Encouraged in the Lord

   

Honestly, it seemed a little trite: “Yeah yeah, David encouraged himself in the Lord…that’s nice.  I don’t feel like encouraging myself in the Lord.  I am not in a worshipful mood here.  I don’t feel like singing.  I don’t have the energy to sit and meditate on high and lofty things.  All I can think about is what am I going to do now?!”

Listen as Pastor Rick transparently shares a message of encouragement based on the story of David and Ziklag from 1 Samuel chapter 30.

D O U B T

On this Sunday of Saint Thomas, Pastor Rick deals with the specter of Doubt.

"Doubt.  What does the word conjure up for you?  It is a word that is not generally associated with pleasantness, happiness, or peace.  Instead, it is associated with discomfort, uncertainty, and fear.  Doubt is in the uplifted eyebrow, the wrinkling of the forehead, or in the wide eyes and open mouth.  Doubt is that feeling you feel when you take your driver’s test…can you make it?  Doubt is that feeling you feel when you stand at the edge of a jump into water below.  Doubt is the feeling of uncertainty when you quit your job without another in sight.  Doubt is that inner response when you hear something unlikely or unbelievable. Doubt usually isn’t any fun."

I recommend to you a book that will help you clarify your understanding of doubt further after today’s message.  The book is available for free online here: http://www.garyhabermas.com/books/dealing_with_doubt/dealing_with_doubt.htm.  The book is titled, “Dealing with Doubt,” by Gary Habermas.  Dr. Habermas is a well-known apologist specializing in matters to do with the resurrection and Christian faith.  

DOUBT

I hope today that you are encouraged to anchor your faith in God and Christ.  Do not succumb to the struggle of emotional doubt with a response of willful unbelief.  Rather, go back to the truths you know.  Cling to them.  Grow in them.  Find strength there and bridge the gap between your knowledge and your emotions with willing faith.  Trust in the Lord.  Then you can say with the Psalmist, “Ps 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

Return to Reverence

Listen as Pastor Rick shares an important message for our culture and for Christians everywhere about reverence.

WEWH Series - NO FEAR

Listen as Pastor Rick shares the second message of the Words of Earth - Wisdom of Heaven series: "NO FEAR."

The Bible says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  But it also says "God has not given us the spirit of fear." Is this a contradiction?  Listen as Pastor Rick uses our culturally popular phrase, "No Fear" to explore this tension.