I’m sure everyone on the web has heard this blunder but it’s pretty hilarious:

Big Sermon Blooper…

Several months ago a telling question was asked in the sermon; “How many people feel like God is not pleased with you?” In a moment of honesty, about sixty-percent of the people in the room raised their hands. For those of you who were not there, I’d ask that you think about this question: Do you feel like God is not pleased with you?

I remember my thought process when this question was asked. My reaction was split between my mind and my feelings. I immediately thought through my Biblical understanding of being in Christ so I am not condemned but my feelings and my knowledge of my sinfulness betrayed this liberating knowledge. I don’t know what your reaction is but the biggest obstacle I imagine we face is confronting our feelings with right thinking. Let’s look at some of the errors that cause us to feel that God is not pleased with us.

Today, I would like us to consider this idea; is God pleased with you? How, if at all, can we please God? And what are the implications this answer has on our Christian walk?

Full Sermon Notes & MP3: How do I know if God is pleased with me?

I am preparing a sermon and for a portion of it wanted to look at our culture’s perception of sin. Let me know if you have a good source/site/quote…

Our view of Easter is often clouded behind traditions of men and religious terms. The message of the risen King who came to defeat sin, Satan, and death is lost in the cultural tide of our day. As a gathering of worshippers who seek to understand and embody this history changing and life altering news, our greatest desire is to come together with our family and friends to celebrate and hear this incredible story. We also realize that none of us have all the answers, but we can come to the ancient Scriptures and learn from them the truth about Jesus and the Easter message. Come and listen as we sift through the historical facts and myths surrounding this controversial event.

Easter Sunday in San Diego | March 27th @ 11:30am Directions

Thousands of people who do not know Jesus Christ attend church each week. Most of these people never received the christianese Sunday school training that began with large felt boards. As preachers deliver their messages and the members back-slap each other with approval, many of these visitors walk away without any clearer understanding of Jesus Christ. Further, many preachers deliver sermons where once Christians concepts have morphed into meaninglessness. (more…)

Each week I have the opportunity to visit a new church and listen to the preaching. This week I preached at my church, Kaleo. Based on where our church is at (a new plant that is 2-years old) and my experience with the Sheep & Goats, I decided to preach on Preaching & Equipping for Ministry.

Pastor David Fairchild delivered a sermon in response to the Tsunami. As many Christians and non-Christians wrestle with the loss of life and severe devastation, it is easy to ask, Where is God in All of This? Quote:

The reason a question like “Where is God in all this suffering” is difficult, is not because we have no answer to give. It is difficult to answer in a time like this because our answers must carry with them the compassion, gentleness, and reverence, that is due. We need to feel the question before we can give any type of intellectual response. We can’t be void of “speaking truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), lest we represent God as an unfeeling, uncaring, glob of energy that has no real connection to the pains of this world and has no real interest in the affairs of men and horrors of their life. Many of us may want to speak truth, and many may want to be loving, but the challenge of speaking truthfully in a loving way during such a tragic time is not easy for you and I.

This message caused a mixed reaction from tears to anger. As David said in this message, “Here we are. Faced with a choice this morning, our choice is a simple one; curse or worship. That is only two conclusions I believe we are left with when we undertake what we are talking about- will we curse God, or will we worship Him in calamity?”

In Acts, when the first Church was built, it was a perverse pre-Christian generation. What we see in this church is valuable to us today because Scripture tells us about how we should be a community within a corrupt culture. As our culture suffers and worsens our goal as a church is not to save culture; but to save the lost. We need to understand how we can reflect the Gospel to the corrupt world around us. It is within this corruptness that Kaleo has an opportunity to show what a difference it means to be a community in Christ. Full Sermon >

Often people come to church on Sunday’s and they are looking for answers. During each week new challenges come up that we must face. Our lives are marked by highs and lows. How can we take Scripture and apply it into our lives? Today, we will read the beginning of the 4th chapter, where Paul tells the Philippians very practical things in response to who God is and what He has done. Full Sermon >

How are we as believers supposed to react to pop psychology and secular counseling? What does God’s Word say about these things and depression, self-esteem and more. Full Sermon >