What are you hoping to achieve in life? Most every “expert” will tell you to set some goals. Well, the Bible has been around much longer than our modern day experts - and it talks about goals too. Goals we are to strive toward, work toward, and keep focused on. What are our goals of gratitude? (Sermon 4/7)
It can be nice to give a little thank you gift to a dinner host. God has invited us to the greatest feast ever - do we need to bring a thank you gift? It is complicated by the fact that everything we have is actually God’s to begin with (He made it all, it is all His). So it is impossible to give an appropriate gift, but God offers some guidance for our gratitude. (sermon coming 3/31)
Is your life full of gratitude? Studies have shown the many great benefits of gratitude - but yet so often that is not how we respond. Even if the glass is only 1/4 full - at least it isn’t empty. And the reality is, when we know God our cup is overflowing and we don’t even realize it at times. God’s love is amazing. God’s grace is all we need. God’s blessings come in so many ways - so how do we see this and how can we be grateful enough?
If it is earned, it isn’t grace. Out of God’s love you are offered salvation from all that makes you guilty - this is the amazing grace we sing about. If you want some good news, it is found in this message of hope. (Sermon coming 3/17)
Having guilt in your life is not God’s plan - but God’s plan does involve guilt. Guilt is Good only when you take the steps to make sure Guilt is Gone. It is one of those impossible things that God makes possible. (Sermon 3/10)
God wants you to be complete - and one of the ways God can complete you is your love. The love of our hearts can enrich us in wonderful ways - but when it is not in tune with God’s love and God’s ways (which are completely intertwined) - in can leave a hole or cause a wound. This final sermon in our love series will help you discover and live in a complete love - A love which makes all the difference.
There is so much great stuff in this world - doesn’t everyone love puppies and kittens? God created this good world, and God created humans with the ability to experience pleasure - while maybe not everyone -lots of people love a good massage.
The love of the stuff of now, the things around us everyday, isn’t bad if it is done in God’s way. The love of the things of this world can help us grow into who God wants us to be, or break our hearts - let’s get it right! (Sermon coming 2/24)
Our family and our friends should be a great source of joy - but they can go bad and cause heart break instead. How do we keep our relationship with God, with family and with friends balanced in a way which makes us worthy of Christ, and full of love?
Romantic love is certainly celebrated in our society. It is in our songs, in our movies, and I would even say it is in our hearts. There is a longing; a hope to experience that “love” which is held up as the best, as fulfilling and maybe even magical - and yet, if there is a love which breaks hearts the most often, it would have to be romantic, sensual, desiring love. So is it a blessing or a curse? As is often the case, the answer is yes! It can be both, but it is designed to be good, and point us to even better. Love in the 21st century - we can definitely benefit from the Bible in this area.
At the intersection of brokenness we find hope and healing.
Who do you belong to? Maybe you say “no one.” Maybe you identify a spouse, or are still under the care of your parents. Overall, however, most people today see ownership of people as an antiquated, and even immoral, idea. But what if we have already been purchased by someone who wants our best, wants us to live in freedom, owns us completely but lets us decide whether or not we will find the comfort of living under a divine covering and protection. Well, our real comfort is found in recognizing that we do not belong to ourselves, but rather to God.
Sermon starts at 32 minutes
It was snowy morning - but we recorded on FB - check it out Here: https://www.facebook.com/EncounterERC/
Or try VIDEO HERE
What is it? Why do we do it? Where did it come from? and What does it do? Digging into one of the most unifying and also divisive traditions of Christianity - Baptism.
Where did the Bible come from and what should we do with it? If you want to start something new, my suggestion is simple - Read the Bible.
It is one thing to say that to experience Christmas is to experience Christ - but how do we actually experience Christ. Well, you can’t do it alone - listen to learn more.
Christmas can be awesome! But what difference did it make that the baby Jesus was laid in a feed trough? Just think about who can come into a garage instead of a palace. God wants to welcome you into something great, and it starts with a baby in a manger not a mansion.
There are the experiences of Christmas, and then there is something very different - Experiencing Christmas. Jesus’ first disciples, people in the first churches didn’t celebrate Christmas, but if you think about it, they were able to experience Christmas. It isn’t about the traditions, it is about the truth that transforms.
Is your life marked by JOY? There is suffering, there are hard times, there are frustrations, there is desperation - but God offers joy. First you must find the source of true joy, and then you need to do your work in not letting your joy get buried, smothered, or lost. Let us be open to God restoring the joy of salvation!
“restore the joy of salvation.
How do you go from knowing about faith, to experiencing the good gifts of God? How about peace - Is you life marked by peace? As we prepare for Christmas, listen to this message to help you move from worry into peace.
2 Peter 1:1-8
Participate in the Divine Nature
If a farmer isn’t having great results with their crops, they probably have to start doing something differently. Well, God says the same to each of us - consider your ways - are they working? Let’s spend some time thinking about what we are putting in, and what we are getting out of life. Are you enjoying a great harvest?