"If Idols Don't Work, Why Do People Still Worship Them?"

Isaiah 44:13-20

Sermon message by Kenneth Abele

An Attitude of Gratitude
 
Philippians 4:6-7
 
In this world of keeping up appearances and keeping up with the Joneses, it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what we don’t have. This isn’t God’s will for us for when we live like that, we’re never content, never at peace and never grateful. But God wants something different for His children. He wants us to be a people who are grateful and thankful for all He has provided for us. Paul writes this.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
 
As Christians, we have a Good Father who loves us and blesses us beyond measure. When we choose to count our many blessings, what we’re really choosing is to be grateful, to be thankful and to walk in humility. And this pleases the Lord, in fact, He promises that when we choose gratitude that He will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus and fill us with peace from heaven. Glory Hallelujah! So beloved, this day and every day may you choose to have an attitude of gratitude.
 
I love y’all
doug
 

Desire

Psalm 27:4

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Desire in this context is not merely a fleeting wish but a deep, heartfelt longing. The psalmist’s desire is aligned with God’s will, demonstrating a mature faith that prioritizes spiritual over material needs. This aligns with the biblical principle found in Psalm 27:4 which encourages delighting in the LORD to receive the desires of one’s heart, suggesting that true fulfillment is found in God alone. The focus is on our desire and our seeking the Lord.

Be Bold in Your Faith Part 2: You are the Salt of the Earth
 
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
 
Jesus calls his disciples to make a difference in this world, to be bold in our faith. He tells us in his powerful sermon on the mount to be salt and light. He didn’t say try to be salt, no, he said that we are the salt of the earth. As with everything that Jesus taught, this command to be the salt of the earth is packed with meaning. In Jesus’ day, salt was used to preserve, to purify, to add flavor and to create thirst. In this world that is so corrupted by sin, Jesus wants to use his followers to hold back moral decay, to cleanse what’s corrupted, to bring joy, grace and kindness and to point people to him. 
 
Will you be bold in your faith? Will you accept your role and walk in your identity? You are the salt of the earth! Go out there and change the world for Christ Jesus!
See you Sunday!
I love y'all
doug

Be Bold in Your Faith
 
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
 
When it comes to our Christian faith, the loud voices in this world often tell us to keep our faith and our beliefs to ourselves, to blend in, to avoid offending anyone. But that’s not what Jesus did. He preached the good news everywhere he went and with boldness and authority. And if we want to be his disciples, he calls us to do the same. But how do we do this in a world that views the Christian message of salvation with increasing hostility? 
 
Beloved, bold and courageous faith comes from being with Jesus. We experience supernatural courage and strength when we spend time in fellowship with the Lord. When the resurrected Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, he promised that a gift was coming, the Advocate and Comforter was coming, the Holy Spirit. Christian, we are filled with the same Holy Spirit as Peter and John and we can literally accomplish great and mighty things with his help. So be strong, be encouraged and be bold in your faith, Jesus is counting on you!
I love y'all
doug

The Valley of Vision
Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39
In this world, it’s not a matter of if we will endure trials, tribulation and hardship, it’s a matter of when. Jesus told us plainly that in this world we will have trouble but not to lose heart, he has already overcome the world. He also promised his believers that he would never leave us, in fact he promised to be with us all the way, even to the end of the age. When we endure the valleys of hardship, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus for he alone is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
And when we fix our eyes on him while in the valley, he refines our vision. You see beloved, it’s in the valley that we learn invaluable lessons of the Lord’s deep love and faithfulness towards us that we simply could not learn any other way. My deepest times of growth in my relationship with Jesus have come in the valley, I suspect yours have too? May we remain faithful in those times of trials and testing and know in our deepest heart that he will lead us through the valley and onto the mountaintop of victory.

Standing Firm in Exile
Daniel 1: 1-7
 
Over and over again one of the central truths of the Bible is "Our Lord Reigns."
Even in moments of darkness, even when the future feels uncertain, God is sovereign.
He is not distant. He is not silent. He is present and ruling - even when things are falling apart. Daniel 1 teaches about God's sovereignty showing HE is in control even when people suffer, and the importance of standing firm in one’s convictions by refusing to compromise faith, despite intense pressure to conform to worldly customs. It demonstrates that obedience to God brings divine favor and wisdom as seen when Daniel and his friends are rewarded with superior knowledge for their faithfulness to a simple diet and their convictions.
 
God Bless,
Jeff Willis

Battle Ready Part 2: This is How We Fight Our Battles
 
Ephesians 6:10-18
 
In the previous sermon Battle Ready Part 1: Wake Up Sleeper, we learned what it means to be the True Church of Jesus Christ. We learned that a church that looks just like the world has nothing to offer the world. Jesus is calling his church to wake up and boldly proclaim the Gospel message of salvation. In this message we’ll identify who are enemy is and we’ll examine the powerful weapons that the Lord has given us to achieve victory over Satan and his diabolical schemes. 
I love and appreciate y'all
doug

It All Starts with a Thought
 
Luke 15:11-31
 
One of Jesus’ greatest parables can be found in the Gospel of Luke, it’s the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This Sunday we’ll delve into the Scriptures and examine what Jesus wants to show us through the story of the younger son, the older brother and the heart of the Father. Behind the scenes, Satan is always planting thoughts in our minds to confuse us. The strategic thoughts and ideas that Satan whispers in our ear always lead us away from the Father while the thoughts from the Holy Spirit always draw us near to the Father. Father God is always searching for us when we go astray and He is always prepared to welcome us home with open arms.  
To our great God be great glory!
I love y'all
doug

For This Cause
 
Titus 1:5       

 
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
 
So many times, we are led by the Spirit of God to places, thru circumstances or in a situation that we do not want to endure. There seems to be our plan and then God’s plan. Here in the book of Titus we find Paul providing instruction to a young pastor named Titus as to why he is in Crete. We ask ourselves: Why are we here?  What should I be doing? God’s Word is filled with direction, filled with instruction, and promise. We don’t need to be consumed with the noise of this world but remain focused on the Will of God….regardless where we find ourself today!
 
God Bless!
Jeff

Sermon message by Jeff Willis