Search Results for: hell

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 […]

Posted: 06 Mar, 2016 | Author: John Houser

In this message, John Houser talks about the importance of working through offense and conflict within the church. God wants the church to be united, and in order to do that we must be prepared to deal with the internal conflicts that will arise over time. “I have given them the glory that you gave […]

Posted: 28 Feb, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

“‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” – Matthew 4:19 NIV84 When God calls us to something, sometimes there isn’t any debate about whether or not it’s the best thing to do. It’s a duh moment! In this message, Steve talks […]

Posted: 30 Jan, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

Now that we’ve wrapped our Disciple the Heart series, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of effort it takes to live a life devoted to Jesus. In this message, Steve talks about how God thinks of us. Does our performance dictate whether or not God approves of us? Can he be […]

Posted: 17 Jan, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson

As we wrap up our series on the commitments that help Christians live all out for Christ, Steve addresses a very important topic. As Steve addresses the issue of controlling your thought life—specifically when it comes to sexual purity—he reminds us that this is an issue that is very important to God that we should pay […]

Posted: 10 Jan, 2016 | Author: Dr. Michael Parsa

The Bible tells us that God calls his followers to obey himself and those in authority over us. But what is a Christian supposed to do when these two conflict with one another? What does true obedience to God look like anyway? What about the grey areas? In this message, Dr. Mike Parsa addresses these questions […]

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 […]

Posted: 26 Dec, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making […]

Posted: 20 Dec, 2015 | Author: John Houser

Merry Christmas from the Rio! In this message John Houser speaks about the joy of giving. The more we give, the less time we spend with out stuff. And less time you spend with something, the less you love it. And the less you love the things of the world, the easier it is to love […]

Posted: 12 Dec, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

Merry Christmas from the Rio! In this message, Steve talks about how, before the first Christmas, the world eagerly waited for the Lord’s first coming—and also about how we now wait for his second coming to take us all home. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” – Psalm […]

Posted: 28 Nov, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson

So often we make Christianity about a list of things to do or events to attend. And yet when Jesus walked the earth, he didn’t ask people to come to small group or prayer meeting. Instead he took his disciples on a journey of commitment and excitement. In this sermon, Dove speaks about how Christianity […]

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 […]

Posted: 07 Nov, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In this message, Steve speaks about the importance of discovering God through His Word. “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. […]

Posted: 31 Oct, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson

Dove’s message about repentance, both at the initial point of salvation and daily repentance in your walk as a new creation. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” —Acts 3:19 Handout Disciple the Heart resource 2 – Repent – […]

Posted: 25 Oct, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In this first message in our series “Disciple the Heart,” Steve talks about the importance of committing to follow Jesus—not sometimes, not halfway, but all in. “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” —Luke 9:23 Handout Disciple the […]

Posted: 30 Aug, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In this final part of the Knowing Jesus sermon series, Steve takes a look at three things that stop us as a church from working together as a team: sin and selfishness that entangles and disqualifies, failure to work as a team and to see what is small as being part of something bit, and indifference […]

Posted: 23 Aug, 2015 | Author: John Houser

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do […]

Posted: 16 Aug, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In this message, Pastor Steve speaks about the life of Paul and draws out some important lessons we can learn from his life. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:9   Download Handout: […]

Posted: 03 Aug, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

We often wear ourselves out trying to change all of our bad behaviors. But according to the passage we’re looking at in Philippians and other passages throughout the Bible, we can not only change our actions, but our thinking as well.   “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is […]

Posted: 25 Jul, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

God calls the church to unity—an unconditional, tightly-bound unity. So what do we do when we meet people who we don’t naturally get along with? How does God call his saints to respond when faced with a difficult relationship? “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” […]

Posted: 18 Jul, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson

As we wrap up Philippians 3 in our Knowing Jesus series, we take a look at this passage: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so […]

Posted: 11 Jul, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:13-14   Download […]

Posted: 05 Jul, 2015 | Author: Dr. Michael Parsa

In this next section of Philippians 3, we take a look at these verses: “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a […]

Posted: 21 Jun, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know […]

Posted: 14 Jun, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In modern Christianity, the words “die to yourself” are thrown out frequently. The basic concept is simple: die to your flesh so that you can live by the Spirit. We know that this is the right thing to do, but do we clearly know why? Why is it important to die to ourselves? Are there […]

Posted: 31 May, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In this next passage in Philippians 2, we take a look at verses 12 & 13, which tell us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” But what does that mean? We […]

Posted: 23 May, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient […]

Posted: 16 May, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

As we continue our series through Philippians, we’re going to take a look at the place of suffering in a Christian’s life. Suffering is very real, not only in the sense of the persecuted church, but also in the sense of the day-to-day struggles and battles that we face regularly. These sufferings, in whatever form, […]

Posted: 10 May, 2015 | Author: Tom Schwieger

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident […]

Posted: 02 May, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson

In this intro to our new sermon series over the book of Philippians, we take a look at what it means to know Jesus—and what life looks like if you don’t know Jesus. “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able […]