Calling Leaving Following
God is calling each of us to be and to do something unique and special. Our first response is to leave behind what once seemed so important to us, to truly put God first in our lives, and let everything else fall into its proper place. Lastly, we follow. And we follow in a way that does not focus on our destination, but instead pays close attention to the One who is on this journey with us. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "Calling, Leaving, Following"WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Feb 23, 2020Calling Leaving Following
Calling Leaving FollowingGod is calling each of us to be and to do something unique and special. Our first response is to leave behind what once seemed so important to us, to truly put God first in our lives, and let everything else fall into its proper place. Lastly, we follow. And we follow in a way that does not focus on our destination, but instead pays close attention to the One who is on this journey with us. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "Calling, Leaving, Following"
- Jan 12, 2020Heaven & Earth
Heaven & Earth
Throughout the ages, God has invited us to ponder the mysteries of who he is, of what he has created, of heaven and earth, and of our place in it all. As we are awed by the story of Christ’s birth, of God dwelling with us and in us, let us have the faith and courage to see that in him we can find our life, in heaven on earth. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "Heaven and Earth"
- Nov 24, 2019Preventions
Preventions
We all experience challenges and obstacles in life, things preventing us from fully engaging in and enjoying abundant life. Even when it comes to the Gospel, the good news about the presence of God in our lives, we find ourselves prevented from experiencing all its blessings. Let us find encouragement in the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch, that no matter what prevents us from the experiencing the power of the Gospel...the power of the Holy Spirit, our capacity to respond, and the joy of a new life in God is far more powerful than any challenge, obstacle, or prevention we may face. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon: "Preventions" - Nov 17, 2019Stiff-Necked
Stiff-Necked
We don’t want to be stiff-necked. In pain. Unaware. Unchanging. We want to be what God wants us to be. Healed and whole. Experiencing his abundance. Being transformed into his likeness. Let us instead be grateful and positive, living fully in the moment, here and now. And let’s be willing and courageous to try something new. Knowing that when we are strong and flexible, following the Holy Spirit, we can, like Stephen, see the glory of God at work in our lives. LISTEN to Sunday's sermon "Stiff-Necked" - Nov 10, 2019Power or Piety
Power or Piety
We are a people power and of piety. We can influence others for good. We can have reverence for God and can be devoted to God’s ways. And we are a people with faith. Expecting that God will do what we expect God will do. But if we truly want what God wants for us: life and life abundant, “perfect” health and wholeness beyond what we could ask or imagine, we must have a different type of faith. A faith that can make a life-long beggar to walk into God’s presence leaping and praising God. We must have a faith that is not our own, tied to our own expectations, but a faith that comes to us “through Jesus.” LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "Power and Piety"
- Nov 3, 2019New Wine
New Wine
God wants to fill us and bring us together. Our unity is bound by love and by our sharing with one another. Like God’s presence, our love and unity, given to us by God, is not bound by time or space. Let us be grateful to God that we are filled with the Spirit and drawn together in love and purpose. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "New Wine" - Oct 27, 2019Seeing Ain’t Believing
Seeing Ain’t Believing
God has been so good to us a Faith Church. And it is exciting to have a vision for positive growth and transformation, both inside and out. May we truly “believe” that God is at work among us. May we commit ourselves in attentiveness and faithfulness to this vision. And may we have our hearts changed in the process. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "Seeing Ain't Believing" - Oct 20, 2019Unnecessary Spending
Unnecessary Spending
When we read the story of the Anointing of Jesus across all four Gospels, the meaning of the story seems to evolve. What really happened? Why was it important? Is it about money and poverty? Is it about our stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination? Or is it about recognizing who Jesus really is? Maybe we can learn all of these lessons. And when we give God all that we are, like the woman/Mary did, we can be open to see and experience God becoming “all in all.” (Photo by Wayne Forte) - Oct 13, 2019Don’t Try This at Home
Don’t Try This at Home
We grow through forgiveness. Through the work of the Spirit in our lives, we not only see, perceive, and come to know what is wrong, but also what is truly right. By the Spirit, when we are wronged by others, we can grow through forgiveness, through insight into our own lives, and by seeing, perceiving, and knowing that God at work within us. LISTEN to Sunday’s Sermon “Don’t Try This at Home” - Oct 6, 2019Its Hard to be Perfect
Its Hard to be Perfect
The Gospel is good news about who we really are. Christ, the Creator of all, the source of life, is in us. We must sell, surrender, release all that we thought we were. Because it is no longer this “I” who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. LISTEN to Sunday's Sermon "It's Hard to be Perfect" - Sep 29, 2019The Job Description
The Job Description
Jesus asks his disciples: Do you know who you are and where you are sent? Are you experiencing God’s presence and purpose in your life? Do you believe that you are sent into challenges and problems...so that God can work through you? Do you realize that not everyone will agree with the good news and not everyone will want to pay the price...but if you do, you will find your life in God? LISTEN to "The Job Description" - Dec 30, 2018What to Wear?
What to Wear?
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. CLICK BELOW to Listen to Sunday's Sermon: "What to Wear?" - Nov 11, 2018What Moves Us to Sacrifice?
What Moves Us to Sacrifice?
The life and teachings of Jesus point us toward the ideal of sacrifice. As we face the challenges of our lives, even as we face the reality of eternity, sacrifice must remain central if we are to understand the character and heart of our God, and if we are to fully realize the reason we were created. Let us do all we can to understand and appreciate this gift, shown and given to us, the gift of sacrifice. - Oct 21, 2018Is that Fair?
Is that Fair?
We believe that LIFE IS NOT FAIR. But upon deeper reflection, through the insights of Scripture, we can find that God’s own suffering and sacrifice for us is beyond what we can imagine. By trusting in Him and in the eternal big-picture of abundant life that He promises us, we can find that His righteousness, justice, love, mercy, and fairness are more than we could ever hope for. - Oct 14, 2018Who Really Knows You?
Who Really Knows You?
God knows what it’s like to be you. God keeps telling us that He is “in us.” And it seems that God also wants us to know what it’s like to be Him...to have His heart. Jesus even said be like your heavenly Father. God wants our experience of life to be His experience of life as well. Because if we can share this life experience with God, then we can truly know who we are what life is all about.