Messages by Brent Clark (Page 32)

Messages by Brent Clark (Page 32)

Faithful: Persuasive Faith

Sermon Podcast Audio Your browser does not support the audio element. Jury Duty Several years ago in Arkansas, I received the dreaded letter in the mail from the county courthouse informing me that I had been given a very special honor. I had been selected for jury duty. What I loved about the letter was that it didn’t really ask if I wanted to be on jury duty; it just said I was. Congratulations. During my “sentence,” I was fortunate enough…

Villains of the Bible – Satan – The Original Villain

Sermon Podcast Audio Your browser does not support the audio element. Heroes and Villains I am a self-professed nerd. I love for Star Trek. This love led me at one time to attend a Star Trek convention. One thing I have never had a great love for was comic books or graphic novels. I read a lot already, so reading is rarely a recreational activity for me. But, I do love comic book movies. Batman. Spiderman. Superman. X-Men. The Avengers.…

From Orphan to Child

Introduction Good morning. I am so glad you are here today. Over the last couple of weeks, we have been in a series we called Transformed. This series is built on the idea that when people encounter God, when we say yes to Jesus and begin the faith journey of following him, radical changes occur in our lives.  The first week, we looked at how one of the first things that happen when we put our faith in Jesus is…

Transformed: Death to Life

John 5:24-26 Introduction Good morning and Happy Easter. As you all probably know, Easter is a big deal for Christians and the church. This isn’t just the usual Sunday. Everything for Christians hinges on the resurrection. Your belief or non-belief even hinges on what you believe about the resurrection. I want to read the events of the first Easter morning to you. Listen to how Luke describes that morning from Luke 24:1-12. 1 But very early on Sunday morning the…

Threads: Movement

As far as parenting goes, Kerri and I have been very fortunate with our kids. We have certainly had ups and downs. Hannah being born 6 weeks early and only weighing 3 lbs 14 ozs. Luke needing a minor surgery at 6 months. And the routine infections, illnesses, and tubes in ears stuff. But for the most part, our kids, once born have been relatively healthy, growing kids. In November of 2012, the Department of Human Services called and asked…

Threads: Jesus Changes Everything

Every so often, something or someone comes along that radically transforms the way we think or the way we do things. An event happens, a product is invented, an event transpires, a person is born, and life as we know it is changed forever.  For years and years, if you wanted to talk to someone on the phone, you did it standing next to a device that was on a shelf or hanging on the wall. And if you wanted…

Renew Purpose

Over the last few weeks, we have been discussing this idea of renewal. As we enter a new year, what are those areas that we feel like needs some attention, something we may have lost or forgotten. Something that might need a little jolt to get us back on track. It seems that every new year is essentially the same though. January 1st comes along, people reevaluate their lives, make resolutions, and really try to live differently. And so we…

Renew Passion

This will come as a big shock to most of you, but there was a time when I was a hopeless romantic. When Kerri and I first started dating, I did anything and everything I could to woo her. And I was pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. After all, this skinny, dorky guy who wore glasses and loved Star Trek got that beautiful woman to marry me! I can remember the May I proposed to…

Tis the Season for Peace

Do you ever feel guilty at Christmastime? You look around. You see all the smiling faces. You smell the delicious aromas of peppermint, gingerbread, and cinnamon. You hear the carols and other music telling you, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” And you are reminded of all the emotions that you are “supposed” to have, the “right” way to experience Christmas, but for you, your experience is different. You can fake those emotions publicly, but on the inside,…

What Is Your Something to Talk About?

Have you ever felt totally overwhelmed by something you were supposed to do? To the point that the thought of it made you sick or you would just tremble and shake. You really would rather just run away than do it? I know I have, and my kids have too. Several years ago, before we moved to Iowa, our previous church decided to do a children’s musical for Christmas. They had not done one before and one of the ladies…