Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you got saved? Is there a separate baptism of the Holy Spirit? How do you receive the Holy Spirit? How will you know you’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit? In the fourth installment of the Myth Busters series, examine these questions and more and find how the Bible answers each one.

In the third installment of Holy Spirit Myth Busters, Pastor Ronnie poses the question Real or Not Real. This message is not about whether the Holy Spirit is real or not real (see previous myth busting sermons for that topic), but whether the things that folks attribute to the Holy Spirit or do in His name are really His work at all. Charlatans beware! This myth is busted.

Myth:  The Holy Spirit doesn’t do what He used to do. Take a journey of Scriptural truth that points out the eternal and divine qualities and characteristics of the Holy Spirit.  Discover how the Holy Spirit, like God, is unchanging, and that what He did then, He can and will do now!

Many people believe the Holy Spirit is a force or a symbol. Pastor Ronnie Meek reviews Biblical evidence showing how the Holy Spirit is a person. Why is it important to recognize the Holy Spirit as a person?  Listen as our Pastor delves into this question.

Pastor Barbie Loflin and Pastor Ronnie Meek share their testimony of coming to the knowledge of, and walking in the Holy Spirit.  Pastor Barbie speaks on how she grew up in a Pentecostal church and how the “Holy Ghost” was viewed through her child’s eye.  Later, as a teen, she was blessed to join a youth group that had a hunger for the things of God and who began teaching her about the Holy Spirit.  She tells how through the Holy Spirit her life was transformed and how the Spirit of Truth became very real. Pastor Ronnie Meek shares how he remembers hearing about the Holy Spirit at the same time he learned about Jesus.  He explains when he received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues how he felt like he’d “joined the club”.  In his later teens, he went away from God and the church and was seeking for something that was real for him not just imitating others.  At 25, he came back to the Lord and shared how the Holy Spirit brought him into relationships, with God foremost and then with his wife and men of God that have been in his life now for 30 years.

Three of our pastors share how the Holy Spirit has been realized in their lives.  Two from church backgrounds and one who did not have any church background.  Encounters with Jesus Freaks in the 70’s, being able to understand someone speaking in another language while in a foreign country and having a moment during the middle of a service where prompted to the aisle with knees bowed and hands raised.  Listen to these three wonderful testimonies and be open to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.

Vision:  Many may have expected Pastor Ronnie to discuss the vision for the church as 2012 begins and in a way he does.  Going a little deeper he asks what is the vision for each of us. What is the vision for Christ followers?  What is the church’s responsibility to its members when it comes to fulfilling the vision in each of us?

The start of a new year always brings the sentence, “This year I’m going to…..”  There are many of these we utter, lose weight, journal, spend more time with my spouse, get organized….  Pastor Kevin hits on another one that you’ve probably uttered, “Read my Bible”.  But there are many things that distract us from this and there is a deeper issue involved.

For the fourth message of the Advent Season, Pastor Ronnie looks to the story of Mary and what it reveals about God’s extraordinary use of the ordinary. He also revealed that we too, like Mary, have been given a new life because we have found favor with the Holy Spirit.

While exploring one of the most recognized stories surrounding Christ’s birth, Pastor Ronnie shows us that worship is far more than singing songs in Church. Whether it is following a star for 700 miles, getting in your car on a Sunday Morning or managing your work well, worship is an act of obedience that is always beyond what we realize.

For the second week of Advent, Pastor Ronnie explores the future: that Christ really is coming again. This message highlights the magnificence and joy of the creation of a “new heavens and new earth,” the important “dynamic in the waiting,” and how to understand the patient heart of God.

The realm of intellect was never designed to figure out the infinite! This eloquent sermon by special speaker, Pastor Cleopas Chitapa, who came all the way from Zimbabwe, Africa, will both bless you and remind you what it truly means to have faith.

For the first week of Advent, Pastor Ronnie Meek encourages the faithful to put their faith into action this holiday season. Instead of getting caught up in a season of getting, get caught up in loving your fellow-man by seeing them as God does and share the best news they will ever hear: Jesus loves them.

Barbie Loflin shares her personal testimony of who Jesus has been, is, and will always be to her (and for us, if we’ll let him.)

A brief summary of this episode

Pastor Ronnie Meek takes a shallow look at Jesus in Revelation concluding that too often we try to go deep with this book and miss the obvious: Revelation is about Jesus.

Isaac Meek, Youth Pastor, shares a timely message rejecting the culture of criticism that pervades society and calls believers to become builders through intentional encouragement.

Are you wealthy? This teaching by Pastor Bruce Coble on Colossians 3:1-4 describes what God says about the true definition of wealth. Listen and be encouraged not to look down on material things, but to look above. This is the Christ who says, “The more you learn of Me, the wealthier you become.”

Judgement: to form an opinion based on what you see, and then give voice to it. In this heartfelt message, listen to Pastor Barbie Loflin explain how you can move from judgement to discernment, and through this shift in perception, become the one to give hope to the world of people around you who desperately need the love that you can show them.

Did you know that “faith” is mentioned over 225 times in the New Testament? In this sermon, primarily based out of Luke 17:5-6, Pastor Ronnie expounds on a key principle of faith Jesus taught us: the amount of faith we have doesn’t matter! Also, listen carefully as he discusses why faith doesn’t always seem to work…

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…” (Galatians 5:1) In this message, Pastor Ronnie eloquently speaks about how Jesus taught freedom in the Bible. Learn how freedom isn’t free, or just might be!

Ever wondered what the difference between tithing and giving is? Well you won’t have to wonder anymore! Listen as Pastor Ronnie offers a Biblical foundation on handling finances in a way that glorifies God and brings blessing.

Even difficult times can be blessed when we walk through them with Jesus, obedient to his will. Listen as Pastor Ronnie shares a few stories of God’s faithfulness and offers solid Biblical teaching on tithing. You’ll learn about how our giving is in response to God’s great faithfulness and even walk away with a few “quotable quotes.”

There is likely no prayer in the Bible that has been given more attention than the Lord’s Prayer. In this week’s lesson, Pastor Barbie discussed some of her own struggles with the Lord’s Prayer as she was growing and maturing in the Lord. In her characteristic (and often hilarious) manner, she delivers a powerful message that will breathe new life and relationship into a prayer that has been so often reduced to a formula.

The Lord’s Prayer…wait, not the one you’re thinking of. That, as Pastor Ronnie explains, might be better titled “The Disciples’ Prayer”—a blueprint for how we should pray. This one in John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in scripture, and it reveals key attributes about His character and His desires for the church.

Ever just stop talking or stop listening to someone? Does wonders for a relationship, right? The same principle applies to prayer. Pastor Ronnie explains to us our leaning toward silence rooted in Adam and Eve’s fall and how we can restore communication with God in our daily lives.

Take a trip South of the Boder as the Parenthesis Teens from the missions trip to Reynosa, Mexico, share their testimonies.  Laugh and cry with them and get ready to hear your own words from God has these teens and leaders share their hearts and experiences with you.

Need joy, inspiration and purpose? Investigate The Great Commission with Pastor Bruce Coble and find the potential missionary within.

The parable of The Lost Sheep gets a Degree180 perspective. Just how far and to what lengths will the Good Shepherd go to find you? And when He finds you, will you be a “follower or a fan?”

The players are familiar. The younger son with wild oats to sow. The “crusty older brother who doesn’t know how to party.” And a loving, forgiving Father. Journey through the story again to see which part you’re playing this week, and how the Father is patiently waiting to embrace you regardless of your age.

You don’t have to dig too deeply into the story of The Sower to start your own personal soil analysis, but analysis is just the first step. Find out how to turn the soil of your heart—whatever its current condition—into well-watered, well-fertilized soil ready to receive the Word and bear fruit.

How being blessed in anything and in any way is intended to be a channel to bless others, and a failure to do so could have eternal consequences. (Plus it would be a waste of a perfectly good life and is that how you want to be remembered?)

An important lesson about responsibility and love that is just as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago… (Because we humans tend to be just as selfish and interested in justifying our selfishness than being a good neighbor as we were then.)

What would you do if you lost something valuable? A favorite shirt? An important document? A coin? Would you turn on the lights, clean up the room and search until you found it? Should the same steps be used to find a lost passion, gifting or hope? In this week’s sermon, Pastor Barbie says “Yes!” Using the parable of the lost coin found in Luke 15:5-10, she suggests we all have “lost coins” we were entrusted with and tells us how and why we must find what we have lost. Listen to learn about lighting a lamp, sweeping every corner and the intent of finding. We look forward to hearing your testimony and joining in your rejoicing as you complete a search that is “assured of conclusion.”

You open your eyes but can’t see. Feeling for your eyelids you confirm that they are open – but there just isn’t any light anywhere; the darkness is absolute. What you don’t know is that it is better this way. If you could see what was happening, you would beg for darkness. Molecules of inanimate objects unbinding and sliding apart. DNA unraveling inside everyone, everything and everywhere. Stars, galaxies, the universe darkened and undone as, they disintegrate and dissolve into nothingness. The molecular force that held all things together no longer sustained, everything that exists – or existed – is coming undone and becoming uncreated. This is the universe without the will of Jesus holding it together. He is the light of the world and the one who holds all things together. Listen as Pastor Ronnie concludes the I AM series with a flash of light untold years old but as new to us as the day it started its journey towards Earth and an offer that is not only too good to be true but even better than that.

Do you know who Cassius Clay is?  When he came along, it was the first time we’d ever heard someone be so bold in their statements – I am the Greatest!  When Jesus was on earth and spoke the way he did in the temple and to the crowds, people were shocked at the way he spoke with the boldness stating I AM!  He says I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. What is truth? What is life or living?  Is it what the facts state?  Is it having lots of money, pleasure, finding Eden?  Listen as Pastor Ronnie continues his series on the I AM!

Throughout Jesus’ life and teaching, many things are surprising. John records several times when Jesus spoke about himself using the phrase “I AM.” In today’s message Pastor Ronnie looks at two of those sayings. Listen to learn what Jesus told is about himself and why the way he used “I AM” would have offended the Jewish leaders. Along the way you’ll also learn what the good shepherd does and how to approach a confusing passage in the Bible.

The Kingdom of God doesn’t work like we think it should. The ways to happiness and blessing seem counter-intuitive and, as Pastor Ronnie brings out, may even be unpopular. As you listen to this week’s sermon you’ll learn how to obtain mercy, how to see God, and how to be called a son (child) of God. And, as a bonus, you’ll learn what misery actually loves (hint: it’s not company).

At what is considered Jesus’ first time preaching to a large crowd, he starts his sermon with “Blessed are”. What does that mean? To be happy, be envied. So what instructions do we receive in the first four Beatitudes? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Translation: You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. As Pastor Ronnie puts it, you have two choices, Just Hold On or Let Go. God works in both situations, sometimes He tells us to Hold On, keep going through it, He’s got it! Other times He tells us to Let Go. He’s got this! And Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted? Listen to find out more.

All too often religion makes it seem as if fun is a four letter word and happy is hollow, but this could not be further from the truth. Christ made it very clear that the abundant life He promised actually begins on earth, and that we would see the “goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” This week we explore the concept of true happiness, and find out what we can do to start enjoying the amazing life we have been given.

In an unusual interchange, Jesus answers the question “Why are you here?” without ever being asked directly. But, as Pastor Ronnie explains, the way Jesus answers sheds light on some very critical principles of the Kingdom of God. And, if you listen to the sermon, you’ll also learn more about the things we often do to hang on to our lives that will actually lead to death as well as how to truly gain life.

The story of Lazarus holds important lessons about perspectives and beliefs, as Pastor Ronnie explains in this week’s sermon. Download or listen to learn why we don’t really want miracles, why God sometimes feels so far away and the significance of this story in the big picture. You’ll especially want to hear why miracles and logic matter very little and how belief requires faith.

OK, Jesus fed the 5,000. What did He think about it? What did the disciples think? Maybe they even learned something? And the people, was their response appropriate? All this and more...

Anything the Holy Spirit sees fit to point out as being the “first” of something has important lessons to teach us. Jesus’ first miracle happened when they ran out of wine at a party. Who saw that coming? What does t mean?

It’s one thing to have the tax man call you in for an audit, but what happens when Jesus calls the tax man in for an audit? Here is a clue: the same thing that happens when He calls to you or me.

Mark 5 tells us about a woman with a debilitating issue of blood. She had been subjected to, suffered under, and spent all dealing with this life-altering illness until she heard of, came to, and pressed in to touch Jesus Christ. Through her story, we will endeavor to see and deal with our own subjections, our own ongoing issues, and perhaps find within her journey toward healing, a pathway toward the wholeness we so desperately long for.

The major stumbling block to fruitfulness in the Kingdom, and most likely in life in general, is taking offense. Today we see how one remarkable lady handled offense from the most unexpected of sources.

A brief summary of this episode