Christ Community Church - Leawood Campus - SUNDAY MESSAGES

Hebrews 11: 1-3, 6 //  Tom NelsonWhen you hear the word faith, what first comes to mind? What may come to mind is a kind of wishful thinking, an irrational blind leap, or a last resort option when all other options have vanished. But what is faith as the Holy Scriptures reveal it? And why is it the key that unlocks the flourishing life God intends for us? Properly understood, faith is the currency of the Christian life, informing, shaping, and empowering every moment, and every aspect of daily life. Faith remembers the past, informs our present, and looks forward with hope.  Faith revisits and remembers its rootedness. May we increasingly see with the eyes of faith for as the writer of Hebrews reminds us;  Without faith, it is impossible to please God! Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49108759 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.07.23

2 Samuel 12: 1-7a // Brent NelsenWhat is God going to do about David’s evil? That’s what Second Samuel 12 is about. David is the king of Israel. He’s a very powerful man. And God is telling Nathan to go confront him about his sin. We need Nathans in our society and we need Nathans in our lives who can confront us when we need confronting. David has a choice, as we all do when we’re confronted with our sin. He can make excuses like Saul did when he was confronted by Samuel. Or David can come clean. I have sinned against the LORD. I wonder if it was a relief for David to say those words. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. Because David’s sin still has huge ramifications on his family. And this makes sense. Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily undo the damage. And the amount of damage that is done is often proportional to the amount of influence someone has. A parent’s sin can destroy a family. A pastor’s sin can destroy a church. A CEO’s sin can take down the company. And a king’s sin can have ramifications for the entire kingdom.Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49098934 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.07.16

2 Samuel 11:1-27 // Ben BeasleySermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49098927 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.07.07

2 Samuel 9: 1-7 // Tom NelsonEarly in David’s story, he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Having a heart for God means loving as God loves. David respectfully, honorably and it would seem warmly, calls Mephibosheth by name. The writer of Samuel wants to emphasize that here. David’s loving action of speaking Mephibosheth’s name is an encouraging reminder for each of us that one of the ways we can communicate love to others is by greeting them by name, others we may not know well or are meeting for the first time. God knows our name and calls us by name. One of our first acts of love is working to remember others’ names and calling them by name. This is an example as loving as God loves. Do we actively love as God loves? Do we show kindness to our neighbors? Do we have a heart that loves and serves the vulnerable? Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49095508 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.07.02

2 Samuel 7: 1-17 // Andrew JonesGod isn’t like the other gods, the false gods of the surrounding nations. You know, for them, after all the victory David has experienced. The riches, the land, the power, the great name, he would owe God something. Building this temple would be payback. The least he could do for the God who has so richly blessed him. That would have been the logic of the ancient world. God says quite the opposite. He says no you don’t owe me a temple, and frankly, there’s not a whole lot you can offer me anyway, because I made you who you are today. David, it’s all grace, and it will always be grace. In fact, my sense is that God is trying to remind David of something important here. Something for us, too. When we look back on our lives, especially the places where you have experienced success. Career success. Financial success. Marriage. Family. Academics. Promotions. All of it. Until you can see God’s grace in it all, you haven’t looked hard enough. Grace reminds David who he really is and where he really comes from. He is reminding us as well.Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49092153 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.06.25

2 Samuel 6: 1-15 // Tom NelsonWhere is lasting joy found? It is not found in managing God, lasting joy is found in the presence of God. Without God, there is no lasting joy. C.S. Lewis thought a lot about joy. One of his interesting insights I think he had about joy was the importance of proximity when it comes to experiencing joy. “If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them.” Lewis is right, proximity matters, and so does presence. Joy flows in and through a close relationship with God himself. Without him, there is no lasting joy. Being yoked with Jesus leads us to a more attentive life, one that enjoys the presence of God and experiences lasting joy. He wants to show us the way. Will you trust him?Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49088662 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.06.18

1 Samuel 24: 1-7 // Tom NelsonFor God’s covenant people throughout history, waiting was synonymous with knowing God and being known by God, of going deeper with God, but now waiting is more often than not, viewed as if we’ve missed what God has for us or that God must be ignoring us and our desires. I think it is fair to say, waiting on God is one of life’s greatest challenges.Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49088649 Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.06.11

1 Samuel 7: 1-11 // Tom Nelson The David and Goliath story is more than an underdog story, more than a big giant who is slain, rather it is a story about eyes that truly see. A story not so much about special courage as it is about spiritual insight. Not so much about an underdog who wins, but a shepherd boy who sees differently. Faith sees differently! Faith sight is different from eyesight. Through the eyes of faith, you can be confident that God is with you, God is ahead of you. Ultimately, the battle is the Lord’s. That all things ultimately are worked out for good by a Sovereign God who loves us and wills the very best for us. When we get our eyes on God, the difficult circumstances, fearful obstacles, griefs, disappointments, and losses we face are put in a more hopeful perspective. Through the eyes of faith, even large giants look small. Secondly, even slim odds are God-sized opportunities. One of our greatest challenges to continue to walk by faith is that we tend to forget God’s past faithfulness to us. Those victory moments when God has provided for us, protected us and his unmistakable presence has been there for us. We never outgrow the need to remember God’s past faithfulness to us. So how are you remembering to remember? How are you tangibly remembering God’s past faithfulness, his provision, his protection, and his unmistakable presence in your life?Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49085483Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new23.06.04

After millennia of promising a king would come, he finally appears, and it’s almost completely overlooked by the world. In the shadow of a massive empire, comes the king over all, and he came for us. Join us this Christmas Eve as we take time to notice and celebrate the birth of the promised king!Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new22.12.24

Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/48999988Prayer Request: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new22.12.25