Simple Church

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 -Close Encounters

Some of the closest earthly encounters anyone had with Jesus were the twelve disciples. John the Baptist had been paving the way for Jesus by telling everyone who would listen that Messiah was coming. He preached repentance everywhere he went. 

When Nathanael found out about Jesus being the Promised One and coming from Nazareth, he wondered if anything good could even come from such a place. Jesus revealed who He truly was to Nathanael by letting him know he could see him even when he was not physically with Jesus. Nathanael realized He was truly the Son of God. 

We see from the truth of scripture a transformed heart is possible regardless of where we are from or what our background looks like. Christ does not only see us as the rest of the world sees us, He looks on our heart. Despite the fact that we could never earn or deserve His grace, God pours it on those who seek Him with a heart of repentance. 

 

John1:29-51

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Sunday, September 16, 2018 -Judges

Anyone can be used to carry out the purposes of God. When others see a mess or even a disability, it only shows who God is more briliantly when He uses them to bring glory to Himself. Ehud was called to kill Eglon of Moab, who was ruling over the Israelites. Ehud went to Eglon and told him he had a message from God for him, just before he stabbed Eglon to death with his dagger. 

There are times in our lives God may call us to do something we may not understand. It is even possible we look incapable of carrying out our calling by all outward appearances. God does not limit our gifts or abilities by what people can see, or even by what we think. God is in the middle of our mess working His will in every aspect of life. With a repentant heart and complete surrender, there is nothing holding you back from walking in obedience to any call He places on your life.

 

Judges 3:12-30

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 -Close Encounters

In the first message of our new series, "Close Encounters", we see two men who come face-to-face with Jesus. The first is a wealthy, religious leader who has followed all the rules, but lacked surrender in his heart and walked away from Christ. The second is Zacchaeus who faced Jesus and gave up everything in his heart to have a new life. Salvation came to his entire home because of his faith in Christ. 

In our lives, we have a choice to surrender to Jesus or hold tightly to the temporal things of this world. The more in tune we are to the Spirit of God, the more our desires look like His desire for us. When we pursue righteousness, our lives produce fruit that looks a lot like the Spirit. 

Luke 18:18-30, 19:1-9

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Sunday, September 9, 2018

When invitations go out and nobody shows up, excuses usually follow. We are invited by Jesus to surrender to His call on our lives and have our hearts transformed in repentance. We do nothing to deserve this invitation, grace or freedom, yet it is freely offered. Feeling like we can never be good enough or be of any use to God are lies that keep us stuck. Excuses are an overflow of your relationship with Jesus. 

The way we live our lives in service to others alongside the Body of Christ and our faithfulness to Him, will be a reflection of our relationship with Jesus.

Luke 14:15-24

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, September 5, 2018 -Make An Impact

God reveals Himself to us in all of creation. He uses the expansive sky, the mountains that stretch toward the heavens and the oceans that move across the earth to show us His glory. He has preserved His word in scripture to teach us how to be wise, who to love and where to go in time of need. We can even learn from small, seemingly insignificant creatures who instinctively know how to make the most out who they are, the community in which they belong and where they want to end up. 

In our pursuit of committing our lives to Jesus, we have to understand the importance of seeking Christ and storing up God's truth in our heart. Realizing we need each other and staying in the fight together is essential for understanding how important being part of the Body of Christ is. Finally, we press toward our hope, which is eternity with Jesus. There is a place prepared for those who have surrendered to Him and walk in the freedom He has given. 

 

Proverbs 30:24-28

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Sunday, September 2, 2018 -Judges

In our lives, we will not always be fully prepared to face adversity when it comes. We have to use what God has equipped us with, even and especially when it does not look like enough. 

Shamgar was facing 600 Philistines and was only armed with a ox goad. In all natural appearances, Shamgar did not have a chance to walk away as victor in the fight. To most, it would seem he should run or give up. God was with Shamgar in his fight and he defeated his enemy. 

Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus will be what makes the difference in our questions, struggles and our victories. Do not look to the left or right; do not give in to fear. God is with us just the same as He was with Shamgar. He is in the fight with us. 

 

Judges 3:31

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, August 29, 2018 -Make An Impact

After the death of Moses, Joshua was called by God to lead the Israelites to the land promised to them. God gave Joshua instructions on how to lead the people and promised to be with him, just as He had been with Moses. He told him to be strong and courageous and keep his focus straight on doing what God had called him to do. 

In our lives, God is calling each of us to walk straight and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Where our eyes look, we will eventually follow. A seeking heart that longs after Jesus will be more likely to cling to the promises of God and lean less on itself. Our path is made straight when we surrender completely and give our lives fully to Christ. 

 

Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 3:5-6; 4:25-27

Kenny Nix, Pastor

 

Sunday, August 26, 2018 -Judges

Barak had an enemy that seemed insurmountable. The odds were not in his favor and he knew he was not equipped to win the battle. God made a way for victory in a seemingly impossible situation. God went ahead of Barak and his warriors and used unexpected ways to give the victory. Everyone recognized the Lord made a way for Barak's army to defeat Sisera and his warriors.

From the very beginning God has had a plan. Our enemy has tried to destroy us from the beginning by any means necessary to keep our focus away from Jesus. Grace is extended time after time in scripture and in each of our lives today. God foreshadows His plan for Jesus in Genesis and continually shows what is to come from there. Grace is beyond our comprehension, but it is available for each one of us. The cross seemed like ultimate defeat for Jesus, but in reality it was ultimate victory. It was His plan all along to make a way for us through victory over death, hell and the grave. 

 

Judges 4:1-24

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, August 22, 2018 -Make An Impact

Making an impact begins at home. As leaders to our children and those God has placed in our lives, He has given great responsibility to us to help shape the people in our path each day. Nothing we do or say is ever wasted if we are doing it for God's glory and not our own. Our conversations matter. Our friendships matter. Our motives matter. Every thing we do or say matters in God's economy and He has gifted each one of His followers with the ability to shine His light so others can see Him. 

 

Proverbs 1:1-10; 22:6; 13:24; 9:6-12; Hebrews 12:11

Brian Burchett

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 -Make An Impact

As the school year begins anew, there are fresh opportunities to make an impact wherever God has planted you. Being a friend, in light of scripture, shows us how important it is to carefully choose the words we use with one another. Walking with others in community means guarding your tongue and being the person who is not only in it for yourself, but offers true friendship to those you walk with.

 

Proverbs 18:19-21; 24

Kenny Nix, Pastor