Simple Church

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 -No Matter What

In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples how important it is to love each other. He teaches them there is no greater love than giving your life for others. They did not understand the depth of the love He taught about on that day, but later would see it lived out when He gave His life for them and the rest of the world.

Our nature is to do the opposite of what Jesus calls us to do. The Spirit leads and guides believers and it is always in opposition to what the flesh desires. Following Christ will never make sense to the world, but will always impact it. Praying for those who are against you, forgiving others when they do not care and loving the unlovable are all things Christ did as an example for us. When we follow Jesus and love others to the point of death, the mark of the Spirit is on us in such a way, no amount of darkness can extinguish His light. 

 

Matthew 5:38-48

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Sunday, September 8, 2019 -Behold...New

As we begin a new series "Behold...New", we are met by a Savior willing to wash our feet. In this passage, Jesus shows the disciples who He is by humbling Himself to them to serve them, even the one who would betray Him. 

Those who place their trust in Christ are not defined by our past or our circumstances. We are defined by a Savior that says, "Behold I have made all things new". Followers of Christ can rest in the truth of God's word that He never leaves us and He brings to life what once was dead.

 

John 13:1-17

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, August 28, 2019 -No Matter What

As we journey through the book of Esther, we will find it is filled with God's faithfulness and hope throughout its entirety. The common theme in the pages of this account in the life of Esther is favor. Esther would gain favor in the eyes of all who encountered her and this would be what saved not only her life, but the lives of the Jewish people she set out to save. 

Esther stood in the gap for those who could not save themselves. She was put in a position to put her life on the line in order to rescue those facing certain death; she chose to walk in obedience to that calling. Jesus stood in the gap for you and I. We could never reconcile ourselves to God on our own because of the sin that controls our wicked hearts. It is only by the blood of Christ that we can encounter complete transformation in our lives. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made, we are able to walk in the freedom He died to provide and live eternally with Him when this life is over.

 

Esther 

Taylor Becke

Sunday, August 25, 2019 - Jesus Wept

When Jesus arrived to see his friend Lazarus, it seemed to everyone else He was too late. Martha even said if He had only been there sooner, He could have saved her brother. The beauty is, it is never too late for Christ to intervene in someone's life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life; He restores what we see as broken and dead. 

Following the Holy Spirit's direction in our lives is key to being obedient to Christ. If we are seeking after the will of God in our daily lives, He will grow our dependence on Him and give us life through His word.

 

John 11:1-16

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, August 21, 2019 -No Matter What

Zacchaeus was a man made wealthy for selling himself out to the oppressors of his own people. He was a man who was completely motivated by money and living for what he wanted, until Jesus called his name. 

When we recognize in our own lives we are prideful and selfish at best, we can begin to see how much transformation is truly needed in our hearts. We are unable to bring true change to ourselves because we are motivated by things that appeal to us. Following Christ goes against our very nature because we have to lay down the things of the world that we so tightly cling to. 

Just as Zacchaeus learned, Jesus loves every person. He wants to redeem our hearts so we are able to see and desire His truth above anything the world can offer. When our eyes are focused on Christ and His calling in our lives, our pride has a difficult time taking the lead.

 

Luke 19:1-10; Luke 4:16-21

Sunday, August 18, 2019 - Kingdom

"The point of the gospel is not that we fix it; it's that we can't but, there is someone who can." -Jameson Thacker

 

Job; John 11:28-35

Jameson Thacker

Wednesday, August 14, 2019 -No Matter What

Continuing through our series "No Matter What", we look at Elisha's life when he could have destroyed the Aramean army. Elisha had every right to give permission to have the men killed who were trying to destroy him, but instead gave them food and sent them on their way. God was on Elisha's side and he knew it.

When we are walking in fellowship with Christ, everything about our perspective is different than it would be otherwise. We are able to see the bigger picture and rely on the Holy Spirit's direction, instead of doing what we feel justified in. Being Spirit led often means loving our enemies or praying for people who hurt us. These are instructions given to us by Jesus Himself. Denying ourselves, trusting Christ and walking in the freedom He has offered will produce within the life of the believer the ability to love those who are most difficult to love. Surrendering to Jesus will bring life and love to our hearts that are otherwise dead to things outside our own desires.

 

2 Kings 6:8-23, Luke 6:27

Dawn Hedgepeth

Sunday, August 11, 2019 - Kingdom

As we continue in our series "Kingdom", we follow a passage continued from last week. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, explaining the kingdom of God is among you in the hearts of believers. He goes on to teach on surrendering to the will of God is trusting in Him and letting go of the former things. As mentioned, Noah was righteous and obeyed the instruction God gave to him. Noah did not know initially he would be spared when the earth was flooded. He obeyed anyway. 

In our lives, when the Holy Spirit leads us into places we do not fully understand, we can still trust Him. Jesus teaches us to count the cost before committing our lives to Him. Everything in our life has to fall secondary to Christ in order to be His disciple. If we hold things or people above Him, we aren't fully surrendered and walking in the freedom He died to give us.

 

Luke 17:26-37

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Wednesday, August 7, 2019 -No Matter What

Through our heartache and pain, even when we believe otherwise, God cares. Job faced what seemed to be insurmountable challenges with the losses he endured. One thing never changed for Job, he never stopped worshipping the Lord. Job understood God was in control and he did not doubt Who had given him all he had. He mourned his loss. He cried out to God in agony. He prayed through his deepest pain because he trusted God. 

God loves each of us so much, He sent Christ to defeat death, hell and the grave. In our darkest night, we too can worship. In our lack of understanding, in the face of our enemy, we too can praise God for the great love He has for each of us. True faith is where true worship lies. The overflow from what Christ has placed in our hearts will sustain us in our most trying times.

 

Job 1:13-22, 2:1-13, 13:1-15

Kenny Nix, Pastor

Sunday, August 4, 2019 - Kingdom

Jesus taught in this passage that the kingdom of God was among those who were listening to His message. He was introducing new knowledge about Himself and about God's desire for His followers. The realization is to be in God's kingdom, God actually has to be Lord over your life.

Jesus changed the view on traditional laws by showing the bondage of legalism does not draw you closer to God, it only make pride and judgement of others rise up in those who want to be "right". Surrendering to Christ and living by the Holy Spirit's direction is what it means to be in God's kingdom. A true relationship with Him will bring life change that the world will recognize as God's work in a person.

 

Luke 20:17-25

Kenny Nix, Pastor