Pastor Bill Davis Sermon Series

This sermon is based on Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23. In the kingdom of God, seeds are sown recklessly.  As a church family, we clear the rocks so the seeds grow and flourish.  What garden does God want us to grow, here in this place?  We are praying for a vision.

This sermon is based on the scripture in Matthew 11:16-19,25-30.  Why do we feel guilty when we take time to rest?  Resting is something we don't do very well, even though it is emphasized in the Bible.  The Sabbath is a whole day that has been set aside for us to take time to refresh our mind and body and in the process draw closer to God.  Remember how God rested on the 7th day when he created the world?  The achievements and material possessions we work so hard for and are so important in this world will not exist in the next, so why do we drive ourselves so hard?  

Are you holding back?  This sermon is based on the scripture reading in Genesis 22: 1-14, the sacrifice of Abraham's son, Isaac.  God tested Abraham and this time, Abraham surrendered everything.  God in turn provided for him, by sparing his only son.  Even today, we pray for God's favor and often feel like we haven't received it.  Instead of waiting for God to work in his time, we turn to worldly ways and try to cast our own future.  Surrendering to God, means stepping out in faith and allowing him to provide for us in his time, not ours.  

This week we heard from Cheryl Wood, Conley's Certified Lay Servant.  The scripture reading was Matthew 10:24-39.  Are you someone that sits in the bleachers, watching or are you on the field, helping the team to win?

Why were we created?  To give glory to God - who doesn't need our glorification, but because he wants us to SHARE in his glory.  
In the scripture 2 Corinthians 13:11-14, Paul reminds us that God is beyond our thoughts.  We are familiar with finite dimensions; height, width, depth but not the unseen.  
The Trinity; God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are faith based entities that are unseen in nature but are working in each of us through our faith. It starts with the grace of the Lord.  Grace can be thought of as God giving us good things we don't deserve.  We in turn should give this grace to others, remembering it is better to give than receive.  
So why don't we give unconditionally?  We don't trust that the recipient will acknowledge our generosity, or will waste the gift.  Even when we know it is so much better to give than receive.  God has instructed us to love thy neighbor.  It is through God's grace that we are able to do this and receive his restoration, love and encouragement.  The Trinity calls us to the Doctrine of God's work in the church and in our lives.

Do you believe God has the power to change the world?  With Christianity in decline in the US, and the church more misunderstood than ever, it seems like a lost cause.  
In the Book of Acts Chapter 2, we learn how Jesus taught his disciples that the world can be changed through his believers.  After the crucifixion and ascension of Christ into heaven, God poured out his Holy Spirit on those that were believers, enabling the birth of Christianity.
At that time, the disciples were still in hiding, fearing for their safety, so Jesus had to instruct them of their new role to go out into the world and minister to the people.  Today, many of us hunker down at home in these unsure times because we are fearful for our safety.  We are in the same dilemma.  We have a responsibility to ourselves and to others to teach the Word of God.  If each of us can change the life of just 10 people, over time, through extrapolation, thousands and millions of people will be reached.  Think of this as "how to change the world", but only if we each do our part.  Are you in?

This sermon is taken from Acts 1:6-14 when Jesus is giving his final message to his disciples before he leaves them to continue the work he started on earth.  Like the disciples, who were once broken people themselves, we must also repent and then experience the restoration that only the grace of God provides.  For it is through our brokenness that we can be restored stronger than before.  For those who think prayer is a waste of time; the Lord tells us to "Wait and Pray".  Without prayer we have brokenness and isolation, which is where so many people find themselves today.  The church is a pathway back to restoration.  

Today's sermon is taken from 1 Peter 3: 13-22.  So how do we as Christians live the resurrection life when anger and bitterness is all around us in this world.  How do you respond when someone has wronged you?  Do you strike back or plan an even bigger way to get even or prove them wrong?  This sermon guides us through real life experiences and helps to equip us with responses that are loving, respectful and forgiving.  Taste and see!