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Be ready for discipline

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By Res Spears Delivered October 21, 2018 at Liberty Spring Christian Church You all probably have recognized by now that I love to tell embarrassing stories about myself. And some of you have probably heard this one before, but it’s one of my favorites, because it tells you something about me AND something about my mother. As hard as it may be to believe, I was not a perfect child. I’ll pause a moment while you collect yourselves. No, I wasn’t always perfect, and sometimes I wasn’t always even good. And sometimes I chose to cause problems for my mother … Continue reading Be ready for discipline

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Be like the Smyrnans — faithful By Res Spears Message delivered October 14, 2018 at Liberty Spring Christian Church At the risk of making my wife (and maybe my mother) cry this morning, I want to tell you about the dog that I had when we got married. Inky was a border collie mix, and she was the smartest and most faithful dog I’ve ever had. For many years, she was my constant companion. I took her everywhere – to work, to visit friends, on long drives in the convertible. She would stand in the backseat of that Toyota Celica … Continue reading

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Speak life, not curses

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10/07/2018 sermon at Liberty Spring Christian Church Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is … Continue reading Speak life, not curses

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Communion for community

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10/07/2018 sermon at Liberty Spring Christian Church Luke 22:7-20             7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.             8 And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”             9 They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”             10 And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters.             11 “And you shall … Continue reading Communion for community

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First Love

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  09/30/2018 message at Liberty Spring Christian Church “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. ‘But I have this against you, that … Continue reading First Love

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All about change

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Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may dprove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2) We’ve talked a lot in the past couple of weeks about how we can find hope during changing times by turning to our unchanging God. God gives us an anchor, a firm place … Continue reading All about change

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God Has A Plan For Such A Time

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September 8, 2018 sermon When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:12-14) Last week, we talked about how, during times of change, we can find hope in our changeless God. Parts of today’s … Continue reading God Has A Plan For Such A Time

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The changed and the unchanging

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  Message delivered September 2, 2018 at Liberty Spring Christian Church, Suffolk, VA Good morning, church! Well, I don’t know about you guys, but something feels … I don’t know … different here today. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Lauren, did you change your hair? Is that it? Maybe it’s just because I’m looking at everyone from the pulpit. But that can’t be it, because I’m still facing the same direction that I always face. Now, my family and I have been members of Liberty Spring Christian Church for only a couple of years, so we don’t … Continue reading The changed and the unchanging

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Worship that transcends language

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  (Message delivered at the Pentecostal Church of Montrouis, Haiti on June 17, 2018) (Sermon audio available here.)   Good morning, church. Thank you, pastor, for allowing me to speak to your congregation today. And thank you, church, for making me a part of your family for the past six months.My last day in Montrouis is Tuesday, and on Wednesday, I will leave Port au Prince for my home and family in America. I am certainly excited to rejoin my wife and the rest of my family there, but my heart breaks for having to leave so many beloved new … Continue reading Worship that transcends language