Category: Newsletter

Almost anyone who has been a true Christian for any length of time will tell you the answer to this is YES. Tough times happen, not because God is mean, but because life happens. Jesus told us, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33

Did you catch that? Be of GOOD CHEER. Meaning, don’t get all down when bad things

happen, because God WILL work good in them. Romans 8:28 states that “He works ALL things for good” for those who love Him. So, taken together, it really means NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN TO A CHRISTIAN. Because even if something bad does happen, God will work it for good. Hmmm….so there really is nothing to worry about? Just like Jesus said in His sermon on the mount…Not to worry. Interesting.

You see, we need to see things from a heavenly, not an earthly perspective. God is concerned with our holiness, not our happiness. He wants to make us more like Jesus. In tough times, that is when you grow more like Jesus, not on the mountaintops. Our flesh wants everything to be perfect all the time…but that is not realistic in a fallen world, and when life doesn’t go perfectly, enter the monsters of stress, fear, and worry. But if you put your faith in the Lord, if you know that no matter what, everything will work for your good, then you can live the day in Love, Joy, and Peace. And that is just a better place to be. Christians should be the people who are calm in the storm, the people on the boat getting the women and children off first, the people who are solid under pressure and can be counted on in a pinch…and that only comes from building your life on the solid rock of Jesus.

So, how is your relationship with Jesus today? Have you spent any time with Him? I challenged my church last week to spend 5 extra minutes in prayer, just being still and letting God, not us, speak. And to spend a few extra minutes reading the Bible each day, not a podcast, actually reading the Bible and hearing from God. 1 chapter a day starting in Matthew or 1 Proverb a day. Just a little bit more reading and a little bit more prayer-it doesn’t take much, and watch that relationship rekindle quickly with Jesus. True friends can pick up right where they left off. You have a friend in Jesus. Check in with Him, touch base. YOU will be the one who gets blessed!

Have an awesome week!

Brian

P.S. This Sunday, we will tackle the Second Letter of Jesus found in Revelation and discuss the Rapture like you have never seen it discussed before! The End times do not have to be scary; you just need to be ready. This Sunday at 10:30 AM, we will start getting you ready, and the message will bless you tremendously. Be there or be square….

900 Cripple Creek Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30043. See you there!

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Matthew 24 and 25 is called the Olivet Discourse. It takes place on the Mount of Olives, and His disciples ask Him what the end times will look like. Chapters 24 and 25 are Jesus’ explanation of the end times and His second coming. What is interesting is that He spends the last half of chapter 24 and the first half of 25 telling parables of how we should be living at that time. Fully half of His end-times discourse focuses on how we should live. That is VERY telling.

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is one of those end-times parables. In it, 10 virgins were waiting for the coming of the groom. Paul describes the church as the bride of Christ, Jesus as the Groom, and then Revelation confirms this at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in Revelation chapter 19. So they are waiting for the bridegroom to come, but when He comes, 5 were ready, and 5 were not. The parable ends with a chilling statement, and let’s read that now from Matthew 25:10-13: “And…the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

As I go around talking to Christians, a lot of them feel, sense that Jesus is coming soon. My question to them is, what are you doing to get ready? You see, Jesus is coming for a Bride that has made itself ready. Are you growing your relationship with Jesus? Going to His Word and letting the Holy Spirit convict and grow you? Or are you spending your days worrying about the bills, inflation, your 401 K, or your kid’s future spouse? IF JESUS IS COMING SOON, and I believe He is, then WE NEED TO GET READY! I beg you, please don’t be in that group that is not ready and has the door shut on them. Thankfully, Jesus does not leave us clueless. In Revelation, He shares an end-times message to His end-times church on EXACTLY how he wants us to be when He comes. He lays out what we are doing wrong, what we are doing right, and what He wants us to change to get that relationship back to where it needs to be. It’s a relationship. It is important. DO NOT BE THE FOOLISH VIRGIN AND HEAR “I NEVER KNEW YOU”.

Over the next 8 weeks, I will be starting a series breaking down EXACTLY what Jesus wants us to be doing during these times. I beg you to come, you will get challenged, you will get clarity, you will grow closer to Jesus, and you WILL BE GETTING READY. This Sunday, August 24th, at 10:30 a.m. at 900 Cripple Creek Dr in Lawrenceville, the message will begin. Possibly the most important message you hear all year. Please come and bring anyone you care about. It is going to be awesome. You will be changed over the next 8 weeks, and that will benefit all who know you. I hope to see you there….

Brian

P.S. Jesus is coming soon. It’s time to start getting ready! This Sunday, August 24th, at 10:30 a.m. at 900 Cripple Creek Dr., the most important series you will hear all year will begin. There is NO downside to getting ready; these next 8 weeks will grow you to be more like Jesus, and that will benefit all who know you. I hope you can make it as my personal guest. If you live too far away, it will be posted the following day on our website, www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org. Check it out, and let’s get ready for the Master’s coming. Be blessed!

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“For who has despised the day of small things!” Zechariah 4:10

We had 70 people that first week, which was a lot for a first church service of a new

church. I knew that we would likely lose 50 of them as they were there to support me (what a blessing), and they had their own church homes. And indeed, we landed about where I thought we would. And I will be honest….I was a little bummed, hoping to buck the trend a little.

But great things almost always start small. We have a core group now that we can begin to grow around….and despite the small size, we had a salvation decision!!!!

Week one, we added a couple of members. Week two, we had a salvation decision. Praise the Lord!!! God is good! So good!

It reminded me of this verse in Zechariah 4:10, which reminds us that even seemingly small beginnings can hold great value and can contribute to much larger purposes. What’s the value of one soul spending eternity in Heaven versus hell? Game changing! And this verse encourages us to have an appreciation for the initial stages of growth, recognizing that they are often precursors to bigger things. I believe this church is going to make a huge impact in Lawrenceville and beyond. I know God has called me to this ministry, He has given me a message, and we have a sweet fellowship beginning. Both weeks, I heard nothing but positives about the friendly, comfortable atmosphere. The almost “coffee house” vibe of the music and the sincerity of the preaching. All good things!

If you are near Lawrenceville, GA. I would LOVE for you to visit. Every Sunday at 10:30 am. 900 Cripple Creek Dr. Lawrenceville, GA. If you are not close, I encourage you to catch the sermons online at our website, www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org . But the real magic is being there. Hope to see you soon! We have some HUGE messages coming up as the world is changing quickly, and it is time we get serious about our relationship with Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Be blessed this week!!!

Brian

P.S. Our church is launched!!! If you are in GA, I would love for you to be there as my personal guest. Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. 900 Cripple Creek Dr. Lawrenceville, GA. If not, please check out our sermons online once they are posted a day or two later. Our website is www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org . Hope to see you this Sunday!

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Our church had its first Sunday this past Sunday, Aug 3rd at 10:30. It was a rainy morning, which was ominous, but we ended up with 70 people! Far exceeding my hope. The parking lot was full, and my kids were out there with umbrellas escorting people in. Many good friends showed up to support.

The music was simple, it had almost a “coffee house” feel, and we even had donuts and coffee available! The message was well received, and we ended up arm in arm at the end singing, “Our God is an awesome God”. It was a wonderful first run.

You can catch the sermon on our website, www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org, and click on the sermon button. There are also many other tools like podcasts and my 2 audiobooks all available FREE to download on our site, just click the “media” button. I hope you check it out.

But the magic is actually being there, the music, the laughter. If you don’t have a church home or even if you are a friend and want to come out to support, I would love to see you there. It is good people, diving into the word and learning and growing together. A community is being built, and I would love to have you join us!

Either way, whether in person or checking out our website, I hope to pour the things God has shown me into your life. To be a blessing….

Have a great week and hope to see you Sunday!!!!

Brian

P.S. Our church is launched!!! If you are in GA, I would love for you to be there as my personal guest. Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. 900 Cripple Creek Drive, Lawrenceville, GA. If not, please check out our sermons online once they are posted a day or two later. Our website is www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org. Hope to see you this Sunday!

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The church launch is less than 2 weeks away! Check out our website at https://thegreatawarenesschurch.org/. It has all my podcasts, our YouTube videos for those who are not subscribed to that, and even my books that I have published. It’s all there. Of course, it is a work in progress, but we are up and the giving link works…ready to roll.

People ask me about the church and my vision, so let me talk to that. We are in a distressed and distracted world where truth is not easy to discern. The Great Awareness Church is about looking out at the world at large and in our own homes and communities with spiritual wisdom and funneling everything through the Bible and Christ. There are 3 big focuses for me regarding our vision:

1. Biblical truth in untruthful times. EVERY sermon I preach will be a fresh word or anointing from God. I don’t copy other people’s sermons or ideas. I am bi-vocational, so I am out there in the field, the same battles everyone faces. God uses those experiences and insights gleaned from over 2 hours of Bible study a day, every day for over 20 years to hone sermons that are truthful, doctrinal, and relevant. Sermons that will hopefully challenge and grow all of us, myself included.
2. Preparing our people for the Master’s return by focusing on the relationship, not works. Sin is at he core of EVERY problem we face, and Jesus is the ONLY answer to sin. So a critical piece of the puzzle is that relationship to Jesus. What does it look like to abide with Him, obey Him, and love Him first so we can love others well. This will be a key focus of my teaching and leading.
3. Pouring our tithes and offerings into local ministries doing the real work of the gospel. We have kept our overhead low, so the tithes and offerings cover ALL of the church expenses. Hence, all giving can flow directly into the local ministries that are already helping widows, orphans, veterans, homeless people, etc. Not the big charities that raise millions easily, but the local ones that are getting it done. We will focus resources of money, our talents, and time to help further the cause of Christ and truly love our neighbors as He commands.

The church is small, but I believe it will grow quickly. However, I want it to stay small, like the Acts 2 model, where they were almost a family, a tight community. Hence, our growth will be handled by smaller “huddles” of 10-20 people that can become additional locations, broadcasting our sermons and music, but gathering in smaller groups with a trained leader who can spearhead the growth AND better channel local giving as well. I see us having 100 locations of 10-20 people each a year from now, rather than a 10,000-seat arena and all its attendant costs. I believe this is how a church should be today in these times, and we will be getting after it. It will be exciting, it will make a big difference in the world, and I HOPE you will join us! Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. 900 Cripple Creek Dr. in Lawrenceville GA. I hope to see you there!!!!

Brian

P.S. Under 2 weeks away from the launch of the Great Awareness Church on August 3rd! If you are in GA, I would love for you to be there as my personal guest. Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. 900 Cripple Creek Dr. in Lawrenceville GA. If not, please check out our sermons online once they are posted a day or two later. Our website is www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org/. Hope to see you Sunday, Aug. 3rd!

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As I talk to Christians, as you listen to different preachers, it is becoming more and more clear
that most Christians are beginning to feel like we are near the end times. I actually am sure of it
and one of my sermons over the next few months will be what God revealed to me about it.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY. My question I have for you
today is, if you do feel we are near the end, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

What are you changing in your life and actions to get ready for the coming of the Lord? Are you
still continuing on every day in apathetic living because you feel like you can’t do anything
about it so what’s the use? That’s exactly where the devil wants you, on the sidelines. The fact
that Jesus may be coming soon should motivate us to love more, witness more, live for Jesus
more. The early disciples believed that Jesus was coming back while they were alive, and they
lived with an edge-and they CHANGED THE WORLD!!!! You may say, but Brian, I am not
some great guy who can change the world. Well, with the exception of Paul, the rest of those
disciples were local yokels. Fisherman, no one of import. But they lived with the faith and
expectation of seeing their Lord again and that challenged them to reach everyone they could.

Start where you are-we must be faithful where God has placed us. That workplace, your family,
your friends, they are your mission field. Start there. Obey God and LOVE on those people-the
way God loves you. The Great Commandment is Love God, and Love others. Focus on God
first and foremost, get His love flowing and overflowing in your heart and pour it out on the
people around you. Then watch as God honors your faithfulness with more doors opening.
Remember, results are NOT your responsibility, yours is to center on Jesus, open up to the Holy
Spirit in you, and let Him guide you into obedience and love. It is an easy yoke, Jesus does the
work through the Holy Spirit but you MUST focus on God. Build that relationship, spend time
with Him in the morning and through the day. That is loving God. Then out of that relationship,
that fountain, you will be effective in touching others with His great and powerful love. You
CAN do it.

This is a call to relationship, not a call to works. What are you waiting for? Get alone with God,
get a consistent quiet time going, get praying for other people, and refuse to be afraid. The Great
Commission in Matthew 28 ends with Jesus saying, “And surely I am with you always, even to
the end of the age.” If you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit, GOD HIMSELF inside you, and
you move forward in the power and authority of the Lord. So get alone with God, re-connect to
the Spirit, and then obey His prompting and love those around you-and watch your fruitfulness,
love and peace grow. Until next week-remember, Jesus loves you, and there is nothing you can
do about it! Peace!

Brian

P.S. Get ready for the launching of the Great Awareness Church August 3 rd ! If you are in
GA, I would love for you to be there as my personal guest. If not, please check our sermons
out online once they are posted. Until then, please check out my Youtube channel
below….and subscribe-thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/@TheGreatAwarenessChurch

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Love, Joy, and Peace. At the end of the day, it is not money that people really desire, but love and joy and peace. Money can not buy it, but it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. What struck me this week as I studied this passage is the word “Fruit”.

You see, you can’t manufacture fruit. The seed must be planted, watered, and allowed time to grow. In other words, in our “me first”, immediate gratification society, you can’t have love, joy, and peace…not quickly. Let me repeat that, there is no seminar, no quick sermon answer, no get-rich-quick fix to acquire love, joy, and peace. It can only come about from the Holy Spirit working in you, and that does not happen in a microwave timeframe. YOU CAN NOT HAVE LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE WITHOUT TIME AND FOCUS ON THE SOURCE OF IT ALL, JESUS CHRIST. No matter the quality of the reels you watch, the sermons you listen to, the brilliant books you read, Love, Joy, and Peace can only be had by time and focus. Time with Jesus, opening up your heart to correction, to conviction by the Holy Spirit, and to the love of Jesus Christ. As you focus on Jesus instead of your little slice of the world that you are trying desperately to control, you will find His love growing in you. As you obey His commands, that love will grow more.

Soon, the love will overflow into the people in your little slice of the world. Instead of focusing on your family and doing your best for them, and asking Jesus to help you with what you think is best, try focusing on Jesus and letting Him guide you on loving your family. You see, He knows what He wants to achieve in each of their lives-you don’t! So focus on the relationship with Jesus FIRST, focus on His love and then just simply obey what He tells you to do. And you will have tremendous fruit. And the end result will be a peace beyond what you can conceive or believe…Love, Joy, and Peace… together. WOW. But it starts with focus, we MUST stop focusing on ourselves and turn the gaze back to Jesus. Spend time with Him, in the Word and on our knees, and be open to his correction and love. Focus on Jesus is the starting point. How is your relationship with Jesus this week? What can you do TODAY to improve it?

Be blessed!

Brian

P.S. Just 3 weeks away from the launching of the Great Awareness Church on August 3rd! If you are in GA, I would love for you to be there as my personal guest. If not, please check our sermons out online once they are posted. Until then, please check out my YouTube channel below…and subscribe as new videos are posted weekly-thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/@TheGreatAwarenessChurch

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