The Pillar Church Podcast

Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Acts 9:1-31
Big Idea: Jesus' Power & Mercy turn His Enemies into Loyal Friends.
Sermon Points:
A Violent Enemy (vs 1-2)
A Humbling Encounter (vs 3-9)
A Surprising Baptism (vs 10-19)
An Unexpected Apologist (vs 20-30)
A Time of Peace and Growth (vs 31)
Application Points:
Love & Pray for our Enemies
Rejoice with Heaven when Sinners Repent

Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Acts 8:26-40
Big Idea: God uses us to bring Jesus’s salvation to all the world.
Sermon Points:
The Initiating God (vs 26, 29, 39)
The Obedient Deacon (vs 27, 30, 40)
The Teachable Treasurer (vs 27-28, 31, 34)
The Glorious Result: Faith and Joy (vs 36-39)
Application: Accept Secret Things and Believe Revealed Things

Preached at Redemption Church on May 14, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Sermon Points:
The Man:
Wise
Effective Teacher
The Message:
The Message Is...
Convicting
Stabilizing
Inspired
Fear God and Keep His Commandments

Preached at Redemption Church on May 7, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 11:1 - 12:8
Sermon Points:
Where We Are: Under The Sun
What We Experience: Vanity, Evil, Trouble
Who God Is: 1 - Vanity, Evil, Trouble 2 - Joy
How Do We Respond?
Four Final Quiet Words of the Wise:
Be Generous
Be a Sower
Be Joyful
Be Godly 

Preached at Redemption Church on Apr 30, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 9:13 - 10:20
Big Idea: Saving Wisdom is Despised and Ignored Under the Sun
Sermon Points:
The Fear of God/Wisdom in Ecclesiastes:
To trust God is doing a beautiful work in time, and humbly submit to His correction rather than resist Him.
To carefully listen to God rather than talk a lot.
To have a right self-assessment before God that is not overly righteous or too wise.
To not be corrupted by evil power when the wicked prosper.
To keep God's commandments knowing judgement is coming.
Four Quiet Words of the Wise:
Beware of Folly in High Places
Be Wise at Work
Be Wise with Words
Be Wise About Money

Preached at Redemption Church on Apr 23, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
Big Idea: In the midst of death and judgement there can be joy.
Sermon Points:
Four Truths About Death -
We all are under the judgement of death.
Death is the just judgement for evil human hearts.
Death ends the opportunities of life.
Death is unpredictable and sometimes sudden.
The Love of God -
The living have hope.
God has good gifts that can be enjoyed.

Preached at Redemption Church on Apr 16, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 8:2-17
Big Idea: God fearers joyfully submit to governing authority and refuse to be corrupted by power.
Sermon Points:
Power Commands
Power Corrupts
Application Points:
4 Responses to Power and Corruption
Subject yourself to governing authorities.
Fear God
Be joyful
Don't think you can figure it all out - trust God.

Preached at Redemption Church on Apr 2, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 6:10-8:1
Sermon Points:
Whatever has come to be
What is Man?
How to get this Wisdom
Through Wise Conduct
Through mourning not parties and laughter.
Through wise rebuke not songs of fools.
Avoid corrupting activities.
Avoid danger and be patient.
Don't think life was better in the past.
Consider God's Work and Fear God
God's Work
God makes days of prosperity and adversity - and we have no control or pre-knowledge of what our days will be like.
God allows good things to happen to "bad people", and bad things to happen to "good people".
The Wise Responses to God's Work
Don't be Overly Righteous.
Don't be Too Wise.
Don't be Overly Wicked or a Fool.
Goads & Nails:
We Need a Humble Self-Evaluation before God.
Hope in God Alone.

Preached at Redemption Church on Mar 26, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:10-6:9
Sermon Points:
Love of money does not satisfy (5:10-12)
2 Things Money Can't Buy
Enough Stuff
Sleep
Grievous Evil #1: Riches Guarded and Lost (5:13-17)
The Good Life: God Gives Satisfaction (5:18-20)
3 Fold Gift of God (5:19)
The "power to enjoy" wealth and possessions.
Accept one's lot.
Rejoice in one's work.
Grievous Evil #2: Riches Gained but Not Enjoyed (6:1-6)
Having wealth does not equal enjoying wealth.
Working to Feed Desire Does Not Satisfy (6:7-9)
The Better Way: Want What You Have
Application Points: Goads & Nails
Don't Love Money - Love God
4 Questions
Are you enjoying life?
Are you anxious?
Are you content with what you have?
Are you humble and generous?

Preached at Redemption Church on Mar 19, 2023
Preacher: Greg Alles
Passage: Ecclesiastes 4:4-5:9
Sermon Points:
The Success of Envy
The Lonely Workaholic
Continual Disappointment with Leaders
Evil in Religion
The Oppression and Injustice of Bureaucracy
Application Points:
The Better Way:
A Balanced Life of Rest and Work
Prioritize Relationships Over Career and Wealth
Choose Wise Leaders over Fools if you can, but don't except too much
Carefully Listen to God
The Best Leaders are Ordinary People Who Serve