Guest Speaker James Sunday talks about the work he does with World Relief at the Anne Arundel County office and how we can all get involved in supporting local refugees. If you would like to get involved, go to their website http://worldreliefannearundel.org/ for more information.

Sorrow is part of life; we all experience it at some point in our lives. For those who have access to the Kingdom of Heaven sorrow leads to happiness, for it reminds us that Jesus is near; and when He is near, He comforts.

What happiness to you? Chocolate? Football? Family? Friends? Coffee? Sleeping Children? Happiness is subjective, but if you want real, long-lasting, authentic happiness then Jesus has the answer for you. Part 1 of the 'Beatitudes' series tells us that when you realize that your soul is poor without God, you then have the ability to access the Kingdom of Heaven where you will find the ultimate state of true happiness.

Part 2 of the 'Because of You' series asks the question: Are you an example to others of Christ? We are told to imitate the lifestyle of Christ in the Bible. This sermon helps us to understand just how to do that.

God is a giving God. He gives out of His abundance, His love & His grace. As a church we also should be known as giving people. Through this talk we learn about the ministry of giving and the importance to 'send' to others in need all over the world.

The final part of the Parables series discusses the parables of the wise & foolish builders, as well as the parable of the wise & foolish bridesmaids. Through these stories we learn that the wise pray for the best and prepare for the worst. It is only a life built on the teachings of Jesus Christ that can withstand the storms of life and can endure til the end.

Using Jesus' parable of the talents we hear how we are managers of God's goodness and how we are responsible to use the goodness He has given us to help increase the Kingdom of God.

How should Christians respond to the social issues of our culture? Through the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches us that those who live in the Kingdom of Heaven understand that our 'neighbor' is each of those who cross our path on this journey of life, and when those neighbors are in need, we need to become the hands and feet of Jesus to them.

Through the stories of a persistent neighbor and a persistent widow, we discover how Jesus uses these parables to instruct us on how to persevere in certain types of prayers that we bring to God.

Have you ever been lost? You lose your whereabouts and your direction when you are lost. Through the parables of the Lost Coin and the Lost Son, Jesus explains just what God does for people who have lost their way. Through this talk we use these two parables to challenge us to come home and also to invite our friends & family home.