Locust Lane Chapel | Sermons
Open Up Vs Cover Up
SERIES: VERSUS - Confronting our Spiritual Struggles - The pressure in the church today to cover up our true feelings when in the face of a crisis is strong. Pastor Simmons compares this culture of cover up with the raw honesty of Psalm 22.
Here Vs. Hereafter
SERIES: VERSUS - Confronting our Spiritual Struggles - What you focus on ahead of you directs the steps you take today. Peter urges the early Christians to continue focusing on the future return of Christ. Pastor Simmons speaks to how that fact affects how we live today.
Blame VS Shame
SERIES: VERSUS-Confronting our Spiritual Struggles In the first of five messages, we look at our instinct to blame versus the need to face the shame of our wrongdoing. Is shame a bad thing to embrace? Pastor Simmons argues that it is our instinct to blame that creates our greatest troubles in the spiritual life.
Cleaning House
Peace, Love, Kindness... all words we associate with Jesus. But in John 2, we see Jesus in a way we can hardly imagine... acting by means of violence. Why? Was this an emotion reaction of "righteous anger," or is there something more intentional than that? Pastor Simmons argues that Jesus is acting intentionally, making a statement about the nature of his Kingdom and the clear choice that we have to make in life.
Secure in Christ
With the death of the dearly beloved Ruthie Zimmerman still fresh on the hearts of the congregation, Pastor Simmons speaks to the security we have in Christ both in life and in death.
The Word for the Wise
What is success and how do we find it? This is the question of the book of Proverbs. In this message, Pastor Simmons looks at the preface to Proverbs and the insights it gives us about how to find biblical wisdom and success in this life.
Love Means Letting Go
Love is something we all seek, yet love is often an elusive thing. What is real love? What does it look like? Is it really what the world tells us it is, or is there something more?
Tom Neis - Evangelism
God has given his followers a mission to reach others for Christ. In this message, Pastor Tom gives practical insights from the scriptures about the important task of sharing the faith with others.
How the Grinch Almost Stole Christmas
Have you ever known a Grinch? Afraid of becoming a Grinch? In this message, Pastor Simmons looks at a Grinch like figure in the Bible who tried to ruin the first Christmas. Discover the characteristics in him that God seeks to redeem in us.
Peace Has Its Price
Why, on the Advent Sunday of PEACE do we call forth images of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness instead of the little baby Jesus wrapped up in a manger? The reason has to do with the price of peace. In this message, Pastor Simmons looks at the price that must be paid if there is to be peace in our lives.
From 'Giving Thanks" to "Being Thankful"
Psalm 65 is a classic text of thanksgiving. This worship experience is structured around the three movements of Psalm 65, leading God's people from simply giving thanks out of needs and wants to a great sense of thankfulness in all of life.
Anytime Isn't the Right Time
We live in an "anytime" world. The pressures for "here-and-now" living are great. Jesus, by his example in John 7:1-13, shows us how to beyond "anytime" living into "right time" living.
If the Lord Builds it
People don't like to admit it, but much of what we do is driven by a need to feel secure. In Psalm 127, Solomon speaks to the vanity of such pursuits. How can we find real security in a frightful and insecure world?
Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide
When Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg some 492 years ago, he inaugarated the protestant principles of sola scriptura (scripture alone) and sola fide (faith alone). Pastor Simmons ask whether we are living by these great principles or are in need of a second reformation.
A Category Five Faith
Jesus calms the storm and leaves the disciples asking, "What kind of man is this?" Why does this miracle and not the others leave the disciples pondering the very nature of Jesus? As Pastor Simmons addresses that question, you'll discover what it means to conquer the category five storms of life.
Can We Trust Him?
Often the lofty things we say about Christ and the faith ends as a nice idea but with no practical effect in the way we live. Paul tells the Colossians that the greatness of Christ can make a difference even in the worst of days.
When There's Nothing You Can Do
Sometimes we find ourselves in a jam. Between a rock and a hard place. In a lose/lose situation. Young Timothy was in such a situation. Paul instructs timothy on what to do when there's nothing you can do?
Tom Neis - Romans 7
Pastor Tom speaks to the struggle in us all who seek to live godly lives but find ourselves returning to sinful behavior. This message encourages us with God's love and grace.
A Tuesday Morning Experience
Christ reveals that God gets personal with us. This was foreshadowed in God's encounter with Moses in the burning bush. In this Labor Day message, Pastor Simmons speaks about calling in purpose in one's work.
From Night to Light
Jacob had trouble sleeping at night. His strengths had become his weaknesses. In this message, Pastor Simmons shares a most unusual interpretation of God's wrestling match with Jacob. And Jacob walks away with a limp, but into the light.
Melchizewho?
Melchizedek - the man of mystery - was fodder for all kinds of ancient Jewish legends. But why? Only three Old Testament verses mention him. But in this message, we will see how the mere mention of Melchizedek taps into a deep longing for the spiritual.
Who's Killing Your Giants?
Is David an example to us of how we can slay our giants? Or does David foreshadow a greater victor in that battle over troubles and difficulties? Hear the story of David and Goliath in the light of the saving work of Jesus Christ.
God is Doing a New Thing
Often we are trapped in tradition or by our past. But Isaiah reminds us that God is doing a new thing. Are you open to a new move of God in your life, or are you trapped by some crippling thing in your life? Pastor Tom gives biblical insights on being set free for God to do a new thing.
God is Doing a New Thing
Pastor Tom shares from Isaiah about God's desire to do a new thing in his people. No longer we have to be trapped by our past, our pain, our our guilt... he delivers us and makes all things new!
A Disproportionate Response
There's a giant elephant in the room of Joshua 7 that few like to talk about. A man has been stoned and burned along with his family, his livestock, and his possessions for the crime of stealing. And... God is pleased. Either God has responded with unwarrented force, or there is more to this crime than meets the eye.
Finding Freedom
Who is truly free? The three Hebrew men in Daniel 3 were slaves by all definitions, but these slaves were far freer than their master. This tells us that freedom is something more than mere political independence.
Be The Alternative: Community
What is the church to do? We are called to "be the alternative" to the ways of the world. In this message, Pastor Simmons speaks to the difference the church is to make in the way we relate to one another in community. The individualism and consumerism in the church today is getting in the way. How do we discover true community again so we can give the world a "foretaste of glory divine"?
Finding Freedom in the Father
We're often sold that there are 12 easy steps to good parenting. In this message, Pastor Simmons asks why we don't hold God the Father responsible for the bad behaivor of his children? Simply: freedom. Freedom is the mark of relationship, and it was Jesus' free choice to die on our behalf that gives us the free choice to receive him... or not.
Duane & Lonna Zimmerman
Duane & Lonna Zimmerman, and their children Noah, Elizabeth, and Luke, have returned to the states after 11 years as missionaries to Thailand. In today's service, Lonna shares the story of their ministry and where they go from here.
Anger or Anguish?
Anger is a powerful emotion, but it is a god-given one. How are we to harness this emotion? Can we use it for good, or will we continue to unleash our anger in ways that damage relationships and our witness to the world? Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, channelled his anger in ways that pleased the Lord and provides a great example for us today.
Be The Alternative: Ecomomics
What is the church to do? We are called to "be the alternative" to the ways of the world. In this message, Pastor Simmons speaks to the example that Christians can provide with our use of money, or the "currency of power," in a world where the desperate love of money leads to "ruin and destruction" (I Tim. 6:9-10).
Faithful In Christ
What does it mean to have the power of Christ in your life, to live for him first? Pastor Tom shares insights from Paul's letters to the Corinthians and Colossians to reveal the wisdom of Christ-like living.
Be The Alternative: Politics
What is the church to do? We're called to be the alternative... God's alternative to the world and it's emperical power. In this message, Pastor Simmons critiques American Chrisitanity's obsession with politics and power and the way it compromises the church's purpose.
Honoring Women
After hearing from Mel Miller about his upcoming mission trip to Alaska, Rev. Tom Neis shared about the life and lessons of four outstanding women in the Scriptures.
Never Let Him See You Sweat
In Ezekiel 44, God is giving us a glimpse of what it means to return to his presence. One thing not allowed there? Sweat! Discover why our anxious toil stands in the way of our walk with God.
Meaningless or Meaningful
How does one resolve the many conflicting statements in the book of Ecclesiastes? Are we really to "live for today" with no thought of tomorrow, as the Teacher of Ecclesiastes recommends? Pastor Simmons helps to unlock this mystery and points to the profound conclusion of this incredible book of wisdom.
The Church and God's Reign
What is the Church? Why did God send the church into being? What is the church to do? This message begins that conversation by looking at the ultimate Reign of God in the world.
Why the Resurrection Matters
Thought you heard all the resurrection passages before? Try Matthew 27:52-23 - one of the strangest resurrection stories in the Bible. This week, see the encouragement Matthew has for us as we live between Friday and Sunday.
Remembering Holy Week
Leaders and Elders of Locust Lane Chapel share in meditations on the days leading up to the death of Jesus Christ.
Now We Know
Jesus faced the ultimate test in the garden before he was arrested. This was his chance to go another way, but he chose the Father's will. Now we know... that Jesus is truly faithful.
Boot Camp Basics
The 40 days Jesus spends in the wilderness being tempted by Satan points us back to the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness. How does Jesus' meditation on scripture and Israel's days in the wilderness prepare him to reject Satan's plan? How can we overcome the temptation to reject God's plan?
Back to the Basics: Fellowship
In the final message from the Letters of John, we look at a biting conflict in one of John's church, this time not over theology, but good old fashioned control of the church. 3rd John is eerily familiar to many struggles in the church today.
Back to the Basics: Truth
"What is Truth?" The answer to this age old question isn't as easy as it may seem. Today we look into John's letters and gospel to discover what truth really is.
Back to the Basics: Holiness
John the Apostle argues that when we deny Jesus as God, we enable sin to fill our lives which leads primarily to broken fellowship with others. We look at holiness and how it's measured by our fellowship with God's people.
Back to the Basics: Love
There are a lot of ideas, very good ideas, that compete for the attention of Christians, but have we fought for these ideas to the sacrifice of a huge idea: love? John's message is about majoring on the majors.
Disaster Relief Trip Testimonies
The men who returned from Pass Christian, MS share their stories of how God is working along the Gulf Coast in the wake of Katrina.
The God Who Is There
Genesis 2 builds upon the grandeur of Genesis 1 by demonstrating that God, the great God of creation, moves into relationship with us. And even though we fall from our original state, God continues to pursue even to death on the cross.