Sermons

2018 Theme – A Space for Grace


Aug 5, 2018
A Strange Gift
By: Ben Cook
Series: A Space for Grace
1 Corinthians 12:4-12
The church is a body, made up of many parts. Christ is the head, while the Spirit organizes and directs the function of this body. But this truth is difficult to understand and live up to in the church, because it means we all have value and purpose in the body.
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  • Aug 5, 2018A Strange Gift
    Aug 5, 2018
    A Strange Gift
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 12:4-12
    The church is a body, made up of many parts. Christ is the head, while the Spirit organizes and directs the function of this body. But this truth is difficult to understand and live up to in the church, because it means we all have value and purpose in the body.
  • Jul 29, 2018A Vegetarian Faith
    Jul 29, 2018
    A Vegetarian Faith
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
  • Jul 22, 2018A No Strings Gospel
    Jul 22, 2018
    A No Strings Gospel
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 9:13-18
    There is a very clear case in the Bible for evangelists receiving pay from the local church. Paul makes this point, but continues on to claim that the gospel is better served by him when he preaches without pay. It was true 2,000 years ago, and it is especially true today.
  • Jul 15, 2018Burning Hearts
    Jul 15, 2018
    Burning Hearts
    By: Ronnie Morrison
    Series: A Space for Grace
    For more than 47 years Ronnie Morrison has served in ministry preaching for churches in the states of Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. For the past 24 years, Ronnie and his, Rowena, have served as missionaries in Russia and Ukraine. Ronnie also taught biblical courses at Southern Christian University and at Ukrainian Bible Institute. He holds both the bachelor of art degree in theology and a master of Science degree from Ambridge University. He also holds a Certificate of Graduation in evangelistic training and advanced biblical studies from Preston Road School of Preaching. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ronnie and Rowena served as missionaries in New Zealand. Ronnie has also written Kids on the Block, a book about his years growing up in Tulsa. Ronnie and Rowena currently live in Arkansas and have three married children — a daughter and two sons — and enjoy their nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
  • Jul 8, 2018A Single Gift
    Jul 8, 2018
    A Single Gift
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 7:32-35
    Church can be a tough place to belong and even harder if you're single.  We spend so much time focusing on the sanctity of marriage, the noble pursuits of fatherhood/motherhood, and the many, many, many, many different ministries that we have which are family-specific, that it can send a very clear message that God really only has a place for you if you fit into a nuclear family package. Contrary to this, Paul challenges the church at Corinth to consider that being single releases men and women to serve in greater ways than their married counterparts.  Being single is a gift. Embrace it!
  • Jul 1, 2018Christians in Conflict
    Jul 1, 2018
    Christians in Conflict
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 6:1-8
    Jesus spends a good amount of time explaining the right way to address conflict in the church.  Most of it gets ignored.  This is certainly the case for the church in Corinth.  In their case, and ours, failure to live at peace in the church is ultimately a failure to adopt and enjoy the values of the world yet to come.  A church filled with the work of the holy spirit, and peacemaking, is a slice of heaven.
  • Jun 24, 2018Pride: A Little Leaven
    Jun 24, 2018
    Pride: A Little Leaven
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 5:1-8
    Believers have a sexual ethic, but as Paul begins to engage the church on this, he really has to address a bigger underlying issue: pride.  Pride, in it's essence, cannot acknowledge wrongdoing.  Pride even keeps us from seeing our own sin.
  • Jun 17, 2018Fatherhood
    Jun 17, 2018
    Fatherhood
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 4:8-16
    Fatherhood is a complicated thing. It begins for most of us as terror. Then it moves to love, protection, devotion, and (hopefully) leading our children, but along with that comes anxiety, depression, and even rejection. This morning we will look at several of the ways Paul's relationship with Corinth parallels our own experience as fathers
  • Jun 10, 2018Know Thyself
    Jun 10, 2018
    Know Thyself
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 2:10-13
    Ancient Greek philosophers spent a tremendous amount of self reflection. The axiom know thyself is ancient, and yet it still sways over philosophers as both a warning and a mission. Paul says that the reason Christians are a mystery to others is that they can never truly understand what motivates us - our life, our code of ethics, and even our reward. This is because we are not only moved by our own spirit, but by the spirit of God.
  • Jun 3, 2018Foolish God; Powerful Cross
    Jun 3, 2018
    Foolish God; Powerful Cross
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Space for Grace
    1 Corinthians 1:18-25
    The church at Corinth gives me hope, because it reminds me that the church has always been struggling to live up to the extraordinary truth of the gospel. Paul begins his book by reminding them that there is no wisdom greater than the foolishness of the cross. And only in the cross of Christ will we find our true value and purpose.
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2017 Theme – Our Identity in Christ


Dec 31, 2017
On the Verge of Bigger
By: Dennis Baker
Series: Our Identity in Christ
2 Timothy 1:6-12

Many churches, like many people, never experience their full potential. Full potential is defined as, more than we can ask or imagine. This is a vision of success that God puts before us. It’s a vision that is not achievable by human means alone. It’s something that God hopes for and directs the course of those who want it for themselves. If your vision for the future is achievable through your skill and ability, it is not big enough.

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  • Dec 31, 2017On the Verge of Bigger
    Dec 31, 2017
    On the Verge of Bigger
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    2 Timothy 1:6-12

    Many churches, like many people, never experience their full potential. Full potential is defined as, more than we can ask or imagine. This is a vision of success that God puts before us. It’s a vision that is not achievable by human means alone. It’s something that God hopes for and directs the course of those who want it for themselves. If your vision for the future is achievable through your skill and ability, it is not big enough.

  • Dec 24, 2017Key People in the Story
    Dec 24, 2017
    Key People in the Story
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    Luke 1:26-38
    When we think about the story of the Messiah, His life and His mission, we may identify better with one or more of the people involved. This is normal because the experiences we have may remind us of the people in the story. To which person in the story of Christ do you more closely connect?
  • Dec 17, 2017Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
    Dec 17, 2017
    Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: Our Identity in Christ

    This year I've had 4 different people ask this question. As you can imagine, some believe with great conviction that the answer is no while others don't even know that there's a question to ask. There are good reasons why many believers abstain completely from this holiday, and likewise, many reasons why families participate with their neighborhoods. There are also good reasons why we, as a church, actually put on a Trunk or Treat. Tonight we will open our Bibles and take a good, Biblical, look at this together. Some of this may even spill over to how we think about Christmas and yoga.

  • Dec 17, 2017Careless Worship
    Dec 17, 2017
    Careless Worship
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    Malachi 1:6-8

    Every relationship in your life requires an investment from you, including your relationship with God. It is important for us to develop habits of spiritual discipline - reading, fasting, praying, and assembling; habits. By themselves, these activities become hollow and meaningless. Malachi brings our attention directly to this problem in ancient Israel: people who worshiped God but didn't actually care about God. He surely has something to say to us today in the busy, frenetic pace of the Holiday season.

  • Dec 10, 2017The ABCs Of Maintaining Boundaries In Families
    Dec 10, 2017
    The ABCs Of Maintaining Boundaries In Families
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
  • Dec 10, 2017The Shepherd Protects
    Dec 10, 2017
    The Shepherd Protects
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    Ephesians 6:1-4

    What happens when sheep don’t have a shepherd? Literally, they will die. They are not clever or bright, and when threatened, their only defense is to run; off a cliff, into a river, toward danger. All they can do instinctually is eat. If they are to remain useful for their wool, milk and as a food source, they must be guided and protected.

  • Dec 3, 2017He Saw the Wind
    Dec 3, 2017
    He Saw the Wind
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    Matthew 14:22-33
    What shifted inside Peter? Only a few lines separate his request for Jesus to call him out of the boat, from his fixation on the wind. His swing from great faith to great doubt should break a record in anyone's book. Maybe it gives us comfort to know that this happens. Too often we believe that faith is a linear thing - it just builds and never looks back, but there are many things that can shake our faith. The truth is we often swing - wildly - from faith to doubt, and at every turn, Jesus is still there to lift us up. He is faithful even in your doubt.
  • Nov 26, 2017The Shepherd Leads
    Nov 26, 2017
    The Shepherd Leads
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
  • Nov 19, 2017The Shepherd Knows
    Nov 19, 2017
    The Shepherd Knows
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    John 1:1-14
    To know just doesn’t mean acquiring knowledge. It includes how to conduct yourself according to that knowledge. Shepherd leaders get to know the flock, and they have a unique way of gathering information.
  • Nov 12, 2017Shepherding: A Model for the Home
    Nov 12, 2017
    Shepherding: A Model for the Home
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: Our Identity in Christ
    John 10:1-10
    Shepherding is usually defined in terms of church leadership. The Shepherd (pastor/elder) is charged to lead the flock (church). A closer look reveals that effective leadership in the home is a pre-requisite for leadership in the Family of God (see 1 Timothy 3:4-5). Anyone who leads should consider the 4 principles of biblical shepherding: knowing, leading, protecting and providing.
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2016 Theme – A Work in Progress


Sep 25, 2016
Where is God?
By: Dennis Baker
Series: A Work in Progress
John 16:31-33
“I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling.” (John 1:16) Challenges to faith come from everywhere. Many young people have gone to college as strong believers, only to be weakened or crushed by the climate of skepticism, anti-theism and pluralism. Tonight we will blitz the scriptures to give a realistic answer to the question, “Where Is God?"
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
  • Sep 25, 2016Where is God?
    Sep 25, 2016
    Where is God?
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: A Work in Progress
    John 16:31-33
    “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling.” (John 1:16) Challenges to faith come from everywhere. Many young people have gone to college as strong believers, only to be weakened or crushed by the climate of skepticism, anti-theism and pluralism. Tonight we will blitz the scriptures to give a realistic answer to the question, “Where Is God?"
  • Sep 25, 2016From Vow to Wow
    Sep 25, 2016
    From Vow to Wow
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: A Work in Progress
    Ephesians 5:22-33
    The union of a man and a woman is the crown of Creation. It is no wonder that Satan’s first salvo in the attack on God’s realm was an attack on the man and the woman. Divide them and chaos will ensue. It is for this reason that the Church of Christ must be a place where the chaos of the fall is corrected by straight talk as a way to restore harmony.
  • Sep 18, 2016Q & A: Where is a woman’s place in the church?
    Sep 18, 2016
    Q & A: Where is a woman’s place in the church?
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Work in Progress
    1 Timothy 2:11-12
    This verse has come up in conversation with some friends. Where is a woman’s place in the church? What about women who are not naturally quiet? (one of whom I will gladly admit I am) Are we sinning?
  • Sep 18, 2016Enjoy the Futility of Life
    Sep 18, 2016
    Enjoy the Futility of Life
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Work in Progress
    Ecclesiastes 1:1-9
    If there were two books in the Bible that preachers would rather do without, it's Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. Song of Solomon gets read privately, just not discussed. Ecclesiastes confuses and frustrates people, so they typically ignore it. This morning we will explore the message of Ecclesiastes. Be sure to do your light therapy and take vitamin D.
  • Sep 11, 2016Traditions and Taco Tuesday
    Sep 11, 2016
    Traditions and Taco Tuesday
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Work in Progress
    Joshua 4:20-24
    Most of us have traditions in our lives. It's just the ebb and flow of how we live. But those traditions say a lot about who we are - and, surprisingly, they become guardrails for who your kids become! Family legacies often rest in family traditions. What is yours? (this is a tough question for newlyweds!) Are you doing your family traditions on purpose? Let's explore this some more this morning.
  • Sep 4, 2016Q & A: Soul/Spirit
    Sep 4, 2016
    Q & A: Soul/Spirit
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Work in Progress
    Two weeks ago, after discussing the resurrection, several approached me to ask the same follow-up question: "What happens to my soul/spirit between the time it leaves my body at death and the second coming of Christ? Thanks." I do have a few other questions, but tackling this one on the heels of last time is most appropriate.
  • Sep 4, 2016Strong People Don’t Put Others Down
    Sep 4, 2016
    Strong People Don’t Put Others Down
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: A Work in Progress
    Matthew 12:22-28
    We have a world of people that seems to be at war with each other. There is division everywhere you go. Don’t think this isn’t a scheme of the enemy. Keeping us fighting each other will keep us from fighting him. What is worse, others who need to hear the gospel, may never get the chance.
  • Aug 28, 2016Guest Speaker: Don Huddleson
    Aug 28, 2016
    Guest Speaker: Don Huddleson
    By: Don Huddleson
    Series: A Work in Progress
    Don is from Ponca City, Oklahoma
  • Aug 28, 2016A Line In the Sand
    Aug 28, 2016
    A Line In the Sand
    By: Dennis Baker
    Series: A Work in Progress
    2 Corinthians 10:1-6
     
    Living a life of godliness can rub people the wrong way. Paul had to deal with many people who wanted to be somebody in the church, but didn’t want to live lives of godliness. It is because they had a “form of godliness” but remained unchanged by the power of God. But Paul did not become discouraged. Instead, he taught us how to draw that proverbial line in the sand.
     
  • Aug 21, 2016Q & A: Asleep
    Aug 21, 2016
    Q & A: Asleep
    By: Ben Cook
    Series: A Work in Progress
    1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
     
    Tonight we will tackle one question: "Can I get some background on 1 Thess. 4:13-18? What does Paul mean by saying “asleep”? What does “The dead in Christ will rise first” mean?" This is one of the clearest teachings of the resurrection in Scripture. A doctrine that most Christians do not understand, believe, or teach. So we will unpack the idea of the resurrection together - both what it is, and what it is not.
    If you've got questions for us to tackle, feel free to pass them on to me - Facebook,
    email
    , or even just a note after church!
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