Pastor Rick Hudgens | Great Expectations!

Sunday/Aug/2008 15:32
In the next few months, we as a body of believers at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene will be participating in an extensive and prayerful process of seeking God’s direction for our church, and defining the unique ministry purpose to which he has called us in this place and at this time.

As part of that process, members of the congregation will be encouraged to invest time in Focused Living Retreats (FLR). These two-session weekend retreats (Friday night and Saturday to mid-day) will give participants an opportunity to examine their own lives to clarify their personal values, purpose and calling.

Read more about the Focused Living Retreats
Podcast

Pastor Rick Hudgens | Get Serious

Sunday/Aug/2008 13:30
The question James asked over 1900 years ago is still being asked today at every level of society: "What is the source of all the fights and conflicts among us?" James answered that question with another question: “Do you think they just happen?” Although James specifically had in mind the conflict that leads to battered congregations and split churches, I believe his message is for each of us today. James is telling us to get serious about our relationship with God and with others. Here is an example from history:

At the beginning of the 20th century, Argentina and Chile were coming close to armed conflict over an ongoing dispute over the location of the border. The bishop of Cuyo, monsignor Marcelino del Carmen Benavente, promised to erect a statue of Christ the Redeemer to remind the parties of Christ's message of peace. A large statue of Christ was erected high in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile. Called "Christ of the Andes," the statue symbolizes a pledge between the two countries that as long as the statue stands, there will be peace between Chile and Argentina. Shortly after the statue was erected, the Chileans began to protest that they had been slighted -- the statue had its back turned to Chile. Just when tempers were at their highest in Chile, a Chilean newspaperman saved the day. In an editorial that not only satisfied the people but made them laugh, he simply said, "The people of Argentina need more watching over than the Chileans.”

Today we study a passage from James where he calls us “spoiled children” and tells us to get serious, really serious. He says “Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”

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Pastor Rick Hudgens | Tame Your Tongue

Sunday/Jul/2008 13:19
There's a marvelous story about a young man in a Highland village of Scotland who because of envy and hatred passed on a very depreciating, destroying story about another man in the village. As a result, the rumor spread until the man's reputation was absolutely destroyed. He used his tongue to commit character assassination. He destroyed the man.

And then through a discovery of the real fact he realized that he had passed on a story which was untrue. And so, he went to the local pastor of the village hoping that he could be absolved for this. And the pastor said, "Tell me. What is it that you said?" And he told him. And he said, "Now can I be forgiven?" He said, "Oh no, not that quickly." He said, "I want you to do something for me. Take a whole bag of feathers. I want you to go all around the village and put one feather in every dooryard."

The man thought that was a very unusual instruction from a clergyman. But wanting to be forgiven, he obeyed. And so he went all over the village and out around the outskirts of the town and put one feather in every dooryard. Then he came back, and said to the local pastor "Now, may I be forgiven?"

And the minister said, "Oh no, not yet. I want you to take that same bag and go and pick up all those feathers." He said, "Why, that's absurd, Pastor. I can't do that. The wind has carried them away." And, indeed, that's what happens when we have not tamed our tongue.

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Pastor Rick Hudgens | Faith: The Real Thing

Sunday/Jul/2008 14:02
Biblical Christianity demands the highest levels of commitment. Jesus Himself expressed that He expected His disciples to be willing to sacrifice their very lives to bring people to salvation or they could not even consider themselves His disciples.

Gary Collins, in his book “Beyond Easy Believism” (Word) says: “Cheap grace sounds a lot like easy believism. It is a Christianity without cost or commitment. It sees religion as a personal hobby or an ‘extra’ experience which does little more than add zest and interest to life. . . The heroes of Hebrews 11 would have buckled under if their faith had involved nothing more than a casual commitment to easy believism. The thousands of believers who suffer today in Iron-Curtain prison camps do not maintain their stability and convictions because they have only a cheap grace” (page 35).

"Easy Believism" is the idea that having a mental belief in Jesus Christ is the same as obtaining salvation. In other words, people only need to believe correct doctrines about Jesus and salvation, rather than to actually trust Jesus Christ Himself for salvation. The Bible notes that the "devils also believe and tremble". (James 2:19 KJV)

We are going to look at the passage in James 2:14-26 and see the importance of the balance of faith and works. This is the most controversial and misunderstood passage in the book of James. In this
passage James talks about the difference between real and counterfeit Christians, authentic believers and fake believers. He talks about how you can have a real faith.

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