25 Woods Lake Road, Building 8, Greenville, SC
Whether it’s a new year or a new day, our thoughts and conduct should have one focus… “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”. These are some of the words the Apostle Paul writes to believers on how we should pattern our lives. Join us for this encouraging message of hope for those who choose to walk in this way.
You have probably received some strange gifts at different times in your life; things that ended up in a closet or in the attic because you simply had no use for them. But once in a while you get a gift that seems perfectly suited for you. When Jesus came into the world, He brought us the costliest, most thoughtful and most practical gift ever given — the gift of salvation. It is the one gift you cannot afford to live without, or die without! He is offering it to you today. Have you ever received it?
If we’re not careful, it’s easy for all our hopes and prayers to revolve around us. “God, please take away these problems… give me more money… a happier marriage… a nicer house…” While there’s nothing wrong with having hopes and dreams, we often fail to realize that our greatest needs are actually much deeper. Jesus came to give us a brand new kind of hope, one that truly satisfies and lasts forever! Is your hope in Him?
The first mark of a true disciple is that he is saved. Jesus said there are many people doing religious things in His name, yet they will be turned away from heaven because they were never really born again. But salvation is just the first step. Once we’re saved, we cannot continue to run our own lives. We must turn over the throne of our heart to Him, surrendering everything to His leadership. It is difficult to give up control, but the truth is, our lives will never make sense or be fulfilling until the One who made us is completely in charge.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” There is no greater honor than to be called a child of God, so what does it mean to be a peacemaker? And more specifically, what does Jesus mean when He speaks of peace? Listen as we take a closer look at this word “peacemaker”, how the children of God are to know this kind of peace, and how we are to promote it among a world separated from God.
We do everything we can in life to avoid sorrow and grief, but there is a certain kind of mourning the Bible tells us we ought to do. We are called to take the reality and wickedness of sin seriously and mourn over it. Our hearts should be broken over our sin, knowing that it grieves the heart of God. This kind of godly sorrow is good and right because it leads us to repentance, which in turn, leads us to joy and comfort and peace with God.
Gaining entrance into heaven cannot be earned by our own efforts or goodness. We become part of God’s kingdom only when we recognize and admit that we are totally bankrupt spiritually, and that we are utterly dependent upon God’s mercy and grace to save us. Being poor in spirit is not a quality the world admires, but everyone who humbles themselves in this way and receives the forgiveness of the cross is blessed by God with the promise of eternal life.
Starting with the fall of Adam and Eve, we see clearly the sobering consequences of sin. To know the truth is to know that our God is unchanging about sin. He is holy and righteous, and our sins cannot be overlooked. But God has provided a way for us to be saved from our sins. He offers this path of salvation through a new covenant; the Messianic Covenant. We either accept this new covenant and abide by the terms, or we reject it altogether and choose our own path; a choice that Jesus described as leading to destruction. Join us as we uncover the truth about God’s New Covenant offer, and the reason it is described as such good news!
We spend our entire lives trying to keep death at a distance, but still, death is coming for all of us. And death isn’t even the worst news, because after death comes the judgment! So what hope do we have in the face of such frightening events? When Jesus died on the cross and rose to life again, He conquered sin and death, and everyone who trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and given eternal life. They will then be able to face death and judgment without fear! Have you trusted in Christ to save you?
On the very day that Haman had planned the destruction of the Jews, the tables were turned and the Jews gained victory over their enemies. In much the same way, Satan plotted and planned the destruction of the Son of God, and all hell celebrated when He hung dying on the cross. But on that very day, the tables were turned and Christ triumphed over His enemies, bringing salvation to all who believe in Him.
We all spend our lives searching for many things, and what we don’t realize is, our deepest search is a craving for what was lost in the fall of man. But that missing piece can only be found in one place, and that is in Christ. While the world can satisfy our longings for a short while, only Christ can give us the grace, love and peace we so desperately need. Has your search led you to Christ?
What do you do when the trials and temptations of life feel overwhelming? Is there someone you can turn to or some place you can go to find hope and help that will get you through those moments? Today’s message teaches us an important biblical principle that will not only help us be prepared before those battles come, but will give us hope long after those battles are over.
