We’re in a spiritual battle! The Bible tells how to win it, and shows how Jesus won against Satan’s temptations.
Archives: Episode
The Armor of God
Senior leader JR Quigley preaches out of Ephesians 6 on the Armor of God.
What’s Love Got To Do With It?
What is love? It’s a commitment to serve. Jesus washed his disciples’ filthy feet, and commanded them do the same for one another (John 13:1-9, 34-45). He surprised everyone by never doing what they expected. He was a master at loving and serving people, and making them feel valued. With his help, we must follow his example. Nothing in the universe matters more.
Through The Church Part 2 – Spiritual Warfare is Waged
We are an army of sheep! In community—not alone—we fight Satan’s lies and our own sins to realign with God’s gracious plan, which eventually will bring all of creation out of Satan’s darkness (and our own rebellion) back into Christ’s kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13-14, 1 John 5:18-20).
Through The Church
Through the church, God shows his wisdom (Ephesians 3:7-13). You have a gift to be used for this purpose. Use it! Take it seriously! God has prepared good works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Do them!
Wisdom: Self-Control in Words and Deeds
Words hold the power of life and death (Genesis 1, Proverbs 18:21). We must learn to control our words—and our deeds. We are to seek “the wisdom of Solomon” and exhibit self-control and fairness—not sinful behaviors like rage, contentiousness, and overindulgence in food and drink.
Wisdom: Good Character and Good Words
Wisdom is better than gold (Proverbs 3:13-18); it includes good character (integrity)—and good words that bring help, not hurt. The critical importance of words is confirmed by Solomon (Proverbs 10:19-21), Jesus (Matthew 12:36-37), James (James 4:6), and Paul—who adds that even our very salvation is confirmed by our words (Romans 10:9).
God’s Wisdom
Solomon was blessed for seeking wisdom above all else. God’s simple wisdom beseeches us: Work hard, trust God, do good! Proverbs 1:7 and 3:5-6 teach us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that we must trust in God, not in ourselves. It also warns repeatedly that if we fail to heed wisdom’s simple message, we will inevitably reap the fruits of our folly. So if we are wise, we won’t ignore God’s wisdom; instead, we will heed it and follow it.
Christmas Eve Service at MHCC
JR Quigley shares on Christ's coming and inevitable second coming based on the writings of John in the books of John and Revelation.
Skilled – The Philippian Jailer
Through Scripture we must become mature and skilled in “the word of righteousness” (Heb. 5:13)—able to convert unbelievers, as Paul converted his Philippian jailer. Paul was so mature that even after being beaten and imprisoned, his testimony of praise to God actually redeemed the jailer’s life, both physically and spiritually. Like Paul, we must move from milk to solid food. God calls us to radical spiritual change – a powerful testimony to the world.
Building Community and Living the Mission in the Nations
The world rebels more and more, yet God is achieving his mission of uniting all things under Christ. Our part is to reach the whole earth with his message by doing the good works he has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Scripture repeatedly describes God’s sovereign plan to restore and reconcile all of creation back to himself (Ephesians 1:9-10)—and he WILL achieve it. So when the world rebels, he’s not worried or scared; instead, he laughs (Psalm 2:1-6) because he knows that in the end, his own good plan will prevail. And we are to help him carry it out. We must not be distracted by COVID, or politics, or the loss of freedoms that is surely coming. Instead, we must join him in the high calling of carrying his love and service to the ends of the earth.
This Changes Everything!
Like us, the Jews wanted favor — not hard truths. But when Jesus preached both, he changed everything. So they tried to kill him. They thought God’s blessing was for them, and God’s vengeance was for others; but he told them he came to save the whole world. We must not repeat their error. The way to find blessing is to bless others, not ourselves. That is Christ’s mission—and ours. Instead of praying, ”Lord, bless me!” —let us pray, “Lord, bless THROUGH me!”
The Vine
Jeff Wald shares what it means to abide in Christ and stirs us to action in response to Jesus' transforming power in our lives.
Commissioned
Christ’s final commission to us was to grow up into maturity, and to make mature disciples! How do we get there? By becoming doers of the word, and not hearers only. But how do we become doers? Not by works or legalism, but by communing deeply and regularly with God and his word—and then obeying. This mission—i.e., not just evangelizing people, but “disciple-izing” them to maturity—is the most valuable, important, necessary, and urgent mission in the world. What lesser missions distract you from it? What next step is God challenging you to take to love and serve those around you?
By Grace, Through Faith
God wants us to be alive – and on-mission! You were prepared for mission, and God has prepared mission for you. He is writing you into the story. Ephesians 2:10 says that “We are God’s workmanship, created for good works in Christ” – and the preceding verses tell us HOW this mission of good works is accomplished. It is not something we can ever do on our own, but it happens only by grace, through faith: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV).
Prepare Your Mind!
God’s critical mission for us is to share the hope of Christ! That’s what people need, and we can’t stay spectators; we must change from consumers to contributors. We want someone else to do it for us – but no one else can. You yourself must prepare your mind (“gird up the loins of your mind” in KJV) your mind, and engage in this spiritual battle with discipline and sober-mindedness (1 Peter 1:13). God is building his church around the world, just as he said he would (Matthew 16:18) – and we are called to play a part. When his truth is revealed to us, we must adjust our lives accordingly. Each of us must become a doer of the word, not just a hearer only (James 1:22).
Get Ready!
Cory Swanson encourages us to take advantage of a field ripe for harvest in front of us by ceasing from excuse-making, and instead seeing the opportunities in front of us to impact those around us, so long as we are prepared to take them.
Time Out Part 6
Jason Harris continues our sermon series on sabbath and rest by teaching on how to practice enjoying the presence of God.
Time Out Part 5
JR Quigley continues our sermon series on sabbath and rest by teaching out of Ecclesiastes and encouraging us to not be stingy with out time.
Time Out Part 4 – Ryan Dahlke at MHCC
Ryan Dahlke continues in our series on Sabbath and rest by teaching on recognizing Sabbath as a reminder of what God's done and who he is. He also touches on how legalism can interact with our time of Sabbath and rest.