"Loving Like Jesus" Even if we don't consider someone to be our enemy, it doesn't mean they don't have something against us. Some people will hate us as Christians just because we are different than the world. If we're not then maybe we're not Godly enough. Why should we forgive and not hate our enemies? (1) It's good for us and keeps us in better health. (2) It shows our difference from the rest of the world. We need to love even those who'll let us down. We should be a beacon to the hurting. (3) It's the proof that we belong to God. It's our evidence of being the n God's family. (4) God will take care of the wrongs, we don't have to. God keeps track of and will handle the injustice. Our job is to love as Jesus loved!" Excerpt from September 11, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"Continuing Sermon on the Mount Series: Striking Back~~Mt. 5:38-42. Eye for eye: Jesus referred to Old Testament law but then gave His own interpretation. Jesus said it was better to suffer multiple insults than to retaliate. Why? We should respond by giving more than others expect of us. Why? Jesus calls his followers to do the unexpected, what no one else will do. Why? Jesus calls us to be very different. Why? The answers to why: (1)our goal should be to be like Jesus. Christian means Little Christ; (2) we need to stop wrong by letting things end with us; (3) we need to show Jesus and invite others to know him. We should be trying to draw others to His love. Doing the unexpected can be a beacon to Jesus love!" Excerpt from September 4, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"Sermon on the Mount: Our behavior must be something that draws others to God. For that reason, God gives us rules to follow. We are commanded to not lust after things that aren't ours. This isn't just of a sexual nature but also wanting material things too. Where we go, what we watch and read, make our thoughts go in a specific direction. What are you exposing your brain to? What is your mind dwelling on? Our thoughts should be pleasing to God! We should take drastic action to be who we need to be in Christ." Excerpt from August 28, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"The Apostle's Creed: "Jesus as Judge" On the third day He rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father...Jesus sits in the position of authority. Why is it important for us to believe this? Without Jesus we are headed for destruction and condemnation. God trusts all judgment to his Son, Jesus. Jesus is there to save us. Our job is to reflect Jesus in all we say and do. Are we doing that? If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Life gives us many obstacles that make it tough to go it alone. When we invite Jesus in as our guide, we will never be alone, He will always be with us. He helps us avoid condemnation. Will our names appear in the Book of Life at judgment day? What will Jesus say about you? Are you ready?" Excerpt from the July 31, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"The Apostle's Creed continued: If Jesus had been conceived by a mortal man, He couldn't have saved us from our sin. He was not merely a man but is the Son of God. If we really believe in Jesus as the Son of God then we'll live differently. We should stand out by the way we live our lives and live one another. We'd be committed to learning how the Bible says to live and sharing this with others. Do you really believe? Where's the evidence of your commitment. If you were put on trial for being a Christian, is there enough evidence to convict you? "Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Excerpt from July 24, 2016 message entitled, "I Believe in Jesus Christ", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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Series on the Apostle's Creed: Looking at understanding why we believe what we believe as Christians. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth." Jesus encouraged the disciples to look to God as their Father. The reality of a fallen, sinful world is that all father's aren't perfect. God should be the example. When earthly father's fail, God does not. As Father Almighty, (1)God is our authority figure and that's reflected in our behavior~~we are his children. God will discipline us because He loves us. (2)God is in control. The world will end as His word says it will. Even when the world seems out of control, that's due to our free will and the choices humans are making. God continues to draw people to himself and His love is shown even during tragedy. (3) God is relational. He loves, cares, provides for and rescues us. He sent Jesus into the world to help build that relationship. Challenge for the week: Every time you pray, refer to God as "father" and see how it changes your prayers/relationship. Excerpt from July 17, 2016 message entitled "I Believe in God the Father", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"I Have Been Crucified with Christ" (Guest speakers Steve and Frankie Wunderink) Christ gave himself up for us! It's not just about obeying the laws, we must live in faith of the One who loved us and gave Himself up for us. Awesome faith is faith that is both amazing and dangerous. You will never learn what it's like to love sacrificially until that sacrifice is real and conditional. We must be willing to give up everything for Christ. It's up to us to follow God's plan for our lives because "we've been crucified with Christ and no longer live, Christ lives in us." (Gal. 2:20), excerpt from July 10, 2016 message.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"What is this? What does it mean to be free in Jesus? Jesus offers us a way out of our slavery to sin. First, Jesus frees us from the burden of obeying the Old Testament laws which were pretty impossible to keep. Secondly, Jesus frees us from sin's penalty. We should be thankful that we don't get what we deserve because "the wages of sin is death." Third, Jesus frees us from sin's bondage. God always provides us with a way out of temptation. Fourth, we are freed to serve. We can love, forgive, show mercy and use our God-given talents for Him. We can achieve that freedom by abiding in Jesus' word because if you know the truth, the truth will set you free." Excerpt from the July 3, 2016 message entitled "Freedom in Jesus", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Events in Jesus life that could be perceived as failure: (1) caring about what others think about us but in Matthew 13:53-58 it shows people who thought less of Jesus because of who his family was; in John 6:60-66 it reminds us that not everyone who comes to Jesus stays with Jesus because they thought it was too hard; Mark 3 speaks of Jesus being out of his mind which is not a good sign of success; in Mark 14:48-50 Jesus has been praying in the garden of Gethsemane when He is abandoned by his disciples; finally, He died on a cross and was perceived to have failed. However, Jesus really accomplished His mission for being here. Who determines for you whether you are successful or not? Jesus calls us to be obedient to him no matter if the world views that as successful or not. Are we doing what God has called us to do? Success or failure~what would God say about you right now?" Excerpt from the June 19, 2016 message entitled "The Failures of Jesus", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"The Light - Opening eyes~Acts 2:38; Come out of the darkness~Isa. 9:2; Shining the light; Reflecting the light~2 Cor. 3:16-4:6; Walking in Light of scripture ~let God's word be a light unto our feet; What light exposes~the Holy Spirit illuminates God's word to keep us on the right path; Following the Light of the world~Take the light of Jesus out into the world. "(1 Peter 2:9) Excerpt from the June 12, 2016 message, Kendra Bunch
*********************************************************************************************************************
We cannot pick and choose what areas of faith we'll obey or what parts of the Bible to follow. Our world has become one of choices and this has moved into our Christian walk. We think we can pick and choose what to believe and what to discard. We cannot be the church in this manner. We are not to do anything that might be a stumbling block to other believers (and non believers coming to Christ). We tend to think if our good outweighs the bad in our life then we're ok. That's not how it is~ we must remain obedient! This will draw people to Jesus. There are five steps to obedience: confess and repent; ask God to reveal inconsistent areas; pray before reading the Bible to make you sensitive to His message; Mark/write down verses that stand out and then pray about what that means and talk to others for guidance too. "If you love me, you will obey what I command....Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me." (John 14:15, 21) Excerpt from the June 5, 2016 message entitled, "Cafeteria Christianity", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
We are all called to be soldiers for Christ in our world. It's important to bring veterans into our Christian brotherhood. We should be like Jesus as we seek justice, hand out mercy, show compassion, be reliable and faithful to Him, give attention to duty and unselfishly give obedience to the Father. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Excerpt from the May 29, 2016 message entitled, "The Christian Soldier", Kathy Roberts.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Our world seems to have an attraction to super heroes. We're attracted to the idea of them defeating evil, working for the justice we yearn for and their faithfulness. However, even super heroes can't always be faithful but God can. God always comes through but not always in our timeframe. We have become conditioned to operating on our time and forget God's faithfulness when He doesn't respond as quickly as we think He should. God will bring about what He promises. God's Spirit will always be with us until Jesus comes again. God has promised Jesus is coming back for us. Are you ready? God is faithful and wants us to reflect Him to this world and be like Him. "I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6 NIV) Excerpt from the May 22, 2016 message entitled, "God's Faithfulness", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
As Jesus was about to leave this earth, He told his followers that He would still be with them. The Holy Spirit came to live in us. The Holy Spirit is in Jesus followers forever. This power gives each of us the power to proclaim God's word to our world. (1) The Holy Spirit is more than just a counselor who comes alongside us but should be our conscience to guide us if we listen. (2) The Holy Spirit is the messenger of truth to us. It brings the authority of scripture. (3) the Holy Spirit is equal with God so we should heed his instructions. (4) The Holy Spirit is God living IN us. The God of creation, that brings His power, lives inside us. It's ours to tap into and receive help for our lives to accomplish anything. (5) The Holy Spirit will be with us forever. Excerpt from the May 15, 2016 message entitled, "The Presence of God", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Christians seem to fall into three categories regarding missions. Those who: passionately Go; passionately SEND; or are passionately disobedient. Which one are you? God has our life planned and wants us to obey and trust His plan for us. We just need to get out of the way so He can do work through us. God always knows but we seldom wait to hear his answer.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) Excerpt from the April 24, 2016 message entitled, "God Sees the Whole Picture", Joyce Chellis, Guest Speaker.
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Jesus wants us to have peace--He brought it to this world. He is called the Prince of Peace. So what does he mean in Luke 12:49-53 when He says: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.” (Luke 12:51-52)?
Following Jesus is divisive. It separates us from others. Sharing the good news of Jesus can divide us. Many people don't understand when we choose to commit and deepen our relationship with Christ. There is a cost to believing. There's nothing more important in eternity than our relationship to Jesus. God will go with us. It's harder than following the ways of the world but leads to abundant life! Excerpt from the April 17, 2016 message entitled, "Not Peace but Division", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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(1) Guilt: disconnects us from God. It's important that we don't let this bond us from doing God's work. (2) Resentment and anger: many people hold onto hurts and never get rid of them. This only hurts the one hanging onto the anger, not the one who's resented. (3) Fear: fear-driven people miss out on opportunities and are held prisoner. (4) Materialism: not being satisfied, always wanting more. This is just a temporary fix. (5) Approval: unused potential, unnecessary stress. A relationship with Christ should be our driving force~~our purpose.
Benefits of knowing your purpose : (1) Knowing purpose gives meaning. (2) Knowing purpose simplifies your life. (3) Knowing your purpose focuses your life. (4) Knowing your purpose motivates your life. We can accomplish extraordinary things when we're motivated. (5) Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:12-14 NIV) Excerpt from the April 10, 2016 message entitled, "What Drives Your Life", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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If we're going to call ourselves followers of Jesus, we need to know His word. Our Bible is a priceless treasure! God inspired men to write what He put on their hearts. It is: (1) Useful for teaching; (2) Used for rebuking; (3) Useful for correcting by keeping to the truth of scripture and (4) Useful for training in righteousness to be a faithful follower of Jesus. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV) Excerpt from the April 3, 2016 message, entitled, "Help for the Road", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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Why the Cross? Before we trust in Jesus, we are dead in our sins. We don't need to get our lives in order before we come to church. That's where we should be so that we have the support of our Christian family. Jesus wants to help us with our lives. We only need to call out to him. That's why we need the cross~~ALL our sins are forgiven!
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
(Colossians 2:13-15 NIV) Excerpt from the March 27, 2016 message entitled, "Why the Cross?", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"Why a Parade?" (1)Death produces many seeds. Jesus knew He would die yet rode into Jerusalem to say, "Here I Am!" He willingly gave up hs life for us (2)His death was something difficult that was near. He knew what awaited him~~but He knew that's why he had come to earth. (3)Jesus knew he was going to be lifted up and nailed to a cross. He also knew he'd be lifted up to heaven. He was willing to go through all of that to save us! (John 12:20-36). Excerpt from the March 20, 2016 message entitled, "Why a Parade?", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"Being Like Jesus" Mt. 7:15-23We must bear fruit that shows Christ to those around us. God will know us when we spend time building a relationship with him through prayer and reading the Bible. Are you making time to talk to God? The average American spends 5-7 minutes a day in prayer yet give 2 hours to TV time. Which one are you? We need to start to work at pleasing God more than pleasing ourselves. What kind of life will you choose? Are you just going to fill your time with activities or give time to build your relationship with Christ? You are loved just the way you are!
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20 NIV) Excerpt from the March 6, 2016 message entitled, "Being Like Jesus", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV)
"What Would You Do?" Are we proving trustworthy with what God has entrusted us to do? We need to make sure that every day isn't the same and that we're really making an impact on our world. When we live and work selfishly, our toil will be for nothing with nothing gained. An empty life! Our job is to live for God and others. We never have a day to "do over" what we didn't do today. Make sure that each day is lived for the purpose that God has planned for you and live for others, not yourself. Excerpt from the February 21, 2016 message entitled, "What Would You Do?", Pastor Brian Bunch
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Our understanding of God's love is imperfect. We won't clearly know until we see Him face to face. In our relationships we should be looking for someone to love not for someone to love us. St. Valentine went against the culture to show what real love was. That's our job in our world today!
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” (1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:” (1 John 3:18-19 NIV)
Excerpt from the February 14, 2016 message entitled, "Valentine's Day", Pastor Brian Bunch
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"Woe to You" Luke 11:37-54. Jesus intended the law to help build relationships but the experts burdened people with them instead. Jesus had arrived but the experts were turning the people away when their job was to share knowledge. We can be just like those experts today. We should clean up our inside and give what's in us to God. What are your actions today showing others about God? Are our actions moving others away from God or bringing them closer? Whatever we do, we need to make sure people know the forgiveness of Christ and show His love to them. Excerpt from the February 7, 2016 message entitled, "Woe to You", Pastor Brian Bunch
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"Continuing Sermon on the Mount Series: Striking Back~~Mt. 5:38-42. Eye for eye: Jesus referred to Old Testament law but then gave His own interpretation. Jesus said it was better to suffer multiple insults than to retaliate. Why? We should respond by giving more than others expect of us. Why? Jesus calls his followers to do the unexpected, what no one else will do. Why? Jesus calls us to be very different. Why? The answers to why: (1)our goal should be to be like Jesus. Christian means Little Christ; (2) we need to stop wrong by letting things end with us; (3) we need to show Jesus and invite others to know him. We should be trying to draw others to His love. Doing the unexpected can be a beacon to Jesus love!" Excerpt from September 4, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"Sermon on the Mount: Our behavior must be something that draws others to God. For that reason, God gives us rules to follow. We are commanded to not lust after things that aren't ours. This isn't just of a sexual nature but also wanting material things too. Where we go, what we watch and read, make our thoughts go in a specific direction. What are you exposing your brain to? What is your mind dwelling on? Our thoughts should be pleasing to God! We should take drastic action to be who we need to be in Christ." Excerpt from August 28, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"The Apostle's Creed: "Jesus as Judge" On the third day He rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father...Jesus sits in the position of authority. Why is it important for us to believe this? Without Jesus we are headed for destruction and condemnation. God trusts all judgment to his Son, Jesus. Jesus is there to save us. Our job is to reflect Jesus in all we say and do. Are we doing that? If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Life gives us many obstacles that make it tough to go it alone. When we invite Jesus in as our guide, we will never be alone, He will always be with us. He helps us avoid condemnation. Will our names appear in the Book of Life at judgment day? What will Jesus say about you? Are you ready?" Excerpt from the July 31, 2016 message, Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"The Apostle's Creed continued: If Jesus had been conceived by a mortal man, He couldn't have saved us from our sin. He was not merely a man but is the Son of God. If we really believe in Jesus as the Son of God then we'll live differently. We should stand out by the way we live our lives and live one another. We'd be committed to learning how the Bible says to live and sharing this with others. Do you really believe? Where's the evidence of your commitment. If you were put on trial for being a Christian, is there enough evidence to convict you? "Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Excerpt from July 24, 2016 message entitled, "I Believe in Jesus Christ", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Series on the Apostle's Creed: Looking at understanding why we believe what we believe as Christians. "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth." Jesus encouraged the disciples to look to God as their Father. The reality of a fallen, sinful world is that all father's aren't perfect. God should be the example. When earthly father's fail, God does not. As Father Almighty, (1)God is our authority figure and that's reflected in our behavior~~we are his children. God will discipline us because He loves us. (2)God is in control. The world will end as His word says it will. Even when the world seems out of control, that's due to our free will and the choices humans are making. God continues to draw people to himself and His love is shown even during tragedy. (3) God is relational. He loves, cares, provides for and rescues us. He sent Jesus into the world to help build that relationship. Challenge for the week: Every time you pray, refer to God as "father" and see how it changes your prayers/relationship. Excerpt from July 17, 2016 message entitled "I Believe in God the Father", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"I Have Been Crucified with Christ" (Guest speakers Steve and Frankie Wunderink) Christ gave himself up for us! It's not just about obeying the laws, we must live in faith of the One who loved us and gave Himself up for us. Awesome faith is faith that is both amazing and dangerous. You will never learn what it's like to love sacrificially until that sacrifice is real and conditional. We must be willing to give up everything for Christ. It's up to us to follow God's plan for our lives because "we've been crucified with Christ and no longer live, Christ lives in us." (Gal. 2:20), excerpt from July 10, 2016 message.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"What is this? What does it mean to be free in Jesus? Jesus offers us a way out of our slavery to sin. First, Jesus frees us from the burden of obeying the Old Testament laws which were pretty impossible to keep. Secondly, Jesus frees us from sin's penalty. We should be thankful that we don't get what we deserve because "the wages of sin is death." Third, Jesus frees us from sin's bondage. God always provides us with a way out of temptation. Fourth, we are freed to serve. We can love, forgive, show mercy and use our God-given talents for Him. We can achieve that freedom by abiding in Jesus' word because if you know the truth, the truth will set you free." Excerpt from the July 3, 2016 message entitled "Freedom in Jesus", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Events in Jesus life that could be perceived as failure: (1) caring about what others think about us but in Matthew 13:53-58 it shows people who thought less of Jesus because of who his family was; in John 6:60-66 it reminds us that not everyone who comes to Jesus stays with Jesus because they thought it was too hard; Mark 3 speaks of Jesus being out of his mind which is not a good sign of success; in Mark 14:48-50 Jesus has been praying in the garden of Gethsemane when He is abandoned by his disciples; finally, He died on a cross and was perceived to have failed. However, Jesus really accomplished His mission for being here. Who determines for you whether you are successful or not? Jesus calls us to be obedient to him no matter if the world views that as successful or not. Are we doing what God has called us to do? Success or failure~what would God say about you right now?" Excerpt from the June 19, 2016 message entitled "The Failures of Jesus", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
"The Light - Opening eyes~Acts 2:38; Come out of the darkness~Isa. 9:2; Shining the light; Reflecting the light~2 Cor. 3:16-4:6; Walking in Light of scripture ~let God's word be a light unto our feet; What light exposes~the Holy Spirit illuminates God's word to keep us on the right path; Following the Light of the world~Take the light of Jesus out into the world. "(1 Peter 2:9) Excerpt from the June 12, 2016 message, Kendra Bunch
*********************************************************************************************************************
We cannot pick and choose what areas of faith we'll obey or what parts of the Bible to follow. Our world has become one of choices and this has moved into our Christian walk. We think we can pick and choose what to believe and what to discard. We cannot be the church in this manner. We are not to do anything that might be a stumbling block to other believers (and non believers coming to Christ). We tend to think if our good outweighs the bad in our life then we're ok. That's not how it is~ we must remain obedient! This will draw people to Jesus. There are five steps to obedience: confess and repent; ask God to reveal inconsistent areas; pray before reading the Bible to make you sensitive to His message; Mark/write down verses that stand out and then pray about what that means and talk to others for guidance too. "If you love me, you will obey what I command....Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me." (John 14:15, 21) Excerpt from the June 5, 2016 message entitled, "Cafeteria Christianity", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
We are all called to be soldiers for Christ in our world. It's important to bring veterans into our Christian brotherhood. We should be like Jesus as we seek justice, hand out mercy, show compassion, be reliable and faithful to Him, give attention to duty and unselfishly give obedience to the Father. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Excerpt from the May 29, 2016 message entitled, "The Christian Soldier", Kathy Roberts.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Our world seems to have an attraction to super heroes. We're attracted to the idea of them defeating evil, working for the justice we yearn for and their faithfulness. However, even super heroes can't always be faithful but God can. God always comes through but not always in our timeframe. We have become conditioned to operating on our time and forget God's faithfulness when He doesn't respond as quickly as we think He should. God will bring about what He promises. God's Spirit will always be with us until Jesus comes again. God has promised Jesus is coming back for us. Are you ready? God is faithful and wants us to reflect Him to this world and be like Him. "I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6 NIV) Excerpt from the May 22, 2016 message entitled, "God's Faithfulness", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
As Jesus was about to leave this earth, He told his followers that He would still be with them. The Holy Spirit came to live in us. The Holy Spirit is in Jesus followers forever. This power gives each of us the power to proclaim God's word to our world. (1) The Holy Spirit is more than just a counselor who comes alongside us but should be our conscience to guide us if we listen. (2) The Holy Spirit is the messenger of truth to us. It brings the authority of scripture. (3) the Holy Spirit is equal with God so we should heed his instructions. (4) The Holy Spirit is God living IN us. The God of creation, that brings His power, lives inside us. It's ours to tap into and receive help for our lives to accomplish anything. (5) The Holy Spirit will be with us forever. Excerpt from the May 15, 2016 message entitled, "The Presence of God", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Christians seem to fall into three categories regarding missions. Those who: passionately Go; passionately SEND; or are passionately disobedient. Which one are you? God has our life planned and wants us to obey and trust His plan for us. We just need to get out of the way so He can do work through us. God always knows but we seldom wait to hear his answer.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) Excerpt from the April 24, 2016 message entitled, "God Sees the Whole Picture", Joyce Chellis, Guest Speaker.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Jesus wants us to have peace--He brought it to this world. He is called the Prince of Peace. So what does he mean in Luke 12:49-53 when He says: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.” (Luke 12:51-52)?
Following Jesus is divisive. It separates us from others. Sharing the good news of Jesus can divide us. Many people don't understand when we choose to commit and deepen our relationship with Christ. There is a cost to believing. There's nothing more important in eternity than our relationship to Jesus. God will go with us. It's harder than following the ways of the world but leads to abundant life! Excerpt from the April 17, 2016 message entitled, "Not Peace but Division", Pastor Brian Bunch.
*********************************************************************************************************************
(1) Guilt: disconnects us from God. It's important that we don't let this bond us from doing God's work. (2) Resentment and anger: many people hold onto hurts and never get rid of them. This only hurts the one hanging onto the anger, not the one who's resented. (3) Fear: fear-driven people miss out on opportunities and are held prisoner. (4) Materialism: not being satisfied, always wanting more. This is just a temporary fix. (5) Approval: unused potential, unnecessary stress. A relationship with Christ should be our driving force~~our purpose.
Benefits of knowing your purpose : (1) Knowing purpose gives meaning. (2) Knowing purpose simplifies your life. (3) Knowing your purpose focuses your life. (4) Knowing your purpose motivates your life. We can accomplish extraordinary things when we're motivated. (5) Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:12-14 NIV) Excerpt from the April 10, 2016 message entitled, "What Drives Your Life", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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If we're going to call ourselves followers of Jesus, we need to know His word. Our Bible is a priceless treasure! God inspired men to write what He put on their hearts. It is: (1) Useful for teaching; (2) Used for rebuking; (3) Useful for correcting by keeping to the truth of scripture and (4) Useful for training in righteousness to be a faithful follower of Jesus. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV) Excerpt from the April 3, 2016 message, entitled, "Help for the Road", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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Why the Cross? Before we trust in Jesus, we are dead in our sins. We don't need to get our lives in order before we come to church. That's where we should be so that we have the support of our Christian family. Jesus wants to help us with our lives. We only need to call out to him. That's why we need the cross~~ALL our sins are forgiven!
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
(Colossians 2:13-15 NIV) Excerpt from the March 27, 2016 message entitled, "Why the Cross?", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"Why a Parade?" (1)Death produces many seeds. Jesus knew He would die yet rode into Jerusalem to say, "Here I Am!" He willingly gave up hs life for us (2)His death was something difficult that was near. He knew what awaited him~~but He knew that's why he had come to earth. (3)Jesus knew he was going to be lifted up and nailed to a cross. He also knew he'd be lifted up to heaven. He was willing to go through all of that to save us! (John 12:20-36). Excerpt from the March 20, 2016 message entitled, "Why a Parade?", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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"Being Like Jesus" Mt. 7:15-23We must bear fruit that shows Christ to those around us. God will know us when we spend time building a relationship with him through prayer and reading the Bible. Are you making time to talk to God? The average American spends 5-7 minutes a day in prayer yet give 2 hours to TV time. Which one are you? We need to start to work at pleasing God more than pleasing ourselves. What kind of life will you choose? Are you just going to fill your time with activities or give time to build your relationship with Christ? You are loved just the way you are!
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20 NIV) Excerpt from the March 6, 2016 message entitled, "Being Like Jesus", Pastor Brian Bunch.
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“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV)
"What Would You Do?" Are we proving trustworthy with what God has entrusted us to do? We need to make sure that every day isn't the same and that we're really making an impact on our world. When we live and work selfishly, our toil will be for nothing with nothing gained. An empty life! Our job is to live for God and others. We never have a day to "do over" what we didn't do today. Make sure that each day is lived for the purpose that God has planned for you and live for others, not yourself. Excerpt from the February 21, 2016 message entitled, "What Would You Do?", Pastor Brian Bunch
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Our understanding of God's love is imperfect. We won't clearly know until we see Him face to face. In our relationships we should be looking for someone to love not for someone to love us. St. Valentine went against the culture to show what real love was. That's our job in our world today!
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.” (1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:” (1 John 3:18-19 NIV)
Excerpt from the February 14, 2016 message entitled, "Valentine's Day", Pastor Brian Bunch
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"Woe to You" Luke 11:37-54. Jesus intended the law to help build relationships but the experts burdened people with them instead. Jesus had arrived but the experts were turning the people away when their job was to share knowledge. We can be just like those experts today. We should clean up our inside and give what's in us to God. What are your actions today showing others about God? Are our actions moving others away from God or bringing them closer? Whatever we do, we need to make sure people know the forgiveness of Christ and show His love to them. Excerpt from the February 7, 2016 message entitled, "Woe to You", Pastor Brian Bunch
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Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
We think you will find a welcoming group of caring people here at Faith United Methodist Church. We are pleased to share with you about who we are.
Faith Church has served the Delton area for over 100 years. We have well-maintained facilities that are used by various community groups as well as our congregation.
Our primary purpose is to serve Jesus, and we do that best by sharing His love here in our community, our country, and around the world. Our mission is “to make disciples as we seek to know Christ and to make Him known.”
Faith UMC offers many opportunities for learning, fellowship, and action. We believe that a personal relationship with Jesus is essential for salvation. When He is Lord over us, we become actively involved in worship, study, disciple-making, and serving others.
If you are looking for a place to belong as a part of God’s family, we hope you will consider us. If you have ideas of how we can better serve and build up the Body of Christ, please let us know.
We think you will find a welcoming group of caring people here at Faith United Methodist Church. We are pleased to share with you about who we are.
Faith Church has served the Delton area for over 100 years. We have well-maintained facilities that are used by various community groups as well as our congregation.
Our primary purpose is to serve Jesus, and we do that best by sharing His love here in our community, our country, and around the world. Our mission is “to make disciples as we seek to know Christ and to make Him known.”
Faith UMC offers many opportunities for learning, fellowship, and action. We believe that a personal relationship with Jesus is essential for salvation. When He is Lord over us, we become actively involved in worship, study, disciple-making, and serving others.
If you are looking for a place to belong as a part of God’s family, we hope you will consider us. If you have ideas of how we can better serve and build up the Body of Christ, please let us know.
Sunday School 8:45 A.M. - Worship Service 10:00 A.M.
copyright - 2015 Faith United Methodist Church, Delton, Michigan
The Cross and Flame is a registered trademark and the use is supervised by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church. Permission to use the Cross and Flame must be obtained from the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church - Legal Department, 1200 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201.
The Cross and Flame is a registered trademark and the use is supervised by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church. Permission to use the Cross and Flame must be obtained from the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church - Legal Department, 1200 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201.
