Join us for Worship
Sunday Mornings
at 9:00 AM
in the College Hills Worship Center
Beginning January 23, Kevin Owen
will present a series of messages from
the Sermon on the Mount
On January 23, 2011 Kevin began a new sermon series, “Praying for Reign: Messages from the Sermon on the Mount.” This series should be helpful as we strive to make and nurture followers of Jesus. The heart and center of this section is Jesus' prayer we commonly refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-15) In this simple yet beautiful prayer, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray for the reign and rule of God. He says we are to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) The kingdom is God’s reign and rule. It is God’s will being done on earth as it already is in heaven. One writer notes when we pray for reign, we are really asking God to bring up there down here. The Pharisees once asked Jesus when the kingdom would come. Jesus answered, “…the kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17:21b) It is important for us to pray for God’s will to be done in our church, in our families, and in our community. In this sermon series we will see that Jesus deals with important issues like influence, anger, our thought life, keeping our word and forgiveness. God’s reign should impact each of these areas as we strive to seriously follow Jesus.
Upcoming Sunday Morning Messages in this Series
June 12 Conclusion of the series, Praying for Reign: Messages from the Sermon on the Mount
Special guest Carter Hamric from Lipscomb University will led worship, and Scott McDowell, also from LU, will quote The Sermon on the Mount while a powerful visual presentation is shown.
Past Sunday Morning Messages in this Series (click on Audio Speaker icon to listen to Sermon)
January 23 
Praying for Reign Matthew 5:1-12 An introduction to this series of messages from the Sermon on the Mount.
January 30 Salt and Light Matthew 5:13-16 Notice Jesus does not say to his disciples, I want you to become salt and light he boldly says “You are you are the salt of the earth.” “You are the light of the world.”
February 6 Righteousness Inside Out Matthew 5:13-20 All through the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is contrasting, not the old law verses the new law, but a pharisaic reading of the law verses Jesus deeper kind of reading. Note Jesus doesn't say “you have read” but rather “you have heard that it was said.” The people to whom the sermon is addressed were hearing things being said about the law. Jesus comes to clarify and deepen their understanding of righteousness. All though the sermon Jesus envisions a righteousness that begins in the heart and works its way out into our lives in very practical ways.
February 13 Stories To Live By a message from guest speaker Randy Harris focused on Discipleship and Evangelism. This special message will be during both the 9:00 hour and the 10:30 class time, with a break at 10:15 for fellowship and coffee.
February 20 The Danger of Anger Matthew 5:21-26 When God’s kingdom breaks through in our lives we really will go beyond anger management. It’s not enough to merely say, “well at least I haven’t killed anyone” all the while we harbor ill will in our hearts toward others.
February 27 Taming the Lion Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus deals with the sensitive issue of lust. Again it is not enough to say proudly, “Well at least I have never committed the act of adultery” all the while allowing our minds to become a sexual playground. Jesus is so serious about the issue he uses very strong language like, “if your right eye causes you to sin you had better gauge it out” or “if your hand causes you to sin cut it off, and throw it away." Jesus is advocating taming the lion through “radical surgery.”
March 6 A Marriage Made In Heaven Matthew 5:31-32
March 13 A Better Way of Speaking Matthew 5:33-37 (lesson by Wilson McCoy)
March 20 The Extra Mile Matthew 5:38-42
March 27 How to Really Love Your Neighbor Matthew 5:43-48
April 3 The Audience of One Matthew 6: 1-4
April 10 What Jesus Can Teach Us About Prayer Matthew 6: 5-15
April 17 What Jesus Can Teach Us About Fasting Matthew 6:16-18
April 24 Easter Sunday: Resurrected Savior Luke 24:1-12
May 1 Investing In What Matters Matthew 6:19-24
May 8 Why Worry? Matthew 6:25-34
May 15 Specks and Planks Matthew 7:1-5
May 22 Ask, Seek, and Knock Matthew 7:7-12
May 29 The Road Less Traveled Matthew 7:13-22
June 5 Foundation Matters Matthew 7:24-29 Lesson by Associate Minister, Wilson McCoy. As Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount he offers a decision for his disciples. They can be the kinds of people who build their lives upon his teaching and live in sync with the kingdom or they dismiss what he says and do their own thing. They can pick the narrow path of obedience to Jesus’ will or they can disobey and follow their own desires. Either way the choice is inevitable. We all must decide what we will do with Jesus and his teaching.
LINK . . . 2011 VISION: Making and Nurturing Followers of Jesus