In this video, Pastor Pat takes a look at a passage from the Bible, Romans 12:1-2, that teaches us how we can change. Have you ever wanted to change? Have you ever wondered how to be closer to God? Have you ever wondered how you can not be conformed to this world when we are inundated with so many messages about cultural values that might not be good for us?
The solution, Pat says, is to think like a lepidoptera…
When I was seventeen years old, I drove my 1972 AMC Gremlin across the country to attend university. All of my earthly possessions could fit inside that car. Now, many years later, I would need a big moving truck to move all my stuff.
As we go through life, we accumulate possessions. Some of them are junk, but some are quite special.
If you are a Christian, what you have is more than your possessions – much more!
In this message, we take a look at a passage from the Bible that talks about what God has given us. It’s found in Romans 5:1-11.
I really hope this message encourages you and gets you excited about all that God has given you!
This year as a church we are reading through the New Testament. Read one chapter a day for five days a week. The extra two days you can use for going back over what you read and meditating on it, get caught up if you fell behind, or spend time in extended prayer. We also encourage you to use the S.O.A.P.S. method of Bible reading and marking.
For the week of May 8, here is the reading schedule:
Monday, May 8 – Matthew 23
Tuesday, May 9 – Matthew 24
Wednesday, May 10 – Matthew 25
Thursday, May 11 – Matthew 26
Friday, May 12 – Matthew 27
Download the complete plan here.
As Christians, we just finished celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this past Easter weekend. Our message at Calvary Chapel came out of John 20 and focused on three encounters that Jesus had in his resurrected body. (The bible documents ten post-resurrection appearances of Jesus!)
Here’s those three appearances:
Check out the video of the full message and let me know what you think!
In this message, Pastor Pat shares from Hebrews 5:11-14 about two kinds of Christians. The first is an infant, a babe, someone who has grown very much spiritually speaking. The other kind of Christian is one who is mature, who has learned the word of God and is obeying it. Check out the video and let us know what you think!
In this short video, Pat walks us through some important keys that will help us make good decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and live a life that pleases the Lord.
Hey everyone!
Last week Pastor Paul told us about a message he heard from Pastor Greg Laurie about talking to others about Jesus. Just click on the image above to watch this message.
It ties in to what we are going to be talking about this coming weekend: “What is Your God-Story?”
In Acts 22, we see Paul sharing his God-story. We can do the same. Let’s pray that God gives us those opportunities — and that we take advantage of them!
If there is one question that every Christian has asked, if there is one issue that every believer has thought about it is the issue of “God’s will for my life.”
“What is God’s will for my life?”
“Should I go here or should I go there?”
“What does God want me to do?”
Sometimes it has to do with education – what school should I go to?
Sometimes it has to do with work and career – what job should I take?
Sometimes it has to do with ministry – should I quit my job and “go into the ministry”?
Sometimes it has to do with marriage – what person should I marry?
This issue certainly is an important one. How do I make decisions according to God’s will?
Acts 16:6-10 is a very interesting portion of Scripture. It is a passage that has to do with “discerning divine direction”. In these verses God leads one of His children into a certain geographical place, by preventing him from going one way and then giving him a vision of a man asking for help.
The book of Acts is an important book in the Bible because it traces the growth of the church from a small group of 120 Jewish followers of Jesus, meeting in an upper room in Jerusalem, to a very large, perhaps innumerable group of disciples all over Judea, Samaria, and into the western world of what we now call Europe.
The Apostle Paul is the man that God used to take his message throughout the areas of what we know as Turkey, Greece, and into western Europe.
Here in Acts 16 Paul and his companions Silas and Timothy are traversing the land, talking to people about the Messiah, the Saviour Jesus, whom God confirmed through signs, miracles, fulfilled prophecy, and through raising Him from the dead.
As they are spreading the message of the gospel, God re-directs their steps.
They want to go one way, but were “forbidden by the Holy Spirit.”
The try to go another way, but “the Spirit did not permit them.”
Two closed doors that ultimately led to an open door. Sound familiar?
This might be an important topic for you because you are wondering about God’s direction as it pertains to your decisions about your job, education, residence, or an important relationship.
These are huge areas in our lives. They not just impact our future, but the futures of those who love us.
The first thing that is important to realize is that God does have a plan for you.
Take a look at these passages:
““I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”” (Jeremiah 1:5)
“For those whom he foreknew…he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Romans 8:29)
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:16)
“Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” (James 4:15)
Yes, God has a plan for you. Beyond that, there are several things that we can learn in this passage about making good decisions. This coming Saturday, February 18, I will be taking a close look at these verses and uncover these “tools” that you can use as you “learn to discern” God’s will and direction for your life.
Hope to see you there!
(This week’s post is by Sarah, age 16.)
Last weekend a few of the youth and I spent two nights at the Word of Life Bible Institute’s “Recharge” snow camp. I was really excited because I’ve heard so much about Word of Life, and have wanted to go for a long time.
The campus in Owen Sound was covered in two feet of snow when we got there Friday evening, and it kept snowing all weekend; a huge change from our warm winter here in Oakville. But we were all ready for it, and snow camp did not disappoint!
There were way too many activities for us to try everything, but we had a great time tubing, playing soccer, running around completing a scavenger hunt, climbing the high ropes course, jumping into freezing water for the “ice cube” challenge, and eating super delicious food. The cardboard sled race Saturday night was extremely exciting, and our “Fishers of Men” fishing boat took home 1st place for design!!Over the weekend there were four sessions to attend. First of all we got to watch a creative skit the staff had put together that really got everyone thinking, then a gospel meeting on Saturday morning. We also listened to a workshop about modern culture and how to approach some difficult topics with a Biblical attitude, which was really very cool. And before we left on Sunday, there was a wonderful session about sharing your faith, which I hope most kids enjoyed and learned from as much as I did.
Above all, the highlight for me this weekend was the Word of Life staff: honestly some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. Every one of them was so pumped to be there, eager to get to know us, and passionate about Christ, I would be so down to go again just to spend more time with them. I can’t imagine better role models for the hundreds of young kids that attend their camps every year. They truly, truly inspired me.
Overall, I’m so so grateful that we had this opportunity. I had a really great time at Recharge; we all did, I think; and I will definitely be first in line if we decide to go back in the summer.
We often call it a “testimony.” It’s defined as “evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.”
I like to call it a “God Story.” It’s the story of how your life was changed by God. And it is a very powerful tool that God can use in your life to reach someone who is far from God. Every testimony, every God Story, has three parts. Here they are.
The beauty of a testimony is that it can be shared in as short as thirty seconds or as long as thirty or more minutes. Here’s a sample of a thirty second testimony:
Each of us should have a short version of our testimony that we are always ready to share. Be prepared! God can and will use you if you are available. People need to hear your story. Share it.