Illuminate Community Church

"Job: A Caring Voice in the Tempest" Pastor Jason Fritz

As we continue with the book of Job, we see the internal struggle that Job experiences after suffering the loss of everything valuable to him. This picture of suffering is veiled by the misunderstanding of the fullness of God's ultimate plans from His perspective. Our plans are not God's plans, nor do we have anywhere near the understanding of God's goodness and mercy. "God, it's got to be more than this." - 27 year old Tom Brady after winning his third Super Bowl Live for what is below the sun and you will be frustrated. Live for what is above the sun and you will find joy.

"Job - Disease, Death, and Disappointment" Job 1:1-2;10

From the story of the prolific life of King Solomon who had everything and spoke of the meaninglessness of life without knowing God, we move to another story of a man who also had it all... and lost it. To those who suffer in life, know that there's a much greater purpose behind all of it. Here's the story of Job. "If you want to understand what is happening on earth, you must gain a glimpse into heaven." Lessons from the world leader in suffering... God is under control and He permits suffering to make us greater, to show Satan wrong and to prove His worthiness. There are purposes to our suffering that we cannot fully see. Satan employs the same tactic with us - "God doesn't really love you."

"Solomon - Living Above the Sun" - Ecclesiastes 2; Pastor Jason Fritz

"God, it's got to be more than this." - 27 year old Tom Brady after winning his third Super Bowl Live for what is below the sun and you will be frustrated. Live for what is above the sun and you will find joy.

"Solomon - Finding the Source of Wisdom" 1 Kings 3; Pastor Jason Fritz

Wisdom = Skill in Living Humility makes wisdom accessible. Wisdom frees you from the culture. What is the source of your wisdom?

"David: Restoring Joy" Psalm 51, Pastor Jason Fritz

What makes a person a Christian is not one who doesn't sin. What makes a Christian is a connection guilty people have with Jesus. FROM BROKENNESS TO WHOLENESS... Step 1: Own up to what you've done. Step 2: Own up to Whom you've ultimately hurt. Step 3: Embrace the joy of your salvation.

"David and Bathsheba - Sex, Power, and Pardon" 2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17, 12:1-7, Jason Fritz

"It seems like the Bible's good people are really bad." "Yes, that's the point." - Are you killing sin or is sin killing you? - Be a Nathan and have a Nathan. - No one is beyond God's pardon.

"David: Mephibosheth of Lo-Debar" 2 Samuel 9; Jason Fritz

"God answers the mess of life with one word: Grace." - Max Lucado Grace is kindness shown to someone who does not deserve it, cannot earn it and could never repay it. God's grace comes to you because of the work of another person. God's Riches At Christ's Expense If you know God's grace, you will show it to others.

"David: Sin, Death, and Hope" 1 Samuel 27-30, Pastor Jason Fritz

"If we don't see sin as a problem, we won't see Jesus as the solution." When we allow our circumstances to become bigger than our God, then our fears will continue to grow. The very essence of sin is deceitfulness, and the one who is most deceived is the one doing the sinning. Saul's death brought new hope for the Israelites. Jesus' death brought new hope for the world.

"David: Lean Into God" 1st Samuel 19-22; Pastor Jason Fritz

"You may never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have." LIFE LESSONS FROM INSIDE A CAVE: When we fall back on anything more than God, we are developing bad habits - we are cultivating part-time saviors. Lean into God and watch Him work. Humility brings vulnerability and vulnerability brings healing.

Jealousy & Envy - David - 1 Samuel 18

Before David became king he encountered great hardship from King Saul because of his envy of David. In contrast, Saul's son Jonathan recognized what God was doing through David and abdicated the throne to him.