Sermon Outline:
"What To Do When You Come Up Empty." John 21: 1-14

1.) Hear His Voice;
2.) Heed His Command;
3.) Hasten To Meet Him; and
4.) Hook Up With Others Who Know Him.

He Turns Losers Into Winners

He Turns Losers Into Winners
     John 1:35-42

Three Marks of a great church

What should the church today look like? In this series, our pastor walks through Paul's teaching in 1 Thessalonians as he outlines the marks of a great church. You'll discover how the Body of Christ works out our faith, demonstrates Christian love and perseveres with unwavering hope.


The Life of Faith
     1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Serving and Loving
     1 Thessalonians 1:3
A Hope That Endures
     1 Thessalonians 1:3
 

the Great Race

The Bible compares the Christian life to a race. How do we run with endurance? How do we keep from being disqualified? How do we finish well? In this series, our pastor examines this race and teaches us how to run with passion and maintain our faith amidst the obstacles and distractions.

The Qualifications of a Runner: Faith that Pleases God
     Hebrews 10:32-11:6
Faith's Model
     Hebrews 11:8-19
Run Till You Die
     Hebrews 11:12-16; 20-22
Leaving the Pack Behind
     Hebrews 11:23-28
Faith is the Victory
     Hebrews 11:30-35
Faith - When Heaven is Silent
      Hebrews 11:35b-40  

Cornerstones of a Great Church

Cornerstones of a Great Church is a vital series in discovering what makes a church great in the eyes of God. We often hear people talk about great churches in terms of size or buildings. God talks about greatness in terms of faith and obedience. There is a difference in what we often call a 'great' church and what God would view as a great church.

Available in CD audio

This Is God’s Church
     1 Corinthians 1:1-17
The Church Is Built By God’s Wisdom
     1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16
This Is God’s Work
     1 Corinthians 3:1-17
Metaphors For Ministry
     1 Corinthians 3:18-4:17

Cornerstones of a Great Church

Cornerstones of a Great Church is a vital series in discovering what makes a church great in the eyes of God. We often hear people talk about great churches in terms of size or buildings. God talks about greatness in terms of faith and obedience. There is a difference in what we often call a 'great' church and what God would view as a great church.

Available in CD audio

This Is God’s Church
     1 Corinthians 1:1-17
The Church Is Built By God’s Wisdom
     1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16
This Is God’s Work
     1 Corinthians 3:1-17
Metaphors For Ministry
     1 Corinthians 3:18-4:17

Prevailing Prayers Of the Old Testament

Prayer of Jacob
     Genesis 32
Moses - Daring to Draw Near
     Exodus 32 & 33
Elijah - Mighty in Prayer, Mighty Power from God
     1 Kings 18
Nehemiah - The Evidences of a true work of God
     Nehemiah 9:1-38
Job - When God Speaks, We Better Listen
     Job 38-42

Hearing God When Your Hurting

Where Do You Seek Refuge?
     Psalm 11
When You Are Down in The Dumps
     Psalm 42,43
When You Are Neck Deep in the Creek
     Psalm 69
When Life Upsets You
     Psalm 37
Seeing God as the Ideal Father
     Selected Scriptures
The Problem is Sin, The Solution is God
     Psalm 53
When It Feels Like God Has Forgotten Me
     Psalm 13
Clean Hearts and Heads
     Psalm 32

Courageous Living Sermon Series

Abraham:  A Courageous Faith
Genesis 12:1
 
Moses:  The Choices you Make, Determine the Roads you Take
Hebrews 11:23-27
 
Ruth:  From Destitute to Destiny
Ruth 1:16-22
 
Joshua:  Be the Leader you were Meant to Be
Joshua 24:14-28
 
Elijah:  Make Up your MInd
1 Kings 18:21
 
Nehemiah:  The Courageous Response to Critics
Nehemiah 6:15. 16
 
Stephen:  Courage in the Face of Persecution
Acts 6:1-8:8

Serving the sentence...

Chuck Swindoll reports that a seminary student in Chicago faced a similar forgiveness test. Although he preferred to work in some kind of ministry, the only job he could find was driving a bus on Chicago's south side. One day a gang of tough teens got on board and refused to pay the fare. After a few days of this, the seminarian spotted a policeman on the corner, stopped the bus and reported them. The officer made them pay, but then he got off. When the bus rounded a corner, the gang robbed the seminarian and beat him severely. He pressed charges and the gang was rounded up. They were found guilty. But as soon as the jail sentences were given the young Christian saw their spiritual need and felt pity for them. So he asked the judge if he could serve their sentences for them. The gang members and the judge were dumbfounded. "It's because I forgive you," he explained. His request was denied but he visited the young men in jail and led several of them to faith in Christ.

Advent Sermon Series / Unwrapping the Christmas Classics!

You're invited to a BRAND NEW teaching series called Unwrapping the Christmas Classics!

Rediscover the true meaning of Christmas during this special teaching series this December.  The series will include messages on…

• Sunday -  Frosty the Snowman: Staying Cool Under the Holiday Stress
• Sunday - The Grinch: Growing Your Heart Three Sizes this Christmas
• Sunday - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: Finding Light in Dark Days
• Sunday - A Charlie Brown Christmas: Getting the Most Out of Christmas

The road...

The bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn!

Two roads diverge in a yellow wood. And I, I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.

Bloom Where Your planted....

Several years ago, I told you a story about one of my all-time favorite people. Not that I know her, or have even met her. But I admire her. Because one day, at age 42, in beautiful downtown Cleveland, she ran a marathon by accident (all 26 miles, 385 yards of it). Her name was Georgene Johnson. Still is. As you will recall, she lined up with the wrong group at the starting line. Not the 10K group, where she belonged. But the 26 mile group, where she didn't. It wasn't until the four mile mark that she realized her mistake. So she just kept going, finishing the race in four hours and four minutes. But it's what she said later (by way of explanation) that has stayed with me since. Said Georgene: "This isn't the race I trained for. This isn't the race I entered. But, for better or worse, this is the race I'm in."

I still finished...

In 1968, in the Mexico City Olympics, John Steven Aquari from Tanzania, set out for hopes of an Olympic Gold in the marathon race. Sadly, for him and his country, midway through the race, he had a horrible accident. Falling to the ground, gashing his knee wide open and dislocating his knee from the joint, certainly keeping him from finishing the race. Well, all of the other runners left him behind and eventually entered into the stadium for the final lap. Over an hour after the race had been run and all of the other runners had already completed, John Steven Aquari shocked the world. When the stadium was mostly empty, this very injured runner, hobbled into the stadium limping and fighting his way to the finishing line. Leg wrapped with a little towel, with blood running down, he finished a race that virtually everyone else would have quit. That's what we are going to do, because we have unfinished business. And God is calling us to finish the race. After the race was won, the interviewers asked John, "Why did you do that when no one else would have?" And John said, "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race, but they sent me 5,000 miles to finish it.
God did not send you to earth to start a race, He sent you here to finish it. Commit, take the step and finish. Our life is not about us. This is what Paul said in Acts 20:24 - I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task...."

Sermon Series - Fearless

Fearless I - Gideon

Fearless II - Shadrach Meshach and Abednego

Fearless III - Benaiah

Fearless IV - Jonathan

Fearless V - David and Goliath

Advent Sermon Series / The Realities Of Christmas

Christmas Realities - Part 1. Will you stand out from the crowd this Christmas season?

Are We Any Different - 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Christmas Realities - Part 2. This Christmas we need to check the reliability of our message because the reality is that there is a lot of fluff out there.

Is Our Message Any Different - Mark 1:1-8

Christmas Realities - Part 3. Is our world any different because of Christmas?

Narnia: What If There Was No Christmas - Isaiah 61:1-11

Chrismtas Realities - Part 4. What happens when God interrupts your plans and your world gets turned upside down?

An Unwanted Gift: When God Messes Up Your Plan - Luke 1:26-38

Lent Sermon Series

Encounters With Christ

1. Jesus & the Man Born Blind - John 9:1-12
2. Jesus and Mary and Martha - Luke 10:38-42
3. Jesus and Nicodemus - John 3:1-10
4. Jesus and the Woman at the Well - John 4:7-15
5. Jesus and James and John - Matthew 20:20-28
6. Jesus and Caiaphas - Matthew 26:58-6
7. Jesus & Mary Magdalene - Mark 16:1-7

Lent Sermon Series

The Healing Power Of The Christ

1. The Healing Of Simons Mother-in-Law - Mk 1:21-28
2. The Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand - Mk 3:1-6
3. The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac Mk 5:1-20
4. The Healing of Jairus Daughter and Hemorrhaging Woman - Mk 5:21-43
5. The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus - Mk 10:46-52
6. The Healing Power of the Cross - Mk 15:33-41
7. The Healing Power of the Resurrection - Jn 20:1-18 or Lk 24:1-10

I Need Real Love

Sermon Series: I Need Real Love
How to Love God
How to Love Yourself
How to Love Other People
How to Love the Community

The Cost of Discipleship

Have you ever wondered whether or not you are as mature in your Christian Discipleship as your should be?

Do you have a desire to deepen your walk with God?

Do you feel that you need a refresher Biblical study in your discipleship?

Are you new to the Christian faith and desire to learn the ways and the will of God?

If you can relate to any of the above questions or you have a personal desire to become a better Christian, I am inviting you to join us in one, a couple or all of our Bible studies for the month of March. I promise you will be blessed.

Part 1: True Discipleship Will Cost You Some Relationships
Whenever we are growing in our relationship with God, one of the hardest things we have to do is sometimes let go of friendships/relationships that are unhealthy for our committment to God. Come and learn how to let go in a way that is pleasing to God!

Part 2: True Discipleship Will Cost You Some Selflessness
As a Christian, we are called to put others before us. This call is a serious challenge to humanity which rides on the ideology of "Self Preservation." This session will help us understand how to become a servant to others as we serve God.

Part 3: True Discipleship Will Cost You Some Sacrifices
Contrary to popular belief, there is no Christian growth without sacrifices. Come and learn the importance of sacrifices and the various ways that one can make sacrifices while on your Christian journey.

Part 4: True Discipleship Will Cost You Some Finances
Do you struggle with tithing? Have you struggled with when to help someone who is asking? "It is more blessed to give than receive" This is a Biblical principal that we must put into practice. Malachi teaches us that we must give. This session will focus on the importance of (1) Tithes, (2) Offerings, and (3) Charities. Remember, you can't beat God's giving, no matter how hard you try.