Spring Cleaning - Part 1
Pastor Jon Hand

Listen to Sermon: Spring Cleaning - Keeping Time [18Mb]

Ephesians 5:8-18

The Hope Equation - Part 3
Pastor Ryan Brown

Listen to Sermon: The Hope Equation - Crossing the Threshold [16Mb] 

A threshold is:

• Any place or point of entering or beginning
• The point that must be exceeded to begin producing a given effect or result or to elicit a response.
• The starting point for a new state or experience.
• Main entry
• A minimum requirement for further action.
• A determination upon which something else hinges.

THRESHOLD ENCOUNTERS…

Genesis 22:1-18 (NIV)

John 20:1-9 (NIV)
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance (God is still moving stones today). 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside (crossed the threshold). He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

John 20:24-31 (NIV)
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

HOPE is available to those who cross the  THRESHOLD  of SURRENDER.

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.   Revelation 3:20-21 (NIV)

 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

• Am I willing to RISK? What’s holding me BACK?
• What do I have to LOSE? What will I GAIN?
• Can I TRUST Jesus?
• Who can WALK with me?

7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.   Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)

STEP ACROSS THE THRESHOLD

BELIEVE His love is for you.

RECEIVE His gift of life for you.

LIVE your life for Him.

Trading Control for Faith: Maggot Bread.
Pastor Jon Hand

Listen to Sermon: Maggots in the Bread [16Mb]

Life is a journey with God.

On the journey God gives guidance for today.
Numbers 9: 15-23

On the journey God gives provision for right now.
Exodus 16:12-21

On the journey relationships are not guaranteed.
Numbers 12:1-3

We live with a lie in our subconscious: We are in control.

Plot the ideal life

If A. (__________________________) +B (______________________) =
          Happiness, peace of mind. 

God is a God of process.
Exodus 13:17-18

Jesus comes to bring life.  He is the bread of life.
John 6:30-33

Trading death for life means we come to Jesus.
The only thing we can control is our response to what life brings…
Matthew 11:28-30

What are you holding on to?
Who are you trying to control?
What’s causing your heart to race with anxiety?
What are you doing to cope?
To take the edge off?
How’s that working for you?

Are you read to give up the lie, the illusion of control?
Are you ready to trade death, anxiety, and fear for life?
Are you ready to enter or (re)enter the process with God?
Are you ready to find grace and peace???

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus (Matthew 11)