YONDER BREAKS

 Here is a sermon by Greg Surratt in the series about making room for God. The entire series is based off of 1 Kings 4:8-37 , which is the story of Elisha and his interaction with a woman who made a room for him in her house. This is a great sermon; very practical and insightful about something that is so simple and blatant -- eating meals with friends. Probably the biggest takeaway for me in this was that Jesus did A LOT of his ministry around eating. Meals with people, especially family, are so powerful, but sometimes we neglect them in our society. A great quote from this sermon is that friends are seen as a number on a blue and white website rather than people we spend time with or care about. How true is that about the society we live in? Never neglect the power of  a meal in building lasting relationships with people. Here are some notes: Jesus came... Serve and give his life as a ransom for many (purpose) Seek and save the lost (purpose) Eating and drinking

Here is a sermon on hearing from God and sharing your faith, by Jamie Winship. If I've talked to you about preaching or sermons, I've probably mentioned this guy. He's had a huge impact on my life through his stories and sermons, which always support that we can believe God for big things, and that God speaks to us personally. Jamie has exemplary  faith, which is one reason I love listening to him so much - it gives me hope to live a life so faithful. In this sermon he says that money is never a good reason to not do anything. My whole life is the opposite though - I've always limited myself with money! It's all over our culture (even Christian culture), and such a difficult thing to break. What does Jesus say about it though? "These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs." - Luke 12:30 (check out some of the other translations on this one - they're good) Some notes: Consider

Here is a sermon from Ecclesia's series on things that people often don't like about church or Christianity. It's based off of 1 Peter 3:13-18: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?   But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,   keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. Joseph set out to tackle hypocrisy, which seems to be one of the biggest complaints people

Last week's sermon in Ecclesia's "I Don't Buy It" series was about hell, and more specifically, how could a good God send good people to hell. The sermon can be found here . It's based off of Matthew 25:31-46: 31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to

These just lost the competition for new Lays flavor, but I ate some of these Chicken & Waffle potato chips a couple weeks ago and it was noteworthy: It's got a strange, and maybe pungent, initial taste. Then, as you swirl the chemical-spice-potato mixture around your mouth, you experience an array of flavors: it's a little syruppy, a little hashbrowny, a little waffly...but definitely not chickeny. I think they somehow failed to capture the chicken flavor in this chip; maybe chicken and waffles was too ambitious for Mr. Lay and his chip-making team of brilliant, yet bored scientists. Still, it's an experience. I actually still feel like I have yet to pin down the exact flavor I experienced...there's some onion in there, and maybe a little stale ramen popped up at one point. I even thought old marshmallow flavor whisked through my mouth, but it was too fleeting to tell. Either way, no chicken. However, the after-taste brings you back. It's inexplicable. M

There has been a recurring theme in my life this year: fear. I first noticed it when we moved to a place that is right off of a fairly busy road. It's one-story, with no fence around it, so I felt vulnerable to any passersby that may show up with malicious intentions. Then I started thinking about crazy murders that happen all over, and what I would do in those situations. Next we got renters insurance, which was recommended by a lot of friends; I don't think renters insurance is a bad thing necessarily, but it only added to my fear: what if someone broke in and stole our stuff? What if a fire happened? Do I need to pay extra for earthquake insurance because we live in California (it's ridiculous to me that earthquake insurance is not included)? All of these things added up to nothing but fear, and it came upon me in a way I've never experienced before. I've never really considered those things in the past, but suddenly the thought that "it could happen to