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: 05 Feb, 2017 | Author: Dove Cranson
From Super Bowl losses, to the loss of loved ones, we will all have disappointments in our lives. In this message Dove wrestles through some of the disappointments in his own life, explaining some of the anchors he has found and continues to cling to along the way. It is the journey to find God […]
Read More...Posted: 29 Jan, 2017 | Author: Steve Nelson
The church in Corinth had serious issues that Paul addressed throughout 1 Corinthians. He spoke so strongly on at times that you might think his letter to them would have ended their relationship. Yet as he concluded his letter in chapter 16, instead of writing an it-was-nice-knowing-you ending to their relationship, he penned a very ordinary […]
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: 13 Nov, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
Have you ever felt judged by Christians? You vote one way, but they think you should vote another. You trick or treat, but they don’t. You have a Christmas tree and they seem to think you are worshiping the forest god in your living room. You public school and they home school. Paul addresses these […]
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: 22 Aug, 2016 | Author: Joe Ortiz
Joe Ortiz tells the story of his son, Joey, who at ten months of age was diagnosed as having a seizure disorder. The ensuing months and years brought a lot of pain and hardship, but in the end, God met one of Joe’s deepest needs: to know God truly existed and cared. Download
Read More...Posted: 14 Aug, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
When the people asked God, “Do you want us to keep fasting as we’ve done for 70 years,” God responded with, “You were doing that for ME?” It’s as if he was completely unaware of or indifferent toward all their spiritual activity. It makes you wonder about the spiritual things we do. Are they really […]
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: 29 May, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
It’s one thing to follow God when God asks something easy of us, but it is another thing to follow God when we have a completely different plan that we think is easier or better. To help us make good choices in these situations it is helpful to understand how we think. We need to […]
Read More...Posted: 22 May, 2016 | Author: Tom Schwieger
God values relationships! One of the greatest themes throughout the New Testament is the command to love others. In this message, Tom Schwieger talks about the importance of having meaningful relationships with five different groups of people: Lifers, Laborers, Leaders, Learners, and the Lost. God uses each of these types of relationships to impact us, […]
Read More...Posted: 01 May, 2016 | Author: Steve Nelson
In this message, Steve talks about how being involved in the church is a strategic part of our mission to advance God’s Kingdom. Church was never intended to be an event, but the church is Christ’s body, in a brotherhood expressed practically in deep and meaningful local relationships, and on mission like a spiritual army. Serving in […]
Read More...Posted: 02 Apr, 2016 | Author: Bruce Bradford
Bullies come in all shapes and size—financial trouble, stress, anger, sin, and fear. But we don’t have to face these bullies on our own. Bullies cower in fear when someone bigger than them is backing you up. And that’s what God says he’ll do for us. Download
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...Posted: 05 Dec, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:11 Download Disciple the Heart resource 7 – Learn – Taking Correction Handout
Read More...Posted: 11 Oct, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
Steve shares with us a moving sermon on humility. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” —Romans 12:16 Download
Read More...Posted: 19 Sep, 2015 | Author: Dove Cranson
Dove Cranson, our new soon-to-be pastor, shares his powerful testimony—all the while teaching lessons of influence, love, and relationship along the way. Download
Read More...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: […]
Read More...Posted: 09 Aug, 2015 | Author: Jon Kronmiller
John Kronmiller’s testimony of what God has done in his life. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33 Download
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...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 […]
Read More...Posted: 18 Apr, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
As Christians, we often tend to be skeptical when something amazing happens. We are quick to label these things as coincidence and slow to attribute them to God. But skepticism is good, right? After all, just because you got over your cold doesn’t mean that God has miraculously healed you, right? Well, maybe. But what […]
Read More...Posted: 22 Mar, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” – Galatians 5:13 As Christians, we know that we are free, but also that we can’t just do whatever we want. We still have a set of rules that we […]
Read More...Posted: 17 Jan, 2015 | Author: Steve Nelson
This message starts our Gospel of Grace series going through the book of Galatians. It deals with Galatians 1:1-10 where Paul talks about the importance of not straying from the truth of the gospel. Have you ever wondered if all roads lead to heaven? This message will help you find the answer! Download Handout […]
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