Sermons by Phil Pike

The Hope that Christmas Brings

Date: December 18, 2011

The coming of Jesus into the world has had an unmistakable, undeniable impact on history… but has His coming affected you personally in any way? It is only because He came that life can have true meaning and purpose beyond the routine of the daily grind. Because He came, we can have lasting peace even in a world of turmoil. Because He came, we can receive complete forgiveness of our sins and have a personal relationship with God. No greater Gift has ever been given. Have you allowed this Gift to change your life?

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What Child is This?

Date: December 11, 2011

Millions of people celebrate Christmas as just another holiday, with no acknowledgement of the very One Christmas is about. They see Christmas cards with a little baby on the front, but never stop long enough to ask, “What child is this?” But the truth is, this child cannot be ignored. His birth was unlike the birth of any other baby in history. His life has impacted the entire world like no other, and it forces all of us, sooner or later, to answer the question, “What child is this?”… and more importantly, “What decision have I made about Him?”

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Being Thankful in All Circumstances

Date: November 27, 2011

We have been blessed with so much and have been given so much by God that we have come to expect it. We don’t really see our blessings as “blessings” anymore… we see them as the “normal” standard of life. Therefore, when anything in our life is taken away, we grumble and feel like we’re truly suffering, and we sometimes even get angry at God. If there is anything in your life that you are struggling to give thanks for, today’s message will help reset the benchmark on what true thanksgiving really is.

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Are You Living Life With the End in View?

Date: November 6, 2011

Life is busy. In the rush of work, school, raising children, paying bills, making plans… when is the last time you thought about heaven? It is so easy for us to get swamped under the demands and pursuits of this life, that all our attention and energy becomes focused entirely on earthly things. As followers of Christ, we must intentionally allow the reality of eternity to impact the way we live our lives today. Rather than getting wrapped up in the things of this world, we must have the wisdom to live life with the end in view!

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We Can’t Choose Who to Love

Date: October 30, 2011

Throughout history, people have always tried to relax the demands of God on their lives. Jesus said, “Forgive others,” and Peter asked, “How many times?” Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” and the lawyer quickly replied, “Who is my neighbor?”… just to make sure he didn’t go to the trouble of loving anyone he absolutely didn’t have to. But because of the Gospel, we cannot choose who we want to love and who we don’t. We are all equal sinners in God’s eyes, and because of this, we can never again look down on anyone else.

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You Are a Letter That Others Are Reading

Date: October 23, 2011

Too often we think that sharing the Gospel means nervously giving a cold, rehearsed presentation to people who don’t know Christ. However, the message we are called to share is not a script that we memorize… the message is our lives! The Bible calls us to be “living letters” that others can read. As we live consistently for Christ each day, those around us will see how the Gospel has transformed us, and then our words will have credibility as we speak about our Savior. Today’s message gives some practical advice for doing just that.

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Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel

Date: October 16, 2011

We have not been given the option of having our lives changed by the Gospel and then doing nothing with it. Our salvation is not just for our benefit, but for the sake of others who do not know Christ. The Bible charges us with the staggering responsibility of living our lives in a manner “worthy” of the Gospel. But we will never be motivated to take the Gospel to others unless we have eyes that see the need, and hearts that break over the need. Once we ask God to truly open our eyes and break our heart for the need of the Gospel, our lives will never be the same again!

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A Church of Unity, Not Uniformity

Date: October 9, 2011

The church has been called to function in unity in order to display the Gospel to a watching world. However, churches sometimes mistakenly think that unity means uniformity. This is a costly mistake that creates churches filled with man-made rules in an attempt to make everyone look the same, think the same, and act the same. This was never God’s intention! Instead, we have been called to find unity in one thing — The Truth — and learn to function together as the Body of Christ, despite our other differences.

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Exchanging God for Lesser Things

Date: October 2, 2011

Quick, what images come to your mind when you hear the words, “idol worship?” Do you picture an ancient, pagan culture bowing down before statues carved from wood or stone? The problem is, when we think about idol worshipers, we never think about ourselves! But according to the Bible, idolatry is setting up substitute gods in our heart. So often we exchange God for other things — we allow other things to become more important to us, and when we do, we have become idol worshipers. Yes, idolatry is alive and well today, even in our churches!

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Seeing Ourselves as We Really Are

Date: September 25, 2011

Self-righteousness was the sin that Jesus faced more than any other. The Pharisees saw themselves as righteous, so they looked down on everyone else. Do we ever think we’re better than people who don’t go to church, people who commit awful crimes, people who live immoral lives? If so, that self-righteousness will keep us from taking God’s love and hope to them. None of us deserve God’s forgiveness. That’s the story of the Gospel. And because we have been forgiven, we do not have the right to choose who we will love!

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Called to Go, Not Just to Gather

Date: September 18, 2011

How do you live out the Gospel in life between Sunday morning and Saturday night? How do you live out the Gospel in life between the world that is and the world to come? How has Christ called us to interact with those around us who do not know Him? Understanding the answers to these questions and putting them into practice will help us live out the Gospel in ways that touch our city with the hope and love of Jesus Christ. Come discover what the Gospel looks like in real life.

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Questioning the Heart of God

Date: September 4, 2011

Is your heart broken over the things that break God’s heart? Do you care about the people He cares about? It is entirely possible to go to church, sing the songs, serve in a ministry, put money in the offering plate… and yet have a heart that is miles away from God. If you find yourself just going through the motions, begin asking God to break your heart for the things that break His heart. When that truly happens, your life will never be the same!

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