Peter boldly asserted that he would lay down his life for Jesus. But, that very night, he denied the Lord three times. Like Peter, we often overestimate our faith. We say that we believe in him; we say that we love him. But then we deny him in word and deed. We must look to the Lord who will not only forgive us, but strengthen us that we will sacrifice all for his sake. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/WillYouLayDownYourLife

As believers, we know that God wants to use us; we know that he wants us to serve him. And most of us would say that we're willing to do so. But not many of us have prayed that God would use us; not many of us have asked God to do great things through us. When we look at ourselves compared to other believers, to those who've accomplished great things for God, we feel unworthy and inadequate. However, they can inspire us to serve. They can motivate us to seek to be used by God. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/UseMe_15

When we bring our needs and requests to God, we carry with us a lot of expectations. We fail to realize that these expectations can actually hinder us from receiving the blessing of God. We must drop our expectations, realizing that God is not bound by them. And we must simply look to him and trust in him. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/AHindranceToBlessing

We all relish our freedom. It's true politically and in the church. We enjoy those things that God has not forbidden, and we don't let anyone strip us of our rights. However, when it comes to this freedom, there's something else we have to consider: the welfare of others in the church. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/TheProperUseOfFreedom

We have so many responsibilities and commitments in life, that we have little time for much else. In fact, we put so much of ourselves into these commitments that we have little time for the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul expresses his desire that the people had an undivided devotion to the Lord. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/FullyDevoted

Speaking to Jeremiah, God says that he knew him before he was formed in the womb. God says that, before he was born, he consecrated him as a prophet. We learn from this that, through abortion, we destroy a life that God knew; we destroy a life that he made for a purpose. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/BeforeYouWereBorn

We often wish that he could hear from God; we wish we could hear his voice speaking directly to us. We envy those from Scripture, men like Moses, Abraham, and the prophets who heard the voice of God. But, when it comes right down to it, do we really want to hear his voice? This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/HearingGod_849

Where did we come from? How did life begin? There are questions asked by pretty much everyone. The message of society today is very different than that of the Bible. What are we to believe and why does it matter? This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/TheBeginning_681

Death is a subject that makes most of us uncomfortable. Even though we realize that everyone dies, we'd rather not think or talk about it. However, because of the coming of the Savior, we can have peace in the face of death. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/DepartingInPeace

The message of Christmas is absolutely incredible. It's so incredible that, like the shepherds in the Christmas story, we should want nothing more than to share this good news with others. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/MakingJesusKnown

According to the angel who spoke to Mary, it was because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit that he was called holy, the Son of God. Apart from the miracle of Christmas, salvation would not be possible. This message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/SonOfTheMostHigh

As Mary praised God because she would bear the Son of God, she says that God's mercy is for those who fear him. Why is the fear of the Lord the key to mercy? This message can be heard at http://www.archive.org/details/TheKeyToMercy

Just as we prepare ourselves for Christmas, the people of Jesus' day had to be prepared for his coming. God prepared them by sending John the Baptist, who proclaimed to the people a baptism of repentance, and who pointed them to the coming Savior.

In these two ways, through repentance and the message of Jesus, we are also prepared for him. We're prepared to receive his salvation, we're prepared for his return, and we can use this message to prepare others for Christ as well.

This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/PreparingForJesus

Yesterday, we started the season of Advent with a message titled "Longing for Salvation." We heard how, during the Christmas season, we not only remember Jesus' birth, but we also long for him to come back; we long for him to deliver us from this world of sin and evil. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/LongingForSalvation

On Thanksgiving, we heard a message titled "The Blessing of Thanksgiving". We learned that, by expressing thankfulness to God, by remembering what he's done for us, we're enabled to trust in him in the present. This message can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/TheBlessingOfThanksgiving

Yesterday we heard the fourth and final part of our series, "Living In the End Times". We heard that, as we await the Lord's return, we're to use our gifts to serve one another. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/UseYourGifts

Yesterday, we heard the third part of our series, "Living in the End Times." We heard that, as we await the Lord's return, we've been called to show hospitality to one another. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/Hospitality_401

Yesterday, we heard part 2 of our series, "Living In the End Times". We heard that, as we anticipate the return of Christ, we're to love one another earnestly. Even though this sounds common sense, and even though it seems easy to obey, it's much more difficult than we realize. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/EarnestLove

Last week, we joined with the other churches in Northwood for a community service, put on by a group known as Harvest for Kids.

Yesterday, we began a series of messages that will take us up to Thanksgiving. We're told in Scripture that Jesus will soon return; we're told that the end will come. And we're told that we're to be prepared. So, how are we to live in the end times?

In this first message, based on 1 Peter 4:7-11, we hear that we're to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. It can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/SelfControl_111

We all want the grace of God for ourselves. We want it also for our family and friends. We even want it for many people that we don't know, for those we deem good people. However, there are certain people we believe to be unworthy of God's grace. If God is generous with them, we resent his grace. However, we should never resent the grace of God. We should always rejoice in it. This message can be heard or downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/RejoicingInGodsGrace

Yesterday, we heard from missionaries Steve and Alberta Knudtson. They shared with us about missionary life and also about the vision they have for ministry. Their message can be heard and downloaded at http://www.archive.org/details/SAKnudtson