Have you ever considered just how much Jesus gave up to be born of a virgin in a stable? Reverend Hicks paints a picture of the journey Jesus took from Heaven to Stable in this week's message. Click the above to read it and check out the other worship materials.
We'd all like to think that God is first in our lives, but is he REALLY first? Are there things, activities, people, etc. in our lives that we allow to take precedence? Reverend James Hicks shares Jesus' take on this situation in this week's message; click the link above to read it and participate in the online worship.
"Mom! Dad! Come here!"
A child will call for their parent(s) or caregiver(s) to tell and show them just about anything... A picture they drew, a commercial on TV, a bug, a rock... The list goes on.
Have we ever used that same level of excitement to share Jesus? Have we used this same enthusiasm to ask someone to come to church with us? Consider this challenge as you read Reverend James Hicks's message, "Come and See." Click the link above to read it and check out the online worship.
Enjoy the music and scripture reflection for worship this week by clicking on the link above.
Are you "into it" this week, or are you just going through the motions? When our worship is not genuine, we risk giving space for the devil to get a foothold. Read Pastor James Hicks's meditation on this week's scripture to dive deeper. Click on the link above to access it.
Do you pray? Everyday? Even if you pray multiple times per day, when was the last time you had a real CONVERSATION with the Lord? Learn more in Reverend Hicks's message this morning by clicking the link above.
Do you remember the first time you heard about Jesus? What about the time when you invited him into your heart? Do you remember a time when you understood the words in that poem, "It was then that I carried you."? Contemplate those times as you read Reverend Hicks's message this morning by clicking the link above.
In today's scripture, Mark 1: 9-15, we examine the baptism and temptation of Jesus according to Mark. Check out a short study of the scripture by clicking the link above.
Being a follower of Christ is glorious and wonderful, but it is not without expectations. What Jesus asks of us, is not easy; it is a daily decision to deny, follow, and carry. Click the link above to read Reverend Hicks's message to learn more.
Why do you come to church? Many of us reading this haven't been to an in-person service in a while... What do you miss about being in the church building for a service?
While there are many things that make a church service special, Reverend Hicks reminds us of the most important thing in this morning's message. Click the link above to read it.
Do you believe? Do you believe in the power of love? Do you believe in the power of God's love? Do you know that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was done out of love? Are you holding up your end of the bargain?
Click above to read more.
Have YOU seen Jesus? Have you seen him in the ocean's waves, or the sunset, or the face of a friend? Do you long to see him? To spend a moment in his presence? Click the link above to read more about those who could see Jesus physically, yet still struggled to see his glory.
Palm Sunday is celebrated every year to remember the triumphant entry Jesus had entering Jerusalem, which was a fulfillment of a prophesy, but why was this a prophesy? What significance does this whole celebration have when we know the rest of the story? Check out Reverend Hicks's sermon to learn more about this historic celebration.
No victim hung there on that tree; no helpless hand nailed down.
Word incarnate, outstretched arm, the brazen altar's Lamb.
"For this I've come," declared the Son.
Death has lost and love has won.
What is your testimony? When did it become clear to you that the "story" of Jesus wasn't just a story? A few weeks ago, the question was, "Have you seen Jesus?" More importantly, though, can you now look up and say, "My Lord and My God" just as Thomas did?
Last week, the question was, "What is your testimony?" This week, the challenge is to share that testimony. Something simple like sharing a kind word communicates to others that our lives have been changed by Christ, but how long has it been since you've shared your testimony with a neighbor or coworker...? invited someone to a church activity...? volunteered for service within the body of Christ...? Click the link to read more about Jesus' words on the matter in Reverend Hicks's message.
Shepherds. The first people to hear of Jesus's birth.
Shepherd. The way Jesus refers to himself as watching his flock of believers.
It's comforting to think of Jesus as our shepherd watching over us, caring for us, but are we paying it forward? Who have you shepherded lately? Click the link above to read Reverend Hicks's message and enjoy the other worship materials.
According to Merriam-Webster, the word abide means "to wait for" or " to continue in a place" among other slight variations. But what does it really mean to abide in the Lord? And why is this so important? Check out today's sermon by Reverend Hicks to learn more.
"I've got peace like a river;
I've got love like an ocean;
I've got joy like a fountain in my soul!"
Do you have deep, God-given joy overflowing like a fountain? Check out Reverend Hicks's message to learn how to find your joy and share it in all situations.
We all know it, right? "Our Father, Who Art in Heaven..." We consider that the exemplar of prayers, but consider for a moment: How many times was Jesus recorded praying in the Bible? One reference lists 60 different instances of Jesus praying in the gospels, but every resource mentions that the gospel writers talk about Jesus praying in the morning at night and at all times in between - he was constantly praying. In this morning's message, Reverend Hicks's gives us insight into one of those prayer times that doesn't start with "Our Father."
"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got."
This quote is attributed to Janis Joplin and has been written in a number of yearbooks as a more profound way to say, "Don't change!" In all honesty, though, it is not accurate. You are not all you've got, and if you have been made whole in Christ Jesus, then compromising yourself also means compromising him. Learn more in Reverend Hicks's sermon...
John 3:16... It's probably one of the most memorized verses in the Bible. In today's sermon, Reverend Hicks breaks it down to illuminate the significance of this important scripture.
Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'm just not special enough. What could God possibly do with me?" Did you know that some of the most important people in the Bible could have joined you in that thought? Reverend Hicks outlines one of the most important in today's sermon; click above to read it!
Did you know that you are a member of a kingdom? You are... Even living here in the United States! According to Jesus' teachings, we are a part of the Kingdom of God here on earth, but we are also waiting for the fullness of the kingdom to come when Jesus returns. Reverend Hicks explains this in more depth in today's sermon... Check it out by clicking above.
Is it stormy where you are? While you might instantly consider the atmosphere, take a moment and think about your life? Are there storms raging in your life right now? Reverend Hicks's message gives some guidance about how to deal with life's stormy days. Read on by clicking below.
Have you ever been part of an intense crowd? How did you behave? Were you close to the action or leading the crowd? Maybe you were just caught up in the crowd, trying to figure out what was going on? Reverend Hicks breaks down crowds in this week's sermon; click above to read it.
Have you ever considered what you might have missed out on because you made the wrong decision... or worse, your unbelief? In today's message, Reverend Hicks makes space to wrestle with that reality. Click above to read it.
"Actions speak louder than words." This oft-heard phrase is not just a warning to children; they apply to our Christian life as well and can have grave consequences. Reverend Hicks lays it out in this week's message; click above to read it.
What is weighing on you today? Do you have mental health concerns? Need healing from an infirmity? Have other concerns or stresses in your life? Click above to read Reverend Hicks's message to learn how Jesus can heal any and all of these.
A story goes... A man was walking down the street with his teenage son, and they saw a man begging at the corner. The father pulled out a dollar bill and gave it to the man. The son said, "Why did you do that? He's probably just going to use it to buy drugs..." The father said, "We don't know that, and if we see someone in need and don't help, what does that say about us?" Click above to read Reverend Hicks's message to learn how Jesus can use our gifts to help those in need.
Bacon and eggs? Pancakes and sausage? Steak and potatoes? Macaroni and cheese? What ARE you hungry for today? Do you thirst for the word of God? Hungry for some nuggets of wisdom from Jesus? Reverend Hicks serves some up in today's sermon!
A popular educational poster says, 30 years from now, it won't matter what shoes you wore, how your hair looked, or the jeans you bought. What will matter is what you learned and how you used it. A similar thing could be said of Christians... At the end of your life, it won't matter what shoes you wore, what car you drove, or what your job was. What will matter is how intimately you knew Jesus Christ and how you lived for him each day. Click above to dive deeper by reading Reverend Hicks's sermon.
Have you ever felt left out? Unworthy? Rejected? Be assured that you are enough, and you are enthusiastically invited to God's table to receive his blessings! And not just the crumbs! Oh no... You are welcomed with full status! Learn more in Reverend Hicks's message by clicking above.
Have you ever tried to a row a boat with only one oar? Unless you are constantly switching sides, you get now where fast. There are many things in life where two items work together to make an impact. Read Pastor Hicks's message to learn more about two of these in our Christian life.
What does success look like? In response to this question, one should always ask, "In what context?" Success on the basketball court looks very different than success on the golf course! Heavenly success also looks very different than wordly success. Read Reverend Hicks's message by clicking below to learn more.
How do you serve? In what ways do you stay salty? Do others know you are a Christian by your love? Reverend Hicks describes the importance of these questions in his message; click below to read it.
In how many counties do you hold citizenship? Most people would answer with 1, but hopefully, it's at least 2! Read Reverend Hicks's message to learn more about our second citizenship!
Communication is so important and can happen in a variety of ways, but miscommunication can also happen in a myriad of ways, which is why listening is so much more important than speaking. And not just listening to respond... We want to really listen so we can understand, not only our family and friends, but also communication from God. Click the link to read Reverend Hicks's message.
"Servant leadership" has become a popular term in the "leading" community. One can assume its popularity is to impress upon those in leadership roles that leading is not about power, but about serving and supporting those who work "under" them. Read Reverend Hicks's message to learn more about the ultimate servant leader.
While we cannot even begin to predict the second coming of Jesus, Jesus did provide some warnings about how things might go down before his return. Read Reverend Hicks's message to dig deeper.