 | Listen to past sermon series and messages. Watch Ray Vander Laan's challenge to become "People of the Text" and don't miss the video on "Missional Living" which discusses the "NEW" movement of God to reach those who do not know Him yet. It's a new day and God is doing a new thing! He never gives up on His children.....
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1-29-12 "FINAL MESSAGE" at 304 N. Main
Eric Kramer
| This is our last message from our last gathering at 304 N. Main Street. We are entering the Next Chapter of the journey that God has had us on to reach those who are already "Not COnvinced" about the Gospel of Jesu Christ. Beginning this week we will be meeting in homes, businesses and public places. This will allow us to really focus on being "Sent" into the community as it will become a way of life.
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11-27-11 "Focus on the Poor"
Eric Kramer
| As the Occupy Wall Street movement focuses on the poor, we’re going to look at scripture and the words of Jesus to see what are roles are in relation to the poor. You’ll be surprised to learn that the answer to defeating poverty has been right under our noses all the time.
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11-20-11 "WJOW?"
Eric Kramer
| Would Jesus Occupy Wall Street? Have you given this any thought? It has become a question that many are asking…. Listen in this morning as we discuss if Jesus stands with the Occupiers of Wall Street or if He’s watching from a distance. What we want Him to do or be isn’t what matters. The real answer to Jesus' involvement can only be found in scripture.
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10-23-11 "Hell is Important"
Eric Kramer
| The majority of people today don't believe in the Bible's teachings on Hell and those who do, find it to be an unreal and a remote concept. Surveys performed of American’s reveal that over 60% of us expect to go to heaven when we die, while less than 1% think we might go to hell. No matter what any of us believe or want to believe – Hell is a very important part of our Christian faith.
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10-9-11 "Does God Do That?
Eric Kramer
| Did God condone child sacrifice in the Old Testament? In the Book of Judges, God grants Israel a victory in battle against the Ammonites after a vow to sacrifice a daughter is made. Did God honor the vow made? Today we’re going to look at how to look at difficult passages in the Bible and a method for interpreting scripture. We'll also look at the controversy over the topic of Hell which has been a controversial subject for many in the Christian community.
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10-2-11 "SIN"
Eric Kramer
| This morning we’re going to look at a topic that for the most part is avoided by many pastors and most of society. Not only does our society avoid the issue, it believes the concept of sin is just plain ridiculous. The natural sequel to last week’s message is to look at the topic of “SIN” which is the result of giving in to temptation. The truth about sin is that it is deceptive, destructive, and deadly.
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9-25-11 "Temptation"
 Eric Kramer | This morning we’re looking at temptation and when we give in to it. Oswald Chambers said that: Satan does not tempt us to do wrong things, he tempts us in order to make us lose... So what exactly do we lose when we give in to temptation? To find out we’re going to turn to the Book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament to see a glimpse of what we lose – it may surprise You..
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9-18-11 "DYING"
 Eric Kramer | Dying isn’t something any of us want to do and it’s not something we talk about that often in church. Generally speaking, it appears that American Christianity tends to embrace and emphasize the verses in the Bible that make us comfortable and doesn’t challenge our way of life. Suffering & “dying” for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel is considered radical and extreme, so let’s look at what scripture really says on this important issue.
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9-11-11 "Walk Like Jesus"
 Eric Kramer | In the words of coach Taylor of Friday Night Lights, “Clear eyes…full heart… can’t lose”. With this as our motto and Jesus as our model the church can once again become the agent of change in our culture. It will take courage, guts, passion, sacrifice, and the willingness to “die” to self if we’re going to become the kind of community that God desires. Listen in and learn what it takes to become an incarnational missionary.
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9-4-11 "Recycling"
 Angie Waldrop | This morning our very own, Angie Waldrop shares how God is speaking to her during her daily walks. Angie will teach us a thing or two about "recycling"; actually she's letting us in on what God us been teaching her. Listen up and don't forget to bring your Walmart bag to take along.
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8-28-11 "How's Your Posture?"
 Eric Kramer | Learn the importance of your “posture” when you go into the world to share the “Good News”. Posture conveys how you feel, while words only convey what you know. The church has been very good at sharing “what we know”, but in our non-formal ways of communicating (posture), we’ve alienated others form the Gospel.
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8-21-11 "Back to the Basics"
 Eric Kramer | This morning we looked at the possibility that we have never really attempted what God called us to when we launched Renew Church. Listen in as more details are revealed concerning where our next step of the journey is.
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8-14-11 "What's Next God"
 Eric Kramer | Learn about God's providential, moral, and personal will and what it all means. It's important to understand how all of this relates to our journey as a church and as individuals seeking to do God's will here on earth. We'll look to Paul in the Book of Acts for guidance concerning the road to God's will.
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8-7-11 "Rag-Pickers"
 Eric Kramer | This morning be inspired by Og Mandino's book "The Greatest Miracle in the World". You'll be introduced to the term Rag-picker and learn of it's application to Followers of Christ. Like Jesus, we are to be rag-pickers who seek out those in need and show them that they can have a new life, both in the physical sense and spiritual sense.
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7-24-11 "What next, in the desert"
 Eric Kramer | This week Eric shares his heart and where he currently is spiritually. In this morning's message we learn about the spiritual place known as the wilderness, or the desert. It's a time where God is at work and we're being prepared for the next leg of the journey. Where are we headed? To find out we need to spend time being still, next to Be. This message is a must for the renew family.
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7-17-11 "BE Still"
 Louie Giglio | Be Still and know that I am God. Louie gives a new meaning to this well known verse form Psalm 46:10. The instruction to stop & listen to God in our hectic lives is valid, however, this morning you'll learn that to "Be Still", you have to be next to BE. Actually, there's no better place to be than next to BE. Listen in and have your way of thinking about God changed forever.
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7-10-11 "Big God, Little Me"
 Louie Giglio | Hope you enjoy Louie Giglio this morning as he reminds us about the BIG GOD we worship and how llitte & loved we are. He calls this Little loved me, BIG Awesome God!!! The secret to living in the glorious middle between the glory of Creation and being with God in the end is understanding "Who we are not and Who GOD is". There is great power & joy in knowing that I am not, but I know I Am...
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5-29-11 RELATIONSHIPS - "Dealing With Difficult People"
 Eric Kramer | No matter where you go, you are going to face people who are critical, controlling, hypocritical, and who simply just don’t like you. It’s not easy to deal with some people at times; however, since Jesus taught us that relationships are His and our #1 priority, we have no choice but to learn how to effectively deal with all kinds of people. Listen in and learn how to deal with and respond Biblically to difficult people because the world is looking to us, to know who Jesus is and what He is like.
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5-22-11 "THE DAY AFTER JUDGMENT DAY"
 Eric Kramer | Judgment Day, May 21st, has come and gone and nothing happened. This should not be a surprise, because if you have studied the Bible for yourself you would have known the flawed logic behind the prediction. This morning we’re looking at the scriptures that reveal the what’s, when’s, and whys of Judgment Day. The day and appointed time of Judgment and the end of the world is not the issue; if you’re prepared or not is….
** Watch the video below prior to listening to this message.
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HAVE YOU EVER STUDIED THIS BOOK? Watch this video prior to listening to the message; "The Day After Judgment Day".
5-15-11 RELATIONSHIPS, WWJD - "Our #1 Priority"
 Eric Kramer | This week we continue our series which focuses on relationships and how Jesus handled them. Learn what God's #1 priority is and what His #1 priority is for us. We're all in the same boat looking for the same thing and God wants to give each of us what we need.
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5-8-11 RELATIONSHIPS, WWJD - "God Is For Us"
 Eric Kramer | This week we begin our series which focuses on relationships and how Jesus handled them. In today's message we’re going to start off with how God looks at each of us because our relationship with God is where it all begins. Each of us are God's "masterpiece", and the secret for a positive relationship with God and with others is to embrace the fact that "God is For Us".
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5-1-11 One Week After Easter, What Now?
 Eric Kramer | He is risen! He is risen indeed. So…now what? One week after Easter in that crowded little room, door locked, sitting with the 11 disciples… Where do you sit? Do you sit with Thomas, as one seeking? Do you sit with the other 10 disciples, still excited and buzzing? Or do you sit on your own, neither excited, nor seeking, and doubting. Learn how the disciples spent their first week after Easter and the role of doubt in your spiritual journey.
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4-23-11 EASTER SUNDAY - "Looking For Hope?"
 Eric Kramer |
Nearly two thousand years ago a man lived and died in a world troubled by poverty, greed, theft, corruption, and failed marriages. The people were hungry for hope and they wanted freedom from violence, family strife, and political uncertainty. They wanted the assurance that somebody loved and cared for them, that life counted for something, that they could face the daily challenges of home and work. They placed their hope in a infant named Jesus. Learn why we still look to Him for that hope today.
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Listen to Sara Parker on YouTube sing our rendition "80 Years", of Five for Fighting's, 100 years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSU20Bd4GXA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
80 Years recounts the stages of life and reminds us that time is running out. Whether we like it or not each of us only gets so much time to live and make the most important decision we ever make in this life. Listen to Sara Parker as she inspires us this Easter celebration.
80 Years recounts the stages of life and reminds us that time is running out. Whether we like it or not each of us only gets so much time to live and make the most important decision we ever make in this life. Listen to Sara Parker as she inspires us this Easter celebration.
4-17-11 Palm Sunday - "Are You Ready for Easter?"
 Eric Kramer | This week as we look at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the journey to the cross. Jesus continually looked ahead to Jerusalem, He knew His mission, and He prepared for the journey. The question is: Have you prepared, and are you ready to Go where Jesus wants you to go, and Do what He wants you to do? Learn how to prepare as we look to Luke chapter 19 and Matthew 21 for the answers.
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4-10-11 "The Bread of Life"
 Art Morris |
When you pray “Give me, this day,
my daily bread” it means that you recognize God for your daily need. You’re acknowledging your best efforts aren’t
enough, that your pride’s in check, and that you need God and are putting your
faith in Him to supply what you need. This
morning’s focus is the connection between John chapter 6 where Jesus identifies
Himself as the Bread of Life and our prayer for “Giving us our daily bread”.
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4-3-11 DO IT - "Quit Comparing"
 Eric Kramer | If you’re like everyone else you are constantly comparing yourself and everything you have to others. Did you know that scripture teaches us not to classify each other because each of us are unique, created by God. This week learn the secret to being content in every situation. Today we also celebrate our 1st birthday as renew church. THANK YOU everyone who has supported us & prayed for us.
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3-27-11 DO IT -"Quit Living in Fear"
 Eric Kramer | If you’re like most people the chances are that you’ve faced many fears throughout your life. Many of us unfortunately live in fear every day of our lives. This week learn what fear is, where it comes from, and how to defeat it.
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3-20-11 DO IT - "Quit Complaining"
 Eric Kramer | If we lived in a
perfect world, there would still be someone who would find something to
complain about. Since we don't live in a
perfect world, we sure have our share of those who constantly complain about
everything. Do you know somebody who
seems to complain all of the time? Are
that person? This morning learn if
complaining is always wrong, what God thinks about it, and what are the
consequences of complaining.
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3-13-11 DO IT - "Quit Making Excuses"
 Eric Kramer |
DO IT is our new series which will focus on the
topic of Quitting. Quitting something
harmful to ourselves or others is a no brainer; however, in spite of this we
just can’t seem to do it. This morning’s
challenge is to Quit Making Excuses! We’ll
learn a different way to think about the changes we need to make in our lives
that will motivate us to make the changes we want to make and need to make.
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3-6-11 THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
 Eric Kramer |
What we do with The Rest Of Our Life is a logical wrap up to our
series because everything we’ve learned should motivate us to look at the lives
that we live and make some changes. For
some of us it will require a minor tweak – for others an overhaul
like rebuilding an engine – and for some it requires a complete “makeover” in
spiritual terms –
a “rebirth”. Learn about conforming, not conforming, and transforming and their roles in our lives and the world that we live in.
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2-27-11 LUKE WARM & LOVING IT
 Francis Chan (2006 message) |
This week we watched Francis Chan challenge our
seriousness about "walking like Jesus did". Unfortunately,
Francis didn't visit us, we watched a video of a message he did in 2006.
Most of us are happy being lukewarm Christian's in spite of the consequences of
being one. We're told there is a narrow road that leads to life and a
wide road that leads to destruction: however, some how we've created a
middle road and believe that's good enough. Be prepared to be challenged;
you may never be the same again.
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2-20-11 WHAT ABOUT EVIL
 Eric Kramer | How does the idea of the devil and evil sit with you? According to the Barna Group only 24% of Americans believe in Satan and within the church it’s only 60%. The Bible teaches us there is a daily spiritual battle between good and evil and that their leader is the “evil one” or Satan. Listen in and learn about the powers of darkness and how God has equipped us to defeat evil in our lives.
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2-13-11 WHO IS JESUS? - "Why Did He Die"
 Eric Kramer | You’ve always heard: "Jesus died for our sins"
or "Jesus died to save the world."
It sounds good, but how could anything a man did over 2,000 years ago
have any direct effect on how we live in the 21st century. Jesus’ actions can certainly influence men and women to live better lives; however there’s more to it than that. Listen in to learn what really happened the
day that Jesus died.
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2-6-11 WHO IS JESUS? - "What Did He Promise"
 Eric Kramer | Jesus made many promises to
you and me -- promises to bless you when you make peace, to forgive you
when you forgive others, to give you peace during times of trouble, to
take care of you, and to answer your prayers. Jesus promised to reward
you even when you give a glass of water to a small
child and to return once again as King of
kings. Best of all He promised to be with us always.
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1-30-11 WHO IS JESUS? - "What Did He Preach"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re continuing our series Who is Jesus?, as we focus on what He preached. Jesus taught on many subjects; however, central to the Gospels was His proclamation of the Kingdom of God and how you attain eternal life. Jesus revealed many things about His kingdom, you may be surprised at what He said.
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1-23-11 WHO IS JESUS? - "What Did He Teach?"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re continuing our series Who is Jesus?, as we focus on what He taught. Jesus is considered to be a great teacher by those who don't even believe in Him and when you look at His teachings you'll see that the way of Jesus is "the best possible way to live".
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1-16-11 WHO IS JESUS? - "What Did He Come to Do?"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re going to look at What Jesus Came to Do. Jesus came to our world for one reason and that was to defeat evil and know that God loves us, and that we could be “right” with Him once again. You may be surprised at God’s method for defeating evil because it’s not what you make movies out of.
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1-9-11 WHO IS JESUS? - "What Claims Did He Make?"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re beginning a three week series on Who Jesus is. Who Jesus claimed to be is a claim unlike any great prophet or teacher that ever lived in all of human history. Whether you like it or not Jesus is the most dominant individual in all of history and His life is the most influential of all time. Seeking the answer to this question is the most important question you'll ever solve.
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1-2-11 2011 PUSHING FORWARD
 Eric Kramer | 2010 for most of us was a pretty tough year and an unforgettable one. It was a year of dramatic and diverse news events. No matter what’s going on – oil spills – floods – politics – earthquakes – unemployment – recession or depression - and even death, God is smack dab in the middle of it all. So keep looking ahead to the future and to what God is going to reveal to you, and then go and do it…..
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God at work in our lives
12-26-10 The Day After Christmas
 Eric Kramer | It’s the day after Christmas; everyone put a lot of effort into decorating, buying gifts, visiting friends and relatives, and helping those in need. We got up yesterday – opened our gifts, ate our meals, and now it’s over. As we take down our Christmas trees and put the decorations back in storage for another year, what should our response to Christmas be?
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12-19-10 RUTH - "God in Our Redemption"
 Eric Kramer | It's the final week of our study in the Book of Ruth, chapter 4 verses 13-22. It has a fitting ending with only one week to Christmas because the marriage of Boaz and Ruth and their family genealogy culminates with the birth of Jesus Christ. We've learned WWBD (what would Boaz do), this week we'll learn what Jesus did.
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12-12-10 RUTH - "God in Our Shrewdness"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re continuing our study in the book of Ruth. In the first part of chapter 4 we''ll see how Boaz takes charge and figures out a way to become the "redeemer" and at the same time the husband of Ruth. There's a lot that comes in to play, but with God on his side how can he lose?
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12-05-10 RUTH - "God in Our Risk"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re exploring what could be the weirdest chapter in the Old Testament. It’s like Ruth goes wild. If you have legalistic or fundamentalist tendencies you’re gonna need a Goodie Powder. See how Boaz responds to Ruth’s “risks” as she makes her interest in him known.
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11-28-10 RUTH - "God in Our Blessing"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re continuing our study in the Book of Ruth. The story of Ruth is a beautiful story of the plight of two women and how God intervenes in their lives to bless them beyond their wildest imagination. Not only are they blessed, but ultimately all of mankind is blessed through the answered prayers of Naomi and Ruth.
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11-21-10 RUTH - "God in Our Luck"
 Eric Kramer | As we continue our study in the Book of Ruth we learn that Ruth “just happened” to pick the “luckiest” field to glean in all of Israel. Actually nothing ever “just happens”. We may make our plans, but God directs our steps. Learn how God provides more than Ruth could have ever imagined, and get a peek at God’s heart for the poor, widows, sojourners, and orphans.
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11-14-10 RUTH - "God In Our Suffering"
 Eric Kramer | This morning we’re unpacking the first chapter of the Book of Ruth. Listen in as we journey with Elemilech and Naomi as they relocate to the city of Moab to escape the famine in Bethlehem. What appears to be a good decision turns out to be a tragic one. In spite of all that happens, God is involved in the suffering of Bethlehem as well as the family of Eleilech.
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11-07-10 SUFFERING - "Are You Ready For This?"
 Eric Kramer | Jesus tells us that we will have trouble in this life but we can become over comer’s. When life throws everything at you, including the kitchen sink, how do you react? There’s no escaping the trials, tribulations, pain and suffering of life. The question is: How are you going to respond? Are you going to let the pain of life take from you, or are you going to get something out of it?
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10-31-10 NEXT STEPS
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re following up to last week’s message “Jesus Weeps for the City” with our next steps for reaching our city of Lancaster. This morning’s message also transitions us into our next series on “How to get the most out of a crisis and suffering”. Listen in as we learn what it takes to accomplish great things for God and what the ultimate cost is.
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10-24-10 JESUS WEEPS FOR THE CITY
 Eric Kramer | On the way to the cross Jesus stopped and weeped for the city of Jerusalem. The Good News is that Jesus rides into the city because that’s where the least, the last, and the lost are. As a church our mission is to go into the city to visit the homeless, comfort the hopeless, and encourage the helpless. Listen as we layout God’s vision for renew church as we join the God of the City.
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10-17-10 EXTERNALLY FOCUSED CHURCH
 Eric Kramer | God is doing "new things” in the world today which are creating opportunities to transform the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.Like Jesus, the church is going out into the community connecting people through acts of love and service which are connecting people to God’s amazing grace.Do you think Jesus could have created a world movement by only proclaiming the Gospel? Without accompanying acts of healing and helping, in other words without the proof, Christianity would have died on the vine. This week we'll examine the external church and discuss the significance of such a movement of God.
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10-10-10 THE STATE of RENEW
 Eric Kramer | October 4th is our 6 month anniversary. Join us to review where we’ve been and where we’re going. The past 6 months has been a blessing, especially knowing the extremely high failure rate of church plants. As good as the past has been, the future appears to be that much more exciting as God continues to make clear our direction. Be sure to listen in as we discuss the vision and direction for the Renew community the next 6 months.
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10-3-10 Holiness, Of Course We Take It Seriously
 Eric Kramer | Did you realize that the ultimate goal for the life of a believer in Christ is to become holy? In our culture for all practical purposes, the idea of holiness seems like something from a long, long time ago and a galaxy far, far away. No one seems to preach it. No one seems to talk about it. But even though when you look at our society the pursuit of holiness appears to be dead, we are called to “Be holy because God is holy”.
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9-26-10 THE HOLY SPIRIT - "Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control"
 Eric Kramer / Pete Lawry worship | This week we conclude our series on the Holy Spirit as we look at the final 3 Fruit of the Spirit – Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.This 3rd and final study is critical to our spiritual lives because this group of fruit reveals the quality of a Christians spiritual and moral reliability.Without Self Control we cannot imitate Christ and when we achieve it nothing will draw nonbelievers and believers to the Lord than a true disciple of Christ who is walking and operating in all 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit. Enjoy Pete Lawry spur us on to "Walk in the Spirit" .
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9-19-10 THE HOLY SPIRIT - "Patience, Kindness, Goodness"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’ll explore the second group of the Fruit of the Spirit which include patience, kindness and goodness. These characteristics of God are related in that they contain social virtues relating to our thoughts and actions towards our fellow man. These traits in our humanness have definite limitations and at times are impossible to display. The Good News is that Jesus tells us that we don’t have to try harder; we only have to accept His invitation into the family and He will help us change.
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9-12-10 BIBLICAL FELLOWSHIP
 Mike Alameda | Mike Alameda of Corazón Ministries shares with us his heart about reaching our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The ministry of Corazón is to evangelize non-believers, to develop believers into disciple-makers, and to equip believers for work and service for cross cultural ministry. Listen in as Mike points out that what is missing in our churches today is real biblical fellowship that draws people to Christ.
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9-5-10 THE HOLY SPIRIT - "Love, Joy, Peace"
 Eric Kramer | Love, Joy and Peace are Fruit of the Spirit that portray a Christian's mind in its most general sense with special emphasis on one's relationship with God. This week we’ll explore the importance of these traits of God and gain an understanding of their meaning. “The Christian life, the fruit of the Spirit, is a constant reckoning of the flesh as dead and a constant relying on the present Spirit of Christ to produce love, joy, and peace within.” John Piper
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8-29-10 THE HOLY SPIRIT - "Walk in the Spirit"
 Eric Kramer | Listen in as we draw parallels to the current movie “Clash of the Titans” with our “Walk” as Christ Followers in the world today. Like Perseus, we have the power of a God within us and we need to learn to “Walk in the Spirit” instead of “Walking Just like Men”. We must retrain ourselves to be “Led” by the Spirit instead of the “Flesh” so that we can draw on the power within us to accomplish our purpose and destiny in Jesus Christ.
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8-22-10 THE HOLY SPIRIT - "Supernatural"
 Eric Kramer | If I took a survey of everyone about their lives in general for the most part they would tell you: “It’s just the same old thing, day in and day out, nothing spectacular. Unfortunately the same can be said about our spiritual lives: “It’s just the same old thing, day after day & year after year”.Do you think there’s a chance that we’re missing something?Listen in as we look at the Book of James to find the answer to unleashing the supernatural and abundant lives that God intended for us to live.
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8-15-10 THE HOLY SPIRIT- "Who Is He"
 Art Morris | This week Art digs through scripture to paint us a picture of the Holy Spirit. This is not small task, because if the Bible was a text book there would be a whole chapter devoted just to the Holy Spirit and His attributes, purpose, and powers. As believers we don’t totally understand the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit), but one thing we know for sure is that the role the Holy Spirit plays in our spiritual lives is huge. Even Jesus told His disciples that He needed to leave so that the Holy Spirit could come; and those were pretty big shoes to fill.
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8-8-10 TALMIDIM - "Living Stones"
 Eric Kramer | This week we conclude our series on what it means to be a Disciple of Jesus. We’re focusing on Jesus’ disturbing announcement that He is going away and leaving His disciples behind. In His place Jesus promises that His Father will send “another” and He even tells them that it is to their advantage that He leaves them so that the Holy Spirit may come. Listen in as we learn that not only does the Holy Spirit come, He lives in us and in essence we become Living Stones.
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8-1-10 TALMIDIM - "Stepping Into Chaos"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re looking at Baptism and its significance in the life of a disciple. Baptism is very important to Jesus, which means that it should very important to His followers today. If you believe in Jesus, then you should take part in baptism to acknowledge and profess Him before men. Since Jesus is our example and He was baptized we should follow His leading in this matter. When Jesus was baptized He was doing more than being an example. As a disciple of Jesus we too should be willing to “Step Into the Chaos”.
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7-25-10 TALMIDIM - "Carry Your Cross"
 Eric Kramer | Millions ignore Christ's warning and follow Him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. Most Christians allow themselves to become somewhat involved – instead of devoted and committed – just enough to be respectable - but not enough to be uncomfortable. For most of us Christianity has become a great soft cushion which protects us from the unpleasantness of life while we mold it to suit our convenience. Is it any wonder why cynics focus on the hypocrites in the church and dismiss Christianity as escapism and a crutch?
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7-18-10 TALMIDIM - "Are You Part of the Crowd"
 Eric Kramer | Scripture teaches us that large crowds followed Jesus everywhere He went. It was so prevalent that at times His own family could not get near Him. This week we're going to begin to look at what it takes to be a disciple so that you can stand out from the crowd. Our challenge this week will be to become "people of the text" because to be a disciple of Jesus you must love Him, and to love Him you must know Him.
Be sure to watch the video & listen to the Wrap-up below.
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VIDEO
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7-11-10 IN GOD WE TRUST - "Try It"
 Art Morris | What do the US government, the State of Florida and Nicaragua have in common? They all use the motto "In God we Trust". Although there is some interesting history and even a little controversy behind this from a civic standpoint, on a personal level you would expect Christians to fully endorse this. But, do we? What does it mean to trust God? How does this relate to the doubts and fears that we have? Listen and see if you can truly say "In God I Trust".
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7-4-10 UNSTOPPABLE - "Telling Others"
 Eric Kramer | This morning as we end our series “Unstoppable”, we’re learning some practical tips for “Telling Others” about the mercy Jesus has shown us and what He has down for us in our lives. Sharing our faith is not as hard as we’ve made it; in fact Jesus meant for it to be easy and He models what “Relational Evangelism” looks like for us with his life. When we look at Jesus we see the foundational element necessary for testifying about what God has done for us is to “Love” the unlovable and undesirable just like He did.
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6-27-10 UNSTOPPABLE - "The Workers Are Few"
 Eric Kramer | If we’re going to be a part of the Unstoppable advancement of the Kingdom of God in America the church is going to have to get back on mission. For many years the church has been more concerned with GROWING the church instead of people - while Jesus focused on people and GOING to them where they were. Today we look at Luke chapter 10 where Jesus sends out the first missionaries. We’ll learn from Jesus what we need to do when we “Go” and some practical ideas about missional living.
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6-20-10 UNSTOPPABLE - "You Can Do It"
 Eric Kramer | Whenever the church throughout history partners with God and surrenders their lives to the cause of Christ under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - it has been unstoppable. This morning we’re going to look at some ordinary, average guys that accepted the call to “Follow Me” and became unstoppable in their own right. “You Can Do It” (become world changers like them) if you believe in Jesus and are willing to follow Him no matter where that leads.
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6-13-10 URBAN LEGENDS ' "God Wants You to Go to Church"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re debunking the myth that "God Wants You To Go To Church". The church has convinced people that the church is for “church people” and un-churched people have to “Come & Get It’ at the building where God is. Jesus and the Apostles never told us that we had to “Go” to church or “Grow” the church. Listen in as we learn where the Church is supposed to “Go”. |
What It Means To Be Missional VIDEO
“Jesus didn’t commute from heaven or the spirit world – He moved in with us. To accomplish Jesus’ mission which is our mission according to Mark Driscoll, “It is imperative for us to be like Jesus living freely within the culture as missionaries who are as faithful to the Father and His Gospel as Jesus was in His own time and place.” |
6-06-10 URBAN LEGENDS - "All Roads Lead to God"
 Eric Kramer | The Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, "There is only one religion though there are a hundred versions of it." In our society today it has become popular to adopt Shaw’s view that all religions represent different but valid paths to the same destination. This feels good, it sounds good, and it is constantly reaffirmed on talk shows, television, radio, and by your favorite celebrities. Just because the majority believes in something doesn’t make it true. Is this a just another myth or is it truth? |
5-30-10 URBAN LEGENDS - "God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle"
 Eric Kramer | This morning’s Urban Legend or Spiritual myth is one that pertains to all of us in this fast paced, overworked, underpaid, rat race that we live in called the American way of life.The myth that “God will never give you more than you can handle” is one of those untruths that everyone has heard and many believe. Where did it come from and why is it important to understand that God never said this? |
5-23-10 URBAN LEGENDS - "God Wants Me to Be Happy"
 Eric Kramer | This week we’re going to tackle one of the most common urban legends in the church of America today: “God wants me to be Happy”. You constantly hear this expressed on TV by TV preachers, it’s a major segment of the Christian book industry, and it’s constantly discussed and debated, because it’s a message that makes you feel good.Just because it’s discussed, written about, and preached doesn’t make it true.Is it fact?Or is it Fiction? |
5-16-10 URBAN LEGENDS - "Sin Myths"
 Eric Kramer | In Today’s message we explore several serious spiritual myths or urban legends about sin. An Urban Legend is a secondhand story, told as true and plausible enough to be believed, about some horrific, embarrassing, or ironic series of events that supposedly happened. In the area of spiritual truths many times it is just as hard to separate the fact from the fiction, because in these truths have taken on mythical and legendary qualities. |
5-9-10 PRACTICAL ATHEISM - "Do You Really Know God"
If most people when asked, were honest, they would reluctantly admit they believe in God but they don’t really know Him. In this message we learn that all of the other topics of our series are really symptoms of the real problem; “We really don't know God”. As you begin to know God better you will never GO BACK to being someone who believes in God, but lives their life as though He doesn’t exist.
5-2-10 PRACTICAL ATHEISM - "In God We Trust, Really?"
It would be impossible to do a series on Practical Atheism without addressing the subject of money, largely because this subject is one that needs addressed in our culture. The back of a US dollar says “In God we trust”, but do we really? If we look at the way we live our lives the picture that is painted is one that says although we claim to believe in God, we really trust, serve, worship and believe in money. “If your treasure is where your heart is, where is yours?”
4-25-10 PRACTICAL ATHEISM - "Is All That Really Necessary"
This week’s topic is about those who claim to believe in God but don’t want to go overboard with religion and considered a fanatic. We’re looking at the Book of Revelation, chapter 3, where Jesus chastises the Church of Laodicea for being “lukewarm” and neither “hot nor cold”. There can be no real religion without enthusiasm and any religion that is void of passion is a false religion.
4-18-10 PRACTICAL ATHEISM - "No Fear of God"
"Practical Atheism” focuses on the type of Christianity that is becoming the norm in America. The danger that lurks in our country, in our churches, and in ourselves is not if we believe in God, it’s what we believe about God, what we do, and how we live. Practical Atheism is a term reserved for those who CLAIM to be Christian but have allowed their lives to slowly slide into lives where God is irrelevant. This week we will look at people’s lack of fear of God and how that impacts the lives that we live.
4-11-10 "A Place for Everyone"
Unfortunately the gravitational pull of the local church is towards "Insiders" or church people. If we're not careful over time we will depart from God's calling to "Seek the Lost" and focus on keeping church members happy and content. Follow along in Acts chapter 15 as we discover the early church had this very same problem in their very first business meeting.
4-4-10 "Renewal at Easter"
Easter is all about getting a fresh start, a new lease on life, and being born again in a whole new way. No matter how far down the ladder you have fallen or how far down you feel you’ve fallen, this is your day to be renewed and restored. If you’re ready and willing to start over – today is the day – It’s Easter the day of New things!
3-28-10 "Journey of Palm Sunday"
For Jesus traveling the road to Jerusalem for Passover was nothing new, He had traveled this road many times. But this journey was quite different. The road was no different, but the things along the way, and the end result, would be very different than any other trip He had ever made to Jerusalem before.
3-21-10 "Are You Ready to Sacrifice?"
Last week we looked at Jesus’ love and passion for lost people. This week we’re looking asking the question “Are we ready to sacrifice?” for those people like Jesus did. If it was easy to reach lost people the church would be doing it. What sacrifices are we going to have to make to help people make the transition from being Lost to Found?
3-7-10 "Pursuing God's Vision"
This week we look at the parallels between Nehemiah’s pursuit of God’s vision for him and the vision God has given to our community. Many times following what God places on your heart requires leaving your comfort zone and enduring uncertainty, risk, discomfort, and sacrifice. Once the decision to follow is made, the very next step is prayer.
2-21-10 "The Promised Land"
Listen to the final message of Beyond at Covenant Church. This morning's message was the final challenge for those seeking God's will to leave our comfortable and safe surroundings to venture out as Renew Church. It's scary and unsettling, but we go knowing that God is with us, He's planned this, and He's going ahead of us to pave the way.
2-14-10 "Time to Get Our Feet Wet"
Listen to the challenge given by Kramer to take that first "Big" step with the Beyond family as we venture into the Lancaster community as Renew Church. To loose the power of God we have to take that first step just like the priests carrying the arc as they crossed the Jordan river during flood stage into Jericho. Are you ready to join God and take that first step?
2-7-10 "The Birth of ReNew Church"
Listen to the birth announcement of Renew Church. To renew means to bring back to an original condition of freshness and vigor: to renew one's enthusiasm, to become new or as if new again. Kramer relives his experience on a study tour with Ray Vander Laan in Israel and challenges the Renew community to "Run with the passion of Elijah" as we join God in the next chapter of the story of Beyond.
