Faith Before Politics

We took a break from our Ancient Faith in a Modern World series this past Sunday to talk about a topic that is everyone’s mind these days…ELECTION INFECTION!

What’s that?  That’s the infection that’s running rampant in America these days and no one is exempt from it.  So as we celebrate the independence of our country on the 4th of July, I thought it would be fitting to talk about how we – as followers of Jesus Christ – should be approaching this coming election – the most volatile and emotionally charged election in U.S. history.

So if you’re looking for a conversation starter at the BBQ today, check out this message – titled FAITH BEFORE POLITICS – and you’ll have plenty of material!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

The Great Masterpiece - IDENTITY CRISIS, Part 5

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:13-14

All good things must come to an end.  Yesterday was the 5th and final message in one of the most eye-opening and life-transforming series' we've ever done at The Well - IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Me.

The subject?  THE GREAT MASTERPIECE (ie, YOU!).  YOU were formed and fashioned by the hand of God - the same hand that is holding the universe together as we speak.  You were not just created by God as part of some assembly line output; you were "knit together" in your mother's womb - ALL of you, warts and all.

Why?  Because YOU are not an ordinary creation.  YOU are a masterpiece...and you always will be!

More Than A Conqueror - IDENTITY CRISIS, Part 4

"We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us."Romans 8:37

It's the one desire that is universal among us all - the desire to CHANGE.  We all have some area of our lives that we feel powerless to change.  It could be a bad habit, or an addiction, or a relationship that just won't seem to get back on track.  Whatever it may be, we often look at that circumstance and feel defeated.

But in the face of that, the Bible says we are "MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM."  How can that be?  What does that mean?  My eyes see failure all around; how can Jesus look at me and see a conqueror?

That's the topic of Part 4 in IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Meas we discover a) the authority that God has given to us as His children, and b) how to exercise that authority in our daily life.

Called to Sainthood, Ordained for Priesthood - IDENTITY CRISIS, Part 3

“But you are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9)

How many people would identify themselves as a saint?  Or how about as a priest?  It doesn't sound like something we hear very often, but according to the teaching of the Scriptures, as a child of God, you are both!  As a believer, we are all CALLED TO SAINTHOOD and ORDAINED FOR PRIESTHOOD.

What does that mean?  Check out Part 3 in IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Meand see for yourself.  You'll discover that not only does God want to adopt us as children into His family (see Part 2), but He then desires a certain output from us as well.  He desires something for us to BECOME (a saint) and something for us to DO (royal priest).

Congratulations... you've now been ordained.  Welcome to the priesthood!

I Am My Father's Son - IDENTITY CRISIS, Part 2

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but BORN OF GOD.”  (John 1:12-13)

Week 2 of IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Meand the first characteristic that we need to understand is what it means to be a CHILD of God - a son or daughter of the Creator/King of the universe.

The most important thing you need to know about being a child of God is this: my identity is based on who HE IS more than it is based on who I AM or what I DO.  

What does that mean practically?  Check out the video above and see for yourself.  Trust me, of all the things you need to know about yourself and your identity, NONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS.  Enjoy!

I'm Not Who I Once Was - IDENTITY CRISIS, Part 1

We kicked off a new series yesterday at The Well titled IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Me.  This 5 week series addresses the underlying issue that is at the root of many of life's problems: our identity. Not knowing who you are - or worse, having a false idea of who you are - will stop you from reaching your true potential in Christ.

So in this series, we're putting away our own view of ourselves and asking God to reveal to us who we really are.  And the first characteristic that we saw is that in Christ, I am a NEW CREATION.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

DOWN WITH DESPAIR - Fighting Failure, Part 5

"The Christian life may not be MISTAKE-free, but it can be GUILT-free."

The finale in the Fighting Failure series brought us face to face with the greatest enemy of them all...DESPAIR!  And specifically, we talked about the despair that comes from guilt and shame - feeling like I've gone too far and messed up too badly.

If you struggle with guilt and have a hard time forgiving yourself after you've repented, YOU MUST LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE and see for yourself what God has to say about your guilt and your sin.

DEFYING DISCOURAGEMENT - Fighting Failure, Part 4

“Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.”  2 Corinthians 1:9

DISCOURAGEMENT - a feeling we're all familiar with.  Why does God allow us to get discouraged when we're trying to serve Him and follow Him and obey His commandments?  Shouldn't God be helping to make our lives easier?  Shouldn't He be taking care of those things are causing us to be discouraged?  Or is that possible that God would allow us to be discouraged to bring about some good for us?

That's the topic of Round 4 in the Fighting Failure series.  In the message, we look at the Apostle Paul - a man of incredible faith and strength who one day found himself "despairing of life."  How could this great man of faith feel so discouraged?  And more importantly, what message was God trying to him through the discouragement?

DEALING WITH DISINTEREST - Fighting Failure, Part 3

"Why try?  You're never gonna succeed?  You might as well give up and stop fighting."  

Recognize that voice?  That's the voice that we hear during the second round of our fight with failure as we encounter the enemy of DISINTEREST (or apathy).  That's when we've failed so many times and we don't think we'll ever succeed.  So instead of fighting what we perceive as a losing battle, we throw in the towel and say "it's not that bad...I don't need to fight...I could try if I wanted but I don't really care..."

Dealing with that disinterest was the topic of Round 3 in the Fighting Failure series.  In the message, we look at King David - a giant slayer and a man after God's heart - who messed up in a royal manner (pun intended).  But once again, we see that it isn't David's failure that defines him - but rather it's his response to failure instead.

DEFEATING DOUBT - Fighting Failure, Part 2

"The only difference between a hero and a coward is where they focus their eyes."

Week 2 of the Fighting Failure series and this week we dealt with the most common attack that comes with failure...DOUBT... doubt that God is on our side... doubt that God is holding up His end of the deal... doubt that God is still with us and that we should keep fighting.

If you've ever felt like a failure because you doubted God at some point in your life, check out the message above and hopefully you'll be inspired to "look up" the next time doubt hits and to keep your eyes focused on God, not on your circumstances.

IT'S TIME TO FIGHT - Fighting Failure, Part 1

"Your problem isn’t that you aren’t worthy of God’s love. Your problem is that you don’t believe it."

Kicked off a new series yesterday about a topic that everyone can relate to...FAILURE.  Feeling like you're not good enough, or that you'll never get past your struggles, or that you've let God/others/yourself down.  We're talking about what to do with guilt and shame and doubt and despair and all the other feelings that come with failing time and time again.

The theme of the series is this: God wants to work THROUGH your mistakes and shortcomings, not IN SPITE of them.

ENTERING THE COMFORT ZONE - In The Waiting Room Part 5

We wrapped up the In The Waiting Roomseries yesterday and the final message focuses on a very practical task that we can focus on in the waiting rooms of life...COMFORT - what it is, where it comes from, and most importantly, how we benefit by being a channel for God's comfort in the lives of others.

If you're looking for a practical takeaway from this series - something tangible that you can start doing today, be sure to check out the message above and start practicing it in your waiting room today.

PATIENCE LEADING TO PERFECTION - In The Waiting Room Part 4

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because,having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”   (James 1:12)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!  Hope you had a great holiday week and are ready to get back into the normalcy/routine of life (I know I am!).

We got back into the swing of things at STSA by going back In The Waiting Room.  This week our message focused around God's purpose for our trials.  We all know we're waiting for something, but what?  What is the intended outcome that God is trying to achieve from this?  What exactly am I "waiting" for anyway?

The answer may surprise you.  Make sure you check out this week's message to find out for yourself.

And as a special bonus, somewhere in the middle of the message I made my first "BOLD PREDICTION" for 2015.  I guarantee you'll be interested in finding out what that's all about...