Sermons on Brian Mavis:

Putting Jesus' Agenda First (Part 1)

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 13, 2007

Stressing the importance of living for Christ instead of ourselves and our designs.

Putting Jesus’ Agenda First (Part 1) Matthew 16:21-28 March 4, 2007 How many of you here had parents at one time or another? Was there ever a time when you felt that you knew better than your parents – about any given topic? If you’ve never felt that way, then something’s wrong, and we’ll have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Denomination: Wesleyan

Spreading The Gospel Through A Positive Reputation

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Mar 13, 2007

A call for believers to be people who have positive reputations in the community.

Spreading the Gospel through a Positive Reputation Various Scriptures Friday, March 9, 2007 SD Gideons State Convention This is going to be a tough message at times. This has been on my heart for quite a while, and I think that the Gideons are in a position to impact this concern of mine and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:46-47

Denomination: Wesleyan

Putting Jesus' Agenda First (Part 3)

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Apr 3, 2007

Last in 3-part series about living in submission to the purposes of Christ instead of living for ourselves.

Putting Jesus’ Agenda First (Part 3) Matthew 16:24-28 March 18, 2007 This is going to be one of the shortest messages you’ve ever heard from me. I’m not feeling well at all, and I’m simply wiped out. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I was trying to get everything ready for the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-28

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Glimpse Of His Glory

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Apr 3, 2007

Message about the Transfiguration and the Father’s command to "Listen to Him!"

A Glimpse of His Glory Matthew 17:1-13 March 25, 2007 I think it’s possible that no one in here would be upset if God were to give them some sort of experience that would send shivers down their spine and change their lives forever. Maybe He’d take you to some faraway place filled with clouds ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-13

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Crowd Doesn't Count When It Comes To Christ

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Apr 3, 2007

Discussion of the two crowds at Jerusalem - the one at the Triumphal Entry and the one at the trial before Pilate.

The Crowd Doesn’t Count When it Comes to Christ Matthew 21:6-11; 27:15-26 April 1, 2007 I’ve mentioned before that when I was younger, I made a number of foolish decisions, some of which could have cost me my life or at least land me in jail. As I was working on this message, it occurred to me ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Giving To Caesar...2000 Years Later?

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Aug 31, 2008

Message about Jesus’ words to give to Caesar what belongs to him, and to God what belongs to Him.

Giving to Caesar…2000 Years Later? Matthew 22:15-22 August 31, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." We: Who likes paying taxes? If we could find a way to avoid paying them, wouldn’t that be a great ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: Wesleyan

No God, Know Error; Know God, No Error

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 19, 2008

Message based on Jesus’ words to the Sadducees, that they were in error because they didn’t know the Scriptures.

No God, Know Error; Know God, No Error Matthew 22:23-33 September 7, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me: There are lots of areas in life in which I’m completely ignorant. Things like farming, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:23-34

Denomination: Wesleyan

Don't Give God The Leftovers

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 19, 2008

First of a two-parter discussing the idea that God doesn’t just want us to love Him from the "God compartment" of our lives - He wants us to love Him with everything in us.

Don’t Give God the Leftovers Matthew 22:34-40 September 14, 2008 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Introduction I hope you don’t mind if the sermon is a bit shorter today. The topic we’re looking at today, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40

Denomination: Wesleyan

Proving Your Love For God

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Sep 21, 2008

Message based on loving God, but using a couple other passages to support the idea that obeying God is how we show our love.

Proving Your Love for God Matthew 22:34-40 & other Scriptures September 21, 2008 Introduction Have you ever said something in school, maybe on the playground, and someone said, “Oh yeah? Prove it!” And so you’ve gotta step and show them that you’re really not afraid to stick your tongue on a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 22:34

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

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