Southland Weekend Message Series (Audio)

The first church in Jerusalem had a generous man named Joseph who earned the nickname “Barnabas” (son of encouragement) because of how he blessed others. In this message we will look at how each of us has a spiritual gift that is meant to be used for the good of others and the glory of God.

In order to act differently than those around us we have to first think differently than those around us. Paul tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. What we do and don’t do with our bodies is an act of worship. In this message we will look at what the Bible has to say about our physical bodies and sex. We will learn that conforming to our culture only leads to brokenness and chaos while what Jesus calls us to leads to freedom and joy.

We are told to “discern” what God’s will is as opposed to seeking the approval of people. Our highest concern should be what God says is best, not what other people think. Living for the approval of people isn’t freedom; it’s slavery.

Our culture values money, possessions, success, and fame as the highest virtues. God doesn’t see them as virtues at all. God determines what’s good, true, and beautiful so when we look to Him for answers He will always point us in the direction of true wealth.

As summer draws to a close and we prepare to return to our school and work routines, it's the perfect time to reflect on the fundamentals. This weekend's message will delve into the core of our mission at Southland, by focusing on what it means to be a Christian and a Church.

When you grapple with a blackbelt you are not on the mat with someone safe. They are capable of doing whatever they want to you whenever they want. So your hope is grounded in their goodness. You have to trust their intentions toward you. This weekend we'll take a look at Jacob and his story of wrestling with God.

God’s intention toward us is freedom. He wants to see us live in the freedom that His Son secured on our behalf.

We are legally and objectively declared to be righteous based on our faith in Jesus.

The law has zero power to save anyone from anything.

The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

We were created to worship. When God becomes the object of our affection, allegiance, and attention, we discover the kind of fulfillment the world cannot supply. In this sermon we will learn why God is worthy of our worship and what happens when we love him with our whole being.

Jesus put the needs of others above his own needs giving us a blueprint for how to live in a joyful and humble way. In this sermon we will explore the pride that threatens our wellbeing and the humility we need to overcome it.

Jesus taught us that the daily crucifixion of our selfish appetites comes with great risk, but even greater reward. In this sermon we will learn that living for the good of others is not easy but it is freeing and life giving. 

The act of celebrating someone else’s success helps us slay the dragon of jealousy that can so easily take over our lives. John’s attitude and posture toward Jesus shows us how live a life free of jealousy

What we perceive to be harmless is actually lethal. Jesus commands aggressive and decisive action to slay the dragon of lust in our lives. 

When we live our lives being rich toward ourselves instead of being rich toward God we miss out on the best kind of life. Greed can overcome and overwhelm our thinking and living if we don’t aggressively fight against it.

The practice of giving without pomp and circumstance orients our hearts towards God’s approval instead of the applause of other people. Nothing slays the dragon of selfishness like the discipline of serving those in need.

When we believe that everyone will be saved we deny our need for a Savior and the Savior Himself. Jesus is clear that not everyone will be saved which should create an urgency in us to submit to Him and tell others about Him.

The Bible makes clear that people find their place under God’s authority and in authority over the earth. When we reject God’s authority we falsely believe we have ultimate authority which always results in pride. When we embrace God’s authority we receive joy that comes from being under His protection and living out His plan.

How can the statement “there is no truth” be true? It’s self-defeating and contradictory. When we fail to acknowledge truth we can’t make sense of the world and we lose a firm foundation to live on. When Jesus tells us that the truth will set us free He’s making a promise that if we anchor our lives in Him we will experience the freedom we long for.