Salem Fields Weekly Audio Message

The Preamble to the Blueprints of a Belonging Community— what we call the Beatitudes is the Magna Carta for messed up people. What else would we expect from Jesus? Simply put, they are hope for hopeless messed up people. In order for us to wrap our minds around this new revolutionary view of the Beatitudes we’ve got to re-examine Jesus’ radical words to his followers then and now. If you’re messed up you are also blessed-up.

Jesus' Blueprints for a Belonging Community—his Message on the Mount is the ultimate word concerning belonging in community—God’s Kingdom. His blueprints for belonging are as radical and revolutionary today as they were in the first century. When we truly live out his blueprints for belonging, we quit doing church, we get rid of the status quo religion, and we turn the world right-side-up by going public with Jesus.

The wrap-up message for BELONG helps us recognize and do away with the barriers to true belonging. We do not belong to ourselves but to God, and through him, to his people. At long last, our search for true belonging can have a happy ending. In Christ and among his people, we’re fully known and fully loved.

Active belonging comes with responsibilities and rights. Your rights as BELONG’ERS are all about your leaders/pastors/teachers being like Jesus. You have the Right to Leaders who Feed, Lead, Model, and Plead Like Jesus. Do You Belong?

Active Belonging comes with its own R&R (rights and responsibilities). Belonging in any organization, family, institution, or job has rights and responsibilities. When we actively participate in the Body of Christ we belong. Do you belong?

Joseph, known as the husband of Mary and the Earthly Father of Jesus, is a giant example of those willing to Faithfully serve behind the scenes. Joseph is a Giant of our Faith who obeyed God and served a vital role in the life of Jesus. Praise God for people like Joseph who desire the smile of God more than the applause of men.

What is Wisdom? Solomon is known as the wisest man who ever lived. What does that mean? Of course, true wisdom only comes from understanding and knowing the Plan of God. Allowing God to lead our lives is the only path to true wisdom for each of us personally and for us as a Church.

Because of tragic circumstances, Ruth's entire life changes and she is suddenly thrust into a brand new world. Her only family support is her Mother-in-law, but their connection is one of great love and devotion. As she bravely makes her decision to move forward, her statement of commitment resounds deeply in our hearts: Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16) That was Ruth's statement to her Mother-in-law. Is your statement of commitment to God as strong?

Your family tree is full of stories and legacies. Some good and some not so good. But in a moment, the story can change and leave a legacy that reverberates through the generations. Our series “Family Reunion” continues in this message as we look at the story of Rahab and how a lifetime of unfaithfulness was transformed in an instant, leaving behind a legacy of faith and a lineage that includes Jesus.

Summer is a time many of us meet up with family. But let's face it; we all have people in our families we wonder how can be related to us. However, while we often wish we could prune certain members from our family trees, Jesus shows us that when it comes to crazy family members, God doesn’t write them off. In fact, He writes them IN. In this message, we look at the creepy story of a surprising character in Jesus' family tree and how God may want to begin redeeming your own family-- through you.

Family reunions! Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't escape em. Sometimes you might wonder why no one chopped down your family tree. We all have that friend with a perfect family - like the grandfather that invented sliced bread and single handedly won the second world War. Take, for instance, Jesus. Perfect family tree, right? Wrong! If you want to see just how tangled the branches of the Messiah family tree is, watch this message.

You and I were created by God to belong. But, so often we settle for the substitutes of alienation, fitting in, and participation. Active belonging fosters passionate buy-in, deep connection, and caring that is contagion and unifying. Do you belong?

Matthew, Chapters 5 - 7, is where we find Jesus' 'Sermon on The Mount.' In 6:21, Jesus says, 'Where your Treasure is, there will your Heart be also.' What is your treasure? Where is it today? Is that a good place for it? I hope you will think about these questions and be ready to hear more as you listen to this message.

Believe it or not, YOU have Talents, Gifts, and Abilities that God given you to be used in the Work of His Kingdom. Do you know what your special gifts are? Are you working on this and through them to grow and be more of a blessing to those around you? In this message, we continue our series, 'Lord of ALL.' This week, 'Is Jesus Lord of All your TALENTS?' When He is, you will be thrilled with what He does with you and your life. He takes the Temporary and uses it for the Eternal. I sure look forward to being with you and your loved ones this weekend to talk about and ask God to Speak to our hearts! God is Moving and He LOVES YOU!

No matter what we are doing, time flies by us. It is amazing how quickly the phases of life are lived. That's why Psalm 90 asks God to 'Teach us to number our days' So that we may live wisely. Since true wisdom comes from God we need to spend our time close to Him. If God is truly Lord of your life, He will have control of your time.

In this day of turmoil, fear, disease, isolation, and division -- are you living with the Peace and Joy of God's Holy Spirit in your heart? Lots of people have heard about Jesus and others even know His Story. Still, many of those have not experienced the Joy of His Forgiveness of their sins and The Power of His Holy Spirit in their lives. How about YOU? Acts 2 - They were Together - Suddenly The Holy Spirit FILLED them - They Changed their World! I want in on that!

When Jesus was ready to leave His earthly ministry and ascend into Heaven, He simply told His Disciples to wait until they receive the power of His Holy Spirit. "Wait" is a hard word for us humans - especially in this day of instant gratification. How long? What do we do? What will happen? God knows we feel these ways but He expects us to trust Him, even when we are waiting on His answers. How's your trust level today? Remember Trust and Faith are very close to being synonymous.

Sadly, a quick glance at Facebook or other social media platforms indicates that we live in a world of broken promises. We feel let down by politicians and relationships. Broken promises everywhere we look. How then can we possibly trust promises made over 2000 years ago? Join us in this episode and find out how God’s promises can not only be believed but will also be life changing.

Forgiveness holds power unlike anything else. It’s transforming, freeing, and redemptive. Join us in this episode as we get a front row seat to the apostle Peter experiencing it first hand and we’ll learn how we too can be changed by the power of forgiveness. Our series “Everything’s Changed” continues and you don’t want to miss it!

2000 years ago, after Jesus' crucifixion, the Disciples would have been shouting, 'Everything's Changed!' Of course, we believe Jesus rose from the dead, but we still often shout, 'Everything's Changed!' The Disciples were scared & frustrated, so they went back to what they normally did - fishing. Jesus showed up and 'Everything Changed!' Join us in this episode as we look at this beautiful picture of Jesus' 3rd appearance to His Disciples after He rose from the grave!