Joy Church Fernley, Nevada Messages
Joy Church Fernley, NV
Weekly Sermons/Messages from Joy Church in Fernley, Nevada
Episodes
Waypoint
In today’s message, Sherry and John Poundstone share more about the significant changes in their ministry and about their vision for the future. Sherry talks about the importance of trust and transparency in their leadership. She addresses some misconceptions about the church's direction, clarifying that selling the Joy Church property is not a sign of failure but rather part of a divine calling to shift towards kingdom-building. John reinforces Sherry’s message, encouraging each member of Joy Church to embrace their responsibility for their own spiritual journey and to embrace Christianity rather than “Churchianity”. He highlights the need for a deeper connection with Christ and for fostering a sense of community among believers. Together, John & Sherry invite everyone to join them in this transformative season, filled with hope, purpose, and an eagerness to follow God's leading.
Peace Be UpIN You
This week’s message, "Peace Be UpIN You," highlights our need for God’s peace to not just rest upon us but to fill us deeply in our innermost being. In times of change and uncertainty, we must lean on Holy Spirit to help us to navigate the changes happening all around us. Many in our church family and community are experiencing transitions such as job changes, financial struggles, health concerns, and worries about the upcoming presidential election, and fears about ‘wars and rumors of war’. Using personal stories, fast cars, and Scripture, Senior Leader John Poundstone encourages us to overcome FAUD—fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and doubt. He invites us to seek God’s shalom, which brings heavenly peace, joy, completeness, and wholeness. He reminds us to embrace our identity as children of God and to move from passive faith to active discipleship.
Touch
Our message today encourages us to be more than passive consumers of church and instead take full responsibility for our spiritual growth. We must put aside guilt and shame so that we can seek genuine connection with Jesus and receive His touch that brings transformation, healing, and identity. Senior Leader John Poundstone invites us to reflect on our relationship with God and to actively participate in our spiritual journey.
What's My Part?
In today's message, "What's My Part?", we take a look at our individual role and purpose in God's unfolding plan for revival and renewal in our own lives, in our families and in our communities. Drawing from biblical insights and personal experience, Senior Leader John Poundstone encourages us to embrace our identities as wayfarers—those who actively seek to walk alongside the Waymaker, Jesus Christ. This message is an invitation to learn how each of us can contribute to God's kingdom by fostering connection, community, and a deeper relationship with Him. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of living out our unique parts in God’s grand story of faith.
Why Does It Matter?
Our world is experiencing profound waves of change that are impacting every area of life and culture, family, religion, education, media, arts, entertainment, business, economics, liberty, and government. These changes are impacting God’s church in equally profound ways. How do we as Christians and members of the body of Christ respond as we stand at a generational crossroads? How do we prepare ourselves to be the church in a world that is increasingly more hostile to God and His Kingdom? How can we as a church view this as a time of opportunity and to seize it? How can the church continue to thrive in such uncertain times as these?
What's the Story? - Part 2
Joy Church is ringing in a new era as they transition from a ‘building-centric church model’ to one centered on people in our community and beyond. In this second part of a 4-part message series, our Senior Leader, John Poundstone, shares his vision for a ministry not constrained within the four walls of a church building but rather released into ‘ministry outposts’ where people can host and welcome the presence of Jesus. John longs to help Holy Spirit create environments where people can learn, understand, and be magnetized to becoming followers and disciples. You won’t want to miss this message that details Joy Church’s plans for building an ‘apostolic network’ that starts here in Fernley, Nevada, and builds and strengthens God’s Kingdom throughout our region.
What's the Story - Part 1
Change is in the air at Joy Church. Over the next four weeks, we will be detailing these changes for you in a sermon series that we are calling “Joy Church 3rd Edition.” This series begins with a history of Joy Church, a history of John and Sherry Poundstone’s ministry over the years and how these two histories have merged to bring us the Joy Church that we know today. Today's message includes a scripture based “Kingdom Blueprint” and how we, as a church, can manifest this blueprint here at Joy Church.
Freedom
We often think of freedom and liberty as though they are one and the same but they are in fact two different things. Liberty is tied to our situation or circumstances. We experience liberty when our situation changes for the better such as when a yoke is lifted from us or a burden is released. Freedom on the other hand is existential. Freedom does not depend upon our circumstances or our situation. We don’t get freedom. We are free. Freedom comes from belonging to God, knowing His truth, submitting ourselves to Him and aligning with His dominion or kingdom.
Excellent
As children of a holy and perfect God, it should be our joy to pursue excellence in our relationships, our work and in our homes. As Christians we must not settle for mediocrity but rather do our work wholeheartedly and with love as though we are serving Christ and not men.
Lit Part 3
God has placed us on earth to reveal the light of Christ and to the dispel darkness in our world. The more of God’s light we carry, the more His power, presence, and purity we will manifest. God desires to heal and free us from darkness so that we can overcome the work of the enemy. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal areas in your life where darkness has a hold and where God's illuminating and purifying light needs to shine.
Son!
Today's message encourages us to take a look at the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father. Do we approach God with an "orphan spirit" - one of fear, foreboding and insecurity? Or, do we approach God with the spirit of "sonship" characterized by love, truth and joy? The absence of a father figure in our lives can have a lasting impact throughout our lifetime. It's time for us to embrace our spiritual inheritance as sons and daughters of God and to experience the love and acceptance that God longs to lavish upon us.
Abiding
Today's message from Gabby Stone helps us to understand what it means to abide in Christ as we go through life on our Christian journey. Abiding is about accepting Jesus’ warm invitation to a deep and personal relationship filled with love, trust, and friendship. Just like vines cling to a branch for support, abiding in Jesus means relying on Him, trusting Him, and staying connected to Him. When we abide in Jesus, we receive the spiritual ‘nourishment’ we need to thrive and bear fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Abby encourages us to consider what the world would be like if we abide in Christ individually and as a church.
Coexist?
In our world and in our lives there are all kinds of sources and types of authorities competing for our minds. Good and evil, pleasant and unpleasant, right and wrong, even light and dark can coexist, but only one can rule. There's only one authority at any given moment. Who or what is the authority in your life? Our message today encourages each of us to walk in the power of Holy Spirit and to make Him the ultimate authority in our lives and to lean on Holy Spirit to help us navigate the spiritual warfare that is all around us.
Identity - Who Are You?
Today we welcome Debi Taylor to the pulpit. She has a great message for us about identity and how important it is to have a true understanding of who we are in Christ. She shares Scriptures and personal experiences to help us to see ourselves from the perspective of our Heavenly Father. Our true identity is not defined by our past accomplishments or the labels society gives us, but by our connection with God. Debi encourages each one of us to accept our identity as cherished, chosen and adopted children of God. Come along as we discover the life changing impact of understanding who we are in Christ.
Praying Beyond Just Enough
Today we welcome to the pulpit Jamie Brown. Jamie takes us on a dive deep into the Parable of the Ten Virgins found in Matthew 25. Jamie talks about being prepared and committed and sharing the gospel message. We are encouraged to examine our relationship with God, our actions, and our readiness to spread His light in the world. Join us for an interactive and inspirational message filled with testimonials, insights, revelations, and a call to be fully committed to God's kingdom.
Lit Part 2
Today, we continue to explore the role of being "Lit" or connected with the Holy Spirit. Our focus this week is on immersing ourselves in scripture and trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to us and help us find the personal transformation we need to live a meaningful and satisfying life. We must learn to slow down, take our time, and read the Bible carefully, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our understanding and develop in us a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pursuing righteousness helps us overcome issues, hurts, habits, hang-ups, and addictions, transforming ourselves, our families, our workplaces, and communities for the better.
Lit
Today we explore the idea of staying spiritually "lit" or deeply connected and fueled by Holy Spirit. To keep our “light” bright we need to avoid conforming to the world and instead focus on connecting with God through prayer and scripture. If we neglect our spiritual life, our inner flame flickers and dims. Are you shining the light of Christ's love in all you do, or have life’s challenges dimmed your light? Everyday we need to focus on reigniting our spiritual fire and spreading His light. We are encouraged to open our hearts to be transformed by God’s grace and love, and to live fully lit by Holy Spirit.
Weakness Power
Living in a culture that values self-reliance, it may seem counterintuitive to us to think of weakness as a positive thing. However, the Bible makes it clear that true strength and power come from God. When we acknowledge our frailty and vulnerability, put our trust in God and depend entirely on Him, He will provide the power we need in this life and transform us in the process. Jesus was the perfect example of this, as He chose to rely completely on God's strength rather than His own, particularly during His times of suffering. In order to receive God’s power, we have to reject self-centered traits like self-reliance and self-protection. Our mission is to submit ourselves to God and kingdom ways in all areas of our lives. We will then be equipped and empowered to serve out our destiny in the way God intended from before time began.
Seek
In a time when our nation desperately needs renewal, we are reminded that revival begins with each one of us. Revival in our nation starts when we each earnestly seek the Kingdom of God and live out His righteousness in our daily lives. The pursuit of righteousness involves diving deep into the scriptures and drawing ever closer to the Holy Spirit. Pursuing righteousness also means being in close communion with fellow believers, encouraging and strengthening one another. Join with us as we seek to deepen relationships and transform ourselves, our families and our nation.
Alive!
Today, we take a look at the 40-day period Jesus spent on Earth after His resurrection and before ascending to heaven. Unlike His life before the crucifixion, filled with miracles, signs, and wonders, this period highlights something even more important - relationships and personal transformation. Jesus made many appearances during this time. But, more than anything, these 40 days were about Jesus connecting deeply, teaching, and preparing His followers for a new, revolutionary way of life that would challenge the world's systems and draw them into a loving relationship with the Father. This message is an invitation to everyone who wants to understand the heart of Jesus. This is a personal invitation to each one of us to walk side by side with Jesus into an "exodus" or era of change that our communities, families, and nations so desperately need.
Resurrection Life
In this, our Easter Message, we take a look at the important role played by Mary Magdalene. We look at Mary's transformation from a woman immersed in the darkness of demon possession to one healed, empowered, and entrusted with a life-changing message to the disciples and to all the world. Like Mary, we too have been delivered from darkness, healed, empowered, and given a new identity in Christ. We too have an important, God-given message to share with others and the world. We are called to step out in faith and to share the grace, the truth, and the power of Christ with those around us.
Baptized - Phase 2 - Life
Today, we dive into the second part of our sermon series on Baptism. Last week, we looked at 'Phase 1' of baptism, which represents death. This week, we explore 'Phase 2' of baptism, which represents new life and resurrection. When a person comes back up out of the water, they are baptized into the power of Holy Spirit. All kinds of wondrous and powerful things happen. When we are baptized, we are submerged into union with the spirit of holiness. Jesus ignites the kingdom life within us, filling us with Holy Spirit, changing us from the inside out. Jesus places everything true in its proper place before God. Everything that is false, he puts out with the trash to be burned.
Baptized - Phase 1 -Death
In our message today, we dive into the topic of baptism. We first take a look at Jesus' baptism. Though Jesus was sinless, He chose to be baptized to 'fulfill all righteousness.' In order to share in Jesus' righteousness, we too must be baptized. Baptism for us symbolizes the death of our old sinful nature and rebirth as a new creation. Baptism is an affirmation of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and it is a demonstration to the world and to ourselves that we have aligned ourselves with the heavenly realm and joined the insurgence of God’s endless kingdom.
His Presence
God longs for us to spend time with Him in His presence, not just for a few minutes in the morning, but throughout the day. Our guest speaker, Debi Taylor, shares with us how God has given her strength and hope to get through some very difficult times in her life. She shares practical tips for starting to spend time with God as well as ways to stay focused and not get distracted. Debi recommends Bible and devotional reading, prayer, and journaling. Recording things for which she is grateful as well as answered prayer has given her a written record of God's goodness and faithfulness. Whether you already spend time in God's presence each day, or know you should, this message is sure to inspire you to connect more deeply with God and His Holy Spirit each and every day.
Abide in the Bible
This week, we're diving into the spiritual discipline of Bible reading. The Bible is alive. It's filled with "living water" and divine treasures that God wants very much to share with us. Reading the Bible is about more than reading - it's about experiencing God's presence and allowing His Word to shape our lives. The Bible isn't just a book. It is a revelation of Jesus Christ. When we read, it's important to partner with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him, "What do you want me to learn? How do you want to reveal Jesus to me today?" Let the Holy Spirit guide your reading and understanding. At the same time, we need to avoid what John Poundstone calls "Bib-olatry" - idolatry or worship of the Bible itself. We should not read the Bible for our own satisfaction or to prove our own point of view by taking verses out of context. This week, consider what is keeping you from the Bible and if you're a regular reader, ask yourself why Bible reading is important to you.
CommUNION
Our message today is about Communion. In the final hours leading up to His crucifixion and death on the cross, there were many things that Jesus could have spent His time doing. What He chose to do was to spend His last hours sharing a meal with His disciples, washing their feet, and connecting closely with them. This is the context for the first Communion. Today, as we take the bread and wine and remember His sacrificial death on the cross, we too can draw close to Jesus, connect with him deeply and receive the strength that we need to live our lives in service to Him and His kingdom.
Branch
In today's message, Senior Leader John Poundstone, shares a message on the importance of "abiding as branches." We need to stay connected to Jesus, "the vine", in order to bear fruit. God shares His glory by putting inside of us through His Holy Spirit. We must nurture this piece of God's glory within each other, fan the flames of God's presence, and support one another in our Christian walk. We need to be mindful of our words and actions , so that we can uplift and encourage one another and not diminish God's glory. We must leave the "pruning" to God, the "vine dresser."
Focus 40
In the upcoming week, beginning Wednesday, February 14th, we will begin the 40-day period of time preceding Easter. Some churches call this period "Lent." We will be calling it "Focus 40". During this 40-day period, we will focus on some spiritual disciplines such as fasting, worship, prayer, frugality, and self-sacrifice that will draw us closer to Jesus as we approach Resurrection Sunday.
Hunger and Thirst
Our message today dives into the concept of hunger and thirst, not just for physical food and drink, but for righteousness and closeness with God. Spiritual hunger can show up in our lives in many different ways. Satisfying spiritual hunger and thirst in the wrong ways and places can be destructive and is at best a temporary fix. There is only one true source of satisfaction and that is intimacy with Jesus. If you've ever felt that inner longing or found yourself seeking fulfillment in temporary fixes, this message is for you.
Abide
In our message today Senior Leader, John Poundstone introduces the word "abide". Abide is not just a concept, but a tangible, actionable verb that followers of Christ are called to live out. We explore the deep intimacy and closeness with God that enables us to find divine joy and a transformed way of living. Join with us as we explore what it means to truly abide in Christ and to embrace the love and presence of God in a whole new way.
Wow
Today we look in awe and wonder at the life of Jesus, his earthly ministry, his intimate relationship with the Father, and his example for believers to follow. Senior Leader John Poundstone unpacks important moments in Jesus' journey, from his baptism to his triumph over spiritual warfare in the desert. Get ready to be challenged and inspired as we reflect on our own identity and relationship with God and what it means to truly follow in the footsteps of Christ.
Pillar 4 - Followhood
If we truly want to become more Christ-like we need to immerse ourselves in scripture, rely upon the Holy Spirit, and spend time in connection and communion with other believers. Most importantly we must learn to surrender. Surrendering means realizing that life is not centered around us. Surrendering means letting go of our agendas, beliefs, egos, passions, failings, faults, cares, concerns, successes, anxiousness, and more. Living a life of self sacrifice focused upon the glory of God will lead us to discover true life, peace and joy.
Begin
As we begin a new year, we focus on the idea of kingdom leadership. Senior Leader, John Poundstone shares his personal reflections and experiences from high school and the cultural challenges he witnessed during the late 1960s and early 1970s. John teaches from the Book of Mark about the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the disciples who radically chose to leave everything behind to follow Him. John encourages us to begin a new year of discipleship that doesn’t necessarily begin with "inviting Jesus into our hearts" but instead accepting Jesus' invitation to come into His heart.
Advent Love
At the heart of everything is one love. The love that gave birth to all creation is the same love that was born on that first Christmas morning in Bethlehem. The light that shone in the darkness, that same love is being born in you each day without ceasing. So open yourself to this light and celebrate the coming of God into this world, into your darkness. Christmas is not long ago and far away but here and now, today and every day. May we open our spirits, our hearts, our souls, our minds, our strength. Let's choose risk. Let's let God in fully. Let our love be radical, undefeatable, interconnected and forever attached. Let's wait expectantly for it.
Joy
The Third Sunday of Advent is known as the "Sunday of Joy." In our message today, we learn that true joy comes from God. Living in joy means finding and receiving joy, then maintaining it despite life's challenges. We need to seek intimacy and closeness with God in order to live righteously, experience His peace, and to be filled with divine joy. During this season of Advent, we expectantly await Jesus' joy just like the psalmist, the apostle Paul, Jesus himself, Simeon, Anna, and so many more. We also prophetically activate heavenly joy as we prepare for 2024.
Hope Peace
Over the last several years, we have experienced monumental cultural, economic, and technological "storms" and "quakes" in our world. These changes have rocked our lives in ways we might never have imagined. In order to find peace, hope, and stability in a changing world, we need to seek Holy Spirit's proximity and presence. We must stop relying on our own strength, talents, gifts, and abilities and instead reach out to God. There will be nothing more important in the next year than the presence of God in our lives. That is the key to peace. We need to walk in God's peace and find His hope and then model it and live it out in our marriages, personal lives, families, and workplaces. When we become people of hope and peace, we begin to influence the culture and the world around us.
Diane Buice - With God Nothing Is Impossible
Diane Buice shares her touching personal stories that demonstrate the profound presence of God in our lives, especially during times of darkness and struggle. Diane shares stories of finding comfort and guidance through divine signs, such as seeing repeated appearances of cars bearing the license plate "Luke 137". She reminds us of the message that "with God, nothing is impossible," offering strength and courage to those facing struggles. Diane recounts experiencing God's orchestration of encounters and conversations with friends in need of forgiveness and nearing the end of life. She emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and the regret of not pressing the forgiveness issue further with her loved ones.
Peace Unshakeable
How can we find true peace in a world filled with negativity, strife, and spiritual unrest? We need Shalom, God’s supernatural peace. Shalom is absolute wholeness, completeness, and certainty that can only be found in the divine presence of God. Join us as we draw nearer to God, realign our priorities, and embrace a life lived fully in Christ's presence.
Soul Storm
No matter the storms that our souls face, God's presence remains a constant source of comfort. Our souls face many challenges in today’s tumultuous times. Whether it is mental health struggles, questioning our identity or experiencing wavering confidence, it's clear that our inner selves are under siege. Despite the negativity and doubts that may surround us, we're encouraged to find strength in our spiritual faith. When we feel lost or shaken, we can always turn to God for peace and certainty. We need to stand firm in our faith, embrace our position as God's children, and find solace in His eternal love and victory over all of the tribulations of the world.
The Cross
Today's message is about seeing the cross and the crucifixion of Christ in a new and profound light. It's a reminder of the immense love and sacrifice Jesus made for us—to conquer evil, to bring forth God's kingdom, to connect us with the Father, and to empower us with the Holy Spirit. The cross is not just a symbol but a gateway to experiencing Christ's reign in our hearts and lives. Let's embrace the resurrection, hold onto truth, and discover our true identities through Christ. Every time we see a cross may we more deeply and truly find and follow this wonderful Jesus, His way, His truth, and His life.
Head On
This week, we examine Jesus' role as the 'head' or the ultimate authority over the church and our lives. Many of the world's problems arise from a lack of proper headship or leadership. Jesus provides the direction we need and serves as the source of our strength. As our faith deepens, we are reminded that we are betrothed to Christ and will become His bride at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, as mentioned in the Book of Revelation. This journey from being Christ's body to becoming His bride requires complete submission to Christ on the part of the church.
Who are you proclaiming?
The Holy Spirit draws, attracts, and captivates us, inviting us to willingly and joyfully follow a Holy Lord. Sadly, we can just as easily be attracted, captivated, and ensnared by unholy or demonic influences. As humans, we can be influenced by both God's Holy Spirit and the demonic realm, but we can also be influencers. Our words, behaviors, habits, and patterns can either proclaim or promote these unseen realms. We possess the ability to elevate ourselves and others toward God and the heavenly realm, or drag ourselves and others down into the unholy demonic realm. Who are you proclaiming?
Just Pray
When it comes to prayer, it's easy for us to focus on "religiosity" and to get hung up trying to sound spiritual or worry about things that might prevent God from hearing and answering our prayers. The good news is that nothing keeps God from hearing our prayers. He is relatable, touchable, tangible, and accessible. He always responds to prayers, even if it's not in the way we would like or expect. The most effective prayers are always simple and originate from our authentic selves. Regardless of how your prayer sounds, God accepts it without judgment. So, "just pray," trusting that God will listen and respond out of his goodness and love.
OI
Over the past couple of weeks we have explored the Beauty of our creator and also the beauty of God’s creation - Us! This week we look at the idea of “OI” - “original intelligence, original identity and original identity”. This is the image, the intelligence, and the identity that God had in mind when he created each one of us. You were predestined by God. You were designed. You are one of a kind. God put his mark upon you and called you. God has a purpose and a destiny for you. God knew all about you before you were born, and he destined you from the beginning to share the likeness of His Son, Jesus.
Beauty - Part 2
As we continue exploring the concept of ‘beauty’, our focus turns to the beauty of God’s own creation – us. Each of us is a unique masterpiece, formed by His divine hands. We are living testimonies of His deep and unconditional love, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The world often leads us to believe that our worth is dictated by physical beauty. But as followers of Christ, we must remember that our true beauty, as seen through God’s eyes, is not skin-deep. It stems from a heart that seeks Him, a spirit that is humble before Him, and a life lived in love and service.
Beauty
Today, we explore the awe-inspiring beauty of Christ, His character, His love, and His creation. His beauty is a beacon, drawing us closer to Him. It is within this beauty that we find wholeness, harmony, and ‘shalom’, that connecting us deeply with Him. Psalm 24:9-17 reminds us that our deepest desire should be to live in God’s presence and be awed by His grace and glory. As we allow ourselves to be captivated by His magnificent beauty, we come to realize that Jesus is all we need. This is a simple truth: Christ embodies beauty, and it is this beauty that brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives.
Leaving Gerazim
Gerizim holds special significance for the Samaritans as a holy mountain where they went to worship God. Through Jesus’ conversations with the Samaritan woman at the well and with Nicodemus, we gain a different understanding of the nature of true, genuine, and heartfelt worship. Gerizim represents all of the traditions, rituals, cultural practices, and distractions that divert our attention away from true worship in spirit and truth. We should instead seek a deep connection and intimacy with God through His Holy Spirit.
Good News Family Gathering
John Poundstone introduces a refresshing new approach to Joy Church's Sunday Worship services. Imagine a joyous celebration, a friendly gathering where we learn and share the life changing message of God’s Kingdom. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you’re welcome. Our focus will be on the message that Jesus’ sacrifice paves our way to heaven and transforms our lives when we embrace a personal relationship with him. We’ll explore the Kingdom of God and the gospel in an authentic way without sugarcoating anything. After all, the gospel is great news, and God is more wonderful than we can imagine. Come as you are and leave transformed!
Embrace Wilderness
“Wilderness seasons” are life-altering circumstances characterized by hardship, struggle, uncertainty, and confusion. These challenging chapters of our lives often arise from situations such as financial difficulties, medical conditions, addiction, relationship problems, emotional issues, or mental health concerns. God utilizes these “wilderness seasons” to guide us towards personal and spiritual growth by testing our ability to endure and overcome adversity. These seasons challenge the notion that “God will never give you more than you can handle”. Trials that surpass our ability to cope are essential for growth. We can take comfort in the fact that God is always present, supporting us through these trials even when His presence isn’t immediately apparent.
Repentance's Reward
“Metanoia,” or repentance, is more than simply turning away from sin. It is a spiritual journey away from darkness to the Kingdom of God. Pride leads to exile, but repentance is the path back home. It is a shift from limitation and death to abundance and life. Repentance is a process that brings great rewards: the presence, peace, purity, priorities, power, and perspective of God.