Still Waters, Right Paths

The topic of Heaven has become increasingly popular. One only need to look at recent best seller lists to see that people are curious about the nature of Heaven. Millions are eager to read the descriptions of Heaven penned by people who claim to have experienced it. What is sometimes forgotten is that the Bible is ripe with descriptions of Heaven, some of which were written by people who had experienced it first hand. The goal of this six week sermon series is to lay forth a biblical description of Heaven.

Does God give advice for life’s decisions? Does he help guide us on who we should marry, where we should live, what job we should take? If he does offer advice for decisions like these, how do we receive the advice? And, how can we be sure it is God giving the advice? The goal of this sermon series is to answer these questions.

Does God give advice for life’s decisions? Does he help guide us on who we should marry, where we should live, what job we should take? If he does offer advice for decisions like these, how do we receive the advice? And, how can we be sure it is God giving the advice? The goal of this sermon series is to answer these questions.

In the Bible God speaks His guidance into people's lives in a myriad of ways (think donkeys and treetops), but in the New Testament there is one way He most often leads His people. This sermon examines God's giving of advice through the Holy Spirit and begins to explain how we can hear and follow that advice in life's difficult decisions.

The Bible makes clear that God wants to give people advice for life's "normal" decisions (i.e. who to marry, where to live, what job to take). But, oftentimes people's experiences don't align with this truth. They seek God's advice, but receive nothing. This leaves many advice-seeking men and women frustrated and confused. This sermon, a teaching on James 1:2-8, shows that God may not be giving some people advice (even though he wants to) and provides the reason that this may be the case.

People often desire God's advice for life's decisions: who to marry, where to live, what job to take, etc. But, is God really concerned with these things or does he just care that we follow the rules he has already given us in the Bible? This sermon seeks to answer the question, "Does God offer advice for everyday decisions?"

In the midst of unjust suffering many people turn away from God. They see bad things happening to good people, perhaps themselves and they decide that God must not be good, loving, and/or powerful and decide that he is not worth serving. This sermon, on Job 42:7-17, explains why this is the wrong choice - even for those who have suffered horrific personal tragedy.

At many points in life people have a keen desire to communicate with God. This desire comes when people want answers, "God, why..." This desire comes when people need direction, "God, what..." This desire comes when people need comfort, "God, help..." In Job 3 - 42:6 God responds to this desire in a man named Job. This sermon shows that God's response is awe inspiring in nature and surprising in content.

In a horrific tragedy, Job loses his wealth, respect, health, and his children. In the midst of terrible mourning Job finds glimmers of hope and confidence. In Job 23:10-12 his source of strength comes from an unlikely place - the knowledge that God sees everything he does. How does this help Job cope with the harsh realities of the tragedy he is facing? This sermon answers that question and shows how we can find this same strength in the hardships we face.

Philosophy can be very helpful when working towards an understanding of life's big questions : Why am I here? How did I get here? What does is the meaning of life?

But, philosophy can also leave people frustrated. Especially when life's big question lave the theoretical and become personal. In this sermon, on Job2:20-28, we find where wisdom to respond to the the big question, "Why do bad things happen to good people," can be found.