custom categories: teacher: ryan couch

Do you find that you have trouble truly believing that Jesus is enough? Are you constantly enamored with someone or something other than God? Have you ever considered that your view of God might be flawed? How you see and understand Him to be directly affects how you esteem and worship Him, as well has how you interact with, and relate to, people and stuff. Guest speaker, Pastor Ryan Couch teaches a message on Psalm 145, entitled, "Your God Is Too Small"

Do you know that Jesus has the best possible life for you? Do you realize that in Jesus you find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment? Do you understand that trying to find your identity apart from Jesus will only lead to discouragement, despair, and finally, destruction. Jesus said that He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. When you don't have these things, the thing that is keeping you from these is the fact that Jesus is calling you to forsake all in order to embrace these promises. Pastor Ryan Couch preaches on Luke chapter 14, and the life that is only found in Jesus.

As David begins to face the battle against Absalom, he commands his men to deal gently with his son Absalom; a command which Joab had no intention of keeping. Pastor Ryan preachers on 2 Samuel 18, and deals with leadership, rebellion, and obedience to authority.

In an effort to be at peace with all people and religions, many will say that all roads lead to God. This is as foolish as saying all roads lead to your house. When Jesus was asked if those who are saved will be few, he responds by saying that there will be many who will try to enter, but they will not have entered through the narrow gate, and the master will say, "I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!" As pastor Ryan teaches through our text, he presents the gospel in a very clear and direct manner. This recording was done during our church in the park, July 5th.

In this short audio clip taken from a teaching in 2nd Samuel, Pastor Ryan takes a moment to charge the men with some truths from the life and death of Ahithophel, in 2nd Samuel 17:23.

What are you living for? What drives you? What is the passion of your life? There are really only two answers to that question. One answer is that you are living for your kingdom, your agenda, and your passions. The other answer is that you are living for Jesus' kingdom, Jesus' agenda, and Jesus' passion. If you are seeking God's kingdom, then all of the other things that you might want or need will be added to you. However, if you are seeking your own kingdom, not only will you not find what you're looking for, but you'll miss out on the kingdom of God.

It has been a few years since David's son Absalom killed his own brother, Amnon, for raping his sister, Tamar. The consequences to David's sin that were told to David by the Lord were now beginning to snowball. Absalom has been in exile from the king, so Joab concocts a plan to manipulate David into reconciling with him. As Pastor Ryan teachers through 2 Samuel 14-15, he points out the effects that sin has, and the consequences we can face simply because sin is destructive.

We are all called to be on mission for the sake of the gospel. How well we understand that determines how effective we are in that mission. Understanding that the greatest danger to the spread of the gospel is really christians who have dismissed the stuff the bible does say about sin, and replaced it with what it doesn't say. The world sees this and says, "Why should I listen to you?" As Jesus is performing miracles and proclaiming the kingdom, he is faced by religious opposition that cares nothing for people, and only for self-imposed legalistic rules and regulations. In our text we are challenged with Jesus' words to the religious leaders of His day.

For most Christians, being a doer is a little easier than being a worshiper. We find ourselves relating more to Martha, who was busy serving, than to Mary, who was sitting at Jesus' feet. So when we come to Jesus' model prayer, most of us, if we're honest, have to admit that we have a hard time praying. As Pastor Ryan breaks down, what is commonly referred to as "The Lord's Prayer", we discover the way to pray for things according to God's will, and His heart, and we cease the practice of simply giving God a run-down of the events of our lives.

After David's sin with Bathsheba, and the murder of Uriah, David married Bathsheba, but the Lord was displeased. God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David's sin. As Pastor Ryan teaches through chapter 12, we see David confess his sin, and we find God's forgiveness of the sin, yet we still see David suffer the consequences of his sin. But in it all, God is at work in redemption.

"A true test of a person's character is in how he treats those who can offer him nothing in return". As we look at chapter nine of 2 Samuel, we find David desiring to show kindness to the house of Saul for the sake of Jonathan. As David inquires as to the state of the household of Saul, he discovers that Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, is still alive. After David calls for Mephibosheth, he awards him all of Saul's land and tells him that he will be a guest at the kings table for the rest of his life.

We all have dreams and ambitions that we are passionate about, and King David was no different. David's dream was to build a house for the Lord. On the surface, this seemed like a good idea, but the Lord had different plans. It is all too easy for us to fall into the belief that the Lord needs us to do something for Him. It's only when we begin to see the Lord for Who He is again that we get our perspective straightened out.

God is on a mission. The Bible is the record of God's mission. The gospel of Luke reveals the culmination of God's mission: Jesus, who came to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). God has entrusted us with His mission…just as the Father sent Jesus so Jesus is sending us to continue the mission (John 20:21) We are going to see 11 truths about our mission 1. The mission is to be done in community (vs. 1) 2. The mission is a great need (vs. 2a) 3. The mission lacks missionaries (vs. 2b) 4. The mission is accomplished through prayer (vs. 2c) 5. The mission is difficult (vs. 3) 6. The mission demands contentment (vv. 4-8) 7. The mission involves a simple message (vs. 9) 8. The mission will be rejected (vv. 10-15) 9. The mission is a great responsibility (vs. 16) 10. The mission can create pride (vv. 17-19) 11. The mission is about what Jesus has done for us not what we do for Him (vs. 20)

God is on a mission. The Bible is the record of God's mission. The gospel of Luke reveals the culmination of God's mission: Jesus, who came to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). God has entrusted us with His mission…just as the Father sent Jesus so Jesus is sending us to continue the mission (John 20:21) We are going to see 11 truths about our mission 1. The mission is to be done in community (vs. 1) 2. The mission is a great need (vs. 2a) 3. The mission lacks missionaries (vs. 2b) 4. The mission is accomplished through prayer (vs. 2c) 5. The mission is difficult (vs. 3) 6. The mission demands contentment (vv. 4-8) 7. The mission involves a simple message (vs. 9) 8. The mission will be rejected (vv. 10-15) 9. The mission is a great responsibility (vs. 16) 10. The mission can create pride (vv. 17-19) 11. The mission is about what Jesus has done for us not what we do for Him (vs. 20)

As we continue our study through the book of 2 Samuel, we find David taking over Jerusalem, and beginning to firmly establish his kingdom. As all of the tribes of Israel come to him at Hebron, we discover that they are fed up with Ishbosheth as King, and realize that David should have been King all along. This leads to the conquering of Jerusalem, and the return of the Ark of the Covenant, but not without some set-backs, as David has to learn how to properly handle the things of the Lord. Upon the successful return of the Ark, David is rebuked harshly by his wife, Michal, for dancing passionately in celebration before the Lord. Pastor Ryan concludes with a passionate charge to husbands and wives.

Pastor Ryan delivers a message about the death of Jesus on, during our Good Friday service, 2009.

Pastor Ryan delivers a message about the death of Jesus on, during our Good Friday service, 2009.

As David is about to inherit the Kingdom of Israel, he is faced with opposition right away as some refuse to recognize him as king, and Abner sets up Ishbosheth as a puppet king. We see David faith and patience displayed as he trust the Lord through these trials.

Each of us has a mission we're called to, but how we respond to that calling is largely shaped by how well we understand Jesus. The more we know Him, the more it shapes our view of our mission, and the resources at our disposal, namely, the power of the Spirit of God at work in and through us. We will no longer be willing to make excuses for our inability to do what we are being called to do because we will understand that it is Christ at work in us, enabling us to do what He has called us to do.

Each of us has a mission we're called to, but how we respond to that calling is largely shaped by how well we understand Jesus. The more we know Him, the more it shapes our view of our mission, and the resources at our disposal, namely, the power of the Spirit of God at work in and through us. We will no longer be willing to make excuses for our inability to do what we are being called to do because we will understand that it is Christ at work in us, enabling us to do what He has called us to do.