Preached on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, Missouri. Click here to listen to the audio. Luke 9:18-27 We are launching a new sermon series today titled “Because of Christ, everything has changed.” This series is the second in a series of sermons related to our Setting Sail visioning process. Over … Continue reading Dying to Live: A Sermon
Tag: Brennan Manning
Front Porch Conversations
There are many people who have passed that I would like to sit with on a front porch, rocking slowly in two red adirondack chairs. We'll shoot the breeze over some fresh-squeezed lemonade, my Great Grandma Weaver's sugar cookies on a table between us, still warm from the oven.
He likes me. He really likes me.
Maybe if we believe God not only loves us but genuinely likes us, too, than maybe we would lighten up on the self-hatred.
Quit Searching
Several years ago, I was packed in a church van sitting next to an adorable little boy named Cole who was probably three or four years old. He was in his little booster seat with a portable VHS player and we were movies buddies. I'm sure his mom packed a few movies for the never-ending … Continue reading Quit Searching
Embracing the Adventure
It is unfortunate that it often takes bad times or painful experiences to sometimes wake us up to beautiful things around us. Like an extra long winter makes us euphoric for the sun and a little warmth. Or like a crazy busy season of work leads us to crash and slowly remember the joy and … Continue reading Embracing the Adventure
"Abba, I Belong to You."
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook or read this blog regularly, you know that I often quote Brennan Manning. Apart from my parents, no one has had more impact on my life as a follower of Jesus Christ than Brennan. I will forever be grateful for his transparency and his passionate witness to … Continue reading "Abba, I Belong to You."
If Church was like an AA Meeting
From The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning: On a sweltering summer night in New Orleans, sixteen recovering alcoholics and drug addicts gather for their weekly AA meeting. Although several members attend other meetings during the week, this is their home group. They have been meeting on Tuesday nights for several years and know each other well. Some … Continue reading If Church was like an AA Meeting
Love Me Tender
I'm not comfortable talking about myself. I like to keep things light and close to the surface when it comes to me. I've always joked that one of the reasons I do well with youth ministry is that I never have to worry about personal questions. Teenagers are at the stage of life where they … Continue reading Love Me Tender
Love-Crazy Father
This Sunday I'm preaching on the story of the Prodigal Son (or as I prefer to call it - The Story of the Love-Crazy Father). It was the assigned text for this Sunday and also happens to be my favorite parable told by Jesus. For most of my life, I focused predominately on the prodigal … Continue reading Love-Crazy Father
One Thing that is Certain
If someone were to ask you, 'What is the one thing in life that is certain?' you would have to answer, 'The love of Christ.' - Brennan Manning This truth is the one thing that helps me the most in life. When I start to get out-of-whack with hopes and expectations in people or ideas, … Continue reading One Thing that is Certain
melissahatfield.blog 