South Sub Church

The Christmas season can become overly complicated with decorating the house, calendaring office parties, buying presents and preparing for difficult family members. The beauty of Christmas is not found in all the trappings of the season but in the simplicity of the story of the birth of Jesus. This week’s sermon discovers the peace found in the second week of Advent. Through the story of Gabriel visiting Mary, you will discover peace is found in trusting in God’s love and knowing He will take care of you.

The Christmas season can become overly complicated with decorating the house, calendaring office parties, buying presents and preparing for difficult family members. The beauty of Christmas is not found in all the trappings of the season but in the simplicity of the story of the birth of Jesus.

This week’s sermon discovers the hope found in the first week of Advent. Through the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, you will discover trusting in God’s promises and love will bring hope in your personal life.

One of the many American Dreams is to accumulate wealth to enjoy life more. While there is nothing wrong with the dream, there are some personal dangers that accompany wealth regardless the size of the bank account.

This week’s sermon looks at the Apostle Paul’s letter to his protégé, Timothy. Paul’s perspective on how to positively handle wealth is as timely today as it was 2000 years ago.

A common desire in life is to want more. “More” comes in so many forms: more (bigger) house; more (latest version) phone; more (newer) car; more (bigger) paycheck. The list goes on and on. The difficulty is no matter how much more people get, they still want more. The appetite for more is never satisfied. This week’s sermon explores the paradox that “more” is neither good nor bad. It is what you do with the “more” that determines the effect of it on one’s life.

As winter approaches, people are receiving the annual vaccine to ward off the flu, medically referred to as Influenza. While the clinics are full, there is a greater risk of lives being drastically affected by what sociologists call Affluenza – a preoccupation of money, extreme materialism, and continual consumerism. Symptoms often include feelings of guilt, lack of motivation and a chronic dissatisfaction with their current situation. This week’s sermon looks continues to explore the paradox of generosity. Four specific types of giving will be explored as practical means to inoculate ourselves from Affluenza.

A paradox is a statement that seems absurd but in reality, expresses a truth. The Bible presents several paradoxes especially when it comes to the topic of generosity. Simply stated, when we give, we keep. This week’s sermon looks at the principle of ownership and how it relates to generosity.

Jesus, from the beginning, has always been God’s good news for you. Logos, or Word, is a spoken thought and Jesus is the Word of God.

There is a rhythm to praying that consists of requesting, waiting, fighting and finally resting. It’s in the resting phase that one can recharge and refocus to continue knowing the heart of God. In a society that values busyness over stillness and productivity over connection, the resting phase in prayer is often overlooked. This week’s sermon looks at the importance of resting. Helpful suggestions to engage in spiritual rest will be examined.

It is common to experience conflict – both internal and external – when praying. Many refer to this as spiritual warfare. Even before the prayer request, there is a spiritual fight that incurs for the heart and life of the believer. This week’s sermon looks at the connection between a powerful prayer and the life of the one praying.

Prayer is often described as a simple conversation with God, yet it often feels like a one-sided conversation waiting on God to respond to the request. This week’s sermon examines why God makes us wait and his purpose behind the waiting.