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Christ Alive Church We exist to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus! Love God & our Neighbor.

10/18/2026

VENEER CHRISTIANITY

Part 2: Roots Before Fruits

[Parable of Sower… #4] “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.”
Matthew 13:20-21

1. It’s possible to grow quickly without growing deeply.

“As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.” Colossians 2:6-8

“Momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

2. Pressure reveals our root system.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, and does not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

“He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4

3. Fruit that remains comes as we abide in Jesus.

“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing... My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.” John 15:4-5,8

“The one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:10

*All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted

10/11/2026

VENEER CHRISTIANITY

Part 2: Roots Before Fruits

[Parable of Sower… #4] “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.”
Matthew 13:20-21

1. It’s possible to grow quickly without growing deeply.

“As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.” Colossians 2:6-8

“Momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

2. Pressure reveals our root system.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots by a stream, and does not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought, nor cease to yield fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

“He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4

3. Fruit that remains comes as we abide in Jesus.

“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing... My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.” John 15:4-5,8

“The one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:10

*All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted

10/04/2026

VENEER CHRISTIANITY

Part 1. Looks Can Be Deceiving

When Christianity Becomes an Appearance

“25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean. 27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew 23:25-28

1. Veneer Christianity focuses on what people can see.

8‘this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. 9‘and in vain do they worship me, …” Matthew 15:8,9a

2. God looks beneath the surface.

“People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“…You desire truth in the innermost being…” Psalm 51:6

3. Jesus doesn’t want to renovate your image; He wants to transform your heart.

“… anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

“Remain in Me, and I in you … for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4–5

23Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; 24And see if there is any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23,24

Jesus didn’t die to make bad people look better. He died to make dead people alive!

*All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted

10/03/2026

Veneer Christianity

It’s possible to look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, attend church like a Christian and still be far from Jesu...
10/02/2026

It’s possible to look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, attend church like a Christian and still be far from Jesus in your heart.

Jesus didn’t come to give us a better religious appearance. He came to transform us from the inside out.

Join us at Christ Alive for a new 4-part message series as we discover what it means to move beyond surface-level Christianity into a genuine, surrendered, Spirit-filled relationship with Jesus.

09/27/2026

JONAH
RUNNING FROM GOD.
PURSUED BY GRACE.

Part 4. God’s Testings Are Always God’s Blessings

CHAPTER 4

“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, ‘Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.’” Jonah 4:1-3

1. Who are you to judge?

“Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4

2. It’s possible to do the will of God without the heart of God.

“God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.” Jonah 3:10b-4:1

Going east often symbolizes moving away from God:

● After Adam sinned, God sent Him out of the Garden, to the east (Genesis 3:24)
● Cain left the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden (Genesis 4:16)
● When Abram and Lot parted, Lot chose to go east to S***m (Genesis 3:11-13)
● With their backs toward the temple of the Lord, men faced east and worshiped the sun (Ezekiel 8:16)
● Jonah went out from the city and sat east of it. (Jonah 4:5)

3. It’s possible to claim God yet live with your back to Him.

“The LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.” Jonah 4:6

“At dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, ‘It would be better for me to die than to live.’” Jonah 4:7-8

“The LORD said, ‘You had compassion on the plant, for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not also have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 people, who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left, as well as many animals?” Jonah 4:10-11

“He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

*All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted

09/20/2026

JONAH
RUNNING FROM GOD.
PURSUED BY GRACE.

Part 2. When You're Suffering, You Must Pray

CHAPTER 2

1. If you want to run from God, the devil will be happy to give you a lift.

“The LORD designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish.” Jonah 2:1

2. Sometimes what we call a problem, God calls provision.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray.” James 5:13

“I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice.” Jonah 2:2

Jonah Prayed The Psalms

“I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me.” Jonah 2:2a

“I was crying to the LORD with my voice and He answered me” Psalm 3:4

“I cried for help from the depth of Sheol.” Jonah 2:3

“You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.” Psalm 16:10

“I have been expelled from Your sight.” Jonah 2:4

“I am cut off from before Your eyes.” Psalm 31:22

“Water encompassed me to the point of death.” Jonah 2:5

“Waters have threatened my life.” Psalm 69:1

“That which I have vowed I will pay.” Jonah 2:9

“I shall pay my vows to the LORD.” Psalm 116:14

3. While we are praying, God is working

“But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you… And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” Jonah 2:9-10 NIV

“That which I have vowed I will pay.” Jonah 2:9

“I shall pay my vows to the LORD.” Psalm 116:14

“An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS IN THE STOMACH OF THE SEA MONSTER FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” Matthew 12:39-40

*All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted

Congratulations to the 7 people getting baptized today. New beginnings!
09/13/2026

Congratulations to the 7 people getting baptized today. New beginnings!

09/13/2026

JONAH
RUNNING FROM GOD.
PURSUED BY GRACE.

Part 2. When You're Suffering, You Must Pray

CHAPTER 2

1. If you want to run from God, the devil will be happy to give you a lift.

“The LORD designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish.” Jonah 2:1

2. Sometimes what we call a problem, God calls provision.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray.” James 5:13

“I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice.” Jonah 2:2

Jonah Prayed The Psalms

“I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me.” Jonah 2:2a

“I was crying to the LORD with my voice and He answered me” Psalm 3:4

“I cried for help from the depth of Sheol.” Jonah 2:3

“You will not abandon my soul to Sheol.” Psalm 16:10

“I have been expelled from Your sight.” Jonah 2:4

“I am cut off from before Your eyes.” Psalm 31:22

“Water encompassed me to the point of death.” Jonah 2:5

“Waters have threatened my life.” Psalm 69:1

“That which I have vowed I will pay.” Jonah 2:9

“I shall pay my vows to the LORD.” Psalm 116:14

3. While we are praying, God is working

“But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you… And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” Jonah 2:9-10 NIV

“That which I have vowed I will pay.” Jonah 2:9

“I shall pay my vows to the LORD.” Psalm 116:14

“An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as JONAH WAS IN THE STOMACH OF THE SEA MONSTER FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” Matthew 12:39-40

*All scriptures are from the NAS Bible unless otherwise noted

We pause today to remember the lives lost. Lord, bring peace to every heart still grieving. You are our everlasting hope...
09/11/2026

We pause today to remember the lives lost. Lord, bring peace to every heart still grieving. You are our everlasting hope.
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Let’s continue to pray for healing and peace for those who were affected 25 years ago. God, heal our hearts. God heal our land!

Address

2658 Corner Lane
Bellmore, NY
11710

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Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 12pm

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