Center Point FBC

Fighting From Victory, Not For It

This year, our theme is “Do you believe that what you believe is really real?” We’ve examined our Christian doctrines of the Bible, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Man, and the Church. We looked at our doubts and this messy world. This Sunday, we begin a series on our battle with Satan—The Invisible War.

Satan is a real being and is out to destroy us. He can’t hurt God. So he attacks what God loves most—His Children. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10 NIV).

Satan has already lost because the decisive blow was struck at the cross, where Jesus “…disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross” (Colossians 2:15 NLT).

The war is won, but the battles continue. Think D Day vs. V Day: Once the Allies landed in Normandy, the outcome of WWII was sealed. But some of the fiercest fighting happened after the decisive blow. Satan is in that stage: defeated but not yet removed.

You may think you’re strong, but you’re not strong enough to fight Satan’s attacks on your own. You’re no match for Satan. Outside of Jesus, you have no hope of defeating Satan’s influence over your life. If you don’t have the power of Christ in your life, then you are defenseless against Satan.

I invite you to join us this Sunday and over the next few weeks as we discover how to win the battles in the war Jesus has already won. This Sunday, we begin with our first message in the series: Victory Over the Dark World. We hope you’ll be there as we learn together

Hope: Because God Says, “I Will,” You Can.

When God says, “I will,” hope rises because His promises become the foundation for our courage. We don’t stand on our strength, our consistency, or our circumstances. We stand on His Word.

Every “I will” from God becomes a quiet whisper to our hearts: “Because I will… You can.” Because God says, “I will be with you,” you can keep going. Because He says, “I will strengthen you,” you can face what feels impossible. Because He says, “I will help you,” you can take the next step even when you feel weak.

Hope isn’t wishful thinking; it’s confidence rooted in the character of a God who keeps His promises. His “I will” is the reason you can.

In this message, you will learn how to turn vague hope into solid confidence.

Courage for the Battle We Didn’t Ask For

Life right now seems to be one battle after another. The pressure is relentless, the pace exhausting. Some days, it feels like we’re in the fight ring with our hands down, while life throws punch after punch—disappointment, fear, uncertainty, loss, frustration, exhaustion. We can barely catch our breath before the next blow lands.

If we’re honest, many of us are tired of pretending we’re fine. But this is exactly where courage becomes more than a virtue; it becomes a lifeline. When life beats us down, courage is the God given power to stand back up. So how do we find the courage to stand strong when that happens? We do two things:

First, God’s presence is the fuel for courage. “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 CSB). When God is with us, courage stops being something we must manufacture and becomes something we simply receive. His presence strengthens our hearts and reminds us that we are never walking alone. When God says, “I am with you,” He is giving us more than comfort; He is giving us the very fuel we need to take the next step, face the next battle, and stand in the place He has called us to stand. His presence is not just encouragement; it is empowerment.

Second, God’s promises are grounds for courage. “…The Lord is faithful to his promises, and he is merciful in all his acts (Psalm 145:13 GNB). We don’t find courage by looking inside ourselves or by pretending we’re stronger than we are. We find courage by standing on what God has said. Courage grows when we remember that God has never broken a promise or failed His people. His promises aren’t just comforting; they are courage creating.

Courage isn’t pretending the blows don’t hurt; it’s refusing to stay down. It’s choosing to rise again because God’s presence and promises are stronger than the pressure trying to break us.

Honest Faith in a Hypocritical World

The Bible calls Christians to live with integrity and sincerity in their faith. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I [God] am holy’” (1 Peter 1:16 NLT). Living a holy life involves reflecting God's character in our actions, thoughts, and words, and striving to align our lives with His will.

When we claim to be a Christian and fail to reflect God’s character, are we hypocrites?

Every Christian has moments where their actions don’t match their convictions. It’s fair to say Christians sometimes act hypocritically. It’s unfair to say Christians are hypocrites simply because they’re imperfect.

If our intent is to obey, but we falter, that is not a form of Christian hypocrisy. It’s unfair when people use “hypocrite” to describe any Christian who struggles, falters, or sins while genuinely trying to follow Jesus. If their desire is to obey Christ, even when they stumble, Scripture calls that faith, not hypocrisy.

In this message, you will learn how not to be a hypocrite by not only professing your faith but practicing it.

When Peace Feels Out of Reach

Many of us can relate to the feeling: “My mind is loud, my heart is tired, my soul feels stretched thin, and peace feels distant.”

When life’s pressures seem overwhelming, peace may feel far away. However, the God who gives peace is always near. He offers perfect peace, a peace that guards, guides, and grounds us when we fix our thoughts on Him. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3 ESV).

If the last thing you do before bed is watch late-night TV hosts discussing the news or play a game on your phone or tablet, you may go to bed feeling discouraged and depressed. Instead, ending your day with God’s truth brings peace.

Let the final moments of your night be spent reading the Bible, because nothing settles the soul like hearing God’s voice rather than the world’s noise. When Scripture is the last word you hear, it quiets your mind, softens your heart, and reminds you that you are held, guided, and never alone.

Opening the Bible before bed shifts your focus from worries you cannot control to the God who controls everything. When God’s Word is the closing note of your night, peace becomes the opening note of your morning.

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Hard Pressed but Not Crushed

I’m feeling this heaviness in life right now. It feels like someone is sitting on my chest. It’s not my physical heart that is the problem, but a heaviness in my heart. Life right now is full of losses and struggles that hurt.

I don’t believe I am the only one who feels like this. For I see the hurt and pain in the faces and hear it in the voices of others. They are carrying a quiet weight right now. The kind that doesn’t always show on the outside but sits heavy on the heart.

We’re doing our best to keep moving, to stay faithful, to stay hopeful, but the pressure is real. It’s what Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (NIV84).

Yes, that is all true. But there’s a quiet truth holding us up: we’re not carrying it alone. God sees our hurt and pain, and He’s closer than the weight we feel. He is not distant from this. He’s not waiting for us to “snap out of it.” He’s with us in it, steady and present, even when the heaviness makes Him feel far.

We’re walking through this, but we’re not alone. We have the power of prayer, the promises in His Word, and the presence of His church family. Let me say that again. We have the power of prayer, the promises in His Word, and the presence of His church family.

Always remember: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV84). Lean in with your prayers. Rest assured in His promises. And find comfort in your church family.

Don’t Just Love Her: Honor Her!

Mother’s Day is more than a date on the calendar; it’s an invitation to practice honor. Not the kind of honor that’s sentimental or shallow, but the kind that Scripture calls holy. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 NIV84).

When God says, “Honor your father and your mother,” He isn’t giving us a special day suggestion. Honor is about seeing the image of God in someone and responding with gratitude, respect, and blessing.

In this message, you will learn to truly honor mothers, grandmothers, spiritual mothers, and others with gratitude, respect, and blessing.

What Mothers Teach Us About Life

Sunday is Mother’s Day, a time we honor our mothers. An honor that is given not earned. But it is well deserved because Mom is the epitome of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Mom models for us how life should be lived. She has set the biblical example for us. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (NIV).

Notice the word clothe. The Greek word literally means “put on.” What Paul is saying here is that when we wake up in the morning, we ought to get dressed phyically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Paul says that compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are choices. It is something we can choose to “put on” every day. And mom has shown what it looks like when we put on the gentle life.

Mom has taught us that when we wake up in the morning and decide what to wear, we should also ask ourselves, “What kind of attitude am I going to wear today?”

That’s the greatest gift mothers give us: they don’t just tell us how to live, they show us. They model the gentle life. They remind us that compassion is always an option, kindness is always available, humility is always powerful, gentleness is always needed, and patience is always possible.

So let’s wear the character of Christ the way Mom taught us: not just on special days, but every day.

When You Don’t Listen to God, You’re a Fool!

There are moments in life when God speaks, and we know deep down what He’s calling us to do. But sometimes we shrug it off, tune it out, or convince ourselves we know better.

Scripture is blunt about what that is: foolishness. Not because God wants to insult us, but because He loves us enough to warn us. When we refuse to listen, we’re not just ignoring advice; we’re walking away from the very wisdom that protects, guides, and blesses us.

Listening and obeying God isn’t optional for a blessed life; it’s essential. Every time God speaks, He isn’t trying to restrict us; He’s trying to rescue us, guide us, and lead us into a blessed life.

In this message, you’ll learn how to lean into God rather than feel attacked.