Pastor Steven G Lightfoot's Podcast

Paul writes in Romans 8, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies." As we mark Pentecost once again, we see that the same Holy Spirit fire is the very thing our world yearns for today in the wake of such senseless violence brought on by the prevailing culture of godlessness and the demons of apathy, immorality, hopelessness and fear that rob our communities of vitality, morality, hope and love.

On this Ascension Sunday, Pastor Steven takes a look at that ex-traordinary event, that is the ascension of our Lord, through the eyes of Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus.

Pastor Steven delivers a powerful testimony of the mercy and grace of God, and the power of just one believer to conquer the world! "... for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

"And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us." -1 John 3:23

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Pastor Steven's 2018 Easter Message recorded at Countryside United Methodist Church, Splendora, Texas

Good Friday service recorded at Countryside United Methodist Church

“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Today we look at Psalm 51, a psalm of David, wherein he laments and reflects on his sinful nature, the same sinful human nature that you and I struggle with along our Lenten journey...

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Abraham entered into a covenant with God. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many, and it came to pass just as God said. God is a covenant maker and a covenant keeper. His promises are sure and He is always faithful. In this message, we examine the covenant God makes with us when we believe on Christ, who once and for all, exchanged his righteousness for our sins to fulfill the promises of God.

"He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact—saved from the water by the water." Peter is comparing the work of Christ in the world today to the time of Noah, and we have to ask ourselves the all-important question as we enter the Lenten season… “Are we listening?

Mark 9 describes the Transfiguration of our Lord... "Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them." The disciples witness the mountaintop conference with Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. It's a meeting of the Law, the Prophets, and the Word, and when all is said and done, God tells the disciples, of those three, listen to Jesus... because he has fulfilled the others!

Paul says, in order to win them over to Christ I am willing to be all things to all people - not by becoming like them, not by behaving in an un-Christ-like manner, but by being an example to them of the genuine, honest, truthful representative of the One True God, to give them an example of what it looks like, sounds like, is like, to be godly, to be a saved person navigating through an unsaved world....

"They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Mark 1:22) And why wouldn't he? After all he is the author and finisher of our faith!

Paul tells us that "the present form of the world is passing away." He tells us that time is of the essence. If that's true, and all indications are that it is, in fact, true, then what are you doing with your time? Are you focused on the things of the world or on the things of God. When you edit your to do list, do you cross off kingdom things or do you cross off worldly things? What godly thing have you sacrificed on the altar of the world for the sake of your own agenda recently? Today's message gives us opportunity for a little introspection.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple[a] of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

This is the year! This is YOUR year! This is the year when you can step out in faith into the plan God has for your life!

Christmas Eve Morning service - Message by Pastor Steven G. Lightfoot