Posts with the tag “bible”

The message at Mercy City Church emphasized the importance of aligning with God's heart cry to live a purposeful life. The speaker referenced Pastor Mike's previous message on advancing with God's heart cry, using examples from movies like Braveheart. The key points included understanding God's heart for relationships and community, and the need to leave behind personal desires and sins to advance together. The speaker highlighted the importance of building relationships, expecting the unexpected, and seeking God's strategies for victory. The message concluded with a call to action for personal and communal advancement, encouraging connection and purposeful living.  Read More

Pastor Matt celebrates the church's 10th anniversary and introduces a new series called Momentum, defined as acceleration with ease. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging new seasons in life and aligning with God's plan. Using the biblical story of Joshua taking over from Moses, Pastor Matt encourages the congregation to move forward with faith, trusting God's promises rather than relying on people. He stresses the need for biblical literacy and staying connected to God's Word. The message concludes with a call to embrace new opportunities and trust in God's divine order.  Read More

Pastor Matt's message emphasized the concept of favor and consistency. He recounted his mother's poor gift-giving skills to illustrate that God's gifts are tailored to individual needs and timings. The sermon highlighted that God's favor is not fair but based on readiness and consistency. Key points included the importance of character, celebrating small wins, and seizing opportunities. The biblical example of the disciples choosing Matthias to replace Judas underscored the need for faithfulness and consistency in prayer and unity. The message concluded with a call to pursue Jesus consistently to be ready for God's favor.  Read More

Pastor Matt discusses the qualities of a leader worth following, emphasizing humility, honesty, hopefulness, honorability, and honoring others. He highlights the importance of leaders being humble in both success and failure, honest in their speech and actions, and hopeful in their outlook. Pastor Matt stresses that true leaders are developed through personal relationships with Jesus and painful experiences, not simply found. He encourages the congregation to reflect on their own lives and whether they embody these qualities, aiming to inspire others to follow Jesus.  Read More

Pastor Matt introduces a new series called "Follow the Leader," emphasizing the importance of making intentional decisions before opportunities arise. He stresses that choices lead, and feelings follow, urging listeners to commit to their goals and decisions before the moment presents itself. Using biblical examples, he illustrates the immediate response of Jesus' first disciples to His call, highlighting their faith and readiness. Pastor Matt also discusses the concept of 100% responsibility for personal decisions and encourages listeners to choose their leader, new life, and level of involvement, aiming for a strong start and finish in the coming year.  Read More

The message emphasized the importance of dreaming and aligning our dreams with God's divine plan. Pastor Carrie highlighted that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, as stated in Isaiah 55. God's creativity, evident in Genesis 1:1, is reflected in our unique gifts and dreams. She encouraged the congregation to seek God's dreams for their lives, which are rooted in intimacy and relationship with Him. She shared examples of how God's faithfulness has manifested in the lives of church members, including starting businesses, marriages, and healing. The message concluded with a call to slow down, connect with God, and seek His dreams for the upcoming year.  Read More

Pastor Matt discusses the importance of having "margin to dream," referencing biblical examples like Mary and Joseph. He emphasizes that as people age, they often lose the margin in their lives to dream, which is crucial for experiencing God's miracles. Matt encourages slowing down in messy moments, clearing the mess, and taking note of it, as it might be a prelude to a miracle. He stresses the need to weigh eternal values against temporary ones and to create space for God's intervention. The message concludes with a call for listeners to seek new dreams and visions from God.  Read More

Pastor Matt introduces a new series titled "Dreaming of a White Christmas," reflecting on childhood dreams and the loss of such anticipation as adults. He argues that dreaming is not just for children but essential for believers, citing Acts 2:17-18. Matt identifies three roadblocks to dreaming: thoughts, images, and sensations. He emphasizes the importance of transforming one's mindset, adopting God's blueprint, and replacing negative images and sensations with God's truth. He shares a personal story of overcoming abuse and stresses the power of prayer over worry. The message concludes with a call to dream again and embrace God's vision for 2025.  Read More

The message focused on the concept of restoration and reconnection. Skyler Crowl shared a personal story from January 2022 in Death Valley, where a sign about restoration sparked reflection on biblical restoration. The discussion highlighted three aspects: justification, sanctification, and healing. Skyler emphasized Jesus' awareness of our brokenness, His desire for reconnection, and the importance of vulnerability. He illustrated this with a story from Mark 3 about a man with a deformed hand, emphasizing that reconnection with Jesus can lead to restoration. The message concluded with a call for vulnerability and reconnection with God.  Read More

Pastor Carrie Erikson discusses the significance of Jesus' actions in Luke 8:26-39, emphasizing that Jesus embodies the gospel and that his actions provide principles for daily life. She highlights Jesus' intentional journey to the Gentile region of the Gerasenes, where he encounters a man possessed by demons. Jesus' presence immediately brings freedom, as the demons recognize his authority and are cast out, leading to the man's healing. However, the townsfolk react with fear and rejection, asking Jesus to leave. Pastor Carrie underscores that the gospel brings freedom, rejection, and a mandate to share one's testimony, urging the congregation to let God heal rejection and to share their testimonies.  Read More

Pastor Matt introduces a new series titled "Simple Gospel," focusing on the positive aspects of the gospel rather than fear-based teachings. He defines the Gospels as the first four books of the New Testament and emphasizes the Bible's inerrancy. The message centers on Mark 2, where Jesus heals a paralyzed man, illustrating the power of faith and forgiveness. Pastor Matt distinguishes between good friends and godly friends, stressing the importance of fruitfulness in a believer's life. He warns against reducing spirituality to familiarity and encourages pursuing godly friends who embody faith, forgiveness, and the fullness of life.  Read More

Pastor Matt delivered a sermon emphasizing the importance of training new believers to become spiritual warriors. He highlighted the need to protect and disciple the harvest, urging the congregation to embrace the "valley of decision" rather than avoiding it. Pastor Matt shared personal experiences of feeling stuck and the necessity of vision and faith. He referenced Numbers 16, illustrating the importance of standing in the middle, even amidst division and judgment. The sermon concluded with a call to action for believers to embrace their roles and make a difference in their immediate surroundings.  Read More

Pastor Carrie from Mercy City Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, introduced a new series titled "Sickles and Swords," emphasizing the importance of spiritual readiness and the concept of harvest. She highlighted the need for repentance, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the urgency of actively engaging in evangelism. Statistical data revealed that 82% of unchurched individuals might attend church if invited, but only 2% of churchgoers invited non-Christians last year. Pastor Carrie called for a proactive approach to reaching the lost, urging the congregation to be bold in sharing their faith and to prepare for a spiritual harvest.  Read More

Pastor Carrie introduces the second week of the series "In God We Trust," focusing on finances and their impact on stress and anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of discussing finances from a kingdom perspective and commits to reading Scripture throughout the series. Pastor Carrie explains the principle of the tithe, which is a part of the whole set aside for God, rooted in worship and gratitude. She highlights its significance in the Old and New Testaments, its role in protecting and blessing believers, and encourages unity and surrender in financial decisions.  Read More