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Acts 4:23-33 - Overcoming our fear in telling the Good News By Pastor Lee Hemen July 31, 2011 AM Fear can be something that can control our lives. Fear can keep us from the joys that God has for us. One of the greatest joys of all is the ability to tell another person about our faith in Christ. Yet, fear may have kept us from it. Do you know what fear stands for? False Expectations Appearing Real! Think about it for a moment. What is the worst thing that could possibly happen when we share our faith? Does fear paralyze you from telling others about Christ? We can overcome our fears of telling others about Jesus. Peter and John were threatened by very powerful men. They could have had them killed immediately for speaking about Jesus. However, they not only overcame their fear they also spoke boldly about their faith! How did they do it? Were they special? No. They knew some things that can help us this morning to overcome our fear of telling others about Jesus. READ: Acts 4:2...

Psalm 51 - Out of the Depths By Pastor Lee Hemen July 24, 2011 AM For countless generations spectators have looked on in breathless wonder as they have witnessed and read the story concerning a helpless man dealing with a personal problem that clearly has no human solution. They have clearly listened to the sobs of his pain and seen the tears of his confession. Although a king of a great nation, he is now viewed for what he truly is -- a helpless sinner guilty of sins that put him beyond the remedy provided by the Law. Fear laces his soul, confession comes from his lips, brokenness is found in his heart and hope is discovered if he is willing to come out of the depths of sin! King David had it all, wealth, power, military victory after military victory. He could do no wrong until one afternoon he deliberately took a walk on his balcony overlooking the rooftops nearby. He knew what he would see, the alluring wife of Uriah the Hittite taking a bath. He desired her more than a...

Never be Ashamed! - 2 Timothy 1:5-10 By Pastor Lee Hemen July 17, 2011 AM C. H. Spurgeon a 19th century Baptist preacher wrote about what it meant to be a Christian. He related that “we share heaven’s honors... for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus’ righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward!” Wow, what an assessment concerning the Christian! You would think that anyone who truly understood what Spurgeon wrote would want to tell others about it. Yet, why then do so many believers never actually share their faith with another person? I believe that perhaps it is because Christians may be ashamed to out of personal fear. Paul declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...” (Romans 1:16 NIV) You may declar...

Isaiah 61:1-6 - Freedom, the Love of God reclaimed! By Pastor Lee Hemen July 10, 2011 AM On a bleak day in February in 1832, a young theological student sat in his seminary room. He was going over some children's sheet music sent to him by his friend Lowell Mason. He glanced at one but he didn't like the wording so he began to tap out the beat and make up his own words. He wrote quickly, "My country, tis of thee Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountain side, let freedom ring!" Therefore, the hymn America was written by Samuel Francis Smith a seminary student. Why do the words to America stir within us a hidden patriotism? I believe it is because a nation or a person cannot know real freedom until they experience the love of God firsthand! In a nation that prides itself on its independence, America has forgotten its interdependence upon God. Like a broken and ruined life, a nation...

Rejoicing In National Freedom - Psalm 46 By Pastor Lee Hemen July 3, 2001 AM What does the Fourth of July mean for you? Is it just another day to have off from work or do you pause and take notice of the nation and country you live in? Do you remember the story of freedom and the war for independence fought by those who were willing to risk it all for freedom’s cause? Independence Day is more than fireworks, picnics, and flags. It is the rejoicing and remembering that this grand experiment, this beautiful nation, this land of golden opportunity is like no other on earth. I believe this is true simply because of the grace and mercy of our Lord and God. The nation Israel rejoiced in her national freedom as well. No other nation or people enjoyed such God-given personal freedom. When others asked, “What nationality are you?” they would respond with pride, “I am a Hebrew.” The Apostle Paul would remember with pride that he was “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Is...