Ccr Sermons

Living in the Last Days Pt. 8: Building Up By Louie Marsh, 4-19-2026  1) My speech should be FREE & OPEN   "2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction," (2 Thessalonians 2:2–3, ESV)   "5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness." (1 Thessalonians 2:5, ESV)   2) My life should be TRANSPARENT.   "1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come." (2 Thessalonians 2:1–2, ESV)   "5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these

Living In The Last Days Pt. 7: Hanging Tough By Louie Marsh, 3-12-2026 You know you're in trouble when....   • Your accountant's letter of resignation is postmarked from Zurich.   • You're taking a bus to the bank to make your car payment.   • You take assertiveness training, but you're afraid to tell your wife.   • You tell a barber what you think of his prices before he cuts your hair.   • You see your stockbroker hitchhiking out of town.   • The plumber floats by on your kitchen table.   • Your pacemaker comes with a 30-day guarantee.   • Your wages are paid out of petty cash.   • The pest control guy crawls under your house and never comes out.   IN TOUGH TIMES I NEED TO…   1) DECIDE to deepen my spiritual life starting NOW!.   "3We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all y

Because Jesus is alive…   1) I need to be KINGDOM focused.   3  He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 (ESV)   · God is calling me to live in a ACCOUNTABLE community.   It's not just all about me!   24  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)   Not neglecting = "Not leaving behind, not leaving in the lurch" -Word Pictures in the New Testament.   · The Kingdom works from the INSIDE OUT not the outside in.   17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 (ESV)   2) I need to OUT my doubts.   24  Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25  So the other disciples told him, "We

Living in the Last Days Pt. 6: Staying With It, 1 Thess. 5:12-28 By Louie Marsh, 3-29-2026   For those who appreciate the intricacies of the English language, the Washington Post publishes a yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for various words. The following are some winning entries from a few years ago. Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightie. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp. Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline. Frisbeetarianism (n.), The belief that, when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck there.   TO LIVE EFFECTIVELY FOR CHRIST I MUST…   1) REFUSE to stifle the Spirit's work in my life.   "19Do not quench

Living in the Last Days Pt. 5: Looking Forward By Louie Marsh, 3-22-2026 LOOKING FORWARD IN CHRIST MEANS I …   1) Temper my grief with HOPE.   "13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13, ESV)   Gordon Lightfoot – wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald   Does anyone know where the love of God goesWhen the waves turn the minutes to hours?The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish BayIf they'd put fifteen more miles behind herThey might have split up or they might have capsizedThey may have broke deep and took waterAnd all that remains is the faces and the namesOf the wives and the sons and the daughters   2) BELIEVE the source of hope – Christ's Truth!   "14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the

Living in the Last Days Pt. 4: Living Right By Louie Marsh, 3-15-2026 TWO HALLMARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE   ·  SELFLESSNESS     ·  CONTINUED GROWTH   "1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more."…"10for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more," (1 Thessalonians 4:1, 10, ESV)   LIVING RIGHT MEANS…   1) I am to PLEASE GOD first.   "1Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 4:1–2, ESV)   2) I stay within God's SEXUAL BOUNDARIES.   "3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4that each one of you know how

Living in the Last Days Pt. 3: Praying Passionately By Louie Marsh, 2-8-2026   1) FIND the springs of passion within me.   ·  Love & SEPARATION   "17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face," (1 Thessalonians 2:17, ESV)   "5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain." (1 Thessalonians 3:5, ESV)   ·  SUFFERING   "3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know." (1 Thessalonians 3:3–4, ESV)   · GOOD NEWS   "6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see

Living in the Last Days Pt. 2: Building Up By Louie Marsh, 3-1-2026     1) My speech should be FREE & OPEN   "2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive," (1 Thessalonians 2:2–3, ESV)   · I should never try and BUTTER PEOPLE UP.    "5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness." (1 Thessalonians 2:5, ESV)   2) My life should be TRANSPARENT.   "1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict."…"9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclai

Living in the Last Days Pt. 1: Life In Three Dimensions 1 Thess. 1:1-10 By Louie Marsh, 2-22-2026   "16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17" 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…(Acts 2:16a, ESV)   TO LIVE IN THE LAST DAYS I NEED…   Three Graces to  MOTIVATE me.   1) FAITH   "3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith… (1 Thessalonians 1:3a, ESV)   Work = a job or task   · Faith brings us into SALVATION.   "8For by grace you have been saved through faith… (Ephesians 2:8, ESV)   · Faith looks BACK. (TO THE CROSS)   "20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)   · Faith always produces ACTION.   "26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26, ESV)   2) LOVE   "3…your…labor of love… (1 Th

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 6: Stand & Fight! By Louie Marsh, 2-15-2026   Introduction – 3 slides   1) PREPARE myself.   For the rest, brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the might of his strength. Put on the panoply of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil: Ephesians 6:10-11 (Darby)   ·  STRENGTHEN myself.   "19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" (Ephesians 1:19, ESV)   2) KNOW my enemy.   "12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12, ESV)   · My real enemy – EVIL spiritual forces.   They are…   ·  POWERFUL   ·  SCHEMERS   3) Take a STAND!   "13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:13, ESV)   4) SOLDIE

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 5: Be Filled with the Holy Spirit By Louie Marsh, 2-8-2026     1) I must be CONTINUALLY FILLED with the Holy Spirit.   "18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," (Ephesians 5:18, ESV)   What does that mean? To be filled with the Spirit – or anything else – is to be controlled. So being Spirit filled isn't about emotions or experiences – it's about volunteering to allow God the Holy Spirit guide and control my life!   Here are some important things to understand about this much talked about verse.   · The verb is in the imperative mode - God commands us to be filled.   This isn't an option - it's part of letting Jesus be your Lord!  If you fail to seek this - you are disobeying God.   · Filled = controlled. When you are filled with anything it controls you – booze, food, drugs, sexual thoughts or images, greed, etc.   · The verb is in the present tense - this means it's an ongoing, continual action.   We are always to seek the Spirit's

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 2: From Death to Life By Louie Marsh, 1-18-2026   Top 10 Preaching Rules   10: Any illustration can be massaged to fit any sermon. 9: If a story is funny enough, it doesn't have to fit the sermon. 8: A sermon that is "too short" is rarer than Bigfoot at a photographer's convention. 7: The kid who screams and throws a fit every week will wait until the quietest, most focused and serious moment of your sermon to let 'er rip. 6: The member who always gripes that you don't preach enough on (pick one) baptism/faith/giving/witnessing will be out of town the week you preach your best sermon ever on baptism/faith/giving/witnessing. 5: The two things people will remember from your sermons are: 1) mistakes and 2) funny or tear jerking stories. 4: People who request a sermon on a particular issue will miss church the day you preach it. 3: You are never as convicting as you think you are. 2: A mist in the pulpit is a fog in the pews. 1: Making God's Word boring or irrelevant is a sin.   TO BEC

The Incomparable Christ Pt. 1: Our Standing In Christ By Louie Marsh, 1-11-2026 1) Who & what I AM. "1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are IN EPHESUS, and are faithful IN CHRIST JESUS: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1 1-2, ESV)   Intro.  Verses 3 - 14 have been called a Hymn of Grace.  They are a statement of our spiritual blessings in Christ.  These verses are one long, complex sentence in the Greek. According to Purdue University: Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly.   You can divide these verses into three parts.  1) The Father, 2) the Son, 3) the Spirit.  They are also mainly concerned with 1)the past, 2) the present, 3) the future.  These three sections are marked off by the repeated phrase "Praise of His Glory," or "glorious grace."  See verses 3, 12, 14.   This Passage is About   The Father -  The Past The Son – the Presen

New Year's Sermon Coming Into Focus By Louie Marsh, 1-4-2026   Intro.  5 Cartoons, last one about being perfect just as I am.   36  He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38  But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39  And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'" Luke 5:36-39 (ESV)   1) Change is INEVITABLE   2  When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. Mark 12:2 (ESV)   · That doesn't mean it's always GOOD   18  Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. Ecclesiastes 10:18 (ESV)   2) Becoming more like Christ doesn't "JUST HAPPEN."   3  and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you t

Past, Present & Future Louie Marsh, 12-28-2025 Verse: 17  O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18  So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Psalm 71:17-18 (ESV)   THE PAST – A Great Place to Visit but don't LIVE THERE!   16  Thus says the LORD: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)   History is a great teacher, ·  LEARN from others mistakes · REFERENCE it to stay on course.   But A BAD Master!   62  Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 (ESV)   26  But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 (ESV)   THE PRESENT – The Place Where…   · I can LIVE OUT my faith.   34  "Therefore do not be anxi

Christmas Songs Pt. 3: Simeon's Song By Louie Marsh, 12/21-2025   Intro – last cartoon, lights out together   1)  Worth  WAITING for.   "25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:25–26, ESV)   "12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." (1 Peter 1:12, ESV)   2) All about  SALVATION.   "30for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:30, ESV)   "6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6, ESV)   3) For  EVERYONE!   "31that you have prepared in the presence

Christmas Songs Pt. 2: Zechariah's Song By Louie Marsh, 12-14-2025 67  And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Luke 1:67 (ESV)   Zachariah praises God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist, and the Messiah to come.   1) God VISITING us.   "68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited…" (Luke 1:68a, ESV)   "14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, ESV)   2) God REDEEMING us.   … and redeemed his people" (Luke 1:68b, ESV)   "4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4–5, ESV)   3) God DELIVERING us.   "69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we should be saved from our enemies and from

Christmas Songs Pt. 1: Mary's Song By Louie Marsh, 12-7-2025 In response to the situation at hand Mary recited a song which praised God's favor on her and her people. "The Magnificat," as the song is called, consists almost entirely of Old Testament allusions and quotations. The same is true of the songs of Zechariah and Simeon. Mary's song has similarities to Hannah's song. 1 Sam. 2:1-10 – First four verses on the PPT   1) Gratitude – for a PERSONAL relationship with God.   "46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," (Luke 1:46–47, ESV)   Some have wondered how this young woman managed to speak these insightful words. We can take this beautiful song as coming from the lips of a woman who deeply loved God and to whom God gave special understanding of what he was doing. Just as the Holy Spirit gave Elizabeth insight, so Mary received it as well   "12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were bo