Genesis Church: Sermon Audio

Introduction to Ephesians

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:56:16 -0600

Who are you? Think about it. If someone asks you this question how do you answer? Do you tell them about your job? Your family and kids? What is your first answer to this question? More than likely, your answer to that question will reveal your sense of identity and worth. When you become a follower of Jesus, an amazing thing takes place in the core of our being. God gives us a new identity as we become a new person. We will begin a new on the New Testament book of Ephesians this morning. Ephesians was written by Paul to a first century church in the ancient city of Ephesus, but the message is so applicable to our lives today! The theme of the book, and the title for the series is Becoming Who You Are. In this amazing letter Paul will help each of us understand the identity we have because of Jesus, helping us find the source of our worth and hope. He will then challenge us to live as transformed people in the culture, in our families, in our jobs, and in the church. It will be an amazing journey that will teach, inspire, and challenge!

The Praise of God

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:45:19 -0600

This is the final sermon in our four part series on re-thinking the church. So far we have discussed the who, how, and what of the church. The church is the people of God, not a place, event, or program. The power of the church is found only in person of the Holy Spirit filling people and equipping us to obey and submit to His purpose. The purpose of the church is to make disciples, transformed and committed followers of Jesus who love Him deeply and live in obedience to Him. This morning we are going to talk about the why of the church. Why do we gather, why do we go, why do we have Community Groups…? In Ephesians 3:20-21 as he says, "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations." We exist for the glory and praise of our great God, and this must be the heart motivation for everything we are and everything we do, to declare and demonstrate the glory of our great God!

The Purpose of God

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:19:07 -0600

Have you ever heard of a business class creating an assignment where individuals in the course create a fictional business to create the fictional product a widget. Students create a business plan, look at financials, and develop ideas for production and distribution. Great idea and plan, except the students don’t have an idea what they are actually trying to produce. Way too often, the church functions just like the students in this class. We develop plans, create structures and organizations, and even gather people, but without a clear idea as to the purpose for their existence. As Jesus spent his last hours with his disciples, he gave them a very clear purpose and a very distinct goal. This morning we continue our series about re-thinking the church we will look at a passage called the Great Commission and explain how we at Genesis strive to accomplish the purpose Jesus gave His church.

The Power of God

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:10:38 -0600

"You shall receive power…" These are the words of Jesus to His followers in Acts chapter 1. What a promise, power. We need power in our lives. We feel powerless against the world around us, the evil and suffering in our lives, and our own habits and sin. We get into ruts and it seems that the power Jesus promised is nothing more than a pipe dream. But the stories of the Bible show people who are full of power and God works through them to change lives, do miracles, accomplish the amazing. The book of Acts tells the story of the Holy Spirit empowering His people to accomplish His mission. In the second sermon on the church we will take a look at how God provides the power of God for his church and the things He will accomplish through a people who are submitted to and empowered by Him.

The People of God

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:47:00 -0600

The alarm went off this morning, you went and got your cup of coffee, threw your clothes on. Maybe your kids woke up and added to the craziness, and it may be that for a moment you thought it might be easier to stay at home. But you decided to come to church today. Of course, at Genesis that whole idea is a bit different. For many, going to church carries the image of a building, with pews, maybe a pulpit, or a large altar. But is "church" really a place that you go to? Maybe we should stop talking about "going to church" and thinking about what it means to be the church. Today we are starting a new short series that will run through the rest of this month on the idea of church, and specifically the mission, values, and vision of Genesis Church. At the core, the church is not a building, or an organization, it is a people, a community of faith doing life and mission together. This morning we hope to show you why the church is important for you, but also why you are so important for the church.

Restoration

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:03:41 -0600

"And they lived happily ever after." We like hood endings, stories where the hero sits atop the world or lovers walk toward the sunset hand in hand. But, no ending can match the final theme in the great story found in the Bible. We have learned so far, in our series on the great story, that God created all, but our rebellion led to the fall of creation leaving us in need of rescue. But, God has rescued and redeemed us through the life and death of Jesus. Then, he rose again, and that resurrection come with a promise. God will make all things right, he will restore us and remove the effects of our evil. In our final part of the series on the great story, Weston will show us an image of this restoration in an Old Testament narrative on a man named Naaman who had a health problem that could not be solved, and which left him in a place where life would be increasingly terrible. God offers healing through a prophet, but Naaman had to take a step of faith, one that seemed unreasonable. In this story, God is picturing the path to restoration and wholeness that we too need to take.

Rescue

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:36:23 -0600

The knight in shining armor, the guy on a white horse with silver bullets, the dude with a giant "S" on his shirt… Often stories we enjoy have heroes who swoop in amazingly and rescue the princess or a person in dire straits at the last possible moment. But while we watch these stories, the person we want to identify ourselves with is the hero, the rescuer. We don't want to see ourselves as the one who is trapped, hopeless, helpless, in need. Yet, this is exactly what we need. We have been trapped by an evil enemy, and we are not able to remedy our condition. We have insurmountable giants who want to defeat us and put us in slavery, or even take our lives. And there is no way out. But we have a hero, and the story in the Bible is the drama declaring that God has sent a rescuer, but not the type of rescuer we thought. This one saves us through weakness. It's a beautiful story, and one we hope every person will experience.

Fall

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:49:25 -0600

It does not take much to realize that things in this world are not as they should be. While the glory of God's creation is evident, so is the fact that life is hard and people are fallen. Our rebellion against God introduced a foreign agent into His creation, and nothing is quite right as a result. Today we will hear the second message on our series titled "The" Story looking at the great story of the Bible, Weston Ely will show us what is wrong with the world, and why we so desperately need the Christmas story.

Creation

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:01:41 -0600

Everybody loves a good story, and there is no story better than the one we tell again and again at Christmas. The baby in the manger, shepherds, wise men, angels, these are all heart-warming and amazing to us. But this story is actually a part of a much bigger story. The coming of Jesus is the climactic event in the great story of God, the story told throughout the Bible. And like any story, there are plot twists, amazing characters, and a hero. This morning, we are beginning a new series that will take us through the Christmas season, as Mike and Weston preach a series of messages looking at the grand story of the Bible. Each week we will look at the great themes of this story, and show how every page of the Bible has the echo of the baby crying in the manger in the background. Any great story will start big, and the story contained in the Bible is no different. The theme of creation is one of the great ideas in the Bible, as we will see that in creation God is owner, but has also given purpose to every one of his creations.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross! - GO!

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:01:11 -0600

Today we will end our year-long journey looking at the life of Jesus told in the Gospel of Mark by examining a very interesting passage in our Bibles. Most scholars do not believe Mark 16:9-20 were part of the original Gospel penned by the author John Mark. Rather, at a later time Christians added this section to give clarity and make the Gospel consistent with other stories, and to give a brief history of what the early church did with this message. So, while this section is not actually part of the Gospel, it does contain important information, and more specifically a call to do something with the story we have studied. The story of Jesus is good news, and good news just has to be shared! We have been invited to join God on the greatest adventure, the greatest mission humanity has ever known. Will we join the story?

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Resurrection

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:22:25 -0600

It normally doesn't happen this way. Generally, when you attend a person's funeral on Friday, you don't have lunch with them next week. While the resurrection story is part of the Christian faith, and therefore has become familiar to most of us, the reality is that people don't rise from the dead. Not now, not then. Jesus had been brutally beaten, then crucified in an inhumane execution. A Roman soldier who had participated in numerous crucifixions confirmed Jesus' death, and even made sure he had died by running his heart sack with a spear. They took Jesus' body down off of the cross and wrapped it in burial cloths that could have weighed as much as 100 lbs. and then laid him in a tomb cut in the side of a cliff, with a massive rock rolled in front of the door. Then, on the third day, a group of women come to the tomb to find something they were not expecting. The stone is rolled away and Jesus is alive! To be honest, if this is a hoax, it is the worst one in history. But if the story told in Mark and the other Gospels is true, it changes everything. It confirms Jesus' identity and brings with it the promise that all who follow Him in life and death will also follow Him resurrection.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Redemption

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:20:06 -0600

One of the bizarre aspects from the era of the Civil War and American slavery has to do with the response to the Emancipation Proclamation by many who were slaves. President Lincoln declared these people to be free, and countless lives were given in battle to secure their freedom. But for many, the freedom given to them did not make sense, and they continued living in the exact same way they had lived before they were declared to be free. Our study of Mark has brought us to the climactic point in the story, the crucifixion of Jesus. This cruel mode of execution was invented by the Persians and perfected by the Romans, and was the cruelest way we have ever devised to take a life. As Jesus hangs in agony, he cries out to His Father, and then gives his life away, paying ransom to redeem us from our slavery. This is the beautiful message of the cross, that those who have given their lives to Jesus have been granted true freedom, we have been delivered. Oh the wonder and power of the cross!

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Christus Exemplar

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 17:27:58 -0600

Who has most influenced you and the person you are right now? Maybe a coach, a teacher, a parent. Your story may be that a person or a few friends took you under their arm and taught you what to value and how to live. It may be that the direction of your life and career choice took form because of the example of another person. Whoever comes to mind right now, we need to be thankful for examples of how to live. Christus Exemplar is a theological term that refers to the truth that in the way he lived and died, Jesus is the ultimate example and hero, and from the cross is a call for us to look to Jesus and follow him as our hero and example.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Justification

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:40:23 -0500

It had to feel like a punch in the gut when heard the rooster crow! On three different occasions Peter was asked if he knew Jesus, and three times he denied it. The last time he even cussed Jesus out, as the people in the courtyard stared at him puzzled. Then the crow, and a gaze from the eyes of Jesus. What a colossal failure, what a ruined disciple. It may seem like there is one trial going on in Mark 14, but there are actually two. In one, the man is demonstrated to be innocent, but he ends up condemned. In the other, the man is guilty of that which he is accused, but he goes free. Yet, the story does not end here. The biggest failure becomes the leader of the early Christian movement. And rather than trying to hide the darkness in his life, it becomes the key event that defines him. Why? The answer is that the cross provided Peter with the hope for his failure. He is justified, but not by his works. Rather, Peter is made right and pardoned by something far greater. What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? For Peter, and for us he is our justification.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Righteousness

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:14:04 -0500

The writer of Ecclesiastes states our problem succinctly. "What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted." As people, most of us generally want to do good things and be good people. And, from one perspective, we can do things that are benevolent, and may even live a moral life. But the truth is that all of us have struggles with habits, sin, doubt, depression, lust, anger, and a myriad of other actions that control. No matter how hard we try to make our lives straight, we look back and see a crooked stick that cannot be straightened. The Bible calls this the issue of righteousness, which means that God has created a standard, a measuring stick, and our lives do not measure up. But they don't measure up in our actions because we are unrighteous people on the inside. There has only been one righteous person, one straight stick. By dying for our sin, Jesus has provided His righteousness to be imputed into our lives. He makes crooked sticks straight.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Victory

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:17:55 -0500

Mark 14:43-50 proceeds from the account where Jesus spent the night praying in a garden. He was wrestling with the implications of the events that would soon follow; namely experiencing separation from God the Father. Jesus concluded his prayer by submitting to the Father's will then he arose and waited for the forces that were coming against him. Moments later Judas, Jesus' friend and disciple, lead a group of religious authorities to arrest Jesus. By all accounts it appeared as though Jesus was about to lose all he had worked for and the forces that sought his demise would gain victory over him. However, Jesus does not resist nor does he cower from his pursuers. Instead Jesus goes with them quietly so that Scripture may be fulfilled and ultimately he would prove victorious over his enemies. Today we will seek to answer the question, "what does the victory of Jesus over his enemies accomplish and how does the victory of Jesus impact my life?"

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Substitute

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 16:12:02 -0500

At the heart of Christian theology lies the concept of substitutionary atonement. This is the view that in and through Jesus being crucified God substituted himself for us and bore our sins, dying in our place the death we deserved to die, and offering restoration and forgiveness. Forgiveness is such a beautiful word, and a deep need. As Jesus substituted himself for us, he provided the avenue for us to experience the deep forgiveness of God bringing beauty from shame. This morning, we will find that the forgiveness of God has two beautiful dimensions. First, God paid a debt he did not owe. Second, he absorbed the filth of our lives in order to make us clean.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My New Covenant Sacrifice

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:35:44 -0500

British author G. K. Chesterton was asked to submit an essay to a London newspaper in response to the question, "What is wrong with the world?" Rather than submitting a lengthy treaties on the subject, he sent in a simple piece of paper with a four line answer. "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours, G. K. Chesterton." One of the major themes found in the Bible is that of sacrifice. From the story of the first two people in the Bible, the death of animals is tied to the sin of people. It seems kind of strange, that God would command sacrifices as a way to gain atonement and forgiveness of sin. But this theme is always teaching us something important, that the problem of our sin is deep, and the solution is costly. Today we will look at our core problem as people and discover that through his death on the cross, Jesus is our new covenant sacrifice.

What Did Jesus Accomplish On The Cross? - He Is My Reconciliation

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:38:34 -0500

It is probably the most identifiable religious icon in the world. People wear them around their necks, have pictures and images of them in their homes, and make the sign of it across their chest. But do we really know what the cross is all about? We are about to move into Mark's story of the last day of Jesus' life, an event called the passion of the Christ. In the last 24 hours of his life, several significant events happen that lead up to his unjust trial, and brutal death. We will find that the cross itself is not a beautiful thing, but on the cross Jesus accomplished more for us than we can ever understand. The atonement of Jesus has been compared to a multifaceted diamond that has many sides, and every angle reflects light and color in different and beautiful ways. As we journey through the story of the passion, we will look at many of these facets of the atonement and seek to answer the question, what did Jesus accomplish for us on the cross?

The End, Part 2 - Be Ready!

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:27:48 -0500

A friend of mine was telling me the story of the birth of a recent child. His wife felt a few contractions, but believed them to be false, so she didn’t do anything to get ready for the birth. Then all of a sudden she realized things were progressing really fast. She called her husband who rushed home, and by the time he got there, the event was happening. No trip to the hospital, no boiling water, no getting ready. In less than five minutes the baby was born, right there in the house. In this case, the story has a great ending, but ignoring the birth pains that give warning of the end of time and the return of Jesus will lead to a much worse outcome. As Jesus teaches on the last things that will happen on the earth, he passes on one central message. He does not tell how, when, where it will happen, but he guarantees that it will happen, and he challenges us to be ready. Today we will look at the events the Bible promises will take place, and we will be asking you if you are ready for that day.

The End, Part 1 - Sign of the Times

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:01:50 -0500

Stay up late enough at night flipping through TV channels, you will come across the Bible prophecy guy on an obscure cable network. You know the guy, weird white suit, bad comb-over, and he is the guy who has unlocked the key to the Bible prophecies so that you can know when Jesus is coming again. The end times and return of Jesus has been a topic of interest for followers of Jesus for two thousand years. There are so many promises and key events that are pictured, and for centuries Christians have debated the final meaning of all these passages. Mark 13 contains a section of Jesus teaching on this topic from an event called the Olivet Discourse. From the Mount of Olives which overlooks the Temple, Jesus pronounces judgment on the Temple and Jerusalem, but then shares that this judgment is a foretaste of the final day when He will return. For the next two weeks we will look at this section of Mark, but also discuss the overall Biblical teaching called eschatology, which means the study of end things.

Religion - All For Me

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:45:09 -0500

What a scene! Thousands of people mingling in the location of the center of Jewish religious life doing their duty for God. The Temple was always a bustling place, as people brought their offerings, made sacrifices, offered prayers, and did so many other things that represented their Jewish religion and heritage. For many, large offerings were offered loudly so all could notice their piety. Meanwhile, a poor widow placed two pennies in the offering bin. Nobody noticed her, nobody but Jesus that is. Yet, Jesus will teach us about our spirituality and religious service through the offering given by this widow. This morning, Weston Ely will be preaching and talking to us about what this two coin offering teaches us about our own spiritual life.

Questions You Don’t Want Answers To

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:39:42 -0500

If you are a parent, you remember the "why" stage. You know, that period of life around the ages of two or three when kids incessantly asked the question, "Why?" Of course, the first why was never enough, no matter the answer give, it was followed by another "why", and another and another. As a parent, it was somewhat enjoyable to see kids begin to inquire and seek knowledge. But it also got annoying when the questions came not because the child really wanted to learn, but because they just wanted to antagonize and push. Having questions and doubts are a part of our spiritual journey. And we have a God who not only accepts, but encourages our questions and doubts. But our primary motivation for asking those questions has a lot to do with the answers we will receive. In Mark 12, several individuals and groups throw a barrage of questions at Jesus. Their goal, though, is not to hear Jesus answer. Rather they hope to discredit him so they can justify their own belief. Funny though, Jesus is able to answer those questions sufficiently.

Cornerstone

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:09:08 -0500

Picture your life as a building. One stone after another is laid forming a structure, shaped by experiences, challenges, failures, victories, tragedies, and celebrations. What is it that forms the shape and strength of that building. In ancient building projects, especially when the building was to be significant, the first and most important stone in any building was the cornerstone. Builders had to find a stone that was both strong enough to be the foundation and straight enough to give the building shape. The rest of the building was built on and from this stone. It had to be the right stone laid in the right place. In our passage from the Gospel of Mark today, Jesus tells a parable that pictures how most people have responded to Jesus and his mission. Then he uses the image of a cornerstone to demonstrate that we too need the right stone to build our lives on and from if we want to see straight walls and a solid structure.

How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:31:32 -0500

For a thousand years, God's people had been waiting on a promised Messiah, a person God would send to make things right, restore order, and bring peace to life. At the time of the New Testament the Messianic zeal in Israel had reached a fervor, as people looked from one person to the next, what gave the Jewish people this expectation? The answer is that their own prophets gave predictions that God would send a person who would rescue them and bring them peace. The Old Testament contains over 300 prophetic references alluding to 61 specific events or activities that would be done by the coming Messiah. People were looking for the one promised in the Scriptures. The crazy thing is that when He showed up, the Jewish people missed him. In our text today, Jesus curses a fig tree, confronts merchants in the Temple, and is confronted by the religious leaders. Each of these should raise the question for us, "Why didn't they believe?" This is the same question we had better ask ourselves.

The Not So Triumphal Entry

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:30:17 -0500

The Not So Triumphal Entry

Blind Bart

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:57:45 -0500

Blind Bart

The Best Seat in the House

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:55:06 -0500

The Best Seat in the House

Marriage and Divorce

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:29:54 -0500

A recent Time Magazine article raised the question, "Who needs marriage?" While it may seem that our culture is trending away from what many would define as the traditional family, the struggles of marriage and family are not new. Believe it or not, over 2,000 years ago divorce and marriage was a hot topic, as people divorced in significant numbers. In that context Jesus spoke some direct and clear words about the nature of marriage and the danger of divorce. Those words ring true today, especially for those who love Jesus and seek to honor God. In the service today our text is going to lead us right into the vortex of a very heated and often painful topic. But we hope the commands of Jesus as the grace of the Gospel will meet as we share what the Bible teaches about marriage and divorce.

Treasure

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:06:00 -0500

"What Not to Wear" is a reality show featuring people who choose clothing options that are, well, tacky. These people become case studies for the viewer on what not to do if someone wishes to avoid being laughed out of a party. Of course, the hosts of the show fix the problem by putting people in the right outfits for all occasions. We may fear committing a faux pas in the way we approach a social setting, but do we fear making mistakes in the way we approach Jesus. In our study of the Gospel of Mark today we are going to meet a man who was probably the trend setter on what to wear, but we will see he is an amazing case study on how not to approach King Jesus.

True Greatness

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:20:11 -0500

There is no doubt that Jesus was an important person. Although he lived over 2,000 years ago, his impact reaches into every corner of our culture. As a Galilean peasant, he never held a political office, never traveled more than 100 miles from his home, and never had more than a handful of followers during his time on earth. Yet, his stories include healings, miracles over nature, and a myriad of amazing teachings. As Mark gives us the story of Jesus, the first half of this Gospel has answered one basic question, "Who is this man?" We have seen snapshots of Jesus life, with every story showing us that Jesus was so much more than a good man and teacher. He was God in human flesh. The second half of this book begins answering a different question, "So what?" Rather than focusing on the crowds, Jesus is investing in his twelve disciples, showing them how his story will intersect with theirs, and teaching them that true greatness in God's Kingdom looks drastically different than their ideas of greatness.

What Type of Messiah?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 13:17:24 -0500

It had to be on amazing event, something that left Peter, James, and John completely astonished. Jesus takes his three closest followers up on a mountain, and right before their eyes his appearance is totally transformed, as he appears in a glorified state. To us, this event is odd, but those who were there saw something no one else has seen. The veil between heaven and earth was lifted for a few minutes, and the glory of Jesus was on display. At that time, these three men were astounded, but did not really understand what was happening. But they are the ones who passed on the amazing story of the Transfiguration, and for us, it teaches some important things about the true identity of Jesus.

Bringing Your Kids to Jesus

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:17:01 -0500

With it being Fathers Day, we thought it would be a good day to talk about kids and parents. If you are a parent, I have a question for you. What is the single most important thing you can do for your kids? Go ahead and take a moment as you read this to stop and answer that question. Is it to provide a good house? Get them a good education? Help them realize their dreams? Is it to discipline them when they show their rotten side? Today, in our study of Mark, we are going to encounter a dad who understands the single most important thing he can do for his child, and we will find out that Jesus is crazy about kids.

The Cost of Following Jesus

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:09:57 -0500

Back to the Gospel of Mark this morning and the story of Jesus. We titled the series "Follow the Leader" because the key message of Mark is a call to know Jesus and follow Him. Often, we like the things Jesus promises to His followers, Joy, peace, hope, faith, love.... But the path to deeply experiencing Jesus and His blessing is another issue. Jesus' path is to the cross. When Jesus predicts this, his disciples are not sure what to make of it, and they tell Jesus he is a bit crazy. But when Jesus tells them that the path of following Jesus will lead them to the same place....the whole game changes. At Genesis, our desire is to help people find Jesus and then become devoted followers of Him as their King and God. This path is not an easy road, but it is well worth it. Today we will hear from Jesus himself about what this actually means.

Petition

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:56:21 -0500

Often, when we think of prayer we think of the list of things we ask God to do or provide. Yet, as we have seen in the past month during our series on prayer, developing in our prayer life is so much more than making requests. Still, showing our dependence on God by asking for his provision is an important aspect of our prayer lives. This morning, we will be preaching and finishing the iPray series by taking a look at the app of petition, or making requests to God.

Lament

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:24:16 -0500

The past few weeks have been devastating around our state. Tornadoes and floods wreaked havoc, raising the questions about where God is and why our reality often does not fit our expectations of faith. For many, this crisis leads to a rejection of faith. But for so many of us, we have been trained to put on a happy face and sing “praises” without any complaining. But is there a place for honesty with God? The book of Psalms contains several very honest prayers called Lament Psalms given out of times of distress, frustration, despondency and even anger toward God. It is out of the place of complete honesty and transparency with God that depth in relationship often takes place. These Psalms both give us permission to be deeply honest in our conversation with God and provide a model for doing that.

Confession

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 22 May 2011 22:41:40 -0500

It happened so fast. A moment of indiscretion while looking at a beautiful woman, a quick exercise of his power, a few minutes of pleasure. It seemed so easy, nobody would know. Except she got pregnant, and David decided it was better to cover his sin rather than come clean. By the end of the story, the great king of Israel was not only an adulterer, he had also murdered Bathsheba’s husband in an attempt to keep the situation secret. This entire story in the Bible, but from this story David has the incredible opportunity to teach us what prayer should look like in these times. Our iPray series takes us to the App of confession and repentance this morning, and we will learn from this tragic story exactly how we should respond in our prayers at any time we allow the pollution of sin to filter in to our story.

Thanksgiving

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:34:26 -0500

We have special days set aside to remind us to be thankful. Today is one of those days as we are thankful both for and to our moms. We have another such day in November which also comes with way too much food. Yet, there is a big difference between having times set aside to have a thankful heart, and developing a life of gratitude. Pastor and author John MacArthur said, "A thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a believer. It stands in stark contrast to pride, selfishness, and worry. And it helps fortify the believer’s trust in the Lord and reliance of His provision, even in the toughest times. No matter how choppy the seas become, a believer's heart is buoyed by constant praise and gratefulness to the Lord." The second sermon in our iPray series will look at the App of Thanksgiving, and we will look at having our faith grow as a result of continual gratitude.

Praise

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:09:18 -0500

In the last couple years we have been introduced to "apps", user friendly applications for our phones and notepads. One company even reminded us that "There's an app for that," pretty much covering everything. If only our spiritual lives were that easy, a simple app which would make everything work. God calls us to closeness and depth with Him, but often we find it difficult to pray, not knowing what to say or how to do it. Yet, the longest book of the Bible is a book of prayers, poems, and songs designed to teach us how to pray and connect to God. For the next five weeks our series will look at some simple apps we can download into our lives which will teach us how to pray. The first one we will cover is the app of praise, the art of seeing and savoring the greatness of our God.

Who Do You Say That I Am?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 17:12:16 -0500

You ever have one of those awkward moments when you run in to someone that you know, but you cannot remember how and you totally forget their name? They know you and call you by name, but you are scrambling trying to recall information about the person, hoping either for Divine revelation or a way out. Getting the identity of an old acquaintance wrong can be embarrassing, but getting the true identity of Jesus wrong, well that is another issue. In Mark 8, Jesus asks his disciples about his identity, "Who do you say that I am?" The Easter story always confronts us with this question, and our answer will determine the trajectory of our life. Is Jesus a good man, a prophet, one who speaks for God? Or is He more? Our prayer today is that you will come to the place where you know Jesus and can answer this question personally the way the Apostle Peter does when these twelve men are confronted.

Bread and Leaven

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:32:36 -0500

Not much of a baker, but I do enjoy a good bread. This is why we route trips to take us by Lamberts, so we can catch those piping hot rolls. While I don't know much about baking, I do know that if one adds a small amount of leaven to some dough and leaves it overnight, the final product is vastly different that what it would have been without the leaven. Right after a second crowd feeding miracle, this time in among the Gentiles, Jesus is once again confronted by the Pharisees. This leads to an interesting statement by Jesus, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." Jesus is saying that it is easy to subtly muc something in with the true bread, and before you know it you have something totally different than that which you started. In bread, no big deal. But, in spiritual issues, it is the difference between truly experiencing the Bread of Life, or being spiritually hungry.

He Has Done All Things Well

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:48:55 -0500

The new Busch Stadium had just opened with a Cardinal win, 'The Simpsons Movie' was the top movie in the land, American Idol was the top TV show, President George W. Bush was getting ready for a visit from the President of China, and Iran announced they had enriched uranium. These are the big events from this week in 2006, but on a different front five years ago, two people walked out on the stage of Eureka High School to perform a quick sketch, and so began the public worship services of Genesis Church. In the time leading up to April 16th (Easter Sunday) and the five years after, we have seen the grace and glory of God in so many ways. Today we get the honor of celebrating five years of being a church, and echoing the words of people about Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, "He has done all things well."

The Law and Systems of Morality

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 15:33:11 -0500

Everyone likes to think they are a good person. We create systems of morality that emphasize our best characteristics and minimize our worst. If we are not conflicted with greed but struggle with gossip, our system of morality will value charity and judge stealing or hording. However, when it comes to gossip we will turn a blind eye to hurtful effects of spreading rumors. The problem with creating these systems is that it will inevitably exclude those whose struggles are different from your own as morally flawed. What does the Bible say about these systems of morality? Does the Bible create groups of defiled and undefiled people? We will continue our series Follow the Leader: The Gospel of Mark today, with Weston Ely preaching from a passage that begins with a conflict with Jesus and the religious people over the rules and laws and ends with Jesus explaining what it is that actually makes a person guilty.

A Catered Meal and a Midnight Stroll

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:39:46 -0500

As Spring Break comes to an end, many are coming back from family vacations. Beaches and other adventures beckoned, and a week that was supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation turned into an event that can leave us needing another week to recuperate. Jesus also took what was supposed to be a quick vacation with his disciples, and his getaway turned into a busy event that resulted in two of the most incredible miracles in the entire Bible. Today we are going to find out how Jesus does a picnic and a late night stroll, and discover how these events show us the ways He meets our deepest needs.

A Life Given

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:11:25 -0500

He was what we would see as a bit of an eccentric man, wearing animal skins and eating bugs for dinner. But, Jesus' cousin John had a very clear mission in life, to magnify Jesus and point people to their Messiah. He was known as John the Baptizer, because he called people to repent of their sin and self-salvation and he would then baptize those who did. As he preached he announced the imminence of God’s Kingdom, because the true King was here. But, his message put him at odds with another man, Herod Antipas, and John’s end was not what we might hope for this messenger. This morning we will look at a true tragedy, but the tragedy is not really what we are expecting.

Authority Over Sickness and Death

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:43:27 -0500

Our series in the Gospel of Mark will take us into two very tender stories this morning, situations which all of us can sympathize and empathize. A man whose twelve year old daughter is close to death. A woman who has been dealing with a chronic bleeding issue for twelve years. Both is dire need, completely helpless against the pain and struggle they face. Both come to Jesus hoping he can change their situation. We can also relate to the beauty of the story as Jesus shows beautiful compassion for each of them and the others in the story. But beyond this, each of these stories contains a promise and a hope of healing and resurrection. And each story includes a call to come to Jesus and believe with the deep and hard things in our lives that we cannot control.

The Crazy Man From Gerasenes

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:01:13 -0600

Our story in the Gospel of Mark is one of the most bizarre occurrences in the entire Bible. A crazy man who is oppressed and possessed by an army of demons comes running at Jesus screaming at him. And this is the normal part of the story, from here we have demons talking to Jesus and pigs committing suicide. But in this story we are reminded that there is a world that we cannot see, but is very real. And we will be amazed at Jesus who has power and authority over all spiritual forces including Satan and demons.

Offended Or Commissioned

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:57:46 -0600

Cards are in Spring Training, and we have had a few warmer days in the last couple weeks. Don’t know about you, but it got me thinking about summer. Also may have prompted you to start thinking weeks of vacation, get aways with family, and scheduling weeks off of work. So, where are you going this summer? That is the theme of our service today as we want to challenge you to consider the possibility of vacationing for the glory of God. We will look at the life of Jesus in the book of Mark and find that some people are offended by the mission and message of Jesus, while others are commissioned by him. We will also tell you about four incredible adventures you can be a part of this summer, and start sharing how you can jump on board. While doing this, we have some very special guest with us, people who are living the adventure God has for them in Ecuador and Haiti. We also want to invite everyone to join us for a meeting immediately after the service to get more information about two international trips we will be taking to these two countries.

Why are you afraid?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:47:25 -0600

Thirteen men jump in a fishing boat an head out for a trip across the lake. It seemed like a normal night as they zip across the water, yet, the next thing they know, the twelve disciples find themselves in a situation that looks like the movie The Perfect Storm. As they fear for their lives, the discover something else that puzzles them. Jesus is asleep in the boat. Why isn’t he helping to bail water? Doesn’t he care? Little do they know what this event will teach them about the man with whom they have been following. Weston Ely will be preaching for us today as we continue our series in the Gospel of Mark, and look at this incredible story from the life of Jesus.

What the Kingdom Brings

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:07:54 -0600

New kingdoms come in a variety of ways. Ours begin with an inauguration. We live in a world that is being affected by a revolution. Some kingdoms come through conquest and military strength. As Jesus showed up on this earth, the core of his message was the announcement of a new Kingdom, one that was of a different sort. But the Kingdom of God comes in a way that is completely different from any other kingdom. Rather than conquering with strength, or influencing people with greatness, the Kingdom of God comes in smallness and through humility. And those who follow Jesus as king will find that their lives are influenced by the characteristics of His Kingdom. As we pick up our study of the Gospel of Mark today, we will look at a few short parables Jesus told as he illustrated how God’s Kingdom comes and what it brings to the lives of people.

Investing

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:33:40 -0600

Sit down with an investment strategist and he will encourage you to set goals and begin to form a plan to have your money work for you. Often these goals involve golf, fishing, or backgammon on some beach after you reach 65 (or earlier). The Bible is actually a book that gives us similar advice. It tells us that we need to invest and prepare for a time that is coming. But it also encourages us that planning for a few short years of retirement is a goal that will fall far short of God's best. We are encouraged to invest our time, talents, and treasures into a completely different Kingdom, one that will last well beyond this life. As we conclude our series, What’s in Your Wallet?, we will be challenged to invest in the right way.

Generosity

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:40:10 -0600

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." These are Jesus' own words. Problem is that we don't really believe this. A recent study by pollster George Barna showed that, on average, we give less than 3% of our income to any charity, and only one in four church-going evangelical Christians tithe, or give 10% of their income to the cause of the Gospel. This morning we will continue our short series on stewardship titled, What’s in Your Wallet?, and hopefully we will find that a generous God will produce a generous people. In this sermon we hope to teach basic Biblical principles taught in Scripture on giving, and discover that this is God’s plan to bring blessing into your life.

Stewardship

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:05:33 -0600

Jesus taught more about money and possessions than any other subject, and the gist is that Jesus taught that there is a clear connection between our attitude about stuff and greenbacks and our discipleship. He actually warned that we cannot serve both God and money, we will eventually cling to one and begin to despise the other. This series, "What's in Your Wallet?," will look at Jesus own words on this issue from Luke 12 and will help all of us understand that all we are and all we own actually belongs to God. This morning we will look at a guy who had a great portfolio and an outstanding savings plan, but had a basic misunderstanding of who really owned his stuff.

Crazy Train

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:06:39 -0600

In C. S. Lewis book Mere Christianity, he said, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” What Lewis is trying to say is that when we see the things Jesus did and hear the words he said about himself, we are only left with three choices, Jesus was a bold-faced liar, he was a lunatic and delusional, or He was exactly who he claimed to be and is Lord and God. In our look at Mark’s Gospel this morning we will look at how people responded to Jesus in ways that were not belief.

12 Ordinary Men

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:36:01 -0600

At the time, none of them would have been voted Time's "Man of the Year". In fact, the twelve rag tag men that made up the band of Jesus' closest followers would not have been picked by anyone else. But Jesus chose twelve guys, invested his life in these men, and they changed the world. The Bible uses two primary words to describe this group, disciples and apostles. Disciple refers to their closeness to Jesus as they followed him. Apostle means one who is sent and is a reference to their mission. Twelve simple ordinary men, but Jesus' interaction with them gives us both a call and a commission that we too must follow. As we enter a new year, what a great time for us to make sure we are following the same path as these twelve guys.

Religion and the Gospel

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 15:53:26 -0600

One of the interesting themes of the Gospels is Jesus’ interaction with the Jewish religious crowd. These people had a genuine desire to obey God and keep his rules. They were so serious about it that they created a complete system of laws designed to keep themselves and other Jews as far away from God’s law as possible. Their interaction with the Sabbath is a great example. God’s law told the Jews to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, set apart for his purpose. They were not to work, but rather the Sabbath was a day of rest, worship, and renewal. What a great gift, a once a week vacation. But instead of celebrating the Sabbath and enjoying God, they created a set of Sabbath rules that included 39 defined categories of work. The crazy thing is that Jesus intentionally broke these rules, defying the religious folk. In their efforts to please God, the religious crowd missed him. Which is why the topic of religion, the rules, and the Gospel is so very important for us.

Religion and Good Works

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 23:54:30 -0600

One of the incredible ironies of the Gospels is the reality that the most religious people in the New Testament completely missed the Messiah. These people were doing all the right stuff of Christianity and were deeply immersed in the disciplines of faith. But the same people opposed Jesus and eventually had him killed. Religion is a crazy thing. It looks so right, and the people immersed in religion are persistent in all the right things, but the outcome is a journey that ends very far away from Jesus and the Gospel. In our story from the Gospel of Mark this morning we will look at the relationship between the Gospel, religion, and the disciplines of the Christian life.

Religion and Those People

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:26:44 -0600

Matthew (AKA Levi) was a guy who was a total outcast in his world. Now, to be honest, it was his fault. He was a tax collector, which sounds bad enough. But a Jewish tax collector had sold out his people to the evil empire of the Roman Government and used their position to shake down the people to get rich. They were worse than “sinners”, and any religious teacher knew to avoid these people because to associate with a tax collector would be scandalous. Any teacher, that is, except Jesus. Jesus interaction with Matthew teaches us a lot about Jesus very mission, and his love for all people, even the despised. It also shows us a lot about the call God places on those whom Jesus has changed. His mission is our mission!

Religion, Forgiveness, and Healing

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:38:17 -0600

Jesus changes lives! That is the message of the Bible. We come to him with our issues, illnesses, struggles, and brokenness, and He reaches into life and brings healing and transformation. But, our greatest need is so much deeper than what we believe. In our study in the Gospel of Mark, we will see two people who had huge life issues that they bring to Jesus, hoping he will heal them. In both cases Jesus does, but their story reveals that the physical ailment is important, but what they really need is Jesus’ reach deep into their souls with the offer of forgiveness.

A Couple of Days in the Life of Jesus

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:34:14 -0600

How have the last forty-eight hours gone? Where have you visited? What has occupied your time? In a very real way, if you take a good look at a couple of days in someone's life you will learn a lot about him or her. You can discover quite a bit about the values, purpose, and dreams of the person. As Mark tells the story of Jesus, he shows us a couple of days in the life of Jesus. These days show us a snapshot of His life, but they also show us who Jesus was and His purpose for coming.

The Message and The Men

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:43:30 -0600

"Follow me!" Two simple words from the mouth of Jesus provide the clearest explanation of what Christianity is about. As the rightful King, Jesus' mission was to gather subjects for His Kingdom. The first people to follow Jesus are a group of four ordinary fishermen, but their response to these simple words show us the right response to the call of Jesus.

Why Follow Jesus?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 21:19:44 -0500

With the election upon us, we have been inundated with ads and phone calls telling us why the one leader is worth following while the other is not. Who we follow says quite a bit about us, and will determine our direction. For the reader, the theme of Mark is the discipleship, which simply means being a committed follower of Jesus. The key question for a disciple is not how to follow, but who to follow? In this sermon we will look at a simple question--Why should we follow Jesus?

Mark, Peter, Jesus

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:28:30 -0500

There is little argument to the reality that Jesus is the central figure in history. Every time we date a check it is a testimony that Jesus lived and had incredible influence. Western culture has been shaped by those who claimed to follow Jesus, and He is still an icon in pop-culture. More songs have been sung and more books written about Jesus than any other person in history. In the Bible, the Gospel of Mark is one of the four accounts telling of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus. This morning we begin a new series on this fast-paced account that originated from one of Jesus best friends on the earth.

Good Soil

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:54:12 -0500

Fall is the time for harvest! Orchards are full of apple trees waiting to have their fruit plucked. Corn fields are brown and just waiting for a combine to roll through to pull the grain. Pumpkin patches are visited by all sorts of people ready to pluck a big orange ball for their front porch and their pies. When a plant is put in good soil and it grows, it produces the fruit it was designed to produce. Simple concept, the root of a plant will determine the fruit. Fruit is a by-product of the nature and health of a plant. Orange trees won't produce apples, but neither will an apple tree that is not healthy. In Jesus' parable of the soils, the good dirt produces a healthy plant that grows fruit. This morning we will find out that the fruit of the Christ-life is a by-product as well.

Sacrificial Giving and the Hedonic Treadmill

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:14:56 -0500

Our teaching pastor, Mike Hubbard, and his family have taken a weekend off, so Weston Ely will be preaching. Weston is part of Genesis and a student at Covenant Seminary. Over the past few weeks we have been looking at one of Jesus' stories, the parable of the soils. Last week we talked about soil with thorns, which Jesus compared to the person who hears the Gospel, but it never bears fruit because there are so many things competing for our loyalty and trust. Jesus listed the deceitfulness of riches as one of the thorns that keep us from experiencing the Gospel fully. This morning Weston is going to expand on this theme in his message, Sacrificial Giving and the Hedonic Treadmill, as he leads us to look at a story about a woman who did not have much, but her gift was abundantly more than the rest of the people at church.

Thorns

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:17:19 -0500

Doesn’t matter what you grow, pesky weeds and plants with thorns threaten to choke out the good stuff. People plant good seed with high hopes that their plants will be healthy and productive. But there is always another presence in the soil vying for space and nutrients. Farmers spend thousands of dollars and hours of their time spraying fields hoping to keep weeds and thorns out of the fields. We buy all kinds of products of our lawns to do the same thing. But are we working as diligently to keep the thorns and weeds out of the dirt of our lives. In Jesus’ Parable of the Soils, the fourth type of dirt is soil with thorns. Sadly, this soil is representative of a large segment of American Christianity.

Rocky Soil

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:26:59 -0500

Rocky soil! That is a description of my back yard, and most of the dirt located in the Ozarks. Big rocks buried under a few inches of dirt pretty much keeps anything from growing. Plant a little grass seed, and a few days later the plant will pop up, but it will not last because the roots have nowhere to go. In the Parable of the Soils, Jesus says that a lot of people are like this, they hear the Word, and quickly sprout, but their faith in Jesus is short lived. Our challenge today is that we will hear the Gospel in such a way that we allow God to pop up the rocks that keeps us from experiencing the harvest He has for our lives.

The Path, Part 2

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 21:44:14 -0500

Take a drive through farm country over the next few weeks and you will see a remarkable sight, the image of combines rolling through fields gathering the crop, the result of a year's hard work. In the Spring, these farmers started spreading seed with the hopes that the grain would find good soil, develop deep roots, and produce a good crop. Jesus told a parable, which is a story with a deeper meaning, about a farmer spreading seed, and that seed found four types of soil. This story is ultimately about you and me and our journey toward faith. Just like a farmer plants his seeds, God has sent the seed of the Gospel. Whether it takes root and grows depends on the type of soil the seed will find in our ears and in our hearts. Over the next four weeks, we will look at the four types of soil found in this parable. Every person in this room this morning fits into one of these soils, and the challenge for us is that we should be careful how we hear. This morning we will find out what happens to seed that falls on the path, and learn about two enemies of the Gospel.

The Path, Part 1

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:56:14 -0500

When To Turn the Other Cheek

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:54:29 -0500

Human relationships are difficult, but the struggle increases when someone close to us becomes cruel, abusive, or overbearing. As possible topics were submitted for our Top 10 List series, the top voted question was, "How do I find the balance between turning the other cheek, loving others, but not being taken advantage of?" As Jesus taught on this subject, he told his followers that there is a connection between our understanding of how God changes and forgives and our willingness to love others. The consistent call of Scripture to followers of Jesus is to demonstrate mercy and grace to those who treat us badly. But there are times when the best way of doing this is to move away from the relationship.

Dating

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:28:14 -0500

A few years ago one of the TV Networks ran a show called 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter. The dad’s rules included, "Use your hands on my daughter and lose them after," and, "No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil." Of course, the rules were a bit funny but the dad had all kinds of trouble enforcing them. The culture of dating and relationships can be an interesting road to navigate. Today in our Top 10 List Series we will try to answer the second most requested question, "In light of the culture's view of dating and courtship, what does the Bible say about this topic?"

The Holy Spirit

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:10:41 -0500

In the Christian experience of many people, we tend to treat the Holy Spirit like our crazy uncle. Everyone know he is there, and that he is a part of the family, but we never really talk about him, and we are careful where to let him out because you never know what will happen. Any discussion or message on the Holy Spirit is bound to raise questions about some of the perceived weirdness that can take place in Christianity. But maybe some of us have missed some of the beauty and power available as followers of Jesus because we have practically denied His existence and work. This morning we will look specifically at what the Scriptures teach about the third member or the Triune God and His work in our lives and the church.

The End Times

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:18:28 -0500

The end times - R.E.M. sang about it declaring, It’s the end of the world as you know it, and I feel fine. Almost everyone has a theory as to how things will end; comet, Global warming, nuclear war, Martian attack. The Biblical doctrine of how things will end is called Eschatology, and believe it or not, the Bible actually has a lot to say on this topic. You would think that would make it easy to interpret, but there can be almost as many theological views as there are Christians. In our Top 10 List question for today we will look at how our church approaches this topic, and we will actually find that all Christians have more that unifies us on this topic than divides.

Gender Roles

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:30:34 -0500

Sugar and spice and everything nice… Snakes and snails and puppy dog tales… From birth guys and gals are different. But what exactly does this mean and how does it relate to our faith. The Bible actually has quite a bit to say to us about the purpose of our gender and the roles we play as a result. The question this morning from our Top Ten List is "What does the Bible say about gender roles?" The position we hold is Biblical complementarianism, believing that men and women are equal as creations in the image of God but different in God-given roles.

The Gospel and Homosexuality

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:08:34 -0500

Recently, a Christian recording artist came out of the closet announcing on Larry King Live that she had spent the last seven years living with her girlfriend. In the interview she shared that her homosexuality was completely compatible with her understanding of God and her Christian beliefs. This issue is everywhere, and few topics raise emotions as quickly. Some like the Westboro Baptist Church take a hard line approach declaring with a bit of vengeance that God will judge homosexual people. Meanwhile, an entire denomination has embraced gay people even to the point of ordaining homosexual bishops. It seems that the Bible speaks clearly to the issue, but how are we to interpret the teaching of Scripture on this topic. Our goal is to explain this as we try to answer the question, "Is it possible to Resolve the Romans 1 view of homosexuality with the rest of scripture saying it doesn't 'rate' sin?"

Chaos and God’s Sovereignty

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:01:59 -0500

Life is chaotic and crazy! We feel pressure created by the pace of life, and find that so much in our lives feels random and out of control. And all of us have situations where things have happened that just do not make sense. This includes stories of suffering, personal loss, illness, and loved ones who have passed on. From our vantage point it is often hard for us to believe that God is sovereign and has things under control. Does God get caught off guard sometimes? Does he have situations that make him feel out of control? In our Top Ten Series, the question this we will try to tackle in this sermon is, "If God is in control, why do things out of control seem to happen all the time?"

Why God Kills

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:06:32 -0500

Everyone has deep dark secrets, you know, those things you want to hide about yourself or your family. You know they are true, but you just don’t acknowledge those things and you do everything you can to keep others from finding out. The latest in our Top 10 List series is the question, "Why does the Old Testament contain an angry God who supports the killing of women and children?" The Old Testament (and New Testament) does contain some stories that are difficult, and often it is easier to treat these portions of the story of God like we do those dark family secrets. But maybe within these stories there are truths about God that make Him worth trusting.

Why So Many Churches (Denominations)?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:54:17 -0500

Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Non-Denominational… Christianity Today estimates that there are over 38,000 Christian denominations around the world. How could this be if we are all supposed to be worshiping the same God and using the same Bible? In the second sermon in our Top Ten List series we will seek to answer the question, "If Jesus is the truth, why are there so many churches and denominations?"

How can we understand and refute some common misunderstandings of interpretations of the Bible…?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:40:09 -0500

The information age has increased our ability to exchange ideas and learn. Nowhere is that more true than in the area of religion and the study of the Bible. We live in an age where access to the Scriptures is unequaled and people are teaching the Bible everywhere. We have internet, podcasts, TV, radio, Christian bookstores. You would think that since all of these people claim to be teaching the Bible, they would all agree. Yet, we know that is not altogether true. The first question we will address in our Top Ten List series is "How can we understand and refute some common misunderstandings of interpretations of the Bible, misquoted verses, and false teachings?"

These Go to Eleven: What Should We Do To Keep From Letting Our Emotions Turn To Sin?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:37:48 -0500

Emotions can take you on a crazy roller coaster, and sometimes they get out of hand. Whether anger, love, jealousy, hopelessness, depression, or happiness, these emotions can be positive, but can also lead to sinful responses. This morning Weston Ely will be preaching and tackling one of the honorable mentions from our recent voting for the Top 10 Series, "What should we do to keep from letting our emotions turn to sin?"

The Prayer of Nehemiah

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:33:09 -0500

The journey through Nehemiah ends with this sermon. We have found out the great story about a wall building project is really so much more, it is the story of how God builds his people. Along the way we have cast vision for Genesis, showing that the time may be different, but God keeps building a people for His glory and purpose. Brick upon brick, God puts things into the community of faith as He builds us according to his plan. But every brick and stone requires mortar to keep it in place and make the structure solid. For this sermon, we will look all through this great book to discover what that mortar was for Nehemiah, and what it has to be for us.

The Tendency to Drift

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:31:43 -0500

We had a great week in Charleston, and for those who attended this week’s Genesis Family Mission Trip, we come back on a mountaintop having experienced God’s work in and through us. Likewise, the people in the story of Nehemiah had been used by God to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and experienced an incredible revival. Happily ever after, right? Not so fast. Since the Bible is true, it gives us the whole truth. Rather than ending at the high point, the story in Nehemiah takes us about thirteen years down the road where we will discover that they, like us, have a tendency to drift and experience spiritual entropy.

Mind of a Missionary

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 22:18:02 -0500

Today is a big day for our church. Sixty two people from Genesis will be heading to Charleston, MO right after the service today to go on a mission trip. Our project includes leading a VBS for around 120 kids, construction work on the building, a clothing drive, and other community ministry in Charleston. As a part of our service we will be commissioning the group headed to the Southeast, MO town. Weston Ely will be preaching today and will be challenging us with the truth that we should do missions because Jesus did missions. Whether or not you are going, you can be a big part of this trip if you will pray for our group and the work we will be doing.

Leaders

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 30 May 2010 20:09:46 -0500

Franklin Roosevelt once said, "It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead only to find there is no one there." Leaders are vital in any organization, including the church of God. We have so many horrible examples in our culture and time of Christian leaders who have no character and no vision for God’s people. Nehemiah is a great leader, and the book of Nehemiah has all kinds of leadership lessons. God builds his people by giving them the right kind of leaders. But we must always be careful that we choose the right people for the right reasons, because leaders do reproduce themselves.

God of this City

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:49:49 -0500

For the past several months we have been working through the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, a great book with an incredible story. God was in his people, and the book is gives us a picture of how God builds his people. The walls were built around Jerusalem , and the people experienced an incredible spiritual awakening. But what does that have to do with us here today? God is still at work and He is still on mission. He still loves people, and has a purpose for Eureka. And much like the people in Nehemiah’s day, we too have the incredible opportunity to live as the people of God here, knowing that He is the God of this city.

Change and Covenant

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:45:14 -0500

Don’t know about you, but May just seems like the craziest month of the year. Summer is coming so fast, school is nearing an end, vacations and weekend getaways are coming up, and sports teams are in full swing. Not too hard to feel pulled in a hundred directions by a litany of things that can be very good for you and your family. But in the midst, the pulling can cause us to drift away from Christ, the community of faith, and the importance of the Gospel in our lives. We all need times where we stop, remind ourselves that Christ is the center of life, and remember our commitments to Him. We all occasionally need a covenant renewal.

One Generation Away

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 09 May 2010 13:34:58 -0500

We are going to do a little time jump in our study of Nehemiah, moving forward at least 13 years and several chapters. In this time jump we will find that the reforms and revival that came to God’s people after the completion of the walls did not last long, with the primary reason being that they were not careful to pass their faith on to their kids. What legacy will our generation and our church leave? On this day when we honor our moms we are going to think about the truth that our Christian faith is just one generation away from collapse if we do not take seriously God’s plan for marriage and family.

Nehemiah: Don’t Hide; Confide!

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:54:20 -0500

Martin Luther brought the Protestant Reformation by nailing the 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany. The very first of these declared that Jesus had willed that all of life for the believer is one of repentance. Repentance is part of the initial step of faith when someone becomes a follower of Jesus, and for the Christian repentance is the way we make progress in the Christian life. This morning, Weston Ely will be preaching as a part of our series on Nehemiah on the topic of prayer and repentance in life.

Feasting and Community

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:24:59 -0500

Nehemiah: Another Brick In The Wall - Feasting and Community

Preaching?!

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:21:57 -0500

Nehemiah: Aonther Brick in the Wall - Preaching?!

Faithful

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:31:12 -0500

"All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall." The rest of the old song may not fit, but that line is a great description of the story from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. The story in this book begins with the city in shambles, the walls and gates destroyed, and the people living in fear. On a simple level, the story of Nehemiah is about a building project. But it is so much more than just the story of the building of a wall. Nehemiah is also a story that demonstrates how God builds his people. Over the next few months we will take a journey through this book and the incredible story within.

What Does Easter Mean for Gervis Moore?

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:34:00 -0500

On a Sunday morning about 2,000 years ago, a group of women went to a tomb to hold an informal funeral for their friend and leader. Jesus' death rocked their world and left them grieving and dejected. But this funeral was like no other one in history, because the one person who was supposed to be at the funeral decided not to keep the appointment. The events of that funeral still have far reaching implications for us, and for every person who has gone before us. This is the question we want to consider this morning in our celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

52 Days!

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:03:56 -0500

What were you doing in 2006? That year seems like a lifetime ago, but for us here at Genesis, so much has happened in four years. On Easter Sunday 2006, we launched with our first publish worship service. We've come a long way, but more importantly, we have seen the power and grace of God in so many ways. In our study of Nehemiah today, we come to the completion of the walls, a job the people completed in a miraculous 52 days. This was so amazing that Nehemiah's enemies had to admit that the task was accomplished with the help of God. Now that is something to celebrate!

A Dry Crack Is A Happy Crack

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:45:25 -0500

We are taking a break from Nehemiah today, but will stay with the theme of "building." Weston Ely will be preaching this morning, using themes from his job to lead us into truth. Weston works for The Crack Team whose slogan is "A Dry Crack Is A Happy Crack." In any building project, a strong foundation is paramount, but when the foundations begin to shift, cracks will appear. It is so important that we keep our church and lives resting on the sure foundations which is the person and work of Jesus. But we also need to know that if we are not careful, the foundations will shift as false teachers speak into our lives, leaving cracks in our faith and leaving us in desperate need of someone to fix the walls.

Diversion & Deception

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:28:33 -0500

Walls or People

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:56:20 -0600

Opposition & Exhaustion

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:16:11 -0600

Ending Credits

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:45:43 -0600

Faith And A Plan (Part 2)

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:41:32 -0600

Faith And A Plan

podcast@genesiseureka.com (Pastor Mike Hubbard) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:03:25 -0600