Ruf Arkansas

We begin a new 5-week series entitled, "Psalms: Praying Our Emotions." We will be looking at how the Psalms teach us to pray the emotions of Anger, Sadness, Fear, and Joy. Emotions are important because they reveal our hearts and what we care most about.  We are not to give up our emotions (suppress or ignore them), give in to our emotions (act on every impulse we have), but GIVE our emotions to God, that is, pray our emotions to the God who made our emotions. This week you are in for a treat!** My good friend, Reed Dunn, pastor of Christ the King in Joplin, MO, introduces the Psalms for us. The Psalms are the hymnbook of God's people and have been sung/prayed for 3000 years. In the last 150 years, the Church has gotten away from singing these Psalms and it has been detrimental to how Christians are formed. Reed shares how the Psalms have changed his life and why we all need to read the Psalms. TEXT: Psalm 55**My wife commented that this is one of her favorite sermons and Deanna does NOT tell m

We continue our 9-week series in the book of Romans by looking at the Mercy of God's Sovereignty. Paul takes us on a journey through the Old Testament showing us that God has always remained faithful to his covenant people because he has chosen a remnant. God's unparalleled sovereignty reveals his character of mercy and justice. Paul is asking us to reckon with the God who is in charge of the world.TEXT: Romans 9:1-29

We continue our 9-week series in the book of Romans by looking at what Paul says regarding the haunting doubt we all have: that God is disappointed in us and we have to earn his love. Paul goes to great lengths to communicate that for all of us IN Christ Jesus, NOTHING will separate us from God's love - even suffering, even our sins, even death.TEXT: Romans 8:31-39

We continue our 9-week series in the book of Romans by looking at what Paul says regarding the doctrine of adoption. We are all craving unconditional love. Paul says the answer to that hunger is found in becoming God's child. TEXT: Romans 8:12-17, 23

We continue our 9-week series in the book of Romans by looking at what Paul says regarding sanctification. James "the man the myth the Intern" Post explains that Sanctification is a two-fold process of dying and living in Christ. Do not give up hope. God will transform you into Christ. TEXT: Romans 6:1-14

We continue our 9-week series in the book of Romans by looking at what Paul says regarding justification and righteousness. The answer to our insecurities is found in the righteousness of Jesus. Paul claims that we are accountable to God, accused before God (which incurs wrath and guilt), BUT (and verse 21 is a big BUT), in Christ we are accepted by God (which includes acting in love not fear and affection not condemnation). TEXT: Romans 3:19-26

We continue our 9-week series in the Book of Romans by looking at the theme of the whole book of Romans (and really Paul's life). If you were asked to define "the Gospel" what would you say? How would you describe it? Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the gospel for 3 reasons: it gave him a new relationship of love, it gave him value, and it gave him a new way to live.TEXT: Romans 1:15-17

We begin our 9-week series in the book of Romans by looking at the 'greeting' of Paul. He says that because of the Gospel we are "called to belong to Jesus Christ". We all are looking for a place to belong. Paul says Jesus offers you a place to belong by calling you where you are at, changing you identity, and commissioning you to love. TEXT: Romans 1:1-7

This semester we are going through a sermon series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love." We finish our series on Relationships by looking at Sex. God gave the gift of sex to humanity, but like all good gifts from God, we have used sex in ways God never intended, resulting in shame, guilt and damaged relationships. The good news, however, is that the gospel offers hope to sexually broken people. Special Thanks to Matt Howell, Tim Keller, and Richie Sessions.TEXT: Genesis 1:28, 2:24-25; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20

This semester we are going through a sermon series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love." The New Testament uses the language of "body" to refer to the Church, the Lord's Supper, and the earthly, human bodies we all claim. We will primarily focus on the last one. How should Christians think about the human body?TEXT: Ephesians 4; Luke 22; 1 Corinthians 15

This semester we are going through a sermon series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love." Guest Speaker Dustin McGowan explains how the Parable of the Good Samaritan shows us what it's like to be in relationship with and love people who are different than us. He also calls Mike weird so it's a great sermon for a number of reasons. TEXT: Luke 10:25-37

This semester we are going through a sermon series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love." Male Intern Extraordinaire James Post shows us the beauty of how the Bible talks about singleness. Often the word "singleness" evokes ideas such as loneliness or unhappiness, but Paul uses a radical word to describe it: good. We discuss Paul's claim regarding singleness, Paul's logic, and the practical implications for our lives. TEXT: 1 Corinthians 7:6-9, 32-35

This semester we are going through a sermon series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love." This week we look (again!) at the wonderful topic of...dating. This is super practical. We discuss fears that come with dating, things to avoid when dating, and helpful tips to date wisely. Once more, special thanks to Brian Sorgenfrei, Matt Howell, and Les Newsom. TEXT: 1 John 4:15-19

This semester we are going through a sermon series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love." This week we look at the wonderful topic of...dating. Every relationship you have begs for a definition. Defined relationships allow us to know what roles to take on and what behaviors are acceptable. If you don't know the definition of the relationship, you can harm the relationship. The tricky thing about dating is that by definition, it is temporary and insecure. How are we then to approach dating from a Christian perspective? Special thanks to Matt Howell, Brian Sorgenfrei, and Les Newsom.

This semester we are going through a series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love". This week we look at how we are to relate to, well, love. Without love, Paul claims, you are nothing (!) - thanks Paul. So what is love? Why is it so necessary to the Christian life? We discuss the necessity of love, the definition of love, and the person of love. TEXT: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

This semester we are going through a series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love". This week we look at how we are to relate to the self. The most complicated relationship you will have is with your "self". The answer is not self-rejection or self-indulgence but self-understanding. By looking at Paul's admonition to put off the "old self" and put on the "new self", we are given the key to value and worth apart from performance, which allows us to become our true self in Christ. This self-understanding will lead to flourishing in every other relationship you have. TEXT: Ephesians 4:19-24; Romans 7:15, 17, 19; Colossians, 3:8-14

This semester we are going through a series entitled: "Relationships: Made For Love". We begin by looking at how we are to relate to God. One of the dominant ways God relates to his people is that of a Father. In Luke 15, we see a Father who has two sons. Though both sons seem different, they're more similar than you think. And the Father offers his prodigal, reckless, extravagant love to both. We were made for a Fatherly embrace of love. TEXT: Luke 15:11-32

"Everybody worships" atheist David Foster Wallace says. The question is, "What do you worship?" The word worship originally meant "worth-ship." So, what has ultimate worth and value in your life? What do you think about, live for, talk about all the time? The claim of Revelation 5 (and Wallace!) is that if you worship anything other than Jesus, it will eat you alive. Because no other King is worthy to be worshiped than Jesus. He is a Lion who reigns but a Lamb who renounced his rights, who sacrificed himself to save us, conquered sin through his death, and only he can fix this broken world. Will anything else that you worship do that for you? Special thanks to Robert Cunningham. TEXT: Revelation 5

Somehow a physically disabled outcast of society gains favor with the King. Mephibosheth is a nobody who has his shame covered by the covenant love of King David. One of the strangest and yet most beautiful passages in all of Scripture. If you struggle with shame, hear how the King treats you. TEXT: 2 Samuel 9

David has been recognized publicly as King. It is a day of joyful celebration as they bring home the Ark of the Covenant. Then an oxen stumbles, Uzzah touches the Ark, dies, and a day of mourning turns into sorrow. David sends the Ark away to stay with someone else. Why does Uzzah die? Why is David afraid to have the Ark come to Jerusalem? Why is this passage about guilt and death good news for you and me? Text: 2 Samuel 6