Sermons

The characteristics of today reflect a shallowness in our lives. We cast our nets wide without going deep. Depth in life and love include critical thinking. Being a Christian does not mean avoiding deep thinking. While we can love with our hearts, we can also love with our minds.

Do we have people in our lives who challenge our patience? How long is our fuse? How long is the embrace of God's love? What does that mean? Do we grasp the understanding of the gift of Love that God has for us? When we read the Scriptures, we notice that Jesus never met a stranger. Jesus made people feel treasured and we can do the same!

Are you 'playing church'? We need genuine heartfelt worship before God. When we're done with worship, we should be asking ourselves 'How'd I do?', not 'Did I get anything out of that?'.

Years are like snowflakes: no two are alike. For every new year that comes, the outlook on the horizon appears different. The timing of what happens in our world and our lives is on God's time, not our time. Don't the sweat the small stuff; don't worry. As we go into 2021, in spite of all the worldly indicators, God is in control of all things.

We should walk by faith, not by sight.

How do we survive in this world of challenges and frustrations? To experience God's agape love is to know of the indwelling of God in our hearts. There is no condition to it and there is no end to it.

Can you imagine a life without friends? Is the loneliness something with which you can find satisfaction? The essence of real friendship means sharing the same passions. Christmas from the first moment has been meant for a celebration among friends.

Eros means love based on worth or value. It is the force of Eros love that drives us to say "I gotta have that [person, job, vacation, object]". The problem is that when we rely on Eros love, we rely on conditions (as long as). This is conditional love, not an unconditional love. Eros love can go away just as quickly as it came. Eros love draws lines and sets limits, which is a severe limitation. Our lives are not to be as a people pleaser, but as a God pleaser.

We often find ourselves declaring our love for things and events in our lives. There are so many aspects of life to which we can attach ourselves. Are we ready to love the baby Jesus for what he is to the world, or are we to just love the Christmas season like a car?

The primary characteristics of a believer is exhibiting calm in the storm. We worship a God so big and loving that even a vessel in a storm still reveals God is in control. We are to gain courage in this. God is the reason we celebrate! God is the reason we give thanks. Sometimes God calms the storms and sometimes God lets the storms rage and He calms us.