The Living Word

The letters to the churches don’t pull any punches, and for good reason. We're cautioned in the letters against all things that will put us down, pull us away from following Jesus with our whole hearts. And this piece of advice will save our lives. Cut out anything that causes us to sin. There’s nothing so dear and precious that we can’t live without it. If it goes against what God has planned for us run from it.

Why is it that we can rejoice when things really aren’t going our way? When things get really difficult and we reach the end of ourselves. Have you been there? That feeling when you wake up in the morning and you’re not sure how you’re going to survive what's coming, so you fall on your knees in front of God and you beg him for his mercy. How is it even possible to rejoice in that moment. Well, Pastor Danny tells us that we can rejoice in that moment because when we realize that we can't that is when the spirit starts his work.

We all want to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and eagerly cling to the promised that same power lives in us. But do we take it to the next step as well? To embrace the fellowship of sharing in his suffering? “Wait a minute”, you say, “Jesus suffered so that I don’t have to, right?” Jesus took the wrath of God for us, but he still calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Pastor Danny will take us to that suffering today and stir in us the call to embrace that suffering as we follow Christ.

Do you love me more than these? That question rings through the air today in Pastor Danny takes us back to the beach where Jesus asked it of Peter and today he’s asking you. Do you love me more than these? What’s these? These is a fill in the blank term. Do you love me more than these other things in your life that are so precious to you? Our answer to that question will determine the trajectory of our lives now and into eternity. Take some time today to really ask yourself what you would give for Christ.

Have you had a moment of huge failure just like Peter did? Is there a rooster in your own life? Something that reminds you of the time that you failed Jesus. Maybe you ardently proclaimed that you would never fail Jesus just like Peter did. Might’ve looked like seeing another person fail and thinking to yourself “that’ll never be me”. Pastor Danny reminds us today that Jesus turned and looked at Peter. He would never forget that look. But it encourages me that Jesus turned and looked toward Peter and his failure and didn’t turn away.

Are you the real deal? Are you a true follower of Jesus? Or are you just a fan? One easy way to tell is to look at your life. Have you suffered? Have you suffered more than just regular life in this world? Everyone gets sick sometimes and has to deal with money and relationships, but has suffering come to visit you just because you follow Jesus. Pastor Danny reminds us that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life and it's presence in your life is a privilege, to suffer with Christ and to be glorified with Him.

God is looking for a whole batch of followers who will become fellowship junkies just like Pastor Danny. This is our identity in Christ and how the world will know that we follow Him, that we love one another. And how can we love one another if we don't spend time in each other's company. It's our love for each other that stands out in a world filled with selfishness, impatience and offense. Let's get into each other's live so that we can love each other and show the world that we follow Jesus.

Jesus said the world will know that we’re his disciples by our love for one another. It’s a love for others that comes when we follow Christ and we see people the way that he sees them. But what happens when we lose that love? Pastor Danny will discuss today what it means to love people like Jesus does and what it means to lose that just like the Ephesians did. God is calling us today just as He called the church of Ephesus to come back to God‘s value to care for the people of the world. He wants us to love each other.

You might be in the hardest part of your life right now and wondering if somehow you've stepped off the path. You might look back and wonder how can my life be this hard when I followed God every step of the way. Well Pastor Danny has good news for you today but it doesn’t sound way the good news usually sounds. He is here to tell you that there’s a cost the following Jesus, but that hardship you’re facing means that you’re on the right track and that you need to continue following the steps that God is laid out for you.

Make no mistake, Jesus said that He was God. The title 'Son of Man' was first used in Daniel and throughout His life, Jesus used that title to describe Himself. It shows up again in Revelation. Pastor Danny is beginning a series on the book of Revelation today and it opens with the Son of Man appearing to John on the island of Patmos. Jesus appeared to John on the island where he has been exiled for following Jesus and He bring him encouragement for the church. Revelation is filled with encouragement for us today.