May 29, 2016
Difference Makers Value Prayer
By: Mike Lovely
Series: Difference Makers
For believers, prayer should be as natural and necessary as breathing. Yet many of us treat prayer as a tool to be taken out and used as needed, then put back in the box. In this message from the Difference Makers series, Pastor Mike unpacks Acts 12:1-19 to show us the value of praying diligently and continually. As the church in this passage is meeting to pray we see the reason for their prayers, God's response to their prayers, and the results of their prayers.
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- May 29, 2016Difference Makers Value PrayerMay 29, 2016Difference Makers Value PrayerBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersFor believers, prayer should be as natural and necessary as breathing. Yet many of us treat prayer as a tool to be taken out and used as needed, then put back in the box. In this message from the Difference Makers series, Pastor Mike unpacks Acts 12:1-19 to show us the value of praying diligently and continually. As the church in this passage is meeting to pray we see the reason for their prayers, God's response to their prayers, and the results of their prayers.
- May 22, 2016Difference Makers Are EncouragingMay 22, 2016Difference Makers Are EncouragingBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersMany of us have nicknames, some of which are not very flattering. But one early believer named Joseph was given a nickname that reflected his character - Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement. In Acts 11, the early church was in need of encouragement. The place of encouragement was Antioch. Persecuted believers had settled there and many Greeks believed in Jesus through their witness. The person of encouragement was Barnabas. He was sent to Antioch by the church in Jerusalem to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith. And the product of encouragement was the spread of the gospel message.
- May 15, 2016Difference Makers Are All InMay 15, 2016Difference Makers Are All InBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersAre you all in for the cause of Christ? Most of us will claim to be all in, but when trouble comes we are out. Many will be partially in - willing to give some of themselves, but not all. To be all in we need to stay in. In Acts 6 and 7, Stephen was all in. He put everything on the line to proclaim the gospel. In this message, Pastor Mike examines this passage to show four lessons we can learn from Stephen. We see the character of Stephen, the contradiction of the crowd, the content of Stephen's message, and the conclusion of the meeting.
- May 8, 2016Difference Makers Value TeamworkMay 8, 2016Difference Makers Value TeamworkBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersBy the time we come to Acts 6, the early church had grown significantly. They had faced opposition from outside, but now they were facing a new challenge - a challenge from within. Most churches have people who are servants. They do work that needs to be done with no thought of recognition. But churches also need servant leaders - people who will step forward and work together to provide solutions to larger problems. In this message from the Difference Makers series, Pastor Mike explores Acts 6:1-7 to show how teamwork produced a decisive remedy, divided responsibilities, and divine results.
- May 1, 2016Difference Makers are FaithfulMay 1, 2016Difference Makers are FaithfulBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersAt Yellowstone National Park there is a geyser named, Old Faithful. It is so named because it is consistent in its eruptions. It is one of the most predictable geographical features on earth. Faithfulness is one area where many Christians struggle, especially in the face of opposition. The early church faced opposition, but they remained faithful in spreading the gospel. God is searching for faithful followers. In this message from the Difference Makers sermon series, Pastor Mike points out three ingredients in the faithfulness of the early church: the circumstances they endured, the companionship they experienced, and the character they exhibited.
- Apr 24, 2016Difference Makers Are GenerousApr 24, 2016Difference Makers Are GenerousBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersMost of the time when we think of generosity, we think of money. Often we struggle with thinking of ourselves as being generous simply because we don't think we have the means of being generous. But generosity is not limited to financial gifts. You can be generous with your time, with wisdom, with your talents. The first-century Christians were generous in providing for each other's needs. In this message from the Difference Makers series, Pastor Mike uncovers three lessons in Christian generosity: the perspective, prerequisites, and personality of generosity.
- Apr 17, 2016Difference Makers Live Spirit-filled LivesApr 17, 2016Difference Makers Live Spirit-filled LivesBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersDifference makers in the early church were common men and women who rallied around an uncommon cause and demonstrated uncommon characteristics to make an amazing difference. They were able to do this through the power of God's Spirit. When we think about how the Spirit works in our lives, we often think of emotional experiences in worship. But the work of the Holy Spirit is much more empowering than a simple emotional experience. In this third message in the Difference Makers series, Pastor Mike looks at Acts 4 to teach about the priority of being filled with the Spirit, the pathway to being filled with the Spirit, and the product of being filled with the Spirit.
- Apr 10, 2016Difference Makers CareApr 10, 2016Difference Makers CareBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersEvery day we come in contact with people who have real needs. They may be physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. And the real question is, "Who cares?" Who will take the time to care for people in need? Who will show genuine compassion and concern? In Acts 3:1-10, Peter and John were Difference Makers who took the time to notice a man with a need. Pastor Mike unpacks this passage to show us three components of genuine care: the plight of the needy man, the pity of the caring men, and the praise of the healed man. #VADifferenceMakers
- Apr 3, 2016Difference Makers Value RelationshipsApr 3, 2016Difference Makers Value RelationshipsBy: Mike LovelySeries: Difference MakersWhat happened after the resurrection? Did the disciples go back to their lives as if nothing happened? No, they continued to follow the risen Christ - the ultimate Difference Maker. And in so doing they changed the world. In this series, Pastor Mike will take a look at how these common men and women rallied around an uncommon cause, and displayed uncommon characteristics to make an amazing difference.This first message in the series focuses on relationships. Difference Makers value relationships. We must display steadfastness in character, sensitivity to others, and singleness of heart.
- Mar 27, 2016He Is RisenMar 27, 2016He Is RisenBy: Mike LovelySeries: Easter 2016Resurrection Sunday gives us a chance to ask the question, "Does it really matter if Jesus is risen? And if so, why?"In Acts 17:16-34, the apostle Paul found himself in Athens and his passion for the lost was stirred. The city of Athens was a cultural center in Paul's day. It was a place of commerce and trade. It was a place where intellectuals would gather and debate philosophy. Its many temples were filled with people looking for answers but finding none. Paul's proclamation was simple. He didn't try to debate the philosophers, he went straight to the heart of the matter. And Paul's purpose was steadfast. He preached Jesus and the resurrection.If Jesus is not alive, then nothing really matters. If Jesus is alive, then nothing but that matters.