"Generous Beyond Measure" - Will you Grow? Series (Week 3 of 3) - 2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

Hello Friends,

This is it!...the last installment in this mini-series entitled, "Will you Grow?"  It is inspired by my desire to help the members of our church to grow beyond the infancy stages of faith so that we might live mature lives for Jesus Christ.

Without a doubt, the last aspect of life that is submitted to God, for most of us, is our checkbook.  Finances seem to have a control over the deepest parts of who we are.  Some preaches lay guilt trips to bully parishioners into tithing.  Yet, tithing is not God's goal for stewardship...it is a benchmark to show us where we are on the path.

God's hope for you and me is generosity...that we would emulate him in dealing with the needs of others.  God has richly blessed us beyond what we deserve or need, then we hoard God's "stuff" for that rainy day that we might need that 15th pair of shoes we have in our closets.

What if we were generous beyond measure?  What if we gave to help others meet their needs?  What if the material world didn't control us but we controlled it?

I hope you'll listen to the Lord as Holy Spirit speaks in this message.  By the way, we are starting an Endowment Legacy program at our church, which is part of the impetus for this message.

Be well!... be generous! - Kirk McCormick

Developing a Life of Generosity

Principle 1 - Generosity does not happen magically.

2 Corinthians 9:6 - “Remember this - a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a

"Doing is Believing" - Part 2 of our "Will You Grow" Series (Joshua 24:14-24)

Hello friends,

Here is the second installment in a three-part series entitled, "Will you Grow?"

Growth is a proactive, exciting adventure with Holy Spirit.  In this message I challenge the listener to choose to grow in service.  The mature believer lives not just for himself or herself, but to help others to be all that God wants them to be.

I hope you'll be blessed by this message as we echo Joshua's sentiments, "Choose this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

May God bless you as you respond to his guidance in his Word. - Kirk McCormick

“Doing is Believing”

Joshua 24:14-24

Bumper Sticker: If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.

Observations about Growth and Choice

Observation 1 – Life is full of choices.

Joshua 24:15a - “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose

New Fellowship Hall Moving Ahead

Hello friends,

We are excited that our new fellowship hall and office building is moving ahead. Take a look at the pictures of the new flooring just installed by Roy Wickersham.  They are beautiful!  More information to go.

Let's pray for a quick completion.  God bless, Kirk McCormick

"Will You Grow?" - A Message from Ephesians 4:7-16

Hello  Friends!

I serve a congregation that is full of vibrant, seasoned believers who truly love the Lord.  Worship each week is terrific. The sanctuary is full.  We are trying new ministries - some successfully, some...we'll see.  I imagine how pleased God must be.

Yet, we, like every congregation, are tempted to rest in our church's accomplishments.  Our leadership wants to do what we can do to avoid this. So I am leading a brief, three-week worship series entitled, "Will You Grow?"

Will you grow?  It's a fair question that leads us to introspection and prayer.  In this initial offering/message, we set the tone and challenge the listener to be intentional about the topic by adding 15 minutes of prayer each day to explore with God what His response might be to our question, "Dear God...how might you want me to grow?"

As you listen, I trust that Holy Spirit will speak to you.  May God bless you as you respond to Him!

Peace, Pastor Kirk McCormick

 “Will you Grow?”

Ephesians 4:7-16

Aim 1 – Growth protects us from the trickery of the world.

Ephesians 4:14 – “Then [when we have grown to maturity in Jesus] we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their

"Tactical Evangelism" - a Message from Acts 17:1-9

It is good to be back on the blogosphere after a short time away.  It is even better to be back to what I love so much - opening God's Word with you so we might gain insight into living for Jesus in a  world that needs him.

Today we open Acts 17 as Paul and his entourage ministry in Macedonia.  Though Paul was well-versed in the Greek culture - and, therefore, could have ministered effectively in the Acropolis or Marketplace - he chose to minister to the Jews, first.

From this passage we see a good model for Christians to follow as it yields a Tactical approach to Evangelism. As you listen, may the Lord inspire you to ask Him for the courage to share the Gospel.

Let me know what you think or how the Lord spoke to you. I'd appreciate the feedback.  God bless you as you respond to His Word. - Pastor Kirk McCormick

Acts 17:1-9

Focus Verses for the Four Tactics

(key words are underlined)

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’” he said.  

(Acts 17:2-3)

Tactic 1 -  “Reasoned”

= to talk through or dissect/pick apart an idea

** There are some people who like to debate spiritual things…they learn by ASKING questions and TALKING TRHOUGH ideas…

Join me in Israel

It's true...I'm leading my 8th trip to Israel this October 30-November 10 (2016).  Below is an information flyer.  Feel free to contact me (contact info on flyer) if you have an interest or question.

This trip will change your life!  I hope you can make it.  God bless, Kirk McCormick

"Mary's Dilemma" - a Message for Advent

Hello friends,

Advent in the season when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus by remembering God's grace to those involved at the time.  It is a great time to reflect on the wonder of God's love, joy, peace, and hope.

In this message I try to show how the news of Jesus' coming would have been traumatic to Mary, a young (likely 12-14 years old) virgin girl who was engaged to be married. Imagine the dilemma of being told you were going to be a mother when you weren't even married at the time.  What would people think?  How would it impact your reputation?

As you listen to this message, I pray that God will bless you not only as you remember Jesus' birth, but how our faith grows as we trust Him through our times of dilemma.

God bless you, Kirk McCormick