Rockville Assembly of God

Jesus wasn't interested in just giving people head knowledge. He wanted to give you a knowledge that would promote your heart (affections, emotions, will and intellect) to change for the better. The Beatitudes are characteristics that we should live out not just think about.

Jesus gave the most famous sermon called the "Sermon on the Mount." The sermon was not "5 Steps to Happiness" or "3 ways to increase wealth." This message gave biblical characteristics that would bring life, true happiness and maturity to those who apllied His Words to their lives.

Jesus came to set up the Kingdom of God. The values of the world often clash with the values of Heaven. Jesus gave a sermon with many powerful life changing truths. This sermon is called the Sermon on the Mount. THe first part of the Sermon is called the Beatitudes. These characteristics challenge the way we live and promise a blessing from God for those who live these beatitudes out.

Missionary Bill McDonald challanges us to live out God's great plan for our lives. Bill McDonald is the FOunder of Unsion Ministries.

The Church was once the pecenter of culture. Now the Church is trying to keep up with the culture. God intends that the church set the norm for culture not culture setting the norm for the church. God intends each believer to be good agents of good change for a corrupted society.

God gives you the ability to control and transform your thought life. Outside sources, seek to groom your thinking in negative ways. God can help break down these negative thoughts and replace them with positive life giving thoughts.

A tree is known by its fruit. Everything bears fruit or shows what is inside of it by the actions that it does. A Christian should have the Fruit of the Spirit coming out of thier lives through their actions.

You can tell an Orange tree by it's fruit. You can usually tell what's in a person by their fruit (words and actions). You should be able to tell the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian. Many claim to be followers of Christ. Your words and actions will prove who you follow.

Whatever source we feed our thoughts from will come out in our actions. This source directs our thoughts, our words, our motives and our actions. What is the source of your life?

God desires fruitfulness int he lives of people. At times, God as a Loving Father must discipline and prune things out of our lives. As He dioes this work, we become more mature and fruitful.

What does it mean to abide in Jesus? What did Jesus mean by saying, "apart from me you can do nothing?" Who is the vine? Who are the branches? Jesus use this example to illustrate the pupose of a fruitful Christian.

People fill their lives up with the things of this world, yet they are still empty inside or never really satisfied. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He fills us and we are truly satisfied.

Spending time with God changes our lives. Pastor Jonathan Rice challenges us to "Spend Extravagent TIme with Jesus."

Do you wish you could hit a restart button and go back and undo something you have done? Pastor Blane Young challenges you to see Jesus in a different light. Jesus remains the same. He is still all powerful. Over time we can become complacent in our relationship with Jesus. Rediscover Jesus for who He is.

We have been placed on this earth tobe a conduit of God's love and resources. God blesses us so that we can provide love and resources to those in need around us.

King Tut and William Borden were both born into great wealth. Borden died in Egypt as a missionary. He gave most of his money away to missions. King Tut was buried with gold chariots and other riches within a series of 3 gold tombs. The ancient Egyptians beleived they could take their riches into the afterlife. King Tut's riches remained buried for over 300 years until discovered in 1922. What a contrast between two men both buried in Egypt. You can't take earthly treasures with you when you die.

Can you believe that joy is a benefit of giving? We are brainwashed to believe that receiving brings joy. All our life we are told to look for the perfect person and perfect place. We think we will find joy in both. Jesus teaches that joy can come from giving and not getting caught up with material possessions.

As many as 80 to 90% of teens abandon the faith of their parents when they leave the home. Who is influencing the faith of the Next Generation? THe parents? The Church? The Media? Academia? Find out who is influencing them and how to influence their faith.

What happens when a nation forgets God? The nation falls apart. God calls it back to himself. How should the church (believer) respond?

Jonah was called by God to call the City of Ninevah to repentance. Jonah didn't want to do it. He ran from God and wanted the people of Ninevah to receive God's judgement. God pursued Jonah until he went and preached to the Ninevites and they turned to God.

It seems that this world lacks leaders that have Biblical morals and guidance. There seems to be an erosion of the family as God intended. THe Father is portrayed as an idiot in many TV Shows. The Bible gives guidance on how to be a great father and leader.

The Holy Spirit desires to exalt Jesus and help believers live abundant and victorious lives. The Spirit has a job description described int he New Testament. This job description will help believers live a significant life.

Solomon and the Israelites are dedicating the new Temple to the Lord. God is pleased with their work and desire to worship Him. He fills the Temple with His glory. God still desires to be worshipped and still desires to abide in His people. Believers are called the Temple of the Holy Spirit. God can still fill us with His glory.

Have you ever been so hungry that you would sell your car for a meal? How about you would give up your birthright or inheritance for a bowl of stew? Esau was so hungry that he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He was a physicall strong person but spiritually he was very weak. If a person is weak spiritually, their flesh will win out most of the time.

God has many promises in the Bible. One Promise is multifaceted and power packed. It is the Promise of the Father that Jesus spoke of in Luke 24:49. This Promise is stillevident and powerful today as it was when it was first given.

God has purpose for your life. He can use your past expereinces, good and bad, to live a fulfilling life. Joseph discovered his purpose 22 years after being sold into salvery and rising to the second highest in Egypt.

Joseph had many reasons to be bitter and want revenge. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and falsely accussed and then imprisoned. Yet, He chose to forgive those that wronged him because he knew he had a greater purpose in life. How about you? Will you forgive so that you can fulfill your divine destiny?

Everyone will take the prosperity test because everyone has something they posses. God is looking for good stewards taht He can pour blessings through to bless the rest of the world. How are you using the possessions that God has blessed you with?

Everyone has some influence over their own lives and the lives of others. Everyone also has an inate desire to rule over thier lives. This is a God given desire. God wants every person to influence those around them. Learn how to influence your world.

Everything God created, He created by His mouth. When He wants something, He speaks it. God has plan for every person. God has spoken your purpose into your heart.

The Resurrection fo the Lord, Jesus Christ from the dead is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. There would be no Christianity if there were no resurrection. The responses and reactions to the Resurrection of Christ vary. However, if you respond in faith, the Resurrection can help your life here and in eternity.

Sometimes it seems even after doing the right thing you are rewarded with bad things. Bad things to happen to all people. Good things happen to all people. We can learn perseverance during the bad times in life. They can be used to strengthen our faith and resolve to fulfill our destiny.

God made humans as physical, intellectual and spiritual beings. He intended that we are fulfilled in all of these areas in our lives. One area that gets ignored in the church but is overly pushed is sex. God made it and the world has perverted it. Find out what Bible says about it.

Blind Bartimaeus heard that jesus was coming down the road he was sitting. He shouts out for Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus wanted to see, Jesus healed him. Do we know what we want from Jesus?

Each person is responsible for their life. God makes us stewards of our lives. What we do with our lives and how we manage it detrmines how far we go in life. If we are good stewards of the things God gives us, he gives us greater responsibilities and gifts.

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. If he did not survive the test of the pit he would never fulfill his destiny. Everyone has a "Pit" experience during their lifetime. God can use teh pit experience to mature our faith and character.

Jospeh saved two nations during a severe famine. Before he could do that he had to go through some character strengthing tests. He had a dvine destiny. Likewise, God has a divine destiny for you. In order for that destiny to come forth you must go through character strengthening tests. The first one is the pride test.

Knowing how to pray is more important than knowing what to pray for. We can learn some simple, yet powerful prayer patterns from Elijah and Joshua. They were subject to human limitations just like you and me. Yet they were powerful in prayer. We can learn how to pray like a juggernaut from them.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God. The Bible is the most powerful book in the world. If we hear teh Word, speak the Word and do the Word, it can change our lives and world.

You have to give something in order to get something. Sacrifice is a bad word in today's "I want it all now" society. Your vision for your life will discipline your choices. God wants you to have a Gilgal experience where He can strip away your pride and self-reliance. Then He can do greater things through your life.

When we hear about big things God is doing in others, it makes us feel insignificant or ordinary. We don't think God can do big things through us. However, God loves to work through the ordinary to do extraordinary things.

What if yoo could pray a prayer like Joshua's "Sun Stand Still" prayer? How owuld your life be differeint? How would the World you live in be different? Can God still answer audacious prayers? God is waiting on people to prayer bold prayers that depend on Him.

Twenty years from now will you be more disappointed by things you didn't do than by the ones you did do? The life of faith is about taking risks for God.

It is often said to new parents, "This baby will change your life." When a baby enters the life of a family, it absolutely changes everything. THe new parents jump at the commands of the newborn. Likewise, Jesus changed the world that He was born into. Jesus still changes lives today!

Why is Christmas such a big deal? Other holidays get one day but Christmas gets an entire month of emphesis. Whose birthday could affect so many people? Christmas is teh celebration of teh Birth of Jesus, the Messiah.

We hear the frustrated and desperate voices of our society calling out for help and deliverance. They cry out for relief from tragedy, for deliverance from bondage and from this evil world. God knew that and sent His Son Jesus, who would be called Emmanuel, God with us.

Fear permeates our society. Fear can infect everything about our lives. This is not God's plan for your life. We look at the CHristmas message and see in three places the people were told not to fear in Luke. Then in four other places in Luke people are told to not be afraid. Through Jesus you can have victory over fear.

Everyone worships someone or something. There are many stars to worship: movies stars, music stars, ahtletes and even the stars. One star led wisemen to Jesus the Messiah. These highly educated magi understood the Scriptures and found Jesus. Whose star are you following?

We live in a negative world. It is hard to be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. The Word of God commands us to do so along with practical ways to actually do these things because you want to.

Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina came with warning. Both left a wake of damage. People ignored the warnings of both storms. There is another storm coming. It is rising against society and the Church. The waves are crashing against the moral and faith foundations of society and the Church. Each generation is swept up and pushed farther away from solid ground. The Church must be an anchor of hope in this storm.