Which physical posture of prayer is the right one for you? I would say, none of them! Rather than the external posture, the Bible emphasizes the posture of the heart. Whether you are standing, sitting, or lying down, the important thing is that your heart is bowed in submission to the lordship of Christ. Main Points: 1. True prayer is characterized by the posture of the heart, not the physical posture of the person praying. 2. So, what is the right posture of our hearts as we com...

I want to assure you today that no matter what you are experiencing or what you feel, God’s face is turned towards you. He does know what you feel and He cares. Main Points: 1. Perhaps you feel down today, thinking all your hope is gone, that even God has abandoned you. Yes, you may feel those things, but that doesn’t mean your feelings are true. The God of Heaven knows what you are feeling. He understands the pressure you are feeling. Most of all, He is there. He cares and He is with...

I started this episode talking about how the world calculates self-worth, but the truth is, you can’t calculate your self-worth. It’s already been determined. Your self-worth was set by Jesus. You are so valuable Jesus laid down his life for you. Paul said, “I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave himself for me.” Main Points: 1. Don’t buy into the lies that your value is determined by your performance. Don’t accept the labels others put on your life. Don’t let the rejection...

In a world of mistrust, God can be trusted. He can be counted upon. He keeps his promises, he fulfills his word, and he does what he says he will do. God is worthy of your trust, your faith, and your confidence. Main Points: 1. The Bible teaches us that God is faithful. This means God is always reliable, all of the time. He does not fail or forget. He always keeps his word. His character is consistent and He never changes. 2. Think about the implications of this wonderful ...

I love the words of Jesus. I’ve discovered that most people do, even non-believers. You can even purchase Bibles that only have the words of Jesus printed. It’s been said that no one speaks like Jesus and I would agree. His words have power and they have life. These truths are encouraging, uplifting, inspiring, and challenging. They changed people’s lives in the first century, and they are still changing lives today. But you would have to agree that as much as we love the words of Jesus...

The children of God are peacemakers. A peacemaker is someone who intentionally works to help people reconcile with God and others. Anyone who does the hard work of peacemaking will be blessed by God. Main Points: 1. The word “peace” in Matthew 5:9 combines two Greek words. Together they mean to bring about wholeness, to bring all the essential parts together in wholeness. 2. Peace-making requires God’s power. Real and lasting peace is impossible to create without God...

God desires his church to be in tune with himself and with one another. Nothing interrupts the work of God and discredits the church like disunity. A church that is not in unity with God and one another is dysfunctional and ineffective. Disunity prohibits our message from being a beautiful sound to the community. But when a church comes together in unity, our message is compelling and contagious. Main Points: 1. The goal is not unity in everything. Being humans, it’s normal to have differin...

I want you to acknowledge an important truth today. God’s purpose for your life is greater than your ability to accomplish it. You need a power greater than your own. You can’t fulfill God’s purpose without God. You don’t have enough strength, wisdom, creativity, or resources to do God's will all by yourself. Main Points: 1. If you are a Christ-follower, it’s likely you already know God wants to use your life. As you serve him, he has tasks for you to accomplish. Your life has a purpose. As...

We are not God. We are not little gods, but we were created to be like God in character and lifestyle. Our lives should reflect the glory of God to others. When we do this, we are healthy and whole. The Bible describes this as holiness. Main Points: 1. Our sin has distorted the image of God within us, and now we can’t see ourselves as God sees us. We ascribe to labels the world places on us. We struggle with discovering our true identity. 2. It is essential that you hear this message way do...

As Christians, prayer is always a whisper away. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing conversation with God. You don’t need a special appointment to talk with God. You can do so, anywhere, and at any time. Main Points: 1. There is significant value in making a specific time for prayer. In fact, I think that if we are not intentional about a time and a place for prayer, it’s likely we won’t be consistent in our prayer life. 2. W...

You and I are going to struggle with our humanity. Surrender doesn’t seem like a good idea to any of us. It feels like we are giving up and losing control, but when we surrender to God, we lose things we don’t need to gain the things we really do. Main Points: 1. Everything you need is on the other side of surrendering your life to God. 2. Everything you need God can provide. Yet, often the provision doesn’t come until we surrender to God. 3. God’s plan is not about depriving us...

When we have a proper heart for worship, we’ll see that worship is not for us. Worship is for God. We worship for an audience of ONE! He is the audience; we are not. As our hearts are directed in praise, adoration, gratitude, and love for God, in return, we experience joy. Main Points: 1. Worship is the response of all that we are to all that God is. To worship is to declare God’s worth. 2. While worshipping together with a group of believers is both biblical and important, we s...

I believe God wants us to catch a vision of the importance of the church in our lives and community, and the church’s role in fulfilling the mission of Jesus in our world. God is at work in this world, and he has chosen to use the church as his agent. Main Points: 1. The church, as a collection of people with hurts, hang-ups, hiccups, and habits, provides us an opportunity to learn and to grow. We learn to love those who are difficult to love. We learn to bear with one another. We lea...

We’ll spend the rest of our lives trying to understand God’s love, but the best way to get started is to experience it. His love will change your life. Main Points: 1. The world tells us that love is a feeling, something that comes and goes. Many marriages have ended because couples claim that they have “fallen out of love.” Some people say they don’t feel God’s love. Our feelings are fickle; they come and they go, but the truth remains: We are deeply loved by God, and that will never chang...

I think you and I know intuitively that rest is important for us. Not only is it important, but rest is also vital. Without rest, we are not at our best. Rest sharpens our soul, our mind, our body, and our spirit. Main Points: 1. So, if God doesn’t get tired, and he never needs to sleep, why did He rest? I believe God rested to set an example for us. Rest would not only be a physical necessity for us, but also a spiritual one. 2. We need to see that rest is a gift from God. It’s a blessing ...

Fear of the Lord is deep respect, awe, and reverence for God. We give God the glory, honor, reverence, gratitude, and praise, he deserves. God holds this preeminent position in our hearts and lives. We regard his desires over and above our own. Main Points: 1. We should fear or respect the Lord as one who has authority over us. It is a recognition that we are accountable to Him. He is so great, He is so holy, He is so righteous, how can I not humble myself before him...

An interruption can be God’s tool to help us become more patient, more loving, and more understanding. It can be God’s way of guiding our steps and pointing us in the right direction. Divine interruptions can be God’s hand of protection in our lives when we are starting to move in the wrong direction. God’s interruptions are always for a reason. Main Points: 1. As you read the Gospels, you can’t help but notice that Jesus was interrupted just about every day. There was always someone reachi...

As Christians, our convictions are shaped by biblical principles. Since we believe the Bible is God’s Word and that its truth lasts forever, our beliefs and convictions cannot change regardless of the changes in our society. Main Points: 1. What are your core convictions? Have you ever made a list? A conviction is a firmly held belief. It is part of who you are as a person. It shapes your choices and decisions. A conviction does change with the winds of time. It is part of your character. 2...

Let this truth fill your soul today. You are loved by God. No matter who you are, where you have been, or what you have done, God loves you. And his love is as high as the heavens. Main Points: 1. Have you ever questioned the love of God? Have you ever thought, “How could God love someone like me?” May you wonder if there was a limit to God’s love. 2. When we understand the depth of his love for us, it creates security. We will believe His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. ...

Any attempts at finding joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment apart from God always leave us empty. Yes, there may be temporary moments of happiness and perceived satisfaction, but it is never lasting. Millions of people can testify that they never knew real joy until they knew Jesus as Savior and Lord. Main Points: 1. As real as our physical hunger is, we have another type of hunger that is just as real. It’s spiritual hunger. There is an emptiness that we will attempt to satisfy. Often, we w...