Blaze Church

God’s design for marriage is very clear. Culture tells us we can live with an individualistic approach, but according to God, marriage is based on a mutual commitment to one another. Through reading about the marriage relationship between King David and Michal (Saul’s daughter), we will discover three qualities that make a Godly marriage. Michal suffered because she did not know the importance of these qualities within her marriage. You and I are invited to a renewal covenant with the Lord so that we can declare that we will serve the Lord for the rest of our lives!

What are you living for? Do you have hope? If you are missing hope in your life, the likely reason is that what you’ve put your hope in isn’t a living hope. After Jesus died, the disciples lost hope. They went back to their previous source of hope, but it didn’t fulfill them. When the resurrected Jesus showed up, hope was restored. Peter had a miraculous moment of restoration on the beach. Easter means you and I have a living hope. The Christian life comes down to two words: Follow me. When we follow Jesus, we experience a hope that never dies.

Palm Sunday reveals diverse acts of worship: disciples' obedience, the donkey owner's generosity, the crowds' praise, and the Pharisees' pride. Despite the celebration, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, foreseeing rejection. Reflecting on obedience, generosity, true worship, and humility, we're called to emulate discipleship, generously offer to God our whole lives, praise unceasingly, and guard against pride. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, may we echo the sentiment: 'The Lord needs it,' surrendering everything in worship, acknowledging His Lordship.

God’s desire for lost people is clear: He wants them to know Him. How will people know God? This happens when found people find lost people. This is our non-negotiable mission. Jesus told a story to show us the Father’s heart for people to know Him. In the parable, the master commanded the servants to “Compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.” Everyone is invited! No one is disqualified based on their behavior. However, there is a requirement to enjoy the feast; we must surrender to the saving work of Christ. This Easter, we are committed to compelling lost people to come in and experience the goodness of God!

Believers have this hope: One day Jesus will return and He will make all things new. How are we commanded to live while we wait? Ready! What does living ready look like? Jesus told three stories to teach us what qualities we need if we are to live ready. Ready people are wise, faithful, and selfless. As we begin another year, we believe God is calling us to bring the message of Jesus “Outside These Walls” like never before. This Vision Sunday we choose as a collective to serve the people of our community in an extraordinary way!

If we are not intentional, Blaze Church can become more focused on Christians than on who Jesus was focused on: lost people. Jesus came to find lost people. Every person is either lost or found. Found people find lost people. Jesus went out of his way to go to unclean places and be around unclean people to answer their cries for help. In a graveyard, Jesus brought new life! Our purpose as a church is to blaze the way for lost people to meet Jesus. 

Have you ever looked at someone who has great accomplishments and thought, “I could never do that. I’m just ordinary!” Moses didn’t think he had what he needed for greatness. He was just an ordinary guy like the rest of us, but he learned something that changes everything – God gives ordinary people extraordinary strength! Moses had hesitations about his ability to do what God called him to. He doubted. He tried to get out of it. But God sent Him, and gave him everything he needed to be successful. When you are surrendered to God and filled with His Spirit, his power is displayed through your weakness!

When God makes a promise, He keeps it. But sometimes, we lose faith in the waiting. In this message, we’ll look at a moment when God gave Israel a very interesting battle strategy. What can we learn from the Walls of Jericho? God's promises have purpose. God's methods are unique. And God's promises require faith. Don't stop walking because God's not done!

We all have people in our lives that are hard to love. Jesus tells us to “love our enemies” but how are we supposed to do that? David was running for his life from King Saul, and came to a moment when God brought them face to face. David had every right to kill Saul, but he didn’t! He had an honoring view of others, a humble view of himself, and a holy view of God. The only truth that can empower us to love our enemies is knowing that we have been loved by God. We don’t have to cut corners like the world does when it comes to forgiveness; we can love freely.

All of us are on a quest to discover why we are alive. We ask, “What’s my purpose in life?” For Samson, his purpose was very clear. He was filled with God’s spirit and called to do great things. So what happens? Samson completely messed it up, and it resulted in him being blind and powerless. But God is gracious! He graciously provides his presence and promise to people because He is good! And just like God showed his grace to Samson, Jesus comes to rescue you from spiritual blindness and gives you sight to discover your purpose – to know God!