Stapleton Church

We all know what it is like to go through obstacles. It seems that we always come across them when everything is going well and then we hit that wall and it all comes crashing down. We wonder where God is, why this is happening and what we need to move past this hardship. Listen in as Pastor Matt helps us dive into the obstacles that we will face on the quest of following Jesus.

We all know the story: an adventurer sets out on a quest and is joined by companions along the way to help them reach the goal. And yet many of us like to think that we can do it all by ourselves. Listen to this message to discover the companions you need for the quest of following Jesus and what it takes to be a good companion for others.

Luke had Yoda. Frodo had Gandalf. Katniss had Haymitch and Effie. Every one of us is following something or someone. Whether it is on social media or in real life, we look to others to lead us and direct us in our lives. But we often forget that no matter how insignificant we think we are, other people are looking to us to help and guide them. As we continue our series on The Quest of following Jesus, we dive into the importance of having a guide for the journey.

An unlikely hero answers a call. And begins a journey, aided by a wise guide, surrounded by companions, overcoming obstacles and temptations to reach the goal. This is not just the plot that occurs in our stories, again and again, it is the journey that Jesus has invited us on. Join us on THE QUEST, the journey begins in this message.

As we begin this new year, 2021, we are at an important point. Even as many of us are still dealing with the pandemic, as we have people in our lives who are sick, as we mourn the people we have lost and we still are experiencing the financial impact of the pandemic, as cases still rise….we are at a crossroads. Listen in to hear about the resolution God is calling us to make in 2021.

As we look forward to the future, especially after a year like 2020, it is hard to be hopeful. How can we still hold onto hope even after the holidays as we move into the next year and beyond? Listen in to find out!

This year didn't turn out the way anyone expected...From masks to stay-at-home orders, to bathing in hand sanitizer, this year has knocked us off balance, but it doesn't have to knock us down. In this difficult holiday season, find HOPE. The Thrill of Hope - Christmas Eve 2020.

President Ronald Reagan is famously quoted as declaring, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." Whether you agree or disagree with Reagan's politics or sentiment, ALL of us put too much faith in government. Even when we know that our and any government is made up of sinful, flawed people who will ultimately fail and not live up to our expectations. However, the good news is that there is a future coming when the government will no longer be in the hands of people but on the shoulders' of the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace - Jesus.

Throughout our lives and especially in a year like 2020, many of us have wondered if God is really with us? As we go through challenges, it often becomes harder and harder to feel God's presence with us. Listen in for a need reminder that Jesus is our Emmanuel - God with us!

This year didn’t turn out the way anyone expected. From uncomfortable masks, to stay at home orders, to bathing in hand sanitizer, this year has knocked us off balance. But it doesn’t have to knock us down. In this difficult holiday season, find hope! Listen in as we start our Christmas series, The Thrill of Hope.

We all know 2020 has been a year like no other and certainly a year that has caused us all to worry. Is it really possible for us to remove our worries in a year that is filled with them? Listen in as we wrap up our Untangled series focusing on how to get rid of our worry and what to do instead.

If I could just move up to that pay scale, then I would be okay... If I only made what they made... I wish I could have... So often when we begin to think about money or finances, we are ensnared with ideas of greed and envy. It is something we try to do, yet over and over, we continue to be trapped with wishes and desires for more. Listen in for the real secret to being rich.

Many of us remember the sorting toy from our childhood with the many shapes that each had a corresponding hole that fit the shape. This toy teaches children about shapes and helps with dexterity. And although we may have fond memories of this toy; too often our lives feel that way. We feel like we are always trying to fit into a situation, a group, a relationship that doesn't quite fit us. We often feel like a square peg in a role hole. But God does not want us to fear fitting in, he wants to call us to something even greater.

We live in a world that tells us how to look, how to dress, how to act. But what if we could find freedom from that desire to look good, to fit in, to be rich? What if we could find freedom worry? That's what this series is all about: finding freedom from the worries of the world. Listen to this message as we begin a new series, UNTANGLED.

If we are truly honest, many of us are afraid to talk about our faith; let alone share it with the people in our lives. We feel overwhelmed, under-prepared, and foresee any discussion about faith and religion likely ending in an argument. BUT, what if we began to view evangelism differently? What we began to change our mindset from one of fear and retention to one of joy and multiplication? Dive into our last and most important core value.

Each week at church, we sing songs, we worship, we praise our God together. Some people raise hands, others are more reserved. But would you describe your worship as passionate? Would people know how much you love God if they observed how you worshipped? Listen to this message for the next core value on why passionate, authentic worship is transformation not just to us, but even to the unchurched.

Each of us wants to be remembered, to leave a legacy, to make an impact on the world that lasts after we are gone. Too often we focus on what we can do instead of what God can do through us? What if our legacy wasn't about us at all, but the lives that we touched and how we made an investment in the future. Listen to this important message from Sawyer Trapp and Ariel Trucke as they dive into why investment in the next generation is at the heart of our church.

No matter how good our lives are, every single one of us wants to be happier. Often we turn to recreation, our hobbies, spending time with others to improve our happiness. What if when we desired greater happiness, we turned to generosity and giving to others? Science has shown that generous living and charitable acts activate the brain associated with rewards and contentment. Listen to this important message as we dive into our core value of Generous Living and the desire that God has for us to live lives of cheerful giving.

When we look out at our world today, it is easy to see the DARKNESS - the hurt, the pain, the injustice, the depression. For many of us, our lives, even if we follow Jesus, are often characterized by the same DARKNESS, but what would it look like for us to start living in the LIGHT? Listen to this message of hope to be encouraged to arise to life that God has planned for you and shine the light of hope to every heart. Sermon Notes Available at https://bible.com/events/42825259

If we look at the words of Jesus throughout the Bible, so much time is devoted to his call to his followers to go assist those in need and tell others the Good News of his Gospel. If we are going to be a church that listens to this call, then BOLD Outreach must be at the core of our church. Listen in to be reminded of the bold call we have to be sent to seek and save the lost locally and throughout the world.