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Showing posts from March, 2011

I am Convinced that Freedom is Possible

I am convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are in our third week of our series “Convinced” and we’ve already established that God’s love overcomes all obstacles that Satan throws in our way and that unity in the Holy Spirit always leads to victory. Today we continue in Mark 5:1-20. Today as you read the scripture, I want you to sit back and imagine you are in the scene. Picture yourself there. See the sights, the lake, the shore. Smell the lake, the boat, the disciples. Feel the breeze on your face.  Listen for the sounds of water, of the disciples pulling the boat up on the shore. Now read, not just with your eyes, but with all of your senses. They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chain

I am Convinced that Unity Leads to Victory

Mark 3:20-30 Last week we started a new sermon series on Spiritual Warfare in the book of Mark – but we’re looking at it through the lens of God’s love. I am convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We were reminded that before Jesus started his earthly ministry, God spoke in an audible voice, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Before Jesus went into ministry, His identity was already sealed – as God’s beloved Son. So when Jesus faced forty days of temptation, he was able to withstand it, because love overcomes. Today as we begin, I have a question: Did anyone here used to be a LeBron James fan? Anyone a fan of the Miami Heat? For anyone here who isn’t a basketball fan, LeBron James is possibly the best basketball player in the world right now, and he won quite a few games with the Cleveland Cavaliers before he decided to “take his talents to South Beach.” He moved to Miami to team up with Dwayne Wade, another of th

I am Convinced that... Love Overcomes

Today we start a new series, just in time for Lent. It’s a collaboration between me and my pastor cluster. We decided to call the series “Convinced” and focus on this truth: I am convinced that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of God. Let’s get started! We are a people at war, and there are casualties all around us. Almost everyone has been affected in some way or another. We are in the midst of a terrible battle, yet some don’t even realize we are at war. This is because the war isn’t one that is merely held in the physical plane; it is a spiritual battle. All you need to do to see the effects of this spiritual battle is look around you. Our country is a mess – politically, financially, and morally. And we’re the good part. It seems like a day can’t go by without a new suicide attack somewhere, usually with religion as its stated rationale. Sex crimes are reported all the time, and the perpetrators are priests, pastors, family, and other trusted members of society.