Sermon for December 9, 2007

Humbled
Philippians 2

Sermon for December 2, 2007

Emptied
Philippians 2

Sermon for November 18, 2007

To Bless or to Blame
Psalm 100; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Romans 8:28

Sermon for November 11, 2007

It's a Matter of the Heart
Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Sermon for November 4, 2007

What Generosity Does For You
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 and 15

Remember, a stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

I. Generosity breaks the hold of superficiality and materialism in your life.

II. Generosity is a sign that you belong to God.

* A happy, purposeful life will contain the qualities of gratitude and generosity.

III. Generosity is an acknowledgment that God is the owner and we are the managers.

* In the final analysis, we own nothing. Everything we do can be distilled
down to our stewardship.

Sermon for October 28, 2007

Jesus and Money
Matthew 6:19-21 & 33

“Do not store up yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where
thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. But strive first for the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Jesus and Money

I. We tend to seek security in money and possessions.

II. Money can become a controlling and driving force in our lives.

III. How we use money reveals our true heart.

IV. The tithe is God’s standard for us.

Sermon for October 21, 2007

A Heart Like His: “The Better Life”
John 10:10 & 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 & 24-27

“I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly”

“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God Himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is; everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people.”

“The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involves in the hurt, and in the healing. You are Christ’s body-that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.” (The Message)

I. Joy and fulfillment are found only when our lives are centered in Jesus Christ.

* Life lived to the fullest is a life in personal relationship with Jesus.

II. Life is better when we attune ourselves to the things of God.

* Perhaps one of the reasons there is so much unhappiness in the world is because people have patterned their lives after the expectations of others, and not on what they may best do for the kingdom.”

III. Life is best when we give ourselves in service to a cause greater than ourselves.

* “He who saves his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s, he will find it; for what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.” (Jesus)

Sermon for October 14, 2007

A Heart Like His: "It's Your Serve...And Mine"
Matthew 20:28 & Philippians 2:5-8

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

“Let this same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited; but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.”

Why become a servant?

I. It is the key to greatness

* We must distinguish between popularity and greatness.
* There is an eternal link between servanthood and significance.

II. It is the key to happiness.

* The more we are willing to look outside ourselves, the happier we become.
* The people who are the most unhappy are the people who are always focused on themselves.

III. It is the key to effectiveness.

* We are effective when our talent and time intersect with human need.