Feb 4, 2024
Pressure’s On
Series: Daniel
Every one of us has experienced the weight of peer pressure at various points in our lives. It probably is most noticeable during our teenage years. There is enormous pressure to conform, or at least a great fear of standing out.
As we open Daniel 3 this morning, we see the setup for an extremely trying time in the life of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We won’t look at their response to the pressure they were under yet, just the details of the situation.
There are two cautions we can see in this paragraph: 1) We need to not forget what God has done in our lives; 2) The culture’s call on us is different than God’s call on us. After considering these two cautions, we’ll finish up by focusing on the fact that 3) What God calls us to do is always right, because God is always right.
We can face enormous pressure to conform to the culture, rather than obey God.
Daniel 3:1-7
Feb. 4, 2024
To watch the video of this message, click here.
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- Feb 4, 2024Pressure’s On
Feb 4, 2024Pressure’s OnSeries: DanielEvery one of us has experienced the weight of peer pressure at various points in our lives. It probably is most noticeable during our teenage years. There is enormous pressure to conform, or at least a great fear of standing out.As we open Daniel 3 this morning, we see the setup for an extremely trying time in the life of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We won’t look at their response to the pressure they were under yet, just the details of the situation.There are two cautions we can see in this paragraph: 1) We need to not forget what God has done in our lives; 2) The culture’s call on us is different than God’s call on us. After considering these two cautions, we’ll finish up by focusing on the fact that 3) What God calls us to do is always right, because God is always right.We can face enormous pressure to conform to the culture, rather than obey God.Daniel 3:1-7Feb. 4, 2024To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Jan 28, 2024Faith or Fiction?
Jan 28, 2024Faith or Fiction?Series: DanielHow can we tell if faith is real? Is it a matter of sincerity? Not by itself, because a person can be sincerely wrong. This morning as we finish up Daniel 2, we finally see Nebuchadnezzar’s response to Daniel’s miraculous recounting and interpreting of the king’s dream.Nebuchadnezzar displays 4 responses that, by themselves, do not mean he truly believed in God alone: 1) An Emotional Response By Itself is Not a Sign of Sincere Faith; 2) Worship Alone is Not a Sign of Sincere Faith; 3) Simply Acknowledging God as the Greatest Authority is Not a Sign of Sincere Faith; 4) Giving Generously is Not a Sure Sign of Sincere Faith.We'll finish up by discussing where sincere faith is found: 5) Sincere Faith is Found in Fully Trusting Christ.God wants our sincere faith, not just an outward show of favor.Daniel 2:46-49Jan. 28, 2024To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Jan 14, 2024God’s on the Job
Jan 14, 2024God’s on the JobSeries: DanielGod is sovereignly at work in people and on the future.Daniel 2:31-45Jan. 14, 2024To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Jan 7, 2024Praise God!
Jan 7, 2024Praise God!Series: DanielGive God the praise He deserves, in private prayers and public testimony.Daniel 2:19-30Jan. 7, 2024To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Dec 31, 2023What Have You Resolved to Do?
Dec 31, 2023What Have You Resolved to Do?Series: New YearWell, here we are on the final day of 2023. As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I want us to ask ourselves to consider how we want to live in just one area of our lives. How are you going to choose to live as a child of God? If Christ is your focus, how ought that to show up in your daily life this coming year?There is a portion of Paul’s letter to the Colossian church that speaks to this very issue. In Col. 3:12-18, Paul tells us what we discover when Christ is our focus: 1) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Love; 2) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Live; 3) When Christ is Our Focus, We Discover How to Learn.Make Christ your focus in the coming year – live your life to glorify the Lord.Colossians 3:12-17Dec. 31, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Dec 24, 2023A Courageous Christmas
Dec 24, 2023A Courageous ChristmasSeries: ChristmasMatthew 1:18-25 records for us the occasion when God revealed the upcoming birth of Jesus to Mary's husband, Joseph. The short account gives us the details, but there is even more going on behind the scenes.There is a story behind the story here that I think is important for us to learn from. Joseph demonstrates courage in 3 ways that I believe should be instructive for us today as well: 1) We Should Practice Personal Integrity Regardless of Public Pressure ; 2) We Should Prioritize God’s Will, Not Human Wisdom; and 3) We Should Pursue Sacrificial Action Instead of Superficial Anger.God uses our courageous obedience to accomplish His objectives.Matthew 1:18-25Dec. 24, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Dec 17, 2023So, How Was Your Day?
Dec 17, 2023So, How Was Your Day?Series: ChristmasWe can tend to take our days for granted, because often, day after day, it’s the same old thing. Then, once in a while, we have a day that really stands out from the rest. Christmas can be either one. When you’re young, it’s an amazing day, full of excitement. But, after a few dozen Christmases, and especially when you’re footing the bill, it can sometimes slide into being another one of those days.How should we respond to Christmas? If someone were to come up to you on Christmas and ask, “So, how was your day?” How will you answer?Mary gives us a great example in Luke 1:46-55. After being told that she would bear God’s promised Messiah, she breaks forth in praise. Her example to us suggests 4 things we can do: 1) Praise God for What He Has Done; 2) Praise God for His Power and Mercy; 3) Praise God for His Justice; 4) Praise God for His Faithfulness.We need to pause and praise God for His gift of a Savior.Luke 1:46-55Dec. 17, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Dec 10, 2023When God Leaves You Speechless
Dec 10, 2023When God Leaves You SpeechlessSeries: ChristmasChristmas is supposed to be a wonderful, joyous time of year. But, there are sometimes things going on in our lives which make it difficult to be joyful. Struggles and trials can definitely hinder any desire to celebrate.Today's message is a look at events surrounding another birth which took place shortly before Jesus’ – that of John the Baptist. John’s parents give us some examples, both positive and negative, of how to continue to seek God even during times of suffering. We learn that we should: 1) Serve God in Times of Struggle; 2) Rejoice in What God Reveals; 3) Don’t Let Doubts & Disappointment Derail Your Faith; 4) Give God the Glory for the Good in our Lives.Continue to seek & serve the Lord, even in times of struggle – trust Him and His promises.Luke 1:5-25+57-66Dec. 10, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Dec 3, 2023What’s in a Name?
Dec 3, 2023What’s in a Name?Series: ChristmasIn the Bible names were frequently given to express something about a person or circumstance. For instance – Isaac means “laughter” and was named so because Sarah laughed when told that she would have a son. Samuel means “heard by God” as a sign that God heard his mother’s prayer.In a prophecy from the book of Isaiah, we find 4 names given to Jesus, some 700 years before He was ever born. Each of these names tells us something about how God interacts with us in important areas of our lives. 1) Wonderful Counselor - Jesus desires to give us guidance in the decisions of life; 2) Mighty God - He has the power to see us through the difficulties of life; 3) Eternal Father - Jesus desires to take care of our ultimate destiny in life; 4) Prince of Peace - He is able to grant us peace in the disturbances of life.The Names of Christ reveal the greatness of God’s gift to us.Isaiah 9:6Dec. 3, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Nov 26, 2023What to Do When the Bottom Falls Out
Nov 26, 2023What to Do When the Bottom Falls OutSeries: DanielWe’ve all had days when things just seemed to go from bad to worse; times when it may have felt like the bottom dropped out of our lives. Things like serious injuries & illnesses, loss of possessions due to fire, tough struggles at work, financial issues, relational issues, and more. Our challenge in those moments is to remember that God is greater than the problems we face. Prayer needs to be our first line of defense when facing problems.When the bottom dropped out of the lives of Daniel and his companions, they turned to God, and they give us some wonderful examples to learn from: 1) We Must Make Prayer Our Priority; 2) We Should Avoid Seeking Alternatives to Prayer; 3) Prayer Acknowledges Our Need for God’s Provision.When the bottom falls out of our lives, we need to fall to our knees in prayer.Daniel 2:1-18Nov. 26, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
