Fusion Christian Church

This is part 3 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In this sermon, Pastor Zac teaches about the dangers of greed and the need for gratitude.

There's only ONE provider.

God is the ultimate source of all things. Everything we have comes from him, which means we should be grateful to him for it all. Generosity should spring from that gratitude, and that will help us to combat one of the more sinister vices: Greed.

Greed always gets in the way of what God wants to do in your life.

A greedy attitude seeks to hoard wealth for itself, but ironically, it actually becomes a thief. When we give into greed, it actually keeps us from being used by God to bless others, which should be the desire of every Christian. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive, but a greedily clenched fist can do neither.

Worry shifts your focus from God to yourself.

When we worry, it is because we have stopped trusting God to be a provider for us. This can result in greedy behavior, because we seek to provide for ourselves instead of relying on God. We attempt to hoard wealth so that our future will be secure, but only God can guarantee our future. 

Faith shifts your focus to God as your true provider.

If we choose to trust God instead of worrying, we can rest easy knowing he will provide for us. God is faithful to keep his promises, and he will be faithful to supply all the needs of the Christian as he sees fit. Choosing to rely on God's faithfulness instead of our own abilities will ease our anxieties about tomorrow.

This is part 2 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In part 2, Pastor Zac teaches about what we choose to invest in.

Kingdom Generosity is the only investment that lasts.

As part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we should not expend ourselves storing treasure on earth. Instead, we should devote our time to storing up treasure in heaven by living for God's kingdom. It's far too easy to spend our time collecting and amassing wealth and comfort for ourselves. What Jesus encouraged us to do is to spend our time and our treasure to further his kingdom.

Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals your heart.

When we choose to spend our treasure on the kingdom, we demonstrate that God has changed our hearts. Other people will be able to see that we genuinely love God through our generosity. By contrast, refusing to be generous or to give to God indicates a heart that is not God's at all. It is our job to help spread his kingdom here on earth. If we aren't contributing, then do our hearts really belong to God?

Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals your health.

What we focus on affects our health. When we focus on the light, it enables us to see and fills our whole body with light. When we focus on the dark, the opposite happens. Choosing to follow the light reflects throughout our whole body. We should keep our focus on things of heaven and not just things of earth.

Investing in Kingdom Generosity reveals whom you serve.

When we choose to be generous with our limited time and resources, we show we are truly devoted to God. Why do we claim to follow God in every way except in generosity? Jesus taught that we cannot serve both God and money. We deceive ourselves if we claim to serve God but refuse to put him first in our finances. How can you choose to put God first this week?

This is part 1 of "Thanks & Giving," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we reflect on how to be both grateful and generous in our lives. In the inaugural sermon for the series, Pastor Zac discusses the relationship between gratitude and generosity.

Thanks leads us to generosity because everything we have comes from God.

When we reflect on God's nature as the source of all things, we should become grateful as a result. We ought to know that everything we have comes from God, and as such it does not truly belong to us. This should naturally lead to generosity. If what we have is not truly ours, giving it away should be easy!

Thanks leads us to generosity because Jesus gave up everything so we could gain everything.

When Jesus came down to earth he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. By becoming man, he gave up the privileges of divinity and took on the infirmities of being human. Not only this, but he died the death of a sinner even though he was perfect. He did all of this so that we could have access to the grace of God. He took the punishment we deserve so that we could have the rewards he deserved. By foregoing the advantages of being the Son of God, he made a way for us all to be adopted as children of God. 

Thanks leads us to generosity because love always gives.

Love is generous by its very nature. To love is to will the good of the other, and one of the main ways to will another's good is to give of yourself. If you love someone you give them your time, your talent, your treasure, and your talk. You make an effort to give them the best of what you have in order to ensure their good.

Thanks leads to generosity because its not an option: its obedience.

Jesus said that those who love him keep his commands. If we love him, we will choose obedience, and choosing obedience means being generous. To be obedient to God means we must cultivate an attitude of generosity in our lives. How can you choose to be generous this week?

This is part 7 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Matt closes out this series by teaching about God's presence in times of need.

He is the God of both the mountaintop and the valley.

There are few stories which demonstrate the ups and downs of life as clearly as that of Joseph. He was the favorite son of Israel, but this created jealousy among his brothers, who sold him into slavery. When Joseph arrived as a slave in Egypt, he earned favor in his master's house through his diligence and faithfulness. Unfortunately, he also earned the favor of his master's wife, who attempted to seduce Joseph. When Joseph rejected her advances, the spurned woman falsely accused him and had him thrown into prison. Finally, God provided a way out for Joseph by giving him an opportunity to interpret dreams for the Pharaoh of Egypt. Pharaoh raised Joseph to second in command over all Egypt. 

God is always faithful to his promises.

Throughout all of this, Joseph recognized that God had been there with him. Joseph knew that God had orchestrated events to put Joseph in a place where he could eventually save his family and all of Egypt. Scripture is filled with promises from God, and filled further with examples of God keeping those promises. God has never once broken a promise to his people, and knowing that, we can trust him to never break one in the future.

God's presence is not proven by the absence of suffering, but by his faithfulness through it.

Though God has promised many things, he has never promised that we will not suffer. What God has promised is to see us through our suffering. Not only that, but by living a human life in the person of Jesus, God has experienced our suffering. We do not have a distant God who does not understand, but we have a God who suffered and died like any man did on the cross. For that, we can be grateful and confident that he sympathizes with us in our weakness.

This is part 6 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Elder Reuben teaches about what's fair in light of God's justice and grace.

God's Just Grace.

Reading through the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, we see that God's standards don't line up with ours. The owner of the vineyard hires many laborers to work for him throughout the day. At the end of the day, he pays each the same wage regardless of how long they worked. Some complain, but the owner responds that they received the agreed upon amount. In addition, the owner's riches are his to dispense as he chooses. This story ultimately depicts the grace of God in giving out salvation to all people.

When Life Feels Unfair.

Job provides an example of how we ought to respond when life feels unfair. Job had every reason to complain about his treatment, but instead he chose to praise God. He chose to trust in God's plan rather than accuse God (at least until his friends gave him some bad advice!). When we feel life is unfair, we should make the same choice and bless God rather than blame him.

Making It Make Sense - God's Faithfulness.

When life feels unfair, we can trust that God is still faithful. He doesn’t promise that everything will feel fair, but He promises that everything will work for good. What seems unfair to man is often the perfect justice of God working through grace. Be thankful that God may not seem fair to us, but He is always just. That’s our greatest hope.

This is part 5 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Zac teaches about overcoming sin as a Christian.

Why do I still struggle with sin?

There are two main reasons believers continue to struggle with sin. The first is that we have not come to terms with the fact that we are at war. There is a real spiritual war going on within us: a battle against our sinful nature. If we do not recognize it, we cannot take the proper steps to ready ourselves against it. The second reason we struggle is simply that we like our sin! If sin was not pleasurable it would not be tempting! Because sin is fun for a time, we must remember the consequences of sin later.

How can I overcome the sin in my life?

The first thing to do is to train and discipline yourself spiritually so that you are ready for the battle against sin. The next step is to pray over the battle, knowing that you need God's help to win it. Thirdly, you need to get dressed for battle by putting on the full armor of God. Once you have prepared for the battle, remember that your battle with sin is to the death. Our goal in fighting sin is not merely to manage it or reduce it, but to kill it entirely.

To go back to sin, after surrendering your life to Jesus, is to go back to death.

We, having been raised to life, must not go back to death! Sin kept us in death and bondage, why would any of us return to it? Thankfully, Jesus has set us free and given us the power to overcome through him. These are the final pieces of the puzzle in the struggle against sin. First, to fight with that power which only Jesus gives. Second, to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. If we will continue to do these things, sin will not ensnare us, but we will overcome.

This is part 4 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In this week's message, Pastor Zac explains what the bible says about heaven and hell.

What was hell created for?

The bible teaches that God prepared hell for the devil and the angels that fell with him. God didn't create hell with humans in mind, and he wants none of us to end up there. If we choose to reject God, he will give us what we want and send us there. God's justice is perfect, which means he must punish sin. If we do not want to accept that Jesus took that punishment for us already, then we can pay the penalty ourselves. But why choose that when salvation is free?

For love to be love, it must be freely given.

As stated, if we choose to reject God, he will give us what we desire. He will send us to hell, separated from his goodness. God has decided, in his grand calculus, that he values our free will. Therefore he will not force us to love him. If God were to try to force us to love him, it would not be love because love can only exist as a result of a free choice.

Hell is a quarantine of evil.

Because God is perfect and holy, he cannot coexist with evil. That is why heaven will be a place without any evil whatsoever. Instead, God will cast all evil and all evildoers into hell, sequestered for eternity. There, in hell, God metes out just punishment to those who deserve it. Hell is separation from God in that it is a separation from his goodness and mercy, but God's presence is inescapable. In hell, God's presence persists, but it persists in the fullness of his wrath.

God does not want anyone to perish in hell.

In light of the terrifying prospect of hell, it is important to remember that God does not want to send any of us there. God sent Jesus to be a sacrifice in our place so that we could escape hell and go to heaven instead.

Heaven was custom-built for you!

Unlike hell, which God prepared for the devil and demons, heaven exists for all of us to enjoy God forever. When Jesus comes back, God will renew heaven and earth so that all of us might live there with him. Jesus is there now, preparing a place for all those who trust in him for salvation. If you believe in him, all of us from the least to the greatest will go to heaven to experience unspeakable joy and fulfillment forever. This is God's plan; this is God's endgame. The only question is: will you be a part of it?

This is part 3 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In our First Wednesday installment of the series, Pastor Matt teaches how to navigate faith and feelings.

God's presence isn't based on our feelings but on the truth of God's word.

Every Christian feels far from God sometimes, so it is important to know what to do when we experience that. The most important thing to remember is that God is not distant only because we feel he is. In fact, God is not distant at all, but is near to all of us.

The Lord is our shepherd.

God is like a shepherd who watches over his people, his sheep. When we feel far from God, we can know that our shepherd is still there by the scriptures that promise it. This means that God leads us, feeds us, and protects us. He preserves his people because he cares for them. He restores and refreshes our souls when we are weary. If we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we know that God is there to comfort, to guide, and to keep us from evil. When you feel far from God, remember what he says in his word and look to him for strength.

This is part 2 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In week 2 of the series, Pastor Zac teaches how to deal with suffering in our lives.

Suffering follows evil.

Suffering is a consequence of the fall of creation as described in Genesis 3. Because humans sinned, we all experience the consequences of that sin through suffering and pain. While some choose to blame God, each of us has committed more than enough sin to deserve our own pain. Though choosing to blame God is tempting, there are some things we should remember about the God we would accuse.

Jesus entered our suffering on the cross.

The God who some choose to accuse of evil is the very God who entered into creation to suffer an excruciating death on our behalf. We do not have a God who is distant or uncaring, but a God who experienced human suffering in full. Therefore God is able to understand our weaknesses and sympathize with us. Not only this, but God can strengthen us in our time of need. Remember that God is able to take what was meant for evil and turn it for good. In light of this, how should we respond when we face suffering?

Worship God - in suffering and in joy.

When we experience intense suffering, the last thing we may want to do is praise God, but it helps. As shocking as it may be, choosing to praise God through the trials instills hope when we would otherwise despair. To help in times of trouble, train yourself to praise him in the hills so you are ready to praise in the valleys.

Let suffering open your heart and eyes to see God more clearly.

Paradoxically, God's goodness is revealed most clearly in our suffering. If we choose to praise him through it, we can feel his comfort and learn to know him more closely.

Don't let suffering crush you - let God use it to make you stronger.

Suffering can easily cause us to turn bitter. That temptation is strong. Choose, however, to let God strengthen you through the experience instead. Trust God to lead you through it and you will end up stronger in faith because of it.

Remember: suffering in this world is temporary for the Christian.

This world is not all there is, but rather the Christian has hope for the next one. There will come a day when God will wipe away every tear and set all things right. God is loving and just, and he will both establish justice and save his people.

Use your experience to comfort others.

When we experience trials, we should remember them so that we might comfort others in the same situation. Our trials are not ours alone, but they equip us to help others when they face similar circumstances. Whatever the pain you face, trust in God to deliver you through it.

This is part 1 of "Make It Make Sense," our series at Fusion Christian Church where we ask difficult questions and look for biblical answers. In the first week of the series, we look at the problem of evil and ask how a good God can allow it to persist.

Sin is real, but so is salvation.

Many people struggle to believe that God exists in the face of so much evil. However, if you remove God from the equation, we still face evil but now we do it without hope. In truth, evil is evidence that God does exist. The fact that we recognize evil in the world means we have some notion the world ought to be different. We all intuitively know the world ought not just to be different, but to be better. Simply recognizing that the world ought to be better forces us to ask: What do we mean by better? At that point, we must realize that without an ultimate standard of right and wrong, we have no grounding for our idea of "better." That ultimate standard comes from God, and it cannot come from humans.

Evil exists because we can choose.

God created the world and instilled it with the freedom of choice for mankind. Man needed the ability to choose in order to be able to love. Love is a decision, an act of the will, and without free will it cannot exist. Evil exists because when God created beings with free will, we used that will to turn against him. Humans, like some of the angels before us, violated God's law and introduced sin and death into the world.

God will destroy evil.

Fortunately for us, the introduction of evil into the world is only the beginning of the story. God sent Jesus to break the power of sin and conquer death by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. The time is now coming when Christ will return and deal the final blow to sin and death, putting them to an end. God will not allow sin to continue forever, but will destroy it for good at the second coming. Because of the work Christ has done, nothing can separate us from God's love. Therefore we must choose life in Jesus in gratitude for what he has done.