brian shivers

Listen to the sermon here . 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints— and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap spar...

Faith is a Gift by Brian Shivers - September 11, 2013 We are all on a search for something we already hold. That which has always been a gift we find ourselves on a pilgrimage to earn. We hear the voices, the loud voices , the painfully loud voices, echoing in our ears and into our being shouting that somehow we aren't doing it right. And we are convinced. So we feel as though we don't know how to get that which we already have been given. But it is a gift, not something we earn. And yet there are others who scream that we aren't aware enough. That their version of the truth is that which will redeem us or condemn us to hell - to the hell in which they are afraid they already live. They forget that deep within the sinews of our being rests the same gift that for many has become a chore. It wasn't meant to be that way. You see it isn't about getting it right. It isn't about formula...