Dove Creek Bible Church's Podcast

Special Sermon from Damon Wamara from Dwelling Places.

Navigating through church conflict is a necessary but wearisome journey. What cause church conflict and how should the leaders of a church approach resolving it? This sermon explains why we have church conflict and why conflict is a natural part of the growing process. Ultimately whether the conflict will be constructive or destructive depends on the attitudes and actions of those involved.

How far are we willing to go to rescue the perishing? Are we willing to endure hardship and risk danger? Why do we often find ourselves with a lack of compassion toward the lost world? The early church built bridges; today's church builds walls. What are we afraid of? Acts 5:12-42 shows just how far the disciples were willing to go to penetrate and impact their culture.

Ananias and Sapphira were the church's first hypocrites. They wanted to appear to be as generous as Barnabas, but unfortunately they didn't want to actually be as generous as Barnabas. Why are we so driven sometimes to appear to be what we are not? To be a hypocrite is to hide behind a mask...what masks do Christians hide behind today and why do we wear them?

When Adam sinned he set into motion three types of death or separations. This caused the fall of all. When Jesus came to earth His mission was to undo all that Adam had done. Therefore, he gives three types of life to counteract the three types of death set in motion by Adam's sin. In the other words the rise of one overcame the fall of all.

What's a Christian to do when God says "do" but some human authority says "don't"? In his epistle Peter said we are to submit to every human authority, but in Acts 4 he does not submit to human authority. Obviously there is an exception to the general rule, but what is it? How do we determine when we should and when we should not submit to human authority?

The people react to Peter's sermon at Pentecost by asking, "What shall we do?" Peter tells them they need to repent and be baptized. What did he mean? The people who accepted his message then devote themselves to four things that became another form of witnessing to the unsaved. The people were in awe that such unity could exist in the midst of such diversity. How is it possible to have unity with such division in our culture? Click here to Reply or Forward

Peter's sermon in Acts 2:14-36 tells how God authenticated Jesus as both Lord and Christ. Peter stands up and proclaims that what the crowd was observing was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy concerning the last days. Now that Peter and the others had been baptized and filled with the Spirit they discovered that being Spirit-empowered could overcome their natural limitations and frailties...they were no longer timid and afraid, but filled with the Spirit they were bold and confident.

The Book of Acts is a book of transitions. Change occurs in almost every chapter. The Old Covenant Way of living life is fading and the New Covenant Way of living is being established. Chapter 2 brings the biggest change of all...the promised gift of the Holy Spirit arrives and what a difference He would make upon arrival. Of course, not everyone is in agreement about the way the Holy Spirit would empower believers and this sermon discusses the various interpretations of several theologies prevalent today.

Jesus told His disciples to wait in the city until they were clothed with power. While they were waiting Peter decides they should pick a replacement for Judas. Did they do the right thing in picking Matthias to replace Judas as one of the Twelve? And how could Judas have spent three years or more with Jesus and be so completely unaffected by Him? Has anyone ever had greater opportunity than Judas? What happens to those who have had greater opportunity than others to know Jesus? How should we handle it when people like Judas deceive us? Should we be extra careful before trusting someone else again? In this sermon we explore all of these things.

Jesus knew His disciples needed more than the responsibility to witness, they needed the ability to witness. This was going to be provided in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The disciples are going to discover two things are needed to be an effective witness: the enlightened mind and the burning heart. Jesus had enlightened their minds; now the Holy Spirit would provide the passion of the burning heart.

In Ecclesiastes 12, the Teacher comes to the conclusion that your present choices are shaping your tomorrow just like your past choices shaped your today. God's Word helps shape your present choices by acting as a goad on some occasions to get you moving in the right direction and as a nail on other occasions to secure you from drifting away from the truth. In the final analysis the Teacher concludes it is best to "fear God and keep His commandments".

Are you a risk-taker? How often do you try to sanctify your lack of trust by garbing it in the dress of wisdom (i.e. try to convince yourself, you're not afraid it's just you're wise to be cautious)? In Ecclesiastes 11, we explore what's wrong with playing it safe all the time and how taking a risk is a sign of trust.

The Teacher says "Think Before You Act, Think Before You React, Think Before You Speak, and Think Before You Lead." Why? Because wise people anticipate; fools react.

We all have a common destiny but we do not all have a common eternity. One day death is coming, what do we do in the meantime?

If I do the right things am I guaranteed the right results? Is there a "Law of Linearity" which confirms if you do "A" you will automatically get "B"? Or is this a false hope? Are there actually no guarantees in this life? This is what the Teacher explores in the second half of Ecclesiastes 7.

In Chapter 7, the Teacher gives several comparative couplets about how and why some things are better than other things. Ironically some things that seem like bad things can often end up being the better things in the long run. The Teacher also instructs us that we will never move forward by looking backwards.

The Teacher continues to warn about the meaninglessness of wealth without satisfaction and work without gratification. What are the essential things we need to enjoy life?