Commonway Church

Pastor Steve continues teaching through our summer series by looking at James 1:5-12.

Pastor Steve Gill kicks off our series on the book of James, tackling James 1:1-4.

Today’s Key Ideas:

-God uses the challenges of life to shape the character of Christ in us.

-God uses trials to grow our faith, not to crush it.

-Trials happen so that we may have a character-changing faith rather than a compartmentalized faith.

○ Part of my maturing is learning to walk through the enduring.

○ Rough air produces real disciples.

Today’s Application:

1. What is one recent difficulty I’ve faced—and how might God be using it to grow me?

2. What is my response to God in this trial? Is it joy or anger? Is it patience or giving up? How we respond correlates the work that he can do in us.

Pastor Tyler Crandall helped us celebrate youth Sunday and explore Psalm 103.

On Mother's Day 2025, Pastor Lisa Ashton gave this sermon, entitled "Unlikely and Undaunted." In this sermon, we are invited to learn from the life of Deborah (Judges 4 & 5) - Israel's unlikely judge. How she exemplified undaunted courage in the face of impossible odds.

KEY IDEA:

The LORD has gone ahead of you and he will take care of it.

On May 4, 2025, Pastor Tyler Crandall wrapped up our series "Finding Hope" with a message on the history of Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of and spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit.

Key ideas:

Jesus promised His followers the Holy Spirit and Jesus always keeps his promises.

Through the Holy Spirit, we become empowered agents of hope.

Key Passages: Acts 1:4-5, Acts 1:7-8

Acts 2:1-12

Reflection/Application:

1. Where have you experienced the Holy Spirit in the “everyday?”

2. How has the Holy Spirit gifted you?

3. How is God inviting you to use your gift(s) to be an agent of hope?

4. Are there areas where you’ve been reluctant to step into your gifting(s) or receive the prompts of the Holy Spirit? What’s holding you back?

Homework: Be on the lookout for opportunities to use your gift(s) and receive the prompts of the Holy Spirit. And then do it.

In the penultimate sermon in our series "Finding Hope," Pastor Steve Gill taught about the importance of Jesus's ascension, found in Acts 1:6-11. The ascension is seen as the climax of Jesus's earthly ministry and the beginning of His heavenly reign.

Our hope is in Jesus, the ascended king, who is our greatest advocate. As our heavenly advocate, Jesus silences the voice of condemnation.

On Easter Sunday, Pastor Steve Gill continues in our series "Finding Hope" with the greatest story of hope: Jesus's resurrection from the dead.

We learned how, through the resurrection:

Our past is redeemed.

Our present finds strength.

Our future is secured.

We were invited to consider our response to Jesus today. Am I already a follower of Jesus?

Am I beginning a relationship with Christ?

Am I considering Jesus? Or, do I not intend to follow Jesus?

In the sixth sermon in our series "Finding Hope," Pastor Steve Gill invited us to keep these ideas in mind:

Pay attention to the tension.

The tension between faith and fear.

The Scripture for this sermon is Matthew 14:25-32 in which Jesus walks on water and Peter joins Him!

Throughout the story, we're invited into the tension of faith and fear:

1. Reality- Acknowledge that fear is real.

2. Remember- Choose to remember Jesus.

3. Response- Respond with Trust in Jesus.

Today’s Reflection and Application

What is one step of faith God is calling you to take this week?

Who’s in your boat?

In this fifth sermon in our series "Finding Hope" Pastor Steve Gill challenges us with this question: What happens in our pain?

The key text for this sermon is Luke 7:11-15. In this story we see Jesus bring back from the dead a widow's son. What can we learn from this story?

We can learn that in our pain...

1. Jesus sees us.

2. He feels for us.

3. Jesus responds to us.

Today’s application:

1. In this season of life, what are you most desiring from God? For God to see you, to feel for you or to respond to you?

2. Who is your life right now that you need to see, to feel for, and respond to in their pain?

In the fourth sermon in our series Finding Hope, Pastor Steve Gill teaches through the story found in Mark 9:14-27. In this story we meet a father desperate for help for his son who has been possessed by a demon since childhood. It is in this story that we find the father saying “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24.

Today’s key idea:

Our faith in Jesus is not about trying harder but about trusting in Jesus.

What can we learn?

1. Be honest with God about your doubts.

God is big enough to handle your doubts/questions/fears.

2. Trust that Jesus responds to your imperfect faith.