A Church Where Spiritual Mothers and Fathers Abound

EFCCL A Church Where Spiritual Mothers and Fathers Abound

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Acts 18:1-3, 18-26
Series: The Church You've Always Dreamed Of

On this Mother’s Day, I am thanking the Lord for each and every spiritual mother (and father) I’ve met along the way.

With regards to Priscilla:

  1. She defied ______ ______________ (Acts 18:2).
    • She made her “nest” an __________ _____ ______ _________.
    • She _______ _______ (Acts 18:2-3).
    • She __________ __________ into her home (Acts 18:26).
  2. She and Aquila _________ ________ _______ to the church (Romans 16:3-5).
  3. She cultivated ____ _____________ ________ (Acts 18:18).
  4. She ______ ______ _______ _____ ______ ________ for God’s servant (Romans 16:4).
  5. She did all this while ____________ ______ __________ (Acts 18:26).

Observation: I have yet to pastor the church that has had enough “spiritual mothers and fathers” for everyone who needed one.

Posted on May 12, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under The Church You've . . . and tagged Marty Voltz.

Why the Church Has a Future

EFCCL Why the Church Has a Future

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20
Series: Special Services

The Elders have recommended Pastor Jay Childs as a candidate to be our next Senior Pastor, and today we welcome him to share with us from Matthew 16. Pastor Jay grew up in Southern California and then in Northern Michigan. His wife, Becky, grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Jay and Becky have three young adult children: Ben (married to Ellie), Stacy, and Heidi. Before joining with Midland Evangelical Free Church in 1990, Jay and Becky pastored a church in rural Minnesota for three years.

Besides their passion for the local church, Jay and Becky love to walk, travel, rollerblade, and read. They also have a burden for encouraging workers in the mission field. They have both traveled to a variety of countries in this endeavor. Some favorite countries they’ve visited: Bosnia, India, Malaysia, Italy, Ireland, China, and Egypt. To hear more of Pastor Jay’s sermons, please visit www.mefchurch.org/sermons.html. We also invite you to stay after services today to enjoy a box lunch ($5/person, $20/family) with Pastor Jay and Becky, followed by time for questions and answers.

  1. The Church is ________ by Christ.
  2. The Church __________ to Christ.
  3. The Church is ________ by Christ.
Posted on May 5, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under Special Services and tagged Jay Childs.

A Church Whose Members Seek to Be Filled Daily with the Spirit

EFCCL A Church Whose Members Seek to Be Filled Daily with the Spirit

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Acts 2:1-4
Series: The Church You've Always Dreamed Of

Pentecost in the year 30 A.D. was the day that changed the world!

  1. It is God’s demonstrated purpose that His children should daily seek and experience ___ ________ __________ _____ ______ ________ __________ (Acts 4:8, 31; Ephesians 5:18).
  2. Failure to do so will result in lives filled with ______ _____ _______ _____ ______ _____________ which characterize this present age (Acts 5:3, 8:23; Matthew 12:43-45).
  3. Those who actively pursue the Spirit’s daily filling willl be characterized by:
    • _____________ (Acts 2:4)
    • __________ (Acts 2:4)
    • _____________ _______________ (Acts 2:14ff)
  4. The church whose members experience the fresh filling of the Holy Spirit will be a church used by God to ________ ___ _______ ________ _______ ______ _________ _____ _________ __________ (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 5:32).

Assignment this week:

  • Confess. "O Lord, my heart and mind are so easily filled up with the things of this world."
  • Ask. "As this day begins, I invite you to cleanse me and fill every part of my being with your Holy Spirit."
  • Believe! "Knowing that this is your desire for my life, I boldly face this day in the knowledge of your presence, your power, and your discernment."
Posted on April 28, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under The Church You've . . . and tagged Marty Voltz.

A Church That Waits on the Lord

EFCCL A Church That Waits on the Lord

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5
Series: The Church You've Always Dreamed Of

In an age of instant everything, Jesus commands us to “Wait on the Lord!”

  • The church that waits on the Lord is the church that understands she is under orders (Acts 1:8b).
  • The church that waits on the Lord is an expectant church (Acts 2:1).
  • The church that waits on the Lord is a praying church (Acts 1:14).
  • The church that waits on the Lord is a church that will receive the Father’s promise (Acts 1:4).
    • Presence
    • Power
    • Direction
  • The church that waits on the Lord is a church that boldly moves forward together (Acts 1:14)!

The church never gets beyond her need to wait on the Lord. “Wait on your God always!” (Hosea 12:6).

Assignment for the week: Read Isaiah 40:28-31. (In verse 31, read “wait” in place of “hope.”) Tell God where it is in your life that you need your strength renewed. Ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit in that area of your life. Now wait expectantly on the Lord!

Posted on April 14, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under The Church You've . . . and tagged Marty Voltz.

The Beauty of a Desperate Heart

EFCCL The Beauty of a Desperate Heart

Speaker:​ Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Mark 10:46-52
Series: The Church You've Always Dreamed Of

No one likes to find himself in a desperate situation. But for the man or woman of faith, such occasions actually serve to display an inner beauty that might otherwise go unseen.

  • A desperate heart is a heart ___________ _____ ______ ________ (v. 46).
  • A desperate heart is a heart _______________ _____ _________ ___________ (vv. 47-48).
  • A desperate heart is a heart _______ _____ ______ ________ _____ ______________ (vv. 47-48).
  • A desperate heart is a heart ________ _____ _________________ (v. 50).
  • A desperate heart is an ____________ ________ (v. 51).
  • A desperate heart is a heart that ________ ______ _____ _____ ___________ (v. 52).
  • A desperate heart is a heart that ______ ___________ _______ ____________ (vv. 49, 51-52).

Lord, I’m desperate for you today. I have no claims on you. I simply plead for your mercy. Mercy me, King Jesus! Hear my cry and call me to come close to you. Do something beautiful with my desperation. Turn it into praise! And make me whole! Amen.

Posted on April 7, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under The Church You've . . . and tagged Marty Voltz.

Resurrection: A Story That Demands a Response

EFCCL Resurrection: A Story That Demands a Response

​Speaker:​ Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10
Series: Special Services (Easter Sunday)

Only rarely do we hear a story that demands a response—a story so compelling it will forever alter our existence. The story of Christ’s resurrection from the dead is just such a story.

How shall we respond to it?

  • Come, fear!
  • Come, believe!
  • Come, rejoice!
  • Come, worship!
  • Go, tell!

The resurrected Christ may be found wherever men call upon His Name!

Posted on March 31, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under Special Services and tagged Marty Voltz.

The Day the King Came to Town

EFCCL The Day the King Came to Town

Speaker:​ Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11
Series: Special Services (Palm Sunday)

Before the betrayal
Before the bloodletting
Before the cross . . .

  • He came to them as the _______ _____ _______ (v. 9a, John 12:17-18).
  • He came to them as the _______ _____ ________ (v. 2).
  • He came to them as the _______ _____ ____________ (vv. 9-10).
  • He came to them as the _______ _____ ________________ (v. 11, Matthew 11:15).
  • He came to them as the _______ _____ _______ (Luke 19:41ff).

What shall we do with the King?

Posted on March 24, 2013 by EFCCL and filed under Special Services and tagged Marty Voltz.