Messages by Brent Clark (Page 7)
Certainty, Doubt, and the Mystical Nature of Faith
Often when it comes to faith, we equate faith with certainty. This understanding leaves no room for doubt. But as we experience life, it is common for doubts to arise. Is doubt incongruent with faith? Pastor Brent looks at the dangers of certainty and how doubt can strengthen faith and make space for the mystical nature of faith.
Truth and Discernment
In a world that says all truth is relative, how can those who want to authentically follow Jesus stand for anything? And as we go through the process of deconstruction is there anything we can truly believe? Pastor Brent looks at truth, the dangers of falling into the relative truth trap, the importance of discernment, and how absolute truth doesn’t weigh us down but is where we can find freedom.
Shattered Faith 101
With all the conversations around deconstruction today, Pastor Brent Clark looks at the history of deconstruction, why people deconstruct, benefits and dangers of reconstruction, and how going through the process can strengthen faith.
Deconstruction – What is the Foundation?
Deconstruction seems to be a buzzword in the world of Christianity. Whether it is due to doubts and questions, watching high profile Christian leaders fall in moral failure, or abuse that continues to be revealed in almost all corners of the Christian faith, more and more people are walking away from the faith. But deconstruction is not a new thing. The first-century followers of Jesus had to do quite a bit of deconstruction of their own to be able to…
Do You Want to Get Well?
Sometimes questions asked can seem silly or even obvious. But what happens when the question that on the surface seems like a no-brainer asks us to a bit dig deeper to find the answer we truly desire. Jesus asks a man who is described as an invalid for 38 years if he wants to get well. We think the obvious answer is yes. But what could be beneath the surface of this question that this man, and also us, might…
What Are you Doing Here?
Through the twists and turns of life, we can often end up in places we didn’t expect, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. By looking at the question God asks Elijah, we can learn to recognize the warning signs of our burnout and brokenness and find the presence of God waiting for us there.
What Is Your Name?
Have you ever given much consideration to the meaning of your name? In an age when finding trendy, popular, or familial names seems to be the utmost importance, we can miss how significant it was when those in the Bible named their children. Pastor Brent looks in Genesis at the story of Jacob to discover the significance if his birth name and how impacting it was when God changed his name.
What Is That In Your Hand?
Do you ever feel as though you have very little to offer? That your life couldn’t be of much use to others, much less God? Often, we can fail to see the value of our lives, especially when God wants to work through us. Pastor Brent looks at the call of Moses at the burning bush to see how before he was a great leader, Moses was a hesitant and questioning responder, but God was able to use Moses by…
Where Is Your Brother?
In a culture that promotes self-sufficiency, independence, and individualism, what should be the Christian’s response when God asks us where is your brother? Looking at the story of Cain and Abel, Pastor Brent looks at our responsibility toward one another and how we should be our brother’s keeper.
Standing at the Crossroad
The death of Jesus on the cross can mean many different things to many people. As Pastors Brent and Amy wrap up the message series Cross Roads, they conclude by looking at how Jesus described his followers as crucifying themselves and asking the question, what will you do as you stand at the crossroad and see the cross of Jesus?
Victory
For the first 1,000 years of Christianity, the followers of Jesus held tightly to a view of atonement called Christus Victor, or Christ the Victor. Why was the idea of the cross of Jesus bringing victory so important and how could they find victory in a publicly humiliating execution of their rabbi? Pastor Brent looks at several New Testament passages to encourage us to reclaim the Christus Victor view of the cross today and start living in
Revealing God
It can be tempting to look at the cross and the death of Jesus and see something barbaric or even heinous. Some have even looked at the cross and seen nothing more than divine child abuse. But what if instead of seeing a horrific method of capital punishment from the first century, we see the love of God shown for us? Pastor Brent looks at how the first century Christians viewed the cross and how that can shape our perspective…