In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 47

Spiritually Dry? Your God Will Come Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Nov 12, 2002

We can take the entire text of Isaiah 35 and stretch it out like a template over any portion of history, whether it be the whole of human history or the tiniest portion of your very life, and see that God consistently brings people from desert to glory.

Spiritually Dry? Your God Will Come Isaiah 35 Pastor Jim Luthy A song by the late 70’s, early 80’s rock group Styx describes the place many people find themselves spiritually these days. Listen to the words and see if any of these words or phrases correlate with your spiritual ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Strong Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 30, 2002

Living on another level requires us to recognize that what we see is not the only reality. We must recognize that there is not only the natural, but the supernatural, and we survive in both realms by being strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Be Strong! Ephesians 6:10-20 Pastor Jim Luthy I received an e-mail the other day with the subject reading "How did we ever survive?" I don’t know who authored it. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20, Deuteronomy 20:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Submit To One Another Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 30, 2002

Submitting to one another is not a matter of law, but of liberty. It is not the chain of bondage we tend to make it out to be. Rather, it is the triumph of one who has been set free.

You are Free to Submit to One Another Ephesians 5:21-6:9 Pastor Jim Luthy In our study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we have learned the importance of pursuing understanding and receiving grace. Those who understand the blessings we have in Christ and have received the grace to proclaim him, ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Live As Children Of Light Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 30, 2002

A child of light concerns himself with conduct that is personally and morally fitting for those who are blessed and have Christ dwelling in them.

In our study of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, we were first challenged to pursue understanding—we are blessed in the heavenly realms; we can know Christ more and more, and as we know him he will become for us our only prize, our greatest treasure; we are God’s completed work, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:3-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Live A Life Of Love Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Apr 9, 2002

Having pursued understanding and received grace, Paul calls us to live on another level. It begins with living a life of love, which requires that we continually put off the old and put on the new.

Live a Life of Love Pastor Jim Luthy Ephesians 4:25-5:2 In the film "Grand Canyon" an immigration attorney breaks out of a traffic jam and attempts to bypass it. His route takes him along streets that seem progressively darker and more deserted. Then the predictable nightmare: the man’s fancy ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Fast Or Not To Fast Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Mar 15, 2002

3 reasons not to fast and 6 reasons to fast.

To Fast or Not to Fast, That is the Question Pastor Jim Luthy Suppose I were to make you some tea. I have hot water and a tea bag. To make the tea, I must dip the bag in the water, right? If I were to just plunge the bag in once or twice, it would not make for very good tea. If, instead, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So, Live On Another Level Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Mar 15, 2002

You don’t have to live like many of those around us are living—in despair and fear and shame. You can have a new life. You can put on a new self.

So…Live On Another Level Pastor Jim Luthy Ephesians 4:17-24 You’ve pursued understanding and received grace. So what? That’s a great question: "So what?" We’ve reduced it to be the question of the lazy and uncooperative: "So?" But the truth is, people who make a difference ask that question. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Receive Grace To Present Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 27, 2002

The presence of God will never be revealed to us, through us, or in us, if we don’t receive our gifts and employ them in unity.

Receive Grace: To Present Christ (Together) Ephesians 4:1-16 Pastor Jim Luthy What we have learned so far from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is that we are to pursue understanding and receive grace. Having pursued understanding, we know that we are blessed in the heavenly realms, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Receive Grace To Possess Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 26, 2002

Proclaiming Christ without possessing Christ is nothing more than putting on appearances.

Receive Grace: To Possess Christ Ephesians 3:14-21 Pastor Jim Luthy Every October a scramble takes place in our country to come up with a good costume. Over the years I’ve seen people dressed up like famous men and women such as Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and even Doc Holliday. Presidents are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21, John 20:19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Receive Grace To Proclaim Christ Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 26, 2002

God wants you to understand and believe that being a servant of the gospel is his gift to you. He invites you to receive that gift as a part of his life-changing grace.

Receive Grace: To Proclaim Christ Ephesians 3:1-13 Pastor Jim Luthy Paul said he became a servant of "this gospel." "This gospel," according to Ephesians 1-2, is the good news that we are blessed in the heavenly realms. It is finished. The papers have been signed the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Belong Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 26, 2002

When Jesus was crucified in the flesh, we lost our capacity to distinguish ourselves from one another based on what we can see. We belong because we belong to him.

You Belong Pastor Jim Luthy Ephesians 2:11-22 Let me introduce you to Dain. It’s not hard to tell that Dain is a Christian. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior when he was a child and grew up in the church. He went to Sunday School every week, winning perfect attendance pins more often ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are God's Workmanship Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Jan 29, 2002

In the way that he has made us his and made us vessels that can be filled—and be useful—we are a finished product. We are God’s workmanship.

Pursue Understanding: You Are God’s Workmanship Pastor Jim Luthy Ephesians 2:1-10 We’ve already seen that to live on another level you need to understand that you are blessed and that Jesus is your reward. Now we must add to that the understanding that we are God’s workmanship, his handiwork, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Is Your Reward Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Jan 23, 2002

The Spirit who brings wisdom and revelation is the Holy Spirit. It is God himself visiting us to give us his wisdom, and to give us revelation. Why? According to Ephesians 1:17 it’s so that we may know him better.

Pursue Understanding: Jesus Is Your Reward Pastor Jim Luthy Ephesians 1:15-23 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better." As I shared the message that we are blessed, the people of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23, Exodus 33:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Blessed! Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Jan 23, 2002

On a level other than the one we can see, at a supernatural level, in the realm where good and evil do battle and evil always loses, God has blessed us. He wants us to live according to that blessing.

You Are Blessed Ephesians 1:3-14 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." – Ephesians 1:3 Poor Little Orphan Annie! It’s "a hard-knock life" for her and her friends. All the hard chores, the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

7 Ways To Serve One Another Series

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Dec 12, 2001

So how do we rightly relate to one another in our small groups? I have found there is no reason to "reinvent the wheel" in responding to this question. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic work, Life Together, explains 7 ways to serve your small group.

Last week, I used an illustration to show that Jesus should be the center of our small group meetings. He is the real leader of the small group. He is alive. He comes to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. And he is Lord. But lying underneath this goal of our gathering is the reality that we ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:19-21, 1 John 3:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational