Messages by Ross Slaughter (Page 3)
The True Light: The Presence Within
Due to the severity of the arctic blast, we canceled in church service for Christmas Eve 2022. The message was delivered from the pastor’s home that night. This is the final message in the series: CHRISTMAS PRESENCE. The Scripture is John 1.1-14. The Message is “The Presence Within.”
Jesus: The Perfect Presence
In this series: CHRISTMAS PRESENCE, we focus on the main person in the Christmas story – Jesus Himself. Jesus is the preeminent gift from the Father to us. But gift giving is not complete until that gift is received. How do we receive Jesus Christ into our lives? We explore that in this message.
Mary: The Faithful Presence
In this series: CHRISTMAS PRESENCE, we shift our focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus. We see from scripture that she is far from “meek and mild.” She is a keen thinker with a deeply passionate heart for God’s new order of things. We wrap up our look at Mary as we take in her simple statement of faith: “May it be to me as You have said,” and adapt it as our own.
Joseph: the Quiet Presence
In this series: CHRISTMAS PRESENCE we focus on an understated member of the Christmas story: Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. All the times we see him in the Christmas accounts in Matthew and Luke, we have no direct quotes from him. Yet, there is much we can see about a man whose quiet strength can be for us a powerful witness to genuine spirituality.
John the Baptist: The Urgent Presence
Our opening message in this series: CHRISTMAS PRESENCE focuses on the preaching of John the Baptist, who calls for people to repent, that is turn from their sins and accept God’s new order of things. John is the urgent presence calling us to an intentional and productive spirituality.
Daniel: A Life of Devotion
In our ongoing series on Daniel (October 23) we turn to Daniel 6 and to one of the most well-known stories in the Bible – Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Daniel is a righteous man lowered into a pit of death which is sealed by a stone. The forces of death (i.e., the lions’ mouths are closed) are stopped and the man emerges alive from the pit. I hope this plotline sounds familiar.
Daniel: A Life of Conviction
In our ongoing series on Daniel (October 16) we go to Daniel 5. A new king – Belshazzar. A different heart and outlook – Disaster for him and for the empire he rules. Mysterious writing appears on the wall of his banquet room – easily seen, but not easily understood, until Daniel is summoned to read and interpret the very words of God. Find out how this connects with you.
Daniel: A Life of Humility
In our ongoing series on Daniel, we turn to Daniel 4. The king has another dream. Daniel interprets it for him, but the news is not good. The king continues in his pride, and suffers the consequences. However, God is faithful, even in the life of a pagan king.
Daniel: A Life of Witness
In our ongoing series series on the prophet Daniel, we turn to chapter 3. The king makes a massive statue of himself and demands worship of his image. Three young Jewish men refuse to bow the knee on pain of death. They are thrown to the flames and heat of a smelting furnace as punishment. God comes through. The three young men come through.
Daniel: A Life of Confidence
In our ongoing series on the prophet Daniel, we turn to chapter 2. The king of Babylon has a disturbing dream, and he demands that his spiritual advisors tell him the actual dream before interpreting it. No one can possibly do this. Daniel and his three companions have an all night prayer session and God reveals to Daniel the king’s dream. God comes through.