Are you struggling with addiction? Are you discouraged? Are you wanting to dig deeper in your relationship with God? Do you want to encounter God in a new and fresh way? Do you have a friend that is walking through a divorce? Do you have a loveed on that is need of help? The MCC Blogs are a place where you can find help, hope and healing on topics that matter.

Excellence Now

March 19

Today, I will continue my series about habits. I am introducing habits that we don’t often think of and this week I wanted to talk about the habit of excellence. Excellence is doing the best you can with what you’ve got. The key is to treat what you own and live your life with excellence - make it a lifestyle.

Stir it Up

March 12

There is a high value placed on the dying words of a person. If you have been with a loved one as they were ready to pass from this world to the next, you probably remember the last thing they said to you. The value of someone’s dying words is even legally valuable. We have the Apostle Paul’s last words in 2 Timothy. This book is known as the last writings of Paul. It is a pastoral book written to his spiritual son, Timothy. It was written during the time of Nero who was violently against Christians, blaming and killing them for things he did. Paul had been released from prison but was in prison again for preaching and teaching the Christian faith. In filth, in a cistern, his thought was to write a letter to Timothy to challenge and encourage him. Paul knew his next step was his end, his death. It’s important for us to hear the passion and urgency Paul wants to press into Timothy.

The Happy Habit

March 5

We have been in our series called “Make That Break That” talking about habits that we need to develop and habits that we need to get rid of in order to live a year of unlimited possibilities. I would like to consider a habit today that I call “The Happy Habit”. Proverbs 3:13 AMPC says, “Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences].”

The Satisfaction of Generosity

Feb. 26

I have been doing a series “Make That Break That” about habits that we need to develop and habits that we need to get rid of in order to live with unlimited possibilities. One of the bad habits we should break is being selfish and self-centered, and the best way to do that is to form the habit of being generous.  

The Habit of Confidence

Feb. 19

I’ve been talking about the habits that will help us make this year a year of unlimited possibilities. I’ve written about the habit of putting God first and the habit of speaking right words by changing our thoughts. My purpose in these messages is to highlight habits we need to make and habits we need to break. We will find as we make better habits, like the habit of faith, that we overcome the bad habits like worry and fear.

Super Sunday

Feb. 12

Today is Super Sunday. The Super Bowl is the culmination of what teams aspire to. One of the most important things on a football team is the relationship between the quarterback and the center. This relationship is a delicate balance between trust and intimacy. Their relationship is so intimate, that the center knows the touch of his QB  and understands the message of the pressure in that touch, causing him to know when the quarterback is ready for the play.

Secure Your Victory

Feb. 5

I have been discussing the topic of habits the past few weeks with a focus on spiritual habits - habits that will change you, such as putting God first in your day, in your service, and in your finances, aligning yourself with God’s purpose for your life, and living a life of faith, a habit of faith that overcomes fear and worry.

The Habit of Reset

Jan. 29

If you have ever raised or helped raise children, there comes a point when you realize that much of their tension and frustration are self-inflicted. If you take it a step further, you realize we, having started out as children, often don’t change much over the years. Much of the time, we are the source of our own angst.

The Habit of Faith

Jan. 22

We’ve been talking about habits the past couple of weeks - putting God first and discovering your purpose. Today, I want to focus on the habit of faith. The Bible says that we are to live by faith. Living by faith in God takes the pressure off of us and allows us to enjoy life in a much greater way.

Life By Design

Jan. 15

“Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (Romans 12:1-2 MSG).

Make God First

Jan. 8

This will be a year of unlimited possibility. Declare it with me! Right here at the beginning of this new year, let’s consider our habits.We are what we repeatedly do. If you haven’t read my book, Make That, Break That,  this would be a great time to get a copy!I desire real change this year, a transformation. In any area of life, if you want to see something new, you’ve got to make a change. The way to live life the way God has for us is challenging; it’s doable but it’s challenging.

Unlimited Possibilities

Jan. 1

I want to declare this is a year of Unlimited Possibilities. When a woman is pregnant, for the first few months, she doesn't look any different. She's the same size, wears the same clothes, and has the same amount of energy. From the outside, there's no sign that she's going to have a baby, and if you just look at her naturally, you could think, "You're not pregnant, there's nothing different about you".

The Center Peace

Dec. 25

It's been quite the build up: you’ve put out decorations, you’ve planned events, you’ve purchased gifts, and many of you have prepared meals. Let’s take the next few moments to ensure you can enjoy Christmas. 

One of the first decorations I think about during this season is the nativity set, a miniature manger filled with characters from the first Christmas story. Although they’re intended to paint the picturesque night of Christ’s birth, as a kid I saw them as nothing more than toys.

The Rhythm of Christmas

Dec. 18

Think about clapping a simple beat. Then imagine hearing a drummer performing a more complicated sequence. When we hear these different beats, we’re experiencing rhythm. In terms of life, think about the pace, the rhythm your life is following. The pattern. The sound. The tempo. You can tell a lot about where a person has been and where a person is going by their rhythm.

Fulfill Your Calling

Dec. 11

As some have said, ‘A career is what you are PAID to do, but a calling is what you were MADE to do.’ At Motor City Church we have engineers who volunteer with our Parking Lot team and we have Kidz volunteers who are accountants and communications specialists. When you find your calling and start operating in that calling, there is satisfaction that brings a sense of fulfillment like nothing else. In addition, your calling builds God's house and this is what makes a difference in our church, our city, and our world. Your calling is a central piece to what God wants to do in this world. 

Stretching Faith

Dec. 4

We are in a season we call Heart for the House here at Motor City Church. There are many ways we can show our heart for God’s house. Many serve on the Dream Team, our volunteer teams, and many tell others about Motor City Church. We also show our heart for the house through our giving during the year.  But, once a year we get together and imagine what we could do to help bring about the vision for the future. 

Heart For The House

Nov. 27

At Motor City Church, we are in the season we call “Heart for the House.” Heart for the House is all about making a difference together by giving our time, talent, and treasure. 

 Matthew 6:25-33 is a classic passage and ends with, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (things we tend to worry about) will be given to you as well.” The focus according to this verse is God’s kingdom. Have you ever asked, “What can I do for God?” Yes, we are His kids and He has amazing things He has given us in the past and wants to give us in the future, but we are also His servants and He has a Kingdom focus. What does it mean to have a heart for the things God has a heart for? 

The Journey To Generosity

Nov. 20

“I expected more.” That’s what Jamey’s new wife said to him on their honeymoon when they couldn’t afford to go on an excursion during the cruise they were on. The trip was all-inclusive, except for excursions. There would be no extras but Jamey’s wife had expected more. 

Mission: Impossible

Nov. 13

We’ve all heard of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE… But what about MISSION: POSSIBLE? Today I want to share with you your mission…should you choose to accept it. You are an agent, and you have a mission. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but there is a greater purpose in this mission than just going to church, seeing your friends and hearing a nice little Bible message. This mission is not merely a matter of life or death…this mission is about eternity.

Vision Sunday

Nov. 6

Today I want to talk about what God is calling us to do as the church. I call this Vision Sunday. My focus today is on Motor City Church, but it is applicable to THE church, the universal church. We are people that are leveraging our influence and our lives and our gifts to bring Jesus the most glory AND MAKE HIM FAMOUS. God has enlisted each of us to be a part of what He wants to do in our cities, our regions & countries, and around the world.

Created For Greatness

Oct 30

In today’s message, the scripture I want to focus on is Joshua 1:8, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

Making Lasting Changes

Oct 16

Our verse for this series is Romans 12:2. God is transforming us from the inside out by changing the way we think. When our thinking is changed, then we will learn to know God’s will for our lives. Our goal is to learn to make our mind mind!

Don't Hold Back

Oct 9

I Kings 20:35-43 is an interesting account of a prophet. “And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord, ‘Strike me, please.’ But the man refused to strike him. Then he said to him, ‘Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.’ And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and struck him down.

Hard Changes

Oct 2

We are talking about mindset in this series. What we think about is essential to what our lives become. Our choices impact our behavior and our situations. Changing our mindset means changing what we are thinking about. To help you with that, text ‘godspromises’ to 689-214-5554. As you meditate on these things that God has in His mind for you, you will get hold of them in YOUR mind for you.

Take Captive

Sept 25

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”We have a choice to allow God to change the way we think. If we pay attention, we realize choices shape a lot of our life, even more than circumstances. We are a byproduct of our past but we're not a prisoner of our past. Choices have consequences so if we change our mind, we can change our world.

A Purpose That Will Inspire You

Sept 18

There is a significant difference between setting goals and setting goals with a God-given purpose. In 2 Timothy 1:9 we learn God has saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. We are saved, called and graced for PURPOSE. Purpose is all that God created you for, called you to and graced you for. It is what life equips you for.

Change Your Mind

Sept 11

Have you limited yourself by your own thinking? Do you struggle to stay positive? Mindset is a premier topic in the Bible. I like to think of it this way, the person of Jesus prepares you for heaven, but His principles prepare you for life here on earth.

Promise Over Problem

Sept 4

Do you remember how we learned fractions in school? One number over another number means a particular portion of the whole. And, if you have 5/3rds for instance, it actually converts to 1 and 2/3rds or more than a whole. That’s the way I want to look at the concept of God’s promises vs. our problems. If we put the promise over the problem, we will come out with more than whole!

How Do I Know I Really Hear Him?

August 28

So, how do you know if it's God talking to you? 1 John 4:1 teaches us to test the spirits. Have you ever had someone tell you they believe God is telling them to tell you something? If what they say confirms what God has been impressing upon you, then it is a good chance they have heard from God and are speaking truth to you. Cool. But, sometimes, a message such as this is obviously off base. And, sometimes, if you haven't got a confirmation but you also think it’s possible, you can put a message such as this on the shelf. I had a message like that. It took 17 years, but what I was told did come to pass eventually and it was truly exciting when it did!

Are You Listening?

August 21
God is speaking but how do we hear? Remember John 10:3-5 with me. God said he is like a shepherd and we are like his sheep. In the verse, he tells us that sheep know their shepherd’s voice. Knowing that, if we are God’s sheep and His sheep know His voice, then how do we know what God is saying? God is calling us to a place where we can put out the wrong voices and hear His voice.

The Distracted Heart

August 14
Have you ever seen someone who has a problem and they are so busy telling you about the problem that they can’t hear you give them the solution to the problem? Envision a 3 year old who has just gotten a splinter. You have the answer but if they are screaming and crying and flailing, the solution cannot be administered. You have to tell them to stop, to calm down so they can receive the help they need. Abbreviated listening is another issue. Maybe they listen to part of the solution and then get distracted and don’t hear the complete thought or direction.

What Can I Change?

August 7
Have you ever asked “How do I know God is speaking to me?” or “How do I hear from God?” In John 10:3-5, Scripture tells us that His sheep recognize His voice. Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and will come to him, even if they are mixed in with other flocks of sheep. Their shepherd has a certain way of calling them, and they will separate from other flocks and follow that call. John tells us that God’s followers (sheep) follow Him because they know His voice and they WON’T follow a stranger. We need to know God's voice. Proverbs 3:6 says if you seek God’s will, He will show you the path to take. NOTE: God doesn't have a speaking problem. We have a hearing problem. We need to work to listen and understand, and learn to cut through the noise.

Who Are You?

July 31
Have you taken time to think about the fact that you matter? Your life has a purpose. God is working but everything He does on the earth, He does it through his people.
Our country is in a place where fear is rampant. Fear leads to division, hate, accusations, offenses. The environment we have today is similar to the one at the time John the Baptist appeared on the scene. When he began preaching and baptizing, spiritual leaders approached him and challenged him with five questions.

Downloading Rebekah

July 24
Continuing my series, The Cloud, today based on the passages in Hebrews 11 & 12, we are downloading Abraham's daughter-in-law, Rebekah. Remember with me that Abraham and Sarah had their son, Isaac, long after they were of childbearing age. When it came time for Isaac to marry, Abraham was very careful and protective. He sent his faithful servant back to Abraham and Sarah’s families to find a wife for Isaac.

Downloading Abraham

July 17
I have been in Hebrews 11 & 12 the past couple of weeks. The passage speaks of the cloud of witnesses and singles out some who are “in the cloud”. The word picture I get is a stadium where the cloud of witnesses is cheering us on. The question then becomes, what would one of them say to us. I would love to know what Abraham would have to say to us to encourage us and push us forward.

Downloading Samson

July 10
In Hebrews 11, we have a list that we call the Hall of Fame of Faith. In Hebrews 12, these heroes of faith are referred to as a great cloud of witnesses. If these people are considered to be “Hall of Famers”, “Heroes of the Faith”, let’s take a minute and drill down on one of these witnesses. Let’s find out what he has to say to us. I want to look at what Samson would say to us.

The Prodigals

June 26
Have you ever heard the Bible story of the lost son, also known as the prodigal. It is one of my favorites. You can find it in the book of Luke, chapter 15. A man had two sons. The younger one asks his dad for his inheritance, packs up and moves away to a distant land. He proceeds to waste all the money and finds himself so destitute that he ends up working for a pig farmer. He is so hungry that even the pig slop looks good. He realizes the pigs are eating better than he is. As he takes stock of his life, it occurs to him that the servants in his dad’s house are eating better than he is so he decides to go home and ask if he can be a servant for his dad. While he is still a distance away, his father, who has been diligently watching for him since he left, sees him and welcomes him home.

The Stories I'll Tell

June 19
There are so many great stories in the Bible. They are pleasant to read and interesting to study for many different reasons. Today, we are going to highlight a few and identify a takeaway for each.

The Way We Fight Our Battles

June 12
Worship is love expressed. It is an outward expression of what is in your heart. There are different ways to express our worship and we need to worship on both good days and on bad days. Too many minimize the power of worship. It's not about time but about coming into God’s presence. Even on your worst day you can win with worship.

The Ways of Praise

June 5
Sometimes we don't understand what worship is. Church services are frequently referred to as worship services. We also think of the elements in the service as worship. But, worship is not the church service. It is not the songs. Worship is an expression of love. It is adoration. It is the act of expending our precious resources on something we value. God desires to be the object of our worship. He wants to be the person we lavish our resources on.

Value Sets Priority

May 29
What do you value most? Another way to ask this question is what do you worship? We all worship something. Something is getting your adoration. Worship is love expressed. It is our response to whatever we value most. We all have things we think about a lot or things we love to do. Of course, it’s ok to truly enjoy your hobby or to think about your dream, but God should be the priority. He is the only one worthy of being worshipped.

Do Your Part

May 22
God has amazing things in store for you! Scripture says that the plans and thoughts He has for you are beyond anything you can think, ask or imagine! But maybe you find yourself in a place where you are asking, “God, where are you? I do not see you in my current situation.I am believing for a miracle but I am not seeing any movement. I am discouraged and becoming hopeless.” As the epileptic boy’s father said to Jesus in Mark 9, “I believe. Help my unbelief.” We must do our part. If we engage, as we worship, the atmosphere will shift. We have a certain amount of faith but we can increase our faith. We can break the barrier that separates us or holds us back from our victory.

Grab Hold & Don't Let Go!

May 15
When we declare scripture or those things we believe God is saying directly to us, it not the understanding that is powerful, but it is the fact that it is spoken. Some things need to be declared. My wife and I have been declaring certain things over our son since he was still in the womb. You want to find the word of the Lord for your child and you want to speak those things over your child. The same is true for your family.

Live Long & Prosper!

May 8
Have you ever wondered, “How do I have a prosperous and long life?” Ephesians 6:2 gives us a key. Honor your mother and father and things will go well. Why honor? We honor because of the position. Parents may not necessarily deserve honor, but we are commanded to honor unconditionally, just because they hold the position of parent in our life. The position is designated for honor, so we have no excuse.

Grow Where You Are

May 1
Life goes better, when you put God in first place. Scripture says it this way, "When you are planted in the house of the Lord, you will flourish." The local church is the hope of the world. If we are to be that hope, we must be strong and united...we must be PLANTED in the house and there are a few things we must do if we are to be planted and positioned to bloom and flourish. Do you want to be part of building a successful and effective church? Take a look at these with me.

The Journey, Pt. 5

April 24
Jesus died and was resurrected so that we could have a resurrection in our own life as well. I believe this. I believe that is God‘s plan for our life. Jesus gave up His life so we could have a more abundant life in our emotions, in our finances, in our marriage, in our purpose, in our calling. So what is the pathway to this kind of life?

The Journey, Pt. 4

April 17
In this series I have been talking through our Journey. I started with Making a Difference in the first week of this series. Discover Your Purpose was the following week and then Find Freedom was our topic for Palm Sunday. Today is my favorite topic, the passion of my heart, Know God. These four topics make up the pillars of our church. Usually, we state them in this order, “Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Your Purpose and Make a Difference”, but I wanted us to get an idea of our destination (Make a Difference) before we drilled down on how to Make a Difference. It all starts with knowing God.

Finding Freedom

April 10
Life change happens when we know God. When we know God, His spirit comes into our lives and leads us into freedom, changing those things that hold us back from discovering and fulfilling our purpose. As we discover our purpose, we begin to live our best life, the life that is available to us so that we can bless others and make a difference.

Made For This

April 3
People tend to settle for less than what God has for them. Ps 16:11 talks about the path of life God has in mind for us. David meditates on God’s guidance and direction, “Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right way.” God has freedom and deliverance and a radiant life path in mind for us. Being unstuck from the mire that keeps you off that path is the most fun you'll ever have. I want to help you move forward, taking the steps you need to take to get unstuck.

The Journey: Discovering What's Next

March 27
Are you thinking about what's next for you or have you been comfortable, but thinking there's got to be more. There is!! We're all on a journey and have a next step. No matter who we are or what we believe, we are created in God’s image. Because of this, we have eternity set in our hearts. We have a God spot and all of us are somewhere on the journey of finding the peace and joy that comes from have that spot filled.

Discovering Your Purpose

March 20
At Motor City Church we have a fourfold vision. We want to help people Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Their Purpose, and Make a Difference.

Cathedral Mindset

March 13
As we look forward in the life of the Church, we need perspective that can carry us into the next stage of our journey. A cathedral mindset is needed, one of creating and working toward long-term goals for future generations to enjoy.

Be Salty!

March 6
What's your real purpose as a Christian? One of the top selling books in the world is The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. People desire to know why they're here on earth. There is a simple answer to the question. Our purpose is to Be Salty. Matthew 5:13 is where we can find this answer. “You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” Saltiness brings out flavor and enhances taste. In another place, Scripture says to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Victorious Secrets, Pt. 4

Feb. 28
Social media and technology have changed our relationships. I love technology and enjoy scrolling through social media and posting. But, being consumed with social media and technology detracts from what God has for us. John 13:34 tells us people will know we are His disciples by our love for each other. But in this day and time, how we show love can be affected by technology.

Secrets to Building the House

Feb. 21
In exploring the principles of building relationships, there are Secrets of Building the House. Building our house on a strong foundation is necessary, and in this day, we have to be more fervent than we've ever been.

Commitment To Relationships

Feb. 14
One of the secrets to winning in relationships is covenant. Covenant in relationships is based on mutual commitment. God is the author of covenant and that is why commitment is essential to having a healthy relationship. If you look to what He says about covenant and choose to live in that principle, you will succeed. He is the one who designed relationships, so let the one who designed relationships, define your relationships. Don't try to do it on your own, leaving God out of the process. God is waiting for you to come back to His ways of doing things.

Victorious Secrets

Feb. 7
Did you realize there are principles you can apply to win in relationships; that there are things you can do to make love that lasts, in all your relationships? I Cor 13:7-8 defines love for us. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and lasts forever. This definition is impossible for us on our own, but God can give us the capacity to love, to love like He does. We must allow God to do a work in our life, a work of His love.

Encountering The Presence of God

Jan 31
One thing we need to understand is that as we try to find God, he is trying to find us. If you can't find God, start to worship and He will find you. Hebrews 11:6 says it is impossible to please God without faith; we must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” We serve a God who is alive and well and here today. Again, if you can’t find God, start to worship Him, seek Him and He will find you.

No Pain, No Gain

Jan 24
I’ve been talking about God Encounters the past few weeks. One moment in God’s presence can change everything in your life. I believe He desires to have more encounters with us! My desire is that your faith rests in the fact that your opinion and your attitude cannot change because you've met God yourself and you've had experience with Him. Because you've had that encounter with Him, your life has been changed.

The Attitude of Gratitude

Jan 20
There is a cycle of blessing that comes into our lives when we practice thankfulness. Your attitude will determine your altitude. I have discovered that this one word alone will work wonders. It will open doors. It will establish relationships. It will make people realize you recognize their effort, and it will make you memorable. Learn the power of the word “Thanks”.

Wrestle Mania

Jan 16
God wants us to have personal encounters with Him. He uses these experiences to change our lives and there are things we can do to invite God encounters into our lives. We have a role to play. There are things we do not want to take into 2022. Right now, at the beginning of the year, take opportunity to focus on God and seek that connection with Him that will transform your life.

Mirror Mirror

Jan 9
Who are you? Really, who are you? Where do you get your identify from? One of three mirrors when looking for your identity.
The first mirror we see ourselves through is the "Mirror of Failure"
Have you defined yourself by what you've done? Don't buy into the lie that you are what you've done. You are not a failure. It doesn't matter how many times you've been married. It doesn't matter what your report card said. It doesn/t matter what your bank account shows. You can change your future. This past week we heard, "God does not see you by what you did, God sees you by what you become" Dr Dave Martin. Start seeing yourself through the lense of Christ.

Looking Out For...Yourself

Jan 1
An important part of looking OUT for ourselves is relationships. What can we do to show love to the people we encounter? The only things that will last in this world are the Word of God and people. Since we know that, our interactions with people should be of extreme importance to us.