Posted: 03 Feb, 2019 | Author: Steve Nelson
Acts 2:38-39 Peter replied, Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away all who […]
Read More...Posted: 12 Jan, 2019 | Author: Dove Cranson
When we are honest, what do we truly want in life? If we got to the bottom of what drives us, what would we find? Do you see in yourselves a deep desire for love, for a sense of worth or belonging, for respect, peace, beauty, wisdom, freedom, greatness, or immortality? Where do we find […]
Read More...Posted: 16 Dec, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson
Life is hard. It is not what it was intended to be. Because of the brokenness in this world, we all experience pain, loss, and suffering. Grief is a path we must all walk through in this broken life. It is a product of the broken world we live in. When we are aware of […]
Read More...Posted: 22 Jul, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson
At times, it seems like the solution to the pain of life and the path to find happiness is to change our circumstances, our bodies, our habits, our relationships, our jobs, our pastimes, or at least change something. This message shows the potential to thrive wherever we are at in life—enjoying thankfulness for the little […]
Read More...Posted: 06 May, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
CT Studd, missionary to Africa, found a tract which was reportedly written by an atheist. It read as follows: Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as […]
Read More...Posted: 01 Apr, 2018 | Author: Dove Cranson
Jesus came into this world to restore our connection to God: A connection one day in a restored world and a connection now through His life in us. Christ died and was resurrected, to overcome death that we might live forever, and that we might experience his life now. There is more beyond just this […]
Read More...Posted: 25 Mar, 2018 | Author: Steve Nelson
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ESV Sometimes in the midst of difficulty we can feel like something must be wrong. We aren’t naive. We know life is hard; but we don’t expect it to be this hard. When we try to make […]
Read More...Posted: 17 Sep, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
“Common people become uncommon standing on the promises of God.” (Dawson Trotman) Do you have the sense that you were created for uncommon purposes? Or perhaps that you have some unfulfilled potential? In reality, God has designed you with certain purposes in mind (Ephesians 2:10). What are these things? What are we supposed to be […]
Read More...Posted: 13 Aug, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
This message continues on the theme from two weeks ago that life, perfection, righteousness is found in Christ’s life in us. A full life, perfection, and righteousness are not achieved from our own power to change ourselves, or even from good circumstances, but from the gift of God. Today we look at how giving thanks […]
Read More...Posted: 30 Jul, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The good life that really counts for something is not just found in a brief interaction with Jesus, but in a journey of trusting Him and following His lead! Download Handout: No blanks/Blanks
Read More...Posted: 16 Jul, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We are all busy people. We want our lives to count and so we fill them up with all sorts of activities. One of the most fulfilling things we can dedicate ourselves to is loving others, but we need to be careful that the busyness of life doesn’t choke out the things we really want […]
Read More...Posted: 18 Jun, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The Christian life is not one of duty, obligation, and drudgery. Instead, it is a response to Him and what He has done for us. In the life of Zacchaeus we see that it’s a choice to live for the One we love! Download Handout: Blanks / No Blanks
Read More...Posted: 11 Jun, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
A rich young man came to Jesus asking how to find eternal life. He came confident in himself and in his own goodness. The answer Jesus gave him left him walking away sad. Despite his own accomplishments, possessions, and reputation he was lacking. But he couldn’t bring himself to give up control and follow the […]
Read More...Posted: 21 May, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We think of the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery as a beautiful story of grace and forgiveness. And it is. At least for one person. But not everyone received life from Jesus. The religionists (the Pharisees and teachers of the law) walked away from life. They were more concerned about […]
Read More...Posted: 07 May, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by bringing before him a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. Would he withhold mercy and have her put to death, or would he show mercy and ignore the law? One response would put Jesus in a horrible light with the people, and the […]
Read More...Posted: 16 Apr, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
A man named Nicodemus came to Jesus in the secret of night only to get far more than he bargained for. As we look at this interaction with the Life Giver we find how to be born again into a new life. We do not get life by trying to be a better person, but […]
Read More...Posted: 26 Feb, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
We should never be surprised when we find ourselves discouraged or even despondent. After all, we live in terrible times. Yet God offers hope in the midst of our trials. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” We can find life from God even […]
Read More...Posted: 12 Feb, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
If those who speak are supposed to speak as if speaking the very words of God, how are those who listen supposed to listen? In faith, can we believe that God will speak to us through His Word, through worship, through others, and even through the sermons we hear? 1 Peter 4:11a If anyone speaks, […]
Read More...Posted: 04 Dec, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
What comes to mind when you think of authority and the submission to authority? Our own experience and cultural context have inevitably shaped that view. We probably all know examples of the abuse of authority and realize the potential to be taken advantage of. As we look deeper, we see that a loving authority is […]
Read More...Posted: 06 Nov, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
Each of us lives in a situation that is not always easy. In fact life is often extremely challenging, and it is easy to think that if we were only in a different situation then we would be happy and fulfilled. If only I had a spouse, or if I didn’t have one but could […]
Read More...Posted: 23 Aug, 2016 | Author: Tommy Tinajero
Tommy courageously shares his story of how an addiction to pornography threatened his walk with God, inner peace, and marriage. Most (if not all) of us can relate to such life-consuming struggles, but God doesn’t want that to be the end of the story. He can help us to be free and to fill our […]
Read More...Posted: 10 Jul, 2016 | Author: Bruce Bradford
Some people drain the life out of a room just by walking in. Others bring life and elevate the room. You can be a life giver! We all have our own struggles, but who we are in our faith must be independent of who we have been or what we have experienced. Greatness is never […]
Read More...Posted: 19 Jun, 2016 | Author: Dove Cranson
Is your spiritual life a religious practice or a relationship with God? In this message pastor Dove helps us reflect on our past and look ahead into our futures so that we can experience the full life in Christ that our souls long for. Download Handout
Read More...Posted: 12 Jun, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
We know that following God pays off in the next life, but does it pay off in this life? Can we expect a blessing in following God, or is that some sort of prosperity-gospel teaching? We need to be careful to avoid both extremes in this matter. We shouldn’t expect wealth and health from following God, […]
Read More...Posted: 17 Apr, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
This is the first of a four-part series called “There is.” Our “There is” campaign is a rallying call, to not just be a group of people who meet together on Sunday mornings, but, to be one body with one faith, following one God. It is based on this verse: There is one body and one […]
Read More...Posted: 02 Apr, 2016 | Author: Blaise Nelson
Sometimes we want to set our own course in life, but God has a different plan. In this message, Blaise tells the story of finishing college and wrestling with giving 100% of his life to whatever God wanted for him. Download
Read More...Posted: 23 Jan, 2016 | Author: Dr. Michael Parsa
In this second part of Dr. Parsa’s message on obedience (listen to the first), we take a look at what it looks like to live a life of obedience to God versus a life of selfishness. Download Handout Disciple the Heart resource- Obey: Living with Integrity
Read More...Posted: 03 Jan, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
Each of us has our own unique path in life, but suffering is not unknown to any of us. Not only do we have past hurts, but we have a span of life looming in front of us which is undoubtedly seasoned with unknown types and intensities of grief. In this message, Steve shares some […]
Read More...Posted: 21 Nov, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
Our human plan for reaching the world is not working. However, God has a plan to reach the world, and we know that it does work. However, in order for it to work well, we have to be doing things God way. In this message, Steve takes a look at God’s way of reaching the world—through the […]
Read More...Posted: 26 Sep, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
In this sermon, Steve talks about the “performance evaluations” in Revelation 3. What would God tell us if he were to evaluate our church? Download Handout: Evaluation – Churches in Revelation
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