Author: FBCSA

What You Focus on Expands

Re:Verse passage –Matthew 22:35-39 (day four)

Underneath my computer in my office I keep a sticky note with a quote from Tim Elmore that says, “What you focus on expands.” There is a reason that the scripture reiterates the word “all” in this command. Our innermost desires and thoughts should be rooted in the Lord. In the moments that we pause at work or school and begin to daydream, what are we dreaming about? What we focus on expands. As our heart and mind begin to dream and think, the things that we dream and think about expand. Our knowledge of those things increases. Our plans become more comprehensive. Taking a pause to dream is not a bad thing. It is when these thoughts and dreams consume our everyday lives that it becomes a hinderance to our faith. Jimmy Needham wrote a song that states, “Anything I want with all my heart is an idol. Anything I can’t stop thinking about is an idol.” What you focus on expands. Is what you are focusing on keeping you from focusing on God with all your heart?

Rick Henderson
Associate Pastor, Youth

Monday Re:Verse Blog Post – 8/12/19

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 22:35-39 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Matthew 22:35-39 (The Greatest Commandment) in our Summer Sermon Series: “Meant for More. A Study of Commandments.”

Enough

Re:Verse passage –Exodus 20:17 (day four)

“You shall not covet…anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

When is “enough”, enough? It is so easy for us to fall into the trap of seeing the things that are around us that we do not have and want them. We are constantly bombarded with lies that what we have is not enough. There is a better car to drive. There is a newer gadget. There is a more beautiful house down the street. There is a great school for your kids, just not in your area. None of these things in and of themselves is a sin to have.

The rub comes from our desires in wanting more. Do we trust that God gives us all that we need? In Deuteronomy 28, God promises that if we follow Him and trust Him, He will give to us abundantly. In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that God knows what we need and gives to us appropriately. It can be difficult to not want more at times. But God’s word reminds us that we have to trust that He gives us more than enough.

Jimmy Gunn
Associate Pastor, Preschool & Elementary

Monday Re:Verse Blog Post – 8/5/19

Re:Verse passage – Exodus 20:17 (day one)

“You shall not covet…anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Exodus 20:17 (the 10th Commandment) in our Summer Sermon Series: “Meant for More. A Study of Commandments.”

The Value of Truth

Re:Verse passage – Exodus 20:16 (day four) 

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

There have been numerous studies to determine the amount of times people lie on a daily basis. Yet, most those studies are dependent on the subjects being truthful about how many times they do not tell the truth. Regardless, the facts found in these studies point to one commonality: our culture does not value truth. When children receive a gift they did not like, we have taught them to pretend that they liked it. We give half-truths or expand the truth to make our stories more interesting. We have even devalued truth the point of making truth relative.

Our text this week shows us a different value in truth. As Dr. Aaron Hufty spoke in the vlog, we not only need to look at the negative implications of the command, but also the implications of what the command is freeing us to do. This command is freeing us to both tell and know the truth. Jesus explains this further in John 14, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” To devalue truth is to devalue God whose very being and character are truth. What needs to change in our lives to better reflect our value of truth?

Rick Henderson
Associate Pastor, Youth

Monday Re:Verse Blog Post – 7/29/19

Re:Verse passage –Exodus 20:16 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Exodus 20:16 (the 9th Commandment) in our Summer Sermon Series: “Meant for More. A Study of Commandments.”

Look into the Mirror

Re:Verse passage –Exodus 20:15 (day four)

“You shall not steal.”

Most people in this digital age are guilty of stealing music, movies, and other media. I confess that when Napster came out in the year 1999, I downloaded all of the music I wanted. It was made possible because of the Internet. Many in the world watch bootleg movies without paying a cent for them. The sin of stealing becomes less serious to the public if everyone cheats on a test or “shares” the music with a million other people.

How serious is this sin in your life? Do you really care what God thinks? This sin is what led me to true repentance when I was in college. “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24).” When I looked into the mirror of the Ten Commandments I began to see my sin as serious and feared the Lord enough to ask Him for help. I saw myself for what I truly was: a thief.

Jesus came to my rescue and made me a new creation. I got rid of all that I had stolen and purchased what I truly needed. The chains of selfishness that led me to steal and sin against God fell away. I became a slave to righteousness. Let the law bring you to Christ so you can be set free.

Byron Pitts
Director of Community Missions & Evangelism

Monday Re:Verse Blog Post – 7/22/19

Re:Verse passage –Exodus 20:15 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Exodus 20:15 (the 8th Commandment) in our Summer Sermon Series: “Meant for More. A Study of Commandments.”

Who does your heart belong to?

Re:Verse passage – Exodus 20:14 (day four)

“You shall not commit adultery.”

When we marry our spouse, we each make a covenant or an oath that our spouse and God are the only ones that our hearts will belong to. Marriage can be a beautiful reminder of who we are in Christ. When we become Christ-followers, we make an oath that our hearts will belong to no other (see commandments 1 & 2). But we don’t always act like that is the case.

As followers of Christ, we are His bride. How often do we, as God’s people, long for other things or long for that which is not God – essentially committing adultery in our hearts? I can say for myself that it is all too often. Yet, God keeps His promise. God keeps his oath that we are His people – forevermore. That’s why He sent Jesus; so that we could be purified from sin and presented as the gleaming bride. Jesus gave His life up for his bride…for us!

Have you rejoiced in God’s grace today because our hearts belong to Him forever?

Jimmy Gunn
Associate Pastor, Preschool & Elementary

Monday Re:Verse Blog Post – 7/15/19

Re:Verse passage –Exodus 20:14 (day one)

Join us as Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Exodus 20:14 (the 7th Commandment) in our Summer Sermon Series: “Meant for More. A Study of Commandments.”