Jesus tells us that Christians are like salt. Not because we can enhance a great ribeye steak but because we can make the kingdom of God known. But Christians can experience desalinization. And when this happens, Jesus says, “…but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?” So how can we remain “salty” Christians?
When it comes to comfort and care the early church of the first century knew how to help one another, and love one another. In this message we learn from the early church three keys to be a more loving church and we learn to banish the seagulls.
If you are a follower of Jesus, did you know that God has given you superpowers so that you can be a superhero? We’re not saying He’s made it possible for you to become famous and have movies about you, but we think part of “loving your church” is being the hero God has made you be. And the hero God has made you be has superpowers. This message highlights the gifts God has given you.
In the Old Testament, people worshipped differently than we do today. Typically, they would show up at the temple in Jerusalem, make a sacrifice, and ask for God’s favor. Then they hoped for the best. There was a great distance between the worshiper and God. But Jesus changed how we worship God. This message will explore how Jesus broke down the barrier between God and us and our neighbor.
Some people treat the Church like a restaurant. If the experience isn’t to their liking, they’ll go somewhere else or not go at all. This is beyond unfortunate. It sets up expectations for the Church that it was never intended to fulfill. In this message, we will look at how Jesus intended the Church to be based on relationships that connect us.
Sometimes, characters from nativity displays go missing. Unfortunately, nativity theft is a common crime. Can you guess which character is stolen the most? The baby Jesus is the character that’s most frequently stolen. In that case, we ask the question, where is Jesus? That’s a great question to ask during Christmas Eve worship. Has Jesus gone missing from our lives?
The Nativity story could generate some captivating headlines because God is challenging the world to change. Mary’s Magnificat is somewhat revolutionary. There have been times in history when governments have banned the reading of Mary’s Magnificat for fear it might stir up the people they are oppressing. What headlines do we see in Mary’s words?
There are times when we may feel isolated. A husband’s life is empty because his wife died. A person might lack friends, community, or a social network. We might feel distanced from our spouse. God knows some of us struggle with feelings of desperate loneliness. That’s why the thought that Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us,” is a powerful theological concept. In this message, we explore how Jesus’ arrival as a baby transforms our life and brings us comfort.
God didn’t want people to be surprised or unprepared for the coming of Jesus. This is why God sent his word through John the Baptist. John was to get people ready for Jesus and prepare the way of the Lord. He was like the Doberman Pinscher of Christmas.
Some of us rarely sit quietly while alone. The silence and solitude can be unsettling. If we stop and rest in the quiet, we must listen to what is happening inside us. Sometimes we pull out our smartphones to avoid a quiet moment. Poor Zechariah was mute for nine months. Can you imagine not speaking for nine months? But the time of reflection changed his life. How might some quiet time change our life?\