A Message in Response to the US Supreme Court's Decision on "Marriage"

Hello Friends,

Many believe it's been a tough week for Christians and God's people.  Yet, throughout the course of human history, secular and religious leaders have declared "this" or "that" as moral, even when those declarations are contrary to God's on the same topic.

There are two kinds of morality working today:  God's Morality from Above... and Mankind's Morality from Below.  The good news is that God is and always will be on the Throne of Heaven, even when some on earth try to assume His authority.  So we as disciples can rest assured that God's purposes are still secure.

Yet, how are we to respond to what is happening as America experiences a Sliding Scale of Morality that is leading us further from God's Ways?  I hope this message will be an encouragement to you.  Let me know what you think.

God bless you as you respond to His Word, Kirk McCormick

Thoughts on the Sliding Scale of American Morality

…and how Jesus’ Church can Respond

A Message from John 8

Isaiah 28:14 - “Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers   who rule this people in Jerusalem.”

2 Peter 3:3 - “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will

"Transitions" - A Message from Acts 9:17-31

Hello friends!

From the moment we are born until the day we die, life is full of transitions.  In fact, birth and death are transitions, themselves.   Some transitions are joyful - weddings, graduations, etc.  Others are not - divorce, for example.  In every transition, though, we know that God is present if not orchestrating it.

How do we manage our transitions as people who love Jesus?  Perhaps, by studying the major transition in Paul's life, when he went from Christian Killer to Apostle Evangelist to the Greeks, we will glean insights to the transitions of life so they will neither paralyze or perturb us.

With Jesus leading our way, we have no need to fear any transition...even those we do not understand.  I hope you'll enjoy this message. I've provided an outline, below, for you to follow.  Let me know how the Lord speaks to you through it.

God bless you, Kirk McCormick

 “Transitions”

Acts 9:17-31

Saul’s Transition, from Christian Killer to Apostle Evangelist

1.   Confirmation (God-send:  Ananias)

“Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus…has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”  (Acts 8:17-18)

2.   Change  (God-send:  Disciples)

“At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?’” 

(Acts 9:20-21)

Tullian Tchividjian (pastor at Coral Ridge Pres. Church), article - "Trusting in God's Declaration,"

“God does not move us beyond the gospel; he moves us more

"The Torture of Jesus" - a Message from John 19:1-15

Hello Friends!

I have the privilege of preaching at both of the worship services at Royal Palm Church.  Our morning service is traditional, but so alive!  Our evening service, The Well, is contemporary and casual, but focused on helping people meet the living Jesus.  We tend to preach, at both services, systematically through a book of the Bible.  As we continue our study of the Gospel of John at The Well, we come to the point in Jesus' life that does not excite us: His Torture and Death.

We, as Christians, do not like to talk that much about this part of Jesus' life because it is painful, and we know, if we are honest, that we caused that pain.  Yet, in the torture of Jesus God was doing so much to confirm his love to us.  In the torture of Jesus, God was confirming that Jesus is the Messiah as He fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the Suffering Servant.  In other words, if God is willing to fulfill his promises even when they are painful, we can rest in his good promises and his ability to fulfill them in our lives, too.

Listen to this full-service recording at The Well.  In the middle of the recording is the message. Sorry...but I have no outline for you as we don't use one at The Well.  And may God bless you as you respond to his Word. - Kirk McCormick

John 18:24-40 - A Message on the "Whys" of Jesus Arrest and Crucifixion

Hello Friends,

Most Christians know that Jesus "had" to die so that our sins might be forgiven.  Have you ever wondered, though, why certain parts of the cruelty by which he died - on the cross - needed to be as they were.  If the leaders of the Sanhedrin wanted Jesus dead, why didn't they do it themselves?  Why death on a cross and not by stoning?

In this message we focus on the legality of Jesus' arrest, but also the way that his arrest and imminent crucifixion was a fulfillment of prophesy, revealing God's master plan of salvation.  There is no  outline to follow...just listen and respond as Holy Spirit leads.

By the way, this message is embedded in the audio from our entire night service, called The Well.  I trust that God will bless you as you participate in his Word. Praise the Lord! - Kirk McCormick

"God Works in Remarkable Ways" - a Message about Witnessing

Hello Friends!

Do you find it difficult to share your faith?  Are you intimidated at the thought of witnessing?  Do you avoid telling your "Jesus" story out of fear of what others may think?  If so, you are likely in the majority of Christians.

In this message we are encouraged by how God has his remarkable ways of helping us to share the Gospel. In this message, we see God using his remarkable ways to spread the Gospel through the example of Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch.  Though witnessing is something we learn to do, the Good News is that God is in the midst of the process.

Listen to this message and see how God can and will use you in greater ways than you may think because his Ways are Remarkable.  After all, if he chose blue-collar fishermen to get things started, he can certainly use you.

May God bless you as you respond in faith and trust to God's Word.  Let me know how it goes!  - Kirk McCormick

 “God Works in Remarkable Ways”

Acts 8:25-40

Paul Harvey - “Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium.”

The Remarkable Ways of God

1. He sows through the willing.

Carl F. H. Henry - “The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”

Acts 8:26-27a – “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the

"A Life Well-Lived" - A Message from Acts 8:4-25

Hello Friends,

One of the greatest gifts in Scripture is the clear-cut examples God puts before us in the examples of how other people live.  It's as if God is saying, "Who would you rather be like?"

In Acts 8:4-25 we see two men leading very different lives. Philip is living the Life Well-Lived...Simon the Sorcerer is not.  In this message I give insights into how we can live a life the pleases God and avoid the one that does not.

Living a Life Well-Lived is not a mystery...it's as clear as Philip's example.  So I hope that this message will help you to deepen in your commitment to following the Lord.  I've placed a brief outline, below, to keep you on track.  Let me know how it goes!

God bless you, Kirk McCormick

“A Life Well Lived”

Acts 8:1-25

** From Philip…we see a positive example, one we can follow, of a Life Well Lived…

…From Philip we learn that a Life Well- Lived…

1. Shares Jesus with others when the door is open.

Acts 8:5 - Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

2. Brings healing to the hurting.

Acts 8:7 - With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.

3. Inspires joy in the lives of others.

Acts 8:8 - So there was great joy in that city.

** From Simon…we see a negative example that a Life Well Lived –

1. Is not motivated by greatness.

Acts 8:9, 10 – He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to (here is his motivation):

2. Goes beyond just belonging to the church.

Acts 8:13 - Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere.

3. Cannot be bought.

Acts 8:18 - When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.

A Message from John 17 - The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus

Hello Friends!

We are blessed to know that Jesus was thinking of us even while he was on earth.

In this message I lead our evening service - The Well - through John 17, Jesus' prayer for his disciples. This is often called the "High Priestly Prayer" because, first, it comes from our High Priest who intercedes for us before the Father, and, second, because of its content.

Jesus prays for unity in his body, the church.  If we were honest, the church has disregarded, at least, and/or not fulfilled Jesus' wishes, at worst.  There are countless denominations that claim the name of Christ.  Some are faithful to his Word, others are apostate.  Yet none of us are perfect in fulfilling Jesus' prayer, "That they may be one even as you and I are one."

I hope this message will encourage the worldwide church to consider our unity.  May Holy Spirit lead you in this message.

God bless, Pastor Kirk