Prayer is a great struggle for many Christians in this generation. Some are so discouraged about prayer that they have drifted into almost complete prayerlessness. In light of what God promises for those who pray, it is shocking that Christians pray so little. 1 John 5:14-15 tell us that whatever we pray for in God’s will will be done. God answers the prayers of his children! If prayer really works, and the promises to those who pray are so abundant, then why do so few Christians have a strong, vibrant, effective prayer life? This message addresses some of the underlying reasons that prayer has become so lame for many.
Our Story is His
While good doctrine and apologetics are vital in our walk with Christ, we must not underestimate the great power of sharing our personal testimonies or “stories” of how God has rescued us from sin and death. In this message we look at how and why we share our stories — to remind us to be thankful, to build our faith, and to offer those who do not believe in the gospel of Jesus a tangible example and reason to believe. Ultimately, the heart of this passage is focused on something better. While our stories may be good and compelling, they are all founded upon the greatest story: God the Father’s testimony about the Son.
Victorious
So many Christians live a defeated life. Sometimes they hide their defeat really well but secretly or inwardly they struggle with various addictions or bondages. Sin crouches at our door and wants to control us but God provides everything we need for victory. Pastor Scott unpacks 1John 5:1-5 and specifically focuses in on the idea of God’s commands not being burdensome. With human effort alone we will be crushed by sin and overwhelmed by the daunting high standard of God’s holiness. But through faith we can be victorious! Scott gives some clarity in the last half of the message on what it actually means to have faith. This sermon is for those who desperately want to live a life of victory but struggle to overcome sin. There is hope.
Blessed Assurance
This message is very specifically designed for the person who is an authentic Christian but struggles to enjoy assurance of salvation. This doubt of being accepted is usually rooted in feelings of unworthiness, an aware of inward sin and a disposition of insecurity. Pastor Scott takes us through the last section in 1John 4 and points out the marks of divine love in the true Christian to help those doubting to recognize that they really do belong to God.
Strong Love
Most Christians know that love is important and should be the distinguishing feature of the Christian life. The problem is living out the fullness of this love. Christians can be unloving, unforgiving, petty, competitive, rude, selfish, passive aggressive, bitter and so on. Many Christians love until they are wronged, hurt or offended in some way. They have a fragile love easily quenched. What is the secret to having a strong love that isn’t shaken by the wrongs done to us? How can we live out the teachings of Jesus to love our enemies and do good to those who spitefully use us? Scott expounds on 1John4:7-11 and explores the importance of cultivating a change of mind in order to love like Christ. There are some ideas communicated about the sovereignty of God that, if understood, could revolutionize the whole way we respond to mistreatment against us.
Caring for the Incarnation
In 1 John 4:1-6 the apostle John warns the leaders of the church not to believe every “spirit” that comes into their community claiming to hear from God. For many “false prophets” are in the world. By looking back to chapter one, we re-examine what is the context of this letter and how it’s related to the warning in chapter four specifically relating to those who are denying the incarnation of Jesus. Why is the apostle so vigilant about fighting for this tenet of the faith? Because believing God came in the flesh is not just a doctrine that defines what Christians ought to believe, but it’s essential to who we are and how we are able to relate to God today. We also examine what it means to us that “he who is in us is greater than than he who is in the world.” While we are to watch out for the enemy’s schemes, we need not fear him.
Standalone Sermons: Desire For Prayer
We all know we should pray, but if we lack understanding of God’s desire for prayer it can seem to us more drudgery than delight. In this message guest speaker Colin McNulty shares on how God is both the author and sustainer of our prayer life. Prayer begins not with human willpower but with God’s word sparking desire and igniting faith in our hearts. God doesn’t need us to pray but he wants us to pray because he desires partnership with His Church.
Cloud of Condemnation
To be uncertain about our standing before God is an awful thing and yet countless Christians struggle to feel deeply assured in their relationship with God. The source of this condemnation may be from the enemy or from ourselves, from negative people or, in some cases, God (Psalm 32). Whatever the source of the cloud of condemnation it is important to find freedom from it or else it will inevitably lead to all kinds of trouble. The mistake many people make is trying to figure out why there’s a cloud over them without God’s help. Pastor Scott brings hope from 1 John 3:19-22 that says God knows everything and God is greater than our heart. God can lead us out of condemnation and into the place of assurance. He searches the heart and extracts the poison of wrong thinking and leads us into green pastures.
Love is a Verb
From 1 John 3:16-18 this message speaks of the wonder of God's love for us demonstrated in the sacrificial death of Jesus. When this love is made real to us it has a way of deeply affecting our hearts and moving us in practical ways to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. The message is a wonderful reminder of the otherworldly love packed into the act of Christ giving his life.
Standalone Sermons: House Of Prayer
In 2009 the Lord brought a strong call to the church to be a house of prayer for all nations. As we approach almost a decade of following that call Pastor Scott brings some needed assessment to how we are doing. The message is a reminder of the key ideas God spoke to the church in 2009 and a fresh motivation to press in. The last part of the message includes several practical initiatives unveiled which are intended to foster this renewed emphasis on prayer.