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April 11, 2016
True Spiritual Growth - John 12
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| We all know that Jesus walked the road to Calvary, but did you know that believers also journey to the cross? We've all been positionally crucified with Christ, but those who hunger for Him participate in a deeper experience of this reality. Jesus lovingly takes their hand and leads them to the cross. Even though this is the last place anyone wants to go, it's the only way to partake of God's best for our lives.
The trip to the cross is not one you take with family and friends. It's a lonely journey with just you and Jesus. He strips away everyone and everything you've depended on so that you'll learn to rely only on Him. While we're at the cross, He uncovers layer after layer of self-deception until we begin to see ourselves as He does. Soon our self-centeredness, inadequacy, and failures are laid bare.
The cross is a place of brokenness, but it's necessary because there's no other way we'll ever bear fruit. If we hang onto our lives and refuse to take this journey, we'll be like a grain of wheat that is never planted and never grows. But those who willingly die to themselves will produce an abundance of spiritual fruit. The only way Christ can live His life through us is if we've allowed ourselves to be crucified.
God doesn't want you to be content with just your salvation. There's so much more He desires to give you and accomplish through you. Are you willing to take the road to the cross with Him? Yes, it's painful, but the rewards in this life and in eternity far outweigh any suffering you will experience.
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Current
Sermon Series
The negative
neighbor. The critical co-worker. The
manipulative family member. We all have
difficult people in our lives. Let's
learn how we can live with - and show
love to - Those People. We will
learn to biblically deal with Overly
Needy People, Manipulating
People, Hypocritical People,
and Critical People.
Last
Week:
There are those in our lives who try to manipulate us. Manipulators will use many things to get us to do what they want. 1) Flattery 2) Threats and 3) Guilt. We learned 3 more prayers to help us to deal with them.
Sunday's message is available for
streaming or for download on our
sermons page, or by visiting us
on iTunes.
Next
Week:
Next week we will continue our series by looking into Those Hypocritical People.
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Upcoming
Events
April 20, 2016 - Quarterly Business Meeting at 7 PM
April 24, 2016 - Lord's
Supper and Deacon's Fund
Offering following the AM
Worship Service
April 28, 2016 - Men's
Bible Study at 7 PM at the
church
April 29, 2016 - Teen Activity at Flight Trampoline Park. Cost is $5 per teen. Meet at the church at 6 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Ben.
church
May 1, 2016 - Carry-in
Fellowship Dinner following
the AM Worship Service
May 2, 2016 - Ladies
Bible Study at 7 PM at Stephanie
Robinson's house
May 7, 2016 - Women's
Dinner at 4 PM at the church
May 15, 2016 - Special Guest Speaker George Dimakos, missionary to Greece, will be with us this day.
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