Speaker: Dan Buraga

Today’s message begins in Acts chapter 1. The scene opens with 120 followers of Jesus and his 11 disciples in a room.  They have just witnessed Christ’s ascension to Heaven and have appointed an apostle to replace Judas. As the disciples thought of Jesus last words to them they were also trying to figure out the role they would play from now on. As we read their account we are challenged by the scriptures to do the same. Do you realize that God has called you to playa part in his script?

We are in week two of a brand new series from the book of Acts called, “Church on a Mission.” While this series should take us to the end of this year there may not be a more important message for our church than the message found in this week’s sermon. If we can see and embrace the mission God has for his Church found in these five verses of Acts chapter one, our lives as a church and as individuals will not be the same. 

We are starting a new theme for the year. The theme is very simply this, “Church on a Mission.” We are the church of Jesus Christ and Jesus has given us a mission. He fills us up and sends us out. It is an amazing thing that God has taken the time and thought to tell us what he wants from his church. So, this year we are going to dig into God’s Word to ask Jesus what he wants his church to be like.

Due to some technical difficulty during the recording the volume gets softer five minutes into the sermon. We apologize and hope to fix the issue before next Sunday. 

We are winding down our theme for the year. Our theme for the 2013 – 2014 year has been “Advance: Pursuing What Matters.” As our church celebrates it’s 2 year anniversary it is a good time to ask ourselves, “Does my faith in Jesus make a difference in my life?” 

Sunday’s message came from to 1 Peter 1:22-2:5. As we start the new semester you CAN pursue what matters.

The most important moments in our lives can tend to be the most overwhelming.  What adds to the confusion is that everyone has an opinion about how to handle those moments. We need something that can help us think through the overwhelming nature of life to make sure that in these decisions we are pleasing God as best as we I can.

As we wrap up our summer series on the book of Ecclesiastes we see that God is our guide, our Constant Compass throughout our lives. 

How do you see God? What do you feel about God? What do you think about God? The answer to these questions is the most important thing about you. Whatever stereotype you might have about God, the Bible tells us who He really is and who he is not. God is not a dictator out to steal our joy. 

God wants your joy and this joy begins now. Our message on Sunday came from Ecclesiastes 11:7 – Ecclesiastes 12:8.

There is one critical element in the life of everybody that follows God. If you are a Christian this ought to be a massive element in your life.  The element is RISK. What’s risk?  One definition might be: Risk ways the chance of losing a valuable certainty against a valuable uncertainty.We live lives of risk.  Whether it is ordering food in the drive-thru or choosing a major in college we live lives of risk.

Are you the kind of person who will be respected in 100 years. Are you making wise choices that will be respected in the future? Or, are you living for short term popularity and applause? 

As we continue our study of Ecclesiastes, Solomon lays out how we are tempted to live life for the here and now, to live life “under the sun.”  Life under the sun is life apart from God. But a life with God is a life beyond the sun.

Life beyond the sun should result in a changed life.

It is a life that is seldom comfortable, seldom popular, and increasingly selfless. Why would we want this life? Because a God who isn’t changing you is a God who hasn’t saved you. Are you living under or beyond the sun?

At least two-thirds of the Bible is about showing us our desperate need for Jesus Christ. The entire Old Testament is pointing to that need. Ecclesiastes is no different in that Solomon doesn’t give us much hope of a life lived under the sun without God. As we read into Ecclesiastes 9, verse 7 offers us the hope that we can live with the approval of God in our lives. 

Imagine, in your life, if you could live with a merry heart. Imagine if you could go through life knowing that the one whose approval matters most, your Creator, your God, has stamped your life with the stamp of approval. Would this change how you live your life? How you do things is transformed by how you think and feel about life. 

Pastor Dan offers the challenge to us to:

Live FROM the approval of God the Father and not FOR the approval of man.