Why do so many followers of Jesus gather consistently with a group of friends during the week? After meeting to worship God together on the 1st day of the week why would anyone in their right mind add another commitment somewhere on the 2nd through the 7th? One of the many reasons why Christ followers have come together beyond Sunday for the past 2,000 years is to help one another live with and follow Jesus in all of life. Or, as King Solomon described it to his children, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.”
Sermons by Dean Wertz (Page 24)
Though we know prayer is important, it is easy to neglect it for many reasons. Busy schedules, tiring workloads and feelings of inadequacy. When God became man, He taught about prayer in ways that brought freedom. In this message we consider some of Jesus’ instruction on prayer and are encouraged to grow in the habit of simple conversations with God.
Busyness, work and increasing responsibilities can keep us from one of the greatest gifts in life – the habit of delighting in God’s Word. In this message from Psalm 1 we are reminded of the rewards afforded to those who cultivate the daily habit of delighting in God’s Word and we consider practical steps to grow in this essential habit for all followers of Jesus.
On the night before His crucifixion Jesus extended a new invitation to His followers, “Abide in Me.” To abide means to live in a close continual dependent relationship with our resurrected Christ through the presence of his Holy Spirit who indwells all who put their faith in him. In this message we discover move about this beautiful way of life and the…
An essential ingredient for a growing relationship with God is belief (also known as faith). Faith is being confident in what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see (Heb. 11:1). This kind of belief is essential for beginning and growing in our relationship with God. As we begin this 4-week series entitled, Ways to Grow, we are encouraged to cultivate the ability that God has given us to see His unseen realities and be awakened to the certainty of them.
“All the church wants is my money!” Living in a post-Christian culture has unique challenges. Loving neighbors in a society that, in many ways, is a reaction against Christianity is even more difficult. In this message you will be equipped and encouraged to love your neighbors in a way that may be more in line with Jesus’ approach than he approaches some of His followers (including us) have used in the recent past.
Ancient wisdom affirms, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1, ESV) Yet, according to the General Social Survey reported in Time magazine, “the number of Americans who say they have no close friends has roughly tripled in recent decades. ‘Zero’ is the most common response when people are asked how many confidants they have.” (Time March 18, 2015). During His time on earth Jesus lived in loving community with a handful of friends. Before His departure He commanded His small group to love one another as He had loved them. In this message we consider a few of the many reason why followers of Jesus should unite with a few others as one way to obey Jesus’ command to “love one another.”
Compartmentalization is a subconscious defense mechanism used to avoid mental discomfort and anxiety caused by living with conflicting values, beliefs and behaviors. Compartmentalization allowed the Pharisees to believe one thing and live another. In reality, we all (with one exception) compartmentalize. Jesus lived a perfectly integrated life and in this message, we discover how He did it. Centering on the Great Commandment, Jesus reveals what brought perfect alignment in His life and He shares God’s vision for all of us to also live pure and integrated lives.
As fall approaches many things are changing in our world, nation, city, church and lives. To the first disciples in a season of change and to us, Jesus declares that He is our amazing all-powerful King who has a phenomenal purpose for us to carry out as well live in union with Him.
After decades of meditation on God’s Word, John Machen concluded, “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” The Bible’s opening sentence declares God’s generous creative grace. It’s closing sentence is a prayer for grace. Every page between shines forth God’s grace. What is grace? Why are some people so extravagant in grace? How can we grow in God’s grace? While this message answers these questions it’s primary aim is to invite all who have ears to hear to avail themselves more and more to the God of all grace that we may revel more and more in His grace until that day when we see Him and discover that His grace is even more amazing than we had ever hoped or dreamed.