Series: "All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church"

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

July 12, 2026

1. Elders Guard and Direct the Mission of the Church (Titus 1:5-9)

2. The Elder's Role is to Shepherd the Members (1 Peter 5:1-5)

3. The Elder's Purpose is to Equip the Members (Eph. 4:11-12)

4. The Elder's Qualifications are Established by God (1 Tim. 3:1-7)

5. The Church Examines, Affirms, and then Obeys the Elders (1 Thess. 5:12-13)

Church leadership is not about power or prestige. It is about faithful service to God and His people. The Bible establishes a clear pattern for church leadership through a plurality of elders who shepherd, protect, and equip the congregation. These leaders are held to a high standard of character and conduct, as outlined in passages like 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5. Their primary purpose is not to do all the ministry themselves, but to equip every member of the church for the work of ministry. The congregation plays an active role as well, examining and affirming leaders and then submitting to their God-given authority. When this biblical model is followed, the mission of the gospel multiplies far beyond what any one person could accomplish alone.

Series: All Hands on Deck: the Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

July 5, 2026

1. Fellowship Means Participation in Something Bigger than Yourself (vv. 42-44)

2. Fellowship Means Experiencing the Love We Were Created For (v. 42, 46)

3. Fellowship Means Being Present for One Another (vv. 44-45)

4. Fellowship Means Sharing Life Beyond Sunday (v. 46)

5. Fellowship Means Making the Gospel Visible (v. 47)

Fellowship is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the church. Most people associate it with potlucks and social gatherings, but the Bible describes something far deeper. Rooted in the Greek word koinonia, true fellowship means active participation in a shared mission, experiencing the love we were created for, being consistently present with one another, and sharing life beyond Sunday. Acts 2 shows us a church so marked by genuine love and connection that people on the outside could not stay away. Real fellowship is not a program or an event. It is a way of life, and it is one of the greatest gifts Jesus won for us through the cross.

Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Pastor Michael Gay

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 28, 2026

1. The Transaction of Grace: 1 Cor. 6:19-20

2. The Security of Ownership: Rom. 14:7-8

3. The Daily Surrender: Gal. 2:20

True freedom is not found in self-reliance. It is found in surrendering to the right master. Every person serves one of two masters: their own sinful nature or God. At the cross, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price to redeem us, which means we now belong to Him completely. That ownership is not a burden. It is the greatest security we could ever have. When we understand the heart of the One asking for our surrender, everything changes. He loved us first, He gave everything, and His love never runs out. True freedom comes from trusting the One who already knows the outcome and loves us enough to lead us through it.

Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 21, 2026

1. Every Believer Needs to Be Added to the Church (1 Cor. 12:13/Acts 2:47)

2. The Church Needs You (1 Cor. 12:15-20)

3. You Need the Church (1 Cor. 12:21-27)

4. The World Needs the Church to Display the Gospel (Eph. 2:11-22)

Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 14, 2026

1. Giving Activates God's Law of Multiplication (v. 6)

2. Giving Fuels Our Enjoyment of God (vv. 7-10)

3. Giving Results in Glory to God (vv. 11-14)

4. God is the Ultimate Giver (v. 15)

Biblical stewardship recognizes that everything we have belongs to God, and we are simply managers of His resources. God's law of multiplication, found in 2 Corinthians 9:6, shows that generous sowing leads to generous reaping, just like planting seeds produces abundant fruit. However, stinginess and self-serving motives can prevent this principle from working. Paul teaches that giving should be intentional, heartfelt, and cheerful rather than reluctant or compulsory. When we give generously, God provides all grace to abound so we can experience sufficiency and joy in participating in His work. Our generosity creates a multiplication of thanksgiving that brings glory to God and deepens relationships within the body of Christ.

Series: All Hands on Deck: The Ships of the Church

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

June 7, 2026

1. Worship is Giving Supreme Value with Heart, Service, and Mind (vv. 1-11)

2. Worship is Unlocked by the Spirit Bringing Us to God (vv. 1-2)

3. Worship is Fueled by the Truth of God (vv. 3-7)

4. Worship is Amplified in Community (vv. 1-7)

5. Worship Transforms Us if We Participate in it. (vv. 8-11)

Is the music part of church something you participate in or just try to endure? Worship is giving supreme value to something with our heart, service, and mind - and everyone worships something, whether they realize it or not. True Christian worship, as described in Psalm 95 and John 4, must engage both our emotions (spirit) and our understanding (truth). Corporate worship is particularly powerful because it unites believers with different experiences and perspectives in celebrating God's character and works. When we fail to worship God, we become faithless grumblers focused on circumstances rather than grateful followers. Worship serves as the fuel for spiritual transformation, causing us to pray, give, serve, and share our faith boldly.

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 31, 2026

1. Be Careful to Choose the Right Gate (vv. 13-14)

2. Be Careful to Avoid Being Deceived (vv. 15-20)

3. Be Careful Not to Deceive Yourself (vv. 21-23)

4. Be Careful to Obey Jesus' Voice (vv. 24-27)

Jesus presents humanity with the most crucial decision we'll ever face: choosing between two gates. The wide gate appears easy and attracts many, but leads to destruction. The narrow gate is difficult to find and challenging to walk through, yet it's the only path to eternal life. Following Jesus means going against popular opinion, surrendering personal desires, and facing persecution. We must also guard against false teachers who promise easy paths while leading people astray. True faith isn't just about doing good works, but about obeying God's will and building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings.

Series: The Good Life: Learning to Live in a Complicated World

Preached at Growing Faith Church, Liberty, NC

May 24, 2026

1. See Clearly (vv. 1-6)

2. Pray Persistently (vv. 7-11)

3. Love Unconditionally (v. 12)

Many Christians fall into the trap of trying to fix others by criticizing their behavior, but true change comes from heart transformation, not behavior modification. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7 not to judge others harshly while ignoring our own flaws. Instead of trying to change people through criticism, we should pray persistently for their hearts to be transformed by God. The Golden Rule calls us to love others unconditionally, treating them as we would want to be treated, regardless of their response. When we understand the grace God has shown us, we can extend that same grace to others while trusting God to do the work of heart change.