2005 Sermons by Ray Pritchard

The Church in Many Places (Jan 02, 2005)
God uses catastrophe and disasters to scatter the church so that His word can be spread to all parts of the world. We can become comfortable and content in our lives, but God in His sovergn nature does things we are not used to.

Great Joy in the City (Jan 09, 2005)
Throughout history, God has grown and moved his church as his people scattered to diverse locations geographically. This pattern has not changed and believers are still called to grow and expand as a church today, whether we move across national boundaries, ethnic and cultural boundaries, or do church planting in our immediate communities. Beginning with the first generation of believers in the book of Acts, we hear of Phillip, who was emboldened and changed by the power of God as he moved out in obedience to spread the Gospel. Despite severe persecution, great joy descended on those who received the truth that came with power. In this present age, we have the account of the phenomenal growth of the church in China. In 1949 all Christian missionaries were evicted leaving less than one million indigenous believers behind. They faced relentless bloodbaths and eradication. Yet the church grew in the midst of that persecution when determined believers scattered and went underground. The challenge to believers today remains the same—to be willing to be moved out of our personal comfort zones, to walk in faith, to make personal sacrifices, and most importantly, to trust God for our personal well-being and needs.

In His Steps (Jan 30, 2005)
The Christian walk is synonymous with innocent suffering and pain, through which Christ our Lord suffered and died. He left us all an example of how to follow him in this. A Christian’s call to this behavior goes against the grain of his human tendencies: to suffer unjust treatment without retaliation, trusting only that God would be the judge of things ultimately. Jesus lived the sacrificial life to which he calls all his believers. It is a life that leads to the cross, and he has modeled how to live this sacrificial life for us. When we suffer unjustly, we share in a tiny portion of what happened to him. When we are mistreated, we are to turn the other check, bless those who curse us, and return good for evil. We are not to retaliate, not to threaten, not to get even. Jesus showed us how to live, and he showed us how to die. This response is a miracle in itself and is under girded and made possible only by the gift of grace from God.

Inner Beauty (Feb 06, 2005)
What is inner beauty that lasts and how do we get it? In today’s quest for physical beauty amidst a burgeoning population of aging Boomers who are finding it difficult to reconcile the ravages of time on their bodies, surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures are seeing explosive growth in this country. This craze is not particular only to celebrities and socialites but now includes the rest of society who can afford the cost of the procedures. We all want to look good, but all external and applied adornments will fail sooner or later. The Bible puts forth a better goal of the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. There is power and value in this inner beauty that all women can acquire. Scripture gives us a solid example of such beauty in the Old Testament character of Sarah. She was a woman of recognized great beauty in her society but Scripture credits her with a greater inner beauty of character that was more commendable and precious to God, described in First Peter, chapter three. Here, all Christian women are called to be “daughters of Sarah,” to emulate her lasting beauty of character quality and attitude. Ultimately for women, the beauty of eternal value is like that which Jesus demonstrated in his submission to and hope in God, in doing what is right without giving way to fear. This is true beauty in God’s sight.

Unhindered Prayers (Feb 13, 2005)

How to Inherit a Blessing (Feb 20, 2005)

Are You Prepared to Suffer for Christ? (Mar 06, 2005)

The Triumphant Christ (Mar 13, 2005)

Going Against the Flow (Mar 20, 2005)

A Tale of Two Men (Mar 27, 2005)

The Day Before the End of the World (Apr 03, 2005)

Fear Factor (Apr 10, 2005)

The Treasure Principle (Apr 17, 2005)

Never Be Surprised by Hard Times (Apr 24, 2005)

Take Me to Your Leaders (May 01, 2005)

A Survival Kit for Tough Times (May 08, 2005)

The Wind Blows Wherever It Wills (May 15, 2005)

Led by the Spirit into the Wilderness (May 22, 2005)

Do Not Grieve the Spirit (Jun 05, 2005)

Do Not Quench the Spirit (Jun 12, 2005)

Do Not Take Your Holy Spirit From Me! (Jun 19, 2005)

I Will Pour Out My Spirit On All People (Jul 10, 2005)

Will Everyone Eventually Be Saved? (Jul 24, 2005)

Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven? (Jul 31, 2005)

If I Believe, Why Do I Doubt? (Aug 14, 2005)

What Happens to Those Who Never Heard About Jesus? (Aug 21, 2005)

Why is There So Much Suffering in the World? (Sep 04, 2005)

The Most Important Ingredient (Sep 15, 2005)

God Will Do What Needs to Be Done (Sep 18, 2005)

Our Coming to You Was Not in Vain (Sep 25, 2005)