Audio Messages

• God's Word is truth Commitment requires agreeing in your mind. Paul appeals to our will - make a choice in the way you live for God. Believe the Word is truth and act on it.
• God's Word is Life One thing that is constant - God's Word.
• God's Word is Power Romans 10:14,15, Hebrews 4:12

• In You You are a work in progress. You are being changed into His image from glory to glory. "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, it is our reasonable service." God's work in you is a spiritual work, but it begins in the mind. You can accept or refuse it.
• In the Church Proverbs 3:9-10 First fruits refer to your tithe. Everything else is offering above and beyond the tithe.
• In the World God is working in the world convicting people of their need for a Savior. God opens doors for you and empowers you.

• Knowing that God is Merciful
• Knowing that God is Just
• Knowing that God's Will is Perfect

• CONNECTION: Where are you plugged in? Where would you like to be?
• COMFORT: Be there for each other.
• COLLABORATION: It is working together toward a purpose.

1. Be specific - "I appreciate you because_____" or "Thank you for __________." Big compliments can be great when they speak to the heart of who we are, but small compliments let us know people appreciate the little things we do.
2. Be sincere -
3. Look at Spiritual Things - Encouragement is rare, but encouragements about spiritual things is even rarer. What would this look life? Look for the spiritual heart beneath the action.

• Walk in God's will
• God speaks by His Spirit  - through His Word, prayer, circumstances, and wise council - His will
• How we know it is the Holy Spirit speaking - The peace He gives
• What are we looking for to know God's answer? PEACE

• The purpose of worship -  "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly"
  • "let" indicates that its up to me whether I get something out of worship
• The practice of worship
  • Teaching - "as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom"
    • It must be biblical
    • It must be passionate
    • It must be applicable
  • Singing - "as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs"
    • The importance of participation
    • The importance of "pulling out the stops"
    • The importance of songs being biblical
• The person we worship - "with gratitude in our hearts to God"
  • Our worship should be joyful
    • Joy comes from putting Jesus first, others second, and myself third

• Do everything for Christ's glory
• First ask God - "What do I need to do?"
  • Going about our daily tasks in this way will give us a sense of purpose and significance.

1. Our Sins are Forgiven - Jesus paid the full penalty for our sins and accomplished what God had planned. "It is finished." There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
2. Our Lives Have Purpose - Our faith is alive and vital to abundant life. God had a plan for our lives all along. We are His workmanship prepared for good works. We are God's masterpiece, a work of art. We are all different and that's okay. God's purpose is for us is to bring the "Good News" to those around us. How? Through the power of Jesus Christ in us. He gives us the power to change what we cannot.Through the promises of Christ. All the promises of God are yes and amen.
3. Our Future Is Secure - One day we are all going to die. Only a fool would go through life and not prepare for something we is going to happen. Sincerity, good works, giving up stuff, rituals, heritage, and comparison will not get us to heaven. It's only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There's only one way. It's not about what we know, it's about who we know.

• We can retreat
• We can hide
• We can fight back with words or physical force
• We can do what the early church did - pray

1. Importance of Prayer
2. Connection to Other Believers

On Memorial Day we mourn the loss, remember the lives, and are thankful for the sacrifice. As we prepare to remember those who died for our country, it is important to remember the One who died to set us free from our sins.Jesus fought the armies of Hell so that we might have liberty in His name.

So first, as we mourn the loss of Christ, we realize that we are the guilty ones. If there was only one sinner who was lost, He still would have died. His love is that great.

Next, we remember the lives. On the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, the disciples were remembering Jesus. Part of our emotional healing in the process of grief is to remember the lives of the loves ones who have passed. What must we remember about Jesus? He set an example of how to live and love. Our life should reflect that love.

Finally, we are thankful for the sacrifice. We take communion to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. His body was broken and his blood shed for each one of us. As Americans, we have the luxuries of this country because men and women gave their lives for it. Similarly, the price Jesus paid afforded us salvation. We have the promise of salvation and we did nothing to afford this luxury. For this we must be thankful.
 

1. Become convinced of the terror of God. If we are saved we'll stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account for what we did with Christ. In Christ we are safe and secure. Those who are lost will face the Great White Throne Judgment - that place where God condems everyone who refused His Son. Apart from Jesus we are the targets of the righteous terror of the Lord, in Christ, we've been delivered from it. God has placed people in your life - You may be the only voice they'll hear. Don't be content to let a child of God be far from the Lord and face Him with a wasted life. Vs 11 Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.
2. Be gripped by the compelling love of Christ. Because of our sin everyone had to die, but Jesus died in our place. Those who choose to give their lives to Christ in salvation are raised to new life. While we were sinners Christ died for us. Spend time reflecting on the love He has for you. Does the love that Jesus Christ has for you compel you to love all people the way He did?
3. Come to terms with your new identity in Christ. Who are you living for? What's keeping you from representing Christ out there? Give you life to Christ and live for Him, He will open your eyes to see people the way He does. God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteous ness. You have the Spirit of the Living God residing inside you. Take a step of faith. Will you accept the higher calling of Christ? He has given you a ministry - reconciling people to God through the message of Jesus Christ.