'For Refreshing'
Hearing and Listening
Sunday 24, July 2011 - In Luke 18 Jesus tells His disciples, “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be take…READ MORE»
Climbing Out of the Pit
Sunday 17, July 2011 - “I waited patiently for the Lord and He turned and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit and out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” These words from Psalm 40 give u…READ MORE»
Redeemed and Restored
Sunday 10, July 2011 - Picture a beautiful upright piano, which over the years becomes a valuable family heirloom. Time passes and this beautiful instrument is shuffled from person to person, and as a result its value gradually decreases. Instead of being us…READ MORE»
The Passion of Our Founding Fathers
Sunday 3, July 2011 - What kind of person does it take to leave everything secure and familiar —nation, family, occupation—and strike out into the unknown simply for one all-consuming and overwhelming reason...to know God and worship Him? This was the…READ MORE»
Resting in Christ's Authority
Sunday 26, June 2011 - “And He raised Christ from the dead, and seated Him at His own right hand...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named...And He raised us together with Him and made us to sit down together, givin…READ MORE»
Trusting the Hand of God
Sunday 19, June 2011 - I can still remember the day my grandfather pulled me onto his lap and I examined his hands. I loved his hands. They were rough, calloused and very strong. His hands were a reflection of his life, since he was a carpenter by trad…READ MORE»
Building God's Kingdom
Sunday 12, June 2011 - Growing up, I remember hearing people recite this little limerick, which contains a very powerful truth: “Only one life ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” Jesus was all about using his time…READ MORE»
Saying No to Poverty
Sunday 5, June 2011 - The spirit of poverty has been at work in the church for generations. The enemy has done all he can to keep the church from understanding and embracing our position as sons and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. The word 'poverty,' acco…READ MORE»
Walking With Christ
Sunday 29, May 2011 - Is it really possible to live a Spirit-filled, Spirit-directed life? Do you ever find yourself discouraged because you do not “feel” spiritual? How can we truly be Kingdom representatives when we are so overwhelmed by life…READ MORE»
The Wilderness Test
Sunday 20, February 2011 - Before Jesus began to minister, he was baptized in water by John and then at once sent by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness -- without food -- to be tested by Satan for 40 days. Have you ever wondered why this was necessary? Was it b…READ MORE»
Nothing But Him
Sunday 13, February 2011 - At least seven times in Scripture, we are admonished to love God with all of our hearts. Being whole-hearted clearly implies being without divided loyalties, compromise or mixture. To love someone with your whole heart means to be excl…READ MORE»
Losing Your Life
Sunday 6, February 2011 - “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”&nbs…READ MORE»
Taking On His Name and Nature
Sunday 30, January 2011 - Being a disciple of Christ means not only taking on His name (Christian), but also endeavoring to take on his nature — to be a pure reflection of his life, love, compassion — and to walk with him in true holiness every day. This…READ MORE»
The Cost of True Discipleship
Sunday 23, January 2011 - In 1937 Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave the world his book, The Cost of Discipleship. It was a masterful attack on ‘easy Christianity’ and ‘cheap grace,’ sighting that true discipleship is indeed costly. Jesus said, &l…READ MORE»
Reading By The 'Light'
Sunday 16, January 2011 - What does a disciple of Christ look like? How can we identify true discipleship in ourselves or others? It should be pretty obvious. Those who follow Christ make a determined effort to emulate Christ—to be loving, compassio…READ MORE»
Becoming True Disciples
Sunday 9, January 2011 - One day Jesus was walking along the Jordan River where John was baptizing people. Looking up John said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” At these words, two of John’s disciples who had heard him left the crowd and followed Je…READ MORE»
Prepare the Way of the Lord
Sunday 12, December 2010 - It is quite amazing to me that after 2000 years, most of the world still celebrates the birth of Jesus. And rightly so, because he came to give us life. Preparing for Christmas can be challenging—all the shopping, cooking and dec…READ MORE»
Faithful Perseverance
Sunday 5, December 2010 - As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I continue to marvel at the miracle of His birth. For 450 years the prophets were relatively silent, and the people of God languished. Still, beneath the surface in individual hearts, a light of fa…READ MORE»
When Jesus Comes
Sunday 28, November 2010 - When Jesus comes, the natural gives way to the supernatural – darkness becomes light, death is banished by life. When Jesus comes, the impossible becomes a reality. When the angel came to Mary with his message of life and a bab…READ MORE»
Thankful For a Church Family
Sunday 21, November 2010 - The Apostle Paul had an amazing confrontation with Jesus. Born “out of due season” he was not around during Jesus’ earthly ministry. After his experience on the road to Emmaus, he went to Jerusalem where Barnabas took…READ MORE»
Learning to Pray
Sunday 14, November 2010 - Every religion on earth teaches its followers to pray. From tribal rituals to eastern mosques, from the Vatican to the bells and gongs of Tibet, from eastern synagogues to western churches, prayers have ascended for millennia to the gods and…READ MORE»
Waiting For Strength
Sunday 7, November 2010 - I have heard it said that every problem we encounter is a spiritual problem—or perhaps it is better stated that it has a spiritual solution. If our relationship with Jesus is healthy and current, we are better equipped to deal with lif…READ MORE»
Following the River
Sunday 31, October 2010 - “Jesus stood and cried out, saying ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.“ (John 7:37-38) The Holy Spirit’s presence in…READ MORE»
Beside Green Pastures
Sunday 24, October 2010 - Have you ever caught yourself being frantic and stressed to finish a task only to be propelled into the next thing that demands your attention? We wonder, “How did I get here? Where is my peace?” When this happens to…READ MORE»
The Holy Spirit Lives In Us
Sunday 17, October 2010 - When Jesus came to earth, he provided salvation from sin and reconciliation to the Father. When he left, he explained to his somewhat confused and bewildered disciples that it was a good thing for him to go away because his going would provi…READ MORE»
The Holy Spirit, Our Teacher
Sunday 10, October 2010 - The Holy Spirit is the out-breathing of God – the life of God. In Scripture the Holy Spirit is seen as the wind, fire, water, oil, a dove, a voice, rain, and dew. He is God – omnipresent, omnipotent, and eternal. Wi…READ MORE»
A Place By Me
Sunday 3, October 2010 - At one of the most desperate times in Moses’ life, he cried out to God not to desert him but to give him his constant presence and protection. God’s reply was, “There is a place near me.” When the children of…READ MORE»
Food That's Good For You
Sunday 26, September 2010 - Whenever we have travelled to another country or spent time in another culture, one of the challenges for me has sometimes been the food. I have to admit that I’m not a very adventurous eater. I remember once in Mexico following…READ MORE»
Being Fruitful in Season
Sunday 12, September 2010 - I love the natural change of seasons, especially when the heat of summer gives way to the cooling temperatures of fall. I think it must be one of God’s ways of focusing our attention on the fact that change happens and it’s okay!…READ MORE»
Everlasting Joy
Sunday 5, September 2010 - I love Isaiah 61 and the beautiful picture that it paints of a change of season for the believer. I recently heard someone describe this passage as Jesus’ Mission Statement. This was his task – the joy of his heart –…READ MORE»
Listening to Our Marching Orders
Sunday 29, August 2010 - The warfare of a Christian can sometimes be confusing. When do we stand? When do we rest? When do we fight? Ephesians 6 pictures the believer in full defensive armor. The only offensive weapon given to us is the sword…READ MORE»
Christ and His Bride
Sunday 22, August 2010 - In the Scriptures, we see there are miracles, and then there are “notable” miracles (Acts 4:16). There are mysteries, and then there are “profound” mysteries. One such profound mystery is the romance that Christ…READ MORE»
Living As Children of Light
Sunday 15, August 2010 - The Apostle Paul often exhorts the churches under his care to stand in contrast to the world around them. As the culture of our current society loses more of its moral direction and wanders further and further into the dark abyss of life wit…READ MORE»
Becoming a New Creation
Sunday 8, August 2010 - The transformation of our post-salvation nature is a challenge. In Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 the Apostle Paul exhorts the early church to be transformed, to put off the old sinful habits and way of living and to put on Christ and his mind…READ MORE»
Unity Through Love
Sunday 1, August 2010 - The entire book of Ephesians is about our relationship with God and with each other. He delights in us—His people—and His purpose is to “display His wisdom to the unseen rulers and authorities through the rich variety that…READ MORE»
An Interconnected Family
Sunday 25, July 2010 - In Ephesians 2, Paul talks about the unique organism that is the body of Christ. Have you ever tried to analyze why and how God chooses to join people together? Why is it so important to Him that we are connected, and what is that conn…READ MORE»
A Living, Active God
Sunday 18, July 2010 - Our God is real, living, and actively involved with His creation. He is not like any of the other gods, deities, or “isms” that are available today, whose followers claim to have the truth. Everything that God is and ever…READ MORE»
Moving Into the Unknown
Sunday 11, July 2010 - Why did God frequently tell his people to move on or leave what was familiar for the unknown? He said to Abraham, “Get out of your country, and leave your father’s house.” We know that Jacob had to leave home to…READ MORE»
True Freedom In Christ
Sunday 4, July 2010 - On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry stood in the pulpit of St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia and spoke these words: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almight…READ MORE»
Hoping in God's Love
Sunday 27, June 2010 - Hope is the confident expectation of God’s goodness! What can we really count on in life? Someone once said the only sure thing is death and taxes. Well, I’d like to refute that. The one sure thing that you ca…READ MORE»
We Are God's Inheritance
Sunday 20, June 2010 - When Jesus taught His disciples about prayer, He first emphasized the relationship of Father. ”When you pray,” He said, “go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father.” The relationship of Father is…READ MORE»
Our Righteous Judge
Sunday 13, June 2010 - Have you ever wondered, “Does God hear me? Is He aware of me, and does He know the challenges I face? And more importantly, will He do something about it?” All through the Psalms, King David records his cry to the L…READ MORE»
The Victory is Ours
Sunday 6, June 2010 - All of my life, I’ve heard people say, “I’ve looked in the back of the book, and we win!” And, of course, this is encouraging and brings us hope. But let’s face it, as Christians we are in a constant war.&…READ MORE»
The Divine Exchange
Sunday 30, May 2010 - One of the most amazing aspects of living in the Kingdom of God is our access to the benefits of the Kingdom on a daily basis through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus and the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Isaiah 61, whic…READ MORE»
The Gospel is Good News
Sunday 23, May 2010 - At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Taking the scroll, he read from Isaiah 61, which basically outlined his ministry and what he was sent to do. Times do not change much. Th…READ MORE»
The Complete Word
Sunday 16, May 2010 - When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked the question that every generation before and since has been asking: “What is truth?” Every political ideology, every world religion, every nationality and human culture has it…READ MORE»
I AM the LORD
Sunday 9, May 2010 - In Exodus 33 we read that Moses was facing the greatest challenge of his life. He had taken charge of leading approximately 2 million people from slavery into freedom. Basically Moses told God, “Look, this is a huge job and I can…READ MORE»
Hide and Seek
Sunday 2, May 2010 - The Scriptures often encourage us to seek the Lord, to seek his face. Apparently this means more than a perfunctory nod in prayer over our early morning cup of coffee. The word “seek,” by definition, implies a certain amoun…READ MORE»
Arise, O God
Sunday 25, April 2010 - ARISE, O GOD! At least a dozen times in the Psalms, the Psalmist cries out, “Arise, O God!” It was in the times of his greatest distress, or under the heaviest attack of his enemies, that David cried out, “Arise, do n…READ MORE»
Fully Abandoned in Worship
Sunday 18, April 2010 - I recently heard a message by Robert Stearns comparing the worship of the church to the worship that occurs in our modern day society. As a culture we can become easily obsessed and fanatical over sports teams, celebrities, and causes. …READ MORE»
Worship in Everyday Life
Sunday 11, April 2010 - The Scriptures are filled with beautiful pictures of people whose lives brought glory to God and caused those around them to become more aware of Him— Abraham, Moses, Daniel, the three Hebrew children, Esther, and the Apostles — just t…READ MORE»
The Hope of Resurrection
Sunday 4, April 2010 - The Easter lily has become, for many, the symbol of the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. It speaks of purity, virtue, innocence, life and majesty….and, of course, the resurrection. It is said that the lily grows in th…READ MORE»
Living in Complete Surrender
Sunday 28, March 2010 - Jesus’ journey to the cross began in a manger and ended in a garden. In total surrender he prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” Jesus’ life can pretty much be summed up as furious desire and absolute surrender.…READ MORE»
The Winter is Over
Sunday 21, March 2010 - IT’S SPRING! – A time of new life when bare trees begin to flower, the frozen ground yields to the warmth of the sun, and life and beauty begin to spring forth out of what had been barren ground. “See the winter is past;…READ MORE»
God is Listening
Sunday 14, March 2010 - Have you ever wondered about the effectiveness of your prayers? Are they reaching higher than the ceiling? Are they registering in the heart of God? James 5:16 says, “The fervent prayers of a righteous man are powerful an…READ MORE»
Taking Time to Know Jesus
Sunday 7, March 2010 - Then Jesus said, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you do not know me?” Relationships take time, especially our relationship with Jesus. There is no short cut, no fast track. It must be our daily qu…READ MORE»
The Bridge to Eternal Life
Sunday 28, February 2010 - Down through the ages, God has endeavored to bridge the gap between himself and man—a gap caused by man’s disobedience. From his original Covenant of Innocence made in the Garden of Eden, to the laws he gave and the promises he m…READ MORE»
The Man for Others
Sunday 21, February 2010 - Have you ever wondered why Jesus’ life and ministry never wandered far from the borders of his home town? He was, without doubt, the most effective evangelist or missionary who ever lived. Mankind was his field of labor, and his…READ MORE»
Waking the Dead
Sunday 14, February 2010 - One of the most familiar stories in Scripture is that of the Good Samaritan, who found someone wounded, hurting, and half-dead, and went out of his way to do something about it. Jesus told this story to challenge the religious people of his…READ MORE»
Following in Jesus' Footsteps
Sunday 7, February 2010 - Jesus invites us to follow him. When he called his disciples, his purpose in asking them to follow him was to train them to take his place and continue his work. In essence he was saying, “Come, follow me—Learn to do as I d…READ MORE»
Perseverance for the Journey
Sunday 31, January 2010 - In the classic story, Pilgrim’s Progress (written from a prison cell by John Bunyan), Christian sets out on a journey full of challenges and obstacles. His desire to move forward in spite of all that confronts him is the core of this s…READ MORE»
The Transformational Words of God
Sunday 24, January 2010 - And God said, ”Let there be light, and there was light!” The words of God are life. When he speaks, transformation happens—from nothing to substance, from darkness to light, and from death to life. His word is l…READ MORE»
Redeeming the Time With God
Sunday 17, January 2010 - Time: We are all given the same amount—365 days a year, 12 months, 52 weeks. And yet, time seems to get away from us. Where did yesterday go? What did I accomplish? We work at our jobs, day in and day out, and yet som…READ MORE»
Making Room for God
Sunday 10, January 2010 - Our desires and God’s desires are much the same for this New Year…that our hunger and capacity for him would increase. HE MUST INCREASE! Isaiah 54:2 exhorts us to enlarge the place of our tent, to broaden our habitation,…READ MORE»
More of Him and Less of Us
Sunday 3, January 2010 - The new year is upon us! My prayer and desire for 2010 is found in John 30:10:”He must increase (become greater), and I must decrease (become less).” Last week our Pastor talked about the increase of the Kingdom of…READ MORE»
And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful
Sunday 27, December 2009 - There are so many awesome names given to our Lord Jesus Christ, but none are as beautiful as “Wonderful.” This word in the Hebrew actually means, “A Miracle!” So, whenever we speak his name, Wonderful, we are sp…READ MORE»
The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulders
Sunday 20, December 2009 - The strength of leadership and the resting place of authority is in the shoulders. This was where the high priest wore the ephod—his garment of responsibility, which bore the names of the people before the Lord. The yoke of labor…READ MORE»
Unto Us a Son is Given
Sunday 13, December 2009 - Over the ages it has been a tradition for the family inheritance and title to pass from father to firstborn son. Even today, there is the hope that the son will follow in his father’s footsteps; if not vocationally, at least spirituall…READ MORE»
Unto Us a Child is Born
Sunday 6, December 2009 - There is nothing sweeter or more miraculous than the birth of a new baby. It is God’s plan to perpetuate the generations. He has built this into all of nature, this wonderful ability to reproduce life. Yet there were time…READ MORE»
Rejoice in the Journey
Sunday 29, November 2009 - “Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” Psalm 84:5 Our Father, the Good Shepherd, is always leading us into new experiences in our relationship with him. From the ti…READ MORE»
God Wants to Bless Us
Sunday 22, November 2009 - “The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.” Numbers 23:21 This declaration came over the nation of Israel when all of their enemies were doing their best to curse and defeat them. …READ MORE»
The Power of Words
Sunday 15, November 2009 - “If anyone says to this mountain, ’Go throw yourself into the sea’, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” Mark 11:23 We are all occasio…READ MORE»
It's Time to Arise
Sunday 8, November 2009 - “ARISE, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see. For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you!” Isaiah 60:1 (LB) This entire chapter is a thrilling picture of what the Lord desires to…READ MORE»
Leaving the Comfortable
Sunday 1, November 2009 - "What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. They will continue to grow in strength.” Psalm 84:5 God told Abraham, “Leave your country…and go to th…READ MORE»
Living in God's Timetable
Sunday 25, October 2009 - “In the 600th year of Noah’s life, the 17th day of the 2nd month, on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the flood gates of the heavens were open." Genesis 7:11 God has set times on his ete…READ MORE»
The Growth of Our Faith
Sunday 18, October 2009 - “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3 How do we go about measuring the growth of our faith? It seems impossible and imp…READ MORE»
Use What You Have First
Sunday 11, October 2009 - “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you…Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.” Matthew 13:11-12 Smith Wigglesworth once said, “Vision comes to…READ MORE»
All We Need is Faith
Sunday 4, October 2009 - “By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought that made the difference.” Hebrews 11:4 (The Message) FAITH! It is the basis of our salvation.&n…READ MORE»