The Purpose of the Wilderness

A Living Sacrifice

In Romans, Paul challenges the Church in Rome to submit their lives in full obedience to God. He calls his followers to do the same today. God calls us to continually grow in our faith and our willingness to offer our lives as living sacrifices. Obstacles arise, but God uses those to renew our minds and refine our hearts.

The Renewing of your Mind

In Romans 5:8, Paul says that "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We are reminded that our position before God is not based upon our actions; it's based on Christ's action because of His love for us. That said, becoming a follower of Jesus requires us to change what we fix our thoughts upon. Our thoughts must be aligned with God's truth. Our minds are renewed when we study His Word, pray for Him to transform our minds, worship Him, live in community with other believers, and take captive every thought.

The Purpose of the Wilderness

Temptation often comes our way when we are at our lowest point. Matthew 4 recounts how even Jesus was tested in the wilderness, but He used the Word of God to withstand Satan's attacks. In this message, Pastor Greg reminds us that there are seasons when God may lead us into difficult places to prepare us for His purpose for our lives. It's in these hard times that He refines us and reveals where our joy lies.

God Is With Us In All Seasons

God is with us in both the good and hard seasons of our lives. We can live boldly for Christ because we know that our struggle is not the end of the story. God can and will use all circumstances in our lives to bring goodness and glory to Him.

Colossians 4:10-17

In Colossians 4:10-17, Paul praises his fellow missionaries for their perseverance and encourages them to fulfill the mission they have received from the Lord. During Sunday's sermon, Pastor Greg motivates fellow followers of Jesus to persist in serving the Lord and not let their love of the world lead them to abandon the mission God has given them.