Dr. Clem Ferris shares lessons from Scripture on getting through seasons of transition.
Archives: Episode
Reconnect To Recharge
As a kickoff to our Recharge season, Jeff Wald and other leaders at MHCC take time to share about the various ministry teams and leaders here at Mount Helena Community Church.
Empowered To Lead
Regardless of our life circumstances, we are all called to leadership and influence. Scripture outlines many principles of leadership which we can learn from in order to better serve those around us.
Empowered To Serve Together
The first church (Acts 2) grew quickly and was marked by teaching, fellowship, eating together, praying, sharing wealth, praising God, and enjoying favor with all the people. (Yes, our public reputation matters!) Let's follow their model and do all we can to focus on those very same things.
Empowered To Report
The Holy Spirit is still at work in each of our lives today. While hearing from God and the gift of prophecy can be received with a degree of skepticism, Scripture gives abundant examples of how we can hear from God in our everyday lives.
Unwavering Strength – Mark Spencer at MHCC
Through the story of Daniel, we can learn how to stand firm with unwavering strength despite the constant changes and turmoil of the world. We must resolve to stay strong, work in a community of believers, listen to the guidance of God, pray, praise, walk out what God instructs us to do, and look at life through the lens of Scripture. Only then can we remain strong in a hostile world.
Empowered To Serve – Hearing His Voice
Hearing from God is not always with a loud, booming voice as we often picture it, and not every word from God is akin to the prophecies of the Old Testament. Instead, God regularly speaks in small, simple ways as we go about our days. Because of this, we should learn to hear God's voice and be attentive to what he may have to say to us.
Empowered To Serve – Are We Listening?
God is actively speaking to us through his Spirit as we go about our day. Scripture teaches that we should be listening for God's voice to guide us and direct us.
Anything More
Genesis 6 shows we are engulfed in sin. 1 Peter 3 shows Christ died a cruel death to save us from it. What more do you need to convince you of the immense depth of your own need for grace?
Not What It Seems
Jason Harris shares on God orchestrating events beyond our limited understanding.
Church Power Grid – God’s Gifts and Government
The Holy Spirit and his gifts empower the church—under Christ and his chosen shepherds—in unity, decency, and order. Keys to power and unity include forgiving one another and following God's appointed order: Christ the Head, then God-ordained shepherds, then other believers serving Christ, the church, and the world.
Empowered To Serve – Part 3
1 Peter 4:10-11 teaches that: We all have gifts; they are intended to serve others; we must steward them well; and they are for God's glory. Also, we see in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 that love is above them all, and in Philippians 2:2–8 that we are to have the mind of Christ (perfect humility) in all we do. Gifts are given "for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7) and are meant to build up the church in unity, maturity, and love. If you don't know your gift(s) – ask God and the people around you, and then use them for his glory!
Empowered To Serve – The Gifts of the Spirit
We have all been empowered by the Holy Spirit with specific gifts and abilities. We should all aim to identify these giftings and use these talents and abilities to better serve the body of Christ!
Empowered To Serve
After Jesus left earth, the Holy Spirit came to enable believers to resist sin and fulfill God’s mission. He existed from the beginning and throughout the Old Testament (Genesis 1:2; Numbers 11:9; Job 34:14-15; Psalm 104:30; Isaiah 32:14-18, 44:3; Joel 2:28-29)—but since Acts, he has been present with us in a new way, as promised by both John the Baptist and Christ (Matthew 3:11; John 16:7; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). He purifies, unifies, illuminates / instructs, and empowers (2 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 14:26; Acts 2).
Be Strong – Identity
Who is the authority that decides who I am? Expressive individualism says it’s ME; but God says it’s HIM. Paul says: Don’t be trapped by the philosophies of this world that are not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8); instead, let Christ give you his own new identity (Colossians 3:1-17), bought by the authority of his sacrifice on the cross.
Be Strong – Stronger Together
Just as a redwood tree's roots are wide just as they are deep, so a Christian's roots should not only have depth in their relationship with God, but also width in their relationship with others. We are all stronger when we are part of a healthy, life-giving community. Ephesians 3:14-19 tells us to be rooted and grounded in love…together with God’s people. Loving God’s people is key.
Be Strong – Waiting On The Lord
Samson was crazy strong in body, but not morally. True strength comes from seeking God (Isaiah 40:31). On our own we can’t be strong, but in the Lord we can!. Compare Samson’s ever-increasing moral compromises, humiliation, and death (Judges 13-16) to Christ’s example of Ephesian 6:10 (the secret of true spiritual strength): “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”
Be Strong
We’re in a spiritual battle! The Bible tells how to win it, and shows how Jesus won against Satan’s temptations.
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.