Hammond Bay Church

Sometimes settling into the new can be more challenging than the change it took to get there. Today we begin a series on Joshua to see how we live faithfully to God in the midst of this new year.

Christmas Eve Service December 24th 2022

This Sunday our advent theme is LOVE. The sermon series is called The Steps of Christmas. Looking at people in Luke 1 & 2 who were walking and journeying as the Christmas story unfolded. This Sunday we look at the unique situation surrounding the birth of John, who he becomes, and how it helps us understand God's Love for us and others.

This Sunday we are in week two of advent: JOY. The sermon series is called The Steps of Christmas. Looking at people in Luke 1 & 2 who were walking and journeying as the Christmas story unfolded. This Sunday we look at the interactions of Mary and Elizabeth's. They both experience and express joy and give us directions to follow in order to experience more of God's joy as well.

This Sunday we look at the beginnings of Mary's story.  She was someone who had her life massively redirected, and she responded with surrender to what God asked of her. This gave her supernatural peace.

This Sunday we begin Advent. Today we look at Zechariah and Elizabeth story. Zechariah walked to the temple and back, and in the midst of his journey God broke his expectations and gave him hope.

Esther and Christ both stand in the gap to help rescue people. Both prayed for a rescue. Christ invites you and I to follow him in praying for those who have yet to embrace His amazing love.

Esther and Christ both stand in the gap to help rescue people. Both prayed for a rescue. Christ invites you and I to follow him in praying for those who have yet to embrace His amazing love.

This week we dive into the banquets Esther hosts with King Xerxes and Haman. And it was what sets Esther above other leaders is that she selflessly identifies with her people and asks for their rescue. Selfless love is what we remember people for.

We will be looking at the character Haman in the book of Esther, a man who could not find a way to be thankful. He magnified his problem, and minimizes his many privileges. God invites us to be thankful, which sometimes is a battle. When we magnify all the privileges we have in the love of Christ, it creates an openness to being thankful.

The book of Esther has a dramatic storyline, compelling character, and is one of the two books where God seems silent. And yet, through the faithfulness of a few people He causes a rescue for the Jewish people. God brings assurance continuously through the book that He does care and has not forgotten His people. He has not forgotten you either.

We all have potential and growth that God invites us into, and we also have limitations. Looking at the life and attitude of John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul we will see ways we can embrace our different limitations to be seen as helpful in our journey with God.

A little bit of routine can go a long way in helping us stay focused as we live life in the middle of a world that is moving fast! "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to." -Bilbo Baggans.

Jesus modeled to His followers many moments of work and ministry, and moments of rest and separation from that work and ministry. He invites us into that type of pace of life. 

In chapter 5 Paul gives a multitude of directives that are in alignment with what a follower of Jesus looks like and lives like. All of which are impossibly high standards. This leads us back to looking to the Holy Spirit as we walk with Him and learn to live by His strength.

In this weeks passage we hear how death is not the end, and that Christ's resurrection is the redemptive launch of God's kingdom in this world. We await Christ's return to renew all things and to be with Him forevermore.

Holiness and being sanctified often sound like pious and removed terms, but the invitation of Jesus and instructions from Paul are practical and down to earth in how we grow in holiness.

We cannot live out being encouraged and hope for our future. We were not designed to. God invites us to stay encouraged in part by our connection to Him and to other followers of Jesus.

Paul communicates his love to the Thessalonians and his deep longing to see them again.

Paul communicates that because he cares, he is not like other 1st century people who are looking to deceive and negatively influence. His spiritual influence comes from having a spiritual character that aligns with Christ.