Converse With God

Sun, Sep 13, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: James 1:12-25 Based on James 1:12-25, this week's message helps us to discern between a "trial" that draws us closer to Christ and a "temptation" that Satan uses to entice us away from Him. Called to simply "be who we are," Pastor Jeff's message focuses on the blessings the Lord brings upon us through the hard times we face. Declared righteous through faith in Jesus, we live righteously, that is, we walk in obedience to God's Word.

Sun, Aug 16, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Ephesians 5:1-20 We follow Jesus. He is the perfect example for us, showing what love for God and love for neighbor looks like. But in order to understand Jesus as our perfect example, we first look to Him as the perfect offering and sacrifice to God. For us and for our salvation Jesus gave up His life that we might be His own and live under Him in His kingdom. "We do because we are," is a phrase from this week's message, summing up the life of obedience to which we've been called. Take a listen and enjoy this journey through Ephesians 5:1-20.

Sun, Aug 09, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Ephesians 4:17-32 A new day. A new start. A new school year. A new job. You name it. When you begin something new, life is good and full of endless possibilities. So it is with those who are in Christ--we are made new each day as we trust in Him. Enjoy this week's message from Ephesians 4:17-32 as we learn how the saving work of Jesus changes the "default settings" of our hearts to give us new attitudes and actions as we are rooted in His forgiveness.

Sun, Aug 02, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16 e walloped the Evil One and his minions by His death, descent and resurrection. Ascended to the Father's right hand, Jesus now equips His people to know Him AND to make Him known! Dig into God's Word as you listen to this message based on Ephesians 4:1-16. Be rooted. Be equipped. Be part of Jesus' "body" to do His Kingdom Work through the "calling you have received" (Eph. 4:1).

Sun, Jul 26, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Ephesians 3:1-21 We'll never fully understand our God and the ways He works. "Mystery" is the word the Apostle Paul uses to describe our saving God and His life-giving Gospel. In this week's message from Ephesians 3:1-21, Pastor Jeff Alexander helps us to see how this "mystery" reaches back into the past, reveals itself in the present, and ranges into the future to create one family, one community in Christ. In response to this "mystery," we trust and praise Him even when we can't understand all of His ways.

Sun, Jul 26, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Lamentations 3:22-33 & John 11:17-27 In this service of remembrance, we pray for a servant leader in our church family, Alice Pollert, as she grieves the tragic loss of her daughter, Jill, and grandsons, Branson and Aidan Buck. The people of Mount Olive join with our larger Center Grove and Greenwood community in praying for and supporting the Buck family. Together, we cling to Jesus as "the Resurrection and the Life" and sing of Him, "How Great Thou Art!"

Sun, Jul 19, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Ephesians 2:1-22 Paul pulls no punches in Ephesians 2. "All of us" are spiritually dead, objects of wrath, and on a path to destruction. Without Christ, there's no hope. With Christ, there's life and hope and a guaranteed future in the Father's presence for all who believe. Today's sermon by Pastor Jeff Alexander helps us to better understand the grace of Jesus--grace that not only saves us, but also enables us to be the "handiwork" of our Savior.

Sun, Jul 12, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Ephesians 1:3-14 & John 6:38-40 Even before the Lord said, "Let there be light," He chose to include you in His family, on His "team." Both mysteriously and graciously, the Father elects you as you hear, believe, receive and wait for the work of Jesus in your life. He's speaking. Are you listening? Enjoy this week's message from Pastor Jeff Alexander based on Ephesians 1:3-14.

Sun, Jun 28, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-11 Jesus is generous. When you're rooted in Him, He makes you generous as well. Today's message walks us through Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 8:1-11, as the example of the Macedonian believers is set before us. God's Word calls us to generously offer our whole lives: first to the Lord, then to others. In so doing, we learn what a life of "excellence" looks like as we are rooted in Jesus' generosity, which is His saving grace.

Sun, Jun 21, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Rooted in God's gifts, we're commended to one another and sent forth by Jesus to be co-workers in the ministry of the Gospel. Today's message by Pastor Jeff Alexander is based on Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, where we see how the Lord works in and works through the lives of His servants, His co-workers, even through times of trial and hardship. There's no room for delay! "Now is the time of God's favor!" (2 Cor. 6:2) | Follow on Twitter @Root66Route

Sun, Jun 14, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Reflecting on God's grace to us as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, today's message by Pastor Jeff Alexander examines Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Take a listen as we unpack God's truth and apply it to our lives of discipleship as we "Faith Forward" and are equipped to receive and to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sun, Jun 07, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 astor Jeff is no David Letterman, that's for sure. Yet in this week's message, he shares his own "Top Ten List" of things the Lord has taught him in his first 10 years as a pastor. As today's message highlights: "God's Word works!" When we're at our weakest, He's at His strongest. Sometimes we simply need to get out of the way.

Sun, May 31, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 2:22-36 & Colossians 1:17-20 On the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Christian church throughout the world glorifies the Triune God for His work to save us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this final part of our "Isn't She Lovely?" sermon series, Pastor Jeff Alexander teaches from Acts 2:22-36, where we see all three members of the Trinity at work. Through God's Word, the Holy Spirit focuses us on Jesus as our true and lasting Source of growth and the only Giver of eternal life. Let's connect on Twitter | @Root66Route

Sun, May 17, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 1:1-26 Jesus ascends into heaven, and the Bride looks up! As we study Acts 1:1-26, we see how Jesus Christ--40 days after His resurrection victory--ascends to the Father's right hand, where He now reigns in great power and glory. He leaves, yet He doesn't leave us alone. As we look up to Jesus in faith, He empowers us with His Spirit to be His witnesses "to the ends of the earth." Enjoy this message from our 2015 Confirmation Service as our youth confirmands publicly confessed their commitment to Jesus! | Follow us on Twitter @Root66Route

Sun, May 10, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 10:34-48 Has God's Truth ever directly confronted you with something that uprooted your biases and challenged everything you've ever known? That's Peter in Acts 10. Even though he would've known Jesus' call was for him to go to "all nations," Peter still needed the Spirit-given Word to bring him to the full realization that "all" means "all"! Peter first learns himself and then preaches to others that Jesus alone is the Savior of both Jews (like Peter) and Gentiles (not like Peter), because all people need His forgiveness, full and free! Today's message by Pastor Jeff Alexander focuses us on the completed work of Jesus Christ and the reality that all who trust in Him stand accepted, by His grace, as His Bride. | Let's connect on Twitter @Root66Route

Sun, May 03, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 8:26-40 & 1 Peter 3:13-16 Persecution strikes. Christians scatter. Yet, so does the Word of God. In today's message from Acts 8:26-40, we see how Deacon Philip, a servant leader in the early church, seized the Spirit-given opportunity he was given to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a man from Ethiopia. How are you and I doing the same? How are we following the Spirit's guidance? How are we reaching out--even across cultural divides--to proclaim the gospel? | Follow us on Twitter @Root66Route

Sun, Apr 26, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 4:1-22 & John 15:18-19 How can we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ boldly, lovingly and persuasively in a culture that's increasingly intolerant of Jesus Christ's exclusive claims to be "the Way, the Truth, and the Life"? Today's message guides us in dealing with this dilemma through the model of Peter and John as they proclaimed Christ amid hostility. Pastor Jeff Alexander teaches from Acts 4:1-22 so we can learn from the earliest church, the Bride of Christ, as "She Keeps Growing," both rooted in and routed in God's Word.

Sun, Apr 19, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 3:11-21 We don't see all that Jesus sees. He sees His Bride in the past, the present and the future. He sees her both on earth and in heaven. He sees the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Yet, He (the Bridegroom) says, even sings, of her: "Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? Isn't she precious?" Kind of like Stevie Wonder. Kind of. But that's beside the point. When Jesus looks upon His Bride, the church, He sees that she finds healing--both on the inside and on the outside--by His name and through faith in Him.

Sun, Apr 12, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: Acts 4:32-35 & Ephesians 5:25-27 The good. The bad. The ugly. Jesus sees it all. Yet, He still says of His people, His church: "Isn't she lovely?" This is no Stevie Wonder chorus; this is how Jesus feels about His "bride"! As a bride beautifully dressed for her Husband, the church lacks nothing because she is the recipient of everything the Bridegroom gives through His life, death and resurrection for her.

Sun, Apr 05, 2015 by Pastor Jeff Alexander Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 & Romans 7:21-25 Easter Sunday is the best day of all! As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, let's dig into what the great "Resurrection Chapter" of the Bible (1 Corinthians 15) says about GR@CE. The Apostle Paul admitted he was a "wretch" who needed GR@CE. Poet John Newton confessed the same. How about you? As you admit to being a "wretch," God has some great news for you today: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! ALLELUIA! Now, that's GR@CE! (Twitter: @Root66Route)