Sermons by Phil Pike

Following Jesus, No Strings Attached

Date: February 10, 2013

Today’s advertising experts would have to admit that Jesus had the worst marketing campaign in history! Instead of advertising all the good things up front and putting the bad things in fine print, He came right out and said that if anyone wanted to follow Him, they first had to deny themselves, take up a cross, abandon every other allegiance in life, give up everything they had, and follow Him, possibly even to the death. He made it painfully clear that no one could be His disciple if they were still holding onto anything that came before Him. And still today, He requires that we follow Him, no strings attached!

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Who is Really in Charge of Your Life?

Date: February 3, 2013

We’ve all seen funny or embarrassing things happen at weddings, but just imagine how stunned you would be to hear a bride standing at the altar refusing to forsake all others and give herself to her husband alone! Yet we think nothing of entering into a relationship with Jesus that very same way. Some people say, “I want to go to heaven when I die, but I don’t want Jesus ruling over my life!” The fact is, Jesus doesn’t give us that option! He demands exclusive ownership of every area of our lives. You may have received Jesus as Savior, but have you ever invited Him to be the Lord and Master of your life?

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One Question You Never Want to Hear

Date: January 27, 2013

Imagine if Jesus called you and said He wanted to come by your house that evening to speak with you for a few minutes. As you excitedly invited Him into your living room, He took a seat right beside you, then turned to you and took your hand in His. Then He looked into your eyes with incredible love, and said very gently but with great concern, “Why do you call me Lord, and do not do what I say?” Can you imagine how your heart would sink? What does making Him Lord really mean, and how can we make sure we never have to hear that question?

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Whatever He Says to You, Do It!

Date: January 20, 2013

The last time we ever hear Mary the mother of Jesus speak is when she points people to Jesus and says, “Whatever He says to you, do it!” After this, we never hear her speak another word in the Bible. What a powerful final statement to leave with the world, and it is still the greatest advice for anyone who will listen. If we ever hope to become bold followers of Jesus, we must make these words our life’s anthem, and be willing to do whatever Jesus tells us to do.

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Another Year of Grace

Date: January 13, 2013

As 2012 falls from the calendar and we stand on the threshold of a brand new year, one thing we can all say for sure is that God has given us another year of grace! We’ve had another 12 months to live for Him, to grow in Him, to bear fruit for His kingdom… but what have we done with those opportunities? Are we closer to Christ today than we were this time last year, or has our relationship with Him drifted apart? Each new year God gives us to live is another year we don’t deserve — another year of grace. What will we do with this one?

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Surrendering Your Future to God’s Will

Date: January 6, 2013

The night before Jesus went to the cross, He agonized over that step of obedience so deeply that the Bible says His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death! He asked His Father if there was any other way, but He concluded that prayer by saying, “…not my will, but Thy will be done.” Jesus was willing to surrender His future to God because he trusted His Father completely. He let go of everything that might have held Him back from total obedience. What about you? Is there anything holding you back from fully surrendering your future to God’s will?

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What Child is This?

Date: December 30, 2012

Centuries before Jesus came, people shook their heads and wondered what kind of Savior this might be who the prophets said would come, not as a mighty warrior, but as a little baby. Then, when He did come, people shook their heads in wonder and amazement at the things He said and did, as they asked each other, “Who is this?” Today, this continues to be life’s most important question — deciding for ourselves who this Child really is. Have you answered this all-important question?

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Joy to the World

Date: December 23, 2012

The world can offer you momentary happiness, but only Jesus can give you lasting joy. Happiness comes and goes depending on life’s circumstances, but joy remains even in the worst of times. But is it really possible for anyone to experience this kind of joy? Despite having so many things in life like pleasures, pursuits and possessions, most people are still not fulfilled. What about you? Are you still searching for joy and fulfillment? Today’s message tells how you can have the joy that Jesus came to give, even when life let’s you down!

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Do You Hear What I Hear?

Date: December 9, 2012

October 1962 was a time of tremendous uncertainty and fear for Americans. The Cuban missile crisis had reached its most critical hour as America stood toe to toe with the Soviets and wondered if a nuclear war was imminent. People were gripped with panic, and it was during this dreadful time that Noel Regney wrote the song, Do You Hear What I Hear? It was a prayer for peace, encouraging everyone everywhere to look carefully and listen closely to the message that the Baby in the manger brings to all who will trust in Him. Jesus alone can bring true peace in life’s most troubling times. Do you know the peace that He gives?

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O Little Town of Bethlehem

Date: December 2, 2012

When God sent His Son to earth, why didn’t He choose a major world city to announce His arrival to millions of people? Instead, He chose the tiny town of Bethlehem and only announced His birth to lowly shepherds in the middle of the night. And instead of coming as a mighty warrior or a powerful political leader, He came as a helpless baby born into a poor family. But why? Why did He choose to come that way? Once you understand the reasons why He came, lived and died the way He did, you will gain a new appreciation for the lengths that God went to in order to identify with our struggles and become one of us!

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Living With Purpose Right Where You Are

Date: November 18, 2012

It’s an awesome thing to see God moving through you to touch the lives of others, and the best part is, you don’t have to earn a special degree, write a best-selling book, or become a great speaker… God wants to use you right where you are with what He has already given you! Did you know that whatever you do for a living, you are just as ordained by God as the pastor who stands in the pulpit every week? It’s true! Today we look at three simple steps you can take to allow God to start using your life in powerful, eternally significant ways right where you are. We encourage you to follow these steps of obedience and watch what God will do through you to impact the lives of others with His love, His light and His hope!

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God Chose You for His Team!

Date: November 11, 2012

Remember being on the playground at school when the kids would choose teams for kickball? Did you ever have the awful experience of being the last one chosen, or maybe not being chosen at all? Sadly, many people go through their entire life feeling that God would never want them on His team because they see themselves as having no value at all. If you feel weak, ashamed, broken, overlooked or useless in life, you need to know that God sees great value in you! In fact, you are exactly the person He is looking for to show His greatness through. Listen and be encouraged by today’s message!

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