Love Defined: Your 16 Second Message Recap

This week Pastor Stephen delivered a Valentine's weekend message about love that applies not just to couples, but to all who call themselves followers of Christ. We looked at 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and looked at: "Love Defined."

Here's the big thing: When our love looks like Christ's love we will have found true love.

The first thing Pastor Stephen noted was that Love is of the utmost importance. The reason for this is that love will always be around. Love directs what we do and keeps our actions and thoughts in line with Christ.

Love is what compelled God to sacrifice his Son to save us from the eternal death that is the consequence of the wrong actions each of us does. And love, when all else has gone, will be what encapsulates the heavenly relationship we have with God for eternity.

When our love looks like Christ's love we will have found true love.

Secondly, we looked at what Paul (the author of 1 Corinthians) tells us Love is not. He says it is not envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, self-seeking, irritable, resentful or happy in wrongdoing.

Third, we looked at what Paul tells us Love is. Love is patient, kind, excited at the truth, it bears the spiritual difficulties of others, love is full of faith, confident in God and his promises, and love is inextinguishable.

Pastor Stephen then encouraged the congregation to replace the word "love" in verses 4-7 with their name and to think about how that felt. Did it seem odd or natural? Out of place, or normal? The areas where it felt odd may just be the areas you are not yet living regularly in love.

Be sure to catch the full sermon on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/abundant-springs-sermons/id622648222

He Chooses People Like Me: Your 16 Second Message Recap

This week Pastor Stephen completed our five part series called "Who Jesus Is". This week we looked at Mark 3:13-19 and discussed who the 12 men Jesus chose were. We learned that Jesus Chooses People Like Me.

Here's the big thing: Jesus uses average people to do above-average things!

If He Could Use the Apostles He Can Use You!

• Jesus' disciples had only a basic education and were a rough bunch including fishermen, a possible political terrorist, a tax collector (who stole money from his own people to make himself rich), doubters, deniers, cowards, guys with thunderous tempers, guys who weren't even worth being written about beyond their names in a list, and the guy who ultimately betrayed Jesus and killed himself; yet Jesus trusted these men to set up His church!

God's People Must Rely on Christ's Presence and Authority

• Jesus Christ chose the men he did because they would have to rely on His power to do anything great.

• Without Jesus we are only capable of a little, but Jesus takes what we do and makes it beautiful.

• But we must spend our time in the presence of Christ, and we must stay under the authority that he gives those who believe in his name and follow him.

Jesus uses average people to do above-average things!

Here's What You Have to do to be Used Best by God:

• Believe in Jesus and Follow Him: this is necessary before we do anything else.

• Be in relationship with Christ: spend time with him, learn from him, obey him.

• Stay Humble: whatever God empowers you to do, you are doing it by HIS power, not your own.

• Continually be filled with the Holy Spirit: ask for more of him every day!

Whatever God empowers you to do, you are doing it by HIS power, not your own.

Be sure to catch the full sermon on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/abundant-springs-sermons/id622648222

Water for the Thirsty: Your 16 Second Message Recap

This week Pastor Stephen delivered the 4th message in our five part series called "Who Jesus Is". This week we read about the Samaritan woman in John 4:4-42 and found out that Jesus is Water for the Thirsty.

Here's the big thing: Jesus offers those who follow him water for their thirsty souls.

• Outcasts like the Samaritan woman thirst for love, acceptance, and relationship. Through Jesus' living water (the Holy Spirit) they receive what they have been thirsting and more: love and acceptance and relationship with God!

• There's another thirst too: the thirst for satisfaction. We're all made to be in relationship with God, but because of sin we've lost that. You might try to fill that hole with other things, but any satisfaction is temporary because nothing else really fits. However, because of Jesus, we can receive a relationship with God through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross that paid the penalty for our sins. THAT is what is needed for satisfaction.

Jesus offers those who follow him water for their thirsty souls.

Here are some of the things current Christ-followers can take from this passage:

• Your mission to the unchurched begins NOW. Right now.

• Don't be discouraged or surprised at their response to the Good News of Jesus: remember: one sows, the other reaps.

• Gratifying sinful desires makes them stronger. Even though you have Jesus as the water for your thirst, we're still human and we are tempted by sinful desires. Don't give into them!

• A relationship with God must be maintained. If you feel unsatisfied, it's possible you've allowed your relationship with God to decay. Relationships don't remain the same. They are always in motion: either for the better or for worse.

Relationships don't remain the same; they are always in motion: either for the better or for worse.

Be sure to catch the full sermon on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/abundant-springs-sermons/id622648222

Joy to Our Community

What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever given? Do you remember the recipient’s expression as he or she opened it? Do you remember the feeling it gave you to know that you had just brought a little bit of joy to that person? Now, what if I told you there was a way to give a gift that is even more meaningful and that will impact numerous people at once—people who otherwise may not have anything to eat this Christmas? With only a month until December 25th, it seems fitting to encourage you to remember those who are less fortunate this year. After all, we celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ: God’s only Son who came to provide hope for the hopeless and eternal life to all those who would turn from their rebellion and follow Him. What better way to celebrate He who gave Himself to help us than to give a little of what we have to help others?

This year, as our food bank struggles to keep up with the demand placed upon it—especially during this particularly taxing Christmas season—let’s not forget to sacrifice a little of ourselves and donate a cart of groceries to help out. Or, let’s invite that neighbour who lives all alone to join us for our Christmas celebration. This Christmas, let’s spread some joy around our community.

Merry Christmas!

--Pastor Stephen Valcourt

This article was first printed in the Pincher Creek Echo