• Trouble and Calamity
    Nov 3 2024

    How should followers of Christ handle trouble and calamity? In this message, we explore the stark difference between the world's view that trouble is unusual and God's truth that trouble is the context we live in. Rather than being caught off guard when difficulties arise, learn a practical three-part game plan for navigating troubled times.

    Before trouble starts, we must walk in wisdom, pray for protection, and help others. During trouble, the focus shifts to maintaining the right perspective, confessing the truth, praying, controlling our thoughts, and taking appropriate action. After trouble passes, we praise and thank God for His faithfulness.

    This timely message includes biblical guidance for Christians during challenging times. It reminds us that while we can't eliminate trouble, we can minimize it through obedience. Most importantly, we're assured that God can use even the worst circumstances for our good, though we may not see how now.

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    50 mins
  • Money and Possessions
    Oct 28 2024

    This is a church sermon focused on biblical teachings about money and possessions, delivered as part of a series called "Life God's Way." The pastor (Matt) discusses how Christians should view and handle finances from a biblical perspective, contrasting worldly approaches with God's principles.

    The sermon begins with a review of the series' foundation, emphasizing that Jesus should be at the center of every area of life, not just Sunday worship. The pastor uses a "know, be, do" triangle framework to structure the teaching, explaining what Christians need to know about money, who they should become, and what actions they should take.

    Key themes include:
    - The concept that God owns everything and gives both the ability to earn and enjoy wealth
    - Warning against money becoming an idol or alternative god
    - The deceptive nature of money and its potential to feed arrogance
    - Biblical sources of money (primarily hard work and inheritance)
    - The importance of stewarding resources responsibly
    - Finding a balanced path between "poverty gospel" and "prosperity gospel"

    The message includes practical applications while emphasizing spiritual principles. Throughout the sermon, the pastor incorporates numerous biblical references and real-life examples, including a personal story about his past reaction to car damage to illustrate how possessions can inappropriately control our behavior.

    The sermon concludes with the introduction of a "generosity ladder" concept and announces the opening of a new Prayer and Decision Room at the church, made possible through the congregation's generous giving during a previous Christmas offering.

    The overall tone is educational and pastoral, aimed at helping church members understand and apply biblical principles to their financial lives while maintaining a focus on spiritual growth rather than merely accumulating wealth.

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    51 mins
  • Words & Work
    Oct 21 2024

    In this sermon, Groups Director Rick Myers, a seasoned pharmacist, shares valuable insights on the power of words and the importance of work from a Christian perspective. Drawing from personal experiences and biblical wisdom, he explores how our speech can build up or tear down relationships, and how our work ethic reflects our faith. Rick emphasizes the significance of sowing positive seeds through our words, respecting authority at work, and finding opportunities to share our faith appropriately in professional settings. He addresses the challenges of maintaining integrity in the workplace and encourages listeners to trust in God's guidance for their careers. This message offers practical advice for both young professionals and experienced workers, reminding us that our words and work have lasting impacts. Ultimately, Rick underscores the importance of relying on God's strength to navigate our professional lives with grace and purpose.

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    42 mins
  • Decision-Making
    Oct 14 2024

    This sermon explores making wise decisions aligned with God's will. It discusses the realities impacting our choices in a fallen world and introduces a practical 5-step "Decision Train" process for life's big decisions. The steps include prayer, biblical principles, wise counsel, circumstances, and emotions. Pastor Jeremy emphasizes the importance of following this order, warning against letting emotions or circumstances drive decisions. The sermon acknowledges that everyone has made poor choices but highlights God's offer of forgiveness and a new path forward. It encourages listeners to give their lives and decisions to God, seeking His wisdom in all choices. This message provides valuable guidance for navigating major life decisions with faith and discernment.

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    40 mins
  • Relationships: Approaches & Actions
    Oct 7 2024

    This message explores how to handle relationships God's way, focusing on three biblical approaches: humility, faithfulness, and sacrificial love. We delve into God's priority order for relationships and offer practical steps for navigating difficult interpersonal situations. Key actions like helpfulness, justice with mercy and grace, peacemaking, and prayer are discussed as tools for relationship restoration. Pastor Luke emphasizes the importance of aligning our relationships with God's ways to experience long-term joy, even in challenging circumstances. The sermon concludes by highlighting how a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ is foundational to all other relationships. Whether you're dealing with relational struggles or seeking to strengthen your connections, this message provides valuable insights rooted in Biblical wisdom for transforming your relationships and finding restoration through God's love.

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    37 mins
  • Authority: Leaders & Followers
    Sep 29 2024

    This message explores the biblical perspective on authority. It delves into how God's authority supersedes all others and how He establishes positions of authority in human life.

    We examine the responsibilities and temptations leaders and followers face, emphasizing the importance of humble leadership and faith-filled following.

    The teaching offers practical guidance on navigating authority in various aspects of life, including work, family, and church. It also addresses how Christ-followers should approach the current political season, reminding us that God remains in control regardless of electoral outcomes.

    Whether you are leading or following, we should use our positions to serve God's interests first.

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    47 mins
  • The Attitudes of Success
    43 mins
  • The Path to Lasting Success
    Sep 16 2024

    This sermon explores the concept of success from a Christian perspective, contrasting worldly definitions with God's view. Using King Solomon's conclusions from Ecclesiastes as a foundation, Lead Pastor Matt Sturdevant highlights that pursuing wealth, fame, and pleasure ultimately leads to emptiness. Instead, true success is defined as faithfulness in God's assignments, regardless of their scale.

    This message outlines three elements that please God: trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord, obeying His commands, and faithfully managing our stewardships. The path to lasting success is described as wisdom and is explained through the three dimensions:

    1. Righteousness towards God
    2. Justice towards people, and
    3. Prudence in strategies

    The message concludes with an encouragement to evaluate which definition of success you're following, as that definition will guide the course of your life.

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    45 mins