Fellowship Dallas Weekly Sermons

Stand Firm!

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Vision of Maturity

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Rejoice in the Lord

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The Example of Jesus in Our Midst

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The Ultimate Workout

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus - The Ultimate Servant

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

The Great Invincible Surmise

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

To Live for Christ & Christ Alone

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

2026 Vision

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Reflecting on God's Goodness in 2025

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Eternal Father

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

And He Shall be Called...Mighty God!

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Wonderful Counselor

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Hope of Light in a Land of Darkness

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Thanksgiving & Surrender

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

How To Stormproof Your Faith

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surrendered Endurance

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

What To Do When Your Spirit Is Provoked

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:00:00 +0000

What God Can Do With a Song

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surrendered in Taking the Gospel to the World

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surrendered to a Worldwide Mission

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Baptisms are at the end of the message.

Do It Again Lord

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Surrendered Life: A Message & A Mission

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surrendered to the Spirit (Part 1)

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Power of Surrender

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surrendered on the Road to Damascus

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Delighting in The Holy Spirit

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

God the Son

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

God the Father

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Stand Firm!

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Dance Lessons

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Baptism Sunday

Living Wisely In An Evil Age

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Awaken Light in Others

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Walk In Love

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Put Off the Old, Put On the New

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A Worthy Walk in Christ

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

He Is Able

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Marks of Spiritual Fathers

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Remember This

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Stunned by Our Rescue Story

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Inspiration, The Need, and the Benefits

Sun, 25 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Sit, Walk, Stand

Sun, 18 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Magnificent Ministry of Mothers

Sun, 11 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Special Guest Our Calling

Sun, 04 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

People are Priceless

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Maundy Thursday

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Easter at Fellowship

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Worthy is the Lamb - He Paid for Our Sins

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Worth is the Lamb - Who Was Presented as King

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Hope-Filled Announcement!

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Cruciformed

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 2

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 1

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Deformed

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surgery of the Spirit - Pt. 2

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Surgery of the Spirit - Pt. 1

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Power & Transforming Ministry of the Holy Spirit – Pt. 2

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Power & Transforming Ministry of the Holy Spirit – Pt. 1

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Threat of the Flesh (Part 2)

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Threat of the Flesh (Part 1)

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Dream of Spiritual Formation (Part 2)

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The Dream of Spiritual Formation (Part 1)

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Focus 2025 – Radiate

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000

A Community of Worship, Formation and Mission

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A Christ-Centered Community Set on Fire by the Holy Spirit

Radiant in Worship, Formation & Mission

Mary Pondered

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Treasuring Jesus This Christmas

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Gift of a Savior for Our Sins

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Gift of the Word Made Flesh

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Gift of God with Us

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Heart of Thanksgiving

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Attractional Church

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Why Missions?

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Missional in this Moment - Salt & Light

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A Scan of 2 Hearts (Part 2)

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

A Scan of 2 Hearts (Part 1)

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Call of Duty

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Amazing Grace!

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Reckless Love Of God

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Missional Heart of God in Christ

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Missional Heart of God in Christ

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Missional Heart of God in Christ

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Missional Heart of God

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 91

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 46

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 51

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 67

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 136

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 23

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 145

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Psalm 8

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus Has Risen & Reigns!

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Wear It or Bear It

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Filled by the Father's Love

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Silently Faithful King

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus' Faithfulness in the Garden

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Preparation Of A King

Sun, 26 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Full Surrender to Jesus

Sun, 19 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus Sees Your Sacrifice, Servant-heart, & Full Surrender

Sun, 12 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Called On The Carpet

Sun, 05 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Fully Surrendered Servants

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

God Over Money

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Wire Walking and Faith Talking

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The King is Risen

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Easter Sunday

The King is Crucified

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The King is Tried & Mocked

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The King is Betrayed

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Very Stones Would Cry Out

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus: The Trusted Ophthalmologist

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Blind, Deaf, And a Little Dumb

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Lessons From A Leaky Boat

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Power We Can Trust!

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus-The One Whom Storms & Satan Can't Stop

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus-The One Who Transforms the Heart

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Don't Feed the White Elephant

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Fellowship of the Mat

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

The Sovereign Servant!

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Lost & Found

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Your Stunning Savior & Son of God

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Follow Jesus in 2024

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Christmas Eve at Fellowship

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Our Savior is Born!

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The Sun Also Rises

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Magnify His Name!

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Fall On Your Knees!

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Grateful

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Spirit in the Driver's Seat

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Paul-Filled with & Transformed

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Philip - The Greater Progress of the Gospel

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Barnabas - A Spirit-Filled Sacrificial Servant,

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Peter - Coward to Courage through the Spirit

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Mobilized on Mission

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Under Construction

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A Unified Church in a Divided World

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Open The Eyes Of Our Hearts Lord

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A Praying & Pleading Church

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Missional No Matter What

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Good to Great

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Prayer Saturated Church

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Simply Devoted!

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Extraordinary

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Christ-centered Church

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Tables Intended to Grow

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Tables that Embolden Action Pt. 2

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Tables that Embolden Action

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Tables Intended for Use Pt. 2

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Tables Intended for Use

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Thoughtful Table Design Pt. 2

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Thoughtful Table Design

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Here I Am. Send Me

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Beyond Belief

Sun, 28 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus Prays for Us

Sun, 21 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

An Outpouring of Love

Sun, 14 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

This is The Life

Sun, 07 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Living Water & Light of the World

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000

So That You May Marvel

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000

So That You May Believe

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Easter at Fellowship Dallas

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Good Friday at Fellowship

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A Kingly Lamb

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Fellowship with God (In Prayer)

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Listening to God, Our Shepherds Voice

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Talking With God

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Talking to God

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Disciples' Prayer, Part 2

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Disciples' Prayer, Part 1

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Privilege & Priority of Prayer

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Do you have a desire to pour out the love of Jesus and the message of the Gospel to others? Most Christ-followers would answer, “Well, obviously, yes.” In this message, Dr. Tim Robinson challenges us to consider how effective our witness can really be if we’re not continually spending time in prayer. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that time with the Father was not just something Jesus made room for—He LONGED for it. Jesus knew it was a privilege to spend time in prayer and so it was His first priority. Whether prayer is a practice you’ve had for a long time or you find prayer awkward and aren’t sure how to start—this message will challenge you to begin simply by looking at Jesus.

Living in True Worship

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

What comes to mind when you hear the word worship? Sunday morning? Singing songs? As we close out our series on Sabbath, we're talking about practicing worship as a part of Sabbath. And who better to help us look at this aspect than Worship Pastor Noah Mitchell? In this message, Noah reminds us that worship is our awed response and how we ascribe worth to God. When we live from a place of true rest, we can't help but live lives of true worship. Sunday morning is just a small part of worship in our lives and you'll be challenged to start practicing worship—in all its forms— in your daily life.

Finding Rest in Delight

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The gift of delighting in the Lord leads to a rested heart. But not only do we have the joy of delighting in the Lord but we can rest in the fact that He first delights in us. In this message Adam Watson reminds us that God loves to BE WITH US and walk through each moment of life with us. When we Sabbath our hearts get to make room to delight in the Lord! You'll be challenged to make intentional time to delight in who God is and His faithfulness.

Rest That Sets Us Apart

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

On the highway, going slow in the fast lane is not going to win you many friends. But when people observe us intentionally slowing down to create space for rest and renewal, it stands out in our busy world. In this message Garrett Hall suggests that the practice of Sabbath, can actually be one of our greatest testimonies to a busy and hurried world. Garrett reminds us that Sabbath is not just rest for us; it is also what sets us apart so that God can be glorified. Garrett also shares five practical ways you can implement Sabbath into your week—whether it's a couple of hours or an entire day. You'll be challenged to pick one practical way to start a Sabbath rhythm in your week.

Rest Starts With Stop

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

How do we rest in the busy and, often times, chaotic world we live in? Furthermore, how do we become people who not only rest ourselves but help others to find rest? The word Sabbath (or Shabbat) means to cease, to end, to rest; and we see this concept of rest all the way at the very beginning of scripture when God rested on the seventh day. We see throughout the Gospels that Jesus often retreated from the crowds to find rest and renewal with the Lord. In this message Caleb Panter asks us to consider whether our current pace is transforming us into the people God calls us to be, and how intentionally practicing the ways of Jesus is what will form us into being disciple-makers, not just knowledge-collectors. You’ll be challenged to consider ways you can STOP and begin to implement a sabbath routine into your week.

God Promises and Provides

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

What comes first in your life? Do we consider that we can prioritize really, really, really GOOD things, but being missing the mark? In this powerful message, Bob Gray ask us to consider two important questions: If we're not seeking Him first—what are we missing that He wants from us as He equips us for it? And, more importantly, if we're not seeking Him first, are we seeking Him at all? We serve a King who always keeps His promises and always provides. You'll be challenged to consider what things you might be placing first in your life—either in general or even just in moments—and what could change if you gave that place back to God, trusting that Him with each of the other priorities in your life?

Consecration Sunday

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Each of us often start every new year with the best intentions. We make our resolutions, determined to transform into a better version of ourselves; but a couples weeks into January we find ourselves facing the same familiar obstacles: our hectic pace and overloaded schedules, our need to overly-plan OR our lack of intentionality in planning. In this New Years Day message, Caleb Panter reminds us that transformation always starts at the feet of Jesus, submitting ourselves to what God wants to do in our lives and practicing the ways of Jesus. You'll be encourage to take time to pause, reflect, and remember as you prepare to step into 2023. Feel free to use the reflection questions below.

REMEMBER: Take time to reflect on God’s character and what He has done. How have you seen his faithfulness in your life this year?

REPENT: Take time to evaluate yourself. Are there things keeping you from fully abiding in Christ? In what ways do you need to confess and repent? What areas of your life need to change as you live more devoted to Christ?

RESPOND: Based on these reflections, what spiritual practice or rhythm is Jesus inviting you into that will help you abide in Him this year?

Christmas Day

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Christmas Eve

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

God In Us

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Are you an agent of pain or an agent of peace? God's original design did not include anxiety and pain, but the Enemy works through our human-built systems of secularism, consumerism, and individualism to bring pain into our life and the lives of those around us. In this message, Caleb Panter reminds us that because of Jesus, we can be agents of PEACE, to spread His presence throughout the whole world. You'll be challenged to consider what human-built systems you're leaning on that are actually producing anxiety and pain, and to instead live empowered by the Holy Spirit—God IN us.

God Among Us

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

God WANTS to be with you. Do you believe that? In this message, Garrett Hall shows us God's heart to be with His people, through looking at the Old Testament Tabernacle, the Temple, and then God's own Son: Jesus. God is not a distant, harsh God. He is not measuring you to see if you will measure up to being good enough for His presence. He WANTS to be with you and He made that possible through Jesus.

God With Us

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Emmanuel, “God with us.” The Christmas season is meant to be filled we joy. But in a busy and complicated world, you may instead find yourself struggling with emotions of sadness, confusion, frustration, shock, fear, uncertainty, distraction. While the birth of Jesus is the most wonderful story told, it's easy to forget that many of the characters in this story were struggling with these same emotions. In this message, Jeff Fritsche reminds us that our hope, our joy, our peace are ONLY found in looking to God and the gift of His Son. Nothing else will satisfy us. You'll be challenged to make room to abide in Christ this Christmas season.

To Have an Open Heart

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Giving Gets

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Time to Decide

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

A Community of Followers

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Reordering of Loves

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Cost of Stewardship

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Public Faith, Faithful God

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Blessed Obedience

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

One Necessary Thing

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Usefulness

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Great Exchange

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Rest of Jesus

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Heart of Jesus

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Invitation of Jesus

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Family Sunday

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Parent Dedication and Senior Sendoff

The Ordinary that Leads to the Extraordinary

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Phillip & Nathanael

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Thomas

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Women Who Follow Jesus

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Andrew: The Inviting Disciple

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Hardness of Heart

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Judas

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

James and John: The Sons of Thunder

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Peter

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Call

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Sword of the Spirit

Sun, 29 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Helmet of Salvation

Sun, 22 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Shield of Faith

Sun, 15 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Shoes of Peace

Sun, 08 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Breastplate of Righteousness

Sun, 01 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Belt of Truth

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Victory (Easter Sunday)

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

It Is Finished (Good Friday)

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

A New Master

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Paid in Full

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Weight Lifted, Path Cleared

Weight Applied, Weight Lifted

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Joy of Ministering Together

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

An Open Door for the Gospel

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Christ-Centered Home Work

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Putting Off, Putting On

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Full vs. Phony

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Fully Known, Fully Grown

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Living in God's Will

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Back to the Beginning

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Family Meeting

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Dedication and Expectation

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The Christmas Surprise

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Why do we celebrate Christmas?

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Peace

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Joy

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Preparation

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Hope

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Decision

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Judgment

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Economics

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Prayer

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Religion

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Conflict

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Faithfulness

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Heart

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Christ Our Substitute

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Witness

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Kingdom Character

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The Essentials of Engagement

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Cultural Intelligence: Radical Re-Purpose, Radical Reconciliation, Radical Representative

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Do-Gooders

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Walk the Talk

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000

When Pushback Comes

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The Nature of Our Battle

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Different but not Divided

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Heaven is Anything But Boring!

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Holy Makeover

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Two Paths

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Treasure in Heaven

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000

What is Heaven Like

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Why Eternity Matters Today

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel Will Never Fail

Sun, 30 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

If Only I May Finish

Sun, 23 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The Family Tree of God

Sun, 16 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

I Am With You

Sun, 09 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

How to Turn the World Upside Down

Sun, 02 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Guided, Granted, Guarded, and Grown

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0000

A Work Free Zone

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Heads Up

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0000

If Jesus is alive, then...

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Good Friday

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0000

How to grow a church

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Who's In?

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Change of Plans

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The Worst of Times, The Best of Times

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Fearless

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Play Your Part

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Under the Influence

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Peter Then, Peter Now

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Extraordinary from ordinary

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

An irresistible new community

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Renewed

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The promise and purpose of renewal

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

State of the church 2021

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The Christmas Invitation

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Run to the Tomb

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

3 Gifts from the Cross

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Rest of the Story

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Celebration and Anticipation

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Ready or Not

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Disciples' Prayer

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Mission Briefing

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

How to win by losing

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Now it's your turn

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Good Soil, Good Fruit

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Followers of Jesus - Love

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Farther Out and Deeper Down

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Ultimate Witnesses

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Tempted

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Four Successful Witnesses

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A Vision Forward

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Open Doors

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Open Eyes & Ears

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

An Open Heart

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Threefold Pivot

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Building on Bedrock

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Super-food

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Revived through Identity

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Joy Set Before Us

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus' Favorite Place On Earth

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus' Favorite Thing

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Meet Me at the Cross

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Who is at your table?

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Compassion Leads to Mercy

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

It Starts with Compassion

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A New Trust: Last Step

Sun, 31 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A Tale of Two Mountains

Sun, 24 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A New Rhythm

Sun, 17 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A New Way to Pray - Lamenting

Sun, 10 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A New Security & Satisfaction

Sun, 03 May 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A New Trust - The First Step

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Back to Normal?

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Easter Sunday

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Silence of the Lamb

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Substitute

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Unexpected and Unaccepted

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Shock and Awe

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Comforting King

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Send Me

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A Timely Message

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Calling Each Other

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Battle

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Shared Life

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome/Carry One Another’s Burdens

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Foundation of Love, Part 2

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Foundation of Love, Part 1

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Family Meeting

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Every Point of Refuge has its Price

Sun, 29 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Behold, The Gift of God

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Behold, wise men...

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Behold: The Lamb of God

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

God's Favor

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

God With Us

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Content or Contentious

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Joy of Knowing Jesus

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Joy of Friendship

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A Crash Course On Happiness

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Joy of Progress

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Joy of Partnership

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A Covenant Community

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A Legacy of Exponential Impact

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A Life of Intentional Investment

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Life Not on Our Own

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A God-Centered Life

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Call of Jesus

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Head and Heart

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Have It All

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Why We Gather

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

To the Lord

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Family Sunday

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Life and Death

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Sluggard

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Some Friendly Advice from Proverbs

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Power of Your Words

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Guardians of the Heart

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Fool

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Trust the Lord

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Guidance of God

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

God Gives to Givers

Sun, 02 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Full Schedule, Empty Life

Sun, 26 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Gifts to Give

Sun, 19 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In The Beginning, God...

Sun, 12 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Your Story Matters

Sun, 05 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Woman at the Well

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Easter at Fellowship Dallas

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Decision Tree

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Your Will Be Done

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A GraceFULL Home

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Stay the Course

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The Turnaround

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Be Told

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

A Heartfelt Word

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Finish Strong

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Brother's Keeper

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Opposition Research

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Community in Motion

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Leadership is Influence

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Dependence in Action

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Stirred

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

2019 Vision

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

What If??

Sun, 30 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

A Message Like No Other

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Holy Waiting

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Throne Room

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Change of Plans

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Birth Announcement

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Leading Indicator

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

A Sermon of Thanksgiving and Gratitude Piece of Mind

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Here Comes the Groom

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Where God Dwells

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Heralds of the King

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Field Work

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We are sent to labor with God as he gathers souls to himself. But for many Christians, there is a question of who should go, where they should go, and what they should do when they get there. This morning we look at Jesus’ words found in Luke 10 to see how we are sent, why we are sent, what is at stake, and what we can expect along the way.

Taste and See

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Body Builders

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Body Language

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We are continuing our series called To Be Continued, where we are looking at the New Testament images of the Church Jesus said he would build to know who we are, what we are called to do, and why we are called to do it. While we are all unified in the one body of Christ, we are also individuals who have been gifted differently for different purposes. We are not all supposed to be the same.

Family Reunion

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today we begin a new series called "To Be Continued" because the work God started on the day of Pentecost is the same work He’s doing in us and through us today. He continues to build His Church through each generation of Jesus-followers, and that work is to be continued through us.

Celebrating Pastor Kurt Pressler

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Kurt Pressler is officially installed as the Lead Pastor of Fellowship Dallas.

Celebrating Pastor Gary Brandenburg

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Celebrating the ministry of Gary Brandenburg as Lead Pastor of Fellowship Dallas.

The Forgotten God

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

I sometimes wonder how many Christians are ignorant of the priceless treasure that is within us. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are the container of a priceless resource. But if you are unaware of what you possess you will be condemned to live in spiritual poverty.
Jesus knows His time on the earth is drawing to a close. So too is His time in the upper room with His disciples. His final instructions here in John 14:15-31 focus on the role of the Holy Spirit.

The Great (Upper Room) Commission

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Many of you know of the Great Commission, the mission Jesus gives his Church just before he ascends to heaven. This morning, though, we are going to look at what I call the Great Upper Room Commission, where Jesus follows his promise of eternity with him with the call to do his work before we get there. He gives us his three landmarks of an active journey of faith on this road trip to heaven we call life.

Heart Trouble

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We’re continuing in our series called Changes. Jesus is spending his last night in an upper room with his closest followers and giving them some final instructions. He knows he’s about to go away and is leaving them with some universal truths to hold on to in times of change and the uncertainty that comes with it.

Baptism Sunday

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Live in the Light

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We’re continuing in our series called Changes and taking some time as a church to consider Jesus’ final instructions to his followers before a time of significant transition. Like the disciples, we too are in a time of significant transition, and while there are plenty of things we don’t know, there are some things we can know.

Greatness

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

"Changes." That is what we are calling a new five-week sermon series based on some crucial lessons Jesus taught His disciples in an upper room on the eve of His departure. Change was in the air and there were a few things Jesus wanted to convey during a momentous transition. As most of you know, we are in a time of significant leadership transition here at Fellowship. Next month, Kurt Pressler will become the 5th SP in our 40-year history. It is imperative that we navigate this leadership change properly so that the mission and vision of our church continues unhindered. Transitions are disruptive no matter how well you prepare for them. The most difficult part of any major change is that we just don't know what we don't know.

Family On Purpose

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

I don’t know if you know this, but it would be a lot easier to act in a godly manner if it didn’t always involve other people. And if those people actually live with you, it makes it all the more challenging. But not only is it not good for man to be alone because he can’t fully reflect the image of God by himself, it’s also not good for man to be alone because God uses others to shape his character in us. First on that list of other people is your family.

Relentless

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

God may have you in the belly of the beast for a time. Don’t despair. The Holy Spirit's work in us is designed to make us more like Jesus. He uses the events of our daily lives to transform us. Sometimes these lessons seem way too hard. The problem is not that he asks too much of us—the problem is that we settle for too little. Our love for the status quo makes us leery of God's plan for us.

Disappointed

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

At the beginning of this message, I revealed to you one of the greatest disappointments in my life, losing my dad at the age of 7 and it has changed my life. But I want to tell you that in the midst of my loss and disappointment, God stepped in and appointed men that helped make today possible. And I want to introduce you to three of them.

Loving with Abandon

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

as we continue our series called Awkward Family Photos, we are going to take a look at one of the most awkward moments in the Gospels. We are going to a dinner party, but this will be unlike any dinner party you or I have ever attended. This moment has three characters involved: Jesus, along with a Pharisee and a woman, both of whom will be confronted with their desperate reality, this one being spiritual. And by the end of the party, these three will show us that the greater your grasp of what you have been forgiven, the greater your love for the one who has forgiven you. When we truly understand who God is, who we are before him, and what he has done to make us right, to rescue us, our hearts will erupt with love and worship. One of them gets it. The other doesn’t.

Jacob Meets His Match

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

It's an old story, so old in fact that some of you have never heard it. A hiker, walking near the edge of a steep cliff and fell over the side. Fortunately, he was able to grab hold of a tree limb. As he dangled in mid-air, he cried out for help, "Is anybody up there?" After a few repeated attempts he heard a voice, "I am here." "Who are you?" "I am the Lord." "Can you help me?" "Of course I can. I am the Lord. But you need to let go of the branch." "Let go of the branch?" "Yes." There was a pause and then the man cried out, "Is anybody else up there?"

Hope for Those Forgotten by God - Hannah

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Some of you today may feel forgotten by the God who spoke your life into existence. He remains silent in the midst of your bareness... brokenness... singleness... loneliness... sadness... weariness. Although you’d never let another soul hear it, your heart cries out a raw prayer, “Lord, my name is ______. Do you even remember me?” I don’t know where you’re at today. Some of you may be in a really long difficult season. And if you were honest, you wonder where is this good and powerful God? It feels like he’s abandoned you.

Come to the Table - Mephibosheth

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

There are some of you here today who have been going through the motions of church. Working for God’s approval. Maybe you’ve never bowed low like Mephibosheth. You might have been in church for decades even, but maybe it’s time to get over it and surrender. In fact your carrying shame and guilt you were never ever meant to carry. To bow low and receive His amazing grace. this may be your first time in a church.

God's Faithfulness - Judah and Tamar

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Forgiveness from the Pit - The Story of Jacob's Son

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

This morning I am going to guess that if we went through the photo albums of your life, like me, you’d have some really awkward photos. Hopefully none of your parents are sitting on you. There would also be pictures of your best moments in life – the victories and celebrations. But as we turned the pages, we’d see photos that hold the memories of some really painful moments of your life. Even if you don’t have the physical pictures, they’re forever engrained in your memory. That’s because most of you have experienced pain at the hands of someone supposed to love you or wounded by someone you trusted. For many of you, that damage was caused by someone in your family – others it’s been through marriage, a friendship, church relationship, or maybe all of the above.

Significance From Insignificance

Sun, 27 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

You have a Father who's also given you a family photo album. And while there are no actual photographs to be found, the Bible tells the story of God's family. And just like my family, and I'm sure just like yours, there are plenty of awkward pictures to be found in this book. Just in the genealogy of Jesus is found the pair who brought sin into the world, a man who was sold into slavery by his brothers, a woman who bore sons to her dead husbands' father, an adulterer and murderer, and a guy with 1,000 wives. Talk about awkward.

Baptism Sunday

Sun, 13 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Living with the End in Mind

Sun, 20 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Return of the King

Sun, 13 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

I was driving around Richardson a couple of weeks ago and, when I came to a red light, I saw this guy holding a sign. “Repent, Repent. People get ready. Jesus is coming!” What do we think when we see someone holding up that type of sign? What do we do when we see a sign like that? Is there any merit to what he’s trying to say? We may be inclined to dismiss him or question his theology. But one thing we can’t escape is that what he says on his sign is true. Jesus is coming back, and we should be prepared.

The End

Sun, 06 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

A promise is a powerful thing. A promise enables us to reach out into an uncertain future and lay hold of something certain. 1 Thes. 4:13-18 provides us with some promises we can hold onto as we live out our lives between Good Friday and Easter.

Work in Progress

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000

If Timothy observed your life, what would he report? Where would he make note of the good news of your faith and love? Where might he note areas of your life where you struggle to live in accordance with God’s Word and will? The Christian life is an opportunity to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. But if that life is lived contrary God’s will, it will be rendered ineffective for his Kingdom. The longer we know God, the more we should be like him, and the greater our impact should be.

The Reciprocity of Love

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We are in a series on the book of 1 Thessalonians, a letter written by the Apostle Paul to encourage and instruct a young church how to live faithfully and lovingly in light of Christ’s return. The message of the letter is not intended to create fear that we’re going to be busted for not doing what we should be doing when he returns, nor is it a warning that, should Jesus find us misbehaving when he comes back, we risk being left behind. It is a message, though, about how the certain hope of the future return of Jesus should motivate us to get moving being about the business of God.

Paul, Pastor of Pediatrics

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000

There is no assignment that is more difficult than loving broken people. Particularly when you number yourself among them. But that's the only kind of people there are. So, think about those you have been assigned to love. Ask God to purify your heart so that your actions stem from proper motives. Then ask God to show you how to balance love and truth.

Faith, Hope, and Love

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today we begin a new series of messages from the book of 1 Thessalonians called "Last Things First." Every one of the five chapters in this letter written by the apostle Paul ends with a statement about Jesus' second coming. But it wasn't written to give details about the end times. It was written to encourage and instruct a young church about how to live in light of His coming.

Empty: An Easter Message

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +0000

I would imagine that, in many of your homes this weekend, you'll be holding that most wonderful of Easter traditions: an Easter egg hunt. The mad dash for sugary fulfillment and pastel glory, and maybe even a little cash. Every child knows that each of those plastic eggs are full of something good. But what would happen if they cracked open one of those eggs and found it to be…empty? What would they say? How would they react? This vessel that should have contained something of great value contained nothing but air. Was it a mistake? A bad April Fool's Day joke?

The Drift of Ambition

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Ambition is a word that often carries with it a negative connotation, but I would suggest that ambition, by itself, is not wrong. We are made in the image of an ambitious God; a God who, for six days, made something out of nothing, declaring it all good because it declared his glory. A God who created of man and woman-united them in marriage-and gave them the mission of filling the whole earth. A God who, when it all was broken because of sin, didn’t give up but instead immediately began to implement the ambitious plan of redemption to reconcile the world back to Himself.

The Drift of Approval

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000

If you don't keep the eyes of your heart on the approval of your Heavenly Father you will twist every relationship into some kind of stroking machine so that you will be made much of. If you don't make much of Jesus, you are condemned to endless attempts to be made much of. One of the unintended consequences of living in this selfie kingdom is that we sometimes trade the approval of God for the approval of men. It's a bad trade. That is why worship is so essential.

The Drift of Appetite

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Last week we answered the question of why Jesus needed to be baptized. We said it identified Jesus as the Messiah and identified Jesus with the sinners he came to save. This week, we need to answer the question of why Jesus was tempted. It's clear from the beginning of chapter 4 that the Holy Spirit is leading Jesus in and through the wilderness. This encounter with the devil is not accidental, it's providential. Jesus did not randomly "bump into" Satan. The Holy Spirit intentionally led Jesus into the wilderness to test him through a confrontation with the devil, and he does it for two reasons.

The Three Irreducible Minimums of Ministry

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000

The anointing of Jesus by the Holy Spirit was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy that identified and commissioned Him in His role as the Messiah. A title can be a name that clearly communicates purpose. We know what a teacher, doctor, salesman, or president are called to do. For the Messiah, it’s as if the Old Testament prophecies were a job description for the Savior of the world. It is a role Jesus accepted in eternity past and His baptism is the moment where His work began.

A Prophetic Look at 2018

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Millennials in particular are not content to sit in a pew and listen to sermons. They want to be part of the solution to the problem. They are interested in service and social justice but they don’t see the church very interested in those things. We cherry pick verses from the Bible that support our opinions but don’t change our behavior.

Peace on Earth

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 10:00:00 +0000

There is the moral conflict of an unmarried teenage girl getting pregnant. There is the religious conflict as pagan astronomers find the baby through the forbidden practice of stellar divination. There is the cultural conflict as physically unclean shepherds who couldn’t testify in a trial and spiritually unclean Gentiles are the first to acknowledge the newborn king. There is the political conflict as a maniacal self-made King, a puppet for an occupying Roman super power, orders the slaughter of innocent children to eliminate any competition for his title, “King of the Jews.”

Joy to the World

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Joy is at the core of who we are as followers of Christ. In fact, “joy” “joyful” and “rejoice” are used hundreds of times in the Bible. But something became very clear to me this week. There is a lot of confusion around what joy is. The advertisers tell us that we are in the “season of joy”, and that giving and receiving their products will result in joy. Many of the authors I read in preparation for this sermon had differences in their view of joy. I asked my staff several times this week “What is joy?” and received faces of thought and pondering. Then I wondered if I even had it settled. We all seem to have a sense of what it is, but struggle to explaining it.

Hope of A Savior

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 10:00:00 +0000

There’s no mistaking it – Christmas is upon us. Christmas trees, cards, carols, cookies, presents. These are sign posts that point us to eternal realities. These symbols won’t make it past January 1, but we desperately need the things they represent all year round. There are some gifts that only Jesus can give, enduring gifts like hope, joy and peace. While you’re shopping for Christmas presents, don’t forget the Christmas presence. Experience His hope and joy and peace.

A Season of Giving

Sun, 03 Dec 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Today we are going to push pause on our 1 Peter series and turn our attention to Christmas. Last week we talked about game changers and game-changing moments. Well, Christmas is a game changer. God looked out over the darkness of a sinful planet and, in His mercy and grace, sent us a Savior, the light of the world. Jesus came to earth bearing presents, not gold, incense and myrrh but far more valuable gifts like hope, joy and peace. We are going to talk about these three gifts starting next week but today I want to kick off the season by having a little family chat about giving.

Celebrating 40 Years

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Together we celebrated 40 years of Fellowship! Praise God for what He has done over the last 40 years and all that He will continue to do through our church.

Gardening in Babylon

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 10:00:00 +0000

When God's people were exiles in Babylon they formed a resistance movement under the guidance of the prophet Jeremiah. What is interesting is how they resisted the Babylonians. They were told, "Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." Jer. 29:5-7. In other words, don't build walls plant gardens. Be a blessing to those around you.

Shepherd the Flock

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Even though Jesus had come to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to secure our perfect eternity with him, and even though he knew this world was temporary, he was not indifferent to the condition of his people here and now. In fact, it was just the opposite. Jesus was so concerned about the welfare of his people, he established leaders who are responsible for the care, protection, and guidance of his church.

The University of Adversity

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Today I want to take up one of the most frequently asked questions in life. "Why does God allow suffering?" No matter who you are or where you came from we are all required to attend the same school. It's called the University of Adversity. There are no electives. All the courses are required courses. In 1 Pe. 4:12-19, Peter offers some timeless truth about tough times. His first word of advice to those who are suffering for their faith is, "Don't be surprised." v. 12.

Visionary Stewardship

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000

We are chosen, we are united around the cause of Christ, we are representatives of the kingdom of heaven, we live in a land no longer our own, we have been born for a purpose and, as we began to discuss last week, we too have gifts, spiritual gifts, given to us by God’s grace, that we are to use to serve others and glorify God.

God's Symphony

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000

There is only one kind of Christian; the messed up-falling down-failing constantly-full of pride- desperately-insecure but clinging tenaciously to God’s amazing grace kind. The Bible presents us with a steady parade of characters who are a mess. Look at the disciples. How is Jesus going to save the world with these guys? We have nothing to offer, He has everything we need. The source of our strength is the grace of God.

The End is Near

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Why does it seem like there is so little urgency in our churches today? One possible explanation is that the more comfortable our circumstances the less urgent our actions.

Resolute

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year! The beginning of the year is traditionally the beginning of a new season. We come out of the holiday season, with it’s fun and joy and the excesses of making merry, and we enter into…the resolution season. Every January so many of us make determined decisions to live our lives in a different way in the new year. Some of us resolve to lose a little weight. Others want to exercise more. Some want to get a better handle on their finances. Others are determined to read their Bible more. All good things. But here’s the problem, and many of you know what I’m going to say. So few of these resolutions are actually kept. In fact, the stat I read this week said that only 8% of resolutions are achieved. Most people don’t even make it out of February. I recently heard a comedian lament his own struggle with his 2017 resolution: “Well, I made a resolution this year to lose 15 lbs.…and I only have 25 left to go!” I saw more articles at the beginning of the year not on what your resolution should be, but on how to keep it. I read counsel that included writing down your goal, telling others, building a plan, and so on. Ultimately, the problem is that success is based on our willpower. And so, this morning, I want to challenge all of us to make the same New Year’s resolution. It’s a resolution based not on our willpower, but one based on God’s will and power.

Five Hopeful Habits of a Game Changer

Sun, 26 Nov 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Some events are so monumental that they change the course of history. The invention of the printing press. The airplane. The atom bomb. The computer. All these are what we sometimes call “game changers.” We experience game changing moments when something so big and so impactful literally changes the course of our lives. A game changer could be a person who walks into your life and changes your perspective or an event that changes your trajectory.

Lord of the Dance

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 10:00:00 +0000

I’m no dancer but when I see it done well I am in awe of the grace, the discipline, the strength of a man and a woman flowing across the floor in a way that seems effortless. But unfortunately, marriage is often more like a wrestling match than a dance. Marriage is never effortless. It takes a lot of practice…and a lot of patience because we get our toes stepped on in the process of learning how to do it.

A Tough Call

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Suffering is part of God’s plan. His Son had to go through it, and so must we. I wish I could tell you otherwise, but Scripture, and the life of our Savior, don’t allow for that. But we can accept that difficult truth knowing that our God is good and our suffering is not in vain. So let me ask you one final time: Do you want to follow Jesus?

Spiritual Cyber Warfare

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Some of us here today need to surrender our will to God’s will. Until we surrender we will never know true freedom. Until we surrender the world will have no reason to listen to us and God will have no reason to be pleased with us. Don’t miss four important words in v. 13, “For the Lord’s sake.” Those words remind us that God’s agenda is far more important than my own personal freedoms. Write this down…BYSSIW…Because you say so I will.

The Cathedral Project

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 10:00:00 +0000

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth to be a holy temple. He set out to fill the temple with priests who would represent Him on the earth. Three chapters into the story something went terribly wrong and the temple God was building came crashing down and now living stones are in ruins and the rubble is scattered everywhere - broken lives, broken families, broken nations. But God had a plan to put it all back together someday.

Love One Another

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 10:00:00 +0000

If we have truly tasted the goodness of God, we can’t help but go back for more. As we consume the pure spiritual milk of his Word, and as we encounter the person of God, we grow up into our salvation; we mature in our faith. The more we mature, the more our character takes on God’s character, and the more we are enabled to put away those five relational sins and live a life characterized by love. If you want more love in your life, spend more time at the source.

Living with Fear

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 10:00:00 +0000

There will also come a time when God judges each person’s work. All our deeds are judged according to God’s holy standard, and we will stand before Jesus and give an accounting of what we did with our lives. That thought should induce awe in you. Understand, there is no fear of losing our salvation. If you are God’s child, you are his forever. There should be fear, though, of losing heavenly rewards.

Don't Get Mad - Get Holy

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 10:00:00 +0000

There are times I just don’t feel at home in this world. One of the hardest parts about being a Christian is that there is less and less cultural reinforcement for Christianity. Every day I read some story that reminds me that this world is opposed to what I believe. For example, the Hi-Way Tabernacle Church in Rockport was severely flooded during Hurricane Harvey. Still, the church served as a FEMA staging center, provided shelter for 70 displaced people and distributed more than 8,000 emergency meals. But the church is not eligible for any of the billions of dollars of recovery money from FEMA, because FEMA “categorically excludes houses of worship from equal access to disaster relief grants because of their religious status.” Ok, separation of church and state. I get it.

Heavenly Passport

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +0000

The life of an elect exile is one that includes suffering through many different trials. But suffering is not something we simply have to endure, or just get through. Suffering has a purpose. Peter encourages us by saying suffering is temporary, in light of eternity, and suffering is necessary, meaning it is to our benefit when it occurs.

Suffering tests our faith. It is the crucible we go through to see if our faith is genuine or artificial. Those who truly believe will persist when trials come, continuing to trust God in all circumstances. The only way to test the sturdiness of a structure is to place weight upon it. Trials test us by showing if we can faithfully stand up under the heaviness of suffering.

Unshakeable

Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +0000

When the foundation is shaking, one thing we can do is remember the lessons learned by previous generations - get to work…with HEARTITUDE. Heartitude is a mindset demonstrated by those who have an unshakeable commitment to the Kingdom of God and do everything for the glory of God. Heartitude is described in 2 Chron. 16:9, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth so that He can strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

Unstoppable

Sun, 17 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +0000

The book of Haggai serves as a warning about our indifference to the glory of God. As surely as the night follows the day, there will be consequences for seeking our own glory and neglecting the glory of God. We are not under the Old Covenant so we will not experience the curses God warned Israel about if they were disobedient. However, the NT is clear that God does discipline His people. He will be very creative in getting our attention. Haggai repeats a word we have seen before, “consider.” 2:18-19. God’s people should make a habit of getting alone before God and taking a fierce inventory of our lives.

First Things First

Sun, 03 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +0000

When the storms come, and they will, our faith is put to the test. As the floodwaters rise, so do our prayers. “Help us God. Deliver us God. Save us from these horrible circumstances.” But the reality of our faith is displayed not so much in what we do during the flood but what we do after it. Everyone cries out to God in their distress. It is a lot less common to hear people cry out to God when crisis is over.

Believers Don't Doubt

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Doubt isn’t neutral. Doubt isn’t something we can just ignore. Doubt is a tenacious force that erodes the foundation of our faith and our relationship with God. James tells us doubt renders the believer as double-minded, someone who wavers or vacillates between belief and unbelief, as unstable and unpredictable as a wave. If we are in a position of compromised faith in God, we are in no position to be asking anything of him.

You Must Love Yourself Before You Can Love Others

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +0000

To love another as I love myself is a very radical command. It means that I should be as concerned about the happiness and well-being of others as I am about my own. It means I want to relieve other's suffering as much as we want to relieve my own. It means I care as deeply about refugee children as I do about my own. It means that I hunger and thirst for righteousness and justice for all just as I want those things for my own grandchildren. Make the desires that you have for your own comfort and security and success and happiness the measure of how intensely and creatively and consistently you desire and pursue those things for others.

God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +0000

In times of pain and suffering God DOES give us more than we can handle – but He’ll never give us more than He can handle. His power thrives in your weakness. His power gives comfort in life’s hardest moments. Some of you have been angry with Him over circumstances in your life and it’s caused you to run from Him– and He wants nothing more than for your return and for you to lean into Him instead.

Baptism Sunday

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Christians Shouldn't Judge

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

God’s judgment is perfect. Our judgment is tainted by self-interest. We are to judge by God’s standard and not our own. That means we can and should judge external behavior against God’s perfect standard but we can’t judge internal motives because we can’t know them.

Saved by Faith

Sun, 23 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Do you want to be saved? You can't be saved if you don't know you're lost. "Saved from what?" Saved from spending an eternity separated from God and His kingdom. If you like it here, if you like the chaos on planet earth where people have rejected God's rule, then you can look forward to an eternity of all this AND SO MUCH MORE! if you are tired of all this, accept God's gift of eternal life. I know, you don't deserve it. You can't earn it. But you can receive it...right now by faith.

Blueprints and Plans

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

This message should be freeing. If you’ve been worried or anxious about a fork in the road or some other major decision, you can rest easy. If you seek to love God and love others, you cannot make a bad decision. As long as you seek to glorify God with your life, you will be okay.

All Roads Lead to God

Sun, 09 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

I believe the caring impulse of Jesus-loving Christians who entertain the belief that all roads lead to God is a desire that no one perishes. The good news is that God has the same desire, and he’s made it possible for all to have life.

The Truth Will Make You Free?

Sun, 02 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Freedom is often confused with autonomy. Auto = self, nomos = law. And I want to be free from all authority but my own. I want what I want when I want it. The very first recorded lie was that Adam and Eve could be their own gods and call their own shots – accountable to no one. We are still living with the disastrous consequences of believing that lie and it is still with us. It begins at birth.

Have You Heard...?

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Money is the Root of All Evil

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Why is the love of money considered the root of evil? There are some other pretty good candidates out there - pride, lust, envy? Why money? What Paul is saying is that all the evils in the world come from a certain kind of heart, namely, the kind of heart that loves money. If we love money, we suffer from misplaced devotion and misdirected affections.

I Am the True Vine

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000

The parable of the vine and the branches is a promise with a warning. The warning is that it is possible to be marginally connected to the vine but to have no ability to sustain life and bear fruit. No doubt Jesus was grieved by the loss of Judas. Could it be that Judas was the branch that was thrown away, cast into the fire and burned? This is a strong warning to all of us. Submit to the sovereign work of the vinedresser, stay connected to the vine or be tossed aside like a fruitless branch.

I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Are you lost? Jesus is the way. Are you confused? Jesus is the truth. Are you walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Jesus is the life.

I Am the Resurrection

Sun, 28 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000

What happened to Lazarus can happen to you and me but there’s one problem; in order to be resurrected, you have to die and dying is the last thing we want to do.

I Am the Good Shepherd

Sun, 21 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000

You don't evaluate a shepherd on the basis of how well they pet sheep. A loving parent doesn't just comfort their children. Love includes correction. Comfort and correction go together.

I Am the Door

Sun, 14 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000

When Jesus says, "I am the door," He is simply putting a choice before His hearers - come through Me or be left out in the cold. There is no more important decision in all of life. There is no more important door. It is the door to life. The door excludes all those who bypass the shepherd. The Pharisees were spiritually blind even though they claimed to have deep spiritual insight. They were false shepherds. They wanted to enter God's sheepfold a different way rather than to trust in Jesus.

The Light of the World

Sun, 07 May 2017 10:00:00 +0000

When you walk in the light nothing will be the same again. When you have Him as your light everything looks different even suffering and death. The light of Christ will be a soft glow to comfort you in your lonely room after a devastating loss. It will be a lamp on your troubled path. It will reveal the wise and loving face of God behind every frowning setback.

The Bread of Life

Sun, 30 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000

The first step in the Christian experience is a profound dissatisfaction with this life and a longing for a higher kind of life, a chronic hunger. The bread of life is the only solution to that hunger. Just as a sign points beyond itself Jesus used these “signs” to point men beyond themselves. Do you have the bread of life?

I Am Who I Am

Sun, 23 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000

"But who do you say I am?" It was a question God would ultimately answer himself through the empty tomb and Resurrected King we celebrated last Sunday. But today, even though it was originally asked 2,000 years ago, it is a question that still demands an answer. It is still a question of identity and purpose, and it’s one that you and I must answer. Who do you say that Jesus is?

Easter Sunday

Sun, 16 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Easter is special because the resurrection answers the question that has dogged mankind from the beginning of time, "Is there life after death?" Today I want to focus on a slightly different question, "Is there life before death?"

The Rocks Cry Out

Sun, 09 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000

At the end of Joshua's speech, the people agreed to serve the Lord. He set up a large rock and said, "This rock has heard you. If you do not do these things, then this stone will cry out in judgment against you." Now you know why Jesus (Joshua in Hebrew) says, "If these people don't praise me, the rocks will cry out." So the choice is yours today. Choose you -this day- whom -you- will serve.

The Presence of God

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +0000

God is arranging life so that we see that He is the inheritance! The treasure is a life -with- God, not just the blessings that come from Him.

How Big Is Your God?

Sun, 26 Mar 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Over the last few months, as we’ve started talking about things like our God-given purpose, there might be a check in your spirit, something that keeps you from really believing that it’s knowable and attainable, or that God really cares and actually has the power to do anything about it anyway. That’s why our view of God is so important. It impacts the way we live, the expectations we have, the prayers we pray, and the passion with which we pursue our calling.

Wood Cutters and Water Boys

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:00:00 +0000

God wants to get you where He wants you to go more than you want to get where He wants you to go. One of the most encouraging messages in the whole Bible is the offer of God's mercy and grace toward us even when we mess up.

This Is Us

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Some of our most painful hinge moments are caused by the influence of three powerful forces appetite, ambition, and approval. These temptations have been around since Adam and Eve. Jesus confronted them when He was tempted in the wilderness. We cannot escape these temptations but we can escape being ruled by them.

The Battle That Wasn't

Sun, 05 Mar 2017 10:00:00 +0000

The real battle of Jericho had less to do with overwhelming a city and everything to do with overcoming doubt and unbelief. The real obstacle was not the walls of Jericho, but the walls of unbelief. The real battle was spiritual in nature, not physical. Will God's people obey the Lord and go forward or will they waver in unbelief?

Master and Commander

Sun, 26 Feb 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Some of us don't move forward in our Christian lives because we keep going back to Egypt and asking God to bless us in the process. We choose the flesh pots of Egypt over the manna from heaven. We choose to complain about the state of the world rather than worship and praise the God of the universe. We choose the many cultural "gods" and "saviors" over following Jesus.

Good to Great

Sun, 19 Feb 2017 10:00:00 +0000

It is a noble desire to want to be great in God's Kingdom. But most of us carry around the idea that we should not seek greatness so we settle for goodness. I want you to fulfill the highest and best purposes God has for your life. That's what we are about as a church.

Hinge Moment

Sun, 12 Feb 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Do you know where you are? Do you have an accurate assessment of where God has you right now? Some of you have been to the edge of the river and, for whatever reason, chose not to cross, or lived in a way that prevented you from doing so. We must resist focusing on all the obstacles that exist between ‘here’ and ‘there’.

A River Runs Through It

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Courage comes when we are confident in our calling. Joshua knew what to do. Every detail of his life had prepared him for this assignment. He had been mentored by Moses. Those who confidently live out their God-given purpose impart courage to those around them.

Can't Get There from Here

Sun, 29 Jan 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Many of the details in the book of Joshua are specific to a particular people at a particular place at a particular time. We are not the physical descendants of Abraham. But we are His spiritual descendants. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. That's the only way to please God. Like Abraham, we too are saved by grace through faith. But our salvation is just the beginning of a rich spiritual heritage.

Divine Poetry

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 10:00:00 +0000

What if the world could see a company of repurposed agents of the Kingdom, doing what they love to do and experiencing great joy as they live, work, and play together as God's representatives where they are already doing life. Jesus envisioned a church that would be contagiously attractive to others and influential for the Kingdom. He envisioned men and women who were fishermen and carpenters and tax collectors who would be repurposed and see their occupations as a platform for spreading the Good News. He envisioned a church where His followers discover and pursue their unique calling and lead others on a similar journey.

Get a Life (Group)

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 10:00:00 +0000

We are, "calling each other to live out our God-given purpose in Christ every day." I don’t know about you but when I hear that mission, I get fired up. It’s personal, it’s intentional, and it’s active. I get excited about being a part of a church where everyone is living on purpose and living with joy. But how do we do that? What is it going to take for us to live out that mission? The answer is right here in this room. The answer is all of you. The God who gives us the gift of salvation also gave us the gift of each other to be partners in pursuing our purpose.

The Year of Living Purposefully

Sun, 08 Jan 2017 10:00:00 +0000

There is no greater satisfaction in life than knowing I am being used by God for a noble purpose. That is what God has in mind for His church. Jesus did not conceive of a religious social institution that offers programs for God's people. God's people -are- God's program.

Identity

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning and Happy New Year! My name is Richard Kerry and
back in November I transitioned into a role where I serve as the Marriage and Parenting Pastor. It’s funny two years ago – my first time to preach from this stage I told you I once called my wife a spoiled brat and she called me a penny pinching miser. So clearly I know everything about marriage and parenting and deserve to be in this role! Seriously though – I am so excited about my new responsibilities – promoting Christ centered families throughout our church. I am privileged to be here with you this morning.
Preaching on January 1st means my New Year’s Eve was really lame – I was in bed by 10. So I am just going to trust that your New Year’s was a little more exciting than mine but clearly it wasn’t so exciting that you couldn’t be here!

Christmas

Sun, 25 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Whatever Happened to Wonder

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

It's that time of year again. A time when people ask, "What do you want for Christmas?" If you are like me, it is not an easy question to answer. My first response is, "nothing." When it comes to material things, I have everything I need and then some. But there are some gifts that would be nice to have. I would like to know the future. I wouldn't mind having super powers. Maybe a stocking full of security and a heart full of peace would be nice. I think Jana's response would be something like, "Sorry but you will have to settle for new slippers or a new sweater." But here is the amazing thing - the Christmas gift that God gives us will free us from mental confusion, provide us with power, give us a sense of security, and relieve us of our anxiety about the chaos and violence in this world. "A child has been born, a Son has been given," who is called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There is no greater gift we could ever receive or offer this world than the One mentioned in Is. 9:6

We are Weak, but He is Strong

Sun, 11 Dec 2016 10:00:00 +0000

As a boy growing up, I was convinced that the strongest man in the world was my dad. In fact, even though he’s now 75 years old and outfitted with a couple new knees and a new hip, there’s a part of me that knows he could still take me. And if you asked my three sons who they thought was the strongest man in the world, they’d probably answer that it’s me. At least until a few weeks ago. Now, I’m not so sure. You see, in November, the four of us participated in what is becoming a ritual; going to see the newest superhero movie. As you might expect, the movie consisted of heart-gripping action, good guys and bad guys with all kinds of powers, and incredible special effects.

A Friendly Reminder

Sun, 27 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

I want to conclude this series on 2 Timothy the way Paul does, with a reminder about the enduring power of friendship. The last recorded words of the apostle Paul contain a shout out to his friends. He mentions 16 people in the final 14 verses of this letter. Friendships are the difference between living a lonely, solitary life or a life full of inspiration and encouragement. You may have seen a video going around demonstrating the healing power of friendships...watch this...

Living Life to the Fullest

Sun, 20 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

As we come to the end of Paul's second letter to Timothy, we come to the end of Paul. He is dying and he knows it. So his words are as weighty as they are tender. He sums up his life in three short verses, three profound statements that explain how to live life to the fullest.

In Season

Sun, 13 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but goodbyes are particularly difficult for me. My wife and I are in the process of saying goodbye to something. We’ve been spending a lot of time with our girls, trying to make as many memories as we can because we are saying goodbye to our family four. Soon we will be a family of five. Our son is due any day now.

The Anatomy of a Difference Maker

Sun, 06 Nov 2016 10:00:00 +0000

2 Tim. 3:10-17...As I worked my way through our passage this week, I remembered Lawnchair Larry Walters. I've told you about him before. He was the unemployed truck driver who, in 1982, decided to tie a few weather balloons to his lawn chair so he could float above a SoCal neighborhood for a while. Armed with a pellet gun, he planned to shoot the balloons one at a time until he came back to earth. He climbed up on his girlfriend’s roof and began tying 40 balloons to the chair. When the rope holding him to the roof broke, Walters went up so fast he dropped the gun and held on for dear life. A commercial airplane called him in at 11,000 feet. After several hours, he descended safely where an army of reporters were waiting to get the story. When they asked him the inevitable “why” question, all Walters could say was, “You can’t just sit there. You have to do something.”

Living in the Last Days

Sun, 30 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Useful Life

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

As most of you have heard by now, we are on a journey of “calling each other to live out our God-given purpose in Christ every day.” That is our new mission and that is where God is taking us. And implied in that are a few assumptions:

1. That your God-given purpose can be known and that you’ve made
progress in knowing it. Part of the journey is helping each other do
just that.
2. That you WANT to live out our God-given purpose. There have
always been people perfectly content with making a living but not
making a life.
3. That you are a useful vessel.

Approved

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

There is an old story preachers love to tell about a guy who is seeking guidance for his life. Not knowing where to turn, he picks up a Bible, opens it to a random page, and points his finger on a verse. It lands in Luke 15:16 on the parable of the Prodigal Son which says, “and he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.” Not fully convinced that this was God’s will for his life, he flipped some pages, pointed his finger, and read Luke 10:37, which says, “You go, and do likewise.” Still dissatisfied, he tries one more time, and landing on John 13:27 and reading, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

Remember Jesus Christ

Sun, 09 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In a recent meeting, one of our pastors shared the story of Matt Emmons, an Olympic athlete who competes in the three position shooting event. The Olympics has been the setting for so many inspiring stories over the years. We have seen the thrill of victory but we have also witnessed the agony of defeat. One of the most heartbreaking moments of the 2004 Athens Olympics happened away from the cameras in a sport that few people watch. Emmons was practically assured of winning the gold medal. He was ahead of all competitors and just needed to hit the target somewhere near the bullseye. He took aim and fired. Bullseye! But he not only lost the gold, he didn't even medal. He shot the wrong target.

Leaving a Legacy

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000

It's a familiar story. The son of a famous actor is found dead on the floor of his 2 million dollar Hollywood Hills home surrounded by pills, booze and cigarette butts. The father grieves publicly alongside his latest wife. He was always a peripheral figure but his son was never able to step out of the shadow of his famous father. He died at 36. Friends say the young man was upset when his dad even ignored phone calls from him to wish him a happy 66th birthday. Now the son is all but forgotten but the father is still famous. Once again we are reminded of the unintended consequences of seeking fame and fortune for ourselves without regard for others. Sometimes the bigger you get the smaller you make those around you. At some point we choose - live to be a legend or live to leave a legacy. Our passage today tells us how we can leave a legacy of faith that will outlive us. By God's grace we pass on the faith that has been entrusted to us. So...

High Truth, High Touch

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Have you ever thought about all the stuff we have to know to function in life? Thinking back over my week I had to draw upon knowledge from the fields of theology, business, history, psychology, sociology, medicine, finance, transportation, politics, entertainment, and more. The amount of knowledge we are required to know can overwhelm us. One of the challenges of living in a world where we are bombarded by information 24/7, is the need to distinguish between what is important and what is trivial...Texas Tech video...

Shameless

Sun, 18 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

High School...shared Christ with team mate. Made fun of me. Suddenly I was ashamed. How did that happen? One minute I felt really good, Jesus and me sharing the gospel. The next minute I felt shame as if Jesus had tricked me. "What's up with that Jesus? I put in a good word for you and my reward is shame and embarrassment? I don't get it." Apparently neither did Timothy...v. 8.

Remember Who You Are

Sun, 11 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

If you believe in God, how would you prove it? What does devotion to God look like? Fifteen years ago today we learned that there are some people who believe that loving God means killing others - 2,996 others to be exact. The events of 9/11/2001 provided a stark contrast between a worldview that believes loving God requires hating others and a worldview that believes loving God is demonstrated best by helping others. The highlight of the Rio Olympics, in my opinion, was the women's 1500 meter race. I don't know who won the gold medal but I know who won the hearts of millions - Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand and Abbey D’Agostino of the USA. These athletes didn’t know each other and had never spoken before they stepped onto the track. 8 laps into the 12 lap race, this is what happened.

Set The Table

Sun, 04 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +0000

About five years ago, or so, a new phenomenon creeped into social media. It began with Facebook, spilled over into Instagram, and now is a part of every social networking experience – no matter what app you use. You can’t go online and look at the lives of the people you follow – your friends or your family or even complete strangers – without seeing a picture of . . . someone’s food. Pictures of food are everywhere. Breakfast? Facebook. Lunch? Insta. Dinner? Twitter. Cookout? Snapchat. But the worst offender? I mean – we all know it – the worst offender is brunch. Personally, I don’t go to brunch. I don’t really need to. I’ve seen so many pictures of someone else’s brunch, I feel like I can brunch vicariously through everyone else.

The Poisoning of the Will

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

"The best defense is a good offense." That is not only the Strategic Offensive Principle in warfare but it is also true when it comes to football...and sin. Rather than allowing the seven deadly sins kill us, the Bible says we can actually put sin to death. We can kill sin. "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Ro. 8:13). By depending on the Holy Spirit and practicing the virtues that are the antidotes to sin, we can experience abundant life. Today we come to the sixth of the seven deadly sins, sloth. Just in time for the kick-off of Couch Potato Season.

Pleasure's Empty Promise

Sun, 21 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

On one of our trips to Israel I encountered a powerful temptation of biblical proportions. We were staying at the Dead Sea. Everyone decided to take a dip in that saline-saturated water so I took the elevator to my room on the 12th floor to change into my bathing suit. As I was returning to the elevator I looked down and, to my surprise, I could see a woman on the roof of a smaller hotel who was sunning herself - every inch of herself! When I spotted the naked woman from my perch above I did what any man after God's own heart would do - I stopped in my tracks to get a better look. I wasn't stopping to pray for her. In that moment an amazing thing happened. It was like the Holy Spirit poked me in the ribs because I suddenly thought, "Wait a minute. I know this story. When a man in this country spots a naked woman from a roof top, bad things happen." And with that, I smiled and quickly walked to the elevator.

Get Rich or Die Tryin

Sun, 14 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In 2003, an album dropped that launched the career of a new artist. The album shot to number one on the charts and would be the best selling album of the entire year. Not only was it the number one album of the year, it also contained the number one single of the year. And since its release 13 years ago, it has sold over 12 million copies.

Anger

Sun, 07 Aug 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning everyone. My name is Richard Kerry and I serve in two roles here at Fellowship – High School Pastor and Counseling Pastor. It’s a privilege to be with you this morning as we continue our series covering the Deadly Virtues. Gary started the series two weeks ago by talking about Vainglory and then moved on to envy last week.

The Green-Eyed Monster

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Envy, like vainglory, is a disordered desire. Somebody has received something, some gift or advantage or benefit, that you would like to have. That doesn't necessarily make you envious. The desire to succeed or to win or to be chosen is a good desire when it inspires you to imitate someone who is worth imitating. But that desire becomes twisted when it is tinged with resentment toward the person who has what you don't. That’s what makes it envy.

Image Is Everything

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +0000

We face some serious problems as a nation. Seven serious problems to be exact, seven vices that plague our country and disturb the peace. Drugs, domestic abuse, homelessness, income inequality, immigration, racial division and political chaos? That's a pretty good list but those are merely seven symptoms of much deeper problems. The seven greatest threats to this nation are: vainglory, envy, anger, greed, lust, laziness and gluttony. These vices are the root of all the bitter fruit that is setting our teeth on edge these days. Tired of the political chaos in our country? It will not change until we address the issue of pride. If you are sick of all the violence, domestic violence, violence against police, violence against those detained by police, violence in our inner cities, then you will have to address the issue of anger. Want a stable, healthy economy? Well we can't have it, not until we are willing to confront greed. Until we are willing to go after the root of the problem, we will be forever condemned to applying band aids to malignant cancer.

Citizens of Heaven

Sun, 26 Jun 2016 10:00:00 +0000

You have heard it said there are two subjects we should never discuss in public - religion and politics. For the next couple of weeks, I would like to talk about both. Call me crazy (you wouldn't be the first) but two of the most impactful subjects in life should not be left out of the conversation. Let's start with politics.

Grief, Civility & Humility

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Where were you on Thursday night, July 7? I remember almost everything. After eating dinner and putting our twins to bed, Jen and I went out on a small date. One of the pastors from White Rock Fellowship came over to the house to stay with our girls while we were gone. Before leaving, I had a long conversation with him about what was next for our two churches in the aftermath of the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. We weren’t sure should happen, but we at least wanted to begin a larger conversation about our role as Christian leaders in racial reconciliation. After we wrapped up that conversation, Jen and I left to go have dessert and coffee in the Design District.

When the Earth Gives Way

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +0000

At some point our disturbing dreams will be reduced to manageable memories but not today. Chaos...disbelief...anger...sadness...reflection. The persistent unrelenting questions that linger after a tragedy. Questions that dog us and evade answers. There are a lot of question marks on the minds of people in this room.

Make The Church Great Again

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +0000

We are considering the relationship between religion and politics. Does the Bible offer guidance on the relationship between church and state? Attitudes toward politics these days seem to vacillate between two opposing opinions. The first approach could be called a desire for dominance. This is the view that because Christianity has been the dominant religion in America, God has blessed our nation. Therefore, if we can get people of faith in positions of power all will be well. For most of our nation’s history, Christian values have closely approximated the values held by our culture. That is changing fast.

A Father's Battle

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In the summer of 2002, my wife Martha gave me a surprise gift. It wasn’t for any particular day or event. It was just a gift, out of the blue. Based on its size, shape, and weight, I was pretty confident my present was a new music CD. I’d recently purchased a new car with a sweet sound system and thought Martha was giving me a gift to listen to at an irresponsible volume. Was it The Who, The Police, Rush, Pearl Jam? I was excited. So I unwrapped the gift and it was immediately confirmed that I was being given a CD. As as I looked at the front cover, there, staring back at me, was someone I didn’t recognize, holding an infant. My eyes darted around trying to find who the heck this person was when they finally settled on the name Twila Paris. No idea. But look, one of my love languages is gifts and I really was grateful for Martha’s gesture, whatever the heck it was, and tried to conjure up a look of satisfaction and gratitude. So I told her “thank you” but apparently did a lousy job of selling it because she asked if I knew why she was giving me the gift. I apologetically confessed that I didn’t so she told me to look at the title of the album. It was named “Bedtime Prayers: Lullabies and Peaceful Worship”. No idea. I mean, I’d been sleeping just fine. I didn’t need any musical help. And now she’s looking at me like I’m an idiot. (Kind of like some of you are right now.) But I’m a guy so I once again try to show her that I know exactly why she’s giving me this CD. But she sees right through it and says, “Hey dummy. We’re having a baby.” It all made a lot of sense after that.

The Mystery Revealed

Sun, 12 Jun 2016 10:00:00 +0000

At the end of the letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul reports that he is in prison for preaching "the mystery of the gospel." In 6:18 He says, pray in all ways, at all times, with all perseverance for all the saints. And then he adds, pray "also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." Eph. 6:19-20. What is this mystery?

Fighting on your Knees

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 10:00:00 +0000

We are at war. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Eugene Peterson says it this way, “This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels.” God provides powerful weapons that are effective in spiritual warfare. Paul uses 6 pieces of armor corresponding to those worn by a Roman soldier. This morning we have organized our service to illustrate how to put this armor on - through prayer. Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians by revealing his secret weapon - prayer. Prayer is the recognition that this invisible war is not our war, it is God's. In order to fight God's war, we need God's weapons. When we pray we acknowledge that God, by His grace, has made available to us the character of Christ. Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, the Word of God are all ineffective if we don't take the time to appropriate them through prayer.

The Sword of the Spirit

Sun, 29 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

I love to tell the story about the young seminary graduate who wanted to be a preacher. He was excited when he was invited to interview with a small, country church. His meeting with the search committee began with a question from the chairman. “Young man, do you know your Bible?” The young man replied, “Yes sir. I know the Bible from front to back.” Another member of the committee asked, “Do you know the stories and parables?” The candidate answered, “Oh yes! I know all the stories and parables.” Another committee member said, “Tell us one of the parables of Jesus—let’s say the parable of the Good Samaritan.” And so he did. It went like this.

The Helmet of Salvation

Sun, 22 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

What do the following sports have in common? Horse racing, football, ice hockey, cricket, snow boarding, and rock climbing? Here is a hint - coal miners and riot police wear them too. Those who participate in these activities all wear helmets. I left out skydiving because I have never understood why skydivers wear helmets. If your parachute doesn't open your helmet will be wearing you.

The Shield of Faith

Sun, 15 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

That scene from the movie Gladiator gives you a taste of ancient warfare. It also resembles the intensity of the battle some of you are facing right now. You're not up against flaming arrows and fiery missiles in a literal sense but you know that you are under attack. You can feel the heat from the flaming darts of the evil one. This morning I want you to encourage you with the knowledge that God has provided a powerful weapon to extinguish those deadly projectiles in order to stand firm against the devil's attempts to take you out...Eph. 6:10-16.

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Sun, 08 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

As some of you may know, I’m originally from Chicago. And while I didn’t live there very long, that’s where my sports allegiances lie. And that means I’m a Chicago Blackhawks fan. That view is becoming less and less popular around these parts as the Dallas Stars have dramatically improved. If you follow professional hockey, you know that we’ve had Stanley Cup fever for the past several years. Sadly, our dreams were cut short this season. But during that time, my youngest son Joseph has developed an interest in the sport and asked Martha and I if he could play. But there’s a special catch with hockey. You see, if you can walk or run, you can participate in almost any sport. But not so with hockey. You see, hockey is played on this real slick stuff called ice, and you’ve got to master that before you can even think about playing the game of hockey. Unfortunately for Joe, he doesn’t come from what I would call a legacy of skilled ice skaters. In fact, Martha says my ice skating ability is in the style of a “flailing polar bear”. But Joe is a real good athlete and I knew he was going to pick it up quickly.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Sun, 01 May 2016 10:00:00 +0000

This past Good Friday I was at my post in the Hub. Just as service was about to start a gentleman walked in, noticed my uniform of a light blue Easter t-shirt, and headed right for me. It was very clear from his movements that this guy was on a mission. He asked me “Are you a pastor?” I told him “yes” and he quickly said, “Well, I need to get saved again and I need to get baptized.”

The Belt of Truth

Sun, 24 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

We've come a long way since this nation was founded on the solid premise that some truths are self-evident such as, "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..." But what if you live in a culture where no truth is self-evident? No one can be wrong in such a culture and everyone can be right if you believe you're right. These students are learning a new morality unknown to previous generations of Americans that defines immorality as any act of “intolerance” that interferes with another's autonomy. All is tolerated except the intolerant and all are included except the exclusive.

Inside Job

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

It seems like the day before taxes are due is an appropriate time to remind you of Benjamin Franklin's famous observation, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Of course that's not exactly true. There are two other experiences in life no one can escape - trials and temptations. While these are used by the devil to defeat us, God uses trials to grow us up and transform us into fully devoted followers of Jesus. We will see this morning that trials and temptations have different effects depending on our response to them. After all, the same sun that melts wax also hardens clay.

Unmasking The Devil

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Wizard of Oz clip...Isn't it amazing what a little information can do for your confidence? Dorothy and her friends were scared to death by the "great and powerful Oz" until little Toto pulled back the curtain. You saw their fear give way to bold confidence once they knew the truth about the Wizard. Today I want to pull back the curtain. I want to expose the enemy of our souls. I'll warn you in advance that we will not discover some impotent old man who couldn't hurt a flea, far from it. Satan is a formidable foe. But if we know the truth about who he is and what he is up to, we can overcome our fears and gain confidence in God's strategy to foil his evil intentions. Life is hard enough without the added burden of living in the dark about the devil.

The Battle Without

Sun, 03 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning! Welcome to Fellowship Dallas. I’m so glad that you’re here today to worship with us. Last week we celebrated Easter and we had so many people attend church here. When you combine all of the adult services with our children’s ministry, we had well over 3,000 people join us to celebrate Christ and His resurrection. We really had a great weekend. I am so thankful to serve on staff at a church that is genuinely welcoming to all who enter our doors to worship each and every week.

Easter

Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Isn't this a great day? It's good to be alive. That's what Easter is about - life. Life is good. Even when life is bad, it's better than the alternative. Everyone celebrates new life this time of year, even the non-religious. Last Sunday was the first day of spring, the first season of the new year when the days get longer, the birds sing louder and new life begins to appear. We all seek life. We cherish it and we hold onto it as long as we possibly can. That's why one of the worst things we can ever hear is, "You have a life-threatening illness with no possible cure and you don't have very long to live." That's what my friend, Barry Anino, heard last week.

The Offering

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

How many of you read through the whole NT? Congratulations. Why did you do it? Guilt? Peer pressure? My guess is that you read for 8 straight weeks because you believed that reading the Bible would benefit you in some way.

The Grace of Giving

Sun, 13 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

This has been an amazing week for me. First, I was pre-selected to receive my bank's "very best credit card." Then I got a phone call telling me I had won 3.5 million dollars and a new Mercedes Benz. It was a good thing I had access to all that money so I could help a member of our church...Ever been scammed like that?

The Importance of Biblical Instructions

Sun, 06 Mar 2016 10:00:00 +0000

The Importance of Biblical Instruction

Perfect

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In the beginning, God created Paradise. You know Paradise. You've never actually been there but it lives inside your heart and mind. It is a place untouched by the chaos and confusion that surround us on this fallen planet. God created the first human occupants of Paradise and delegated His authority to them so they would rule over His glorious Kingdom. He said, "be fruitful and multiply." He wanted them to fill the earth with people created in His image and likeness so that God's glory would cover the earth like the waters cover the sea. But (spoiler alert) it didn't happen. Paradise was lost but God had a plan.

The Great Omission

Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Recently my friend Philip gave me a gift, a beautiful pocket knife. The problem is I will probably never use that knife to cut anything. It is a limited edition knife commemorating Nolan Ryan's 500th career strike out. It's in a box and will most likely stay in a box because it is just too valuable to be used as a knife. This knife has been repurposed. It now serves as a memento, a memory aid to the talent of a flame-throwing right-handed pitcher.

Who's In Charge Here?

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

In nine more months Americans will be given another opportunity to choose a new President. There are still eight or more people who feel that they are worthy to lead this country. How will you choose? By their political party? By the promises they make? By the cute factor? Do you prefer a former governor or senator or will you opt for a businessman or a surgeon?

Immersed

Sun, 07 Feb 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Last Wednesday was National Signing Day. If you are not a college football fan that means nothing to you. But if you are a college football fan you know that National Signing Day is the day when talented high school football players choose the colleges they plan to attend. The anticipation builds leading up to signing day and over the years the announcements have become more and more dramatic. This year one guy jumped out of an airplane (with a parachute) and when he landed he opened up his jump suit to reveal the jersey of his chosen team. Michigan held a star-studded event that included Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Ric Flair that students waited in line 2 hours to attend. The sense of anticipation leading up to Signing Day is followed by a sense of relief since many of these athletes have changed their commitments in the months leading up to the big day. But once they sign on the dotted line, they are committed. You don't get to leave your options open. One of the best things you can do to keep a commitment is to go public with it. No one says, "Well coach, let's take this thing one game at a time and if I like it, I'll stay."

Fellowship: A Place or A People

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000

How do people assess churches these days? What are they looking for when they go? A cool building? Gifted preacher? Awesome programs for the kids? 100% Arabica beans?

I have the privilege of leading a ministry team that helps our new people find their place here. My team and I meet with them one-on-one to get to know them and always ask one very important question: What are your hopes in connecting with our church? We get lots of answers, but the number one answer is fellowship.

Context is Everything

Sun, 24 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning. Welcome to Fellowship Dallas. My name is Randy Thompson and I am one of the pastors here. I’m so glad you’re able to worship with us this morning. Today, we’re beginning a new series that we’re calling Life Together. Over the next couple of months, we are going to investigate what it means to be a church. We are also going to practice something together, as a church.

Grace and Truth

Sun, 17 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. We have been considering the implications of this verse as we start a new year. Since Jesus was full of grace and truth then it stands to reason that any follower who bears His name or any church that worships Him would be champions of grace and purveyors of truth. In fact, these are two of the vital signs of a healthy church. In spite of declining numbers, people still seek out churches for many reasons – to educate their children, to help with their marriages, to find friends who share their values, to be inspired and find some hope in a scary world. But the two common denominators of healthy churches are grace and truth.

Grow in Grace

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000

She was guilty as sin. She knew it, Jesus knew it, everyone knew it. Early one morning as Jesus was teaching near the temple, a group of Pharisees dragged a woman to Jesus and deposited her at His feet. She had been found in the arms of another man. The penalty for adultery was death by stoning. “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.”

Grow in Grace

Sun, 03 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000

Well it’s that time again - NY resolutions time. Even if we have given up on making a list there is still something about a new year that provides a little motivation to change, change habits, change our circumstances, or change our attitude. There will be a lot of changes in 2016. We will change presidents. No applause, if history is any indication, it won’t be long before you don’t like the next one either. Diets will change. My family will change. We look forward to welcoming a new grandson into the world in May. Some of you will change jobs, change neighborhoods, and of course you WILL NOT change churches! 2016 will bring 365 days of change. So this morning I want to focus on one thing that will not change – our calling, our purpose on this planet - to glorify God every day in 2016. Can you be more specific? Yes, I can. Turn to John 1:14-18.

Rising Above Fear

Sun, 27 Dec 2015 10:00:00 +0000

My family and I are two years out from one of the most terrifying episodes of our lives. My wife, Martha, and I began to notice evidence that we weren’t the only ones who had been in our house. And the more we looked, the more evidence we saw. On the second night after noticing this I had to get up and go to the kitchen, and when I walked into our living room my worst fears were realized. There, on our fireplace, stood the biggest, nastiest, hairiest…rat I’ve ever seen. We had a four-second staring contest and then it scampered away. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep that night. My mind ran wild as I though of all the things that thing might be doing, and I was convinced it was about to sneak in my room, jump into my bed and make my life miserable. I don’t know why I was scared. I outweighed it by about 230 lbs and could probably take it in a fistfight. But I was creeped out as I pictured it creeping around my house.

Mary Did You Know

Sun, 20 Dec 2015 10:00:00 +0000

What DID Mary know? Did she know that she held her Creator in her arms? When she looked down at her baby at her breast did she know that she was feeding the Son of God? Did she know that her son would heal the sick, walk on water and make the blind to see? Did she know He would be hated and that she would live to see Him die in his early thirties? Did Mary know that the Son she delivered would one day deliver her? The birth of Jesus reads like this…Lk. 2:1-7.

Following From A Safe Distance

Sun, 13 Dec 2015 10:00:00 +0000

What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? This is a classic philosophical paradox meant to show that there are some dilemmas that cannot be resolved. However, the paradox is a flawed since if there exists an irresistible force then no object is immovable.

Always Faithful

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning everyone and welcome to Fellowship Dallas. It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only three weeks away. Personally, I love this time of year. The cooler weather along with all of the traditions brings a flood of memories from Christmases past.

Fully Devoted

Sun, 29 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000

That scene from the movie The Perfect Storm provides a good summary of the last week of Jesus’ life. A malevolent storm of growing hostility has been brewing in Jerusalem…vv. 1-2. The hatred shown toward Jesus is matched only by the treachery and betrayal of one of Jesus’ disciples…vv. 10-11. In between these verses is a tender story that serves as the eye of the storm. In Mark 14 the sun breaks through the storm clouds and makes a brief appearance as we witness one of the most extravagant acts of love recorded in the pages of scripture. In fact Jesus declared that wherever the Gospel is preached this story will be told as a memorial to Mary’s selfless expression of love. What did she do to earn such praise and admiration from Jesus? What do we need to learn from her? How can we make a favorable impression on Jesus?

Deception, Tribulation and Steadfastness

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000

In God We Trust?

Sun, 15 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000

A couple of months ago I was traveling with a group in Israel. After a long day we checked into a hotel late at night. I shuffled into my dimly lit room, put my bags down and when I turned around I came face to face with a large man standing there looking right at me! I froze. My heart raced, chills went up and down my spine…until I realized that I was standing in front of a full length mirror! That was a scary looking man! I did not expect to come face to face with ME when I walked into that room.

Who’s The Boss?

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Many years ago I was talking to a medical missionary working in the jungles of Peru. She said her missions agency had recently made contact with a remote tribe of people who had never heard the gospel. Through the patient persistence of some faithful missionaries the chief of the village sat down and received the Good News. He listened carefully, thought for a while and then stood up and walked away. The missionaries interpreted this as rejection. So they were very surprised when the chief made contact with them and asked to speak to them again. At their next meeting the chief said very simply, “I have spoken with my people and we want Jesus to be our owner.”

A Real House of Prayer

Sun, 01 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Few things are sadder than the vandalism of the sacred. When a meaningful expression of our faith gets trashed, it’s hard to take. For example, it is heart breaking to hear about a church that is targeted by arsonists or a cemetery desecrated by some calloused thrill seekers. Such atrocious behavior is so repugnant that it often makes the 6 o’clock news.

Can I Have a Personal Relationship With Jesus?

Sun, 25 Oct 2015 10:00:00 +0000

A few years ago eight workers at a Nebraska meat packing plant hit the jackpot. They split the largest lottery prize in history, 365 million dollars. It was front-page news. Their responses to questions at a press conference were priceless. One of the winners, Quang Dao, a Vietnamese immigrant said, “This is a great country.” Mike Terpstra, a 47-year-old single man is a little more philosophical. He said, “Everybody has dreams. Buy an island. Buy an airplane. In reality, I’m not a fan of flying and I don’t like water.” Another winner, referring to his three-month old baby said, “She’s going to be happy for the rest of her life.” Right? We are often fooled into believing that the source of our happiness can be found on this planet in spite of a mountain of evidence to the contrary.

Is The Bible Reliable?

Sun, 18 Oct 2015 10:00:00 +0000

I don’t believe in the Bible. I believe the Bible but I don’t believe IN the Bible. Words on paper have no power to save. The Bible is the message of salvation but not the means of salvation. This is not a magical book. You can put the Bible under your pillow at night but it cannot protect you. You can clutch the Bible close but it has no power to heal your broken heart. The Holy Bible is “holy” not because it has a conscience but because the writings that it contains are divinely inspired. In other words, the Bible is a divinely inspired collection of documents that bear witness to Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. So when I say, “the Bible says,” I fully understand that the Bible doesn’t say anything, it reports what others said and did. Even though I do not put my faith in a book, I do believe what the Bible reports. That is what makes our question this morning so important, “Is the Bible reliable? Is the Bible the Word of God or just a compendium of human opinions? Is the Bible a faithful witness to actual historical events or merely an ancient book of fables?”

Is Jesus God?

Sun, 11 Oct 2015 10:00:00 +0000

In our Explore God series we are considering some of the ultimate questions in life. They are broad questions that provoke all sorts of opinions and stimulate meaningful conversation. Today we come to the most penetrating question of all. It is a question that provides the center of gravity for the Christian faith. One day Jesus asked Peter, “Who do
you say that I am?” The angels held their breath as they waited for Peter’s answer. They didn’t have to wait long – it was Peter after all. The answer would determine not only Peter’s future but the future of the whole world. I want to consider that question this morning. Who do you say Jesus is? Or, in Explore God terms, “Is Jesus God?”

Is Christianity Too Narrow?

Sun, 04 Oct 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Let’s begin with a test. I have one cookie and two children. If I give the cookie to one of the children the other will say, “That’s not ______.” So, to avoid this insult, I divide the cookie. When the cookie breaks, one piece is larger than the other. The one who gets the smaller piece will complain, “That’s not ______.” You passed. Children come equipped with a profound sense of fairness that seems to be programmed into every human heart. It is so strong that I believe many people reject Christianity not because it seems unreasonable but because it seems so unfair. To suggest that Jesus is only one way to Heaven excludes all those who are not Christians. And that’s not _______.

Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?

Sun, 27 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

My friend Tom became one of the first elders at a church we planted in California many years ago. We have stayed in touch very sporadically. Last week, after he saw a picture that Jana posted on Facebook in light of our 38th anniversary, he sent me a note. Here is what it said…

Is There a God?

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

What you have just experienced is a powerful argument for the existence of God. Today we take up the second of seven important questions in our Explore God series, “Is There A God?” What we have just experienced together is one of many arguments for the existence of God. When we feel wonder or joy or even longing - where does that come from? Does a poodle ponder a sunset or a snail write a symphony? Why do we have this deep inner longing that we grasp for a moment in a painting or song. “If we find in ourselves a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, it is possible that we were made for another world.” Could there be a Satisfier at the end of our search for satisfaction?

Does Life Have A Purpose?

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Trapper John is exploring God. For the next seven weeks I want to invite you to explore God too. Some of you, maybe most of you, have already discovered God. But many people you know are troubled by questions such as:
“If God exists, why is He so shy? He seems to be playing hide and seek.”
“If God exists, why doesn’t He do something about this mess on planet
earth?”
“If God exists, is He (or She) Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or other?”
“If God exists, what does He want from me?”
These are the kinds of questions we are going to consider over the next seven weeks.
Explore God is simply an invitation to ease of off the road for a season and think about the things that matter most. Today we are going to begin our expedition with the question, “Does life have a purpose?” If you’re like most people there are times when you have felt like you’re just going in circles.

Meant For More

Sun, 06 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning everyone and welcome to Fellowship Dallas. We’re glad you are here. My name is Randy and I’m one of the Associate Pastors here at the church. If you are new here, then you may not know that next Sunday is a big day for us. We, along with hundreds of other churches across the Metroplex, are launching into a two-month series called Explore God. We are really excited about what we sense God will do in our church and through our church to reach the people of our city, our neighborhoods, our families and our friends. We can’t wait to hear the stories of conversations and how God uses our offerings of time and love to bless others.

Godly Life, Curious World

Sun, 30 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

There is a popular series of commercials that has been out for several years now. In the commercials, a narrator with a bold and dramatic voice lists characteristics about a certain person who happens to be very unique. The narrator tells us things like:
He can speak Russian… in French
He has won the lifetime achievement award… twice
On every continent in the world, there is a sandwich named after him
His cereal never gets soggy. It sits there, staying crispy, just for him
He is the life of parties that he has never attended
If he was to pat you on the back, you would list it on your resume
You can see his charisma from space

And after giving us some descriptors, the narrator announces that this person is, and some of you know, “the most interesting man in the world.”

Reveal Revealed

Sun, 23 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

We have come to the end of Mark 10 and I have decided to push “pause” in our series in order to apply some of what we have learned. For the next couple of months we are going to make an effort to engage our friends and neighbors in redemptive conversations about Jesus. We are going to do that by participating in Explore God with over 300 other churches in the metroplex. Explore God is a way to talk about some serious questions that don’t get talked about very much. For the next two weeks we will train, prepare and communicate how you can be involved and then, on Sept. 13, I will preach the first of seven messages that address some of the ultimate questions of life. But this morning I want to remind you of the two most important resources we have been given in order to lead people to the beauty of the gospel. The first resource is a prepared messenger.

“This Is Greatness”

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Several years ago I was talking with a missionary who told me how hard it was to communicate with people from a vastly different culture. The example he used was unforgettable. He was working with a primitive tribe that knew very little about hygiene. In fact, they knew nothing about the concept of a toilet. This posed an obvious danger to the health of the tribe so he tried to explain to them their need for a latrine. They listened through translation as he tried to explain how to build one. He sketched out a rudimentary drawing that looked something like this…The men of the tribe studied it and said they could get it done. The missionary left the village and promised to come back in a couple of weeks to check their work. When he got back they proudly showed him their new outhouse. To his great surprise, something had been lost in translation and the outhouse looked like this…Instead of digging underground they had simply built it 16 feet above the ground! “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Needless to say this design posed new dangers and would not lead to a healthier village.

"Valuing Dependency"

Sun, 09 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

“Divorced”

Sun, 02 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Mk. 10:1-12…I doubt there is anyone here who has not been directly affected by divorce. This subject stirs up a lot of feelings. If you are divorced you may live with a low-grade guilt about this subject. Whenever you hear the “D” word they get a sinking feeling. You may even feel judged because no one understands your situation. Those who have never been through a divorce can become judgmental. “How could anyone break their wedding vows? We’ve managed to be miserable all these years and stay married why can’t they?” The truth is marriage is a testing ground. The Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, “in order to test Him…” Few things test our discipleship like marriage and divorce.

“Wire Walkers”

Sun, 26 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

On March 3, 1978, Karl Wallenda stepped out onto a cable suspended 120’ above the street stretching between two high-rise hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The walk was routine for 73 yr. old who had been wire-walking for 57 years. No handstands, bicycles, 7 man pyramids…just Karl and his 23-ft. 36 lb. balancing pole. As he inched across the wire it began to “dance.” Wallenda crouched and cried out, “Tighten it.” Those were his last words as he lost his balance and fell to his death.

Suffering Triumphant Servant King

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

I was listening to a speaker last week that is involved in the Explore God initiative that Gary and Caleb introduced last Sunday. He marveled at how often people go online to look for information on Jesus. So I was curious. How often do people go on Google to get help in answering the question “Who is Jesus?” Apparently Google keeps track of that stuff and BoneZ helped me out. I discovered that there are roughly 800,000 searches per day for help in answering the question “Who is Jesus?” 800,000. I was astonished. And then I got curious again. I wonder what people are being told when they type in “Who is Jesus?” So I did that very thing and, .42 seconds later, I received 325,000,000 results. Here’s a sample of what I found:

“Blind, Deaf And A Little Bit Dumb”

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Christianity is increasingly unwelcome in our pluralistic public square. It’s OK to believe in God but Jesus is an awkward topic. If movies provide a window into the soul of our culture you might think there aren’t many Jesus followers. But Mark Joseph, a Hollywood producer, referring to an ABC poll that reported 83 percent of those surveyed self-identified as Christians, asks, “If half of all Americans go to church, why are so few TV and film characters seen in church or allowed to have normal religious practices portrayed as their other activities are?” (The Hollywood Reporter, 7/2/15). He went on to list several examples of secular censorship as far back as…

Jesus vs. Your World

Sun, 05 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning everyone and welcome to Fellowship Dallas. We’re glad you are here. My name is Randy and I’m one of the Associate Pastors here at the church. Happy Independence Day Weekend – I know that July 4th was yesterday, but we can still celebrate today can’t we? Especially since the US women’s soccer team is playing tonight in the World Cup Final. I’m feeling especially patriotic today.

Hold On

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning everyone and welcome to Fellowship Dallas. We’re glad you are here. My name is Randy and I’m one of the Associate Pastors here at the church. We’re heading into the middle of summer and with the opportunity for vacations and other activities, sometimes it’s difficult to make it to church on Sunday, so we’re really glad you could make it here today Dallas. But for those of you who are dads who are here with your family, on behalf of our church, let me say thank you and encourage you to continue to seek Christ in full view of your children.

Step Up to the Plate

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Good morning everyone and welcome to Fellowship Dallas. Let me begin by wishing all the dads out there a Happy Father’s Day. I know this is a special day for many of you – especially those first-time dads out there. I also know that today can be a struggle for some – whether it’s guys who are still praying for kids, those of you who have a difficult relationship with your father, or even for those of you who may have lost your father recently – I hope that you can find comfort and rest during your time here at Fellowship
Dallas. But for those of you who are dads who are here with your family, on behalf of our church, let me say thank you and encourage you to continue to seek Christ in full view of your children.

Grace Interrupted

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 10:00:00 +0000

He was a well-respected religious leader. She was ritually unclean. He was in charge of the local synagogue. She was forbidden to set foot in a synagogue. He enjoyed the admiration of the locals. She was an outcast. His name was Jairus. Her name was “anonymous.” He was a man, in a man’s world. She was an unclean woman, in an unkind world. He had a 12 year-old child. She had not touched a family member in 12 years since she started hemorrhaging. He had everything to lose in trusting Jesus. She had nothing left to lose. These two could hardly have been more different except for one thing; they were both desperate….5:21-23.

What Are You Afraid Of?

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Tuesday I received a phone call from my wife telling me that my mother was missing. My mom, who has dementia, went for a drive…in a car…alone. I know what you’re thinking, “Uh-oh.” And you are right. I didn’t know what to do. Do I drive to East Texas and look for her? Where would I start? So we waited until the report came that she had been found on a dirt road out in the country. Somehow she had turned onto a road that got worse and worse until she got the car stuck in the mud. Otherwise, she would have probably kept driving. We’ve had record amounts of rain lately. Sadly, some people lost their lives in the flooding. But my mom was saved…because she got stuck in the mud. The same storm resulting in death can result in life for another. I want to tell you about a storm today that could save your life. The story is found in Mark 4:35.

Sow What?

Sun, 31 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

“Christianity is dying. At least that’s what some major newspapers have been reporting lately. Research from a new Pew Center study seems to reinforce what almost all sociologists are observing these days— “the number of Americans who identify as Christians has reached an all-time low, and is falling.” The lead editor of the report told The New York Times that secularization—mainly in terms of those who identify as “nones” or with no specific religious affiliation—isn’t isolated to the progressive Northeast and Pacific Northwest, traditional “dead zones” for Christian activity, but “the change is taking place all over, including the Bible Belt.”

Curious, Conflicted or Called?

Sun, 24 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

This summer about 70 students and leaders will take part in a couple of short-term mission trips in Tecate, Mexico, and Kaufman, Texas. They will be serving in various capacities with the goal of showing Jesus to those He misses most. I have asked them to be here this morning because as I prepared this message I realized that Mark 3 is a photo gallery featuring the diverse groups of people that Jesus encountered during His ministry and how they responded to His message. Our high school students are going to meet these same groups when they get to Mexico. So let’s get to know these people.

A Problem of Wineskins

Sun, 17 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Many years ago an East Texas farm boy struck it rich. A huge deposit of oil and gas was discovered on his land. One day he traveled to New York to meet with a high-powered stock-broker. The broker took the farm boy to Wall St. to show him the eight city blocks that mark the center of the financial universe. As they walked along the street the farmer suddenly stopped and said, “Wait.” He slowly moved toward a planter then quickly reached in and pulled out a cricket. The broker said, “That’s amazing. How could you possibly hear a cricket with all this city noise?” The farmer dug into his pocket and pulled out a handful of loose change. He said, “Watch this.” He dropped the coins on the sidewalk and everyone stopped to look. He said, “See. What you hear depends on what you have been trained to listen for.”

By What Authority

Sun, 10 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

A young country preacher was interviewing for his first church. The pulpit search
committee invited him over for an interview. As he was being questioned by the
committee the chairman said, “Son, do you know your Bible?”
He said, “Yes, sir, I really think I do.”
He said, “Well what part of the Bible do you know best?”
“I reckon I know the New Testament the best,” said the young preacher.
The chairman said, “Well, why don’t you just tell us something you know about the New
Testament? Just tell the committee here the story of the Prodigal Son?”

Fan or Follower

Sun, 03 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The word “fan” is short for fanatic. The dictionary defines a fan as “an enthusiastic admirer.” We may scoff at the behavior of One Direction fans but I’ve seen some bizarre behavior from a few fully-grown adult Cowboy fans. Did you know Jesus has his fans too? Of course they may not be quite as fervent. Jesus fans usually want to be close enough to benefit from the association but not so close that it requires sacrifice. Saying a prayer, attending church, wearing some Jesus jewelry, that’s about the extent of the
relationship. But Jesus was never interested in having admirers. It’s not fans He is looking for but followers. He welcomes the curious but He lives within the committed.

We Can Help

Sun, 19 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Following Jesus…Just for the fun of it

Sun, 12 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Called to life...the resurrection of Lazarus

Sun, 05 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Called to life...the death of Lazarus

Sun, 29 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Life is Calling

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The Payoff - The Pleasure of God

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000

There are so many out there in the workplace that are working for the approval of men and are miserable in what they do. Whatever you do, do it not for the approval of men or for your own glory but for the glory of God.

Called Together

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000

It doesn’t matter how gifted you are, if you are not using your gifts in community for the benefit of others then you are nothing.

Spiritual Giftedness

Sun, 01 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Gifted

Sun, 22 Feb 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The call of God is a God- given sense of “fit” affirmed by others and confirmed by experience when our gifts, skills, experience and personality meet with opportunity.

God’s Specific Call

Sun, 15 Feb 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Romans 12 gives us insight into three of the most fundamental questions in life. Who am I? Where do I belong? What should I do? These questions are addressed in this passage.

Romans 12 gives us insight into three of the most fundamental questions in life. Who am I? Where do I belong? What should I do? These questions are addressed in this passage.

God’s Masterpiece

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The call of God turns these interrogatives into imperatives. Question marks become exclamation points when you discover your calling.

First Things First

Sun, 01 Feb 2015 10:00:00 +0000

A Life Worth Giving doesn’t just come when you discover your call; it comes when you embrace Christ completely. In other words, if you pursue your call, and neglect God, you get neither. If you pursue Christ, you get Him and your call becomes more clear with time.Focus on the Caller, not simply the call.

The Dropped Call

Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:00:00 +0000

If you feel like there is something more to life but don’t know how to find it you’re not alone. If you have had a hard time discovering what God wants you to do, join the club. Living a life based on the expectations of other people while God seems silent is not the way it’s supposed to be. God may be calling but the call keeps getting dropped. Let’s find out why by turning to Genesis 3.

The God Who Calls

Sun, 18 Jan 2015 10:00:00 +0000

You will never make sense of the story you live without understanding the story you live into, God’s bigger story, the story of God’s grand purpose for His creation. Your calling emerges out of a growing understanding of the NATURE and PURPOSE of God. You will never know the call of God until you know the God who calls.

The Call of God

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Be who God called you to be, determine what God called you to do then you can begin to seek the Lord’s wisdom on where and how best to do it. Then you can truly experience a Life Worth Giving.

Fulfilled in Jesus

Sun, 04 Jan 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The Voice

Sun, 28 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Treasured

Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000

How do you define treasure?

The Promise of a Wonderful Life

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000

If we are faithful with the message of God’s grace, maybe we can convince them that Jesus is the only way to a Wonderful If we are faithful with the message of God’s grace, maybe we can convince them that Jesus is the only way to a Wonderful Life.

The Light is Dawning

Sun, 07 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The final vision God gave to Daniel is so long and complex that it stretches over three chapters, 10-12. The reason it is so hard to understand is because most of us have such a poor understanding of world history. Anyone who studies this era of history will stand in awe of how amazingly precise Daniel 11 is.

Angels and Demons

Sun, 30 Nov 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Daniel 10 illustrates that, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:12

The Final Countdown

Sun, 23 Nov 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Daniel 9 has two parts. The first 19 verses record Daniel’s prayer in light of the prophecy of Jeremiah. Daniel’s inspirational prayer demonstrates the appropriate response to the truth of God’s word.

Great, Greater, Greatest

Sun, 16 Nov 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Daniel 8 has an interpretation of the vision, given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel, the first time he makes an appearance in scripture.

The Ancient of Days

Sun, 09 Nov 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Prophecy is a complex subject often hard to understand. For that reason prophecy provides a playground for sensational speculation. In the 1970’s Hal Lindsay predicted Jesus would return one generation after Israel became a nation -1988. When that didn’t happen he amended his prediction. Since Israel did not have all the land until the 1967 War, Jesus would return in 2007. Obviously that didn’t happen. Now he says a generation is actually from 60-80 yrs. So Jesus will return in 2047.

The Center of Attention

Sun, 02 Nov 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Children often seek to be the center of attention. We’ve all seen kids who think the world is their stage. Their antics are cute…for a while. Eventually they become obnoxious and sometimes even embarrassing. It is one of the responsibilities of parents to limit their performance. But seeking the center of attention is not just the behavior of children. We have met a couple of proud kings in the book of Daniel who sought to be the center of attention. In chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar builds a monument to demonstrate his greatness. In chapter 5, Belshazzar throws a massive party and drinks from the gold and silver objects of the Jewish temple to demonstrate his importance. Today we meet another king from another kingdom who becomes the center of attention. By the end of chapter 6 he willingly relinquishes the throne of his own selfie kingdom to the rightful King.

The Selfie Kingdom

Sun, 26 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Daniel 5 is a study in the anatomy of pride. How can we recognize this deadly sin and
how can we avoid it because “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The Return to Reason

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The only reasonable response to the Most High God is to humble yourself and worship Him. When we gather together for worship like we have today our goal is to foster a growing awareness of how big God is and how small we are.

Tested by Fire

Sun, 12 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The miraculous intervention of God whereby He seems to set aside natural law should never be seen as normative for all people in all times. Miracles occur when God’s people are threatened with extinction and God’s promise of a Messiah is at risk. These periods were marked by God’s special intervention in order to protect God’s servants and their message of a future kingdom. God’s promise is fireproof. The question today is how can I fireproof my faith?

Prayer/Praise/Proclamation

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 10:00:00 +0000

In chapter two of Daniel we gain some valuable insight in how to deal with circumstances beyond our control. Daniel demonstrates a wise response for those who are powerless in the presence of an enemy, seen or unseen.

Captivated

Sun, 28 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +0000

This book of Daniel is about a conflict of kingdoms – the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God. In the first chapter we encounter God’s grace in the repeated phrase, “God gives...” 2, 9, 17. Each occurrence gives us some important insight about our God who is supreme over all other gods.

W.A.L.K. - Kingdom Focus

Sun, 21 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +0000

So what should I do to be kingdom-focused? Just walk the W-A-L-K. Present your body to God as a living sacrifice. Abide in the truth – seek it, settle it, soak in it. Learn to love those who are on your team. Never forget that Jesus came to this earth to defeat the enemy of our souls so that we might live forever in God’s glorious kingdom prepared for us from eternity past.

W.A.L.K. - Love

Sun, 14 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Jesus said, “By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” For a lot of people the Bible is hard to understand. What is not hard to understand is the Cliff Notes summary Jesus gave when He summed up the message of the whole Law and the prophetic books by saying, “Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” The Great Commandment is pretty simple. The command is to love.

How to Discover God's Will

Sun, 07 Sep 2014 10:00:00 +0000

God’s individual or specific will is revealed in Romans 12:3-8. These verses lay out a process for discerning the will of God for you personally.

W.A.L.K. - Abide

Sun, 31 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Once we make this first critical life and death decision we are then faced with a second decision - the decision to continue surrendering my life to God for transformation. God loves you just as you are but He loves you far too much to leave you that way. So He transforms us…Romans 12:2

W.A.L.K. - Worship

Sun, 24 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The first mark of a disciple is devotion and devotion is expressed through worship. Look at the apostle Paul’s description of true spiritual worship in Romans 12:1...“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking- around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” (The Message)

Walk The W.A.L.K.

Sun, 17 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The word “disciple or disciples” is used about 250 times in the New Testament. Usually it is a reference to the twelve men who became the apostles upon whom the church was founded. But if you limit your search to the gospels and then narrow it further to the words of Jesus, you discover that Jesus made four definitive statements about disciples.

Our Days are Numbered

Sun, 10 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Our days are numbered, not only changes what we do with the time we have, but it may have the greatest impact on us having a legacy worth leaving to the next generation.

Scary Confidence

Sun, 03 Aug 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A look into the psalm that shifts between moods of Lament and Confidence.

A Song For The Known

Sun, 27 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0000

God Alone is Our Refuge

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0000

God Instructs the Godly

Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A Song for the Repentant

Sun, 06 Jul 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A Song of God's Love

Sun, 29 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Intrepid 'Overcoming Our Fear'

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A Song for Our Father

Sun, 15 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A Song for All Seasons

Sun, 08 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

God Loves You

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

God Works All Things Together For Good

Sun, 25 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A Hope that is Real

Sun, 18 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The Hope of Glory

Sun, 11 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A New Identity

Sun, 27 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Come To Life

Sun, 20 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Restore One Another

Sun, 13 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0000

*** Please note that we have no video this week due to a campus-wide video system upgrade. We will have video next week for our Easter services! ***

Building Up One Another

Sun, 06 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Encourage One Another

Sun, 30 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Forgiving Forward

Sun, 23 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The One Anothers

Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Grace Illustrated

Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

The Grace that Trains Us

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

What Lies Beneath

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Truth or Consequences

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:00:00 +0000

A Biblical View On Elders

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Spring Training

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Revolution 4 - Contribute

Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Revolution 3 - Love

Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Revolution 2

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Revolution

Sun, 05 Jan 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Choose Today

Sun, 29 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Glorious King

Sun, 22 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Exalted King

Sun, 15 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Humble King

Sun, 08 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Coming King

Sun, 01 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Life Worth Giving

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Elijah was a common man with an uncommon passion for the glory of God. As we study Elijah’s life and ministry, we will learn valuable lessons about the God who made us, His Son, Jesus Christ who calls us to follow Him, and how we can be a prophetic presence among an unbelieving people. When everything is coming apart at the seams, the most beneficial force in the world is a community that is UNDIVIDED – undivided in their devotion to God, in their love for one another and in their purpose towards a dying world.

When you follow God with an undivided heart, He will take you to places you never wanted to go and introduce you to people you never wanted to meet to give you the ministry you always wanted to have.

The Last Sermon You Will Ever Preach

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Our God is on the Move

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Our God is a Consuming Fire

Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Not For Sale At Any Price

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Our God Reveals His Presence

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Our God Provides & Pursues

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Our God is God

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Heart of Fear

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Undivided Part 3

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Undivided Part 2

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Undivided

Sun, 08 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Table Talk

Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Suffering & Evil...Why?

Sun, 25 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The goal of the series "I'm Glad You Asked: The Lost Art of Redemptive Conversations" is to help Christians think "Christianly" about a number of subjects chosen by you the Fellowship family. We will try to get a better handle on what the Bible says about each of these subjects over the next twelve weeks through this series!

Stay up to date with future discussion topics and other unanswered questions! Sign up for the eNewsletter from our blog "The Script" by going to our webpage and clicking the orange "Email Sign Up" button!

Brokenness

Sun, 18 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Cultural Engagement in New Contexts

Sun, 11 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Where did the time go?

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Rock

Sun, 28 Jul 2013 10:00:00 +0000

End Times

Sun, 21 Jul 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Drugs & Alcohol

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Homosexuality Pt.2

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Homosexuality

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

With Special Guest Dr. Jim Denison.

The goal of the series "I'm Glad You Asked: The Lost Art of Redemptive Conversations" is to help Christians think "Christianly" about a number of subjects chosen by you the Fellowship family. We will try to get a better handle on what the Bible says about each of these subjects over the next twelve weeks through this series!

Stay up to date with future discussion topics and other unanswered questions! Sign up for the eNewsletter from our blog "The Script" by going to our webpage and clicking the orange "Email Sign Up" button!

God's Thoughts on Sexuality

Sun, 23 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

With Special Guest John Arellano.

The goal of the series "I'm Glad You Asked: The Lost Art of Redemptive Conversations" is to help Christians think "Christianly" about a number of subjects chosen by you the Fellowship family. We will try to get a better handle on what the Bible says about each of these subjects over the next twelve weeks through this series!

Stay up to date with future discussion topics and other unanswered questions! Sign up for the eNewsletter from our blog "The Script" by going to our webpage and clicking the orange "Email Sign Up" button!

God's Will for Your Life

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Understanding Islam

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Why believe the Bible?

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

I'm Glad You Asked

Sun, 26 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Chosen Walk

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Strengthened Walk

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Broken Walk

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Crosswalk

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Walking Under the Influence

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Focused Walk

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is a HOOT!

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is personal

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is freedom (Pt 2)

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Join us for this powerful Easter Sunday message of Freedom in Christ!

The Gospel is a gift from the Father

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT prejudice

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT new

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT for perfect people

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT a prize but a gift

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT hard

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT optional

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is NOT a clever human invention

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:00:00 +0000

That's NOT the Gospel

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel is not man made.

A 2013 Vision Message

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 10:00:00 +0000

He is Faithful

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Light

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Joy

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Prince of Peace

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The Hope of the World

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Advent 2012

The Gift - Final Sermon

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The Disciple of a Disciple

How to make a disciple...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The Attitude of a Disciple

Bearing Fruit

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The 4th Mark of a Disciple: Fruit

The Gift of Love

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 10:00:00 +0000

3rd Mark of Discipleship: Love

The Word of God

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

The Second Mark of a Disciple

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

The God who gave us the gift of life, also gave us the gift of truth. If you know the truth, the truth will make you free.

The 2nd Mark of a Disciple is abiding in the Truth.

35th Anniversary!

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Leaving a Legacy! Join us as we celebrate God's faithfulness to Fellowship Dallas - Celebrating 35 years of ministry!

The Big Dinner

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

This message explores the meaning of Jesus' words in Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple."

The 1st Mark of a Disciple: Devotion

The Lost Gospel

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

All of us will make disciples in our lifetime. The question is, what kind of disciples will we make? Our goal is Gospel-centered discipleship.

Discipleship is a Team Sport

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

God's call to make disciples is to be done in the context of a gathered community. Discipleship is a team sport.

The Great Commission

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

The Gift

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Life is God's greatest gift. But life is not just for living - it is for giving. The process for giving life to others is called discipleship. God has given you life, will you give life to others?

A disciple experiences life in three vital relationships; life in Christ, life in community and life in the world.

Eschatology

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - Eschatology; living in the end times.

What is the Church?

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - The Church.

Salvation & Sanctification

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - Salvation & Sanctification.

(Orange Sunday)

Man & Sin

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - Man & Sin.

The Holy Spirit

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - The Holy Spirit.

Jesus Over All

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - Jesus.

God is...Good

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - God.

Please Pay Attention

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Truth Matters is a series about the most crucial subjects in the Christian life. - The Bible.

Children of God Maintain Focus on Christ

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 10:00:00 +0000

A Case for Confidence

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

We all suffer from a serious case of uncertainty. This message offers two promises that give us something firm to hold onto when the prevailing winds threaten to throw our lives off course.

The Testimony of God

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

The Bible teaches that you can have religion and not have life. Life requires a relationship, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This message explores five vital relationships that every Christian experiences.

Father Love

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

This Father's day message unwraps three valuable gifts that our Father gives us and expects us to share with others.

Spirit of Truth

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

When God's holy spirit takes up residence in your life, you receive a truth-detector that will help you discern between what is true and what is false.

Sacrificial Love

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

The Key to Confident Living

Sun, 27 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

Jesus is coming back! For some that is good news, for others... not so much. This message provides two reasons for the contagious confidence we can offer a cynical world in light of Christ's return.

The Last Hour

Sun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

Those who stray from the truth will eventually oppose Christ. There are some things we can afford to be wrong about, but if we are wrong about Jesus, we will face eternal consequences.

Learning to Breathe Under Water

Sun, 13 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

This message presents a pattern of development for spiritual formation as well as the greatest threat to our spiritual progress.

To Know Christ is to Obey Him

Sun, 06 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

This message answers a very basic question, "what exactly is a Christian?" An inadequate view of Christianity leads to an aberrant form of behavior. John sets the record straight in 1 John 2.

Common Condition; Common Salvation

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

Know Jesus, Know Joy; No Jesus, No Joy

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The letter of 1 John contains matters of FIRST importance, as well as the MAIN message of Christianity. The journey of joy begins at First & Main.

Jesus is our FIRST love and the MAIN source of our joy.

Easter - No Greater Love

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

God proved His love by sending Jesus!

Confession & Repentance

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

Those Who Have Life, Give LIFE

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

This messages deals with the spiritual discipline of generous living.

The Word of God, Meditation & Prayer

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

The Bible is our most powerful resource for spiritual discipline. This message explores four spiritual disciplines regarding the use of God's word leading to spiritual transformation.

Discipline of Disengagement

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

This message deals with four disciplines of disengagement that provide antidotes to four common desires that poison our souls.

Worship Well

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

This message deals with the following disciplines of engagement: corporate worship, gratitude, celebration, liturgy and communion.

Too Slow to Fast...Too Fast to Slow

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

This message deals with disciplines of disengagement. Fasting and "slowing" enable us to disengage with the things of earth to seek the things above.

Training vs. Trying

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

In this message we learn that trying to be a better Christian is no substitute for training to be a better Christian.

The Artist is Present

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

Do you want to be well?

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

This message deals with the second essential ingredient to spiritual formation - Intention. Intention answers a very basic question, "What do you want out of life?"

A Proper View of Self

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

If we try to make ourselves spiritual, we will fail and inevitably fall. But if we cooperate with God, we will find spiritual formation to be a satisfying and exhilarating experience. In this message Peter learns a valuable lesson; no one can be sanctified through human effort.

The Perfect Father

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

This message explores one of Jesus' most famous or beloved parables about the stubborn love of a father toward a wayward son. In this message we learn that death is the only path to life.

Who is God?

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

Spiritual transformation begins with a vision, a vision of God. This message explores the experience of Isaiah who came face to face with the majesty of God.

Get Zoe

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Get A Life" is a series about spiritual transformation or how to live out the life that God puts within us.

Jesus promised to give us "abundant life (zoe)." This message emphasizes the difference between biological life which begins at conception (bios) and the eternal abundant life (zoe) which requires us to be born again.

It All Matters

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A child of God does not dwell in the grip of consequence, the whim of happenstance, or the weight of circumstance. The book of Ruth teaches us that our lives are in the hands of providence.

Ruth's life illustrates that God's purpose is to connect us to something far greater than ourselves. When we follow Him, our lives always mean more than we think they do. Because of God's providence, there is always a connection between ordinary events and an extraordinary God.

Dealing with Dilemmas

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A child of God does not dwell in the grip of consequence, the whim of happenstance, or the weight of circumstance. The book of Ruth teaches us that our lives are in the hands of providence.

Ruth chapter 3 is messy. The chapter contains an honest account of three people who find themselves between the horns of a dilemma. This message reminds us that God uses imperfect people, facing imperfect circumstances, making imperfect decisions to accomplish His perfect plan.

The Gospel According to Ruth

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A child of God does not dwell in the grip of consequence, the whim of happenstance, or the weight of circumstance. The book of Ruth teaches us that our lives are in the hands of providence.

In Ruth 2, we get a three-dimensional view of the response God is looking for from all who believe the Gospel. Ruth, Naomi and Boaz represent the three abiding virtues in the New Testament, Faith, Hope and Love.

In the Hands of Providence

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

A child of God does not dwell in the grip of consequence, the whim of happenstance, or the weight of circumstance. The book of Ruth teaches us that our lives are in the hands of providence.

The Seed & The Sower

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

The concluding message of this series is a vision message challenging the congregation to plant the Gospel in fertile hearts in order to insure a fruit-full harvest.

Fruit-Full

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be fruit-FULL.

Purpose-Full

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be purpose-FULL.

Power-Full

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be power-FULL.

Grace-Full

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be grace-FULL.

Help-Full

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be help-FULL.

Truth-Full

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be truth-FULL.

Hope-Full

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be hope-FULL.

Peace-Full

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Holy Spirit is God's indwelling and active presence in our lives. When the Spirit of God takes up residence within us, there will be undeniable evidence that He is at home. The empty space, the God-shaped space in your life, will be full.

If we are filled with the fullness of God, we will be peace-FULL.

Our Bodies & The Resurrection

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

In 1 Cor. 15, Paul gives us assurance of what happens when we die. There is continuity in how we experience life now, and how we will experience life in the future, but there are some essential changes we must experience when we die.

Tongues & Prophecy

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

Many of the members of the church in Corinth used the gift of tongues to show off, to elevate themselves among their brethren. This message helps us make sense out of the nonsense that often accompanies the subject of tongues.

Love

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

Love is the clearest expression of the nature of God. Love is expressed by actions not feelings. Love is God's definition of success because "love never fails."

Spiritual Gifts

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Escaping Idols

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:00:00 +0000

The Gospel-Centered Life

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

A Gospel-Centered life is a life that views every event, ever circumstance, every opportunity as one that can be leveraged for the sake of the Gospel.

Doubtful Matters

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Marriage...or not to marry

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

Marriage, like Sex, is not ultimate. When we assign ultimate worth to that which is not ultimate, we invite confusion and obscure the glory of God.

Church & Sex

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Who Are You?

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

Immaturity disrupts vital relationships and robs God of the glory due His name. Until we know and appreciate how God feels about us, we waste our lives desperately seeking the approval of others.

A Mature Man

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

This Fathers Day message explores four marks of maturity that are found in 1 Cor. chapter 3.

The Hidden Wisdom of God

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

The message of 1 Cor. 2 is that even the simplest among us can be wise and understand the mysteries of God.

I Believe in Jesus, But...

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

God, in His sovereignty, uses foolish things to shame the wise. God has set up a plan that requires us to drop any illusion of our own wisdom or cleverness, and simply accept the simplicity of the gospel.

The Great Exchange

Sun, 29 May 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"Between Two Worlds" explores the tension we feel as Christians because we have dual citizenship. We are citizens of the heavenly Kingdom to come, and citizens of this present earthly Kingdom. What difference does our future citizenship in Heaven make in our present earthly life?

Joy is a resource that can only be found in God's eternal storehouse. There are some things in life you CAN take with you.

God wish us...Always

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

This Easter message is from the final chapter in our study of the Gospel of Matthew. The message of the Gospel is that God redeems ordinary men and women who do extraordinary things.

The Denial of Christ

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Like all human beings, Peter had an "I" disease. This disease resulted in the denial of Christ. The only cure for the denial of Peter was the denial of Christ.

The Final Judgment

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Jesus came to earth as our savior, He will return to earth as our judge. There is a place God is preparing for those who don't want to be in His kingdom.

The End is Near?

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Jesus introduced a future kingdom that will satisfy our deepest longings. He promised to return and take us home. What are the signs of His coming?

The Marriage Feast

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Jesus described the kingdom as a feast, not a fast. The kingdom of God is a party. You've been invited, what will you wear?

Continued...

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Salvation is Humanly Impossible b/c of Sin

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Saving ourselves is no more possible, than forcing a camel through the eye of needle. What is true of the rich young ruler, is true for every one of us.

Suffering on Purpose

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

This sermon contains the lesson no one wants to learn; those who choose Christ, choose suffering. How does God use suffering in our lives?

Kingdom Talkers & Water Walkers

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

It is one thing to understand the Kingdom with your brain, it is another to act upon it with your will. We comprehend the kingdom with our mind, we apprehend it with our faith. Kingdom-talkers must become water-walkers if the mission of Jesus is to succeed.

All Those Opposed?

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

In spite of opposition, Jesus promises His provision to those who participate in His mission.

Jesus is Greater

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

The call to discipleship is a call to conflict. Jesus experienced conflict with the pharisees over three subjects, all sacred to the Jews.

By What Authority Vested in You

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

Jesus delegated His authority to twelve men, empowering them to serve in His name. Those who are called by Jesus, use their authority, not to prove how great they are, but how great He is. Jesus gives us authority to do three things...

By What Authority?

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

The dominant theme in these chapters is the divine authority of Jesus, and how people respond.

Radical

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus lays out the righteous requirement of the kingdom. Righteousness involves three relationships.

The Blessing of Satisfaction

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

The Kingdom of God

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

The kingdom of God was the one-course curriculum taught by Jesus. From the time He began His ministry on the earth, to the time he ascended from the earth, Jesus talked about the kingdom.

Just like me...Only Different

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 10:00:00 +0000

"The Journey" is a series tracing the steps of Jesus through the book of Matthew.

There is no one like Jesus. He is unique, one of a kind. There is nothing more important that the truth of the incarnation.