Three things that will help to multiply margin in your life.
Look at the story of Joseph to help us better understand this tension between blessings and troubles.
Imagine if we all made the courageous, faith-filled decision to implement incredible generosity with our time, our effort, our energy, our finances, our creativity, our gifts and our talents? I believe we would become the church that Jesus talked about in Matthew 5:14.
The importance of taking risks, sharing stories, and supporting community efforts through generosity is highlighted.
The theme of costly service is explored, focusing on serving others and ancient spiritual practices like fasting. The sermon encourages responding to the gospel, feeding the hungry, and community involvement, culminating in plans for Thanksgiving food distribution.
The world is constantly telling you that you need more to be happier, more to be successful, more to be important, more to be more valuable, and you need more to be more secure. So you’ve got to decide: Are you going to listen to Madison Avenue or the Master? Are you going to listen to culture or Christ? Are you going to listen to the world or the Word? One will leave you dissatisfied the rest of your life; one will make you truly happy.
The early church grappled with issues of faith and leadership, experiencing both setbacks and growth. John, a prominent figure, emphasized the importance of supporting traveling teachers and establishing a men's ministry at Grace Church. However, another leader hindered progress by refusing to cooperate with the church and making false accusations against teachers. The church is now transitioning towards a model that encourages followers to minister to each other, inspired by Jesus' empowering leadership style.
The focus of this sermon is on building confidence in our relationship with God, grounded in the reality of historical events like Jesus' baptism, death, and resurrection. The importance of sin, repentance, and knowing God's love is discussed.
The sermon explores the concepts of love and hate from a Christian perspective. Love, originating from God, seeks another's good selflessly, while hate, stemming from the devil, selfishly seeks harm. The essence of Christianity, as summarized by 1 John 3:16, emphasizes sacrificial love and forgiveness. Living a Christian life involves loving others sacrificially, recognizing our separation from God due to sin, and accepting God's love and forgiveness through faith in Jesus. The Hope Ministry's activities and upcoming events are also highlighted.
Today we’re starting a new summer series through 1st, 2nd & 3rd John emphasizing the need to walk in the light and confess sins. Pastor Justin underscores the importance of mercy, grace, and forgiveness, and encourages believers to strengthen their relationship with God. The sermon concludes with a prayer and a reflection on the challenges of striving for holiness.