Pastor Jeff Cranston shares with us in Part Two of our series on the Beatitudes that the result of seeing our own insufficiency and sinfulness is a deep and profound mourning as our hearts are broken before God.

In the Beatitudes, as found in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is giving us not a list of ‘don’ts’ but a list of ‘do’s. These are really ‘Be-attitudes’ because this is how we should be in our attitudes and actions. When we exhibit these expressions of discipleship, we’ll hear the applause of heaven. Pastor Jeff Cranston begins this new message series with the question, “What does it mean to be poor in spirit?”

Due to our hectic pace, we often fail to hear God and obey Him as we should. In loving discipline, God re-directs our attention. Pastor Gary Seithel teaches us how we can learn from Jonah’s life that if we will only cry out to God, He will answer.

Pastor Jeff Cranston shares how God can take one of His children, who may be victim to spiritual depression, poverty, and bondage, and fill him/her with joy, richness, and liberty for effective service to Christ and His kingdom.

Samson – (Judges 16:15-22)
Samson, like every Christ-follower, was called to live a life of faith. Pastor Carl Martin, Lead Pastor at Crosspoint Church in Bluffton, shares how we, like Samson, can know God’s favor though blessings, and we can know failure through compromise with the world. Ultimately, however, faith can and does triumph.

RUTH
Men and women found in the Bible are a lot like us today. If we examine their lives, we will find amazing lessons to learn and live by. Lead Pastor, Jeff Cranston, kicks off a new series this week beginning with the life of Ruth and how we are alive to reflect God’s character to those around us.

Message #5: “Able” (vss. 24-25)
In what is perhaps the most well-known portion of Jude’s letter, the doxology reminds us that our lives are to be lived in such a way that we daily ascribe to God the glory, the majesty, the power, and the authority due His name.

Message #4:”Stand” (vss. 17-23)
Being reminded of Jude’s theme, he then tells us how we can contend for the faith; how we can battle for God’s righteousness within our own culture. Being people of the Word is absolutely vital in standing against heretical teaching and living.

Message #3: “Victory – Part Two” (vss. 5-10)
Utilizing illustrations from the Old Testament, literature, and nature, Jude builds a solid case against false teachers, thus warning the Church how faith can be undermined and how God will severely deal with false doctrine and those who spread it.

Message #2: “Victory – Part One” (vss. 5-10)
False teachers base their teaching on “new” revelation and mix heretical teaching in with truth. And often, believers allow these teachings to be smuggled into the church! We may not see it, but God does, and He will deal with it by judging and punishing all who rebel against Him and His truth. Knowing, testing, and living out God’s Word are the only antidotes to heresy and false teaching.