Sermons on Brian Mavis:

How To Be A Bad Judge

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jul 31, 2005

A second message based on Matthew 7:1-5, but from a different perspective...

How to be a Bad Judge Matthew 7:1-5 July 31, 2005 Introduction I’m not sure what’s going on, but I can’t seem to get past this issue of judging. At the base, I think it’s that I’m tired of people taking misperceptions about what judging is really all about and running around with error ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Danger Of Feeding Dogs And Pigs

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Aug 8, 2005

Discerning how to recognize and respond to people who treat the gospel and its messengers with disdain or contempt.

The Danger of Feeding Dogs and Pigs Matthew 7:6 August 7, 2005 Introduction Have you ever come across a verse or passage in Scripture that when you look at it, it just kinda makes you scratch your head and go, "Huh?" It’s okay, you can be honest. Well, our passage today is one of those for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:6

Denomination: Wesleyan

"My, What Big Teeth You Have!"

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 2, 2005

A discussion of false prophets and false followers.

"My, What Big Teeth You Have!" False prophets and false followers Matthew 7:15-23 August 28, 2005 Introduction Most of us are familiar with the children’s story of Little Red Riding Hood. But let me just re-cap it for everyone. Little Red Riding Hood was a little girl who decided to pay her ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:15-23

Denomination: Wesleyan

Narrow Road, Small Gate

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 3, 2005

Discussion of Jesus’ words about only getting to heaven through him.

Narrow Road, Small Gate Matthew 7:13-14 August 21, 2005 Introduction This is one of those messages that fits in real well with the beliefs of our church and what the Bible teaches about God, Jesus, and heaven, but won’t win me any friends with people who think we’re narrow minded about such ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

Reflecting Jesus To The Outcast

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 12, 2005

Message about Jesus’ healing of the leper and what we can learn and apply from it.

Reflecting Jesus to the Outcast Matthew 8:1-4 September 11, 2005 Introduction As we begin our time in the Word of God today, I’d like us to think about someone we used to know that we’d avoid at any cost. Maybe it was back in high school or college. Maybe you don’t have to go back that far. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-4

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Life-Changing Resolution

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 22, 2006

Message about committing to taking practical steps to love God more and serve him better.

A Life-Changing Resolution Mark 12:28-34 January 1, 2006 Introduction How many of you here have made some resolutions for this year? It’s okay, you can be honest! Here are a few less-serious resolutions: "I have resolved not to do drugs anymore, because I get the same effect just standing up ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Denomination: Wesleyan

Open Your Eyes!

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 22, 2006

Message "based" on John 4:35 - using the concept of the harvest. Warning!! This is not how I would normally use this passage! It is used in relation to a celebration coming to our city this year.

Open Your Eyes! John 4:35 January 8, 2006 Introduction This is not going to be your typical Sunday message from me. Rather than the type of message where I take a passage of Scripture and walk us through it to find principles to apply, I want this to be a kind of "where do we go from here" ...read more

Scripture: John 4:35

Denomination: Wesleyan

Lessons From The First Missionaries

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 22, 2006

From Jesus’ words to the apostles in Matthew 10.

Lessons from the First Missionaries Matthew 10:1-10 January 15, 2006 Introduction Well, after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, we’re finally getting back to our walk through the gospel of Matthew. We’ve gotten through 9 chapters, and have covered a lot of ground, including the Sermon on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Shrewd As Snakes And Innocent As Doves?

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 22, 2006

Discussion of Jesus’ words about taking the message to those who may or may not accept it.

Shrewd as Snakes & Innocent as Doves? Matthew 10:11-16 January 22, 2006 Introduction How many people here are "snake" people? I mean, you like snakes, you can hold them, and you’re not freaked out by them? My dad’s great with snakes - even rattlesnakes. When I was about Noble’s age, my dad ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:11-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

Be Amazed At Jesus!

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 13, 2006

A message trying to encourage our gang to live in awe of Christ.

Be AMAZED at Jesus! Various Scriptures February 12, 2006 Introduction Did any of you watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday night? I love the Olympics, because history is often made. And we come away from some of the events simply amazed at what Olympic competition brings out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:22

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jesus And The "Enemy"

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 15, 2005

Message describing Jesus’ encounter with the Centurion asking for healing for his servant.

Jesus and the "Enemy" Matthew 8:5-13 September 25, 2005 Introduction Our passage of Scripture contains an episode in the life of Jesus that is familiar to most, if not all Christians who have been going to church for any length of time or gone to a Sunday School class as a kid. It’s the story ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Wesleyan

Live On The Rock

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 15, 2005

A look at the final words of the Sermon on the Mount - living as the wise person who listens and applies the words of Jesus.

Live on the Rock Matthew 7:24-29 September 4, 2005 Introduction Well, folks, we’ve covered a lot of ground since starting to look at the life and words of Jesus in the gospel according to Matthew. And today, we finish up our look at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has talked about a wide range ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-29

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jesus The Healer

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 15, 2005

Message bringing out what we can learn from various episodes of Jesus’ healings.

Jesus the Healer Various passages from Matthew 8-9 October 2, 2005 Introduction Today’s message is going to be a bit of a departure from my normal pattern as we go through the book of Matthew. Normally, we look through a passage, and glean the lessons we can learn and apply to our life. But ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Are You Really Sure You Want To Do This?

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 15, 2005

A message about Jesus’ words regarding the cost of discipleship.

Are You REALLY Sure You Want to Do This? The Cost of Following Jesus Matthew 8:18-22 October 9, 2005 Introduction I thought I’d better warn you up front that my introductory remarks are going to be longer than usual, but you don’t have to worry about the rest of the message - we’ll still get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:18-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jesus, Master Of Creation

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 19, 2005

Message from the event of Jesus’ calming of the storm. Warning! This is not your usual sermon on Jesus "calming the storms of life..."

Jesus, Master of Creation Matthew 8:23-27 October 16, 2005 Introduction We had earlier discussed three things Jesus demonstrated his authority over. First we looked at the fact that he exercised authority over illness, whether it had "physical" origins or demonic origins. He exercised ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Wesleyan