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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Grasping for Straws

In this sermon we look at the roots of faith that hold us firm in the face of life's challenges. Specifically I address graduates and challenge them to remain grounded in their faith. The analogy of the plant continues in this message to look at our spiritual health and ability to produce the harvest of faith. I pray we all take a moment to look at the foundation of faith in our own life. Does it need a little tending?

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Top Ten

This is the third sermon in the Thrive series. Today we learn about the importance of herbicide and killing the weeds in our life that can grow up and kill us spiritually. We also learn about the "Round Up Ready" seed that is meant to that is genetically altered to accept the herbicide. That seed is like the word God has put in our hearts. God promises us in Jeremiah and later in Hebrews reminds us that He has put his word in our heart. In essence we are created to live according to God's law and it is intended to be like a herbicide that will kill all the weeds of sin in our life. I hope you enjoy the analogy and are able to apply it to your life.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Loves that Lives

This second sermon in the series looks at the need for a newly planted seed to be watered. Water is what nurtures the seed to germinate, grow and produce fruit. Without water the seed would die.
The same is true for our spiritual lives. Not only are we called to grow and bear fruit, but we are also called to water the lives of those around us with the love of God so that they can grow up in the faith.
As we look as this sermon on Mothers day it is appropriate to compare the love of a mother and the way it helps a child grow and mature, with the love of God that we experience in those around us.
Let us go forth and share the living water of Christ with the world.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Good Soil

This sermon is the first in the Thrive Series. We begin by looking honestly at the soil of our heart and recognizing our need to be a soft fertile soil in order for the word of God to bring forth the fruit that God desires for us. The seed itself does not change, but the condition of our hearts must change.
Then finally we must accept the challenge to participate in preparing the soil (hearts) of our community. The harvest is bountiful.

What to do?

In this message we encounter Jesus as he reassures the disciples that he is risen. They were wondering what they were supposed to do now that Jesus had been crucified. I believe Jesus gave them the answer and that it is the same answer he would give us today. "Be a Witness."

Confessions of a Doubter

Doubt is an implicit lack of hope or faith. Doubt runs many lives and drowns us in absolute despair. Thomas doubted Jesus and found that his doubt turned into seeds of new faith.
This last week there were a lot of people who initially doubted Susan Boyle, and in the same way their doubt turned into amazement. There is nothing wrong with doubt itself unless we allow it to become our deathbed of despair. Instead our goal is to make it our hope for the future and the seeds of new faith in our life.