Brian Jones Sermons

Our natural reaction when faced with oppression and hardships is to rise up. To combat aggression with aggression. But what if there’s a better way, a way that would ultimately silence the aggressors, and draw the other party closer to God?

Followers of Jesus can have many motivations for the lives that they lead. At or near the top of that list should be the desire to be compassionate, to show he same selflessness that Jesus showed, above any other perspective we could possibly have.

When faced with tough times, most Christians have never trained themselves for how they’re going to respond. We’re encouraged to just that, in light of how fleeting our lives actually are, in week two of our series, “Fight To The Finish.”

Whatever trials you’re facing at the moment, our hardships can help to strengthen our faith.

Having authentic friendships with people who share their time and hearts are indispensable for making life work.

It’s been said that religion is people reaching up to God. Christianity is God reaching down to people. If we truly understood the love God has for us, it would radically transform everything about our lives.

What area of your life are you holding back from Jesus? There’s no part of us that should be off limits, nothing that Jesus can’t affect, and it’s with our one-and-only lives that Jesus wants to change the world.

The benefits of regularly meeting together with other Christians go beyond just the spiritual. Here’s “why” and “how” you should host a CCV Watch Party sometime in the next few weeks! All the info for CCV Watch Parties is available at ccvlive.com/watchparty

Throughout history, when faced with difficult circumstances, Jesus has always called His church to rise up and meet the moment - to lead the charge and usher in His Kingdom, on Earth as it is in Heaven. The reality of how things are and what we’re up against in 2020 is no different.

The prophet Elijah was the kind of person who stood up for what was right, even if it meant he was standing alone. Can the same be said of you?

It’s easy to recognize “idol worship” when it takes place in the Old Testament, in stories like the life of Elijah. The real question is, are we as attentive to the “idols” that we worship in place of God today?

If you’re tired, weary, or just want to escape, what’s the best course of action? Are these types of issues solved by “just trying harder to be happy?” Maybe taking a nice, long vacation? Or is there something bigger going on? Brian talks about the ‘antidote to exhaustion’ in this message titled, “I Wanna Be Sedated” (to borrow the line from the song by The Ramones).

The goal of Christianity has never been about following a set of rules. It’s about having what Dallas Willard called, ‘a conversational relationship with God.’ Here’s WHY this distinction is so important, especially if you’re a relatively new Christian, as we wrap up our teaching series, “Stop At Nothing.”

What stops you from authentically sharing your faith with others? Is it not knowing what to say? Is it embarrassment? Maybe it’s a genuine fear of what the other person might say back to you? If any of these reasons are barriers to having faith conversations with other people, here’s what the Apostle Paul would say you should do.

It’s easy to view hard times through the lens of the things they take away from us. Experienced ruined. Plans changed. Expectations shattered. But what if instead of viewing these times as all bad, you looked at the opportunities these seasons gave us to share the hope of Jesus with the people God puts in our paths?

The Apostle Paul knew that when times got tough, he could always count on the church in Philippi to pray for him and help him during his times of deepest need. Is there someone you are connected to now, someone you’re investing in spiritually, that ten years from now will be able to look back and thank God for your influence in their lives? If not, you’ve got work to do.

Jesus’ resurrection means that our sins can be forgiven, our present problems get smaller and smaller, and our future can be sure. The resurrection means we can have hope, both now and for eternity. That hope come through the sacrifice of Jesus, and is available to anyone who would seek and accept it. Do you believe that?

2 Corinthians 4:18 reminds us to, “…fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” When there’s nowhere else to turn, where do you put your focus? On yourself and what you can do and what you can control? Or do you fix your eyes and attention on the One who can actually save you, the One who promises to always be there when we call?