Church At The Red Door

Echoes of Another World - Part II by Church at the Red Door

Join us as Pastor Paul Berst teaches on "Second Chances." Aren't you glad we get a second chance with God when we fall short of the mark?

In Philippians 4:4 the Apostle Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Rejoice always? Really, Paul? You have no idea what you are asking. Upon hearing this, many people will simply brush it aside as unrealistic and unfeasible. How can the Apostle Paul, or God, expect us to rejoice when we are having marital problems, our hopes have been dashed, we just received a bad health report, or we are dealing with family issues? It seems impossible! It is impossible for some people, but not for us – “IF...” Join me Sunday as we explore the big “IF.” Philippians 4:4-9 Questions: READ PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9 1. What do you think it looks like to rejoice even when life is difficult? 2. In verse 5, Paul reminds the Philippians that “the Lord is near.” In what ways is God literally near to you? 3. The beginning of verse 6 says “do not be anxious.” If we are honest, we all encounter worry often on a weekly, even daily, basis. What are you anxious about right now? 4, The next part of

Many of us come from different places in our spiritual life. Some have followed the Lord for a long time, while some are just getting started. Some have had their ups and downs, and some may not even know where to begin. But young or old, single or married, kids or no kids, my hope this Father’s Day is that you will hear me as a friend who cares about you, as a pastor who cares about this church, calling you to join me to make a deeper commitment. If there is one thing this world desperately needs right now, it is more Godly men and women. 1. Am I seeking Jesus, on a daily basis? 2. Am I trying to hear from Jesus? 3. Are we holding our thoughts captive? 4. Are we using our words to edify at home? To edify our wife? To edify our kids? To edify our golf, or tennis, or our work place? 5. Am I living a life that is transparent? If someone was with me all day, how would it look to them? 6. Am I striving to meet the mission God has called me to? 7. Is there any fruit in my life? 8. Do I mourn for those th

This Sunday, we will continue looking into Luke's account of the life and ministry of Jesus. I have to tell you that the story we are covering this week has always fascinated me. Jesus declared that a Roman centurion had demonstrated the greatest faith He had seen in all of Israel. How was that possible? A gentile? A Roman overlord? What could Jesus possibly have meant by this? What does this tell us about faith? Would you want Jesus to meet you and declare that you had the greatest faith He had seen in your geographical location? Do you have "big faith" or are you an "of little faith" person. Can that change? All these questions - and more - are going to be addressed this Sunday. Romans 7:14-25 1. Do you believe that Jesus is still approachable, even in your current state? 2. What mental strongholds keep you from taking larger and larger steps of faith in your own life? 3. What has God impressed upon you to do in the past that proved "above and beyond" what you could have ever imagined, once you acted? 4.

This week, we will finish up Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. It gets pretty confrontational as Jesus closes His short discourse by describing blind leaders, their methods of judgment and the very, very shaky ground on which they had built their religious lives. Any application to the 21st century? Absolutely! Things simply don’t change. The heart of man is fallen and needs truth like a starving man needs food. Jesus has a profound way of getting right to the point - the point that most people work desperately to avoid. I also want to explore the “different Jesus” that our world has worked overtime to create. A caution is in order! Luke 6:39-49 1. Are you startled at times, by your own lack of sight? 2. Have you been tempted to judge someone recently before seeing clearly enough to make a balanced judgment? 3. Why do you think we are so quick to judge? 4. Have you ever been tempted to create “another Jesus?” If so, what did He look like? 5. Do you have confidence in your own salvation? If so, why? If not, why

Memorial Day is our attempt to remember, recognize, and thank those who gave their best and all they had so that we might continue to enjoy the liberties that are ours. This Sunday, we will honor our nation’s fallen and the fallen of our Christian faith as we walk through the great faith chapter in Hebrews 11. 1. Read 1 Peter 3:14 and discuss how to be courageous in your everyday life. 2. We should not be afraid of threats from unbelievers. Peter states to share your faith of hope even though some will not accept it, as you may be ridiculed. Read 1 Peter 3:15 and share some ways you have been or have witnessed others being ridiculed for their Christian faith. 3. Read 1 Peter 3:17 and discuss Peter’s statement: “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

This weekend, Senior Pastor Jeffrey Cranford continues his teaching regarding the Sermon on the Plain. As you’ve heard, we are called to “love our enemies,” but how do we truly pull that off? Tune in to find out. Also, this Sunday we will host the inaugural “Morning Mix” with pastors Paul Berst and Randy Lintecum. This segment will air at 9:15 AM, leading us into the regular service at 9:30 AM. Luke 6:27-38

This week we head down the rabbit's hole to see what the world looks like down there. Jesus is beginning to describe the revolutionary ways of a kingdom unseen. What seems to be up is down, and what seems to be down is up. It is a strange world for those who have been enslaved to the same system their entire lives. Many other stories that we have loved from childhood have left an echo in our hearts that is confirmed and actually lived out in the life of Jesus. Jesus is truly the protagonist who has brought to life the ultimate eucatastrophe - that is, a "good catastrophe." Luke 6:20-26 1. What is most strange to you about the "way of being human" Jesus seems to be describing? 2. What is the hardest pill to swallow surrounding the sermon on the plain? 3. What do you think the freshly appointed apostles thought of Jesus' teaching? 4. Have you ever been persecuted for the name of Jesus? If so, how

Have you ever thought of the Gospel as a fairytale? Many people do. They imagine that talking donkeys and snakes simply did not exist. Many of our friends and family do not take another look at the words of Jesus, because they conceive His very existence as merely the imagination of ancient writers. The fact is, the Gospel follows a general pattern that most fairytales employ: good conquers evil in the midst of inconceivable odds (or at least apparent odds) while utilizing underdogs to overthrow the "powers that be." I want to take a deeper dive into the unimaginable plan that Jesus had for his apostles and any who would dare follow in His footsteps. Footsteps that exemplify another dimension's way of being human. Luke 6:17-26 Questions: 1. Have you ever considered that the Gospel has many of the characteristics of a fairytale? 2. Why do you suppose fairytales are so deeply embedded in the human psyche? Wishful thinking or intuition? 3. Do stories from another dimension startle you or excite you? 4. H

Rather than select the superstars of religion, Jesus chose the unimaginably unqualified. Not only that, He chose a man who He knew would betray him. Wild thought, isn't it? Do you realize how revolutionary His choices of men and women were? It says a lot about us, and it says a lot about God. Curious? Tune in to unpack the next few verses in Luke 6. Luke 6:12-16 Are you increasingly reliant on prayer to make the big decisions of life? If not, why not? Have you ever wondered why Jesus, knowing Judas would betray him, selected him? More to the point, are you surprised He chose you? Have you ever been hurt by others inside the church? If you have been hurt by others inside the church, have you ever considered that was God's plan, and not His failure to protect you? Does it feel humbling to recognize that God often chooses the weak to advance His most precious agenda?

This week, I have entitled the message “Missing the Point...Badly!” There are many things in the Bible that infuriate me: injustices that are perpetrated on the vulnerable, demonstrations of pride and greed, carelessness with others, and murder. However, this week we peer into true evil. This is the kind of evil that necessitates some cover. Religion often acts as that kind of cover. People love to hide behind religion when their intentions are grotesque. This is what we will deal with on Sunday. Do not think this is just a study of "things long since passed." It is just as tempting for us today as it was for the religious hypocrites of 2,000 years ago. Luke 6:1-11 1. What has been the worst thing you have experienced in the name of religion? 2. When have you personally been at fault when mercy did not triumph over judgment? 3. Are you aware of some "traditions of men" that put a strangle hold on people's thriving in the kingdom?

This Sunday, we are going to explore some new things. Jesus was constantly introducing radical new ideas to the "sheep of Israel." Many of the shepherds of these sheep did not like what they were hearing. Constantly accusing Jesus of blaspheming, they just couldn't put their minds around His statements. We often do the same in our dealings with Him. We are intrigued with Him, but we don't quite know what to do with Him. Senior Pastor Jeffrey Cranford explores how amazingly fresh His ways are this weekend. Amazingly fresh! Following Him is not for cowards or folks who like the status quo. He is always and forever on the move. Luke5:27-39 1. Who led you to Jesus? Was it someone completely qualified in a religious sense? 2. What new things is God doing in your life right now, or what has He done in the past that surprised you? 3. Name a new “wineskin" idea you may have had in the past, but abandoned because you were criticized. 4. Do you marvel at the creativity of God in nature? Why wouldn't you marvel a

This week, we press on in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 5, Jesus is appearing to swat at a hornet's nest by forgiving sins. Wow! You may not find that very fascinating with the luxury of hindsight and knowing the basic message of the Gospel today, but that was big news 2,000 years ago. Only God could do that kind of thing! What was Jesus doing here? There are major things going on in this scene that must be unpacked. Luke 5:17-26 1. Have you ever felt too ashamed to go to Jesus? 2. Did you run from Him because of it? 3. What was the moment you realized you could go to Him? 4. Isn't this kind of an ongoing process for all believers? 5. Do you really believe that He still has the authority to forgive sins? How have you seen this in your own life? Website: www.churchatthereddoor.com Need Prayer? https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/prayer-request Did you give your life to Christ or renew your relationship today? We'd like to help you on your journey. https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/salvation Connect wit

Join us as Pastor Jeffery Cranford shows us the Glory Of God this Easter Sunday. Mark 16:1-8 Website: www.churchatthereddoor.com Need Prayer? https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/prayer-request Did you give your life to Christ or renew your relationship today? We'd like to help you on your journey. https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/salvation Connect with us: https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/connection-card Link to Weekly Worship Video Selections: https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/worship-video-links

This Sunday represents a very important moment in the life of Jesus. It was for Him the point of no return. For his followers, the next seven days will be both the most jubilant and the most horrific. We call it Palm Sunday, but that was not what it was called in historical times. It was actually called Lamb Selection Day. Join me as we investigate the importance of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on Lamb Selection Day, and why it was His "Point of No Return." Questions to Discuss: Why was it Jesus "Point of No return?" Why do you think Jesus arrived on Lamb Selection Day? Website: www.churchatthereddoor.com Need Prayer? https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/prayer-request Did you give your life to Christ or renew your relationship today? We'd like to help you on your journey. https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/salvation Connect with us: https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/connection-card Link to Weekly Worship Video Selections: https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/worship-video-links

This week, Senior Pastor Jeffrey Cranford will continue his teaching in Luke Chapter 5. The sermon is entitled, “Jesus is Willing.” Intrigued? We hope so! Luke 5:12-15 1. Do you ever think of Jesus as actually seeing you and your specific needs? 2. Have you ever made this remark? "Oh, I wouldn't ask Him that. He has other more important things to do." 3. From your theological perspective, do you understand that God hates the dramatic effects of sin? 4. Does seeing Jesus as the shepherd of your soul comfort you? Read Psalm 23 and reflect on it. Website: www.churchatthereddoor.com Need Prayer? https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/prayer-request Did you give your life to Christ or renew your relationship today? We'd like to help you on your journey. https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/salvation Connect with us: https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/connection-card Link to Weekly Worship Video Selections: https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/worship-video-links

This week, we launch into Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Luke. There is so much to learn from the disciples in their response to Jesus and his seemingly strange requests. What, after all, did He know about fishing? He was a carpenter’s son. Did He actually believe that He was the master of everything? Let’s be honest, you won’t faithfully spend time with someone you don’t think possesses the answers to everything, knows the future, and has the power to move heaven and earth for you. From this semon we will see that “the boys” got it - they really got it! Their response - as the Mastercard commercial goes - was “priceless.” Luke 5:1-11

As His apprentices, we are called to the same engagement with God the Father. Believe me, I struggle as many of you do. Good things get in the way of the perfect things. I want to do better, and I want to be more in tune with the Father's desired activities in my life. I don't want to spin my wheels in an ever increasing "Fatherless vacuum." That's our task this week. Luke 4:42-44 1. What activity pulls you away from your alone time with God? 2. When you think back to your intimate times with God, did you find yourself emotionally balanced? 3. Why do you think it is so hard to be consistent with your alone time with God? 4. Do you struggle to be alone? Do you feel alone when God is supposed to be there? How do you overcome that? 5. Please share your successful experiences with others. Website: www.churchatthereddoor.com Need Prayer? https://www.churchatthereddoor.com/prayer-request Did you give your life to Christ or renew your relationship today? We'd like to help you on your journey. https://www.

Senior Pastor Jeffrey Cranford continues his study of the Gospel of Luke by finishing the two displays of Jesus’ encounters with the realms of the seen and the unseen. Last week, he had focused on the demonic, and now his focus will be the physical realm by healing people. This will help you see what amazing authority Jesus has over all areas of our lives. Luke 4:31-44