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Showing posts from September, 2015

Ambassadors

http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw Matthew 28:18-20 As we learn to work together and fully participate in this work that God is calling us all to do together, this church will be enabled more and more to reach the lost and see new souls saved. The Navigate process is designed to assist us in discerning and fulfilling God’s will for us. And no matter how old you are or how much you may have already done for the kingdom, if you are still breathing, God still has work for you to do, whatever you can do, as much as you can do, the best you can do. But Navigate is not a magic formula that will save the church without any effort on our part. It takes work. It takes effort. It takes sacrifice and the cost can include much pain as we bear the cross for the world in which we live. But it is worth it all. You have to believe that. As for me, I refuse to be discouraged. I am committed to this work. I am committed to you. And I believe in the God who can do miracle

Life Transforming Walk With Jesus

To Listen: http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw John 3:3, 30; Phil. 1:6 Who can take a pebble and turn it in to bread? Who can take a desert and turn it into a buffet table filled with manna to sustain you? Who can take a caterpillar and turn it into a butterfly? Who can take water and turn it into wine? Of course you know, we are talking about the creator God of the universe, the ultimate transformer, who can change anything that exists, into anything else he wants it to be. And for those of you who may have ever watched a Transformer movie that was not real transformation the way God does it. Those mechanical giants just rearrange their existing mechanical parts. And it’s just for camouflage anyway, to blend in with the environment. It is not about real inner transformation at all. But Christianity is about real inner transformation. People try to change themselves. Sometimes it’s just a new hair style. Sometimes it’s a new job. Sometimes they try to b

WORD

Now you can listen!    http://www.firstcovenantcadillac.org/#!this-weeks-sermon/c20mw 2 Timothy 3 – 4:5. With a focus on 2 Timothy 3:16 Before I actually begin the message, I would like you to look at the bulletin insert labeled “before the sermon: The Centrality of the Word of God.” For the next ten weeks we will be looking at each of the ten healthy missional markers identified by our denominational leadership as essential characteristics of every spiritually healthy congregation. Before I say anything more about that I would just like you to read the bulletin insert with me.   We believe that the Bible is the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct. (This one is about whether we believe this.)  Our preaching and teaching in all settings reflects careful preparation, relevance, and creativity. (This one is about our leaders’ work of using and sharing the Bible.)  Our people are equipped and growing in their ability to study and apply Biblical truth in ways that l

The Love Connection

Rev. 3:14-22 Have you read the Covenant Home Altar this week? It was based on Jesus’ words in Mark 7 where he was criticizing the Pharisees for emphasizing their traditions in place of God’s commands. Jesus said, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is devoted to God—then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Obviously the Jews were being legalistic and using those traditions for their own advantage.  More recent legalism isn’t exactly the same. But one statement in the devotional book got Kathy and I talking after reading because it was about the way churches used to be,