Sermons Christ Community Church: Daytona Beach, FL

As human beings made in the image of God we have a big appetite for communication. We like smart phones, web sites, blogs, books, magazines, text messages, email messages, and even face-to-face communication. In the midst of all of this communication and information how do we come to know the truth? How do we hear God's voice and receive his wisdom so that we grow into the fullness of a mature and genuine, God-filled human life?

We weren't made for emptiness but for fullness. A lot of frustration in life comes from trying to fill our emptiness with things that cannot fill us. Ephesians calls us to a new life that is a mature and genuine, God-filled human life. It's what we were created for and it is what we are redeemed for.

What is baptism? Baptism is a symbol and seal of the gift of grace we receive through faith in Christ. Baptism can and should be an expression of faith, but it is not faith itself. It is a good work we do, but it does not save our souls.

In Christian life the most powerful changes in our lives come not through the force of law and the cold fear of condemnation, but through the warmth of God grace and the experience of His love.

Some people have a negative reaction to the idea of “being saved” but this word "saved" is a good word to use, precisely because it confronts us with how desperately we need God's grace.

One of the foundational truths that the book of Ephesians teaches comes right at the beginning. It is this: If we want to live in the fullness of life we have be focused on God. A mature and genuine human life is a life focused on God.

The call of the gospel makes us alive. It takes something that was dead and makes it alive again. God is calling us to be living stones, built together into a spiritual house.

In this "Parable of the Sower", Jesus is talking to us about what it means to truly follow him.

As we live our faith out, it is inevitable that some of the people we love and care for will wander from God’s truth. Here at the end of the book of James, his final charge challenges and equips the people of the church to deal with the work of “Restoring Wandering People” back to God.

Prayer is powerful. The word “powerful” is the word for inherent strength. It suggests the idea of untapped resources. Imagine a tract of land that looks unimpressive and unpromising, but it hides rich deposits of minerals and precious metals. This is the picture suggested by this word for power. Prayer may look unimpressive to the natural eye and it is easy to underestimate; but it has great resources waiting to be tapped, a huge power waiting to be released.