Sermons - Faith Community Church

Today’s Message

What do Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the Christmas Shepherds all have in common? 3 words! All 4 were visited and commanded: “Do not be afraid.” It is hard to live today and not have apprehension, concern, or alarm for what is happening in our nation and around the world. What might God have to say to you this Christmas season that would help you navigate the challenges of this time and circumstances in your life?

Today’s Scriptures

Luke 1.5-25: aIn the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named 1Zacharias, of the bdivision of 2Abijah; and he had a wife 3from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both arighteous in the sight of God, walking bblamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in 1years.

Luke 1:8 Now it happened that while ahe was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot ato enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer aoutside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 And aan angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and afear 1gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “aDo not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and byou will 1give him the name John. 14 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will adrink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit 1while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 “And he will aturn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 “It is he who will ago as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of bElijah, cTO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to amake ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For aI am an old man and my wife is advanced in 1years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am aGabriel, who 1bstands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Luke 1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he akept 1making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

Luke 1:24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she 1kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to atake away my disgrace among men.”

Click here for today’s message outline.

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today’s Message:

The temptation that we face is to look past our neighbor and only see what they possess. The tragedy of coveting is that our neighbors become small in our eyes and their stuff becomes big in our eyes.

Today’s Scriptures

Exodus 20.17: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today’s Message:

There is no commandment that easily illustrates the simple and profound reach of God’s commands. Imagine a nation where there is no maligning, lying, deceiving, falsifying, stretching the truth, half-truth, scapegoating, blaming, implying, fabricating, deluding, or exaggerating at another’s expense or opportunity… the fact that we can’t and that many have given up trying is a crisis and a tragedy we must endeavor to overtake…

Today’s Scriptures

Exodus 20.16: “You shall not bear false witness.”

Psalm 15: O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 16: Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.

I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Click here for message outline.

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today’s Scriptures

Exodus 20.15: “You shall not steal.”

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today’s Scriptures

Exodus 20.14: “You shall not commit adultery.”

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today's Message

Just imagine what the world would look like if God’s commandment, “No Murder”, was kept by humanity. But our world becomes more and more divided, polarized, and violent. Perhaps it is because we don’t understand or value the deeper and more compelling reasons behind God’s command.

Today’s Scriptures

Exodus 20.13: “You shall not murder.

Matthew 5.21-26: “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Click here for this mornings message outline.

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today's Message

If the first 4 commandments are about loving God; the second six are about what it means to love our neighbor. At the top of the list is honoring our parents. What does this mean? Does this mean obey parents no-matter-what? What about if our parents were abusive, not trustworthy, or unstable? How can God expect us to obey our parents in these broken and brutal situations. But the question is NOT “how can God expect us to obey?” the question is “Does God expect us to obey?”

Deuteronomy 5.16

Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Click here for additional resources.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today's Message

Do not make, serve, or bow before other gods… but we do. gods of time, wealth, relationships, security, nationalism, happiness all beckon our allegiance. The truth is that we are idol factories. We create and worship idols of creation rather than the God of creation. Idolatry is not a victimless crime. The gods we have created have reduced people to slavery… but there is an answer; there is a remedy.

Exodus 20.1-6

1 Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Click here to download this morning's outline/notes

Click here for additional resources.

Today's Message

This morning we take a break from the Ten Commandments to welcome guest pastor: Jim Hayford. Jim has is a highly respected pastor and leader who has trained pastors, planted churches, taught seminary, and remains active in ministry. This morning he distills years of insight on what it means to life a Spirit-filled life.

Today’s Scripture Passage

Galatians 5.18-21: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

The 10 Commandments are 10 simple and concrete statements that could transform the planet. There is nothing ambiguous about them. Consider this: if everyone practiced the 10 commandments there would be justice, everlasting peace, freedom, unity, dignity, integrity, prosperity, and love. If there is a even the slightest possibility that this is true we should study and reflect deeply upon them.

Today's Message

Do not make, serve, or bow before other gods… but we do. gods of time, wealth, relationships, security, nationalism, happiness all beckon our allegiance. The truth is that we are idol factories. We create and worship idols of creation rather than the God of creation. Idolatry is not a victimless crime. The gods we have created have reduced people to slavery… but there is an answer; there is a remedy.

Exodus 20.1-6

1 Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Click here to download this morning's outline/notes

Click here for additional resources.