SteppingStonesChurch

When I think of my grandson, August, who by the way was born less than two weeks ago, words like brilliant, sweet, adorable, precious and just downright good looking come to mind. Of course, you feel the same way about your children and grandchildren! And you should! Out of all the children born in the world, we think ours are the most special. However, 2,000 years ago, there was a child born who truly was extra ordinary. He was infinitely above all other children including yours and mine. His name is Jesus! And He is God’s Gift – the Hope of the World.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Martin has been exploring evolution vs. creation. His findings have been fascinating students around the world as he lectures on remarkable animal designs that cannot be explained by traditional evolution.

My good friend Zig Ziglar, who is now with the Lord used to say, “your attitude determines your altitude”. We have all been around people who are a real downer. Who have a case of “stinking thinking” and “hardening of the attitudes”. They are people who walk around like the “cruise director for the Titanic” or “like someone licked all the red off of their candy”. The point is we don’t want to be that kind of person! We want to be the kind of person people are attracted to, not repelled from. Turn in your Bibles to Philippians 2.

Pastor Jeff Nyberg, Ph.D.

Positive parenting involves not only teaching your kids but, disciplining them as well. We have all witnessed the unruly, out of control child at the grocery store or in the restaurant. It is embarrassing and stressful, not only to the parent, but to all who witness the “brat” in action. God, the one who instituted parenthood, gives us in His word clear directions on how to “brat proof” our child through loving discipline.

I have never met a parent who said, “I want to be a bad or negative parent.” Parents I have met and talked to desire to be good or positive parents. My wife, Angela, and I are parents, and positive parenting is one of our highest goals. There seems to be a lot of advice out there on parenting. Some of it good, and some just down right bad. James Dobson is an author in the good camp. However, the only absolutely trustworthy source is God. He has left us the definitive work on positive parenting, the Bible. Let’s take a look at what He has to say about positive parenting, and more specifically, about loving and participating in our kids’ learning.

Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty

I have performed many weddings over the last few decades and without exception all the couples married with a deep desire for intimacy. However, a few years into the marriage the intimacy seems to be gone. Instead of kind conversation and hugs and kisses, there is arguing and estrangement. What happens that causes one out of two marriages to end in divorce? What happens that causes couples who don’t believe in divorce to feel like they are in the middle of a war zone? Most importantly, what can be done to get out of the marital war zone and back into the love zone God desires for every married couple? The answers are found in God’s word. Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 2:4, 5a for an overview of what we must do in order to fire up intimacy in our marriage.

Life is moving at us at a frenetic pace. Educators tell us knowledge is doubling every few years. It sometimes feels like we have unwillingly been placed on a roller coaster ride that continues to speed up. Additionally, society seems to have lost its moral compass and even the very definition of marriage has been brought into question. These things and many more threaten the balance in our marriages. Let’s explore how to regain balance in your marriage. Turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 5:21-33

Some people pray the sinner’s prayer or the prayer of faith simply to escape the fires of hell. They view being a Christian as nothing more than possessing fire insurance. Truly we know when we ask Christ to save us He will keep us out of the fires of Hell forever. However, the faith or salvation is much more than fire insurance. In Romans 5:1-11 the apostle Paul enlightens us to some of the benefits of being justified or of becoming a Christian. Many of these benefits the world seeks after and would like to have.

In the 1970’s former president Richard Nixon who was known to be guilty of a crime or crimes was pardoned by President Gerald Ford. With that pardon Richard Nixon was freed unconditionally, no strings attached. This is different than when a prisoner is paroled. A paroled person must report to his parole officer. They are not completely free to come and go as they please. Their freedoms are severely curtailed including being told who they can associate with and even what time they must get home at night. The question in front of us today is “Are Christians on parole for their past sins or are they fully pardoned?” The apostle Paul answers this question in Romans 3:21-4:25.

In the 1970’s former president Richard Nixon who was known to be guilty of a crime or crimes was pardoned by President Gerald Ford. With that pardon Richard Nixon was freed unconditionally, no strings attached. This is different than when a prisoner is paroled. A paroled person must report to his parole officer. They are not completely free to come and go as they please. Their freedoms are severely curtailed including being told who they can associate with and even what time they must get home at night. The question in front of us today is “Are Christians on parole for their past sins or are they fully pardoned?” The apostle Paul answers this question in Romans 3:21-4:25.

Grading on a curve is a familiar concept to teachers and students. The teacher takes all the grades and lists them from highest to lowest and then plots a curve. The only time I remember any teachers grading on a curve was when a large number of students bombed the test. The question before us today is does God ever grade on a curve? Many today believe because God is a loving God surely he will give an eternal passing grade to all who do their best. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Romans chapter one and see what God says. Pastor Jeff Nyberg, Ph.D.

A message by Landon West

In 2 Kings 18 we find recorded the coronation of Hezekiah as king over Judah. The sacred text indicates, “He did right in the sight of the Lord . . .” In other words, he was dedicated to God!

The most important part of a building is its foundation. If the foundation is solid, the building will stand. The same can be said about relationships. Relationships will stand up in difficult times if they are well founded. In a nutshell, the foundation for building positive relationships is love. Love for God, self and others. This love for God, self and others is found in the greatest and second greatest commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

The Greatest and Second Greatest Commandments The most important part of a building is its foundation. If the foundation is solid, the building will stand. The same can be said about relationships. Relationships will stand up in difficult times if they are well founded. In a nutshell, the foundation for building positive relationships is love. Love for God, self and others. This love for God, self and others is found in the greatest and second greatest commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 36 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? 37;YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. 38This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. 40 these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith. Baptism in no way saves a person from their sins. It can be likened to a wedding ring worn by a bride or groom. The wedding ring is an outward expression; the ring itself does not make a person married. Scriptural baptism is a total immersion in water. Lowering into the water signifies identification with Christ’s death. Coming up out of the water signifies identification with Christ’s resurrection. If baptism doesn’t save, why should a person get baptized? There are many reasons. Only a few will be covered. The other ordinance left to Christ’s church is the Lord’s Supper. Some call it Holy Communion. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial service. The bread is symbolic of the body of Christ which is broken for us. The grape juice represents the blood of Christ, which was shed for the remission of our sins. The Lord’s Supper is observed as an act of worship and commitment. (Matthew 26:26-34; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-23) Pastor Jeff Nyberg, Ph.D.

The Power of Forgiveness - Part 2. Filmed in our new Christian Life Building!

Welcome to another wonderful message from the book of Matthew