Talk is Cheap - Fruit Isn't! (2025-10-19) Sermon

Be a Wedding Crasher (2025-11-02) Sermon

Matthew 22:1-14 Pastor Willie Behrends   Today we’ll see that God’s invitation to His Kingdom, (pictured as a wedding feast) is open to everyone; but only those who accept it and come ‘dressed’ correctly will stay!   Here are three things about this particular feast…   I – Some ___________________ the invitation! (1-7)   II – The guest list gets pretty______________! (8-10)   III – There’s a ___________ __________ to obey! (11-14)   Today’s ‘Take-Aways.’ Ask Yourself… 1. “Have I been ________________ God’s invitation?” 2. “Have I ___________________ someone God has invited?” 3. “Am I relying on my _________ wedding garment?”   This week’s Life Group Questions are on the back of this sheet →   NEXT WEEK: Whose ‘Image’ Is On You? Matthew 22:15-22   Pastor Willie preaches from the English Standard Version Bible (ESV) ©2001 LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS…   ‘Getting to know you…’ What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever attended, and what was it that made it memorable, (something funny, awkward, touching, etc.)?   Read Matthew 22:1-14 (Questions based on the English Standard Version© (ESV) Bible, 2001) As you prepare for this week’s Life Group, 1-Carefully consider what this passage is saying (observation); 2-Ask, ‘who, what, when, where, why & how?’ (interpretation); 3-Consider what it means for us now (application).   Questions… 1. Read verses 1-7. Who originally received the King’s invitation, and how did they respond? What are some ‘distractions’ or ‘excuses’ that can keep us from responding to God’s invitation (i.e., His call) in our own lives?   2. Read verses 8-10. After the first guests refused the invitation to the wedding feast, who did the King invite next? Have you ever been surprised by the kind of people God saves or uses? Can you give an example?   3. In verses 11-14, what do you think the ‘wedding garment’ represents in this parable? (See also Galatians 3:27, Isaiah 61:10 and Revelation 19:7-8)   GROW… What spiritual disciplines, (such as prayer, worship, service, meditation, etc.) help you to ‘keep your wedding garment clean’; in other words, what helps you to maintain closeness and integrity with God?   GO… The King told his servants to “Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find!” Who might that represent in Your World, and who might you not normally think to invite to the feast?   Pray for each other as you go to Your Worlds this week.

THe Stone that the Builders Rejected Mt 21:33-46 (2025-10-26) Sermon

Matthew 21:33-46 Charlie Painter, Executive Director   As Jesus continues to teach against the chief priests and Pharisees in the temple, He shares a parable about a master, his vineyard, and its tenants.   I – They rejected the ________________________. (33-36)   II – They rejected the ____________________. (37-41)   III – ________________________________ rejects them. (42-46)   Today’s ‘Take-Aways.’ Ask Yourself… 1. “Do I feel ___________ to what I have been entrusted with?” 2. “Do I claim any of ___________________________?” 3. “Am I ___________________________ for God or myself?”   This week’s Life Group Questions are on the back of this sheet →   NEXT WEEK: Be a Wedding Crasher! Matthew 22:1-22   Charlie preaches from the English Standard Version Bible (ESV) ©2001   LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS…   ‘Getting to know you…’ What comes to mind when you hear the word “entitled?” Have you ever felt entitled to something?   Read Matthew 21:33-46 (Questions based on the English Standard Version© (ESV) Bible, 2001) As you prepare for this week’s Life Group, 1-Carefully consider what this passage is saying (observation); 2-Ask, ‘who, what, when, where, why & how?’ (interpretation); 3-Consider what it means for us now (application).   Questions… 1. Read verses 33-36. From your knowledge of the Old Testament, who were some of the prophets that were rejected by the people?   2. Read verses 37-41. Why would they think they would receive the heir’s inheritance by killing the son? Now consider the response of the crowd to this parable. Why do you think their outrage towards the actions of the tenants in the parable did not translate towards their own actions to God?   3. Read verses 42-46. Consider Jesus’ ministry on earth, how He was rejected and killed, yet became “The Cornerstone.” How does this help us define “success” in our Christian lives?   GROW… What “vineyards” are you a tenant of? What fruit is God expecting you to produce for Him?   GO… Read John 15:18-27. Why, considering this passage, is it so important that we be Empowered by the Holy Spirit as we Go to our Worlds?   Pray for each other as you go to Your Worlds this week.

Talk is Cheap - Fruit Isn't! (2025-10-19) Sermon

Matthew 21:18–32 Pastor Willie Behrends We live in a culture full of talk. Everybody’s talking—online, at work, at church. We talk about what’s wrong with the world, what needs to change, what we believe, what we’ll do “one day.” But how often does all that talk actually turn into action?   I – LOOKS ALONE CAN BE DECEIVING! (18-22) II – ASKING QUESTIONS WITHOUT SURRENDER! (23-27) III – ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS! (28-32)   Today’s ‘Take-Aways.’ Ask Yourself… 1. “Do I want to LOOK spiritual, or BE spiritual?” 2. “What excuses do I use to DELAY obedience to God?” 3. “Where do I need to REPENT and OBEY?”   Willie preaches from the English Standard Version Bible (ESV) © 2001 October 19, 2025

Here Comes the King! (2025-10-12) Sermon

Here Comes the King Matthew 21:1-17 Charlie Painter, Executive Director In this week’s passage, Jesus makes His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem, and word quickly spreads. His first order of business is setting things straight in the temple. I – Preparation for the_____________________________. (1-6) II – ____________________ takes notice. (7-11) III – Now it’s time to__________________________. (12-17) Today’s ‘Take-Aways.’ Ask Yourself… 1. “Do I _________, even when it doesn’t make sense?” 2. “When God moves, do I ___________________________ it?” 3. “In our homes and church, where do we need to _______________________?” This week’s Life Group Questions are on the back of this sheet → NEXT WEEK: Talk is Cheap, Fruit Isn’t! Matthew 21:18-32 Charlie preaches from the English Standard Version Bible (ESV) ©2001 LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS… ‘Getting to know you…’ Have you ever been away from home for a long time? What was it like coming back? What had changed? Read Matthew 21:1-17 (Questions based on the English Standard Version© (ESV) Bible, 2001) As you prepare for this week’s Life Group, 1-Carefully consider what this passage is saying (observation); 2Ask, ‘who, what, when, where, why & how?’ (interpretation); 3-Consider what it means for us now (application). Questions… 1. Read verses 1-6. How do you think the disciples felt taking a stranger’s donkey, before receiving permission? Share of a time God asked you to do something that seemed strange and uncomfortable. 2. Read verses 7-11. How do you think Jesus felt during this “Triumphal Entry”? Why was the crowd so excited for His entry? Have you ever been a part of something “bigger than yourself”? 3. Read verses 12-17. Why do you think Jesus had such a strong reaction to the sinners in the temple in contrast to His usual interactions with sinners? Is there anything we are allowing to creep into our sacred places like our homes and churches? GROW… Before any real change happens in Our Worlds, we need to make sure our “houses” are in order. What is something you can do this week to make your house, family, church, or sabbath a more sacred thing? Is there anything worldly or sinful that needs to be removed? GO… It’s easy to celebrate Jesus when everyone around is, but it’s different when those around us are hostile towards Jesus. How can we be “Empowered” to celebrate Jesus to Our Worlds, when they may not like the message? Pray for each other as you go to Your Worlds this week.

Seeing that the Way Up is Down! (2025-10-05) Sermon

Matthew 20:17-34 Pastor Willie Behrends   Today Jesus teaches that true greatness doesn’t come through status or ambition, but through humility and service. The way up in God’s kingdom is always down!   Matthew gives us three ‘pictures’ of this truth…   I – The ____________ comes before the _____________! (17-19)   II – Some have_____________, but are______________! (20-28)   III – Some are _________________ but _____________! (29-34)   Today’s ‘Take-Aways.’ Ask Yourself… 1. “What __________________ is God asking me to carry?” 2. “How do I measure _________________________?” 3. “Am I willing to _________ ___________ to Jesus?”   This week’s Life Group Questions are on the back of this sheet →   NEXT WEEK: Hosanna in The Highest! Matthew 21:1-17   Pastor Willie preaches from the English Standard Version Bible (ESV) ©2001     LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS…   ‘Getting to know you…’ What’s the most ‘servant-hearted’ act you’ve ever witnessed someone do for another person? How did seeing that make you feel?   Read Matthew 19:16-30 (Questions based on the English Standard Version© (ESV) Bible, 2001) As you prepare for this week’s Life Group, 1-Carefully consider what this passage is saying (observation); 2-Ask, ‘who, what, when, where, why & how?’ (interpretation); 3-Consider what it means for us now (application).   Questions… 1. Read verses 17-19. Why do you think Jesus kept reminding His disciples about His suffering and death? What does it mean for us, in our day-to-day lives, that “The cross comes before the crown?”   2. Read verses 20-28. What do you think James and John’s request reveals about their understanding of Jesus’ kingdom, and why did the other disciples get ‘indignant’? In what ways do we demonstrate these same mindsets?   3. In verses 29-34, the blind men cry out for mercy. Why do you think Jesus asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” when it seemed obvious? What does this teach us about prayer and dependence upon Jesus?   GROW… Since what Jesus is teaching in this passage is so ‘counter-cultural’ and unnatural for most of us, what practical things can we do so that our lives reflect the standards Jesus has set for us? (See also Eph. 5:18, Col. 5:22-23)   GO… In John 13:1-15 Jesus demonstrated what it means to be a servant by washing the disciples’ feet. What are some practical ways we could ‘pick up the towel’ and serve those in Our Worlds this week?   Pray for each other as you go to Your Worlds this week.