First of All

This is the 3rd in the series, Our Root System, in a review of 1 & 2 Timothy with an emphasis on the foundational roots of Sound Doctrine, Spiritual Development and our Community of Faith.  God is drawing us closer to Himself while raising the urgency to chase after HIS strategic master plan.  In order to succeed, we are going to need a strong foundational root system.

Series

1 Timothy 2:1-7

I believe God, the Creator, personally designs each community of faith, hand-picking each and every individual Himself.  And, certainly I believe that God defines the Church, NOT as a place or WHERE we meet but instead WHO we are.  Our buildings are a "sheep shed".  The Church is the people.  Our identity is in Christ, not in a sheep shed.  Jesus conceived of, designed, and built the church.  And what He built was not a building or a place.

When I study God's Word and allow the scripture to unfold in my heart through the indwelling and leading of God's Spirit, I find a very clear calling by God that His people were meant to be a FAMILY.  As followers of Jesus and His Way, as those who gather in churches all across the land to celebrate who Jesus is, we are all part of God's family.  We are a community of faith.  We are not a place.

And as that community of faith which is God's family, God's community of faith, we are supposed to have an amazing unconditional loved and grace for one another.  We are brothers and sisters.  We are to draw strength from that family connection and bond.  There is strength in COMMUNITY on account of we don't have a place, we have each other.

Follow the link below to listen to the rest of this message in the series, "Our Root System":

Sermon Audio

First of All

Worship & Outreach

Appointed To His Service

 

 

This is the 2nd in series taking a walk through the books of 1 & 2 Timothy with an emphasis on the foundational roots of Sound Doctrine, Spiritual Development and our Community of Faith.  We all need and guidance in our spiritual walk.  In order to defend against worldly distractions and to chase after God's strategic master plan, we are going to need a strong foundational root system.

 

 

Series

 

 

 

1 Timothy 1:12-20

 

 

Over the years, I have often taught or preached about the significance and impact value of YOUR STORY.  I hear my wife and kids now regularly talking about "your story" as an encouragement to TELL YOUR STORY. 

 

When I say, YOUR STORY, I am talking about how it is that you came to know God the Father and Creator.  I am talking about how He has changed you and how He continues to work in and through you.  I am talking about how you have survived this struggle or that trial be of His Holy Spirit living inside you.  I am talking about who you used to be as compared to who you are now as a result of the saving Grace of Jesus; your sin problem and how Jesus solved it.

 

YOUR STORY has such great impact on account of it is YOUR STORY and no one can take that away from you. 

 

Can I just tell ya something?  When you tell YOUR STORY, you recounting factual events regarding which you have first hand knowledge because you lived it! 

 

I don't know about you but I get so very encouraged when I hear about how God is working in and through others.  It is exactly why I give time during every Sunday morning worship service for our church family to share personal testimony.  It is encouraging!  

 

It is encouraging to be reminded that God still cares about us, still hears our prayers, and is still hard at work just like He promises that He will be. It is encouraging to be reminded in tangible ways that God is still in the saving and restoration business!

 

Follow the link below to listen to the rest of this message in the series, "Our Root System":

 

Sermon Audio

Appointed To His Service

 

 

Our Root System

Follow this series as we take a walk through the books of 1 & 2 Timothy with an emphasis on the foundational roots of Sound Doctrine, Spiritual Development and our Community of Faith.  We all need and guidance in our spiritual walk.  In order to defend against worldly distractions and to chase after God's strategic master plan, we are going to need a strong foundational root system.

 

Message #1:

Message #2:

Message #3:

Sound Doctrine

 

This is the 1st in series taking a walk through the books of 1 & 2 Timothy with an emphasis on the foundational roots of Sound Doctrine, Spiritual Development and our Community of Faith.  We all need and guidance in our spiritual walk.  In order to defend against worldly distractions and to chase after God's strategic master plan, we are going to need a strong foundational root system.

 

Series

 

 

 

 

1 Timothy 1:1-11

 

We have a few hundred oak trees on our property at Casa Canote.  Our oak trees stand tall with a high treetop canopy crown of branches.  Oak trees have a

 

very strong root system

 

Of course, this root system is not visible like the crown or trunk.  It remains hidden below the ground.  The root system configuration of underground tentacles is the

 

source of health or illness

 

for an oak tree.  It serves as an anchor. The root system of a single mature oak tree can total hundreds of miles!  At the  beginning of an oak tree's life, when an acorn first sprouts and when there is very little growth yet above ground, most of it's energy is spent on

 

root development.

 

In contrast to the mighty oak tree is the tumbleweed.  We get excited about tumbleweeds blowing across the road on our way to Mexico for our bi-annual mission trips because it is a sure sign we are very far from home and nearing our destination in the desert!

 

Tumbleweeds, by design, have one very shallow root which is easily broken by the wind, allowing them to spread the seeds and reproduce.  This also means the tumbleweed is just out there blowing around where ever the wind might push it with no sense of direction or stability.

 

Follow the link below to listen to the rest of this message:

 

Sermon Audio

Sound Doctrine

 

 

 

We Have A Winner

 

This is the 3rd post in a 3-part series which dives into the deep end regarding the attitude of worship using inspiration from Luke 7:36-50 as the foundation for the series.

 

 

3-Part Series

 

 

 

 

 

Message 1:

 

  

Message 2:

 

 

John 20:10-18 

WORSHIP -

The act of showing respect and love for a god; especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god.  The act of worshipping God or a god.

Also - excessive admiration for someone



 

 

In this series, we have defined worship using 2 verses as a guide for that definition.

As defined by Jesus:

 John 4:23-24

As defined by Paul:
Romans 12:1

We have also considered the "cost" of true intimate worship which is us as we die to ourselves and surrender to God's Spirit and leading as the Lord of our lives.

Now, it is time to take time to ponder the incredible, blessed and oh hallelujah, glorious prize which belongs to those who, for real, experience that sweet place of true intimate worship:  The presence of our almighty Creator, God Himself our lives. 
 

Can I just tell ya something?  Too many people are missing out on the prize of an intimacy with God because they are not willing to get out of the way!  God absolutely longs for a close, personal relationship with His children!

God absolutely wants us each to know the power of His Glory in new and refreshing ways which we have never known before.  In His ultimate ministry of restoration and blessing the nations, He absolutely WANTS to be manifested in our lives.  AND oh hallelujah, He wants to do that in such a way as to then use us to restore others as He works in and through us via the indwelling of His Holy Spirit!
  

Follow the link below to listen to the rest of this message:

 

Sermon Audio

We Have A Winner!

 

 



What is the Cost?

 

This is the 2nd post in a 3-part series which dives into the deep end regarding the attitude of worship using inspiration from Luke 7:36-50 as the foundation for the series.

 

 

3-Part Series

 

 

 

 

 

Message 1:

 

  

Message 3:

 

 

 Exodus 19 & 20

 

WORSHIP -

The act of showing respect and love for a god; especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god.  The act of worshipping God or a god.

Also - excessive admiration for someone



 

You can say and do all kinds of things which may look like worship.  You can do those things we call worship in places where worship may sometimes happen.  But things, in fact, are not actually worship unless they are done in spirit and in truth.  And that is what God is looking for according to Jesus himself:

 

John 4:23-24

True worship flows naturally from a heart which has reverence and awe for who God is and which is humble, open and honest, and which has a deep love for God.  True worship flows naturally from a heart which is seeking:

 

Not the gifts but the Giver

Not to receive but to give

 

We see in chapter 19 of Exodus where the Israelites had THE opportunity at the foot of Mt. Sinai to become a nation of priests as was presented in God's plan for them.  They were given an opportunity to draw near to the Creator in an intimate worship.  They were given instructions to consecrate themselves and to prepare to be in the presence of God almighty.

 

But when this pivotal point in their history presented itself, they chose instead to tremble with fear and to stand at a distance.  They were called to be a Kingdom of Priests but counted the cost and decided they were not buying.  They chose instead to send Moses as their representative.

 

Can I just tell ya something?   The Israelites were satisfied to "worship" God at a distance.  They were afraid of a true and intimate worship of their Creator. 

 

What is the Cost?

Romans 12:1

 

It is us!  Ourselves.  God wants us!

 

Follow the link below to listen to the rest of this message:

 

Sermon Audio

What is the Cost?

 

 



The Attitude of Worship

 

Explore this 3-part series which dives into the deep end regarding the attitude of worship.  Using inspiration starting with Luke 7:36-50 and direction from the words of Jesus and encouragement from the apostle Paul, we attempt to define "worship", measure the "cost" of worship, and finally then rejoice and celebrate in the ultimate reward of a true intimate worship of our Creator.

 

 Message 1:

 

 

 

 

Message 2:

 

 

 

 

Message 3:

 

With Reverence and Awe

 

This is the 1st post in a 3-part series which dives into the deep end regarding the attitude of worship using inspiration from Luke 7:36-50 as the foundation.

 

 

 

3-Part Series

 

 

 

 

Message 2:

 

 

 

Message 3:

 

 

 

 

 

Romans 12:1

John 4:23-24

 

WORSHIP -

The act of showing respect and love for a god; especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god.  The act of worshipping God or a god.

Also - excessive admiration for someone

 

 



As I have been studying, meditating praying about the subject of "worship" and combing through God's Word for direction, I have noticed something about how the church perceives worship.  When we are referring to worship, we are most often talking about something we "say" or a "place" we go.  And here is what I have feel like God has been telling me:

Worship is much more than that!

 

One simple issue and obvious problem is that one can sing, go to church, pray, tithe, or go the Lord's table feeling real warm and fuzzy about it and still NEVER enter into an actual place of true and intimate worship of the Creator! 

Can I just tell ya something?  Just keeping it all real and honest:  sometimes it is me.  I will own that.  And keeping with this honesty theme... sometimes it is you.

 

Follow the link below to listen to the rest of this message:

 

Sermon Audio

With Reverence and Awe

 

 



He's My Story AND My #HOPE

A 3-part series challenging us as believers to go beyond sharing just our "faith" but also #HOPE as we tell OUR STORY.

 

We have this #HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Hebrews 6:19

 

 

 

 

 

 



Called To Serve

#Evident #Missions #Hope

evidentministries.org

Keep In Step

 

 

With inspiration beginning at Galatians 5:25, this 3-part series calls believers to "keep in step with the Spirit" and to take a deeper look at what it means to live a life which is lead by God's Holy Spirit within.


 

 

Message 1:

 

 

 

Message 2:

 

 

 

Message 3: