4/21/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Easter

Easter Morning: Is He Worthy?

Easter, Resurrection Sunday, the Lord’s Day; all point to the reality that this day is all about remember what Jesus did in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. What is the significance of that day? Was He simply a misunderstood wise teacher who paid for His truth with His life? Was He an example for His followers to emulate on living moral and loving each other? Was He a rebel who was duly punished for opposing the government and causing an uprising? No, He was the only truly innocent man who died in your place and mine. He alone is worthy of our worship and devotion; do you believe this?

4/14/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

1Corinthians 4

Letters to Corinth: Be Who You Are

Serve with a Proper Mindset

We are called to serve, but division can corrupt our service and cause us to serve with ulterior motives. From leadership down, we must think properly about ourselves. We tend to think highly of ourselves and judge our faults with extra grace; while thinking poorly of others and judging their faults with extra scrutiny. Ultimately God Himself will judge us and He is the only one who matters. It is expected of His servants to be found worthy of the trust He places us under. Will we be found faithful or deficient?

4/7/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

1Corinthians 3

Letters to Corinth: Be Who You Are

Unity by Growing Into Maturity

The third installment on the subject of Unity revolves around the need to choose maturity. Unlike physical maturity that happens with little choice of when or how; spiritual maturity is something we must choose to engage in. Just because we show up in church or “do the Christian thing” does not make us a mature Christian. Many get to a certain point in their walk with Jesus and stop growing. God expects us to continue the journey to become more like Him, until the day we stand before Him...

3/31/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

1Corinthians 2

Letters to Corinth: Be Who You Are

Unity Under the Wisdom of God

The importance of unity is continued to be emphasized. Paul has stressed unity under the cross at first and now the next reason for unity is the wisdom of God. We have so much more to be united in that has real significance as opposed to all of the stuff that we use to separate us. The closer we are to embracing God’s wisdom, the closer together we will be...

3/24/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

1Corinthians 1

Letters to Corinth: Be Who You Are

Unity Under the Gospel

There are a number of issues that Paul will address with this church, but he begins with the need to be unified, specifically under the Gospel. In some ways it is logical, come together first and then fix your problems. It is more than logical though, as the pursuit of peace with God and men has been a core value since war broke out with God and each other. The only lasting peace though is in response to obedient living under the Gospel.

3/17/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

1Corinthians 1

Letters to Corinth: Be Who You Are

Be Who You Are

These 2 books are a reminder that as we build His church, we are sinners with great problems, and we minister to other sinners with great problems. There is no perfect church, just as there are no perfect saints this side of glory. Paul begins this first letter with a reminder of who they are in Christ and then will spend the next 16 chapters telling them to act like who they really are and not the world that they live in. Do you look more like Jesus or America?

3/10/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Fervently Praying

If we really want to obey the commands Jesus left for us to build His Church, it will require us to be men and women of prayer. Following Jesus is a spiritual work, building the church is a spiritual work; both require His Spirit to work! We must be completely dependent and relying upon Him to do anything of eternal and lasting value. Are you committed to pray for the lost in our community? Are you committed to pray for your own spiritual growth? Are you committed to pray for those who worship with you regularly?

3/3/2019

Missionary Todd Janes

Missionaries

The Foolishness of the Cross

Missionary to Thailand, Todd Janes, reminds us that God often uses the least obvious method or person to accomplish his purposes.

2/24/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Faithfully Discipling

The last words recorded by Jesus to His disciples was for them to become disciple makers themselves. From this very first charge, 2,000 years later, we are indebted to that obedience. We are also charged with making disciples and of being disciples ourselves. For the Church to grow, we must be constantly and faithfully discipling those who come behind us.

2/17/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Joyfully Serving

One of the greatest expectations Jesus left us what that He expects us to have the attitude and work ethic of a faithful servant. Being a great leader, He left for us a tremendous example of what that service should look like. There is coming a day when He will judge His servants on how well they have served. How will you fair on that day?

2/3/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Constantly Reaching

Jesus left His disciples a mission, who passed it on to us. That mission was to build His church by making disciples. The mission of making disciples is to be a primary mission that consumes much of the resources and time and lifeblood of the church. Persecution of the church is tied into disciple making as others are threatened by the nature of a growing church and seek to suppress it all costs. Building the church will require us to be looking for opportunities to make new disciples...

1/27/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Loving Radically

A reoccurring theme in scripture is the mandate we have to love radically. Israel certainly was called to love God and her fellow Jewish neighbors, but the church’s mandate is broadened out to include the whole world. It is to be a defining characteristic and one that the church quickly embraced. We are to be known for our love, if we are to build up the church; we must make sure we are genuinely loving each other.

1/20/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Giving Generously

Offering can be a confusing subject, are we to give 10% as a tithe? Can we give less if we are broke, should we give more if we are doing okay? Do we give to our local church or can I use send it to another person or place? The Bible speaks much about giving, offerings and tithes, lets explore how giving builds up the church and the attitude God expects us to give.

1/13/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Attending Regularly

We live in a day and time where it seems thousand of things are calling for our time and attention. We are so easily distracted by a host of events and activities that all want our most precious resource—time. Where does church fit in to our busy schedules? What should my commitment level be to the church? Can we do it all and do it all well?

Attending Regularly

1/6/2019

Pastor Phil Perry

Building up the Church

Introduction

You are in church today, so obviously you know something about it. What we know is often filtered through culture and upbringing to the point that not all of us have the same understanding or appreciation for what the church is or what it is to be. We are going to explore, define and commit to building up the church this year, let’s begin by defining and describing the church. May we grow to love it and serve it as much as Jesus does!

12/30/2018

Pastor Phil Perry

Communion

Communion

We remember the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in song, word and by partaking of the communion elements together.

12/24/2018

Pastor Phil Perry

Christmas

Christmas Fear

The Christmas story is a familiar one, a young mom, no room at the inn, strange visitors in the small town of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.  We can relate to parts of it, but some cultural things are so far removed from us it almost becomes fairy tale like.  One emotion that stands out in the story that we can all relate to, young or old, rich or poor, male or female is the emotion of fear.  Fear is seen in this story from its first announcement through the raising of young Jesus as a boy.  What are you afraid of this Christmas? 

12/16/2018

Pastor Phil Perry

John 21

Who is the Christ: John’s Gospel to the World!

Do You Love Me?

John finishes his gospel with a personal story about the cost of discipleship. His audience was facing persecution and they longed for Jesus to come and stop the troubles and usher in His kingdom. Selecting this story seems to be a way for John to say, “hang on, following Jesus is not always easy nor free”. The questions Jesus asked of Peter are questions we should ask of ourselves daily, “Do I love Jesus more than anything?”

12/9/2018

Pastor Phil Perry

John 21

Who is the Christ: John’s Gospel to the World!

A Great Catch of Fish

In the absence of direction, Peter takes charge. He returns to what is familiar and comfortable, but just like us returning to our old homes; something is just not right. Jesus will use it as a means to comfort the disciples and remind them He is there to care for them and provide all they need.

12/2/2018

Pastor Phil Perry

John 20

Who is the Christ: John’s Gospel to the World!

Jesus and the Disciples

Easter evening brings Jesus back into the presence of the gathered disciples (minus Thomas). They are afraid for their lives, most likely confused and battling the various stages of grief. Suddenly Jesus appears in their midst and ministers peace to them. Later Thomas also sees Jesus and proclaims Him both Sovereign and Deity. What an Easter!