Christ's Church of Joplin

Jesus had commissioned his disciples to cast out demons, he had given them power to carry out that mission, and yet, we find them unable to cast out a demon in this story from Mark’s gospel. The disciples want to know, why couldn’t we do this? As we approach our annual week of prayer and fasting, Jaron encourages us to strengthen our faith by living a lifestyle of dependence on God, expressed through regular times of prayer and fasting.

Elijah’s servant surveys his circumstances and thinks, this doesn’t look good. Elijah prays that this man’s eyes would be opened, and God gives him spiritual perception. Jaron encourages us to ask God to do the same thing when we pray. We need his help to see all things in relations to Him, and only when we have that kind of vision will be see things as they really are.

In this talk, Jeremiah takes us through a familiar story about an Old Testament prophet who had seen God do great things in the past but who had gotten discouraged in the present. In this story, we see how God interacts with people who feel weak and discouraged, and how we can look to him for all the rest and resources we need.

Jaron kicked off our annual teaching series on prayer by reminding us that God is our provider. He is able to make all grace abound to us, so that we not only have enough to give, we have enough to live. As we begin a new season of more focused time in prayer, he encouraged us believe that God hears our prayers and to expect him to answer.

Modern people have access to more information than any previous generation, but most of what’s available doesn’t feed our souls. We are tempted to consume too much, too fast, and only what pleases us. In this talk, Tim uses the Wisdom Pyramid, created by author Brett McCracken, to help us consider what kinds of information will do our souls the most good and what we should consume in moderation or learn to live without.

This is a recording of Jaron's talk from our Christmas Eve service.

Many people think they have to get their lives together before they come to God, but the Gospel reveals that Jesus got it together for us. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, rose from the grave, and unites us with him. We can stop working and start enjoying, because Jesus lived the life we could never live and he is living and reigning today.

In the opening chapter of John’s gospel, he tells us about his best friend, Jesus — who He is and what he came to do.

Both ancient and modern readers of Revelation have seen things in their world that don’t seem to line up with what Jesus said. The overarching message of this passage to these people is this: If Jesus said he will, he will. This passage reassures us that Jesus will judge, conquer, protect, and reign with his people, just like he said he would.

John sees a vision of the anti-God forces in the world and their destruction. These structures and systems pull worship away from God. Ultimately, these forces will destroy themselves, and only those who leave them and set devotes themselves to God will be saved.