Looking Back to Move Forward 16 Second Message Recap

This week was a time of Celebration!

Pastor Stephen spoke on 1 Samuel 17:32-37 and talked about the importance of celebrating the wins God has given us in the past (even over difficult circumstances) so that we can move forward into what God has for us in the future!

The Big Thing: Look back to move forward

Some highlights:

• Trust that what God has done before, he will do again.
  • David pointed to his past for courage to face the future.
• The challenges God enabled you to overcome in the past prepare you to face giants in the future.
  • Imagine how differently you would approach difficult moments in your life if you always kept in mind that God is preparing you for something through it?
  • Your past doesn't have to define who you are or what you do, but it has made you the person that you are today.
• God knows what is needed to get each person ready for the future.
  • No one is born ready to take on the greatest challenge in his or her future!

Some Questions to think about:

• What have you gone through that God helped you to overcome?
• How has God changed you this past year?
• What did you do that helped you serve Christ better? What didn't work?
• How did you live in response to the Gospel?

Look back to move forward.

I Will Pour Out My Spirit: 16 Second Sermon Recap

This Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. Pastor Stephen spoke from Acts 2:16-21.

The Big Thing: When God pours his Spirit on you, your ministry will never be the same.

Points to Remember:

• All Christians have a ministry.
• No one is too big or too small to have the Holy Spirit poured out on them
• The Holy Spirit empowers God's people prophetically. That is, he gives them the ability to speak forth words under the influence of the Holy Spirit (inspired sermons like Peter's, tongues, interpretation of tongues, visions, dreams, prophetic words, etc.)
• The Holy Spirit empowers God's people to bear witness to the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Listen to the entire message for free here.

We Need Community

Early last year in Pontiac, Michigan, a contractor made the startling discovery of a mummified body in a foreclosed home.  It was later determined that the woman had been dead for at least five years.  Her body was outfitted with winter clothing in the back seat of her Jeep in the attached garage.  The key was in the ignition but not turned on.  Because all of her bills were automatically deducted from her bank account, everything seemed normal, including the maintenance of her lawn.  When her money ran out, the house went into foreclosure and led to the realization that an entire neighbourhood had functioned for five years without ever noticing her passing. Stories like that illustrate our great need to have community with other people. People need to be connected with others. You need people in your life who can spur you on to greater things, who can be there for you in your darkest hour and who can celebrate with you in your happiest moments. That is why God has always encouraged his people to be in community with one another. God left us an instruction manual for living called the Bible, and in it one reads, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV). We were designed to be in community, and good community makes us better people!

the house went into foreclosure and led to the realization that an entire neighbourhood had functioned for five years without ever noticing her passing.

Where are you going to experience community? Would people notice that you were gone if you passed away tonight? Would they care? If you are in need of community, might I suggest attending your local church? The church I pastor believes in the importance of experiencing community with each other and with Jesus Christ. In fact, we just changed our name to Abundant Springs Community Church in order to reflect that belief. This town and the surrounding area has many great churches where you can find the community you are looking for; be sure to check one out this Sunday!

--Pastor Stephen Valcourt

Lead pastor at Abundant Springs Community Church

We want to hear from you, yes: you! Leave your comments below!

This article first appeared in the Pincher Creek Echo in April 2015.

The Emmaus Walk: 16 Second Message Recap

Pastor Stephen shared a message about Christ's presence from Luke 24:13-35; "The Emmaus Walk".

The Big Thing: Even when you don't realize it, Jesus is walking with you.

We can lose hope when we don't recognize Christ's presence, but he never leaves us, nor forsakes us. If you follow Jesus Christ--he is with you! In fact, sometimes, those moments when we feel most alone happen when Christ is working most powerfully in our lives!

The most powerful way to draw close to Christ and hear God speak to us is through the Bible--God's Words to us. So often, we act as if God never speaks to us, and then we never open the book that contains his very words! ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful.

Finally, realize that when Christ makes his presence known to you, your first reaction should be to tell somebody!

Be sure to listen to the full message on iTunes or online.