Last Words: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Last Words: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

March 24 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Psalm 22:1

This week we continue in our sermon series “Last Words” as we look at the final seven sayings of Christ from the cross. In His last moments, as darkness fell over the land, Jesus cries out to His Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This truly is an earth-shattering moment! Jesus is not merely quoting from Psalm 22, but He is proclaiming the fulfillment of this prophetic Psalm. He is confirming a divine transaction. The evidence that our sin had indeed been placed on His shoulders. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” By God’s grace let us hold tightly to this truth, knowing that in Christ we have been reconciled, presented holy and blameless before him! (Colossians 1:22)

Last Words: "Woman, behold, your son."

Last Words: "Woman, behold, your son."

March 17, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | John 19:25-27, Matthew 12:46-50

This week we continue our sermon series “Last Words” as we look at the final seven sayings of Jesus from the cross. In His final hours as He suffered and died, Jesus looked to His mother Mary with compassion and to His disciple John with a calling and a responsibility. 

In that moment, with the sin of the world resting on His shoulders, Jesus wanted to ensure that His mother would be well taken care of after He was gone. Not only this, but He wanted John to know that it was now his responsibility to care for her, as they are truly family. Christ’s words to His mother and to John reveal to us some powerful truths. Not only does Jesus care deeply about our specific needs but the tie that connects us as believers runs much stronger than we might think. 

,

Last Words: The Promise of Paradise and the Cost of Paradise

,
Last Words: The Promise of Paradise and the Cost of Paradise

March 10, 2019 | Craig Clendinen | Luke 23:43

This Sunday, March 10th, we will continue with Part 2 in our series about the seven things Jesus said on the cross. We will be joined by Wycliffe missionary to Asia, Craig Clendinen as we look at the second thing Jesus said on the cross: "Today you will be with me in paradise."  What are the implications to the repentant sinner? What wonderful promises did these words have to the thief who acknowledged his sin to Jesus?

 Learn how the Gospel is spreading in Asia against fierce opposition as the power of forgiveness is on display in this passage and in action through the Wycliffe ministry to unreached people groups.

Last Words: "Father forgive them"

Last Words: "Father forgive them"

March 3, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Isaiah 53:5, Luke 23:32-38

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

What an incredibly powerful prayer Jesus offers to the Father on behalf of those who have just crucified him. Can you imagine what that scene must have been like? What thoughts would have gone through your mind had you been there to hear Jesus speak those words? 

This week we begin a new sermon series entitled “Last Words.” And for the next seven weeks, leading up to Easter we will take a closer look at the final seven sayings of Jesus from the cross. There is so much for us to see wrapped up in His final words, and so much that happened in His final hours. All of human history before that day, was building towards it, and every day since has been affected by it!

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 7

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 7

February 24, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Proverbs 27:17, 2 Corinthians 5:20, Colossians 3:14

This week we wrap up our sermon series “Running on Empty” as we have been looking at the importance of spiritual disciplines on the lives of believers. Throughout our series we have seen that one consequence of letting our spiritual tanks run dry is that we begin to struggle and sputter in our walk with the Lord. In this final week we look at two more spiritual disciplines that are often overlooked, especially when we begin operating in our own strength. These disciplines are fellowship and outreach. 

As we commit ourselves to these disciplines, we need to remember the thread that ties them all together are the relationships we build, and the one relationship that defines all our relationships is the one we have with Christ.

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 6

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 6

February 17, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | John 9:24-27

This week we continue in our sermon series “Running on Empty” as we look at the importance of spiritual disciplines in the lives of believers. This Sunday our focus will be on the spiritual discipline of “outreach.” Sharing our faith with others may not seem like a spiritual discipline at first, but it is a vital part of our overall growth as believers. When we share our faith, we strengthen our faith. 

Often the thought of sharing Christ can be quite intimidating, but it really shouldn’t be as it is not our job to do the convincing! In John 9 we see the amazing story of a blind man with no training and no experience at all being chosen and used by God to bring the gospel to the “religious elite.” So often we underestimate what God can do through us when our eyes have been opened!

,

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 5

,
Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 5

February 10, 2019 | Jonathan Yakel | 1 Peter 4:10-11

This week we continue in our series “Running on Empty” as we look at the spiritual discipline of serving.  Spiritual gifts manifest themselves in many ways, but we are all called to serve. Just like studying scripture, praying, and worship, we are designed to serve each other.   

We will look at how serving others fills our tank when our motivations are pure and how it can be exhausting when our hearts are not in the right place. There is a wide range of actions that we define as serving but all are pointless if not for the glory of God. 1 Peter 4:10-11 reminds us that it is through His strength that we are able to minister to others. 

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 4

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 4

February 3, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | John 4:16-26

This week we continue in our series “Running on Empty” as we look at the spiritual discipline of worship. Many times, when we think of worship we tend to think of music. More than just that, we think of a particular style of music. Perhaps we think of worship as a chunk of time we carve out on Sunday morning? Maybe it’s an activity, or something we put on our schedule to participate in? Then, when it’s over we go home. 

It is certainly fair to count these activities as acts of worship. They serve as a valuable part of what we do as believers, but they do not even come close to encompassing all that God intends for us when Jesus says to "Worship the Father in spirit and in truth." Like prayer, worship is more than an activity we participate in, it is a lifestyle. This lifestyle takes shape as we live out Romans 12:1-2 and remember we are called to be living sacrifices!

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 3

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 3

January 27, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | Hebrews 4:14-16

This week we continue with part 3 of our sermon series “Running on Empty.” Each one of us can point to so many things in our lives that all contribute to draining our spiritual gas tanks. As we have already seen, we need to be intentional about checking our gas gauge and keeping our tank full.

In order to do this, along with spending time in God’s word regularly, one of the most important spiritual disciplines for us to have is a strong commitment to prayer.  Unfortunately, when things get busy, life gets crazy, and our stress levels rise, prayer can be one of the first things to be neglected. Why is it that when prayer is needed the most, it can be the hardest thing to do? If we are going to keep the tank full and continue walking in the Spirit rather than in the flesh, being connected to God through prayer is absolutely essential! 

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 2

Running on Empty: Spiritual Disciplines - Wk 2

January 20, 2019 | Kyle Brenon | 1 Timothy 3:16-17

This week we continue with our new sermon series “Running on Empty.” As we saw last week, we often forget to even check our spiritual gas gauge, and when we do check it, we may not even know how to read it. If we aren’t intentional about filling our tank, it won’t be long before we run dry, and we find ourselves trying to live out our faith in our own power.