Sermons by Phil Pike

Committed to Worship

Date: July 19, 2009

It’s easy to show up at a church service on Sunday morning and worship… but how many people are merely going through the motions? God does not accept worship if our hearts are far from Him and if our lives are not fully committed to Him. Do you know what God is looking for in your life before your worship will be pleasing to Him?

Committed to Community

Date: July 12, 2009

When humans are placed in solitary confinement for long periods of time, they often begin to lose their mind, because we were created for relationships. In our fast-paced world, “community” is almost a lost art. But if we are ever going to be a church on fire, we must be committed to community, as the early church was. Unless our lives are closely intertwined with the lives of other believers, we will never be all that God intends for us to be.

Committed to the Mission

Date: July 5, 2009

Churches everywhere are filled with people who have made a commitment to Jesus… but many of those people have never made a commitment to the “mission” of Jesus. They took a step towards the cross to be saved, but they have never taken the next step to go beyond the cross and live out their lives for the cause of Christ. Today’s messages challenges us to not just make a commitment to Jesus, but to make a commitment to the mission of Jesus as well.

Amazing Grace

Date: June 28, 2009

As Stephen was being brutally murdered, a man named Saul was watching and giving his approval. It seems unthinkable that a cold hearted man like Saul would go on to become the greatest voice of the church and write half the New Testament. Yet the fact that someone like that can be completely transformed is a testimony of God’s amazing grace! No matter what road a person is on, God’s grace can still turn them around.

The Strange Plans of God

Date: June 21, 2009

As the first church began to explode with growth and unlimited possibility, one of its brightest and best young leaders–a man named Stephen–was brutally murdered for his faith. Who would have thought that something so awful and unfair would have ever been part of God’s plans for the church? And yet God used this event to scatter the church and spread the Gospel to other places. Often in life God’s plan seem so strange, even unkind, yet we must trust His plans and hold to the promise that God knows what He is doing.

Unstoppable!

Date: June 7, 2009

What is it that you get the most excited to talk about… your team winning the ballgame last night? Your new car? That exciting vacation? The believers in the early church were so excited about Jesus, that even when they were threatened and warned to stop speaking in His name, they replied, “We cannot help speaking about Jesus.” Basically, they were saying, “Beat us, torture us, even kill us… it doesn’t matter because we cannot stop talking about our Lord!” They were literally unstoppable! No wonder they were a church on fire!

What are You Devoted To?

Date: May 31, 2009

It’s easy to devote ourselves to something, whether it’s to our marriage, our family, or to the Lord, but then realize over time that our devotion has faded. The believers in Acts 2 not only devoted themselves to the Lord’s work, but they were “continually devoting” themselves to it. What area of your life were you once devoted to, but now you’re miles off course because you have not been “continually devoting” yourself to it?

The Life Changing Power of Jesus

Date: May 17, 2009

In the Gospels we see the disciples arguing, doubting, and abandoning Jesus, but when you reach Acts you see a totally transformed group of men. What happened? Their lives were radically changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and by their risen Lord. Yes, Jesus truly does change people. Has He changed your life?

You are Part of the Mission of Jesus!

Date: May 10, 2009

An estimated 97% of the entire world has heard of Coca-Cola. That means roughly only 3% of the earth’s population has never heard of Coke. Yet, the sad news is that more than 25% of the people on earth have never heard the name of Jesus. The last words Jesus spoke before He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:8) were for His followers to go and spread the Good News about Him to the ends of the earth. There is still a great harvest to bring in. Are we doing our part?

Waiting for God to Show Up

Date: May 3, 2009

Nobody likes to wait, especially when you feel like God doesn’t hear your prayers and that He is never going to show up! But the first command Jesus gave His followers just before He ascended to heaven was to… WAIT. Does God have you in wait mode right now? If so, just hold on and know that He has not forgotten you. His timing will prove to be perfect!

The Difference Easter Makes

Date: April 12, 2009

In a world of false advertising and empty promises, it’s no wonder people are skeptical. Products promise to improve our lives, but very few live up to their claims. The Bible also makes some pretty outrageous claims of how the risen Lord promises to change our lives, but the question remains… “What difference does Easter really make?” Because Jesus conquered sin and death, our past can be forgiven, our present can have meaning, and our future can be secure!

Possessing the Land

Date: March 29, 2009

God called the children of Israel out of Egypt for a specific mission — to go and possess the Land of Canaan. But because of their disobedience, they ended up wandering in circles for 40 years, missing the target. It is so easy for the church today to be caught up in busy work, thinking we’re making progress, but not really making any real progress at all because we’re not going where God wants us to go. Is there any “land” that God wants us to possess for His kingdom that we are failing to possess?

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