Focal Point

Pastor Mike Fabarez

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Spiritual Detours, Part 3B

June 6, 2013
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Avoiding the Trap of Religious Experientialism

Adrenaline junkies will do whatever it takes to chase that thrilling rush of emotion, whether it’s jumping out of a plane or careening down a mountain.  In the Christian life, we may be tempted to act the same way and chase spiritual euphoria at any cost.  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez explains that pursuing the experience will only lead us to a spiritual dead end!  God has a much better goal in mind.
References: Colossians 2:18-23

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Avoiding the Trap of Religious ExperientialismThere are days when walking with God is a joyful experience.  We can sense the Lord’s presence, and we’re excited to be on this spiritual journey.  But then there are times when being a Christian doesn’t feel all that good and it’s easy to become discouraged.  But do these emotions mean we’re lesser Christians?  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez offers both encouragement and a challenge.  You see, following Christ is less about our feelings and more about our will.
June 5, 2013
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Steering Clear of Religious Traditionalism Jesus said “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).  But have you noticed that there’s a temptation to add additional requirements, laws or traditions to our walk with the Lord?  With all those extra regulations, the faith that Jesus designed as an asset to guide us becomes an obstacle that we can trip over!  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez challenges us to reevaluate those religious requirements we hold onto.
June 4, 2013
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Steering Clear of Religious TraditionalismThere are more than four thousand federal laws on the books today, and more are being added each day!  You can imagine that trying to fulfill that long list of regulations would be exhausting.  But how often do we as Christians burden ourselves with demands, commandments, or directives that only make following Christ harder?  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez considers this issue.  We’ll see what the Apostle Paul had to say about living up to man-made laws in Colossians, Chapter 2.
June 3, 2013
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The Best Way to Avoid Being Duped As we follow Christ, inevitably signposts will pop up along our path.  At first glance, they may seem like they are leading us in the right direction.  But we must stay on our guard because some paths actually lead us down the wrong road!  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez begins a new series in the book of Colossians called Spiritual Detours.  It’s a study of those things that hinder us from growing in our faith.
May 31, 2013
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The Best Way to Avoid Being Duped Forget phony e-mails, Internet scams, or crafty telemarketers, there’s an even bigger deceiver roaming around in the world.  But he’s not after your money.  He’s a crafty charlatan whose goal is to pull the wool over your eyes spiritually.  And he’s had a few centuries to practice the perfect con!  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez reveals the identity and tactics of Satan and the Christian’s tool for evading his traps.
May 30, 2013
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More Ministry Beyond Your Inner Circle We are creatures of habit, aren’t we?  We enjoy the feel and the comfort of the familiar, whether it’s the radio station we listen to on Monday, or the group we socialize with on Saturday.  Consistency isn’t necessarily a bad trait.  But Mike Fabarez warns that if it creeps into our ministry to others, it can hinder our success.  On this edition of Focal Point, we conclude the mini- series called Expanding Your Ministry.
May 29, 2013
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More Ministry Beyond Your Inner Circle What if the twelve disciples decided not to take their ministry past the edges of the familiar and were content to minister only to each other?  Christianity would have been the short-lived faith of Jewish fishermen and you and I would have never even heard of Jesus Christ.  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez encourages us to extend our ministry beyond the borders of friends and family.  Colossians, chapter 1 reminds us that great opportunities lie just outside the familiar!
May 28, 2013
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More Ministry Beyond Your Natural Abilities Currently on Focal Point, we’re talking about ministry, rollin’ up our sleeves, getting to work, and making a difference for God’s kingdom.  But as you step into your role as a minister of Christ, perhaps you’re realizing that you’re not quite up to the task!  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez speaks directly to those who feel inadequate for ministry.  You’re exactly the person God can use!
May 27, 2013
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More Ministry Beyond Your Natural AbilitiesWhen it comes to raising your hand, and volunteering to become an active servant of the church, perhaps you shrink back, wondering whether the gifts and talents you bring to the table are worth anything at all.  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez has some good news!  Serving the church and God’s people is not about what we can offer.  It’s all about what God can do through us!
May 24, 2013
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More Ministry Beyond Your Comfort Zone As followers of Christ, each of us has a role to play in the church.  But sometimes our ministry within the Body of Christ can be difficult and may even require a significant sacrifice.  On this edition of Focal Point, Mike Fabarez speaks openly and honestly about the risks we have as ministers of the church.  But the job is not without its benefits, either.  Turning to Colossians, chapter 1, Pastor Mike gives a real-life example of the joy and fulfillment we find in serving the Body
May 23, 2013
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Featured Offer

Do You Feel Connected?
Hospitality is a crucial element in building Christian community and can be an effective tool for evangelism by showing Christ's love to others. But how can we be effective in this area of our lives? What does the Bible say about hospitality? Learn some practical and effective means of serving the Lord. Be sure to request the book The Hospitality Commands: Building Loving Christian Community by Alexander Strauch with your generous donation this month.
Request Yours More resources

About Focal Point

Focal Point is the Bible teaching ministry of author and pastor Mike Fabarez. Focal Point explores and proclaims the depths of Scripture on its daily radio broadcast and is dedicated to clearly explaining the truth of God’s Word.

About Pastor Mike Fabarez

Mike Fabarez is the founding pastor of Compass Bible Church in South Orange County, California and has been in pastoral ministry for more than 30 years. He is committed to clearly communicating God’s word verse-by-verse and encourages his listeners to apply what they have learned to their daily lives.

Pastor Mike is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Talbot School of Theology (M.A.) and Westminster Theological Seminary in California (D.Min.).

Mike is heard on hundreds of radio programs across the country on the Focal Point radio program and has authored several books, including Raising Men Not Boys, Lifelines for Tough Times, Preaching That Changes Lives, Getting It Right, Praying for Sunday, and Why the Bible?

Mike and his wife, Carlynn, reside in Laguna Hills, California and they have three children, Matthew, John and Stephanie.

Contact Focal Point with Pastor Mike Fabarez

Mailing Address
Focal Point
P.O. Box 2850 
Laguna Hills, CA 92654
 
Telephone
1-888-320-5885