Shartel Church

Baptism is such a beautiful visual of the Resurrection. It reminds us that we can bury our past, bury our failures, and bury our shame. Just as Christ rose to a New Life, so can we! We not only come up out of the water with clean bodies, we come up with a clean slate upon which we can write a New Story. The Resurrection means that no matter how “dead” we may have been, we can live New Lives!

One of the names God revealed Himself by was “Jehovah Raphe, the God who heals us.” One of the primary ministries of Jesus was as a healer as well. So, too, as the Church, we are to be a safe place for people who are hurting. We are to open our doors and our arms to those who are wounded, those who are struggling, and those who society often casts aside. In a world filled with hurting people, we are a Hospital.

The church is more than an organization. It’s an ORGANISM! It’s a living, breathing extension of God Himself. Because of that, we only have life when we’re connected to God. This message will explore how to “abide” in Christ and allow His love and strength to flow through us.

Christ came from heaven to earth with a mission: To bridge the gap between God and those far from Him. And then He gave that mission to US! Paul reminds us in this week’s passage that we are ambassadors—agents of God’s grace, emissaries of His love, and spreaders of His gospel. This week, we’ll look at how we can carry out that role in our homes, schools, offices, and neighborhoods.

From the beginning of the Abrahamic covenant, God has called His People to be His Army on earth. As we pray, speak, and step up and step out, God’s Spirit battles through us. This message will look at the armor that God gives us and the weapons that God gives us to fight the good fight of faith here on earth.

In His wisdom, God wanted His People to be more than just an organization. He wanted them to be a Family. A Family that looks out for each other. A Family that holds each other accountable. A Family that loves greatly, protects fiercely, and shares with each other generously. Anyone can join a club, but only God can make you a member of His Family!

One of the beautiful descriptions that Paul gives of the church is that we are the body of Christ. We all have different functions. We all have different gifts and talents. Only as we work together do we function as a “body.” This message will challenge each person to identify and step into their part in the Body.

You can’t microwave a love relationship with God. It takes time to get to know God and how He works in our lives. Continuous. Daily. Constant. These are the words that describe the journey that leads to growth and intimacy with God. This message will focus on what it takes to cultivate a relationship with God that lasts a lifetime.

Doubt. Fear. Insecurity. Disappointment. Shame. These are many of the emotions that sabotage our relationships. Including our relationship with God. Just like we need to have occasional “hard talks” with those we are close to, the same is true of God. God wants to hear our hearts—even when our hearts are troubled and confused. We can’t be close to a God we’re not honest with.

There’s an elephant in the room. Ever heard that expression? It means there’s something that’s a problem that no one is talking about. It happens with God. We can’t draw close to God while we’re flirting with the Devil. James says drawing near to God also involves resisting the Enemy. This message will focus on getting rid of the things that are keeping us from God.