Our understanding what makes people tick and how to relate to them shapes our lives. Our culture offers us competing views of the nature of man. Are we perfectible? Do we have real problems, or can we blame everything on our environment? If evil is real, what can we do to restrain or conquer it? Does sin exist? In this study we will help you think through these questions as we look at four common views about the nature of mankind.

You often hear people refer to the Bible as “God’s Word”. How can we be confident that the Scriptures are truly the word of God? How can we be confident that the translation we hold in our hand is consistent with what was written 2000 years (and more) ago? Join us as we look at the authority and reliability of the Bible!

It’s not uncommon to hear someone say, “My God would never do this.” or “My God would not act like that.” Each of us, no matter how devout, tend to shape our view of God around our preferences. This morning we look at the challenge to step back, ditch our designer God, and move from a ‘potato-head’ religion to something more majestic and real.

Lies and misleading statements corrode the trust we have in people and institutions. They undermine our willingness to consider what others say. These factors also create a skeptical attitude toward the Christ and the teachings of the Bible. Today’s teaching looks at Titus 3:1-14 to discover some simple steps we can take to respond to the skepticism of our age.

God’s grace is a wonderful gift. But sometimes it becomes little more than a gooey, sentimental word that implies God puts up with all kinds of nonsense from people. In reality, grace is a means God uses to promote transformation in our lives. Today’s teaching looks at the practical lessons grace teaches us.

Doing what comes naturally is easy for all of us. But it’s not always wise. Titus 2:1-10 looks at daily roles you and I have and challenges us to trade our normal choices for uncommon ones as men, women, leaders, and workers. Discover the exceptional choices God calls us to make in these everyday roles as his ambassadors.

When is the last time you walked into a convenience store and came out with an apple? It probably has never happened. We typically walk out with junk food. Why? Because it tastes good, it is easy and it satisfies our hunger. In the same way, we in the Church are bombarded with "Junk" theology – teaching that maybe sounds good and makes life easy, but it doesn’t line up with sound doctrine. Effective ambassadors for Christ recognize "Junk" theology and know how to combat it. Titus 1:10-16 shows us how.

“Some assume that commitment to doctrine makes people rigid and unlikeable. But Titus 1:9 reminds us that people who have strong kingdom convictions are the best ambassadors for Christ. In this message you will learn how kingdom convictions make you effective in helping others.”

When our media spotlights religious people who are strange, it gives the impression that Christianity is for oddballs. Christians who want respect can respond by trying to blend in with the culture. We tend to conform. But the more we conform, the less influence we bring to the culture. How can we stand out or be different in a positive way? That’s the question we will seek to answer in this study as we look at Titus 1:8.

One of the most embarrassing U.S. Ambassadors was a man named Vincent. Yet sometimes when we look around at the church we see lots of people who are poor representatives of Christ. This morning we examine some relational skills we can cultivate if we want to be better ambassadors for Jesus and his kingdom.

Matthew, part 14

Easter message

Matthew, part 13

Matthew, part 12

Matthew, part 11

Matthew, part 10

Matthew, part 9

Matthew, part 8

Matthew, part 7

Matthew, part 6

Matthew, part 5

The message from Pastor Jim Levitt during the candidate weekend.

Matthew, part 4

Matthew, part 3

Matthew, part 2

Matthew, part 1

2008 - Year In Review