Aug 10, 2014
“Heaven is for Real” – Is There Anything After Life on Earth?
UntitledToday’s message is inspired in part by the new movie HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, based on the well known book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. Todd is Pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, Nebraska. He is the father of Colton Burpo, who during an emergency appendectomy and miraculous recovery, recalls in detail his trip to heaven and back. Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital during his operation. Colton talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told him by people he met there—people whom he had never met in his life—sharing events that happened even before he was born and giving astonishing descriptions and obscure details about heaven that match the Bible exactly. When young Colton Burpo was asked by the book editor, “What do you want people to know from your story?” Colton,
without hesitation replied, “I want them to know that heaven is for real."
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  • Aug 10, 2014“Heaven is for Real” – Is There Anything After Life on Earth?
    Aug 10, 2014
    “Heaven is for Real” – Is There Anything After Life on Earth?
    UntitledToday’s message is inspired in part by the new movie HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, based on the well known book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. Todd is Pastor of Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, Nebraska. He is the father of Colton Burpo, who during an emergency appendectomy and miraculous recovery, recalls in detail his trip to heaven and back. Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital during his operation. Colton talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told him by people he met there—people whom he had never met in his life—sharing events that happened even before he was born and giving astonishing descriptions and obscure details about heaven that match the Bible exactly. When young Colton Burpo was asked by the book editor, “What do you want people to know from your story?” Colton,
    without hesitation replied, “I want them to know that heaven is for real."
  • Aug 3, 2014“Iron Man” – Who Needs Armor?
    Aug 3, 2014
    “Iron Man” – Who Needs Armor?
    Untitled“Life is not all fun and games!” … Did your parents ever tell you that to try and alert you to the realities of life? Even as we grow and mature, we still can be tempted to see life as a kind of pleasure cruise. We are happy when business is thriving, bank accounts are full and body is healthy. But when things are not like that, we wonder what went wrong. The problem for us is that we can tend to look just at the surface, and be unaware of the spiritual battle that is being waged out of sight. There is a real war being fought in the heavenly realms, and we are a part of it! So what can be done? Thankfully, God gives us spiritual armor to use in
    this battle – and He tells us how to use it!
  • Jul 20, 2014“The LEGO Movie” – Who is the Special?
    Jul 20, 2014
    “The LEGO Movie” – Who is the Special?
    UntitledWe live in a world that is obsessed with being "special." Everyone wants to stand out, and rise above others. We want to wear clothes that are better than what others are wearing, and we want to achieve success that outshines the rest. But how can everyone be special? And who is truly special? Actually, the Bible does talk about being special ... but not in terms that you might suspect. We're told that we're special, not by what we achieve, but by who we are and how we live. Today we'll hear Jesus
    speak about some of the special qualities of those who follow Him.
  • Jul 13, 2014“God’s Not Dead” – How Do You Deal With Doubt?
    Jul 13, 2014
    “God’s Not Dead” – How Do You Deal With Doubt?
    UntitledDo you consider yourself a skeptic? Many people are. When you see a far-fetched statistic, do you look into the source data and background assumptions? When you hear an unbelievable sales pitch, do you do research on the product before you buy? When someone claims to have caught a fish “this big” do you ask to see the pictures? (ha ha). If you do, then you may be a skeptic. Most of us likely know someone, or once were ourselves, who is skeptical about the claims that Christians make about Jesus Christ. And often we can lose our patience with people as they continue to ask questions and have doubts about Jesus. How can he be God and man? Isn’t the Bible just made up stories? How can you believe in something you cannot see? Didn’t everything around us just evolve by mutation and selection? If God is so good, then why do bad things happen? … all of
    these and more. How do you respond? I’m glad you asked …
  • Jul 6, 2014“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – Are You Trapped By Your Past?
    Jul 6, 2014
    “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” – Are You Trapped By Your Past?
    UntitledAll people have a past! Sometimes that past is something they’re not proud of. They want to change it, but it seems to call them – either in an attempt to avoiding changing their ways, or to fill them with guilt and shame. Truly, all of us have things in our past we wish to free ourselves from to some degree or another. It started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sinned and ate of the fruit of the Tree of Good and Evil; and God banished them from the Garden – into a world full of toil and pain. And today, in the midst of a world full of hurt and regret, God says, “you can leave your past and start fresh and new with me!” Come to Him. He never left you. Your past does not define you. Rather, your
    relationship with the Lord defines your true identity.
  • Jun 29, 2014“Frozen” – What Do You Need To Let Go Of?
    Jun 29, 2014
    “Frozen” – What Do You Need To Let Go Of?
    UntitledFrozen is Walt Disney’s 53rd animated feature. As of this month it has surpassed $1.2 Billion in revenue from box office, download, disc and copyrights. It is a widely viewed film, and very well known for the song “Let it Go,” with over 265 million views on Disney’s official You Tube page for that song alone. Some of the lyrics from this song are filled with emotions that many can relate to: “A kingdom of isolation.” “The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside.” “Don’t let them in.” “My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around.” But the song also speaks of hope: “Let it go!” “The fears that once controlled me, can’t get to me at all!” “Here I stand!” “I’m free.” You may need to let go of some things. The
    question for you today, is where is that freedom found?
  • Jun 22, 2014“Alone, Yet Not Alone” – Responding in Time of Testing
    Jun 22, 2014
    “Alone, Yet Not Alone” – Responding in Time of Testing
    UntitledThe movie Alone Yet Not Alone opened in theaters last Sunday. It is based on the true story taken of Barbara and Regina Leininger, daughters of German-Lutheran immigrants, who, in 1755, were taken captive by the Delaware tribe during the Seven Years (French & Indian) War. Barbara and three others made a daring escape, while Regina stayed as a captive until the end of the war in 1765. The family reunited with Regina with the help of their pastor, Henry Muhlenberg, often regarded as the father of American Lutheranism. At its core, the film is a moving reminder of the foundational
    truth that, "God will never leave nor forsake us!
  • Jun 15, 2014“A Long Way Off” – A Father’s Love
    Jun 15, 2014
    “A Long Way Off” – A Father’s Love
    UntitledHappy Father’s Day! Jesus tells his followers a parable about a man who had two sons. One of the sons (often called the prodigal son) asked for his inheritance and left home, leaving his father and brother. Imagine the pain that must have caused the father. And yet, this father still welcomed his wayward son home after squandering all his riches, even running to him while he was still “a long way off.” Today we see God on Film in a modern story of the prodigal son called “A Long Way Off.” Does Jesus’ parable have application today? Even in today’s world, this Bible
    story is as true as it has always been!
  • May 18, 2014The Coming King
    May 18, 2014
    The Coming King
    Series: Son of God
    Slide1Today we hearken back to Palm Sunday. We recognize that when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding that donkey, He was fulfilling prophecies of the Messiah from long ago. Both prophets Jeremiah and Zechariah, among others, speak of the "Kingly" reign of Jesus. Prophecies often have both "near" and "far" fulfillments. On Palm Sunday, the people were proclaiming Jesus as their King. Even Pilate placed a sign over Jesus' head on the cross which named Him as "King of the Jews" ("INRI" in Latin). This was a "near" fulfillment of the prophecies. However, we still await the "far" fulfillment of these prophecies. Those days are still coming (Jer. 23:5) when Jesus will return. Every eye will see Him, every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will profess Him as Lord and King! Until that Day, we
    who believe, know and proclaim Him as our King even now.
  • May 11, 2014The Anointed One
    May 11, 2014
    The Anointed One
    Series: Son of God
    Slide1Often people make the mistake of thinking that when Jesus came, He started a new religion. They perceive Christ's teaching as so radically different than the Old Testament, that they are tempted to believe that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are different. Nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, Jesus Himself states that the Old Testament Scriptures actually testify to Him (John 5:39), and that the prophecies of the coming Messiah are fulfilled in Him (Luke 4:21). So when we read Isaiah 61 or Psalm 2 which refer to the Lord's Anointed, we know that these refer to Jesus. Jesus is the Lord's Anointed. But to what and
    for what purpose is He anointed?
  • May 4, 2014The Sinner’s Friend
    May 4, 2014
    The Sinner’s Friend
    Series: Son of God
    Slide1You've heard, "don't judge a book by its cover." Thankfully, Jesus doesn't see in us just what's on the outside. In fact, in His ministry, Jesus showed a startling - even scandalous - affection for the broken, the lowly, the sinful, and the struggling. Often Jesus endured scorn and ridicule for associating with people that most of us would have considered "undesirable." Even those in Jesus' inner circle of disciples, such as Matthew - a tax collector, were not held in high esteem. You and I often think more highly of ourselves than we ought. When we are honest, we should be grateful and humbled that Jesus, the Son of God, would call us -
    sinners that we are - friends.
  • Apr 27, 2014The Son of Man
    Apr 27, 2014
    The Son of Man
    Series: Son of God
    Slide1“Christ is risen!” We rejoice that Christ, as true God and true Man took our place on the cross, received our punishment and death, and rose victoriously from the grave! How does this work? For Jesus to take the punishment for our sins He had to be true Man, a human, just like us with our weaknesses and struggles … but for His blood to benefit all of humanity for all time, He had to be God, divine and powerful over sin death and the devil. Today, we see that Jesus, as “Son of Man,” identifies with us in our humanity. We learn that He has compassion on us and offers healing to
    all who come to Him to receive His mercy and grace. Will you come to Jesus?
  • Apr 20, 2014The Resurrection and the Life
    Apr 20, 2014
    The Resurrection and the Life
    Series: (All)
    “Christ is risen!” And, say the apostles, “so are you!” Though we with all believers who have gone before us still await the great Day of the resurrection of all at the return of the Lord, His resurrection seals our faith and confidence today that because He is, “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Our celebration this day is reflected every Sunday throughout the year. The first day of the week is the day of resurrection. By the power Christ’s resurrection you and I are promised to live forever! Let us celebrate with the women who first visited the empty tomb with that strange combination of joy and fear, which is faith in the power of resurrection, and faith in the power of God!
  • May 5, 2013CSI: Examining the Evidence of Creation – 5. Telling What Happened
    May 5, 2013
    CSI: Examining the Evidence of Creation – 5. Telling What Happened
    Series: CSI Creation
    csi pic 7 (2)The Bible is clear that only those who will enjoy eternity with the Father are the ones who receive His Son Jesus. He’s the way, the Truth, and the life – and no one comes to the Father except through Him. The theory of evolution has for decades been causing people to deny the truth of the Bible, and their need for a Savior. Without being argumentative, how can we proclaim the Gospel and the reason for the hope that we have? How can we
    defend our faith in Jesus and the objective Truth of the Bible?
  • Apr 28, 2013CSI: Examining the Evidence of Creation – 4. Analyzing the Data
    Apr 28, 2013
    CSI: Examining the Evidence of Creation – 4. Analyzing the Data
    Series: CSI Creation
    csi pic 7 (2)Evidence is just data. What’s important is how one interprets the data. A company’s financial ledger, for example, is just data. A negative bottom line may mean that the company is a bad investment or it may be a good investment – depending on what you believe to be true about that company and their business practices. Similarly, the beauty and complexity of life is a fact. Whether it points to haphazard naturalistic processes or the grand design of a magnificent God depends on how one interprets the data. Today we will compare some different interpretations of the same data. It
    is ours to decide what it implies.