Ccr Sermons

Living in the Last Days Pt. 1: Life In Three Dimensions 1 Thess. 1:1-10 By Louie Marsh, 2-22-2026   "16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17" 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…(Acts 2:16a, ESV)   TO LIVE IN THE LAST DAYS I NEED…   Three Graces to  MOTIVATE me.   1) FAITH   "3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith… (1 Thessalonians 1:3a, ESV)   Work = a job or task   · Faith brings us into SALVATION.   "8For by grace you have been saved through faith… (Ephesians 2:8, ESV)   · Faith looks BACK. (TO THE CROSS)   "20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)   · Faith always produces ACTION.   "26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26, ESV)   2) LOVE   "3…your…labor of love… (1 Th

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 6: Stand & Fight! By Louie Marsh, 2-15-2026   Introduction – 3 slides   1) PREPARE myself.   For the rest, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of his strength. Put on the panoply of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil: Ephesians 6:10-11 (Darby)   ·  STRENGTHEN myself.   "19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" (Ephesians 1:19, ESV)   2) KNOW my enemy.   "12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)   · My real enemy – EVIL spiritual forces.   They are…   ·  POWERFUL   ·  SCHEMERS   3) Take a STAND!   "13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13, ESV)   4) SOLDIE

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 5: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit By Louie Marsh, 2-8-2026     1) I must be CONTINUALLY FILLED with the Holy Spirit.   "18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," (Ephesians 5:18, ESV)   What does that mean? To be filled with the Spirit – or anything else – is to be controlled. So being Spirit filled isn't about emotions or experiences – it's about volunteering to allow God the Holy Spirit guide and control my life!   Here are some important things to understand about this much talked about verse.   · The verb is in the imperative mode - God commands us to be filled.   This isn't an option - it's part of letting Jesus be your Lord!  If you fail to seek this - you are disobeying God.   · Filled = controlled. When you are filled with anything it controls you – booze, food, drugs, sexual thoughts or images, greed, etc.   · The verb is in the present tense - this means it's an ongoing, continual action.   We are always to seek the Spirit's

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 2: From Death to Life By Louie Marsh, 1-18-2026   Top 10 Preaching Rules   10: Any illustration can be massaged to fit any sermon. 9: If a story is funny enough, it doesn't have to fit the sermon. 8: A sermon that is "too short" is rarer than Bigfoot at a photographer's convention. 7: The kid who screams and throws a fit every week will wait until the quietest, most focused and serious moment of your sermon to let 'er rip. 6: The member who always gripes that you don't preach enough on (pick one) baptism/faith/giving/witnessing will be out of town the week you preach your best sermon ever on baptism/faith/giving/witnessing. 5: The two things people will remember from your sermons are: 1) mistakes and 2) funny or tear jerking stories. 4: People who request a sermon on a particular issue will miss church the day you preach it. 3: You are never as convicting as you think you are. 2: A mist in the pulpit is a fog in the pews. 1: Making God's Word boring or irrelevant is a sin.   TO BEC

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 1: Our Standing In Christ By Louie Marsh, 1-11-2026 1) Who & what I AM. "1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are IN EPHESUS, and are faithful IN CHRIST JESUS: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1 1-2, ESV)   Intro.  Verses 3 - 14 have been called a Hymn of Grace.  They are a statement of our spiritual blessings in Christ.  These verses are one long, complex sentence in the Greek. According to Purdue University: Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly.   You can divide these verses into three parts.  1) The Father, 2) the Son, 3) the Spirit.  They are also mainly concerned with 1)the past, 2) the present, 3) the future.  These three sections are marked off by the repeated phrase "Praise of His Glory," or "glorious grace."  See verses 3, 12, 14.   This Passage is About   The Father -  The Past The Son – the Presen

New Year's Sermon Coming Into Focus By Louie Marsh, 1-4-2026   Intro.  5 Cartoons, last one about being perfect just as I am.   36  He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38  But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39  And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'" Luke 5:36-39 (ESV)   1) Change is INEVITABLE   2  When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. Mark 12:2 (ESV)   · That doesn't mean it's always GOOD   18  Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. Ecclesiastes 10:18 (ESV)   2) Becoming more like Christ doesn't "JUST HAPPEN."   3  and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you t

Past, Present & Future Louie Marsh, 12-28-2025 Verse: 17  O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18  So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Psalm 71:17-18 (ESV)   THE PAST – A Great Place to Visit but don't LIVE THERE!   16  Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)   History is a great teacher, ·  LEARN from others mistakes · REFERENCE it to stay on course.   But A BAD Master!   62  Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 (ESV)   26  But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 (ESV)   THE PRESENT – The Place Where…   · I can LIVE OUT my faith.   34  "Therefore do not be anxi

Christmas Songs Pt. 3: Simeon's Song By Louie Marsh, 12/21-2025   Intro – last cartoon, lights out together   1)  Worth  WAITING for.   "25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:25–26, ESV)   "12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." (1 Peter 1:12, ESV)   2) All about  SALVATION.   "30for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:30, ESV)   "6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6, ESV)   3) For  EVERYONE!   "31that you have prepared in the presence

Christmas Songs Pt. 2: Zechariah's Song By Louie Marsh, 12-14-2025 67  And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Luke 1:67 (ESV)   Zachariah praises God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist, and the Messiah to come.   1) God VISITING us.   "68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited…" (Luke 1:68a, ESV)   "14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, ESV)   2) God REDEEMING us.   … and redeemed his people" (Luke 1:68b, ESV)   "4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4–5, ESV)   3) God DELIVERING us.   "69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we should be saved from our enemies and from

Christmas Songs Pt. 1: Mary's Song By Louie Marsh, 12-7-2025 In response to the situation at hand Mary recited a song which praised God's favor on her and her people. "The Magnificat," as the song is called, consists almost entirely of Old Testament allusions and quotations. The same is true of the songs of Zechariah and Simeon. Mary's song has similarities to Hannah's song. 1 Sam. 2:1-10 – First four verses on the PPT   1) Gratitude – for a PERSONAL relationship with God.   "46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," (Luke 1:46–47, ESV)   Some have wondered how this young woman managed to speak these insightful words. We can take this beautiful song as coming from the lips of a woman who deeply loved God and to whom God gave special understanding of what he was doing. Just as the Holy Spirit gave Elizabeth insight, so Mary received it as well   "12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were bo

Wise Up! Pt. 7: The Foolishness of God by Louie Marsh, 11-30-2025 Today we want to talk about a kind of foolishness everyone needs to have in their life - the foolishness of God!! 1.  Christianity appears to be  FOOLISH "18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV) 2. God DESIGNED it that way.   "27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." (1 Corinthians 1:27–29, ESV) · So we'll trust Him & NOTHING ELSE! · So He will get all the CREDIT · To show His Power DRAMATICALLY. 3. Three Examples of God's Foolishness ·  NOAH ·  ABRAHAM · MOSES   4. Why God's Wisdom Appears Foolish · It deals with the  UNSEEN   "7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events

Wise Up! Part 6: Wise In the End by Louie Marsh, 11-23-2025   Intro.  chocolate   1) If I'm Wise I'll Consider My  DEATH   "12So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)   I know that right now I've lost some of you - we run and hide from death - it's not a fun topic - yet we must face and deal with it sooner or later. There are good reasons for doing so - it pays off not only in the next life but in this one too!   2) Doing So Give Me the PROPER Persepctive   "5For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten." (Ecclesiastes 9:5, ESV) Of course everyone knows this - but most people avoid thinking about it and so end up wasting their life. WISDOM'S PROPER PERSPECTIVE 1) On Myself… · God Made Me For A REASON (PURPOSE) "36For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption," (Acts 13:36, ESV) "10For we are

Wise Up! Part 5: Acting Wise in Relationships by Louie Marsh, 11-16-2025   Intro.   "18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:18, ESV) · Wisdom is a LIFESTYLE.   "13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom." (James 3:13, ESV) · Lack of wisdom causes CONFLICT.   "14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." (James 3:14–16, ESV)   Relating Wisely To Others:   "17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17, ESV) 1. If I'm Wise I Won't Compromise  my INTEGRITY. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure,…   "9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

Wise Up! #4 Part 4: Wisdom in Action by Louie Marsh, 11-9-2025   Intro. Continuing our series on Wisdom. Need for wisdom shown this week by couple who were drinking and driving with some dynamite in car. Thought it would be funny to light it and throw it, drank more - if became funnier. Finally they lit and threw it - just one problem - they had forgotten to roll down the car window! They are expected to recover.   1) Get the FACTS   "14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 16They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to

Wise Up! Part 3: "Sharp Wisdom" by Louie Marsh, 10-2-2025 blical wisdom shown in a little know story about a wise woman in a difficult situation.   S - SEIZE the Initiative   "16Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.' "" (2 Samuel 20:16, ESV)   "7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" (Ecclesiastes 3:7, ESV)   1)  2 extremes to avoid - speaking too soon - brashly shooting your mouth off 2)  being to passive never saying anything!   H - HAVE  a Respectful Attitude   "17And he came near her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." And he answered, "I am listening."" (2 Samuel 20:17, ESV)   "17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:17, ESV)   1)  There is a time to be blunt, but it's usually NOT when I want too! 2)  The more I want to let someone have it - the less likely it is that that's

Wise Up! Part 2: The Blessings of Wisdom by Louie Marsh, 10-12-2025   Intro.  Donald Duck last slide - Anyone remember Mr. T, a guy who made an entire career based on this phrase - “I pity the fool!”  Only in America!!  But he was right - foolishness is to be pitied and avoided! Which is why we’re talking about wisdom. The Bible teaches us that wisdom is the key to happiness. So why should we be wise??   1) What Wisdom Will Do For You. · Wisdom Makes Us  BLESSED (FULFILLED).   “13Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,” (Proverbs 3:13, ESV) · Wisdom Makes Us  PROFITABLE .   “14for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:14–15, ESV) Hebrew word means a good return on a trade. Wisdom will help us to get a good return on the work we do in our life. Wisdom makes our life worthwhile - not wasted. Therefore wisdom gives us a profitable life. · Wisd