Calvary Christian Church - Ky

After 20 years “on the bench” Daniel gets the call once again. It’s a new king with a new vision, but Daniel is ready! Once again he rises to the challenge. This passage reminds us that it is never too late for God to use us, and God’s hand is at work in the details of our lives.

Daniel, in true OT prophetic form, does not hold back from telling Nebuchadnezzar that if he does not correct his behavior, he is in trouble. Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar to repentance and humility. But Daniel doesn't speak this truth into the king’s life if chapter 1-3 don't happen. Daniel, by remaining faithful to God, has risen to such prominence that he is on friendly terms with the king of the most powerful empire on earth. Daniel did everything one shouldn't do if one wants to gain power and prestige, but Daniel is not working the in the world’s social economy but in the King of King’s…and that makes all the difference.

A statue of a man’s ego...a symbol of decadence and self-entitlement. Hero worship...literally. King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue in a flat plain with command that all in the kingdom must bow down. Once again, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with a major decision: bow to culture or stand for the living God. Once again, standing for life meant almost certain death. The fiery result was the the human king was rendered impotent and the living God was glorified.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream and it needed interpretation. The problem was no one could explain the dream. The angry king rashly decided to kill all the wise men in the land and Daniel and friends were part of that crowd. Instead of relying on his own power, Daniel petitioned and asked his friends to petition to God on his behalf. He was rewarded with the interpretation of the king’s dream, and Daniel and company were further elevated in the land. Why? Because they relied first and solely on the power of God.

Foreign land, names changed, families murdered (in all likelihood) and in the conquering king’s palace. That is a recipe for capitulation to culture. Daniel and company were out of their element and being forced to accept the culture of the conquering Babylonians. In the face of overwhelming pressure, Daniel and his companions stood tall and refused the ungodly culture of the Babylonians. The consequences were immediate, Daniel and his friends grew in stature and wisdom. The practical application is that we as Christians have to stand up and refuse the ungodly parts of culture that are pressuring us to succumb.

Today we conclude our series with the fourth and final Pillar of Community - Gratitude. Gratitude is the appropriate response to having been given a gift. Healthy, growing communities share- they give and receive- with open hearts and open hands. They appreciate one another and they always let the gift deepen the value of the relationship.

Self entitlement...what a vicious killer! Living like the world owes you something brings nothing but deceit, disrespect, and a devaluing of everyone and everything you encounter. Does entitlement damage your decision-making? Like King David, perhaps it’s time for you to change direction and make the right choice.

Our third Pillar of Community is: Truth-Telling. Being truthful with one another is the basis for genuine relationships to exist and for deep trust to be built. It is in this environment where Christian community can grow and flourish, and it is best cultivated when we speak the truth in the context of genuine love for one another.

Infidelity and dishonesty, partners in an insidious plan, stroll throughout our culture in search of community. They seek not to discover it but to destroy it. How are we to recognize their presence and overcome their advances? By understanding the qualities and characteristics of a covenant. It’s what healthy communities do!

We live in a culture that does not place a high value on fidelity. Over 50% of marriages end in divorce and promises to children are broken. We see high turnover in the workplace as most people will change jobs 7-10 times after the age of 21. Add to that a general culture of consumerism where people like to keep their options open and maximize their choices. Not all these choices are harmful, but when promises are made, then broken, trust is damaged and people feel betrayed. Today we will look at how to recover from broken promises.

We live in a culture where people lack depth and are lonely. We are in deep need of a soul transformation. Today we will see that the best environment for soul transformation is to connect with a few like-purposed people, and that our first Pillar, Hospitality, opens the door to this new way of life.

Have you ever been left out or forgotten? It’s one of the most devastating, heart-breaking, and devaluing things that can happen to you. Exclusion is a crafty killer of community and in today’s world it is an enemy we must not only face but one we must learn to frustrate as well.

Today we kick off a new series focused on building community. Throughout this series we will be examining four key practices that serve to build up community: hospitality, fidelity, truth-telling, and gratitude. These four practices are the pillars of community. We will also be examining the opposites of these practices: exclusion, infidelity, deception, and entitlement. These deformations are killers that, if not dealt with in our lives, will tear down our community. Each week we will explore biblical principles and practical actions to promote the pillars and prevent the killers of community in our church and in our surrounding communities. Today, we will take a look at the early church to get an overview of these pillars and killers, and take the opportunity to assess our own lives in these key areas.

Frozen is a story about two sisters who learn the meaning of true love. Many of us have hearts that are frozen hard because sin and pain in the past, so we resort to a life of fear and isolation. Only an act of true love can thaw your frozen heart and enable you to give life to others.

Nobleman...galley slave...chariot racer. Betrayed by his best friend, Judah Ben-Hur was condemned to death...until God intervened. Today, At the Movies examines 1959’s Oscar-winning Best Picture, Ben-Hur. We’ll discover more than just “A Tale of the Christ”, as we seek to become better followers of Jesus.

At The Movies - Wreck-It Ralph is a story about finding your true identity and purpose in life. We all face struggles inside our own hearts and in finding our place with others. The good news is that transformation is available!

At The Movies - Apollo 13 is a historical account of space exploration but could easily reflect everyone’s personal “lost in space” odyssey. When we “lose our moon”, how do we find our way…how do we get home?

At The Movies - Week One presents the cosmic battle in life between good and evil. Humanity is in desperate need of a Super-Hero who is powerful enough to defeat the strongest enemy and who loves them enough to save them.

An active faith must learn to work in and through a world filled with change, challenge and chaos. As our sermon series comes to an end, James concludes his letter by introducing the most effective tool to accomplish the task; the practice of patient prayer.