Lantana Community Church

The Kingdom of God is awesome! There was once a community where people who were far apart came together. The rich shared with the poor, slaves and free people came together, and people respected each other. This really did happen. Racism sexism and hatred began to get healed. Can God do it again? Can God do it here? Our mission is to bring the kingdom of God to the world around us. Not a program, not to be comfortable, but that God’s kingdom comes from up there to down here. When people discover what this kingdom of God business is all about, they will do anything to be part of it! Love will break out…for God, for each other, for our community!

Let's make this our prayer this week, “Lord, may up there come down here.” Let what goes on up there go on down here.

We must learn to live daily in God's presence by seeking Him. Do we desire to be with God, or are we hiding like Adam did? Once we draw close to God and live lives that please Him, we will find we can live in God's glory instead of just talking about it. What a valuable lesson we can learn from the children of Israel. Let's turn toward God and desire to see His glory.

Speaker Scott Jimenez spoke about was being the image of God.

Today, we stand on the precipice. Will we step in? The Israelites were once at the same edge. It was at this edge they found themselves in a crisis of belief. With overwhelming evidence of God’s power behind them, they suddenly stopped believing God and stopped moving forward. We will not make the same mistake.

From the Israelites, we learn the importance of trusting God for our daily bread. We must stay connected with Him from day to day. John Wesley preached a sermon called "The Duty of Constant Communion." He promoted communion so often because he believed it was a means of God's grace for us. He wrote, “it is the duty of every Christian to receive the Lord’s Supper as often as he can…” precisely because he believed that when we receive Christ, our lives are transformed. He is our daily Bread.

Just like the children of Israel, God is leading us in such a way as to help us develop our faith. He is preparing us for the battle that lies ahead, and sometimes that will be tough. Do we see Him? Can we follow Him? With the children of Israel, he told them to stop crying and take care of it. You do your part…stretch out your hand and walk by faith, and I’ll do my part…divide the waters. We are connected to the most powerful source there is. Will we keep our eyes on God and trust enough to follow Him?

The Message of Bill Porter about Sin and Redemption.

Can we learn to trust God and walk with Him down the path that makes less sense? If we will walk the path God has for us, we will find when we reach our destination we are better prepared and our faith has increased. We must learn that God's plans for us are good because he is omniscient and always with us!

I’m thankful for the lessons in scripture. There are many things we can learn from the Israelites as God led them through the wilderness. We need to first remember. Remember everything God has done for us, remember where we have come from, and remember God’s promises to us. We also learn the importance of patience. We can’t rush God or do what we think’s best. We must follow God and be patient, especially as we remember where we have come from and where God wants to lead us.

Fathers, parents, none of us know how much time we will have left with our children. Are we using our time as wisely as Joseph did? Do we encourage our families at every opportunity, set an example, and provide for their needs?

Being a parent is more than only providing a check for their families to live. This is indeed part of it, but there are other provisions we must take care to do. Are we:

Showing Affection?

Setting an Example?

Giving Godly counsel?

Giving Laughter and warmth?

Giving Loving Concern?

May we take an example from Joseph and learn to provide for our children and families in every way.

Great message of our Pastor Lucas Ribeiro.

Pastor Jason is a guess from Tulsa, with a great message about facing your fears.

We must remember that the Word is our offensive weapon and is given to us so we can defeat the enemy. Did you know that 62% of the population doesn’t believe the devil exists? As we conclude this portion of our series on Ephesians dealing with spiritual warfare, I want to make sure we know he’s real and he’s nasty. However, we don’t need to be scared. We only need to pray in Jesus’ name and take authority over him. This is only possible if we are familiar with our weapon, the Word.

Message from Pastor Bruno Ponce, on Prov 16:1-3 Follow God.

Every piece of the armor of God is chosen in such a way as to protect us from Satan's attacks. Remember that Satan accuses, tempts us, and deceives us. As we prepare for the battle, we must be dressed for spiritual victory, protected from the enemy's fiery arrows. And to tie this back into relationships, do not let Satan destroy the relationships that have been built. It is through these relationships we are able to advance the Kingdom of God!

There is no magic pill. There is no easy way out. When it comes to spiritual warfare, it's real and we must be ready for the fight. There is a battle for your soul and God is giving you all you need to stand firm and fight the enemy. We don't have to do it all by ourselves, but we must do it.

It's no mistake that this teaching comes on the heals of Paul's teaching on relationships. Satan knows that relational conflicts can cause some of the most damage a person can endure. He also doesn't want us to bring Jesus into it because he knows when Jesus gets involved, he will be defeated.

Never forget we are fighting for souls. Not only ours, but the souls of every one of our loved ones, people in our lives, and everyone in our community. Let's pull our belt tight and do the work of preparation for the battle that is to come.

The Apostle Paul's teachings on family and work relationships are just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. As we seek to live out our Christian faith in our daily lives, we must learn to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Whether we are children honoring our parents or employers treating our employees with kindness, we must remember we are serving each other. God, may we live these principles of submission and honor in every area of our lives!

Message from Sunday morning, with Ceresa Callender, a recap about the weekend conference.

If you think people aren't looking at our marriages, you're crazy. Marriage is a glimpse into the relationship between Christ and the church. Are we loving each other, being faithful to each other, submitting to one another? Let's pray that God would make our marriage relationships strong so we can Be an accurate representation of the love that exists between Christ and the church.

We should always strive for the attitude of the disciples on that first Palm Sunday: willing to do as Jesus commands and easily point to him as king. There is a warning for us in the attitudes of the others. We need to be cautious with having the attitude of the crowd: caught up in emotions and always trying to force what we think is God’s agenda. We should also avoid the pharisaical attitude. Don’t let fear rule your life; fear of others or what might happen to you for confessing Christ. We must be bold in announcing that we follow Jesus.

The cross is not foolishness, it is our salvation. There may be a lot of things that we don’t understand, but remember, God accomplished that which was impossible when He went to the cross and died for our sins and was raised to life again. He did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.

If we are to sum up the message of Easter, it is so much more than the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He did indeed die for our sins, but that is not all. He was raised again! Paul says, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (I Corinthians 15.17). His death and resurrection started something new, that makes no sense until you follow Him. You see, when we say yes to Jesus, we enter into a new way of life. One in which he is the source, the strength, the example, and the assurance.

We live in a world that is full of busyness and clatter. People are distracted and unable to hear the still, small voice of God as he speaks to them. What about you? Are you tuned in to God’s voice? Do you hear him when he speaks to you? Are you listening? Are you connected to the Holy Spirit in such a way that you have learned true Godly wisdom?

We have to accept and embrace the truth about God's calling.

Everything within the earth that is ordinary atomic matter lives in what is called a tardyon realm. No matter how hard we try, we can never achieve the speed of light. The reason is, according to Einstein, that the faster we travel, the more dense in mass we become and therefore it would take an infinite amount of energy to move an infinitely increasing mass. This has been scientifically proven.

On the flip side, everything that exists traveling above the speed of light is known as tachyons. As they attempt to slow down to the hallowed speed limit, their masses inflate uncontrollably. Ultimately, an infinite amount of energy would be needed to slow one all the way down to below the speed of light. And that’s not all. For tardyons and tachyons alike, time exists. It flows one way for us tardyons and the opposite way for tachyons. Whereas for light itself, time slows to a complete stop. (Michale Guillem, Amazing Truths).

There is only one who transcends space, time, and light…Jesus Christ. Can the darkness drive out the light? No! But light will drive out the darkness every time. Will you choose to live in light or darkness today?

Are we beginning to see how the life of a believer is simply lived different? CS Lewis said, “We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then they will destroy us, and also destroy themselves. For natural loves that are allowed to become gods do not remain loves. They are still called so, but can become in fact complicated forms of hatred.” The good news for us is that we aren't left to fight these demons on our own. The work of the Holy Spirit in us is greater than every scheme of Satan. Will you trust in Him today?

How hard are we willing to hold on to the unforgiveness? Are you willing to acknowledge your need for forgiveness and in turn forgive those who have wronged you? Will you take another step closer to Jesus today and allow the Holy Spirit to change your heart to be more like His?

A life lived in Christ is exemplified by honesty, integrity, and proper speech. When we let Christ have control of our lives, the way we live will be a life governed by truth and righteousness. It's not that these things make you a good Christian, they are simply the fruits of a life lived in Christ. Won't you turn your life over to Jesus today?

Mission focus this sunday morning, what a great opportunity to know what the church of the Nazarene does as a mission capability.

A life lived in Christ is exemplified by truth and righteousness. We must be careful not to misunderstand that we are saved through these things, or that by doing them we are automatically considered Christ followers. When we let Christ have control of our lives, the way we live will be a life governed by truth and righteousness. A life where we don't quarrel and recognize who our fight is with. Won't you turn your life over to Jesus today?

Once you have received Christ, truly received him, and grasped the glory of the gospel, your life will be changed. Paul reminds us that we should not go back to the old way of doing things. We can't go back to our old habits and hang-ups. We must take off the "old self" and put on the "new self." The call of Jesus is to leave our old, sinful ways behind and cling to the new life he is offering us. Will you choose Jesus today?

We are all part of the unified body of believers, each serving their part in spreading the gospel message. Will you examine your own heart today? What part has God asked you to be in this body?

Pastor Mark Ramsey gave a awesome word about the Love of God.

We are wrapping up our fifth year of ministry here. When we moved here, the kids were 11, 8, and 6. Fast forward 5 years and Morgan is a sophomore in high school, Mati is in 8th grade and Cayden started middle school! There's something bittersweet about the independence that comes with age.

I want to look back over the last year and remember where we have been and how much God has moved us in 2022. I also want to take a peek at what I think God wants to do in 2023. As I look through all that God has done in 2022, I am blessed…and impressed…with all we have accomplished with His help. I am more excited than ever about our future.

As we look at the new year, what will our priorities be in 2023? In this new year, we must continue to press on in our relationship with Christ. This can happen if we are disciplined and don't grow complacent. May we approach every day of 2023 hungry for a deeper relationship with our Lord and savior, Jesus.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we let the message of His coming infiltrate every area of our lives in such a way that it impacts the world around us. As we rejoice this Christmas day may we celebrate this perfect gift of Christ’s birth, and look forward with eager anticipation to His return!

Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago and someday will come again. As Christ-followers we are to proclaim the amazing truth that Christ came to earth to be the Savior and will come again to reign as King.

God desires to bless us, but what does that mean? God’s blessing means we receive God’s grace and live under His care. To be blessed is to seek God’s direction for our lives and have faith that He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do for us.

Today paints a beautiful picture of peace. A lesson that was true for Israel in 720 BC is equally true for us today. We can find peace in Jesus. Not only did the coming of Jesus bring us the ability to have peace today, the future coming of Jesus will bring peace that we cannot comprehend.

Jesus did not share the message about His second coming with people to make them paranoid or to make them spend all their time and effort trying to predict when He would return. The message to the crowd that day, and to us, is that if we live every day in relationship with Christ, we will be prepared. May we live every day ready for His return!

So what's the lesson for us today? Harkening back to the beginning of this letter, there is a marvelous mystery: God's grace which draws us all together as one. The gospel message flows from the love of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God that we experience through Him. This means that our responsibility as members of the ekklesia is living humbly and in unity under the power of the indwelling Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit fills us and enables us to live a life of love, creating a church where everyone is willing to serve rather than be served.

Isn't it interesting that everything comes back to love! Paul's prayer for us is that we might be strengthened and filled with the Spirit of God and understand that God has given us all of Himself. We learn that the indwelling presence of Jesus in our hearts is rooted in love and it is this love that allows us to be filled with the fullness of God.

We often talk about a "relationship with God." This might be too simple a phrase. God doesn't just want a relationship with us, He wants to exist with us. He wants to be one with us. He wants us to experience victory and He wants the spiritual authorities and powers to know who we are and what this mystery is. We, the church, gets to announce it! However, this is only possible through Holy Spirit. Will we choose Him today?

The gospel is a great mystery, but not a great secret. Paul explains that God has made the mystery of the gospel known through the Holy Spirit. When someone has an encounter with the Spirit, their lives are forever changed and the mystery is revealed. As the mysteries of His Word are revealed through the Spirit we also become students of the Word, drawing ever closer to Him.

Isn't it amazing that we have all been made one in Jesus?! Isn't it amazing that the wall that used to divide us has been torn down?! This is what it looks like when we live as a community of Spirit sourced followers of Christ. We cannot remain unchanged and prejudiced. We have been called to something deeper, something that looks like the Kingdom of God!

Great message about the movement of the Holy Spirit, by Pastor Steve Pettit from One Hill Rescue.

Revival Conference at lantana community Church

Here's where we are today. God is calling! Can you hear Him? Come as you are. Join Him in this great adventure of life and invite others to join you. We are a generation who is being raised up for this time! What are we doing? We love like Jesus so lives are changed. We love people who have lives as messed up as ours. We are all invited because no one is better than the other. No one's righteousness matters, because we are all made one under God's grace. Once we were dead, but we have been made alive through Jesus Christ.

We have been chosen by Christ! Predestined to follow Him. When we choose to step in to that destiny, His manifest presence is deposited into our lives. It is His presence that brings life change that becomes apparent to others. His presence doesn't only bring life change, it changes the way we live. We begin to see things like Jesus does and we have power to conquer the trials in our lives. The freedom we have available in the Spirit is unmatched. Won't we step in to that life-changing freedom today?!

It is important we understand that our God is a God who chose us. People have been struggling with the idea of Grace and a God who is angry and vengeful for a long time. Don't get me wrong, God is holy and we must honor Him, but he also desire to bring unity to ALL THINGS…which is us! Let's embrace the grace of God as we lean in to our identity as a church committed to an inward journey of spiritual practices and an outward journey of  missional engagement.

When we take communion, we are renewing our covenant with God and are direct recipients of God’s grace. It is during the act of communion that we are opening a channel by which God is pouring his grace on us. It is through this grace that we realize that we have been forgiven of our sins and are enabled to leave them. The Bread and Cup are signs of the New Covenant-they point to the reality of the sacrifice of our Savior. Jesus is not talking about the cup itself, but what the cup contains. You’ve heard about quests to find the "holy grail", the actual chalice Christ used in the Upper Room. It would certainly have archeological significance, but the cup doesn’t have any special powers. And there is no magic in taking Communion. The cup we share doesn’t save; faith in what the Cup represents does save us. After we receive Christ as our Lord, we then confirm our commitment over this holy meal. Every time we observe the Lord’s Supper we renew our commitment as God’s redeemed people. When God looks at us, He no longer sees our sins; they’ve been covered by the blood of Christ. Our pardon is sealed, and we’re guaranteed eternal life. We are children of the new and everlasting covenant!