On the first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Scott preaches about hope. Our hope of an eternity with Christ is much more than wishful thinking, it is a blessed assurance and a conviction that burns in our hearts. The hope we have is radical in a world where people are in bondage to the fear of death.
Harvest: Be Brave
God has placed us as points of light in spheres of darkness; we are not merely servants, we are called to be messengers. The truth about Jesus can be offensive to people, but we need to remember that we are carriers of light and hope to the world, and to trust in God and be brave. Pastor Scott exhorts us not to allow fear to make us ineffective at spreading the knowledge of God.
Harvest: Be Bright
When we become Christians, it's about more than just enjoying God for ourselves; we are commissioned into His work. We become ambassadors of Christ, to gather people and reconcile them to God. In order to be effective, we need to be spiritually bright: beautiful in character, distinct and holy, releasing the fragrance of Christ wherever we go. Who we are matters, and when we are shining lights, we move people towards God. Pastor Scott encourages us to become so entwined with Christ that His life shines through us, into the culture around us which can be so fraught with false teaching.
Harvest: Be Broken
When we become Christians, we must realize it's not just for our own salvation or edification: we all have a responsibility to spread the gospel and draw people closer to God. Pastor Scott exhorts us to recognize that even in a culture that seems to reject the gospel of Jesus, we can't assume that people don't want to know their Creator, and He will equip us in every way for the harvest. This is the first sermon of an ongoing series, in which we will learn some of the ways we are called to be ambassadors for Christ. When we are broken for other people and filled with supernatural compassion for the lost, our eyes are opened to the worth of every soul we encounter, and how much God desires people to love Him.
Standalone Sermons: The Royal Rumble at the River
Using the life of Jacob and scripture references from Genesis 32, guest speaker Jacqui Strothoff preaches a sermon about wrestling with God. Jacqui exhorts us to learn about endurance and remaining steady under difficult circumstances in our prayer lives alone in the dark with God, because even though wrestling with God can hurt, the struggle is revealing and transformative. No one truly wrestles with God and stays the same.
Lavished: Peace
This world is full of turmoil and conflict, both externally and internally. We all seek peace and tranquility, and often we're chasing after peace in everything but Jesus, looking to other things, activities, or people to bring us the peace that only He can provide. God's peace is so much greater – and different – than what the world can offer. Pastor Nate walks us through verses in John 14-17 and urges us to find peace in Jesus (the Prince of Peace) and His promises for us.
Lavished: Love
We live in a world where people hurt and offend each other; no one is exempt from living in a broken world. These things can ruin our spiritual lives if we're not careful. Scripture says if we hate people or hold on to anger, we enter into darkness -- we can become bitter. Jesus calls us to a higher love. We desperately need the renewing love for others that God is eager to lavish on us through the Spirit, in our lives. Pastor Scott urges us to recognize our need for His love, offering scripture that shows us what this kind of love should look like, as well as some practical tips for how we can seek His love for others.
Lavished: Glory
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the "here and now" of our daily lives, that we lose sight of the fact that the day will come when our lives will pass away like mist, and God will crown us with everlasting life. While it is important to reflect our love for God in the day-to-day details of our lives, do we take time to imagine an eternity where we see His face clearly? Pastor Scott urges us to cultivate a deeper awareness of an eternity in Heaven with God, and explores the scriptures in Revelation 21-22 to envision what it will be like to have an eternity beholding His radiance.
Lavished: Wisdom
God longs to give us an increase in knowledge and insight, and to open our spiritual eyes, but sometimes we suffer from a dullness of heart -- not really moved or captivated by God, with only a small grasp of Him. Our shallow thoughts about God impact our worship, and nothing hurts our witness more than a dullness of faith, without conviction or passion. Pastor Scott encourages us to seek an expanded vision of the Almighty God, and an awakening of the heart that surpasses any human understanding or knowledge.
Lavished: Nearness
God is eager to pour out more of His Spirit and power to see lives dramatically changed and transformed in Him, but too often we quench the movement of the Spirit because we aren't living in a state of heightened awareness of His nearness. We need to be listening to the Spirit daily, in expectation that God is speaking to us and will move through us. Every major move of the Spirit throughout history has started with persistent, ongoing prayer; there are no shortcuts to developing a close relationship with God. Pastor Scott exhorts us to experience the nearness of God, and offers practical, scriptural tips about different facets of our faith-life so that we can intentionally cultivate greater awareness of God's nearness and His longing for a deep, close relationship with us, and the new eyes and heart for others that only He can give us.