Luke 10:25-37 (NIV) 25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your […]
INTRODUCTION This is a yearly sermon designed to set the tone and course for our year as a church. These are our ASPIRATIONS. THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS Paul writes his letter of Ephesians while in jail. The letter can be divided into two halves: Chapters 1-3, the Story of the Gospel and Chapters 4-6, Our […]
WHO WE ARE: ONE LORD, ONE FAITH 1. THE CHURCH IS AT THE CENTER OF GOD’S PLAN. Ephesians 2:19-21 (NIV) 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the […]
EPHESIANS 4 BOTH CONFRONTS MANY THINGS THAT DIVIDE THE CHURCH AND ENCOURAGES US TO BE ONE. one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, one Father of all It talks about our Heavenly Father because it is implied there is one Family. EPHESIANS 2 TALKS ABOUT JEWS AND GENTILES […]
GOD’S CHURCH WAS GOD’S IDEA. At Real Life Ministries, we are always aspiring to be true to God’s original design 2,000 years ago! ONE FAITH: believing the right things ONE FAMILY: belonging ONE BODY: functioning within God’s design GOD DECIDED TO ADOPT YOU. Ephesians 1:3-6 3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus […]
There are three truths that are essential that we must believe and live out when it comes to being the “Family of God.” TRUTH #1: GOD ADOPTS US INTO HIS FAMILY-WE DON’T ADOPT HIM INTO OURS. Definition of Adoption: “the action or fact of legally taking another’s child and bringing it up as one’s own, […]
MATURITY IS THE GOAL, AND A MATURE PERSON HAS THE… One Lord One Faith (right beliefs and behaviors) One Family (relationship) One body, one function Ephesians 4:7–16 (NLT) 7However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8That is why the Scriptures say, “When he […]
THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH This series is about addressing difficult subjects that are prevalent in our culture. These issues can turn into the “Elephant in the Room.” We want to respond with grace and truth. REALITY #1. THE CHURCH HAS A DILEMMA REALITY #2. Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV) 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and […]
WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES? To alert God’s people to deception. Too many have accepted ways of getting information that challenges their faith. To exhort God’s people to start reading Scripture daily in order to prepare themselves for the battle. To prepare the children and grandchildren of God’s people for the ways the […]
THIS WEEK: CREATION CARE & CLIMATE CHANGE • Conversations, opinions, perspectives, emotion, experience, behavior, belief systems, information intake, lifestyle and identity are tied to these subjects. • All of these form our world view. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY? CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) God made […]
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERIES: To help you understand and become a part of the rhythms God designed for the Christian Faith. Oftentimes, people just embrace an idea or practice that was handed to them and don’t ask… Why are we doing this? // Where did this come from?// Is there a precedent for it?// […]
EVER WONDER WHY…? Jesus said, “…I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18), making it clear that the Church is God’s. The first church is what we must measure ourselves by; we’re to be devoted to all the first church was devoted to. WHY WE PRAY? Jesus taught us to engage in with our Creator, Savior, […]
This series is about the foundational elements of our worship services. Why we do what we do as a church? We acknowledge our church as Jesus’ church and therefore pattern it after His plan. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. […]
THIS WEEK, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRAYER. • Have you ever noticed how many times throughout a service we pray together as a church? o Between 5-7 times each service! • Define Prayer: In its simplest form, prayer is communicating with God. The question is “Why do we spend so much time devoted to prayer […]
WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC AND SINGING WORSHIP TOGETHER HELPS UNIFY US WITH OUR GOD AND EACH OTHER. “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to […]
EVER WONDER WHY… WE DO WHAT WE DO IN A WEEKEND WORSHIP SERVICE? Jesus said, “…I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18), making it clear that the Church is God’s. The first church is what we must measure ourselves by; we’re to be devoted to all the first church was devoted to. TOGETHER, WE ARE […]