How would you like to find a priceless treasure?

How would you like to beat death?

How would you like to find victory over every challenge?

Well, all that is made possible because of the sacrifice Jesus made on a cross in order to save your eternal life.  So if you’d like to know how to find victory and new life and the most valuable treasure there is, listen to this message and say “Yes” to Christ’s offer of forgiveness and grace and transformation of your heart and mind.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:40 — 15.0MB)

Get your pencils out, it’s test time!

How do you think you stand up to God’s Top 10?

Have a listen and see how you come out.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:01 — 17.4MB)

The Winter Olympics are well under way.  And the world’s fastest, strongest, highest flying, and most talented individuals are competing in the snow and ice of Russia.  But there’s a man who outdid them all when it comes to pure strength.

You’ve probably heard of Samson, and some of his “strengths” and weaknesses.  But what do you know about his faith?  Have a listen, and see what you think.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:27 — 22.2MB)

Can God really love everybody?  There are some pretty rotten people in this world.  Would God really be willing to reach out to the worst of the worst.

Like many people, maybe you’ve even wondered if God cares about you.

Have a listen to this week’s message and hear how God dealt with one of the most wicked sinners in the Bible.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:53 — 24.7MB)

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions for 2014?  Want to know how to follow through on your goals?  Here’s a tip.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:32 — 22.2MB)

It’s not uncommon for the world to usurp the things that God has made and abuse and misuse them in ungodly ways.  It’s a terrible thing to see, and has brought much pain and suffering to out world.  But it’s even worse when wicked people take a symbol and seal of God and use it to represent a life of sin and rebellion.

This morning we were glad to have Jed Smock of The Campus Ministry USA as a guest speaker speak about this very thing.

We hope you will be blessed by his message–either that, or convicted in your heart and motivated to repentance, which in and of itself would be a blessing. 🙂

If you would like more information about Brother Jed and his missionary work, his website is brojed.org.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:21 — 17.1MB)

What does it mean that Jesus died for you?  Why would somebody else dying a couple thousand years ago make any difference for your life–or your eternity?

Have a listen and find out.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:25 — 22.2MB)

I like at the end of the movie Saving Private Ryan how the main Characters have sacrificed so much to save and protect the life of Private Ryan.  Several have died in the course of finding Ryan, including Captain Miller–whose dying words to Ryan were “Earn this.”  In other words, people have given their lives to save yours, so honor their sacrifice by how you live your life.

The same goes for anybody whose life has been saved by Jesus Christ.  So much has been sacrificed to save people from an eternity in Hell.  And that gracious gift should be honored by the way we live our lives every day.  All true Christians should be living completely pure and dedicated lives, and do everything we can to bless God because he has blessed us so much!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:03 — 20.6MB)

There was a book written almost 10 years ago called “The Purpose Driven Life” by a guy named Rick Warren.  And it was a best seller.  Millions of people flocked to buy the book.  And unlike so many other “self help” books, it starts off by telling the reader that the purpose of life isn’t all about you.

There’s something bigger in life than just you.  There is purpose that goes beyond our own wants and needs.  There are things much bigger then our own lives at stake here.  But there’s a really interesting twist involved in dealing with that truth.  You can spend your life trying to find self actualization and fulfillment and wind up completely lost and empty.  But if you devote yourself to the purpose that you were created for, you will gain fulfillment and a contentment as a natural byproduct of focusing on what is most important–in fact that’s the only way to find true life.

Jesus put it this way “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul in the process?”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:38 — 20.0MB)

I think it’s funny how people portray Heaven as a white cloudy kind of place where people dress in robes and have halos and play harps.  And then people look at that made up idea and say it’s boring, so they’re not all that interested in going.

Of course the reality of Heaven is beyond our imagination.  The Bible says it’s massive and full of color and lights and trees and flowing water.  But it’s also a place of worship.  It will be like church 24/7.  And people will be singing praises to God and worshiping him non-stop.  Of course that idea doesn’t appeal to anyone who doesn’t believe in or like God.  So they probably wouldn’t be interested in Heaven anyway.

of course everybody who admits the truth, understands how great God is and how worthy he is of our worship and obedience, and how limitless the blessings of a relationship with God is.  But they like to hold on to the idea that Heaven is like winning the lottery and doing whatever you want without interaction with God.  Many people think they can con God into letting them into Heaven in spite of their sinful hearts and lives and that somehow their hearts and minds will magically change when they die.  But the scary truth is, your heart and mind are judged for what they are and if you’re not purified before you kick the bucket, you’ll be pitched out and burned with all the other impurities that aren’t worthy of entering God’s presence.

What do you think of that thought?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:24 — 17.6MB)