Lessons for Living (Audio)

What do you think your “job” is as a follower of Jesus? Do you think of salvation as just “fire insurance” to be sure you don’t go to hell? Did you ever think there might be more to this “Christian thing” than living your life and putting your time in at church? Well, in Pastor Mark’s teaching today you’re going to find out that Jesus actually has a command for you. You’re going to learn that His plan for His followers hasn’t changed since the day He first said the words, and that He expects you to obey them.

God has blessed every person with unique skills. You may be good at speaking. You may be a prayer warrior, or your skills may be in the area of administration. Whatever your gifts, you’re meant to use them for the work of the Kingdom! Today’s message will be a reminder that God’s work is done through His children! Pastor Mark will urge you to contribute your time, energy, and resources to see the Gospel message advance – but to do that in the way that you’ve been uniquely called!

The Gospel message NEEDS to be shared. It’s not something you can just sit back and hope will move forward without you. YOU are being called to share the good news! Today Pastor Mark will be reminding you that every follower of Christ is asked to be a light in the darkness, to spread hope to every corner of the earth. If you don’t feel qualified, ask the Holy Spirit to speak through you! He will give you the right words and the right time! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see God work!

If you ask people why they think they’ll go to Heaven when they die, you’ll likely get an answer similar to “well, I’m a pretty good person.” Trying to be good enough is an admirable goal, but as Pastor Mark will remind you, it’s an impossible task. No human being will ever be good enough to compare to God Himself. It’s simply not in our nature…our sinful, fallen nature. But that’s why God came up with a different plan – He sent His Son! Pastor Mark will tell you today all about His better plan for reaching Heaven!

Community is such an important part of life! It’s where you grow, and where you can serve. It’s a place to find support and care when life is out of control. It’s a family, brothers and sisters in Christ who can challenge you and build you up! Today Pastor Mark will be urging you to invest in relationships with other believers. It’s more than just joining a church – it’s getting into a small group, or finding one or two people to hold you accountable. Take a note from the early church, and get into community!

Peace is possible. You may not think so in this chaotic world, but it IS something you can take hold of today. But how is that possible? Keep listening as Pastor Mark shares today about the overwhelming and constant peace that’s available when you give your life to Christ! You can know His grace that covers all sin, and you can bask in the love that’s indescribable. And soak in the peace – it’s all connected to Jesus! Today, make the choice to give your cares to the Lord…you won’t regret it!

You’ve probably seen the illustration of a glass half-way filled with liquid and been told it represents your level of pessimism about certain ideas. You may be a “glass half full” person, or maybe a “glass half empty”. But today, Pastor Mark is going to share that this glass can be overflowing when it comes to your relationship with Jesus! He wants you to experience an abundance of joy! So much of that, even, that it’s impossible to not share it with others! They’ll see the joy of the Lord in all you say and do.

When you pray, what’s the main theme of your conversation? Is it asking God for things, or are you genuinely seeking His will for your life? Today, Pastor Mark will be encouraging you to pray prayers that Jesus would have prayed for Himself. Pray for guidance as you go about your day, and for an open heart and listening ears. Ask the Lord to bring you to situations where you can be a light in the darkness. Request courage to do what He has planned for you, and then walk forward boldly in faith that God is with you!

Persecution of the church is something still happening around the world today. Pastor Mark will be sharing today that when you stand up for your faith, there’s a good chance you’ll face opposition. You may lose friends, or even family. Satan doesn’t want the message of truth and hope reaching the ears of other people, and he’s going to stand in your way! But today, you can remain committed to Christ, even in the face of persecution and discouragement. Continue to love others and speak the truth!

When your sins are forgiven by Jesus, you’re given a fresh start, a new life. It isn’t always an immediate change, though – it’s a process of BECOMING more like Christ! In his message today, Pastor Mark will be challenging you to become a reproduction of Jesus Himself. What would it change in your personal life to act more like Christ? In your job? In your interactions with others? As you demonstrate Jesus love in your own life, others will see it – and that gives them the chance at a fresh start too!