Ways to Pray - Sermon on the Mount #13
Many Christians struggle with prayer. Sometimes because we've only learned one model for prayer or one way to pray that isn't exactly how God has wired for them to hear and listen to God through prayer. Today's message acknowledges this struggle and gives some other ways to engage with God in prayer.
Why Pray? Sermon on the Mount #12
Most of us have had questions about the value, meaning and nature of prayer. Questions, at times, which lead us to wonder why pray, at least about some things. Jesus lived and taught as though prayer does matter, and matters greatly. Because God wants a relationship with us, where we spend our time with God, no matter what we are doing. When we do this, we are praying without ceasing.
Motives Matter - Sermon on the Mount #11
God not only cares about what we do and how we do things, but also about why we do (or don't do) what we do. Our motives come from the desires of our heart and reveal our heart. Unfortunately, on our own we don't always know our own heart's motives, and so God calls us to reflect and confess to help us identify, clarify and reshape when necessary the desires of our heart, which will change how we live.
Making Faith Live
We never drift into the life we want, we drift into the life we have. Following Jesus isn't something we can drift along in... it requires effort for us to grow and be effective in our faith as Peter wrote. To help ourselves stay moving towards more a godly life, we need support, encouragement and structure to help us.
Broken to be Blessed
Have you ever asked God to bless you? Before we can fully experience God’s blessings upon us, we must first allow him to break us. Once broken we submit to His will and plan for our lives and truly enjoy all that He wants to do through us.
Life WITH God, not just UNDER God - Emmanuel - God with Us Series #4
Life WITH God, not OVER God - Emmanuel, God WITH Us Series #3
Exploring a life of interaction with God by submitting our control and plans.
Life WITH God, not just FOR God - Emmanuel - God WITH Us#2
Summary - One way we choose to live that misses life with God is living life for God. The older son in Jesus' parable of the lost son is the poster child for living life this way. Obedience, performance, fulfilling your responsibilities as the foundation for relationship with God, instead of living in the presence of and with our Father who loves us... no matter what. When we receive that love, we will be motivated and empowered to then live for God, but not as the foundation of our lives.
Life WITH God, not just FROM God - Emmanuel, God WITH Us Series #1
One of the names\titles associated with Jesus and Christmas is Emmanuel, which means God with us. Jesus came to bring us life with God, not just a life from God. An example of life from God is the younger son in Jesus' parable of the lost or prodigal son. This son didn't want relationship with his father, but just wanted what he could receive from his father. God wants more for us than this.