Dec 25, 2011 AM
Dave Marttunen
Audio A reason for Joy has been our December theme. Joy is deeper, higher and better than happiness. Happiness is rooted in outcome, while joy is rooted outside circumstance in the soil of grace, belonging, acceptance, and value. God wanting us, choosing to redeem us, adopting us, and maturing us fuels our Joy. The easiest way of summarizing our Joy is in a single name—Jesus. He is our reason for Joy! Merry Christmas! Thinking about
Jesus fuels your joy.
Dec 18, 2011 AM
Dave MarttunenAudio Every newspaper has them—coupons. You can buy books of them that promise great stuff at a fraction of the cost. Coupons fit whatever product is advertised. If you clip and carry the coupon to the store, you get real stuff. Coupons redeemed products. Coupons have real value. For Christians, coupons are a great way of understanding grace. There is no cost to the one using the coupon because someone else is paying the price. Today in our series, “A Reason for Joy”, we will consider the grace coupon offered to us in the Bible. God's coupon is Jesus, our made to measure Messiah.
Dec 11, 2011 AM
Guest Speaker
Phil Callaway
Audio
Sermon Questions will resume Jan 8
This morning we warmly welcome Phil Callaway and his wife Ramona! He is an award winning author and speaker known worldwide for his humorous yet perceptive look at life. We look forward to hearing from Phil this morning as he shares, “Bringing Joy to Life”, from James 1:1-12.
Dec 4, 2011 AM
Reason for Joy #1
Dave MarttunenAudio / Questions / LeadersSome messages have the power to form, reform and transform those who receive them. Think about what the Doctor says: lose weight or you will have diabetes. That message is given to you in order to reform your life. If followed, this medical message will transform you from being at risk to being healthy. As the message is believed, it will inform the rest of your life. Use this idea in our faith. Is the message of Jesus, which the Bible claims to be the power of God (Romans 1:16), reforming, transforming and informing our lives? What are the marks or indicators that it’s working? One of the fruits of spiritual transformation is joy and this introduces our Bible messages over the next Sundays in December, ―A Reason for Joy‖, based on Galatians 4:1-7. Joy is a clear indicator of ongoing spiritual transformation. Joy cannot be pursued; it ensues. Joy follows the process of spiritual reformation in the same way that a flower follows a plant, or a fruit follows from a flower.
