Southland Weekend Message Series (Video)

You don’t have to watch TV for more than 5 minutes to see what the world values most about male and female interaction. But how can we make sure our sexual appetites don’t eat our spiritual lunch?

In a world where “chemistry” too often trumps commitment, what should be the most important relationship in your life?

When we live for the approval of others, it shapes the version of ourselves that we present to the world. If we were to pull back the curtain of our lives to reveal the real us, what would we find?

This week, we will take an interesting look at the grace of God.

Jesus came to establish a kingdom, not an empire. We are called to do the same. This week we will be a philosophical discussion on citizenship in the Kingdom - not a sermon on political hot topics and the Christian response.

Compassion comes from a word that means “stomach pain”. Compassion is rooted in empathy—"I hurt when you hurt…I suffer when you suffer." Compassion is a form of love that compels us to act on behalf of those who are hurting in this world. This is why Jesus said that the measure of our faith is our response to the poor of this world. Believer or non-believer, every person on the planet knows something isn’t right with the world today; something is askew. This week will focus in on the cure for the stomachache: God’s redemptive plan. Redemption is the solution to injustice. Because redemption offers hope; hope for today and hope for tomorrow. And Paul said, “Hope does not disappoint us.” All of creation is waiting for the fullness of redemption to play out, and that is our message—hope is here and hope is coming. Hope has a name and his name is Jesus.

For years, we’ve been exposed to extremes when it comes to the theology of hell. It is both a present day and future reality. But without a proper understanding of the nature of God and his holy love, people get really scared, confused, and anxious when the subject comes up in conversation. This week will give people a very simple way to explain to others why we cannot erase hell from the pages of the Bible or leave it out of our conversations about God.

Karl Barth once said that the definition of God is “the One who loves." This week, we will look at the truth of this definition and see how that is the entire message of the Bible.

Just like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, it’s possible for us to cling so tightly to our possessions that we miss out on what Jesus is offering us.

Instant gratification is a horrible life coach. Esau was willing to sacrifice his birthright for a single cup of stew to satisfy his appetite. What's your "cup of stew" - that one thing for which you would be willing to sacrifice anything? (Jacob & Esau)

Step into the shoes of a soldier who understood that true authority begins with surrender.

In order to live a better story, we have to let go of the fear that immobilizes us. Like Peter, we need to take a deep breath, let our trust rest in Jesus and let our bare feet hit the water. After all, to live without risk is to not live at all.

The more we make our lives about ourselves, the more lost we become. Instead, we should let our relationship with Christ be marked by the same principle that John the baptist followed: ”He must become greater and I must become less.”

God created the role of fatherhood to bring order into chaos. He created husbands and fathers to have a vision for their families; a vision that, each day, moves them closer to the cross. We want to hear the story of your own fatherhood journey. Do you have a vision for your family? Head over to the blog and let us know.

John 4 paints a picture of a Samaritan woman who is hanging on the lowest rung of the social ladder. It was through her testimony, however, that many from her village believed in Jesus. Like her, our sin doesn't drive Him away from us; our sin draws Him to us. John 4:1-42