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Speak Life 3

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

In our study this week, we will focus on the transition of power from Moses to Joshua. What does it mean to Speak Life in crucial moments like this one? Our text takes us through Deuteronomy 31:1-8 and Joshua 1:1-9. The encouragement to be strong and courageous permeates the entire text. As we consider this encouragement, we must realize that in order to truly be strong and courageous we must anchor out strength and courage in the Lord. Speaking Life is not just being positive, it must be connected to the heart and nature of God. Moses is clear to Speak Life while reminding Joshua of the importance of allowing God to be the constant in the life of Israel. It seems that we should do the same.

Speak Life 2

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Choosing to speak life is not always the easiest thing to do. In some instances, we may find that our voice is not heard or has even been marginalized. In our scripture this week, we will unpack a story in which voiceless servants are the ones that Speak Life. God uses these voices and their words to heal a person that you would not expect God to heal. 2 Kings 5:1-19 challenges all of the social norms about whether or not standing in society should limit your ability to speak or God’s ability to bring life.

Speak Life 1

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” In an election year that will be full of divisive and hurtful political posturing, we commit to Speak Life. This series focuses on key moments in the Biblical text when life was spoken and God’s plan was realized.

Make Room – Christmas Eve 4

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

We do this every day without even thinking about it. We scoot over, add an extra place setting, hold the door on an elevator, rearrange the furniture, or move the cars in the driveway; we just naturally Make Room.

This Christmas, we invite you to Make Room for Christ. Preparing our hearts for the greatest gift ever given requires being intentional. Betrothed, Mary had big plans, yet she made room. Winding life down in her later years, Elizabeth made room. Studying the stars, the Magi saw something unexplained and made room. Its days of prominence had come and gone, yet, Bethlehem made room for a king in the most unlikely of places.

So, as you are Making room for all of the exciting moments this Christmas season will bring, we invite you to remember to Make Room for Christ.

Make Room 3

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Week 3: In Matthew's account of the Gospel, he declares how God revealed the news of Jesus's birth in several different ways, across time, and through a variety of people. God makes room for those who are far from Him to experience and respond to the birth of this King and Savior.

When faced with this news, how did King Herod respond? What motivated the Magi to travel a great distance to discover this new foreign king for themselves? When faced with imminent danger, where did Mary and Joseph place their trust? Were those who decided to make room for Jesus the ones whom we would expect?

Make Room 2

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

We do this every day without even thinking about it. We scoot over, add an extra place setting, hold the door on an elevator, rearrange the furniture, or move the cars in the driveway; we just naturally Make Room.

This Christmas, we invite you to Make Room for Christ. Preparing our hearts for the greatest gift ever given requires being intentional. Betrothed, Mary had big plans, yet she made room. Winding life down in her later years, Elizabeth made room. Studying the stars, the Magi saw something unexplained and made room. Its days of prominence had come and gone, yet, Bethlehem made room for a king in the most unlikely of places.

So, as you are Making room for all of the exciting moments this Christmas season will bring, we invite you to remember to Make Room for Christ."

Make Room 1

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

We do this every day without even thinking about it. We scoot over, add an extra place setting, hold the door on an elevator, rearrange the furniture, or move the cars in the driveway; we just naturally Make Room.

This Christmas, we invite you to Make Room for Christ. Preparing our hearts for the greatest gift ever given requires being intentional. Betrothed, Mary had big plans, yet she made room. Winding life down in her later years, Elizabeth made room. Studying the stars, the Magi saw something unexplained and made room. Its days of prominence had come and gone, yet, Bethlehem made room for a king in the most unlikely of places.

So, as you are Making room for all of the exciting moments this Christmas season will bring, we invite you to remember to Make Room for Christ.

Beyond Me 3

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Week 3: Priscilla and Aquila are two names not readily recognized from the Biblical text. This ministry power couple was part of the Apostle Paul’s team of pastors/teachers who worked to spread the Good News of Jesus to the world. Their work was mostly centralized in Corinth and Ephesus, but leading the church was not their only responsibility. In Acts 18, the leadership of this couple was used to help sort out a new up-and-coming preacher named Apollos. This preacher’s theology was off-point, and Priscilla and Aquila pulled alongside this preacher and sorted him out. Moments like this protected the early church's theology and allowed solid theology to be passed on. Priscilla and Aquila were willing to go “Beyond Me” to protect the church and its teaching.

Beyond Me 2

Written by Lee Ames on . Posted in Sermon.

Week 2: God’s way of leading often calls us to move before we know where we are going. Sometimes, only direction and sometimes just a prompting are all you have to move toward God’s next encounter in your life. In Genesis 12 and 15, we discover the story of Abram and how God reached out and found a person who would be willing to leave his heritage behind to allow God to become the lineage that Abram so desperately desired. Abram’s willingness to move set into motion what would ultimately become the nation of Israel and the bloodline that would produce the life of Jesus. Abram's decision to move was his “Beyond Me” moment.