The Blessed Life: The Poor in Spirit

Text: Matthew 5:1-3

As followers of Jesus, the Bible explains that our true citizenship is in Heaven. This means that our ultimate identity is found in Jesus, and we are called to live our lives here for His greater Kingdom. As Jesus began The Sermon on the Mount, He explained that Kingdom living does not simply determine what we are to do on earth, but it also determines how we are to live, and what we are to be like. In doing so, He described the character and attributes of those who belong to Him. For all who love Jesus and claim to live for him, then these “beatitudes” and character traits should be both present and progressing in our lives. We invite you to listen today to consider how you are practicing and progressing in being poor in spirit.

Easter In the Valley: You Were Made for More

Text: Luke 16:19-31

It is easy in life to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of everything going on. We are quickly distracted and often overwhelmed with our plans and responsibilities. Within all of us is a subtle awareness that there must be more to life than this. There must be more than the here-and-now, the highs and lows. The Bible shows us that there is much more that we were made for. We were each uniquely and wonderfully made by a good and merciful God, Who loves us and desires that we would enjoy a relationship with Him today and spend an eternity with Him forever. There is an eternity that we will all experience when this life is over, and what we do in this life will determine where and how we spend eternity. We hope you listen today and carefully consider that you, too, were made for more!

Strategically Suffering

Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

One of the greatest constants in our life is that we will encounter suffering. How we endure those sufferings, how we strategically suffer for Christ, reveals a significant testimony of our reliance upon and faith in Christ. Pastor Michael takes us through 1 Peter 4:12-19 to understand what strategically suffering looks like in the face of persecution and suffering that comes even while living rightly for the Lord. Suffering has purpose and God’s purpose in it always prevails.

Not Ashamed! Know the Cost

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

As followers of Jesus we have been given a great calling to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This great calling demands a great cost from us. There is often a cost in time, effort, energy, and resources, but God shows us in 2 Corinthians 4 that there is a much greater cost that we must be willing to pay for the glory of God and good of others. We invite you to listen today so that you can consider what God is saying to you, count the cost of devotion to Him, and fully surrender to His will in your life.