The rolls of Texas Roadhouse? How 'bout the loaf from Longhorn? Are you a fan of the Olive Garden breadsticks? What about the chips and salsa at your favorite Mexican restaurant? Whatever your preference, good bread is a staple of our diet. We need the nutrients that the bread family provides. Bread & water can sustain for a good long while. When relief organizations go in to help those hurt by war or disasters, one of the items they bring in are sacks of grain, wheat, oats. Why? It's crucial to helping us live. When Jesus sought to let people know who He was, one of the images he uses was of bread. In John 6:35 he said very plainly, "I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes will never be thirsty." When Jesus taught His followers to pray, one of the requests to the Father was for him to give us "this day our daily bread" (Matt.6:11). What physical bread does for our bodies, Jesus as the Bread of Life does for our hearts, our souls. He nourishes us. He satisfies the hunger pains we feel as we look to other things to fill us. We teach our kiddo's to enjoy sweets and snacks, but not to fill on them because we know they will not last. As adults we must guard against thinking that things like power, money or being liked by a bunch of people will satisfy. Life has taught us these things don't last and we crave for more after a bit. But Jesus fills us! He forgives. He gives life meaning and purpose. He reminds us that we are valued and loved. That real power and success come from serving Him and those He cares about. Are you Hungry? Join me on Sunday at 9:33 am. Pastor Mike ** PS- On Tuesday March 12 join me for one of two BE STILL- A LISTENING RETREAT. We have the opportunity to get alone with Jesus for a couple hours and really seek to LISTEN to what He wants to say to us. Register here.
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You may be aware that those promoting Jesus through the HE GETS US campaign created quite the buzz with their super bowl ad. The one in particular featured a variety of still pictures of possibly Christian people washing the feet of their polar opposites. Some might say enemies. The outrage ranged stemmed from those thinking the money would have been better spent helping the poor and needy, to those who would say Jesus only washed the feet of his disciples, not the average sinner out on the street. Jesus Christ- if ever there was a polarizing man it was Him. Who is Jesus? In John's gospel, as his adversaries are absolutely at wit's end debating him, they ask him "WHO ARE YOU?" John 8:25. They didn't know. As Jesus concludes His conversation in verse 58, he says, "I'm gonna tell you one more time, that before even your Father Abraham was born I was around." Talk about lighting a match stick and throwing it on a fire! They were ready to kill him there. WHO IS JESUS? This may be the most important question you and I answer. As we approach Easter let's allow Jesus, through His discussions with a variety of people to tell us for Himself WHO HE IS! Several times He said, "I Am..." The Light of the World. The Good Shepherd. The Truth. The Resurrection. This week I want us to focus on who Jesus claims to be and thru the story of someone who spent time with Him we'll examine the obstacles people have in seeing Jesus clearly. I hope you'll Join me! Pastor Mike ** PS- Being a People of Peace! In world of fighting & conflict, what is it like for us to be Peacemakers? Join me for a FIRESIDE CHAT at our home Sunday Feb 25 from 4-6pm. Food & drink provided! Sunday Service - 2/18/24 - Love Does (Week 5) "Loving When I Don't Like You" - Pastor Mike Warman2/20/2024 This being the week of Valentines, we need to remember Jesus talked a lot about what LOVE DOES. He even said some pretty outlandish things. Have you ever been around someone and they say something so outrageous, that it just leaves you shaking your head asking yourself, "Did you really just say that?" My typical response is, "You've got to be kidding right?" Well on one occasion Jesus did just that. Like the time he said we are supposed to love our enemies. RIGHHHTTT Jesus! Maybe the hardest thing you will ever do is to... Wish your ex to do well. Want to see the backstabbing co-worker recognized for your efforts. The kid who rarely hustles on your kids' team seems like the only one to be get noticed. Just crazy stuff. If we remember that Jesus idea about love has less to do with our emotional feelings of warm fuzzies and more to do with making good choices, then maybe we got a shot. But it will still be hard. What might it look like to get along with difficult, challenging or hard to love people?
How to Love Difficult People- We all have them in our life? How we respond them will have a lot to do with our emotional & physical health. Jesus knew this and was trying to give us a heads up when he said to "Love Your Enemies, Do Good to those who hate you, Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you!" Hope you'll join me Sunday! Remember- LOVE DOES! Pastor Mike ** PS- Join Patti and I for a brand new FIRESIDE CHAT at our home Sunday Feb 25. Being People of Peace will be a discussion on how Christians can be the PEACEMAKERS Jesus talked. 4:00 - 6:00pm. Food & drink provided! "What the World needs now is love, sweet Love." I don't think many of us would disagree. But how does it get it more? More importantly, how do you find a little more love in your life? Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, called the LOVE chapter of the Bible, describes in great detail what LOVE DOES. Now as you look at verses 4-8 on this note, it reads Love is .... Love is PATIENT. Love is KIND. Love hangs in there and doesn't give up. Love keeps on HOPING. Love NEVER FAILS. Each one of those is really an action. A verb. Something that Love DOES. What you and I need most is to live out LOVE. WE need to give it. We need to receive it. HOW? Here's a couple things we might do this week?
This week what we need most is for the Love of Jesus to flow through us to others. We need to respond to people and situations the way Jesus would. We need to be people who practice truthfulness. We DO PATIENCE. We Do KINDNESS and this is evidenced by our words and actions. This is the Love of Jesus!. This is what you and i need most in our marriages. In our work relationships. In our schools and churches. LOVE DOES Friend! See you Sunday! Pastor Mike ** Have you signed up for the Together Marriage Conference coming April 26-27? |
AuthorStonebridge Community Church is a Bible-based non-denominational church located in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri. Archives
October 2024
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