Orchard Community Church Sunday Morning Messages

“Living for Self vs. Living for Jesus”

James 4:13-15, Psalm 24:1-2, Romans 12:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:4 

When we’re just going through the motions spiritually, we begin to believe we belong to ourselves and live for ourselves rather than remembering that we belong to God and seek to live for Him. It’s about belonging to and living for Jesus.

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Going Through...

Religion vs. Faith

Matthew 13:15, 15:8, Hebrews 11:1-3, 6, John 6:68-69

When we’re just going through the motions spiritually, we can easily slip into religion in the worst sense of the word, which simply means doing religious stuff rather than seeking to have vibrant and alive faith in Jesus. It’s about believing in Jesus.

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Going Through the Motions

Summer Tent Se...

One Crazy Farmer

Mark 4:1-9 and Ephesians 17-18

In this parable from Mark, Jesus tells about a farmer who sows seed in some strange places where it’s unlikely to grow, but the seed that does grow produces an amazing yield.  The point is that God reaches out to everyone, and those who respond experience amazing transformation, which the Ephesian passage describes in further detail.

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ven...

Remember

Esther 9:20 - 10:3
As God's people are saved, they respond with a celebration, the Jewish festival of Purim. It's a celebration of looking backward and remembering but also moving forward. All the stories of deliverance in the Bible, including Esther, foreshadow the ultimate deliverance of God's people through the salvation we have in Jesus. In this way, we can see that the whole Bible really is about Jes...

"Saved" 

Esther 9:1-19 

In another stunning reversal, the decree of life is carried out. People marked for death are spared and given a new lease of life. This reversal feels harsh to us, but it would have been seen as equal justice in the time. And yet this event foreshadows a much greater reversal, one in which life also came out of death—the Cross and the mercy and grace that come from Jesus' death on it.

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"A Decree of Life" 

Esther 8:1-17            

God's providence leads to another reversal. An irrevocable decree that brought death to the Jews had been given, but now a counter degree bringing life. In the same way, a decree of death stands against us for our sin that can't be revoked, but the counter decree of the gospel has been issued, bringing life. When we give our lives to Christ, we are united with Him, so ...

"Justice of a Sort"

Esther 7:1-10                                     

God provides another amazing reversal; justice is served, and Hamman meets the fate that he had set for Mordecai. The death of a substitute satisfied the King's wrath. With Mordecai and Haman, it was the guilty dying in the place of the innocent; with Jesus and us, it is the innocent dying in the place of the guilty.
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"The Man the King Delights to Honor" 

Esther 6:1-14            

God's providence leads to a great reversal; Mordecai is honored instead of Hamman. This is really no surprise since scripture says that God "opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble." Both Hamman and Mordecai were servants of the King, but Mordecai had the humble heart of a servant, so he was the man the King took delight in honoring. Yet ...

"The Prequel" 

John 14:15-31

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out with power on all believers, and the church was formed.  With this passage for today, Jesus helps us understand that the Holy Spirit comes to help us to know Him more, to live our faith in Him, and to continue His ministry in the world. 

Orchard Community Church
8180 Telephone Rd
Ventura CA 93004
www.OrchardVentura.org
Contact us at Inf...

"Approaching the King" 

Esther 5:1-14                     

In this passage, we have contrasting characters. Esther approaches the king by faith and with humility. Haman has an approach, too; his is one of foolish pride in his accomplishments. With God, it's never about accomplishment; it's always about relationships. Do we know and belong to Him?

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Esther

God Behi...

"Seize the Moment" 

Esther 4:1-17              

God will accomplish His purposes. The question is whether He'll do so through or in spite of us. In this passage, Mordechai and Esther's faith comes to life, and they begin to follow God's lead. No matter where we find ourselves, we can be confident that God can use us for his purposes. God's providence leads Esther to become the people's mediator befo...

"Buckle Up" 

Esther 2:19-3:15                      

We live in a broken world where life is often hard and unfair, and we often sin and suffer, but God is always near and at work for the good of His people. So we always have hope, not least of which is for a greater King!

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Esther

God Behind the Scenes

Esther is the only book in the Bible that doesn't me...

"God Prepares the Way"

Esther 2:1-18                     

While Xerxes is enacting his plan, God's providence leads Esther to become Queen because of the role she will play in His plan. God is often at work in our lives in ways we can't see, and He can use us despite our situations, shortcomings, and sins. 

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Esther

God Behind the Scenes

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“Where is God?” 

Esther 1:1-22                    

It may seem to us at times that God is absent when, in fact, He is present behind the scenes. God used one person standing up for what was right, exposing the frailty of this worldly kingdom and creating the opportunity for his plan to unfold. God's power and providence mean we always have hope, not least of which is for a greater Kingdom.

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“He is Risen!: Two Disciples on the Road”
Luke 24:13-35

After Jesus was crucified, two of his disciples encountered an amazing man on the road to Emmaus, and their lives were forever changed when they realized that Jesus had risen from the dead! As we encounter Jesus, may our lives be changed, too, as we realize that He is the Risen Lord!

(Easter Sunday)

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Encounter...

The Adoring Crowds
Mark 21:1-11        

Crowds of people on the road to Jerusalem encountered Jesus, and they adored him because they believed He was the Messiah.  As we encounter Jesus, who do we say that He is, and how could that change our lives?

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Encounters with Jesus (Lent)

Throughout the Gospels, people had amazing encounters with Jesus. These were ordin...

“A Reluctant Participant”
John 5:1-15                                   

A man who could not walk had an encounter with Jesus, and he took a leap of faith that changed his life. As we encounter Jesus, he also calls us to take leaps of faith.

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Encounters with Jesus (Lent)

Throughout the Gospels, people had amazing encounters with Jesus. These were ordinary people who were...

A Paralyzed Man
Mark 2:1-12                   

A Paralyzed man encountered Jesus, and he was healed and forgiven. As we encounter Jesus, He desires to heal and forgive as well.

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Encounters with Jesus (Lent)

Throughout the Gospels, people had amazing encounters with Jesus. These were ordinary people who were forever changed by their encounters with Him. With this seri...