Salem Fields Weekly Audio Message

An Emerged New Year of Reaching is totally possible. The problem is that we feel like we must be experts to reach others. We say things like: "I’m not an evangelist, Bible scholar, pastor or counselor." That’s great because Jesus’ plan is about regular people reaching other people. Are you REACHING?

Have you ever wanted to be a kid forever? Well there’s a place for child-like faith, but as Belongers in the Kingdom it’s God’s will that we GROW up: in humility, discipline, love, and unity. He wants us to recognize the beauty in our diversity and begins to move and groove together as one. Emerged New year growing is Growing Up God’s way.

What are people always saying about you? Do they say "he laughs all the time," "she’s funny," or "he talks too much?" What if they said, "he/she is always serving?" In this message, discover what it means to live an EMERGED NEW YEAR life of service.

Balance is important in life. Balance in our spiritual, physical, and emotional lives is of utmost importance. But balance is also important in our giving and finances. Because finances follow the law of the Harvest and not the law of Pinocchio.

It’s a new year with new opportunities to embrace EMERGED New Year Living. How do you leave 2020 behind and move triumphantly into 2021? The Apostle Paul tell us to: 1) be very wise, 2) make the most of the time we are given, 3) live with purpose, and 4) know what God wants. With these four actions you will experience Emerged New Year Living. Beware, it’s harder than it sounds.

A new year is coming and most of us are glad to be saying goodbye to 2020. But, what are your goals in 2021 and what will you accomplish? Answer this question… Next Year, I want to do ______________? Do you have a plan of action? The Story of Nehemiah is the story of a man with a plan who EMERGED with Hope. Discover the plan of Hope God has for you in 2021.

Even though it's dark outside, Christmas is coming. We've hung our lights, sent our cards, and are hopeful that the Light is on his way. But the story of Christmas doesn’t end at the manger-- because Jesus sure doesn’t. And neither do you. In this message, we discover how God has strategically sent you to share his Light. Welcome to the neighborhood!

There is a certain amount of excitement and anticipation in the air when you see a new neighbor moving in. You start to wonder why they moved in, where they came from, and what type of neighbor they are going to be. I can imagine there was a similar excitement and anticipation in the air with the announcement of the arrival of Jesus the Messiah coming to the neighborhood. The difference between Jesus moving in and just some other person is that Jesus is moving into the neighborhood for a who. In this message, we continue our series “Welcome to the Neighborhood” as we learn just who the who is.

Darkness is pervasive in our world and even in our lives. The result of living in a fallen world is that darkness by way of storms, disease, death, and consequences from bad choices catch up with us. The good news is God is always pursuing us and at just the right time the WORD became flesh and blood and Moved into the Neighborhood--turning on the light. John the Apostle says, The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out. The Light has come to our darkness, but will we embrace the LIGHT. In this message, we rediscover the long-awaited for Light. Welcome to the neighborhood!

God’s great move into the neighborhood is set during the darkest of days for his people. Every great rescue story has a dark time—a time when it seems that hope is lost, evil reigns supreme and the enemies can not and will not relent. But in the middle of neighborhood darkness a green shoot sprout up from the chopped down stump of Jesse. A shoot that will bring light. The story of Christmas begins with a shoot in darkness… light is coming. Welcome to the neighborhood.

This week our nation celebrates Thanksgiving. One way that we celebrate Thanksgiving at SFCC is through our participation in the Thanksgiving Offering. This special time of giving enables us as a church to achieve our mission of taking Hope to anyone everywhere while also helping us meet our World Evangelism Fund responsibilities. Our special speaker is Larry Bollinger missionary to the Philippines. Come help us change the world through the Hope that Jesus gives. Will you PRAY, GIVE & GO!

True Belongers are called to give thanks. In fact the Bible says Thank God NO matter what. Despite COVID19, changed school and works schedules, layoffs, and election results we are called to give thanks. There are two types of people: the grateful and the ungrateful. Which one are you? In this message, discover the secrets of an attitude of gratitude.

The election is over... maybe. What do you do as Belongers in a divided society when a bitter election comes slowly to the end and no matter which side you are on you feel empty? The problem is that as Belongers our first allegiance is not to an elephant or a donkey but to the Lamb. In this message, Pastor James helps us to discover that our greatest freedom is not secured by a political party or ideology. We are not called to bow before an elephant or a donkey but before the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world and who will reign on the throne of God forever.

Foundations are important. How important? In our concluding Blueprints message, Jesus said that good foundations are the difference between a life that stands when the storms of life rage and one that completely collapses. In this message, we will discover how to work the Blueprints for a Belonging Community—Jesus’ Kingdom ethic into the foundation of your life. Why? Because the storms they are coming to a foundation near you.

There are two types of people in life slackers and scrutinizer. One person examines life and does the vigorous work of discovering the right way, listening to the right voices and building on the right foundation. The other persons plays life by ear—a no shoes, no shirt, no problem I did it my way life. In the end one life thrives in the storms while the other fall like a house of cards. Which person does your inside-life represent a slacker or a scrutinizer? Choose wisely, because the storms… they-are-a-coming

As Belongers, we waste time trying to manage and control others by blaming, condemning and forcing our way on them. This kind of behavior just boomerang back on us. Instead, Jesus says Belongers should create a community of agape love by learning to ask of other and God. Do You BELONG

God’s Got It. We’ve heard that before. But what about the real stuff—the meat and potatoes stuff of life? Does he have my needs for food, shelter, safety and my occasional wants? Jesus in this discourse of Blueprints for a Belonging Community, encourages us to put worry aside and trust the God who knows us best and loves us most. In this message, Pastor James shares Jesus’ plan of trust and contentment for life.

“IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU” we’ve heard that phrase so much these days that it’s almost become cliché. Yet our culture says everything is about us—our needs, our wants, our likes, our dislikes etc. All the worship, doctrine, political, and social issues wars that have divided our culture and the church have been about a mentality that is the opposite of the phrase IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. If any phase sums up Jesus’ Blueprints for a Belonging Community it is this IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU.

Living out the Blueprints for a Belonging Community means that our inside life is more important than the life we show on the outside. Jesus’ morality for Belongers focuses on a right heart and mind that transforms our outside living.

The Blueprints to a Belonging Community— The Sermon on the Mount are a call to be Salt and Light and messengers of the Kingdom. Salt adds flavor, preserves and purifies, while light dispels darkness. We are called to do the same in a world that desperately needs God’s salt and light. This week we will discover our role in God’s Belonging community marketing strategy.