PastorMarty

This week's message discusses biblical hope and how to distinguish it from wishful thinking.

This week's message discusses symbolism and our ability (or lack thereof) to keep New Year's resolutions.

Reading and meditating on Scripture is vital for the Christian life. There are times when we should read not only for quality but also for quantity, and meditating on God's Word makes it real in our lives.

Many of us may think we are walking in faith when we really just exchanged one type of work for another. This message talks about entering the rest of faith.

In this week's message, I discuss different types of fasts and how to identify what is best for your situation.

The second step to removing barriers to growth is to receive forgiveness. This is much more than a simple conscious decision; it involves our identity.

Integrity is vital to living a truly godly life. David explains the core principles of integrity in Psalm 15, and making those principles a part of our lives will lead us to a truly holy lifestyle.

The third major barrier to Wholeness and growth is a failure to accept yourself--the person that God made. Although we all have imperfections and need to be saved and formed in His image as a new creation, self hatred prevents growth and maturity because if separates you from God, others, the world, and even your own self. Accepting the you-that-God-made is a vital step before He can begin to change those things that have become broken or stolen by the enemy.

In this continuation from last week, I discuss some simple ways to forgive and avoid denial.

This first of three videos describes the first main barrier to wholeness and what we need to do to grow.

There are different types of prophetic gifts and callings, but they all require one thing.

Sometimes, we may find things in God's Word that are confusing or hard to understand. When that happens, the best option may be to just keep going and let it come to us later.

Christians, and even those who are not Christian, usually recognize that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus: God becoming a man. However, there is much more that we can understand about incarnation than just a baby being born in Bethlehem. This week's message discusses how incarnation is a theme seen throughout the Old and New Testament, and it is something far more eternal than one birth.

There are many different interpretations about what faith is. Instead of trying to answer that, this message discusses what faith looks like.

Preparing for--and Ushering in--the Second Coming of the Lord.

In this message, I discuss a couple ways we can open our hearts to receive God's forgiveness--especially in areas where we struggle.

Often, we consider God's attitude toward us as mainly logical and rational; this can give us a perspective on the Father that misses His compassionate love for us.

Pride was the first sin identified in the history of the universe, and it is one of the biggest barriers to following God. If Christians are serious about living a godly life of holiness and love, then it is necessary to face and confront it.

This week's message discusses our need to keep our conscience tender before God without reverting to legalism or trying to live under law.

Overcoming self-hatred and accepting your true self is not always an easy thing to do, especially in today's post-truth culture. Nevertheless, self-acceptance is a necessary step to growing into wholeness and sanctification.

This week's message covers things we have to watch out for as our faith is growing.

In this message, I discuss the similarities and differences of character, maturity, and growth.

What does it mean to have a covering over us? This is a simple but valuable explanation.

Becoming aware if we hold to doctrines that may actually inhibit our receiving what we need from God.

This week, I describe how to use the communion service for healing, deliverance, forgiveness, or whatever you need--as well as some hints on how it can also work for intercession for others.