Sermon Podcast

Being face to face with Jesus doesn’t make life easy; it makes it possible to go on when life isn’t. Here's the hard truth about hard times: Hard times are unavoidable. Hard times are purposeful. And hard times are temporary.

Jesus performed many miracles, including walking on water and calming the storm. When the impossible becomes possible, we trust in the character of God, step out from the crowd, focus on the face and voice of Jesus, call to Jesus when we are sinking, and worship Who Jesus is more than what He does.

Every day there is a battle for the heart. When our heart fails, when we mess up, what do we need to remember to complete the mission of Christ?

One of God's names is Jehovah-Shalom, which means "the LORD is peace." How can we have peace in the chaos? We must face our fears and worries, remove our idols, accept our identity in Christ, and start our days in worship.

We all want more of something. The question we must ask: Is God enough? One of the names of God is Jehovah-Jireh, which means the Lord will provide. The Lord will provide direction when we are confused, resources when we are lacking, strength when we are weak, and salvation when we are lost.

One of God's names is Jehovah-Rapha, the LORD who heals. What does that mean for us? We all face sickness and death because of the curse of sin. God wants to restore all of us, but not always the way we want. God controls the outcome, but we still have a command to obey.

One of the names of God is Jehovah-Nissi, which means "the LORD is my banner." With God as our banner, how can we win the battle? We must choose the right teammates, use the right weapon, give the right praise, and build the right memories.

What does it mean that one of God's names is Jehovah-Raah, the Good Shepherd? He knows us by name, guides us into a satisfying life, protects us from the enemy, welcomes everyone, and sacrifices Himself in our place.

We were created on purpose and for a purpose, and it isn't about us. How can we fulfill our purpose? We must realize every Christ-follower has a common purpose, remember God gave every individual specific gifts for His Kingdom, and refuse to let fear and comfort determine our actions.

We're better together in community. But why do we need others? Because we have a relational God. Because the first problem in humanity wasn't sin ... but loneliness. Because life change happens best in the context of relationships. And who do we need? We need to develop relationships with those who are honest. We need to examine relationships with those who are harmful. We need to embrace relationships with those who are holy.