Sunday Sermons

Relationship Status Week #4

Parenting

Isaiah 39:1-8

 3 THINGS WE CANNOT DO IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR KIDS: 

1. Forget that your kid is a blessing from God 

Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. -Isaiah 39:1-2 

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. -Psalm 127:3 

Forgetting that our kids are a blessing leads to 2 things:

 A. Frustration

 B. Negativity

 The reason we correct our kids is to instruct them, not to degrade or devalue them.

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. -Ephesians 4:29

 2. Neglecting our kids for other things 

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.” 4 “What did they see in your palace?” asked Isaiah. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.” -Isaiah 39:3-4

 Neglectful parents have the tendency to become one (or more) of 3 things: 

A. The Passive Parent 

B. The Denying Parent 

C. The Alternate Solution Parent 

3. Being complacent about God’s Word to my family 

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6 ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’” 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.” -Isaiah 39:5-8

We're not okay on our own 

Change is possible

Relationship Status Week #3
Divorce
Matthew 19:3-9

* If you've ever gone through a divorce, you don't feel celebration, you feel condemnation  

 * The Bible is 66 books with 1189 chapters and 31,102 verses

 * Divorce is always bad, but it’s not always wrong

 * Divorce is always bad, but it’s not always a sin

 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?” Matthew 19:3

 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. John 12:9-11

 “Suppose a man marries a woman but she does not please him. Having discovered something wrong with her, he writes a document of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house. 2 When she leaves his house, she is free to marry another man. Deuteronomy 24:1-2

 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” 7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked. 8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. Matthew 19:4-8

 * If a marriage is going to not just survive, but thrive, it takes two people with an open heart towards whatever God wants

 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.” Matthew 19:9

 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” Malachi 2:16

 3 REASONS FOR DIVORCE:

1. Physical abuse

 2. Unrepented adultery

 3. Abandonment

 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, “Have you seen what fickle Israel has done? Like a wife who commits adultery, Israel has worshiped other gods on every hill and under every green tree. 7 I thought, ‘After she has done all this, she will return to me.’ But she did not return, and her faithless sister Judah saw this. 8 She saw that I divorced faithless Israel because of her adultery. But that treacherous sister Judah had no fear, and now she, too, has left me and given herself to prostitution. Jeremiah 3:6-8

 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

 * Jesus loves you just like you are, but he loves you too much to let you stay that way

Relationship Status Week #2

Seek First

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

 What is your plan to put Jesus first?

 Nobody has ever accidentally drifted closer to Jesus 

What do I do that helps you feel first or important in our marriage?

 3 things happen when you put your spouse at the center:

1. They will disappoint you 

2. You set your spouse up for failure

 Your spouse cannot handle the weight of your worship, only Jesus can 

3. Substitution 

When you put kids first:

1. Romance goes out the window 

Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine. 3 How pleasing is your fragrance; your name is like the spreading fragrance of scented oils. No wonder all the young women love you! 4 Take me with you; come, let’s run! The king has brought me into his bedroom. Song of Solomon 1:2-4

Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love. 6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. Song of Solomon 2:5-6

My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 2:16

You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace. 10 Your love delights me, my treasure, my bride. Your love is better than wine, your perfume more fragrant than spices. Song of Solomon 4:9-10

My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds, to browse in the gardens and gather the lilies. 3 I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine. He browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 6:2-3

How beautiful are your sandaled feet, O queenly maiden. Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a skilled craftsman. 2 Your navel is perfectly formed like a goblet filled with mixed wine. Between your thighs lies a mound of wheat bordered with lilies. 3 Your breasts are like two fawns, twin fawns of a gazelle. 4 Your neck is as beautiful as an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the sparkling pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is as fine as the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus. 5 Your head is as majestic as Mount Carmel, and the sheen of your hair radiates royalty. The king is held captive by its tresses. 6 Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, my love, how full of delights! 7 You are slender like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters of fruit. 8 I said, “I will climb the palm tree and take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like grape clusters, and the fragrance of your breath like apples. 9 May your kisses be as exciting as the best wine— Yes, wine that goes down smoothly for my lover, flowing gently over lips and teeth. 10 I am my lover’s, and he claims me as his own. Come, my love, let us go out to the fields and spend the night among the wildflowers. 12 Let us get up early and go to the vineyards to see if the grapevines have budded, if the blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love. There the mandrakes give off their fragrance, and the finest fruits are at our door, new delights as well as old, which I have saved for you, my lover. Song of Solomon 7:1-13 

2. Your desire becomes to control your child’s life 

3. You set yourself up for long term frustration

 3 things that are true if you don’t know Jesus:

1. No joy

 2. No peace

 3. No hope 

Is Jesus first in your life?

Relationship Status - Week 1
Rock vs. Sand
Matthew 7:24-27

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  25  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  26  But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  27  When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

1. Sand = excited about the wedding
Rock = excited about the marriage

2. Sand = seeks to change
Rock = seeks to understand

* Would you rather have a spouse shaped in your image or God’s image?

Likewise,  husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you  of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:73.

Sand = taking
Rock = giving

* Ask your spouse/partner--- what do I do that adds value to you?

4. Sand = blame
Rock = ownership

5. Sand = led by emotion
Rock = led by The Holy Spirit

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11

August 31, 2025

My Redeemer Lives

Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 15:1-2

 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. Malachi 4:5 

The people of God must get back to standing on the Word of God 

You must not steal 

You must not murder 

You must not lie 

The Word of God is not archaic, it is timeless 

For some people, the next coming of Jesus will be great, and for others it will be dreadful 

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.  Luke 15:1

People who weren’t welcome in the Temple were welcome with Jesus

This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! Luke 15:2

His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:6 

85% of teenagers with behavioral disorders do not have a father  

70% of adolescents in drug and alcohol treatment centers have no father 

 90% of homeless and runaway children have no father  

Children without a father are 900 times more likely to drop out of school  

Over 90% of people in prison have no relationship with their father 

If we are not careful, we will project the image of our earthly father unto our Heavenly Father 

Jesus is proof that God has a heart for us 

Jesus help me have a heart that fully belongs to you

The essence of Christianity is not what we do for God, it’s what God has done for us

More than Conquerors Week #7

The Power of the Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6

And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. 1 Peter 5:4

   - What does Jesus want to change in me?

 1. Jesus, make me more aware of who you are

 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1

   - God is Holy

   - Holy = perfect and without sin

 2. Jesus, make me be aware of your ways

 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.3 He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:2-3

   - We don’t draw lines, we draw circles

 3. Jesus, make me aware of your presence

   - We tend to not see the presence of Jesus in the middle of dark seasons

 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me Psalm 23:4

 Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

 4. Jesus make me aware of your blessings

 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5

   - Many times, we cannot focus on the feast because we are focused on the fight

 5. Jesus, make me aware of your pursuit

 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6

More than Conquerors - Week #6
The Power of Restoration
Matthew 12: 9-13

Things that are hidden cannot be healed

We will never find healing as long as we feel like we have to keep stuff hidden

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! -Matthew 12:9-13

Confession is not telling God that you're doing something wrong, it's agreeing with God that what you're doing is wrong

You cannot be healed until you stop hiding. But when you stop hiding, God doesn't want to bring retribution, He wants to bring restoration

More Than Conquerors - Week 5
Sunday, August 10, 2025
The Power Of A Connected Church

1. Connection
- Common Ground
1 Corinthians 9:22b: ”Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.”
- Fellowship
Acts 2:42: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”
- The Body Of Christ 
Colossians 1:18: “Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
1 Corinthians 12:12 “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.”
- Joints and Ligaments
- Healing
James 5:16a: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Go to God for forgiveness, get to each other for healing. God uses people, but it still comes from God. It’s the process and our obedience that allows us to heal.
2. Discipleship- Discipleship begins in rows but comes alive in circles. 
Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
- What starts in a row takes root in a circle.
- Discipleship becomes relational, not just instructional. 

3. Protection
- Protection Is God’s Design
1 Corinthians 12:21-26: “21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes forharmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
- Life is hard, and we need a group that’s willing to cary us when we can’t walk through it.

-Community
- Meets Needs
Acts 2:44-47: And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple 2 each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. 

4. You’re Within Reach
1 Corinthians 9:22b: “Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him.”
- God changes lives in sermons, but He cements that change in relationships.
- Don’t underestimate the power of common ground.

More than Conquerors Week #4

The Power of the Stone

1 Samuel 17:17-51

Be careful about making agreements with the enemy

1. Walking with Jesus is a journey

Spiritual growth is a process

Every reference to spiritual growth in the Scriptures is agricultural

One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. 18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” 19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines. 20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.  1 Samuel 17:17-20

2. There will always be obstacles

Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies and hurried out to the ranks to greet his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. 24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.  1 Samuel 17:21-24

Jesus always turns obstacles into opportunity

“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 1 Samuel 17:32

3. There is victory in Christ

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 1 Samuel 17:41-44

As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. 1 Samuel 17:48-51

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. Matthew 28:1-2

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

More than Conquerors Week #3

The Power of a Giving Church 

Matthew 6:19-24

1.  What does the Bible say about money?

  Q.  Why does the Bible have so much to say about money?

A.  Because money is the #1 competitor to your heart when it comes to you following Jesus

Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  3  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering  to the  Lord.  4  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions  from some of the firstborn of his flock.  The  Lord  looked with favor on Abel and his offering,  5  but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Genesis 4:2-5

3 ways you can give:

1.  The Tithe—  10% of your gross income every year

2.  The offering— anything above the tithe.

3.  Generosity—  when you see a need and you meet it.

“I the  Lord  do not change.  So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.  7  Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away  from my decrees and have not kept them. Return  to me, and I will return to you,”  says the  Lord  Almighty. “But you ask,  ‘How are we to return?’ 8  “Will a mere mortal rob  God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes  and offerings.  9  You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.  10  Bring the whole tithe  into the storehouse,  that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the  Lord  Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates  of heaven and pour out  so much blessing  that there will not be room enough to store it Malachi 3:6-10

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,  where moths and vermin destroy,  and where thieves break in and steal.  20  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,  where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Then Jesus said to his disciples,  “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich  to enter the kingdom of heaven.  24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-24

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth  of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.  Matthew 23:23

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,  and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  11  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,  who will trust you with true riches?  12  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 14  The Pharisees, who loved money,  heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.  15  He said to them,  “You are the ones who justify yourselves  in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.  What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. Luke 16:10-15

Six days before the Passover,  Jesus came to Bethany,  where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  2  Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,  while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.  3  Then Mary took about a pint[a]  of pure nard, an expensive perfume;  she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.  And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4  But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,  objected,  5  “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”  6  He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,  he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:1-6

All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Acts 2:44-45

that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,  brought the money from the sales  35  and put it at the apostles’ feet,  and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:34-35

On the first day of every week,  each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.  3  Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve  and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.  1 Corinthians 16:2-3

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,  in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  7  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,  not reluctantly or under compulsion,  for God loves a cheerful giver.  8  And God is able  to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,  you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

 - You can’t out give God

2.  Who or what does my wallet say that I worship?

 - Worship is the core of who we are

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

We want to help you pray through one of three steps today:

1.  Surrender

2.  Strategy

Financial Peace University (Offer no longer available)

3.  Sacrifice