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Showing posts from December, 2013

Live Inspirationally

Here's a sermon by Jason Jaggard (I wish I could link specifically to his sermon, but I don't think I can -- so you'll have to scroll down) about living inspirationally. http://www.churchinhollywood.com/media.php?pageID=15 Philippians 2:12-18 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice w

Defining Moment

Here is a sermon by Marcus "Goodie" Goodlow, at Ecclesia Church: http://www.churchinhollywood.com/media.php?pageID=15 It's based on 1 Samuel 7:1-10 , about the Israelites turning back towards the Lord, but then being attacked by their enemies. They beckon God to show up and save them, and He does! In the sermon Goodie says, "Courage to sacrifice is the prelude to the phenomenal." What an awesome statement! I've been thinking about courage a lot lately (and have written about it). It's often believed that self-preservation is basic human nature, so just embrace it and get what you want in life. But are these the folks that are truly celebrated in life? No! It's the ones that sacrifice themselves, through life or in death, that receive the highest honor. It's also what Jesus did. So the next time you're given the opportunity to inconvenience yourself for the good of someone else, take it! Then see what God does! We have been given &qu

Words We Live By - Matthew 18:20

Here is #5 in the Words We Live by series, a sermon by Joseph Barkley. It seems like I missed the even numbered sermons in this series, so you'll have to check #4 out for yourself. http://www.churchinhollywood.com/media.php?pageID=15 This sermon is all about church discipline and fighting against legalism. I have to be honest -- legalism seems to happen so naturally in Christianity. I've been there and said some things I shouldn't have, and still do. In the sermon, though, Joseph apologizes to non-Christians for those of us who have expected them to act like Christians. That's key, and I didn't really begin to learn that lesson until I heard this song by Emery: Why should we expect people to adhere to Christian rules if they are not Christians? Maybe, instead of worrying about enforcing rules for living, we focus on loving people and let God change hearts and behavior, in His time? There's some good notes below. Here's the scripture: Matthew 18:

Words We Live By - Philippians 4:13

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I missed sermon #2...so you're gonna have to go look that one up yourself. http://churchinhollywood.com/media.php?pageID=15 Sermon #3 in this series is about contentment...which seems to be one of the most difficult things for me to get a handle on. In it, he talks about the lottery campaign "believe in something bigger." These are plastered all over Los Angeles: The moment I saw this, I was disgusted. If your "something bigger" in life is winning the lottery, then what kind of hope is that? And will it ever be realized? Probably not. But as I reflect on it, is it so different than most of our "something bigger?" Most of us dream of the day we may have tons of money, and imagine what we would do with that money. It's a fun dream to indulge in, and really that's a lot of what we work for...the day we have more. Joseph points out that this isn't actually a dream for "something bigger," but rather "something more.&quo