Catalyst Church of Carrollton

Leadership Investment Session 3 | Ben Bonner

What’s Not Changing

In today’s sermon, we delve into the simplicity and permanence of the Gospel, uncovering the essence of what truly endures. At the heart of our message is the undeniable truth that Jesus is enough—His sacrifice and victory are central to our faith. Whether you’re seeking encouragement or a deeper understanding of the Gospel, there’s room for you here. Tune in and be inspired to anchor your life in what remains unchanging.

 

Sermon Notes: 

We exist to build people who love God, love others, and experience the presence and power of God in every part of their lives. 

We Keep It Simple. (The Gospel Is Simple) 

“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” ‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus Is Enough. (He’s The Heart of Everything We Do)

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

“But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭CEV‬‬

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There’s Room For You Here. (God is moving. We are moving. Come get you some!)

”For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.“ ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“…And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Make It To Rome!

“As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip.” Acts ‭28‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.” ‭‭Acts ‭28‬:‭16‬, ‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT

Leadership Investment Session 2 | Ben Bonner

What is up, fam? I am doing a leadership investment. It's a teaching with our staff and leadership that I've been working on a while. And what I've decided to do is to share it on podcasts and other platforms. I think it'll bless you, your leadership, because we're all leading somebody or misleading somebody. It'll bless you and encourage you and you'll get clarity on where we're going and why as a church, because it's challenging our leaders, encouraging us. The best is yet to come, guys! God is moving in this church, and we are going to see some amazing things. And I just want you to have clarity. So, I think it will encourage you and give you some leadership wisdom that you can apply in whatever you're leading, wherever you're leading from home and beyond. And you can get a good taste of what we're doing at Catalyst because the best is yet to come, family. I love you. Check it out. Hope it blesses you! - Ben

Make It To Malta

Whether you're dealing with a storm in your relationships, your career, or just the ups and downs of life, this podcast is for you. It's all about finding strength in tough times and trusting that God is with us every step of the way.

Join us as we unpack how to keep pushing forward, even when things seem impossible. "Make It To Malta" is your guide to navigating life's storms with resilience and hope, knowing that with God, we can overcome anything that comes our way.

 

Sermon Notes: 

Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” Acts 27:21-25 NIV

They Were Dogs

In this powerful sermon titled "They Were Dogs," we explore the unwavering faith and perseverance of early believers amidst relentless trials. Drawing from key passages in Acts, Ben illuminates the transformative power of God’s presence even in the darkest of times.

This message serves as a reminder that God’s presence changes everything—empowering us to continue praising Him amidst adversity.

"They didn’t stop. God didn’t stop. Don’t you stop!"

 

Sermon Notes: 

”The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.“ Acts‬ 5‬:41‬-42‬ NIV

”Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Acts‬ 8‬:4‬ NIV‬‬

”The word of the Lord spread everywhere in that region. But the Jews stirred up the leading men of the city and the Gentile women of high social standing who worshiped God. They started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their region. The apostles shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went on to Iconium. The believers in Antioch were full of joy and the Holy Spirit.“ Acts‬ 13‬:49‬-52‬ GNT‬‬

”The same thing happened in Iconium…” Acts‬ 14‬:1‬ GNT‬‬

”Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.“ Acts 14‬:19‬-20‬ NLT‬‬ 

“A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” Acts‬ 16‬:22‬-25‬ NLT

Leadership Investment Session 1 | Ben Bonner

What is up, fam? I am doing a leadership investment. It's a teaching with our staff and leadership that I've been working on a while. And what I've decided to do is to share it on podcasts and other platforms. I think it'll bless you, your leadership, because we're all leading somebody or misleading somebody. It'll bless you and encourage you and you'll get clarity on where we're going and why as a church, because it's challenging our leaders, encouraging us. The best is yet to come, guys! God is moving in this church, and we are going to see some amazing things. And I just want you to have clarity. So, I think it will encourage you and give you some leadership wisdom that you can apply in whatever you're leading, wherever you're leading from home and beyond. And you can get a good taste of what we're doing at Catalyst because the best is yet to come, family. I love you. Check it out. Hope it blesses you! - Ben

Ordinary People

If you've ever doubted your own significance or felt inadequate, this sermon encourages you to embrace your ordinariness as a vessel for God's extraordinary work. Tune in as we explore how Jesus transforms lives through ordinary people who are willing to be instruments of His grace and power.

 

Sermon Notes: 

”Many miracles and wonders were being done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe. All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts, praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.“ Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭43‬-‭47‬ ‭GNT‬‬


”When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.“ ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬


As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.“ ‭‭Acts ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT

Keep it Simple: What's Your Ax Head?

Give God What You Got

In a world where scarcity often dictates our actions, Pastor Ben reminds us of God's ability to multiply our offerings beyond our imagination. We hope that this message encourages you to trust in God's faithfulness and generosity, knowing that He will supply all your needs according to His riches. Tune in to discover how giving God what you have can transform your life and the lives of those around you!

 

Sermon Notes: 

“As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. “Bring them here,” he said. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!” Matthew 14:13-21 NLT

Give God what you got and He will take care of what you don’t got.