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Author: Lee Ames

LET US ADORE HIM

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermons.

LET US ADORE HIM
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The wonders of Christmas seem to abound when we gather together on Christmas Eve with fellow believers to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to our broken world: Jesus. We sing songs, light candles, and wrap our hearts around the significance of a child born 2000 years prior; then, as quickly as it arrived, the moment passes, and we move back into our hurried lives.
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But what if there is more? What if we pulled back the veil that separates the natural from the supernatural? What if we recognized that this gift of Christmas is available today, right now? How would we respond? What emotions would rise if we truly understood God’s desire to connect with our hearts?
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Let Us Adore Him is a sermon series exploring real-life responses to our Christmas story. Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, Herod, shepherds, scribes, and even angels all had a response to the Incarnation. Some were nervous, some apathetic, but others responded with obedience, sacrifice, and adoration. What will be our response?
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You are invited to join us as we explore this age-old story that has moved us for thousands of years.

Living generously 3

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

In our final week of, Living Generously, we turn to an encounter of Jesus in the last few weeks of his life. In Luke 18:18-30, a rich ruler asks Jesus how to obtain eternal life. Jesus quizzes the ruler and finds a person who has allowed his wealth to take prominence in his life. Jesus’ charge, sell all you own, and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, Jesus invites the man to follow Him. But the request proves too difficult, and the ruler walks away disheartened.
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Considering this story and generosity, we must ask ourselves a few questions. Does Jesus want us to sell all we own and give it away? Is our eternity linked to giving? The answers to these questions and so many more are found in the lessons of Luke 18. This study considers the heart and how quickly we betray our faith. We have to be careful not to allow this world's things to become more important to us than our faith in God. Living Generously means recognizing that all we have and all we are belong to God.

Living Generously 2

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

LIVING GENEROUSLY "The Love of Money"
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In our second week of Living Generously, we study the A
postle Paul’s instruction to Timothy. In 1 Timothy 6, Paul prepares this young pastor for ministry in Ephesus. This letter covers many topics ranging from theology to basic community life instruction.
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Our focus comes from chapter 6 in which Paul offers insights about wealth and the dangers of allowing life to be consumed by its pursuit. This chapter informs our understanding of Living Generously by reminding us that a life of service and generosity leads to the storing up of treasure that is real life in Christ.

Living Generously 1

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

The Widow’s Offering
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In our first week, consider one of the most famous giving passages in scripture, the widow’s mite found in Mark 12:38-13:2. This short story has stood as the standard lesson on proportional giving. The central figure of this story is a widow who chooses to present an offering that goes beyond generosity. This offering was all that the widow had to live on and represented literally the giving of her life. Jesus contrasts her gift with that of those giving out of their abundance. We are left to determine what lesson is to be garnered here.
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Our task in this first sermon is to wrestle with the text leading into this story and immediately follow it to determine if we may have misunderstood the point Jesus was making. Could the widow’s gift be proof of Jesus’ rebuke lodged at the scribes just a few verses prior? Was this sacrificial gift offered as a result of scribes who made a practice of devouring resources while losing sight of their responsibility to care for those like the widow? We will unpack, working through the text, to see what lessons can help shape our hearts as we strive to live generously.

Living Generously

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermons.

LIVING GENEROUSLY
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Society tends to be more generous during the holiday season. We often open our hearts to those around us in ways not typical throughout the year. We might sponsor families for Christmas gifts, purchase food items to offset costs or connect to one of the many local programs that assist those in need in a myriad of ways. It is truly beautiful to see the reach that believers can have when choosing to go beyond themselves.
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Living Generously is a sermon series geared towards wrestling with some of the central scriptures related to generosity found in our Biblical text. So often, series like this are offered in churches and are followed closely by some type of financial ask or campaign. Not this series. The series aims to discover what Scripture says about living a generous life and continuing to do so. One thing is certain: generosity, as well as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, are the outflow of a Spirit-led life (Galatians 5:22-23). New Testament authors anchor these practices in the faith community and how that community shows up in the world surrounding it.
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You are invited to join us as we tackle some of the most well-known stories of our faith while navigating through another holiday season that warms our hearts and offers many opportunities to be generous.

Habakkuk 3

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

The closing of Habakkuk’s writing is profound. This prophet has been challenged to the greatest degree of his faith. His response to this challenge is found in chapter three. He writes a song of worship. In this song, Habakkuk echoes the story of faith for the Israelites and proclaims God’s salvation and strength to be found in the struggle. This song of declaration can be taken as an affirmation to all who have experienced injustice. God can be trusted!
Join us as we sift through Habakkuk's words to see what hope is offered as we struggle through a world of injustice. Maybe his song of worship can be one that we decide to cling to.

Habakkuk 2

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Habakkuk starts Chapter 2 by expecting to receive an answer from God. This begs the question, how do we listen to God? What happens if God’s response is not what we expect? Are we willing to be challenged?
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In this chapter, we find God willing to go to great lengths to see justice prevail. But, the unfolding of God’s story seems incomprehensible to Habakkuk. The lessons we learn in this dialog teach us about the nature and character of God. The chapter ends with Habakkuk declaring that the Lord is in his temple. In other words, God is on the throne and fully in control.
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Join us as we study chapter two and consider the unique ways that God responds to injustice.

Habakkuk

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermons.

The book of Habakkuk is one of the Bible’s most interesting prophetic writings. Most oracles from prophets involve the prophet delivering God's message to people. Habakkuk is different in that it consists of the prophet talking to God on behalf of the people. Habakkuk’s complaint: Why does God allow injustice to go unpunished? God answers Habakkuk but the answer isn’t what Habakkuk expected. This answer starts a dialog in which God offers insight affirming that God not only cares about justice but assures that justice will prevail.
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We are starting this series on the eve of the 2024 presidential election. This study aims to reframe our focus from issues that often divide us to the ultimate issues of faith that should unite us. The lessons that Habakkuk learns in this writing are essential for believers to help navigate future difficulties by understanding that God is fully in control and that even though the day of calamity comes, a believer's trust can be placed in the Lord.

Habakkuk 1

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Why does evil seem to thrive? Does God even care? Why would God allow this to happen?
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Have you ever found yourself pondering the answers to these questions? You are in good company. Habakkuk, one of the minor prophets of the Old Testament, has a full-blown conversation with God about injustice. He questions, wrestles, pushes, and processes God’s response.
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In chapter one, Habakkuk lodges his complaint with God. A response quickly follows but God assures Habakkuk that he will not be able to comprehend the degree to which God will go to ensure that Justice prevails. As usual, God is correct.
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Join us as we study chapter one and contemplate what God has to say about injustice and what our response should be.