"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

"A Contrast of Powers" - a Message from Acts 16:25-37

Hello Friends,

Have you ever felt like a situation was hopeless? ...like you were stuck and there was no avenue of release or relief?

Paul and Silas are in jail, and most would have thought that they were finished.  But God, in his infinite sovereignty, unleashes his power to do mighty things, leading to the conversion of the jailer and his family.

This is a story of two contrasting powers:  God's and the World's.  God's power is rooted in his eternal being, his otherness.  The World's is rooted in its ability to control. It's based on Law, not Love.

I believe this is a crucial message to every believer who wants to live in the freedom of God's grace regardless of our circumstance.  Listen to the message and respond as the Lord leads.  And may God bless you as you invoke his power in your life to glorify Him.  Let me know what you hear.

- Kirk McCormick

 “A Contrast of Powers”

Contrast 1 - Prayer and Praise are more powerful than prison.

Acts 16:25a - “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God...”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon - “Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the

"Table Talk" - A Communion Meditation

Hello Friends!

For most families, dinner time is a special time. It is a time to catch up, see how the day went, look forward to the next day TOGETHER.  "Table Talk" is part of our tradition...but as is true with every tradition, it can become moot, routine, stagnant.

In the Gospels we see Jesus engaging his disciples at Passover. As they sat around the Passover table, which becomes the model for the Lord's Table at Communion, they were talking, and the Bible says, "Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth.'"

What truth would Jesus say to us today?  In this communion meditation, I offer three possible questions Jesus might ask as we gather around His Table.  These questions are meant to keep the Lord's Supper special. They are meant to make our participation in the Lord's Supper a testimony of our faith, no just part of our Christian routine.

May God bless you as you respond to his Word, led by the Holy Spirit.  Let me know what you think. - Kirk McCormick

“Table Talk”

A Communion Message

Around this Table…Jesus might ask…

…Are you content?

The truth is…contentment is rooted in trust.

Hebrews 13:5 - “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Philippians 4:12-13 - “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

At the Table, Jesus might ask…Are you confident?

The truth is…confidence is rooted in faith.

Ephesians 3:12 - “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Hebrews 4:16 - “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

  

At the Table, Jesus might ask…Are you ready?

Quote - It’s important, as we go along in life, to create thirsts that death will satisfy.

Luke 12:35-36 - Jesus said, “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”

The truth is…readiness is rooted in preparation.

The Gift of Repentance

Hello Friends,

Have you ever asked yourself, "If I am truly sorry for my sins, why do I keep repeating them?"  The answer is, at least in part, because salvation is a process.  But even in the exercise and honesty of repentance we are assured that God is working in our hearts.

I like what C. H. Spurgeon said, "Genuine, spiritual mourning for sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature’s garden. Pearls grow naturally in oysters, but penitence never shows itself in sinners except divine grace works it in them."

It is good to have a repentant heart.  It is better to remember the purpose of repentance - to draw us back to the Father who grows in us the heart of Christ.

Be well...and may God bless you, Kirk McCormick