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  • Why would Jesus choose to be born in a manger?

    Why would Jesus choose to be born in a manger?
    2025/12/14

    Christmas: Impossible, 2 of 3 from December 14, 2025

    “God’s mission benefits all.”

    Luke 2:1-20 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

    SUMMARY

    This sermon examines what Jesus's choice of birthplace reveals about His character and mission. By analyzing Luke 2, Pastor Michael demonstrates how Christ deliberately chose humble circumstances—being born in a lower-level room where animals were kept, wrapped in cloths typically used for sacrificial lambs, and announced to third-shift shepherds rather than dignitaries. This reveals God's heart to reach the overlooked, working-class, and disrespected people, because "God's mission benefits all."

    REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    • 💬 What does Jesus’ house say about who He is?

    • 💬 What could God be doing behind the scenes in our own lives that we are unaware of yet?

    • 💬 Who can we support by giving a compassionate ear to what God is doing in their life?

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    • 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

    • 💾 Download a transcript of this message

    • 📰 Blog Summary for this message

    • 🖼️ Sermon Slides

    • 📖 THE MAIN EVENT (LUKE 2:1-7)

    • 📖 MEANWHILE (LUKE 2:8-14)

    • 📖 CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION (LUKE 2:15-20)

    LINKS

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    • Music by Blue Dot Sessions
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    35 分
  • Are the old, familiar Christmas tales more meaningful than we realize?

    Are the old, familiar Christmas tales more meaningful than we realize?
    2025/12/07

    The War With Pride, 5 of 5 from November 30, 2025

    “In a world buying up every selfish whim we are spent by Jesus for others' benefit.”

    2 Corinthians 12:11-21 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

    SUMMARY

    This sermon on 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 examines how Paul’s dedication to the Corinthian church challenges modern views of love. Pastor Michael contrasts self-serving love with biblical love, which grieves over sin and guides others to repentance. Paul's refusal of financial support from Corinth is shown as sacrificial devotion to their spiritual health. Believers are urged to consider if they are "spent by Jesus" for others, instead of pursuing selfish desires, and to confront stumbling blocks in their lives, stressing that love sometimes requires addressing sin.

    REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    • 💬 Whose work on our behalf do we take for granted?

    • 💬 Are we being spent by Jesus in the lives of others?

    • 💬 What stumbling blocks have we been tolerating?

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    • 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

    • 💾 Download a transcript of this message

    • 📰 Blog Summary for this message

    • 🖼️ Sermon Slides

    • 📖 Qualified Leadership (2 Corinthians 12:11-13)

    • 📖 Demonstrated Faithfulness (2 Corinthians 12:14-18)

    • 📖 Driving Purpose (2 Corinthians 12:19-21)

    LINKS

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    • Podcast

    • Music by Blue Dot Sessions
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    43 分
  • Does loving someone mean never having painful conversations?

    Does loving someone mean never having painful conversations?
    2025/11/30

    The War With Pride, 5 of 5 from November 30, 2025

    “In a world buying up every selfish whim we are spent by Jesus for others' benefit.”

    2 Corinthians 12:11-21 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

    SUMMARY

    This sermon on 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 examines how Paul’s dedication to the Corinthian church challenges modern views of love. Pastor Michael contrasts self-serving love with biblical love, which grieves over sin and guides others to repentance. Paul's refusal of financial support from Corinth is shown as sacrificial devotion to their spiritual health. Believers are urged to consider if they are "spent by Jesus" for others, instead of pursuing selfish desires, and to confront stumbling blocks in their lives, stressing that love sometimes requires addressing sin.

    REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    • 💬 Whose work on our behalf do we take for granted?

    • 💬 Are we being spent by Jesus in the lives of others?

    • 💬 What stumbling blocks have we been tolerating?

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    • 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

    • 💾 Download a transcript of this message

    • 📰 Blog Summary for this message

    • 🖼️ Sermon Slides

    • 📖 Qualified Leadership (2 Corinthians 12:11-13)
      📖 Demonstrated Faithfulness (2 Corinthians 12:14-18)

    • 📖 Driving Purpose (2 Corinthians 12:19-21)

    LINKS

    • Website

    • Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

    • Donate

    • Podcast

    • Music by Blue Dot Sessions
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    40 分
  • Is knowing everything the key to true contentment?

    Is knowing everything the key to true contentment?
    2025/11/23

    The War With Pride, 4 of 5 from November 23, 2025

    “In a world clamoring for extraordinary insights we are content with Jesus.”

    2 Corinthians 12:1-2 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)


    SUMMARY

    This sermon explores the tension between having unlimited knowledge in the "information age" and the Biblical call to find contentment in Christ. Pastor Michael discusses 2 Corinthians 12, where Paul shares a vision of the third heaven and boasts in his weaknesses. It emphasizes that our "unknowing" points us back to God and urges believers to find sufficiency in Jesus, cautioning against pride and the tendency to place ourselves in God's role by demanding He meets our expectations instead of submitting to His will.


    REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    • 💬 What expectations are we putting on Jesus which put us in God’s place?

    • 💬 What are we most tempted to exaggerate?

    • 💬 Are we content with Jesus’ love and provision?

    LINKS

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    • Music by Blue Dot Sessions
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    40 分
  • Do I have to hide all my struggles to be welcomed in a church?

    Do I have to hide all my struggles to be welcomed in a church?
    2025/11/16
    The War With Pride, 3 of 5 from November 16, 2025“In a world bragging of its own greatness we disclose our weakness to highlight Jesus’ strength.”2 Corinthians 11:16-33 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)SUMMARYThis sermon focuses on 2 Corinthians 11, highlighting how the Apostle Paul ironically boasts about his weaknesses and sufferings to counter false teachers. It challenges the cultural focus on self-promotion, advocating for transparency in our brokenness so Christ's strength is emphasized. Pastor Michael urges the church to be a haven for the broken, not a showcase for the faultless, and calls believers to confess their weaknesses to highlight Jesus's transformative power. He addresses the disparity between perceived ministry glamour and the messy reality of service, encouraging openness about failures as testimonies to God's grace.REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS💬 What is on our list of reasons Jesus shouldn’t use us? 💬 Who do we disclose our weakness to? 💬 How does Jesus credit in our disclosure?ADDITIONAL RESOURCES📝 Sermon Notes for this message 💾 Download a transcript of this message 📰 Blog Summary for this message 📖 Disclosing Meek Strength (2 Corinthians 11:16-21) 📖 A Model of Suffering Service (2 Corinthians 11:22-28, 32-33) 📖 The Heart of Boasting (2 Corinthians 11:29-31) LINKSWebsiteDownload our App! (Apple) (Android)DonatePodcastMusic by Blue Dot Sessions
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    42 分
  • In a society focused on appearances, where does authentic faith fit in?

    In a society focused on appearances, where does authentic faith fit in?
    2025/11/09

    The War With Pride, 2 of 5 from November 9, 2025

    “In a world absorbed with manipulating appearances we openly practice faithful love.”

    2 Corinthians 11:1-15 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)

    SUMMARY

    This sermon explores the challenge of remaining faithful to Christ in a culture obsessed with controlling narratives and manipulating appearances. Pastor Michael discusses how Paul defended his ministry in 2 Corinthians against "super apostles" who undermined his work through eloquent speech and self-promotion. Instead of matching their aggression, Paul demonstrated genuine love through self-sacrifice and integrity. The message urges believers to focus on practicing faithful love openly, cautioning against messages that contradict Scripture and emphasizing discernment in recognizing false teachers.

    REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    • 💬 How open are we to views that contradict what Scripture clearly teaches?

    • 💬 What burdens do we shoulder to make Jesus’ Good News accessible to others?

    • 💬 Whose kingdom and reputation are our lives building?

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    • 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

    • 💾 Download a transcript of this message

    • 📰 Blog Summary for this message

    • 🖼️ Sermon Slides

    • 📖 Fidelity to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:1-6)

    • 📖 “Unburdened” Social life (2 Corinthians 11:7-11)

    • 📖 Discerning of Disguises (2 Corinthians 11:12-15)

    LINKS

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    • Music by Blue Dot Sessions
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    38 分
  • What is the “Christian” way to approach arrogance and pride?

    What is the “Christian” way to approach arrogance and pride?
    2025/11/02
    The War With Pride, 1 of 5 from November 2, 2025 “In a world fighting by arrogance and deceit, we triumph by meekness and integrity.” 2 Corinthians 10 by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks)SUMMARYThis sermon explores the themes of humility, conflict resolution, and spiritual integrity as addressed by the Apostle Paul in the context of Second Corinthians. Pastor Michael discusses the challenges of maintaining unity and peace within faith communities, emphasizing the power of meekness and Christ-like humility in overcoming pride and divisive influences. The sermon encourages listeners to measure success and approval against Jesus's standards rather than worldly ones.REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS💬 Are the things we get defensive about building our pride or honoring our King? 💬 Whose measure of success do we use for our life? 💬 Who are we praying for? 💬 Whose approval are we living for?ADDITIONAL RESOURCES📝 Sermon Notes for this message 💾 Download a transcript of this message 📰 Blog Summary for this message 🖼️ Sermon Slides 📖 THE PROBLEM (2 Corinthians 10:1-6) Paul did not want to have to deal with Corinth in an authoritarian way (2 Corinthians 1:23-2:1) His posture from the beginning was comfort in affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)📖 THE PROOF (2 Corinthians 10:7-12) The existence of a church in Corinth is evidence that Jesus has empowered Paul’s ministry (2 Corinthians 3:2)📖 THE PURPOSE (2 Corinthians 10:13-18) If we boast, we should boast in the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24)LINKSWebsiteDownload our App! (Apple) (Android)DonatePodcastMusic by Blue Dot Sessions
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    42 分
  • How should we respond when life feels unfair?

    How should we respond when life feels unfair?
    2025/10/19

    Bad Theology, 3 of 4 from October 19, 2025

    Suffering allows God to draw us closer, teaching us through our affliction and showing us His mercy.

    Job 32-37 by Orrin Witt

    SUMMARY

    This sermon explores the complex question of suffering and justice in the book of Job. Pastor Orrin discusses how Job's experience challenges our beliefs about fairness and God's justice. The sermon encourages listeners to trust in God's purposes and to see suffering as an opportunity to draw closer to Him.

    REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    • 💬 How can we maintain a humble posture before God when we're going through difficult times and don't understand why?

    • 💬 In what ways has past suffering in your life produced growth, character, or a closer relationship with God?

    • 💬 How does Jesus' innocent suffering on the cross change our perspective on our own suffering?

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    • 📝 Sermon Notes for this message

    • 💾 Download a transcript of this message

    • 📰 Blog Summary for this message

    LINKS

    • Website

    • Download our App! (Apple) (Android)

    • Donate

    • Podcast

    • Music by Blue Dot Sessions
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    50 分