Sally: We asked our family: Can we find a group that supports people going through addiction?  I contacted the Akron Police dept – and got connected to The Packard Institute here in Akron – it is a different approach to recovery – they are doing amazing work.  I got in touch with Spencer at the Recovery House – and we offered to do some volunteer work to partner with them.  They had not had an ‘outside ...

This week, we are looking at the church in Philadelphia.  The preceding church – all Jesus had to say was – You think you’re alive, but you’re dead – and I’m going to destroy you!

 Revelation 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no ...

by Mike MaretteMike references this link below: Healing is More Important than Resolution from 9/21/2014.Revelation 2:18 18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: "This is the solemn pronouncement of the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished bronze: 19 'I know your deeds: your love, faith, service, and steadfast endurance. In fact, your more recent ...

Let’s pray – Lord, thank You – we love You and thank You – that we can be in Your presence and that You are at work in our church.  Help us to focus on what You are doing and what You have done – to remember all that You have done for us and to look forward to what You are going to do – so make us grateful people, not the grumblers we tend to become ...

Last week – we had two practical ‘take-homes’ – and I actually had 3 – but I thought it was too much – but people talked to me afterward – the Smyrna church is next – and it is the smallest – maybe the least, but not the least important! Matthew 7:Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will ...

Lord, we pray for Hannah – help her to – give her very specific people – she is getting a lot of support here – we pray You would open up other avenues of support – we ask that You would provide for her by summertime that she can proceed with Your work.  Help us to come before You in humility – not only as people, but as a church.  You are trying to speak to us individually, but ...

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to hear from You this morning!  Give us ears to hear, that we might be changed.  In Your name we pray.

Like we mentioned last week – we are going into the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation – the question we have to ask – what Revelation asks –

Who or What will we Give Our Allegiance to?  And the second:

Where do our Loyalties Lie?

As ...

Thank You for Your love and grace. You loved us and saved us and gave us a relationship with You. May Your love fill our hearts with a sense of appreciation and as a result, that our love would grow – for You and others and the world – that we would leave more like Jesus than when we came. That is the goal. In Jesus’ Name. I mentioned last week – we are starting a series – Lent ...

We have been talking about re-envisioning our church – and this week, we are talking about an issue that came out of that.

What I am going to be doing once Lent starts – I listen to a lot of podcasts – I don’t imitate or copy them – but sometimes people do sermons on the seven deadly sins… - instead of that – you look at the seven churches in Revelation – and in each of those messages – the angel ...

Lord, we pray You would give us grace to lay our hearts before You as a church community that You might speak into our hearts and that You would give us clarity and understanding how to live as Your followers.  I ask for grace in our lives that we can know Your love for us and this world – to have an understanding of the times that it might transform who we are that we ...