Weekend Services

Part 3 of our series about Psalm 23. Pastor Matt dives deep into Psalm 23, Verse 3

Not Of This World, Pt 2 Pastor Matt Haflett 10.22.2023 1. The Way of the World. (John 17:13-19) • The world lives in the flesh, and that makes you commit acts of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21) • The enemy sees our sinful human nature and exploits it as his greatest tool. 2. The Way of the Spirit. (Matthew 19:25-26) • We can only influence the world around us with the Spirit of God within us. (Galatians 5:22-23) • We walk with The Spirit and let His work show, through us, in the world around us. • Our influence does not have to come from grand displays. (1 Thess. 4:10-12) • When we live walking with The Spirit, it’s a contrast which makes Jesus’ work in our lives more noticeable. 3. We Won’t Fit In. (John 15:18-19) • The church will never look cool or fit in with culture. If it did, there’s a good chance it being done wrong. • Our goal should be to walk in The Spirit in a dark world and let the fruit of that Spirit affect the world around us. 4. Laying Down Our Life (Micah 6:8) • How do we show Jesus our love for what He’s done for us? (John 15:13) • We can choose to lay down our desires and walk with Jesus.

Not Of This World Pastor Matt Haflett 10.14.2023 John 17:13-19 1. Not as it’s supposed to be. • Jesus’ final earthly prayer was for us. • The sin of man has separated creation from God. • As Christians, this world is not our home. 2. The enemy’s control (1 John 5:19) • This world is turned upside-down, promoting life to oppose the bible, and Jesus warned of this. (John 16:1-2) • We are encouraged that the Word has warned us of this, because we know that God has a plan for it all. • We accept God calling on our lives knowing it will be hard, prepared by the Word for what we will face. (John 13:33) 3. Be Renewed. (Romans 12:2) • Be intentional about being in the Word. Make it a point to attend church and other gathering with fellow Christians. (Hebrews 10:24-25) • The Christian life was meant to be lived with others. • The world is opposed to the way Jesus calls us to live. We must fight back through His Word, prayer, and gathering.

Parables: The Good Samaritan Pastor Matt Haflett 10.7.2023 Luke 10:25-37 1. Loving our neighbor. • Shemah: Love God with everything you have, including loving your neighbor, who God loves. • Jesus means for everyone to be our neighbor. • Love is something that is moved and acted upon. 2. Faith without works in dead. (James 2:14-17) • We are called to love God AND perform works for others in accordance with His calling. • What we do and how we treat others matters. Not just to God, and not just to ourselves, but for the person in need. • Living with a true relationship with God will naturally bring out His calling on your life for helping others. 3. Christ’s example. (1 John 4:19) • We love because He first loved us. (Romans 5:6, 5:10, John 3:16-17) • The Samaritan carried another’s burden. (V.34, Isaiah 53:4-6) • He paid a deposit for the man’s care. (V.35, Eph. 1:13-14) • We must follow the example Jesus left for us and put our faith into action. (James 1:22)

Jesus’ Moment Pastor Matt Haflett 8/27/2023 1. The Arrest • Being arrested; A feeling of helplessness where all your freedom is taken away. (Mark 14:46) • Jesus, Son of God, perfect and sinless, brought to court and tried by pharisees and teachers. (Mark 14:22-65) • Jesus was unjustly tried and flogged b the Romans. (Mark 15:15, Isaiah 52:14) • He was then led away to be spit on and struck, mocked, and beaten. (Mark 15:16-20) 2. The Crucifixion (Mark 15:22-26) • God is perfect and just, and sin must be punished. Jesus did not suffer to save us from the world, but to save us from the punishment that God would justly give us for our sins. (1 Peter 2:24, Galatians 3:13) • Jesus died and the temple curtain was torn in two as a symbol to separate sinful man from the presence of God. (Luke 23:44-46) 3. He Has Risen (Matthew 28:2-6) • Jesus rises as victorious King and walks out of the tomb, having defeated sin and holding the keys to death. (Revelation 1:18) • He made a spectacle of the enemies and their power. (Colossians 2:15) • These events were Jesus’ moment.

The Seep and the Goats Pastor Gary Denbow Matthew 25:31-46 8/20/2023 Verse 31: When the Son of Man comes in His glory…. • “Son of Man” is the title Jesus used of Himself. This ties the parable to Matthew 24:30. • It also ties the passage to Revelation 19:11-16. The picture of the full revelation of Jesus to earth as Lord and Judge. Verse 32-34: Separation of the sheep and goats. • Those who are blessed on the Father are those who have heard the gospel message and responded, by faith, to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. • They received the messengers and have seen to their needs. Verse 35-40 • Jesus gives practical ways that those who have followed Christ have reacted to the messengers of the gospel, to fellow-saints, and to those in need. Verse 41-46: Jesus speaks to the ones on His left. • This group is “accursed” for rejecting the gospel message and refusing to listen to the messengers. • They were oblivious to the needs about them, living only for themselves.

A sermon on the biblical support of all life.

Parable of the Fig Tree Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 24:32-44 7/16/2023 1. Signs of the time. • The signs come from Gods Word alone. • Wars, kingdom against kingdom, earthquakes, famines are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13:3-9) • Many will come, claiming to be “anointed”, bringing false teachings of the Word. (2 Tim. 4:3-4) 2. Be Ready. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) • The generation that sees the beginning will also see the end. • The Gospel must reach the world (Mark 13:10) • Technology, missionaries, and evangelists are reaching nations that were unreachable in the past, helping to fulfill Gods Word. • Jesus is coming like a thief in the night. Prepare for it. • Live for Jesus faithfully, but never forget that He promised to come back soon. • Keep one eye in the sky, and one on the plow. • Continue to encourage and build each other up

The Prodigal Son Pastor Matt Haflett 7.23.2023

A Christian Home Pastor Gary Denbow Joshua 24:14-15 7/2/2023 1. Where Christ is Lord and Savior. • All things that have replaced the true and living God must be removed. • All lifestyles must be changed to reflect the life that Jesus offers. • We must build our altars as a witness that, truly, we believe in the one Savior, one Lord. 2. Where there is a Calling and a Vision. • Christian families have been guilty of assuming a status far below what they should. Our status is clearly outlined in the Word of God. (Phil. 3:17-21, Eph. 1:5-11) 3. Where biblical foundation is laid. • Parents are the primary teachers of children. • The Word of the Lord is the proper curriculum. • The application of biblical principles is to be the objective. • Systematic teaching by word and example is to be norm. 4. Where Christian attitudes are developed. • Teaching the fruit of the spirit helps to form personality. • Teaching the Word helps us learn respect for our parents. • Studying the Word helps parents know the value of expressing love for their children. • Contentment, gratefulness, and freedom come from studying the Word.

Parables: The Marriage Feast Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 22:1-14 7/2/2023 1. A Feast Prepared. • The king is God, the groom is Jesus, and the guests are Israel • Israel refused to hear the call from Jesus. • The servants, prophets, declare the message of God, and are killed for doing so. • God has invited us into His kingdom and provided us clothes, Jesus’ righteousness. 2. His Righteousness. • Jesus IS God’s presence. • Jesus bears our sins on the cross, and with that punishment, God showers us with grace. • Without Jesus, or works are but “filthy rags”. 3. By His Grace Alone. • We are not “tolerated” by God, He loves us as sinners and He wants what He knows is best for each of us. • Knowing Jesus, even in your sin, there is no condemnation that can separate you from Him. • We are already accepted, already clothed in Jesus’ righteousness, and waiting for the marriage feast to begin.

Parables: The Workers in the Vineyard Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 20:1-16 6/25/2023 1. Our salvation. • People accept Jesus into their heart at different “hours” of life. • Anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and savior is promised the same reward of eternal life with Him. 2. Not deserved. • None of us deserve the reward, it is given to us through Jesus’ suffering and death alone. • We are all given the reward through grace, mercy, and love. Our service to the kingdom is the least we can do. • Fair for us would be death. 3. The effect of grace. • We should celebrate that God is extending this same grace to all. • The thief on the cross trusted Jesus with his final breath, after a life of his own. Gods grace brings him to heaven. 4. The last will be first, and the first last. • Not one hero from the bible deserved the gift that God, through Jesus, gave them. • All have fallen short, but the blood of Jesus Christ equals us.

Parables: The Lost Sheep Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 18:12-14 NIV 6/4/2023 1. Lost and wandering. • Going further into sin does not take us any distance from Jesus. • He follows us into our darkest places, just waiting for us to turn around to Him. 2. The value of the one. • 1 has just as much value as the 99. (Luke 15:8-10 ESV) • Our relationship wit Jesus is personal for each of us, and He never leaves us. (Matt. 28:20, Rom. 8:38-39 ESV) • The world is dough, we must be the yeast that lifts it up. (Matt. 5:14-16, 1 Peter 2:12, Ats 16:25-34) 3. Seeking and saving. • God seeks us out starting from the very beginning. (Gen. 3:8-9, 3:21) • The bible is riddled with people rebelling against God, only for Him to seek them out. • Jesus came to earth for that very reason. (Luke 19:10, John 3:16-17) 4. Always with us. • He gives us the gift of The Holy Spirit. (John 16:4-15 ESV) • He continues the work in us. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

Planted, Grown, Treasured Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46 5/26/2023 1. The Mustard Seed • The Kingdom started with One Man, Jesus, the Son of God. (John 1:14) • Jesus was “planted” on this earth to start the New Kingdom and spread the word, first using His twelve disciples. (Matthew 4:18020, 10:1-4) • Through Peter, the seed that was planted goes from 1, to 12, to 3000. (Acts 2:36-41) 2. The Leaven • Yeast is mixed into dough and grows from within. • The dough is affected by every bit of yeast. So it is with us and so it is with the Kingdom of God. (2 Cor. 3:17-18) • The world is dough, we must be the yeast that lifts it up. (Matt. 5:14-16, 1 Peter 2:12, Ats 16:25-34) 3. The Treasure • The Kingdoms worth is insurmountable. It is greater than anything we could have on earth. (Phil. 3:7-11) • Paul counts everything he has lost as “dung”. • One who lives with Jesus is among the richest on the planet. (Rev. 4:9-11)

Parables: The Speck and the Log Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 7:1-5 ESV 1. The importance of context. • The passage does not tell us not to judge. • We are told how and with what attitude we are to judge actions and situations. 2. Self-Reflection • We need to look at our own sin before we can look at the sins in our brothers and sisters. • We can not tolerate some sins more than others. • We don’t get to compare ourselves against each other when the standard should be Jesus. 3. Self-Care sets us up to help others. • Jesus is telling us, not to judge, but to look at ourselves, to fix us, so that we can better help others. • When we have sin in our lives it clouds our judgement. • When we try to judge with unresolved sin in our lives, we’re probably not helping. • We are called to “confront” our brothers and sisters with love, once we have taken our own sins to the cross. (Gal. 6:1, Luke. 17:3, Prov. 27:5-6)

Join us as Pastor Matt Haflett is officially initiatied as the new lead Pastor of Grace Hope Church. Pastor John Wooten

Palm Sunday Pastor Matt Haflett Isaiah 6:1-4 ESV 4/2/2023 1. High and Lifted Up (Isaiah 6:1-4) • A story of an Almighty God who is for people, people who have gone against God, and death that is against people. • In one week, God becomes exalted, man is saved, and death is defeated. 2. Humble and Righteous (Mark 11:4-10) • Just as it was prophesied hundreds of years ago (Zechariah 9:9) • The donkey, and not a horse. The King, but not a military conqueror. 3. The Victorious King • Jesus rode into Jerusalem the same triumphant God that He has always been. • He came to conquer our sins, even though we were still sinners. (Colossians 2:13-15) • Death will no longer have power over us, it will be taunted. (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) • The Triumphal Entry: Jesus entered Jerusalem and triumphed over sin and death.

A Mother’s Calling Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 13:24-43 5/14/2023 1. A Mother’s Role • A woman’s call as mother from the beginning (Genesis 3:20) • Men and women are made different, for different roles and functions. 2. She’s a Comforter. • God knows the comfort we feel in our mothers and uses like language to speak to us. (Isaiah 66:13) • Women carry a true beauty in the gentle and quiet spirit they can have, and this is precious to God. (1 Peter 3:2-4) 3. She’s a Teacher. • A mighty woman of God has faithful instruction for her house as she watches over it. (Proverb 31:26-28) • She speaks instruction that is heard with reverence and sobriety, as it should be. (Proverbs 1:8-9) 4. She is Present. • A mother is to be a constant, unwavering presence in their child’s lives. • She encourages and cheers during good times, and consoles and comforts during difficulties. • The strong motherhood played out for the world to see (John 19:24-25)

Choices Pastor Matt Haflett 1 Kings 18:20-40 5/14/2023 1. Our daily choices • We make thousands of “small” choices every day, but they each have very real consequences. (Galatians 6:7-8) • Sometimes the consequences come from the choice of others, but how will you respond? 2. The most important choice is Jesus. • Every choice we make should be done through the Jesus filter. (Galatians 5:16-18) • Women carry a true beauty in the gentle and quiet spirit they can have, and this is precious to God. (1 Peter 3:2-4) 3. Jesus should be an “all-in” choice. • It is difficult at times to not jump between the world and Jesus. (1 Kings 18:20-21) • “When you choose not to choose, you’re making the choice”. • God is in search of our hearts, not just our spare time. Bible References: Rules: Romans 13:1, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 2:3-5 Relationships: John 13:34 Family: Ephesians 5:33 Bad circumstances: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Wronged when doing right: Ephesians 4:31-32

Parables: Parable of the Sower Pastor Matt Haflett Luke 8:4-8,11-15 4/23/2023 1. The Seed on the Path. • Though they hear the word, evil takes away truth before it can take root. (2 Corinthians 4:4) 2. The Seed on the Rock • They hear the Word, but quickly fall away. They seem to be saved only to fall when trials come. • There is a lack of trust and faith. They don’t lean on God to help get them through. • Men or Women of God must not fear bad news. (Psalm 112:7, 33:4, 62:8) 3. The Seed in the Thorns • They seem to have a relationship with God, but the thorns (cares, riches, pleasures of life) choke them out. • A thorn often grows on a beautiful flower. If you try to pick the flower, you are stabbed by the thorn. • When you reach for something pleasurable in this world, it often comes with a thorn in the side. 4. The Seed in Good Soil. • They have the Word growing in their heart. Whose hearts were broken over sin and have been wrecked by the love of Jesus despite it. (Psalm 34) • Don’t give up. Keep talking about Jesus, share the gospel. Pray for the seed of the gospel to fall on good ground in people’s hearts.

Parables: Wheat and the Weeds Pastor Matt Haflett Matthew 13:24-43 5/5/2023 1. Growing Together. • Jesus is the Sower; the word is the field. • Christians and non-Christians live, work, and grow together. • We’re not to take away, fight, or destroy those who are not believers. 2. God Sows, as does the enemy. • God sows, works to raise up Godly men and women (john 6:44) • The enemy sows in the weeds, using power and influence in this world. (1 John 5:19) • We are wheat, the weeds are under control of the evil one, and we are not to pull them up until His harvest. (Luke 6:35) 3. Vengeance is His. (Romans 12:19-21) • Our part is to love, show kindness and generosity. • All the sin in the world will be dealt with, but it is Gods part to judge and punish. 4. With fear and Trembling. • Are you bearing fruit with the gift of salvation that God has given you? (John 15:16, Phil. 2:12) • Is there evidence in your life that you’re walking with Jesus?