Authentic Life Church

What does it matter to find joy in things, relationships, health, wealth, family, friends, fun, life, when all those things are temporary? Finding Unshakable Joy means finding it in Jesus. Here are the questions? Do you know Christ experientially? Or do you just know about Christ. Do you consider everything else garbage compared to knowing Christ? 

Joy grows when we get off of ourselves and focus on the one in front of us, joy grows when we serve together, joy grows when we encourage the one no one sees. Joy can even grow in trials, in struggles, and in tragedies when we focus on people. Joy is knowing who your father is. Joy can grow in a myriad of ways and here is the question: where does it grow in your life?

Have you fallen for Satan's lie of the American dream? What will truly bring you joy? The truth is that we are called to hate our very life and everything in it, to be considered a disciple of Jesus. So here is the question: Can you say with conviction it is a joy to die? 

Jesus Christ is Lord. Here is the question: is Jesus the Lord of your life? Is He on the throne of your heart? We need to get off of ourselves and realize it's not about me. When Jesus Christ is the center of your life that’s where you’ll find unshakable joy. 

How could the apostle Paul have joy amidst his circumstances chained the palace guard? How could you have joy amidst your own circumstances? By remembering who you belong to, the King of King and Lord of Lords. You are His and as long as you have that you have joy. Listen as Pastor Bruce unpacks Philippians 1:27 -2:4.

You might find yourself in a circumstance that you did not plan, can God use what you did not plan? The book of Philippians is the book of Joy Paul, in the midst of being in prison, found joy he says “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Can you actually say the same? This episode looks at circumstances differently.

What is the source of unshakable Joy? Is Joy dictated by your circumstances? or Is joy knowing Jesus and having God as your Lord and Kings knowing where your hope is found. Joy is not circumstantial.

“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. - John 6:53-36
Pastor Danny Erbaugh answers the question why we participate in communion. In the wilderness the Israelites ate manna from Heaven satisfying the stomach daily, but that will never satisfy the soul, only Jesus the Bread of life daily can do that. Jesus is not asking to become part of your life. He gave his flesh so that he could become the eternal and ongoing source of your life. 

What do we deserve? In this culture that question would get a myriad of answers, but the truth is we deserve Hell, we deserve death, for the wages of sin is death and we should bear the penalty. But Jesus by grace through faith alone we are saved. What is the kingdom where nobody gets what they deserve?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3 - Do you know what that means? Nicodemus was also confused, as we walk through John 3:1-21 with pastor Tyler Peterson, by the end you will know what it means to be born again.