Calvary Assembly

Continuing the Christmas movie series, Pastor George Sawyer uses the movie Home Alone as a springboard to discuss how even though we're more connected by social media, people are lonelier and more isolated. Loneliness is one of the most important moments to understand what Jesus can do for us. The isolation and loneliness make you a target for the thief to come and steal, kill, and destroy, like the boy in the movie who was a target for the thieves. Jesus knows what it's like to be alone. But loneliness is where you can let God in to fill those empty places. Loneliness is not the end for you; it's a season you're going to come out of. Refuse to live your life isolated from God. Scripture reference: Matthew 26:56; Isaiah 53:3; Mat. 27:46; John 5:1-3, 5-9; John 4:39; Genesis 3:15; John 13:30

Pastor George Sawyer shares a message of hope and encouragement using a theme from the Christmas movie Elf. In the movie, Buddy the elf leaves the North Pole to search for his father. The absence of fatherhood affects your identity. God designed the family. Moms give nurturing and encouragement; dads bring affirmation and identity. Identity releases your purpose. Buddy was too big for his counterfeit environment living among elves. If you get tired of bumping your head on a ceiling that's too small for you, you'll start looking beyond where you are. Until you have a revelation of who God is, you see your earthly father's failures in yourself. But God provides the identity for His children. Scripture reference: John 1:12, Matthew 3:16-17, 1 John 3:2, Genesis 35:16-18

What do you do when you're desperate? You remember what God has done and create a "faith account." Pastor George Sawyer teaches us how to open up a "gate" of thanksgiving and praise. A gate is a point of access that allows you to go somewhere you could not go. Only responding correctly to a circumstance allows us to access the presence of God. But a gate can also let someone else in. A gate of thanksgiving opens the way for the presence of God to enter our circumstances. Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 77:1-2, 10-15, 100: 4-5; Isaiah 60:18; Revelation 21:21; James 3:9-11; Psalm 50:15, Psalm 22:3, 24:7-8

Calvary Assembly

Pastor Tony Willis shows us how to be a victor instead of a victim. Sometimes we cannot help but be a victim in life, but when we choose to remain a victim we become "volunteers." Moving from victim to victorious starts with our relationship with God. As we humble ourselves and submit ourselves to Him, He will give us what we need to be victorious. Pastor Tony also shows us the characteristics of those who choose to remain victims and what we can do to move from that state to victorious. Scripture reference: Philippians 3:12-14, 1 Peter 5:6-10, James 4:7, Galatians 6:9

Calvary Assembly

Pastor George Sawyer continues showing us, through scriptures, the importance of the word of God in believers' lives. Devotion to the word is part of God's Master Plan. God and His word are one, so to live the will of God you must live the word of God. Believers should use the word as a weapon and speak the word, even in our darkest times of life. Acts 2:42-47; John 1:1; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Pet. 1:23; Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 1:13-18, 2 Timothy 2:1, 8-9, 15, 3:10, 14-17, 4:1-5, Ephesians 6:17, Genesis 1:1-3, Romans 12:2

The first priority of the new Church was “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …" They devoted themselves to the Word of God. Pastor George Sawyer shares scriptures of the characteristics of the Word and why we should devote ourselves to it: God and His word are one. God’s will is God’s word. The Bible doesn’t contain truth, it IS truth. When you read the word, God breathes on you. The word cannot die. It cannot be destroyed. God’s word is working at all times. The Word of God builds our faith. The word is the deed to every promise. The Bible has the word of God, the life of God, breathe of God, the heart of God, and the power of God. Scripture reference: Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 4:2-5; John 1:1; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Peter 1:23; Isaiah55:11; Hebrews 11:1,6; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 5:26

Acts 2:42-47 shows us what the answer to Jesus’s prayer looked like when he prayed Your Kingdom come: The believers devoted themselves to certain practices. Everyone was filled with awe at the signs and wonders. There was an uncommon, supernatural unity and generosity. As Pastor George Sawyer continues his series, he shows us that the things you devote yourself to impact your life. Kingdom Builders is Calvary’s tool to impact the world. He lists places, countries and cultures that we've already influenced through Kingdom Builders. All of us can participate in this. We plan how we can contribute by praying: God, what do You want to do through me? Scripture reference: Acts 2:42-47, Romans 10:13-15, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 12-13

At its birth, The Church moved in supernatural unity and generosity. Their love for God and each other made them generous. In Acts 13, they sent out missionaries. And in Philippians, Paul tells those who supported the work of the missionaries, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Paul calls their gift "an acceptable sacrifice." Kingdom building is an acceptable sacrifice. Pastor George Sawyer explains how to prepare for Calvary's Kingdom Builders campaign: Plan: This is what I’m going to do. Vision: This is what God wants me to do. Dream: Get alone with God and watch Him do exceedingly, abundantly above what we can ask or think. Scripture reference: Acts2:41-47, 5:14, 6:7, 13:1-3; Phil.4:14-19; II Corinthians9:10-11

Guest speaker, Bruce Headley, executive director of church relations for Convoy of Hope, shares stories of missions and how God is moving around the world. Bro. Headley encourages the church that no matter how far away people seem to be from Him, Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Guest speaker, David Grant shares stories of his life as a missionary to India for 50 years. He explains how we can become an offering to God. Missionary Grant tells us that God has a place for each one of us. In God’s house, there’s room for the whole world. He prepares a place for those who have no place. He knows each one of our names. Scripture reference: John 14:1-3.

Pastor George Sawyer continues the Master Plan series showing us how the new encounter with the presence of God showed outwardly in the lives of the new believers. Even though they were a diverse group, the presence of God brought together people who had nothing in common. Their encounter with God made them compassionate and generous. Unbelievers could tell that the new believers were the real deal, so that the unbelievers called the believers "Christians“ — Christ-like ones. Kingdom Builders is one way our church shows our compassion and generosity. Scripture reference: Acts2:7-1, 42-47,8:1-8, 11:19-29

Dr John Bosman encourages the church that God is restoring the tabernacle of David. This tabernacle was open and available to everyone. It is a place of prayer, praise and worship. Dr. Bosman explains and compares this tabernacle to that of Moses, which was a place of restrictions. The restoration of David's tabernacle is a sign of the times — when certain things are restored, it is time for Jesus' return. This tabernacle is about entertaining the presence of God. If we want to be a church that entertains the presence of God, we must have genuine God encounters, be willing to encounter Him, and learn how to worship in spirit and truth. Scripture reference: Amos9:11; Acts3:19-21; Psalms 132:13-14, 134:1-2; Acts15:13-17

In Acts 2:42, we see four core values/practices of the first church. In verse 43, we see the results of those practices: “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.” There is something in our experience with God that should leave us in awe. The awe comes from the presence of God. Encountering the presence of God is part of the Master Plan. Pastor George Sawyer continues his series by defining awe/fear of the Lord and showing us the difference between having the fear of Lord and being afraid of God. Scripture reference: Acts 2:42-47, Proverbs 1:7, Exodus 20:20, Psalms 25:14, Matthew 28:8, Luke 7:14-16, Acts 9:31, Acts 19:17

In Acts 2, we see that when The Church began, the believers devoted themselves to certain acts, including sharing the Lord's Supper. Pastor George Sawyer continues the Master Plan series by discussing the significance of the Lord's Supper while destroying some misconceptions. Pastor Sawyer gives us a new perspective on how we are to value this practice and its benefits, including healing. He also teaches us the consequences of holding this sacrament in low esteem. Scripture reference: Acts 2:42-47, I Corinthians 11:23-30, Isaiah 53:3-5

Calvary Assembly

Guest speaker, Dr. John Bosman, prepares the church for a season of breakthrough by showing us that breakthrough comes from the being in presence of God. We are currently in a time of the "new normal" in which people don’t understand what it’s like to experience the presence of God. Dr. Bosman shares what it takes to be in His presence. Scripture reference: Acts 3:17-21, Psalms 137:1-4, Revelation 3:20

Calvary Assembly

Pastor George Sawyer continues the series. God’s master plan is that He wants us to be a Holy Spirit-empowered church. In order for us to line up with God's plan, we must use His original plan as our standard. The master plan for The Church is found in Acts 2. We can see that this plan has the answers to today's issues of racism and gender inequality. When we walk in the Master's Plan and are transformed, we can know the will of God for our lives. Scripture reference: Acts2:1-18, 42-27; Romans12:1-8; 1 Peter 4:10