Paul (Worthy Is The Lamb Who Was Slain) (Mighty And Strong To Save) (Tell Me The Story Of) Jon Acts 6-8 Background before we talk about Stephen The church has experienced a lot of growth and excitement One of their leaders is about to be murdered and it changes everything the apostles have received threats, but nothing further until now This scatters the church of Jerusalem to the four winds Acts 2 and Pentecost God revealed His plan of renewing and restoring the world Christianity flourishes amongst persecution and punishment Tom Bohlinger Acts 6:8-15 Jon Want to ask a question of us as a community Do we have the characteristics of Stephen? What would people say about me in 4 words? And what would they say about this community? V. 8 says Stephen is full of grace and power Speaking with authority = power If Jesus is somebody that speaks … Continue reading →

Paul Paul We are doing a church plant (probably in the fall) We are a church plant I had the opportunity to preach at Rolling Hills Covenant Church Pastor Moses and Pastor Eddie Espinoza June 5th is a joint service with all the churches supporting this church plant in Buena Park No regular service that night (hence the half-hour buffer) We want a proper Walter Contreras (head of the Hispanic church plant community in the Pacific South Western Conference) will be doing communion James 5:16-20 Why would James exhort us to confess our sins to one another? Address the why and the how What’s the proper way to confess to others? Talks about how confessions heals soul How we can bring a person back into the fold How God calls us to partner with people in the process of confession The what of confession Ratify or confirm You bring something … Continue reading →

Paul Jon Matthew 6:7- Greek words Battologeo – Babble (to stutter, i.e. (by implication) to prate tediously — use vain repetitions) Polulogia – Diarrhea of the mouth (loquacity, i.e. prolixity — much speaking) Ancient Egyptian prayer to Amun Ra Hail to thee Maker of herbs Opener of every eye This is just the opener Is this how we get God’s attention? Saying all the titles so he will pay attention to us? 1 Kings 18:25- Is anybody paying attention? Are we getting the words right? Is see a wound in the human heart Was that just something that happened back then? I see it today in Christian communities Jesus steps into human anxiety and says here’s how to pray I’m going to blow your mind All you need – come to Him as your hallowed Father Breaks through paranoia and fear Just come to the Father, He’s got everything you … Continue reading →

Paul (, /) Jon We need a hard road not a smooth road Life doesn’t go the way you thought it would Life doesn’t meet your expectations, how do you keep moving forward What do you trust in? Where do I put my trust? Lori Will be stepping down from Children’s Ministry in January Not leaving the church, just need to put family first Jon Jeremiah 17:5-8 It’s hard not to trust other people It’s easy to trust the things we’re good at If you put your trust in yourself, in something that fails, your heart will harden and turn away from God It’s wounds When the heart gets wounded it tends to protect itself, to harden itself Something to plug into, to get life from The shrub in the desert is waiting for something to rescue it We’ve all felt that sense of waiting for a rescue What are … Continue reading →