The Heart of the Home

Our homes have a heart.

During this sermon series, Pastor Brian talks about the importance of inviting Jesus into our homes and relationships.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

On February 3rd, Pastor Brian launched a new series called “The Heart of the Home.” In today’s culture, there is a great lack of respect…and that lack of respect is destroying relationships. 1 Peter 2:17 emphasizes the importance of respecting one another. When respect is not a foundational part of our relationships, there are signs and our relationships suffer. We need restored respect.

Not For Couples Only

In this “Not For Couples Only” sermon, Pastor Brian focuses on the topic of purity. Hebrews 13:4 demonstrates the Biblical standard of purity within the context of marriage. However, purity is something to which we are called, regardless of relationship status. God designed sex and marriage to be beautiful. When purity is not central, that beautiful design is corrupted. The standard of purity has not changed, so we are called to bring ourselves back to the standard.

When the Bough Breaks

The question is not if relationships are going to need mending, but when. On February 17th, Pastor Brian preached out of Matthew 18 on the topic of forgiveness. In every relationship, there are times when things begin to break. Forgiveness is how we pick up the pieces and handle those relationships in the midst of the breaks.

Hope Floats

On February 24th, Pastor Brian posed the following question: “Don’t you want a life governed by hope?” No one enjoys walking into a room and sensing tension and hopelessness. Hope is based on truth, built in trial, and it blooms when it is taught.

Church + Home

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” -Deut. 6:4-6

The Power of Every Moment

Generational discipleship is important, and is something that typically happens outside the walls of the church. There are moments each and every day when we have opportunities to disciple those around us. Pastor Brian outlines four core principles of generational discipleship (all rooted in Moses’ life): being committed, finding opportunities, reinforcing spiritual principles, and being an example.

The Power of Every Team

In Part 2 of the “Church + Home” series, Pastor Brian unpacks Ephesians 4:4-7, 11-16 and talks about the need for unity between the church and the home. A partnership should exist between the values that are shared, taught, and reinforced at church and in the home. Believers are all on the same team. Therefore, it is important to: be united in presenting the priorities of Christ, discover individual roles for every team member, and create an atmosphere where all can belong.

The Power of Every Tool

In Part 3 of the “Church + Home” series, Pastor Brian identifies three categories/tools outlined by Peter in 1 Peter 4:10-11 and reveals what makes each of these tools powerful. As followers of Jesus, we should daily ask ourselves “How can I love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and love my neighbor as myself?” In other words, how do we use the tools we have been given to follow Jesus daily?

The Power of Every Life: Frank Hensley

On January 27th, guest Frank Hensley shared his life story. In Isaiah 43, the LORD promises to be with us when we go through hard times. A life following Jesus is not a life free from hard times, but we never have to face those times alone. Frank’s story about a schoolhouse fire reminds us that there is power in EVERY life!

A Pastor's Prayer

Pastor Brian spent the last Sunday of 2018 reflecting on the year, praising an thanking God for the wonderful things that happened within a year. Walking through Colossians 1:9-14, Pastor Brian cast a prayer filled vision over the church that we would all think spiritually, live fruitfully, and endure faithfully.

For Unto Us

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6

Hope

What is hope? Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is not a synonym for faith. Hope is the expectation of what is certain. Hope is rooted in faith, which is a gift from God. As we began the Advent season, Pastor Brian defined the true meaning of “hope.” The primary text for this sermon on hope is 1 Peter 1:3-9.

Peace

Peace is lost when we focus on the wrong things. In this sermon focused on Peace, Pastor Brian draws attention to Isaiah 9:6-7 and God’s establishment of TRUE peace on earth!

Love

In Titus 3, Paul writes about Jesus’ coming to earth. This is often called the incarnation, or God in the flesh. God is love, and God took on flesh to come to earth. In other words…Love came to earth.

Mountaintop Leadership

On November 25th, Pastor Elizabeth focused in on the leadership of Moses in Deuteronomy and the many lessons that can be learned from his leadership. God has called every person to be a leader within his or her circle of influence.

Feast or Famine?

Throughout the Bible, there are references to different feasts and festivals established by God and celebrated by the people. These three great feasts (Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles) each accomplished two basic things: creating a time to remember what God had done and a time to give offerings to God. While we may not observe these “feasts” in the traditional sense, they reminds us of the importance of thanking God for what God has done. What do you have to be thankful for today?

Thank God for Freedom

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (and Veteran’s Day), Pastor Brian preached on the blessings and freedoms we have in the Christian life. We are blessed: with the freedom to gather openly with other believers, to study the Word, and to go into the world and tell others about Jesus.

Count On It

Studies of the end times often leave us with more questions than answers. Instead of trying to figure out the unknown, Pastor Brian preaches out of 2 Timothy 3, looking at the things that are known about our current world and what we can expect in the future. These are the things we CAN count on happening.

Are You Going to Take that Call?

When the phone starts ringing, you pick it up and look to see who is calling. If its an unidentified number, the call is often ignored. While God doesn’t dial personal phone numbers, God does call people. In this sermon, Pastor Brian outlines three calls that God makes: the call to rest, the call to right, and the call to reach.

The Table

“‘But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’”

Luke 14:13-14

The Table: Introduction

On September 30th, Pastor Brian launched a sermon called “The Table.” In Luke 14, Jesus tells two stories about banquets. These stories tell us a lot about the culture of that time period and point out the flaws in the system. Pastor Brian showed how this story is pointing towards the Great Banquet Table - God’s banquet table. This is a table of inclusion and of provision. All are invited to sit at the table…but the only way to sit at the table is to accept the invitation.

The Table: Worship

On October 14th, Pastor Brian preached the second part of “The Table” with a focus on Worship. At the heavenly banquet, the primary focus will not be on fellowship or eating, but on worshipping God. Worship involves three primary components: attitude, action, and awe. Our lives should worship our Creator. Our lives should worship the One who raised Christ from the dead. Our lives should worship the One who came to earth for us.

The Table: Service

When we eat at a restaurant or attend a dinner party at a friend’s home, we notice how attentive the server or host/hostess is. At the heavenly table, God is the perfect host, having made every preparation imaginable. But God has invited us to be participants in the preparation, invitation, and the celebration. After all, we are better together.