CCW Podcast

This Sunday is very special as we will gather together for a (Night Of Worship style) Sunday morning service highlighted with Testimony, Blessing, Praying, and Sending our own Pastor Joe and Mikalia Daniels. We are so excited with them as God has swung a wide door of opportunity for them to minister and build the Kingdom of God in Pensacola, Florida.

If the church is anything in the world, it is God’s holy people. Churches should be known by how they exalt right and how they condemn wrong. Churches should be known for speaking out against sin and pursuing godliness. But in our day, as in other days, that is not always the standard; and it wasn’t the standard in the church in Thyatira.

We have to keep our minds guarded against manipulation and impure motives in the Church. We are warned that toleration of sin will bring God's judgement.

Give and take, finding a win-win outcome and going along to get along are common principles in modern society. Compromise is a big, big deal in the world where we live. What about with our faith? When should we compromise and when should we stand firm in our beliefs, convictions and actions? The people of the Church at Pergamos faced many of these same questions in the first century. Join us this Sunday as we explore the letter Jesus had John write to them in Revelation 2.

The STRUGGLE is real - you have heard it, you have said it, and you have felt it. This 2nd letter written to the church at Smyrna, identifies a church with real, constant, daily struggles. It is difficult to grasp what they awakened to each day, for most of us have never really been persecuted in a way to cause us to fear for life, property, or family.

In this life our struggles may look very different, but we all endure all kinds of struggles. How do we learn to struggle well? Those who walk through tribulation and remain faithful are promised the extravagant reward of the crown of life. We are going to delve into how to be faithful through the struggles.

Is it possible to withstand pressure and even endure much opposition for the faith and yet lose love for the reason of the faith? Apparently, it is. Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you? The Church at Ephesus has many good and admirable qualities yet one little, tiny, word changes the tone of an encouraging letter. Nevertheless is a word that carries much weight. Revelation 2:5 states, "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love." Whew, that is a knock the wind-out statement. I am so glad it doesn't end there and the letter continues with a formula for renewal.

Family, widows and orphans, right sex, government and racial equality are great things to contend for, but the purpose of contending should always be the glory of the Lord. God’s glory is one of the central themes of scripture and as the “Contend” series closes this week, we hope you will join us as we take a look at how to Contend for God’s Glory.

What is something that gets you really pumped? Maybe it's a hobby, or a sport's team, or time with loved ones. When we love a person or idea enough we will passionately fight for it. Have you ever been in a place where you could not stand idly by while something happened without interjecting. For Jude, he wanted to write his letter and go one direction, but because of the spread of false teaching about Jesus Christ in the church he could not help, but altar his letter and write to Contend for the Faith.

2000 years have passed, yet the schemes of Satan are still at work through many types of false teachers. We will be exposing some that are infecting our very culture. Their game is to look to discredit and distort who Jesus Christ is and what His message means for every person.

All you have to do is open a major news publisher and you will see headlines with themes of racism. Culture is deeply in need clarity on the way we see other people? Gen 1:27, says God made man in His own image. Every person you see was created by God to bear his image, and deserves to be treated with decency and respect. This means that all people merit the right to be seen for who they are: image-bearers of God.

In Esther 3 we find Haman, a man filled with racially charged hatred who is set to annihilate Mordecai, Esther, and all Jews. Satan some 2000 years later is still finding ways to seep these methods in every crevice he can in an effort to divide and destroy. It is of grave importance that we contend to unite and be a light portraying God's truth that the ground is level for every man at the foot of the cross! Remembering Jesus words the greatest command: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and Love your neighbor as yourself.

Do you remember your deepest dread, your destitute hour, your darkest adversity? There are 15.2 million people who have lost a spouse in the US, and est. 150 million orphans worldwide. The Bible says in James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled is to care for widows and orphans in their time of distress.

It is of utmost urgency that the Church of God be the banner carrier for people who are walking through tremendous stress. It is in the deepest darkness that Light shines brightest. We have the great honor and privilege of displaying Jesus Christ and Contending for the needs of the distressed. Learn from the story of Ruth how God can use you as his vessel to make a difference! Join us for Pastor Rick's Sermon "Contend for Widows and Orphans."