The Work Of Faith

When do faith and work belong in the same sentence? More often than you might suppose! Jesus gives His Nike talk in Luke 17: “Just do it!” What should I be doing? That is the topic of today’s talk - where Christian faith and Christian work cross paths.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

The Model Prayer

Is there a “right way” to pray? Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. He responded with The Lord’s Prayer. Was Jesus telling them and us that we should pray with these specific words? Or was he giving them a model of prayer to follow? In this sermon we consider 6 parts to Jesus’ model prayer.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download this PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Authentic Worship

How would you respond if you hosted a dinner party for a celebrated religion teacher and a prostitute showed up… and the prostitute washed the teacher’s feet with her tears… and then broke a bottle of perfume over his feet… AND THE TEACHER LET IT HAPPEN? That’s the shocking story we study today from Luke 7:36-50. Along the way we gain six insights into authentic worship.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Mirrored Measurements

What goes around comes around! Jesus teaches this is especially true with judging and condemning others (on the negative side), but equally true on the forgiving and giving to others (on the positive side). So how do you become more merciful and giving? By looking closely in the mirror! When you check the speck, yank the plank!

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Faith, Forgiveness & Fear

What is it about forgiveness that so freaks us out sometimes? Fear of forgiveness is nothing new. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were more willing to accept a healer of the body than a man who forgave sin. We examine Luke 5:17-26 and discover 4 results of authentic faith in Jesus. Real Christianity has a lot to do with real forgiveness.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the PDF fill-in-the-blanks sermon outline.

Attitudes That Relate

What are the best attitudes we can have for ongoing, lasting, and fulfilling relationships in life? From Ephesians 4:1-6, we discover 5 attitudes that are sure to relate. Join me as we learn about relational basics from Scripture.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blanks PDF outline.

Foundational Christ

We love salvation stories in our books and movies. Many point back to THE salvation story found in God's Word. In this week's talk from 1 Peter 1, we discover that God's salvation was not a plan "B." He created mankind even knowing the sacrifice required of God's Son. Join me as we celebrate the greatest story ever told.

Follow along with the online sermon notes or download the fill-in-the-blank PDF outline.

#083: 3 More Ways To Deal With Difficult People

How do you handle the difficult crazy makers in your life? In this week's podcast, I explain the difference between forgiveness and trust. We consider 3 more Biblical responses. Refuse to play their game. Refuse to cave in. Always take the high ground.

We also catch you up on all the Church Requel news of the week, including a description of how the Christmas concert with Jeff Anderson came about. Lots going on these days at CR! Here's a link to Jeff's website. Here's a link to his Facebook page concert invitation.

This week's podcast music is "I Want Crazy" by Hunter Hayes.

#082: 3 Ways To Deal With Difficult People

How do you handle the demanding, deafening, discontented, disapproving, destructive, and demeaning crazy makers in your life? In this talk we consider 3 Biblical responses. Refuse to be offended. Don't wait for an apology to forgive. Refuse to gossip. The sermon begins at 43:40 in the podcast.

I also talk about Veteran's Day at church, the dedication of our "City of Churches" banner, the KidsMin Heaven teaching and the kiddos' responses, and why preaching funerals are even better than preaching weddings for this pastor!

The music from this week's podcast is "Here's To America" performed by the U.S. Army Band. This is from the Veteran's Day Honor album, free today from Amazon.com mp3 music store.

#071: Life Unlimited

Church Requel is growing! The cover art for this week's podcast compares the photo from this past weekend's church picnic to the year before. I talk about that and share the final sermon in the Positive ID in Christ sermon series. This week's sermon title is "Life Without Limits." We discuss the final two fingerprints of our Christian identity - that we are completely forgiven and that we are fully capable.

The music on this week's podcast is the song, "Build Your Kingdom Here," by Rend Collective Experiment. The recording is from this past weekend at Church Requel and features Dave Johnson, Christy Anne Pierce, Jana Edwards and Ryan Shoemaker.

#031: Back From The Storm

How should we interpret the text of the Bible?  Pastor Steve offers some practical advice for how to study the Bible. Also Mark talks about the topic of forgiveness in prayer and the 4th question in the Westminster Confession: "What is God?"

This week's podcast is published a couple days later than normal. I'm just returning from vacation.  Here's what I have lined up for you in this week's podcast:

[0:00]  Intro. I talk about my trip to Myrtle Beach and the stormy weather on the way back.

[13:45] Forgiveness and Prayer. We continue to consider the Lord's Prayer as our model for our daily prayers. In this week's podcast we discuss the issue of forgiveness - forgiving others and forgiving ourselves.

[25:25] Question 4. What is God? That's an uncomfortable question.  We're much more comfortable talking about Who is God? We'll take 3 podcast sessions to get started on this question. This theological study comes from G.I. Williamson's book on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

[39:55] CR Sermon: "How To Interpret A Text." Steve does an excellent job teaching for me this week.  Here are some highlights. A verse of the Bible means what it means.  There may be many applications but only one meaning. There are no secrets in the Bible.  We should look for the most obvious meaning. Steve also shares some great advice about prayer. You can't fall when you're on your knees! If God does not give you what you're asking for, he will give you something better. We're not always good at asking for what is best for us. Prayer is the passwoord to all God wants to do in our life. Prayer is not a spare tire to be taken out when things go wrong.  Prayer is the steerin wheel that guides us! Finally this valuable tidbit: Prayerlessness is practical atheism! This is a great talk! Don't miss it! Thanks so much Pastor Steve!

Music for this week's podcast is The Storm from Ray Boltz's album, Allegiance.

Defending the Offense

What is our defense when someone's offense, or sin, comes against us? Jesus gave us 4 very specific instructions of how we are to respond. Just like in football, there is an order to how we respond, a 1st down, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Join Pastor Mark in this study of Matthew 18:15-17.

LOST: The Other

The OTHER brother did not share his father's heart for the LOST son. What can we learn in this final Luke 15 passage that can help us not become the Others to a LOST world? Join Pastor Mark of Church Requel for this grace filled reminder.

Sermon: "How to Bring Out the Best in Your Kids - Part 2"

We conclude our parenting series today by talking about trusting kids with responsibility, correcting them without condemning them, and loving them unconditionally. Join Pastor Mark Pierce of Church Requel as we consider how to be a great parent!

#145: The Double Standard

How tough is it for you to ask God to "forgive you as you have forgiven other people?" Stay tuned for insight from Pastor Mark Pierce of Church Requel as we study Matthew 6:12-15.