This weekend, I want to focus on our mind, specifically our thoughts. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he spent a great deal of time talking about the mind and how to bring thoughts under control. Our minds often threaten to run away from us. What would it take to glorify God and focus on him with our very thoughts? The title of this weekend’s message is titled “REASONING”.
Church-Autopsy: Nauseous by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we are examining the seventh and final church in the book of Revelation: Laodicea. Of all the churches, this one is the most well-known, likely because of the language used. The church is called “lukewarm” and Jesus says he will vomit them out of his mouth. What does it mean to be lukewarm and what is the message for us today? The title of this weekend’s message is “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: NAUSEOUS.”
Church-Autopsy: Fainthearted by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we are studying the second church listed in Revelation: Smyrna. Smyrna was facing tremendous hardship and was in danger of falling to the pressure and fear of persecution. God reminded them of the importance of standing up under that pressure and remaining faithful. We will learn from their example how to stand firm in the face of trials and what the reward is for a life of obedience. This weekend’s message is titled “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: FAINTHEARTED.”
Carry-On by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, I want to preach a special message in light of the beginning of summer. While traveling, often people will bring the essentials with them in their carry-on bag. That way, in case they are separated from the rest of their luggage, they will have the things they need. In our walk with God, there are some essentials that we must make sure we never lose sight of amidst the changes of life. We will learn what to pack in our spiritual “CARRY-ON.”
Connection: Part 2 – Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we come to part two of our series on “CONNECTION.” It is our responsibility to be discerning when it comes to the opinions and beliefs of those around us. It can be easy to be swept up into popular thinking, but we must remember that this church family is a blessing and not something to be taken for granted.
Abundant by Dr. Abidan Shah
ABUNDANT – 1 by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC Introduction: How many of ya’ll were up at 12 midnight to welcome the new year? How many were up past 1, 2, 3, 4, 5? I was up in body but sleep in spirit. Someone said, “Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up for New... Continue Reading →
Re-Created by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are diving deeper into God’s creation of humanity. God made us male and female. The world around us is trying to blur the lines of being male and female, pushing the narrative of gender dysphoria and identity. As we learned last week, we must rely on the truth of God’s Word to guide our thinking in this discussion and to recapture God’s original design. The title of this weekend’s message is “RE-CREATED.”
Created by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend’s message brings us to the pinnacle of creation: humanity. God created humans as male and female. This was part of being made in His image. What does that mean? Culture today continues to blur the lines between genders, but this is an essential component of being made in God’s image. The title of this weekend’s message is “CREATED.”
Distinct by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are continuing our study of creation. On the sixth day, God created the rest of the animal kingdom, from the largest elephant to the smallest insect. Although there are some similarities across creation, God designed every creature uniquely and specifically to fulfill its own function. It reminds us that his plan for the world is perfect. The title of this weekend’s message is “DISTINCT.”
Brightness by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are looking at the creation of the sun on the fourth day in Genesis 1. The sun is often something we take for granted, but life on earth wouldn’t exist without it. God set it exactly the right distance from earth and made it exactly the right temperature to sustain life for His creation. The title of this weekend’s message is “BRIGHTNESS.”
Flourish by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend as we continue through Genesis, we are looking at God’s creation of plant life and vegetation. God created each of the different varieties of plants and made them able to reproduce themselves. We will understand the implications of God’s design and how it impacts our faith. The title of this weekend’s message is “FLOURISH.”
Landscape by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are looking at the third day of creation. God is bringing form and structure to what was previously empty and formless. God designed land and sea in such a way that they would be perfectly suited to sustain the life that would soon fill them. This should amaze and inspire us to be obedient to God and to serve in church. With the Ministry Drive this weekend as well, this is a perfect reminder for us as to why serving in church is so important. The title of this weekend’s message is “LANDSCAPE.”
Groundwork by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we will be looking at the beginnings of the world itself. Having examined the first day, we will turn to how the waters were separated and what that means. The book of Genesis contains in its first few lines the framework for the entire world. As we approach the second day of creation, we will see how God created the space He would later fill with life. This weekend’s message is titled “GROUNDWORK.”
Discover by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are examining the relationship between science and Christianity. Many people believe that the two are often opposed to one another. Others worry that if you pursue scientific knowledge and discovery, it will shake the foundations of your faith. What we will learn from this weekend, though, is that science actually supports Christianity and gives evidence for what we believe. The title of this weekend’s message is “DISCOVER”.
Sacred by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are continuing our study of the canon of Scripture. There are many religions that either add to the canon of books that the church has traditionally considered inspired or mishandle the ones we do consider to be Scripture. How does understanding the canon of Scripture help us to better see which religions are inaccurate, even if they appear close in their beliefs? The title of this weekend’s message is “SACRED”.
Inspiration by Dr. Abidan Shah
Last weekend, we compared the Bible to the Qur’an and looked at how both Islam and Christianity view inspiration and the content of each book. This weekend, we will examine the sacred texts of Hinduism and how they compare to the Bible. The title of this weekend’s message is “INSPIRATION”.
Revelation by Dr. Abidan Shah
If you remember from last weekend, we are going to spend several weeks looking at the Bible and how we should handle God’s Word. This weekend, we are comparing the Bible to the holy books and sacred texts of other religions. Is the Bible different or is it just another religious text like any other? What puts the Bible in a class of its own? The title of this weekend’s message is “REVELATION”.
The Anatomy of Salvation by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we will take a look at something that is regarded by many as a mystery: salvation. We talk about it a lot, sing about it, and even pray for it. But do we understand what is actually happening in the process of salvation? What does it truly mean for a person to “be saved”? The title of this weekend’s message is “THE ANATOMY OF SALVATION”.
Contend by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are taking a look at the inspiration for our series from 1 Peter. It was important in Peter’s day that believers be able to defend their faith against opposition and persecution. As the world around us has shifted, we must also be able to articulate and defend our faith. The title of this weekend’s message is “CONTEND”.
The Age of Paradoxes by Dr. Abidan Shah
In today’s message, we will look at Peter’s usage of a paradox in the reality of both suffering and blessing for his listeners. The Bible is filled with paradoxes that pertain to the Christian life. Graduates and believers in general need to understand how to navigate this new age in which we find ourselves. The title of this weekend’s message is “THE AGE OF PARADOXES.”