 12:1-4   "You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”   In four short verses, we have worship brought about by God’s comfort toward those whom He is right to be angry with; resulting in overwhelming joy that brings about faith; from faith in God’s provision grows the desire to make His name known. Isaiah has been called the ”5th. Gospel” because he was given so many prophecies about the coming of Jesus; it’s my hope that God will cause us to rejoice anew as we look at this Passage today.     Vs. 1 - Rejoice, You'll Be Comforted   Vs. 2 - Rejoice, God is Your Salvation   Vs. 3-4 - Rejoice - Exalting in God's Grace          Psalm 96:1-6   CALL   “Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!   RESPONSE   Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.   CALL   Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!     RESPONSE   For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.     CALL   For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.  

12/10/17    Ephesians 2:12-17   "Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near."     Vs. 12 - You Once Were Lost   Vs. 13 - But Now You’re Found   Vs. 14–17 - Found By The One Who Is Peace     Benediction     Adapted from Luke 2:8-14   “An angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among those with whom he is pleased!"

December 3, 2017 1st. Passage Genesis 2:15–17   2nd. Passage Genesis 3::7-10   Main Passage Romans 5:1-5   Vs 1 - JUSTIFIED BY FAITH AT PEACE WITH GOD   Vs 2 - STANDING IN GRACE HOPING IN GOD’S GLORY   Vs 3–5 - INDESTRUCTIBLE HOPE     Benediction    Romans 16:25–27    “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel  and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” 

11/26/17  - John 6:66-69     Vs 66–67 - Are You Leaving Too?     Vs 68–69 - Why Would We Leave You Lord?   Acts 2:41–43   Vs 41 - Received, Baptized, & Added   Vs. 42 - Devoted to the Teachings, Fellowship, Bread & Prayers   Vs. 43 - Great Fear & Wonders     BENEDICTION:   Adapted From 2 Corinthians 13:11-12,14     “Finally, brothers, and sisters rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another earnestly and lovingly while we fellowship together. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”