LIFE
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / Sept 14, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 11-12
Solomon concludes his journal with some great advice about life.
I. ACCEPT LIFE
Read Eccl. 11:1-2
A. Be
Solomon Used 2 Activities to Illustrate this Point
- The Merchant
- The Farmer
B. Be
Read Eccl. 11:3-6
II. ACCEPT LIFE
A. Appreciate life
Read Eccl. 11:7-8
B. Appreciate life
Read Eccl. 11:9-12:2
C. Appreciate life
Read Eccl. 12:3-8
III. ANALYZE LIFE
A. for life
Read Eccl. 12:9-10
B. for life
Read Eccl. 12:11-12
IV. ASSESS LIFE
Read Eccl. 12:13-14
3 Keys to a Fulfilling Life
- your Creator (read Psalm 8:3-4)
- God (read Eccl. 12:13)
- God’s commandments (read Eccl. 12:13-14)
The Folly of the Foolish
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / Sept 7, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 10:1-20
Solomon – the author of books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs
Proverbs 15:21 – “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom…”
I. THE LIFE OF A FOOL
Read Ecclesiastes 10:1
A. The of their life
Saul – a perfection description of the life of a fool (see 1 Samuel 16:14)
B. The of their life
Read Eccl. 10:2
• The right hand = place of honor and power.
• The left hand = place of weakness and rejection
Our choices are made by us. The direction comes from the choices we make.
C. The of their life
Read Eccl. 10:3
A fool’s actions prove himself a fool.
II. THE LEADERSHIP OF A FOOL
“I haver never accepted what many people have kindly said – that I inspired the nation. It was the nation and the race dwelling around the globe that had the lion heart. I had the luck to be called to give the roar.” – Winston Churchill
Solomon warns about the leadership of a fool.
A.
Read Eccl. 10:16-17
“Unlucky the land whose king is a young pup, and whose princes party all night. Lucky the land whose king is mature – where the princes behave themselves and don’t drink themselves silly.” (The Message, paraphrase)
B.
Read Eccl. 10:18
“There is little correlation between a leader’s effectiveness and his or her intelligence – imagination – or knowledge. Brilliant people are strikingly ineffective. They never have learned that insights become effectiveness only through hard systematic work.” Peter Drucker/leadership guru
C.
Read Eccl. 10:19
In what field are you a leader?
* We will never stand alone before God.
* We will stand with the souls of those we lead.
D.
Read Eccl. 10:20
III. THE LIPS OF A FOOL
Read Eccl. 10:11-14
A. THE LIPS OF THE FOOL ARE COMPARED TO A
Read Proverbs 24:1-2
Read Proverbs 20:19
Be careful with gossip.
B. THE LIPS OF THE FOOL ARE CERTAIN TO BE
Read Proverbs 13:3, 16:27-28
Read Eccl. 10:12
David Jeremiah said that he prays every morning this prayer: “My Lord and my God. I am a rudderless ship without you. I cannot work, I cannot speak, I cannot live or love as I should – unless your wisdom lights my path. Protect me from my own foolishness and teach me thy way.”
How to Enjoy Life
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / August 31, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 9
Why do so few people enjoy life? Because they are trying to be happy without God.
Three Timeless Principles to Enjoy Life
I. DEATH IS SURE
Solomon gives us 3 responses in the face of death:
A. Examination
Read Ecclesiastes 9:1-3
B. Endurance
Read Ecclesiastes 9:4-6
Solomon’s response to death is: CHOOSE LIFE!
C. Enjoyment
Jim Elliott – “Wherever you are be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
II. LIFE IS SURPRISING
A. Life holds unfair
Read Ecclesiastes 9:11
B. Life holds unexpected
Read Ecclesiastes 9:12
III. WISDOM IS SUPERIOR
Read Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 …. The Illustration
Read Ecclesiastes 9:16-18a …. The application
Three Ways Wisdom Comes
A. Wisdom comes through a
Read Proverbs 3:13, Proverbs 9:10
B. Wisdom comes through
C. Wisdom comes through
Read Ecclesiastes 9:8b
Ambassadors: Representing the King
Sermon by Pastor Bob Johnson / August 24, 2025
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20
Introduction
To be an ambassador for Christ means representing Christ’s interests and sharing His message with the world. This role calls us to actively share the gospel and live in a way that reflects our faith.
The imagery of an ambassador highlights our responsibility to carry God’s message with authority and integrity.
As representatives of the King:
We have been given a new .
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)
We have been given a new .
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
We have been given a new .
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. (2 Corinthians 5:9-13)
We have been given a new .
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (2 Corinthians 5:14-16)
We have been given a new .
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
We have been given a new .
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
1. Grow in Your With God
2. Build with Those Around You
3. Learn to Ask that Open Dialogue
4. Look for to Share Your Story
5. Invite to Follow Jesus
Choosing the Temporal over the Eternal
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / August 17, 2025
Bible text: Mark 10:17-22
I. HIS DESIRE
A. His search (Read Mark 10:17)
B. His subject (Read Mark 10:17, 1 John 5:11-12)
II. HIS DIAGNOSIS
A. Jesus’ point
- His understanding of who Jesus is (Read Mark 10:18)
- His understanding of what the Law does (Read Mark 10:19-20, Romans 3:20)
B. Jesus’ plea (Read Mark 10:21)
“Wilt thou have thy sins and go to hell or leave thy sins and go to heaven?” – John Bunyan
III. HIS DECISION
Read Mark 10:22
A. Remorse rather than repentance (Read Luke 13:3, Acts 3:19)
B. The material rather than the eternal
Mark 8:36 – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
Composure for Life’s Challenges
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / Aug 10, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17
How do we work our way through a life that is unfair, cruel and confusing?
If there is one key factor to keeping our composure in life, it is humility.
I. POISE
Read Ecclesiastes 8:1
The average person is deprived of godly wisdom (read Proverbs 8:35-36)
William Stridger – “A person’s face is the signature of his soul.”
Abe Lincoln – “Every person over 40 is responsible for his own face.”
II. PRUDENCE
Read Ecclesiastes 8:2-5
Solomon reminds us of the importance of obeying authority
Tact = the ability to avoid needless offenses
III. PRINCIPLE
Read Ecclesiastes 8:6-7
Solomon tells us that a wise man waits patiently for God’s time of reckoning
IV. POWER
Read Ecclesiastes 8:8-10
To have composure in life’s challenges, we must realize there is much in life we can’t control
Solomon lists 3 things in life we can’t control:
- Death
- Distress*
- Deception
* “We mothers must take care of the
possible and trust God with the
impossible. We are to love, affirm,
encourage, teach, listen to, and care for
the physical needs of the family.
We cannot convict of sin, create hunger
and thirst after God or convert. These are
miracles, and miracles are not in our
department.” – Ruth Bell Graham
V. PATIENCE
Read Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
Warren Wiersbe – “What good is a long life if it is only a shadow going into the blackness of darkness forever?”
VI. PERSPECTIVE
Read Ecclesiastes 8:14-17
Don’t let what you can’t understand destroy what you can enjoy
The Worth of Wisdom
Sermon by Pastor Brent Snook / Aug 3, 2025
Series: Living Life Backward
Text: Ecclesiastes 7:12-29
Certain things in life are important. Other things in life are crucial.
Read Proverbs 2:1-7
I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WISDOM
A. WISDOM TO DEAL WITH
Read Ecc.7:11-12
B. WISDOM TO DEAL WITH
Read Ecc.7:13-14
“God balances our lives to give us enough blessing to keep us happy and
enough burdens to keep us humble. If all we had were blessings in our
hands – we would fall right over – so the Lord balances the blessings in our
hands with burdens on our backs. That helps keep us steady and as we
yield to him we can even turn burdens into blessings.” – Warren Wiersbe
C. WISDOM TO DEAL WITH
Read Ecc.7:15
Read Isaiah 55:8
II. THE STRENGTH OF WISDOM
Hokmah – one of the Hebrew words for wisdom – “to be wise”
A. STRENGTH WITH THE WE FACE
Read Ecc. 7:19-20
B. STRENGTH WITH THE WE FORM
Read Ecc. 7:21-22
C. STRENGTH WITH THE WE FEAR
Read Ecc. 7:23-25
D. STRENGTH WITH THE WE FIGHT
Read Ecc. 7:26-29
Read Prov 21:16, 2:11
“Solomon was trapped by sexual seductions. He went looking for love and
thought he would find it in a relationship with a woman. He went looking for
that which would support him, strengthen, and make him feel life is worth
living. But what we found was nothing but a fleeting sexual thrill. He found
himself with a woman who did not give what he was looking for at all: He
still felt the same empty loneliness as before.” – Roy Stedman
Embracing Releasing
Sermon by Pastor Jeff Moss / July 27, 2025
Series: Transformed
Text: Romans 12:14-21
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Outline:
1. Release Your Enemies (Romans 12:14)
2. Release Your Envy (Romans 12:15)
3. Release Your Entitlement (Romans 12:16)
4. Release Your Equality (Romans 12:17)
5. Release Your Enmity (Romans 12:18)
6. Release Your Ego (Romans 12:19)
7. Release Your Emotion (Romans 12:20)
8. Release Your Evil (Romans 12:21)
Colossians 3:12-13
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Sincere Love
Sermon by Pastor Adam Tracht / July 20, 2025
Series: Transformed
Text: Romans 12:9-13
Please use the space below for sermon notes
Humble Service: Gifts for the Body
Sermon by Pastor Bob Johnson / July 13, 2025
Series: Transformed – Living Differently in a Difficult World
Text: Romans 12:3-8
Marks of a True Believer:
True Worship: Living Sacrifice
>> Humble Service: Gifts for the Body
Sincere Love: Mark of the True Christian
Compassionate Forgiveness: Overcoming Evil
Even if it’s not trending, humble service remains a deeply respected value, especially for those who are Christ followers.
Remember, Paul is writing to believers in Roman culture. A culture all about self-promotion The Romans were all about rank, or wealth, or eloquence, or function.
Counter-cultural to the arrogant Roman lifestyle was the transformed mind of the believer that exemplified the humble service of our Savior. So, what does it take for you and me to live differently in a difficult world through humble service?
It is going to take these three elements: A spiritual mindset, a spiritual unity, and a spiritual purpose!
Humble Service Involves a Spiritual Mindset. (Romans 12:3)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
This is a caution against pride; and an exhortation not to judge of ourselves by our talents, wealth, or function, but to form another standard of judging of ourselves, by our Christian character.
A spiritual mindset believes your value comes from God – “every man”
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
This world tries to tell you your value comes from your accomplishments, your salary, your number of social media followers, your education, or from what people say about you.
Your value comes from God and according to Him, you are worth dying for!!
A spiritual mindset believes your salvation comes from God – “among you”
“Among you” refers to those together as believers. You are created by God, but are you a child of God?
A spiritual mindset believes your gifting comes from God – “measure of faith”
Three types of gifts:
- Natural Gifts
- Acquired Gifts
- Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are capacities or abilities imparted to Christians by the Holy Spirit to enable them to exceed the limitations of their finite humanity in order to serve other believers to the glory of God.
Three categories of spiritual gifts:
Manifestation Gifts – 1 Corinthians 12
Ministry Leadership Gifts – Ephesians 4
Motivational Gifts – Romans 12
Properly used gifts of the Spirit will produce more fruit of the Spirit.
Humble Service Involves Spiritual Unity. (Romans 12:4-5)
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
There is a spiritual unity through diversity. (Romans 12:4)
We should celebrate the diversity of the church!
There is a spiritual unity through identity. (Romans 12:5a)
One body in Christ. You have a new identity! Ephesians 2:1-6
Old Identity:
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
New Identity:
Ephesians 2:4-6 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:”
There is a spiritual unity through ministry. (Romans 12:5b)
Our unity as the body of Christ is supposed to be a vivid and vibrant testimony of God’s grace! Our world is at war, disunited, fighting, and disillusioned.
Humble Service Involves a Spiritual Purpose. (Romans 12:6-8)
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
It is to humbly serve one another so that the aroma of unity permeates the culture around us.
A spiritual purpose that is accomplished through you.
Gifts differing – We all have a different function but one purpose – expand the Kingdom of God
A spiritual purpose that is empowered in you.
According to grace given to us – God knows what each of us can handle or needs in order to fulfill His purpose. (Mercy, encouragement, teaching, etc.)
A spiritual purpose that is specific for you.
In this passage, Paul is motivating believers, which is why the gifts in this chapter have been labeled as motivational gifts.
Paul’s emphasis, however, is not on the list of gifts but on the use of them. In other words, you discover your gifting as your serve not before you serve!
Humble service is a mark of true Christianity!