Continuing with our Radical Experiment, Troy focuses on the challenge: "Pray for the Entire World." If God's plan is for the disciples of Jesus to carry the message into all the world, and to tell others, who will in turn tell others until the last person in the farthest corner has heard the story, then we should be praying for the world and for God's plan to reach it. And apparently, Jesus' concern was not that the lost would not come to the Father; instead, His concern was that His followers would not go to the lost.
- Jan 7, 2018Pray for the Entire World
Jan 7, 2018Pray for the Entire WorldBy: Troy BurnsSeries: Radical
Continuing with our Radical Experiment, Troy focuses on the challenge: "Pray for the Entire World." If God's plan is for the disciples of Jesus to carry the message into all the world, and to tell others, who will in turn tell others until the last person in the farthest corner has heard the story, then we should be praying for the world and for God's plan to reach it. And apparently, Jesus' concern was not that the lost would not come to the Father; instead, His concern was that His followers would not go to the lost.
- Dec 24, 2017It’s a Wonderful Life: What if Jesus Never Had a Birthday?
Dec 24, 2017It’s a Wonderful Life: What if Jesus Never Had a Birthday?By: Troy BurnsSeries: StandaloneOn this morning of Christmas Eve, Troy uses the fictional character, George Bailey from the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," to discuss the hypothetical question, "What would life be like if we were never born?" Like George, we would likely all realize how many lives we have impacted, and just how different those lives would be if we had never been born. Troy goes on to consider the question, "What if Jesus never had a birthday?" As we celebrate Christmas, it can be helpful to think about what life would be like if Jesus was never born. Perhaps we can appreciate His coming to the earth a little more, as we count the numerous blessings that resulted from His birth, life, death, and resurrection.
- Dec 17, 2017O Holy Night: Honoring the Birthday of Jesus
Dec 17, 2017O Holy Night: Honoring the Birthday of JesusBy: Troy BurnsSeries: StandaloneIn preparation for the week leading into Christmas, Troy shares some of the reasons he wants to honor and celebrate the birthday of Jesus: 1) He was born to become just like me (almost); 2) He was born to pay the price for my sins (a price I could never pay); and 3) He was born to rise again from the dead and live forever. Troy also suggests that one of the best ways we can honor Christ's birthday is to realize that Jesus continues to show up in our lives today, and not always to benefit us alone, but especially to benefit others through us.
- Dec 10, 2017Living When Dying is Gain
Dec 10, 2017Living When Dying is GainBy: Troy BurnsSeries: RadicalIn our last regular message from the Radical series, Troy discusses what it means to live our lives when "Dying is Gain," including an understanding of the risk and reward that goes along with it. He challenges us to ask ourselves the question, "Do we believe the reward found in Jesus is worth the risk of following Him?" And the bottom line is that the only way death can be a reward is if dying really is gain.
- Nov 26, 2017How Much is Enough?
Nov 26, 2017How Much is Enough?By: Troy BurnsSeries: RadicalIn our latest message in the Radical series, Troy helps us consider the question, "How Much is Enough?" He also challenges us to consider whether we have blind spots in our lives when it comes to caring for the poor and needy around us and throughout the world. As Americans, we live in relative luxury while nearly half of the world's people live in extreme poverty. Each one of us as Christians must wrestle with what Jesus is calling us to do with our resources as we follow Him.
- Nov 12, 2017Thanks for Nothing
Nov 12, 2017Thanks for NothingBy: Troy BurnsSeries: Standalone
In honor of our annual Thanksgiving meal and the fast-approaching holiday, Troy wants to say, "Thanks for Nothing." And here's what he means by "nothing:" 1) He's thankful for the "nothing" that Jesus made Himself; 2) He's thankful for the "nothing" that God remembers when it comes to our sins; and 3) He's thankful for the "nothing" that can separate us from the love of God.
- Oct 29, 2017Beginning at the End of Ourselves
Oct 29, 2017Beginning at the End of OurselvesBy: Troy BurnsSeries: RadicalContinuing in our "Radical" series, Troy shares about our need to give up on trying to do things in our own power. This is when God does His best work; when we come to the end of ourselves and choose to trust in His power, not our own. God does this if we are radically dependent on Him and if we are radically devoted to making much of Him.
- Oct 1, 2017I Will Pray for the Church and Its Leaders
Oct 1, 2017I Will Pray for the Church and Its LeadersBy: Troy BurnsSeries: I am a Church MemberTo wrap up our series, "I Am a Church Member," Troy team-teaches with Joe Miller on this commitment: "I Will Pray for the Church and Its Leaders." Ministers and elders and deacons (and other ministry leaders) need our prayers for their protection, for their wisdom, and for their families. NOTE: Since Troy and Joe were recorded on two different microphones, there may be some choppy transitions in the sermon as you listen to it online.
- Sep 3, 2017A Tale of Two Church Members
Sep 3, 2017A Tale of Two Church MembersBy: Troy BurnsSeries: I am a Church MemberWith today's message, Troy starts us off on a four-week series called, "I Am a Church Member," based on some ideas in the book of the same name by Thom Rainer. This message discusses some of the struggles and challenges we face in the church, while encouraging all of us who are members to be honest and look in the mirror. Many congregations are weak because many of us as church members have lost the biblical understanding of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ.
- Aug 13, 2017A Safe Place for the Hurting
Aug 13, 2017A Safe Place for the HurtingBy: Troy BurnsSeries: StandaloneIt is experiences from hurtful relationships that caused your wounds, and it takes new experiences with safe, caring people to bring healing. As Troy shares this morning, the good thing is that the church is the best place to provide those new experiences with safe, caring people. What works in restoring a broken life is when one person invests in another person by means of a relationship.