Messages

Pastor’s Message

Valentine’s Day is February 14th, a day set aside to celebrate love.  As this special day approaches, I’m reminded and thankful for how much God has blessed me with my beautiful wife, Carolyn.  She’s a wonderful wife, mother to our two children, and Nana to our 4 grandchildren.  Valentine’s Day reminds us of the love we have for our spouses, families, and even friends and coworkers.  But, ultimately, we should be reminded of the love Christ has for His church.  “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  There is no greater love than the love of Christ for us, His bride.  He loved us so much that He willingly came and gave His life for us, paying the penalty of death that we deserve because of our sin.

Many Christians have bought into the idea that love is a warm fuzzy feeling.  But love is not a feeling.  It’s a choice.  In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells us to “love your enemies.”  It is impossible to feel warm and fuzzy about people we don’t like.  Enemies, by virtue of the fact they ARE enemies, don’t inspire those kinds of feelings.  Therefore, since we know God wouldn’t tell us to do something we CAN’T, it must mean love is a choice.

Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)  Jesus is saying the test of genuine Christianity is not your ability to quote large passages of God’s Word; it’s not how faithful you are in your church attendance; it’s not even how faithful you are to give your tithes and offerings.  All those things are good, but they’re not the heart of the Christian faith.  If you’re really a believer, your life is going to be marked by a genuine love for God and a genuine love for other people.  They’ll know us by our love.  When people of different ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and cultures set aside differences and come together to worship in the name of Jesus Christ, it is a powerful testimony to a world that is more divided than ever.

In the dead of winter, many trees are difficult to tell apart.  The bare branches all tend to look the same against a gray winter sky.  In spring the blossoms give a hint of what will follow, but by summer, the identity of the tree is completely revealed with the appearance of fruit and leaves.  There can be no mistaking an apple tree for a maple tree.  The fruit is the evidence.  The same could be said of Christians.  From a distance, we might look like anyone else.  But upon closer inspection, it’s our love for one another that proves we are a Christian. 

I hope to see you and your family in church this coming Sunday.  Don’t forget to let your light shine for Jesus!

Pastor Rick

Message From Andy (Student Minister)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
– John 14:6

Thank you, church family, for supporting our youth in going to the Strength to Stand Conference in January!  We truly saw God move that weekend!  It was clear that each speaker was anointed by The Holy Spirit, and it’s an awesome privilege to worship together as God’s Church.  Two of our youth surrendered for salvation, eleven recommitted their lives to following God closer, and one surrendered to a call to ministry in her life.  We give God ALL the glory! 

We were blessed to hear Shane Pruitt, Next Gen Director for the NAMB, speak on Saturday evening.  Part of his sermon focused on six false views of salvation that Americans commonly hold: 

Six False Views of Salvation:

  1. I’m a Christian because I’m a good person.
  2. I’m a Christian because I believe in God.
  3. I’m a Christian because I go to church.
  4. I’m a Christian because I prayed a prayer.
  5. I’m a Christian because I wear t-shirts that tell about God.
  6. I’m a Christian because my family is Christian.

These really stood out to me because, at one time in my life before I was saved, I tried to think of myself as a Christian because of some of the reasons he mentioned. 

I appreciate Shane bringing these false views of salvation up in a bold way to both the youth and adults at Strength to Stand, followed by a reminder that Salvation comes only through having that moment in our lives where we SURRENDER:  ADMIT we are sinners, BELIEVE Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and CONFESS that we accept Him as Lord of our life!

Church family, please continue to pray for our children, youth, and young adults! 

Andy