When we commit to follow Jesus, it's an instantaneous moment that we're adopted into His family.  We've been born again -  God is renewing our flesh through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.  Yet each day we have to choose to follow Christ.  As we follow Him, we become more like Him.  This is called sanctification or becoming more like Jesus.

Think about where your life is right now   Do you want it to be different?  Do you want things to change?  Your best efforts have gotten you in the place where you are right now.  If you could change yourself you would have done it already.  if things haven't changed it's likely that we haven't looked to the one who can change us.  Today Pastor Rich will discuss how we must trust God for the strength to change.  

Philippians 2:12-18

Finding the strength to make a change is hard work.  The first week of January, many flood health clubs with the desire to lose weight and get healthy.  They have made the effort to purchase the membership, and are now beginning to put in the work.  However, over the next several weeks, many of these new folks will gradually go less and less, till they eventually stop altogether.  

Spiritual change is difficult.  Taking the initial steps to make real lasting spiritual change is great.  Now, the difficult next step is PERSEVERING - continuing to put the work in each day, no matter how you feel.  Today, Pastor Rich will show us how we can find the strength to keep going in our journey of spiritual growth. 

Romans 5:1-5

Many of us make decisions to change something about ourselves (health, financial status, relationship etc...) around the start of a New Year.  Yet here we are 4 weeks later and most of us have made zero progress on those changes.  Why is that?  What causes us to give up?  Why can't we be successful?

Any change requires energy & strength.  We don't change because we don't want to exert the energy required to make that change.  The same goes for our spiritual lives.  Spiritual growth (change) requires hard work.  Today, Pastor Rich will discuss how to put in the energy required to produce lasting change in our spiritual lives.

1 Timothy 4:7-10

What hinders us from growing more like Christ in our daily lives? Often we become comfortable with our sin, letting it become part of who we are.  

Sometimes we're not willing to count the cost of following Jesus.  We choose sin because we've decided Jesus isn't worth giving up our favorite sins.  Today Pastor Rich will show up how to let go of these hindrances and embrace Christ instead of sin.

Ephesians 4:15-32

Many of us have to wear glasses or contacts to see clearly.  The wrong prescription will limit the effectiveness of those items.  The second step in our journey of discipleship involves choosing to see things from a Biblical point of view.  As we grow in Christ we begin to see everything the way Christ does.  The closer we walk with Him, the clearer our Biblical vision becomes.  

1 Peter 1:6-9

Disciples...Discipleship...Disciple making... We often throw these words around, but do we really understand what a disciple is and what it takes to grow as a disciple?

The great commission (given by Jesus to His followers shortly before He left earth) tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptize ... and teach them to obey.  Teaching implies that someone is learning - and learning is demonstrated by application.  Often times our "knowledge exceeds our obedience (Neal Cole)."  Our problem is not that we need to know more, it's that we need to DO what we KNOW.

This journey of discipleship will be defined through a series of steps based on the acronym A.C.C.E.P.T.  Today Pastor Rich will share step 1, Acknowledge personal responsibility - if you're not growing as a follower of Jesus, it's your own fault.  

Matthew 7:1-5

Psalm 98 was the Psalm that Isaac Watts based the hymn Joy To the Word, which we now sing during the Christmas season.  It looks forward to the day that Christ comes back again.

Worship is our response to what God has done.  This new year, reflect on God's blessings and resolve to obey Him as we patiently await His return.

In this final sermon in the Finding Joy series, we look at finding joy in the future.  Today is fleeting and will eventually come to an end.  If our joy is only in what happens right now, it will eventually end.  Everlasting joy is found in a future hope in heaven.  

Isaiah 9:1-7

Today Pastor Rich will discuss the joy Mary had as the mother of her (and our) Savior.

Luke 1:46-56

What keeps you from finding joy in your life?  Today Pastor Rich will show us that true joy comes from focusing on Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25