Lent - Consider the Cross

 

ADVENT 2016 - Peace

Listen as Pastor Rick Concludes the Advent Series with this sermon about Peace.

"Are you at peace today?  I don’t mean some artificial imaginary calm or temporary stillness.  I don’t mean some meditative state of tranquility.  I mean is your heart at peace today?  Is there anything separating you from God right now?  Is there anything separating you from your spouse? Is there anything separating you from your children?  Is there anything separating you from a fellow-believer?  Is there anything or anyone standing in between you and the Christ child – the Prince of Peace?"

ADVENT 2016 - Love Amid Suffering

Listen as Pastor Rick continues the Advent series with a sermon on Love.

"I invite you to meditate upon God the Father who loves us so certainly that He gave His only begotten beloved Son to us to suffer from the manger to the cross that He might triumph in love for us.  And in the end, His triumph will be complete as His love banishes the darkness of suffering forever and we no longer are under sentence of eternal death but we are able to live forever with Him in eternal life!"

ADVENT 2016 - The Hope of Forgiveness

Listen as Pastor Rick begins the Advent Series with a sermon about forgiveness.

What is your greatest hope? I would contend that your greatest hope is to be loved completely by someone who understands you, accepts you as you are, and forgives you when you are in need of it.  Someone who loves you with abandon without reservation.  May I introduce you to Jesus the Christ – the God Who loves you today just that way?  He designed you, created you, sustains you, and understands you.  He accepts you as you are when you come to him with a humble penitent heart.  He forgives every sin and wipes away every stain if you will only let Him in.  He loves you with abandon and without reservation as he demonstrated that first Christmas long ago when his tiny helpless form was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in the hay. 

This is the hope we proclaim this first Sunday of Advent: the hope of forgiveness: the hope of being among the living forgiven!  Are you living in this hope today?  Are you forgiven?  Have you opened the door of your heart to the Christ: JESUS who came to save you from your sins?  He stands at the door knocking.  Won’t you let forgiveness in?

The Tomb & Jesus the Master

In this final sermon of the series, "A Donkey, A Garden, A Cross, & A Tomb" Pastor Rick shares the glorious message of Easter.  

The "message to us today is not one of apologetics or defense of the faith.  I have [shared such] in the past and will likely do so again in the future.  But today, I simply want to share a story with you so that you may feel with me the joy of the resurrection.  For today is a day of rejoicing!"

VISION - 2016

Listen as Pastor Rick shares the Vision & Burden for Water of Life Fellowship in 2016 as we transition from Surviving to Thriving!

2014 Vision - Disturbance - Slides

Water of Life Fellowship - Vision 2014 - Disturbance from Richard Alexander

The Preeminence of Faith - A Key Message

Pastor Rick explores the preeminent doctrine of the Bible: Faith.  Have you faith in God?  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Faith is foundational.  Listen and consider these ideas and question yourself: Do you have faith?  - P.S. Have you heard of a blobfish?

The First Words of Witnessing - Witnessing Workshops

Have you ever given much thought to the first words you will speak about faith to someone you meet?  Tonight is an exercise as a group to think about this very thing.  Not a typical sermon, this open format discussion is worthwhile if you spend the time to follow it. 

A Clear View of Jesus - Witnessing Workshops Series

Listen as Pastor Rick shares from Max Lucado's book, "God Came Near" to remind us of the importance of possessing a clear view of Jesus. 

The Three R's of Witnessing - Witnessing Workshops Series

Listen as Pastor Rick opens a new series about "witnessing" or sharing our faith.  Do you know the three "R's" of Witnessing?  Listen to learn them!  :-)

Ambassadors for Christ

Listen to one of Pastor Rick's Key Messages, "Ambassadors for Christ."  Pastor Rick firmly believes in this concept.  Made new creatures, reconciled to God in Christ Jesus, we are called to represent the High King of Heaven.  Listen and be challenged!

Ministers of the New Testament

Listen as Pastor Rick calls all of us to ministry in the New Testament sense of the word.

FAN OR FOLLOWER?

Listen to this challenging message as Pastor Rick springs from the book NOT A FAN by Kyle Idleman to ask the essential question, "Are you a follower of Jesus Christ?"  Becoming a true follower of Christ is a lot more than most people think it is. 

The Post Resurrection Series - ANCHORED IN HOPE

Listen as Pastor Rick shares a message of faith and hope based upon the resurrection.  It is a hope certain and sure!  This is the first message in the Post-Resurrection Series.  Listen and be encouraged!

Contagious 3 - Salt & Light

Listen to Lesson 3 as Pastor Rick concludes the introduction to the "Becoming A Contagious Christian" series, challenging us to be salt and light!

Contagious 2 - Costs & Benefits

Pastor Rick shares the pros and cons of becoming a soul-winner/witness for the Gospel of Christ.  Are you in?

READY TO STAY

Listen As Pastor Rick Shares another sermon in the "Ready" Series.  Feeling God's burden on our hearts to begin seeking folks in our community, Pastor Rick shares with us how to get our head in the game and be ready to play!

The Armor

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Listen as Pastor Rick describes the armor in detail listed in Ephesians 6 and how it applies to us today.  Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand!

Seed Flingers

It's Christmas time here in Hampton Roads and we are LOVING the 65-70 degree weather!  It's not often you have a Christmas this warm!  We are still doing all the seasonal things though: singing "winter wonderland," going Christmas caroling, wrapping presents, and building Christmas boxes.  That's what made me think about this thought today.

As we made our first attempts this year at many things as a church, it feels unusual - out of the comfort zone.  Are we truly doing any good or just going through the motions?  We had our first annual Christmas program, sang Christmas carols at two assisted living facilities, and built a Christmas box for a small struggling family.  It doesn't seem like much against the backdrop of a community so full of lost and hurting people. 

But God reminded me of something today.  We are "seed flingers."  You remember the parable: "a sower went forth to sow...."  When Jesus taught His disciples, he said the seed was the Word of God and proclaimed that it would fall on all types of soil.  He never said the sower should stop flinging seed just because some of it would be gobbled up or wasted.  All He did was prepare us for the responses to the seed.  He also said that some seed WOULD fall on good soil and bring forth a great harvest. 

In the context of this and other Scriptures, I am reminded that we are to be "Seed Flingers" and "Harvest Reapers."  Don't fret that what we are doing is not enough or that it is not easy or that it is uncomfortable.  Rather focus on spreading the magnificent message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every venue available.  Let us demonstrate His love toward others even when they are yet sinners without the knowledge of Christ.  Let us fling the seeds of His Word everywhere and trust Him to bring the harvest!  Merry Christmas!