Dover Assembly of God: Recent Episodes
Pastor Jeff Bender
When presented with the question of paying taxes to Cesar, Jesus saw they were trying to trap Him and used a coin to show that since they were part of the Roman system, they should pay the taxes to that system. As long as our government doesn’t conflict with God’s laws, we should obey their laws, but remember that our true allegiance lies with God.
In Mark 12, Jesus uses the parable of the tenants in the vineyard killing the owner’s heir to illustrate how the leaders had rejected the heir to God’s throne. Because they refused to accept and obey Jesus, they were subject to judgment from God. Have you accepted the heir?
When Peter pointed out the withered fig tree that Jesus cursed, Jesus explained that we need to have faith in God, really believing and not doubting in our heart, and we’ll see mountains moved.
Jesus cursing the fig tree and cleansing the temple were reflections of the state of Israel at the time, who failed to be fruitful for God, looking good on the outside while being full of sin and hypocrisy. Are we leafy trees like Israel, or do we allow the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual fruit within us?
After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem that subtly announced His kingship by fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, He returned to His disciples and spent time praying with them to prepare for the difficult week ahead. As we begin the new year, we should follow in Jesus’ example by seeking God’s guidance through prayer and fasting for what lies ahead in our lives.
Prayer and fasting hold the keys to spiritual breakthrough. When the disciples couldn’t cast a demon out of a boy, Jesus told them that it would only come out by prayer and fasting. There are many accounts of others in the Bible who fasted and prayed for breakthrough as well, including Jesus.
The world would be a dramatically different place if Jesus was never born. Thankfully, He was born, which brought us the greatest gift of all–forgiveness for our sins through His death on the cross.
Answered prayer didn’t affect the faith of those who trusted God. Zechariah and Elizabeth remained faithful to God even though their prayer for a child wasn’t answered right away. God eventually did give them a child, but their dedication to Him was not based on that.
What happens when we pray and see nothing? Go again! When Elijah sent his servant to look toward the sea, he saw nothing. Seven times Elijah told him to go again before a cloud formed to answer his prayer.
When a blind beggar persistently called for Jesus as He was passing by, Jesus saw his faith and healed him. Do we have faith like the beggar, trusting that God will hear our prayers and meet our needs?
When James and John asked for places of honor in glory, Jesus explained that anyone wanting to be great must be willing to serve others, just as He came to serve, not to be served.
As they were on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus explained to the disciples what would happen to Him there so they would ready for it. Like the disciples, we need to be ready for what will inevitably happen today so that we can stand tall in the midst of it. Are you ready?
God uses the ordinary extraordinarily. Captain Robert Williams shares the story of Rahab to demonstrate how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things to accomplish what He wants to accomplish.
When you acknowledge Jesus as our salvation and look to Him as our light, we see God for who He truly is. When we see our circumstances in His light, fear loses its grip right away. The enemy’s schemes can only prevail in darkness. Light has secured victory over fear. No stronghold of fear from the enemy can prosper in God’s light.
When questioned about the cost of following Him, Jesus promised that anyone who would give up their lives to follow Him would see those sacrifices restored, but would also face persecution and hardships in this life that would ultimately be rewarded with eternal life.
When a rich young ruler came to Jesus asking how to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to follow the commandments and sell his possessions to give to the poor, because those possessions became a god for him. They were the one thing that prevented him from truly giving his heart to God to inherit eternal life.
When the disciples tried to stop children from coming to Jesus, He became indignant and told them to let the children come to Him, explaining how we need to have childlike faith to enter the kingdom of God.
When presented with the question about divorce, Jesus explained God’s design for marriage, that a man and woman are united as one in marriage. Because of that, there are very few circumstances where God allows divorce, but there is still forgiveness and restoration for those who have been divorced.
Instead of being salty about others doing things in His name, Jesus reminded the disciples that anyone who was not against them was for them, and that they are to be salt, preserving and being a pure example of God’s love to the world. Are you salty?
After the disciples were discussing who was the greatest, Jesus explained to them that anyone who wants to be first must be last. To be great in the kingdom means to sacrifice to serve others, ultimately pointing them to Jesus.
When a demon possessed boy couldn’t be healed by the disciples, his father’s faith began to struggle as doubt crept in. In spite of that, Jesus still healed the boy of his condition. Even if we struggle with our faith, God can still work in our lives, despite any doubts we may have.
When Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, they experienced a glimpse of God’s glory as Jesus’s appearance was transformed and God spoke to them. When we have similar experiences, they should cause us to grow closer to the Lord and become more like Him.
After Peter’s revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus explained the suffering He would face, as well as the cost of following Him. We must be willing to deny ourselves and endure hardship now, but in exchange for that, we’ll gain eternal life. Will you follow Him?
Jesus’ healing of the blind man fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy about who the Messiah would be and was done to open the disciples’ spiritual eyes to who Jesus is. What do you see? Are your eyes open to who Jesus is?
When the disciples became distracted by the lack of food they had with them, Jesus reminded them of the miracles He just performed to feed thousands. We can be like the disciples, letting the distractions of life prevent us from hearing what He’s trying to teach us. Are you distracted?
When a large crowd was gathered seeking Jesus, He was concerned about them, seeing their need for food. He used seven loaves of bread to meet that need, feeding four thousand people. When we’re focused on seeking Jesus, He’ll provide for our needs too.
When a deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to Jesus, He took him aside and healed both of his ailments. Jesus unstopped his hearing to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, just like God wants to unstop our hearing so that we are able to truly hear the word of God and respond […]
When a gentile woman came to Jesus asking for her daughter to be healed, her persistence and faith in Jesus’ words resulted in her request being granted. When we pray, are we like her, praying in persistent faith that God will answer our requests?
Prayer is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate with God. When we pray, we should pray in faith and be unified in prayer. In addition, fasting is an important tool in prayer that unlocks the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Prayer is a powerful tool that allows us to communicate with God. Our prayers can be simple, but we should be persistent in prayer, trusting in faith that God will meet our needs.
You may have seen the TV show 8 Simple Rules, but did you know that God has 8 simple rules for being a dad? If we follow those rules, we can be assured that even though we aren’t perfect and will fail, we’ve done our best to show them Jesus in our everyday life.
We all have traditions that we follow as a means of pointing us to God. Traditions in and of themselves are not bad, unless they become more important than following God’s word, or prevent others from knowing Him. What are your traditions?
Priorities, integrity, and attitude are important choices we make that can lead us to success. As our graduates begin a new season, we encourage them to keep their priority on Jesus, preserve their integrity, and maintain a good attitude throughout their lives.
The day of Pentecost is a day of empowerment. The Holy Spirit gives us the supernatural power to overcome fear and doubt and go out to do God’s work. The early church experienced it and God still offers it to each of us today!
After a great day of ministry, Jesus sent the disciples into another test when they struggled to cross the lake because of the wind and waves. Jesus saw their struggle and walked on the water to meet them and calm the storm. He is always with us, and is able to calm the storms we face in life too.
No matter the situation you’ve experienced with your mother, Jesus is there to help navigate you through it, which in turn will allow you to have a positive effect on the children in your life.
When Jesus was teaching in a desolate place, and it came time for the people to eat, a young boy gave Him five loafs and two fish that He used to feed 5,000 men and their families. If we’re willing to give God what little resources we have, He can use them to reach multitudes. We just have to be ready and willing.
King Herod had John the Baptist killed because he was bullied by his wife, influenced by his daughter, and pressured by his friends. He ultimately chose not to do the right thing because of negative influences in his life. What influences are we allowing to determine our actions?
After spending time teaching them, Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, instructing them to preach the gospel and giving them authority to heal the sick and cast out demons.
A lack of faith hindered Jesus from performing miracles in his hometown. In the same way, unbelief will hinder what He wants to do in and through His church today.
Everything in the Bible points to or is about Jesus, whose resurrection put God’s final stamp of approval on all of His teaching and testimony. Nicodemus realized this when he sought Jesus out. Have you sought Jesus out and allowed Him to change you?
After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem showing his kingship, he took a minute to reflect and wept over the city for those who rejected him. He still cries over anyone who doesn’t accept the offer of salvation that his death and resurrection paid for. Will you accept his gift and let it transform you?
In Mark 5, the power of faith is demonstrated as Jesus performed miracles in response to the faith of two individuals who were facing impossible situations. A woman who had been bleeding for years had faith that just touching Jesus would heal her, and a synagogue leader whose daughter died was told to have faith and she was raised from the dead.
Watch The Chosen clips shared during this sermon: http://doverassembly.com/chosen10
When a demon-possessed man came to Jesus, He used His authority over demons to drive them out of the man and into a herd of pigs.
As Jesus and his disciples were crossing the sea, a storm came up to test their faith. The storm allowed them to see who God really is and put His promises to the test. Are we ready for the storms in life that will test our faith?
When Jesus taught the parable of the sower, He used the illustration of where the sower’s seed fell to describe the responses of different kinds of hearts when they receive the word of God. How’s your heart?
When news of Jesus’ miracles spread, crowds of people came to Him, looking for their own miracles, and not so much interested in Jesus’ message. Are we coming to Jesus for His free gift of salvation, or like the crowds, do we want something from Him?
Jesus broke many of the man-made traditions of the Pharisees that kept people from God.
When four men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus, Jesus used His authority to forgive the paralytic’s sin, then showed His power by healing him.
When Jesus encountered those who were sick, He had compassion and sympathy for them. He served them by healing their sickness.
Because Jesus taught with authority, He was able to call men from their regular jobs to follow Him and be His disciples. Jesus also had authority over demons, and used it to drive them out to serve people.
If we want to be like Jesus, we first have to learn to be obedient, meaning listening to His voice and doing what He says. Then, once we’re blessed for our obedience, we need to keep our guard up so the enemy doesn’t steal that blessing.
Our church exists to connect people to God, build them up, and offer them the hope that can only be found through Jesus. We accomplish that vision using a 5-step process developed by our leadership team:
CONNECT · GROW · SERVE · GO · WORSHIP
Our church exists to connect people to God, build them up, and offer them the hope that can only be found through Jesus. We can accomplish that vision by being consistent in prayer, trusting God to use our church to accomplish the vision He has given to us.
When God sent Jesus to earth, He used ordinary people to bring about His plan to bring us a savior. Mary was a wiling servant who trusted God to do something impossible through her.
When God sent Jesus to earth, He used ordinary people to bring about His plan to bring us a savior. Jospeh was one of them, a righteous and merciful man who God used to be the earthly father of Jesus.
It’s our turn! We are up to know God, to remember what He’s done in our lives, to posture ourselves before Him, spending time in His presence, and to go into the world to bring light into the darkness. Are you willing to go?
When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to show his gratitude. Are we like that one leper, thankful for God’s blessings, or do we take them for granted like the other nine?
After Nineveh’s great repentance, Jonah was angry that God had compassion on the people and didn’t wipe them out. When Jonah left town to sulk, God used a leafy plant and a worm to teach Jonah about His concern for the people of Nineveh. We don’t know Jonah’s response to that lesson, but should God […]
After Jonah’s repentance, he was quick to obey God and go to Nineveh when God called him there a second time. When the people of Nineveh heard the message of God’s coming judgment, they quickly repented, believing that His compassion would spare them from it. God’s primary desire is not to bring judgment, but to […]
Feeling stuck? Prayer should be our first response, while standing our ground. Remember that the enemy and attacks are real, but God is greater. We should also help one another, not just fellow Christians, remembering the Great Commission where Jesus commanded us to go and do, not sit and wait.
When Jonah woke up inside the fish and realized that God had spared his life, giving him a second chance, he prayed for God’s help, accepted God’s discipline, and trusted God’s promises, accepting His hand of redemption.
Jonah decided he would rather die than repent and do what God called him to do, so when the storm continued to worsen, he had the sailors throw him overboard, which calmed the storm. God wasn’t done with Jonah though, as He provided a great fish to swallow Jonah so he wouldn’t die.
We are called to be a blessing to those around us, but when we don’t fulfill God’s calling, we cease to be a blessing and others will invariably suffer. When Jonah chose not to be a blessing by running, he lost the ability to hear God, his spiritual energy, power in prayer, and ultimately his […]
When God called Jonah to Nineveh, he had the wrong attitude about God’s word, his circumstances, and unsaved people that caused him to think the task would be impossible, so he chose to run from it.
As Revelation concludes, Jesus reminds us that He is coming soon to bring about all of the events described throughout the book of Revelation. Are you ready for His return? Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48959736
In Revelation 21, John sees a vision of the new Jerusalem, where believers will live with God in heaven. All sorrows, pain, and evil will be gone forever. The city is 1400 miles in each direction, made of pure gold, but as clear as glass. Do you have your name written in the book of […]
In Revelation 20, Satan is bound for 1000 years before being thrown into the lake of fire. The dead are also judged according to their deeds, and anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was also thrown into the lake of fire. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48948739
In Revelation 19, all of heaven sings songs of victory and rejoices because God has judged his enemies and He is reigning! The war is over, Christ wins and now the enemy and his followers are getting ready for judgment. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48945392
In Revelation 18, the rebellious world system of Babylon is fallen, and will ultimately be destroyed. The banks have closed and all money is now tied up in supplies that can’t be purchased. All of the physical items that were so important to them have become worthless. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48941377
This week, New Life For Girls joined us to minister in testimony and song to demonstrate how God can change lives! Learn more about New Life for Girls: Website: NewLifeforGirls.org Facebook: fb.com/NewLifeforGirlsDover
Ever feel like Gods forgotten about you? There are times when we need to be reminded that He is the God who sees us 24/7.
In Revelation 17, we see the judgment and destruction of the religious Babylon, otherwise known as the harlot. She who enjoyed the destruction of believers will herself be judged and destroyed. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48930456
In the Bible, false religions are portrayed as harlots or prostitutes, becoming the personification of who and what they worship. They may look good on the outside, but are full of moral and religious corruption. They exist even today, so it’s important for us to know God’s word so we aren’t deceived by them. Sermon […]
Jesus gives us victory over our struggle with sin as we study His word and let the Holy Spirit guide our lives.
If you’re the average Christian, you’re probably wondering why you’re still struggling in your faith. Here’s some help!
As we celebrate Independence Day, we focus on the freedom we have in this country, but if we believe in Jesus, we also have freedom from sin, freedom from judgment, freedom from God’s condemnation and freedom from our own condemnation. Have you been set free?
In Revelation 16, seven angels pour out seven bowls of God’s wrath on those who have rejected God and taken the mark of the beast. They find themselves covered with sores and scorched by the sun as they’re forced to drink from rivers and springs that have been turned to blood. In verse 15, we […]
In Revelation 15, John sees a vision of 7 angels with 7 last plagues that bring completion to God’s wrath. He also sees those who were victorious over the beast worshiping the Lamb, singing the song of Moses. God’s long suffering has ended and it’s time for judgment to come on those who have refused […]
After years of waiting on the Lord, we have a youth pastor! This week, we installed Rev. Savy & Jasmine Lopez as our new youth and young adult pastors.
Children matter to God! When the disciples stopped parents from bringing their children to Jesus, he became indignant and rebuked them, then blessed the children. As a church, we are mandated to reach kids for Christ, and that’s what our children’s ministries and VBS are designed to do.
In Revelation 14, John sees a vision of the harvest that will bring judgment to the wicked and spiritually dead who have been deceived by the anti-Christ. Time has run out for them, but there’s still time for us to escape that judgment. Have you accepted Christ’s offer of salvation? Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48899466
In Revelation 14, we see the contrast of those who are saved by God’s seal and those who take the anti-Christ’s mark. Those who took God’s seal worship Him, while those who took the mark of the beast are being prepared for the eternal torment they’ll face. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48896268
Lora Abel, Executive Director of Human Life Services, shares the important work that is being done in the pro-life field to help women and unborn babies in York and the surrounding areas. Learn more about Human Life Services at FriendsofHLS.org
In Revelation 13, a second beast comes out of the earth to further deceive those on earth and make them worship the first beast. He requires everyone to get a mark on their right hand or forehead in order to buy or sell, further imitating what God had done previously with the 144,000 who were […]
In Revelation 13, we see the introduction of the beast, who is ultimately the anti-Christ, who will speak eloquently to deceive people so that they’ll worship him. As Satan’s puppet, He’s given the power to exercise his authority for forty-two months, during the second half of the tribulation. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48885058
Revelation 12 brings another level of symbolism to tell of Satan’s fall and his many failed attempts to thwart God’s ultimate plan of salvation through Jesus. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48882018
Everything in the Bible points to or is about Jesus, whose resurrection put God’s final stamp of approval on all of His teaching and testimony. Nicodemus realized this when he sought Jesus out. Have you sought Jesus out and allowed Him to change you? Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48878214
After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem showing his kingship, he took a minute to reflect and wept over the city for those who rejected him. He still cries over anyone who doesn’t accept the offer of salvation that his death and resurrection paid for. Will you accept his gift and let it transform […]
When the seventh trumpet was blown, the third terror began. The 24 elders fell down and worshiped God, and proclaimed that the time of God’s wrath has arrived. Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, […]
In Revelation 11, two witnesses are given power to prophesy for 1,260 days about the next terror to come. Once they complete their testimony, they are killed by the anti-Christ, but are soon resurrected and ascend into heaven. As this happens, an earthquake kills 7,000 and many of those remaining finally give glory to God. […]
Revelation 10 serves as an intermission between the sixth and seventh trumpets. In this intermission, John is told to take a little scroll from an angel and eat it, then challenged to prophesy again about God’s judgment. Like John, we should also be warning others about God’s coming judgment. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48863016
If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat! The boat represents that which is comfortable, preventing us from taking the step of faith that God is calling us to take. Peter took that step. Will you?
When the sixth angel blew his trumpet, the second terror was unleashed. Four angels were released to kill a third of all mankind that was left on earth. Those remaining after that third was killed still refused to repent of their sins. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48855321
When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, the first terror was unleashed. Locusts given the power to sting like scorpions descended upon the earth and were given the power to sting those without the seal of God on their foreheads for five months. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48851210
As the final seal is broken, all of heaven is silent for half an hour. Following the silence, thunder, lightning, and earthquakes shake the earth and the angels sound trumpets that begin the destruction of 1/3 of the earth. God is allowing us more time to make sure that our family and friends come to […]
In Revelation 7, John sees a vision where God’s seal is placed on his people to protect them from the wrath of God. As Christians, we’re marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit, which shows that we’re owned and protected by God, and will ultimately end up in heaven for eternity where He’ll wipe […]
As Jesus breaks the sixth seal, a great earthquake shakes the earth, the stars fall to the sky and mountains and islands disappear. All those left on earth try to hide from the wrath of the Lamb, but no one can. Fortunately, those who have trusted Christ for salvation will escape that wrath. Sermon Notes: […]
When the lamb begins to break the scrolls on the scroll, many believe that will be the beginning of the great tribulation. The seals represent the anti-Christ, war, famine, death and the grave. Fortunately, for those who have trusted Christ, God is in control and we have nothing to fear. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48836208
In Revelation 5, John describes a scroll sealed with seven seals. Only Jesus, the lamb of God was deemed worthy to open the scroll, and as he was handed the scroll to open it, all of heaven bowed before Him and worshiped the Lamb. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48828496
In Revelation 4, John sees the throne of God the Father, describing the 24 thrones, seven lamps, the sea of glass, and the four living creatures surrounding it. Those surrounding the throne worship God day after day, shouting “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty–the one who always was, who is, and who is […]
The world would be a dramatically different place if Jesus was never born. Thankfully, He was born, which brought us the greatest gift of all–forgiveness for our sins through His death on the cross.
On the first Christmas, God gave us His best gift to bring salvation to the world and restore our relationship with Him. If we choose to receive that gift by faith, we are made right with God and become part of His family. Have you accepted His gift? Sermon notes: bible.com/events/48815561
Four hundred years after the prophecies in the Old Testament, God brought about His plan to bring a savior to the world. He used ordinary people who were faithful and said yes to his calling to bring it about. Through each of them being faithful, God drew people to Christ and He can do the […]
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Laodicea, He rebukes them for being lukewarm, having lost their vision and purpose. He encourages them to repent and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to continue His vision for their church. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48804545
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia, He encourages them to hold onto the faith that they have and persevere through the hardship they face so that they will be made victorious and be rewarded in heaven. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48800733
There are many lessons that can be learned from the book of Daniel. Even when faced with being thrown into the lion’s den, Daniel remained faithful to God and continued to pray, and God ultimately spared him from the lions. God also gave Daniel prophetic visions of things to come. Prophecies aren’t meant to scare […]
As Christians, we are always in battle. Captain Robert Williams shares about the armor of God that we put on to fight those battles and defeat the enemy. Message Notes: bible.com/events/48793843
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia, he reminds them that He is the holy and true God who has authority over all things and can control everything. He also tells them that he’s opened a door for them to prepare the way for the work that still needed to be done. Sermon Notes: […]
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Sardis, he rebukes them for having a reputation of being alive, but really being dead. He encourages them to wake up, to obey the word they’ve heard and repent of their sin or they would face judgment. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48786099
The letters to the churches in Revelation are meant to correct the churches (and us) and help them to become better. In Jesus’ letter to the church in Sardis, He rebukes them for having a good reputation and going along to get along, while being spiritually dead, and encourages them to wake up and stop […]
There are many lessons that we can learn from the book of Daniel. God is sovereign. A person’s wealth and power mean nothing. God is also patient. He gave the king a year to repent. God’s word always comes true, and as we see with King Nebuchadnezzar, repentance brings deliverance. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48775008
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Thyatira, He rebukes those in the church who are following the heretical teaching of Jezebel, and encourages them to repent. He encourages those who haven’t followed her to hold on to what they have until the end. The proof of authentic trust in Jesus is that we remain […]
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Thyatira, He commends them for their love and faith, service and perseverance, and doing more than they’ve done before, but rebuked them for following wrong teachings. Wrong teachings were around then, and are prevalent today, so we also need to be aware of them and be careful of […]
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Pergamum, He commends them for remaining true to His name, but rebukes them to stop compromising by following the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Compromise always leads away from God and if it continues without change, you will eventually walk away totally from God. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48763164
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Smyrna, he commends them for standing strong in their faith and encourages them to continue to stand strong despite the persecution they would be facing. Like those in Smyrna, are we willing to live our lives faithfully for Jesus regardless of what it may cost us? Sermon Notes: […]
In Jesus’ letter to the church in Ephesus, He commends them for not tolerating wicked men, but encourages them to return to repent and do the things they did at first to return to their first love. The same applies for us today if we’ve forsaken our first love. It’s never too late to repent […]
In John’s vision, Jesus proclaims that He is the Alpha and Omega, meaning He’s the beginning and the end. Under that authority, He gave John the task of writing down everything he sees in the vision to share with the seven churches to warn and encourage them about what is to come.
Revelation tells of events that will happen soon, when Satan will be defeated and destroyed, and victory and reward will come for God’s faithful people. It is meant to prepare us for those events. It also says that everyone who reads the book and does what it says will be blessed.
A Christian marriage honors God above all else. The Biblical example encourages believers to enter into marriage in a way that honors God’s covenant relationship, submits to the laws of God first and then the laws of the land, and gives a public demonstration of the holy commitment that is being made.
What does the Bible tell us about addiction? As early as Genesis, we see examples of people who had addictions. Fortunately, God has given us ways to defeat addiction, including the armor of God, relationships with others to keep us accountable, as well as the ability to fully surrender ourselves to Him so He can […]
Jude ends his book with a call for us to remain faithful by building each other up in our faith and praying in the Spirit. He also calls us to snatch others from the fire to save them from the false teachers and bring them to the faith.
Jude calls false teachers blemishes at love feasts, shepherds who feed only themselves, clouds without rain, autumn trees without fruit, wild waves of the sea, and wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Jude is warning the church that we need to be on guard to protect ourselves and others from false […]
Jude warns against false teachers, sharing three examples of how they reject and rebel against God’s word, leading people into believing their sinful lifestyle is okay. He also shares of the judgment that false teachers and those who follow them will face, including that of the angels who rebelled against God and were thrown into […]
Jude was a half-brother of Jesus who wrote the book of Jude to urge believers to contend for the faith, not letting unbelievers infiltrate and sabotage the church. We as individual believers and we as a church have to be on constant guard as to what we allow into our lives so that we aren’t […]
As we wrap up on study of the gifts of the Spirit, we examine the service gifts, or the ministry leadership gifts, which include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Each of them help to prepare God’s people for works of service to build the body of Christ so that we may ultimately become mature […]
As we continue studying the spiritual gifts, we explore the sign gifts, which include prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and kindness. As Christians, we’ve each been given at least one of these gifts that we should be using to further God’s kingdom.
After experiencing the gift of tongues and interpretation in our service two weeks ago, we’ve been learning about the spiritual gifts and how they can benefit the church. All of them are relevant today and we should pray, seek, and ask God for them.
What are the gifts of the Spirit? After experiencing one of them in our service last week, we learn what they are and how they can benefit us as a church. The gifts are a blessing from God to encourage, bless, challenge, rebuke if necessary, and all to make us more like Him.
After checking with Ruth’s other kinsman-redeemer who didn’t want to redeem her, Boaz made the decision to redeem Ruth. Together, they had a son who was the grandfather of David. As we see with Ruth, we don’t know how long it will take, but we can trust that God will be faithful to bring about […]
After Ruth’s encounter with Boaz at the threshing floor, she had to wait for Boaz to work out the situation to find her a kinsman redeemer to give her a better future. Much like Ruth, we have to trust in God’s timing that He’ll take care of us and meet our needs. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48702608
This week, New Life For Girls joined us to minister in testimony and song to demonstrate how God can change lives! Learn more about New Life for Girls: Website: NewLifeforGirls.org Facebook: facebook.com/NewLifeforGirlsDover
When Naomi saw how things were working out for Ruth and realized that God was involved, she found hope. Her attitude changed and she began to help Ruth to figure out her next steps and find her a home. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48695120
When Boaz noticed Ruth gleaning for wheat in his field, he chose her to help and to bless after hearing about how well she had treated Naomi after the deaths of their husbands. Much like Boaz chose Ruth, God chose each of us and wants provide for, protect, and bless us. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48691288
Is it God’s will to heal? We explore the biblical, scriptural basis for healing in the modern world. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48687038
After Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, they experienced a series of coincidences, from the timing of their return to Ruth gleaning grain in a field belonging to a relative of Naomi’s late husband, which were ultimately God setting them up for future blessings. What coincidences in your life could God be using to bless […]
Rather than trusting God to provide through the famine, Elimelech and his family fled to the enemy, which led to a slippery slope of sin that ended his life and those of his sons. After their deaths, his wife Naomi started the journey back to Judah, and his daughter-in-law Ruth took a step of faith […]
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection paved the way for our salvation. Every word written in the Bible is there that we may believe Jesus is who He says and by believing we accept the free gift of salvation his death and resurrection paid for. Sermon Notes: bible.com/events/48674322
After Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem showing his kingship, he took a minute to reflect and wept over the city for those who rejected him. He still cries over anyone who doesn’t accept the offer of salvation that his death and resurrection paid for. Will you accept his gift and let it transform […]
When we fear, we doubt God’s promises and walk in unbelief, which gives the enemy permission to attack us. When we face fear, we can put on the full armor of God and stand on Jesus’ promise found in Matthew 16:18. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/48605136
As the Israelites settled back into their routines, they began to neglect their spiritual lives and stopped following God’s word, which led their spiritual fires to go out. We need to be careful in our own lives not to let our fire go out by focusing on our spiritual lives and learning and obeying God’s […]
As the Israelites continued to study God’s word, they realized how sinfully they had lived before, repented of their sin, and committed to living according to God’s word. It was a new beginning for them. God offers us new beginnings too when we acknowledge our sin and repent. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/48558552
As the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles following their exile, they experienced revival as they looked at all of God’s blessings and realized He gave them a new beginning. All of the people participated and were joyful. The church today needs a similar experience where we respond in action to God’s word, and that […]
After the Israelites had settled in, it was time for them to gather before God to listen to His word and worship Him. Both should also be priories in our lives, and as we learn God’s word, we should be filled with great joy because of all that His word says about us. You matter […]
No matter what Tobiah and the others opposed to Nehemiah’s project threw at him, Nehemiah remained faithful and completed the wall in 52 days. Even when the nobles in Judah sided with Tobiah and sent letters to distract him, Nehemiah stayed the course and didn’t let them stop him from carrying out his calling. Sermon […]
When Sanballat tried to called Nehemiah to a meeting to compromise, Nehemiah used discernment to realize it was just a tactic to stop the work and stood his ground. When the enemy tries to divert us, it is never for a noble reason. He has no interest in compromising and benefitting us. Sermon Notes on […]
When faced with conflict from within those working to rebuild the wall, Nehemiah called a meeting to address their concerns, which led the people being reconciled and God being praised. When that happens, we become stronger, God is glorified and His work continues and is completed. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/48472665
When Nehemiah was faced with opposition from Sanballat, he prayed first, then took the necessary precautions, and continued doing what God called him to do. When we’re faced with opposition, we can follow the same pattern, and trust that like Nehemiah told the workers, God will fight for us! Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/48407975
God’s vision is to rebuild all that the enemy wrecked last year, and just like Nehemiah and his crews rebuilding the gates, it will take all of us to accomplish what God wants to do, starting with prayer and fasting. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/48315801
The city, walls, and gates Nehemiah was called to rebuild were in shambles and the task seemed overwhelming. This past year has put churches in a similar situation. Just as Nehemiah and the priests all worked to rebuild, each of us is called to help rebuild what has been stolen from us. Sermon Notes on […]
Jesus was born during a time of turmoil with a godless king ruling a divided nation where riots were common and tensions were high. Sound familiar? Jesus came to bring hope and be a light in the darkness. He can still bring hope to us and work in the darkness we’re experiencing now too.
The ROCK Kids and our Adult Choir teamed up this year to present “Songs of Christmas,” singing many of the classic Christmas carols and sharing the meaning behind them.
After his success with the king, Nehemiah set out on his journey to Jerusalem where he surveyed the damage to the wall and then shared his vision with the people and told them how God had already been working to make it happen. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/47871264
We are called to be the light of the world, and shine that light into the world. That means we should be actively involved to bring about the change that we want to see to make the world a better place. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/47811921
Following many months of praying and planning, God opened a door for Nehemiah to talk to the king about his plan and request permission to go, which was ultimately granted. What is God calling you to do? Pray and plan, and then step out and do it! Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/47599844
When Nehemiah heard about the sad state of the Jews who had survived captivity, he developed a burden for them and knew he had to do something to help. He began to pray, asking God to forgive their sins and give him favor as he developed a plan to help the Jews. Sermon Notes on […]
As we end these lessons on heaven, remember how awesome it will be, but also remember to be ready, to know that God promised that all these things are going to happen and his promises are yes and amen. Remember your purpose. Part of that will be reflected in our rewards. Keep an eye on your […]
The millennium is time of rewards for God’s people. It will be a time of personal joy that will show man’s depraved nature. Satan will be defeated for the final time and the final judgment will happen where death and the grave will be thrown into the lake of fire along with anyone whose name […]
After all of end time events take place, God will burn the earth and heavens back to its core, removing all death and decay. He will rebuild it into a perfect place like it was intended to be in the first place. All of the good and beautiful things here on earth are just a […]
Heaven is a real place that the Bible describes as a country and a city. The city is a holy city, with gates of pearl, streets of gold, and a foundation made of precious stones. The tree of life, as well as the river of life are also there, with scenery more beautiful than we […]
The Bible tells of five different rewards or crowns we can earn here that we will ultimately lay before Jesus in heaven. The crowns are a great reward we should strive to earn, but greatest reward we have to look forward to is being with Jesus forever. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/44249780
In heaven, once we are reunited with our bodies, they will become perfect, spiritual bodies that will have a brilliance or glow to them. There will be no physical ailments in our bodies. Our lives will be governed by the Holy Spirit and the enemy or our own selfish desires won’t be there to harass […]
God gives us the choice to serve Him. When we make that choice, we should serve him willingly and wholeheartedly, not grumbling or complaining. When we do, we aren’t called His servants, but friends, and adopted heirs to His kingdom. Will you serve Him today? Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/41717818
There will be excitement in heaven. We will be different and perfected versions of ourselves. We will know and be known by others. We will do gratifying work, and ultimately the empty feeling we get after great accomplishments will be gone. We will have and be in the place we have actually wanted from the […]
When we die, the Bible says that we fall asleep, which is the first step in our journey to heaven. As seen in the account of the rich man and Lazarus, angels escort our souls to heaven, where we’ll receive heavenly bodies and be with Jesus forever. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/40163263
Imagine your favorite vacation that you’ve taken. Got it? Heaven will be even greater than that. When our life here ends, if we’ve made reservations in heaven by trusting Jesus, we’ll get to go on a permanent vacation to heaven, where there are many mansions and scenery far more beautiful than anything we’ve experienced here […]
Sin is confusing and sneaky. It can come into your life very quietly and be full blown before you realize it. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the moment we realize we’ve wandered into sin and something isn’t right, we can hit our knees and repent and ask forgiveness. Glen Berteau Sermon: “Integrity vs. […]
Heaven is a real place, where God lives and where those who accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation will end up after their life here ends. While we don’t know the exact location or GPS coordinates, the Bible tells us that heaven is located up in the recesses of the north. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: […]
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. With that liberty, we are able to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but we also need to have the Holy Spirit with us or we may succumb to sin. We are to reflect Christ in our liberty and become the image […]
Abraham and Sarah lived a life of integrity. When Sarah passed, their positive reputation allowed Abraham to find a burial for her in the foreign land where they were staying. By living a life of integrity and faith, we are investing in eternal things that will be in heaven for us when we arrive.
Just as there are restricted areas in the world, there are restricted areas in the spiritual realm as well. Entering the areas of unbelief, unforgiveness, and unconfessed sin can put a strain on our relationship with God and render our prayers ineffective.
Our words have great power to have an effect on everything we face in life. In each situation we face, we have to first have the faith, then confess God’s word and His promises over it. What words are you speaking over your life?
When God challenged Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham accepted the challenge and trusted that God would work it out. When Abraham was faithful to the point of reaching out to kill Isaac, an angel stopped him and God provided a ram for the offering. What is God challenging you to do today? Step out in […]
If we are faithful to trust God’s promises and believe that he will deliver on them at His time, then even the little promises do matter and we may never know how much a small promise that we trusted God for could have such a profound impact on society and the kingdom of God.
When Abraham moved into dangerous territory, he lied about Sarah being his wife again to protect himself. God spoke to King Abimelech in a dream to call out Abraham for his sin. Fortunately, God doesn’t reject us when we sin, even if we keep making the same mistake over and over again like Abraham did. […]
When we keep our focus on and walk in God’s love, it will help us to keep the proper perspective on everything happening in the world and even motivate us to step out of our comfort zone to share the love of Jesus with those who desperately need it.
Abraham loved both of his children the same and wanted God’s blessing for each of them. As parents, that should be one of our primary desires for our children to know God and live under His blessing.
Abraham was faithful to intercede for the people of Sodom, while Lot tried to befriend them. Because of Abraham’s faithfulness to intercede, Lot was ultimately saved when Sodom was burned down for its wickedness. Following Abraham’s example, we should be faithful to intercede for those in our lives who don’t know Christ.
Rather than continuing to trust God that His promise of having a child would come true, Abraham and Sarai took a detour by allowing Sarai’s servant Hagar to have Abraham’s child. As we go through life, we should continue to trust God to meet our needs, and not look for the detours that will get […]
As Abraham continued to trust God, God made a covenant with him, providing him with a token of assurance that His promises would come to pass.
When we go through dark times, we should walk in faith, trusting that God is in control and will take care of us.
After Abraham’s victory, he was tempted to make a deal with Bera for things, but rejected that offer in exchange for the people. He knew that God helped them to get the victory and didn’t want anyone else to get that credit that belonged to God and he didn’t want to be indebted to anyone […]
There are times to pray about situations and wait on God and then there are times when you see something, you need to act. In the midst of the battle in the land, Lot was captured. When Abraham learned of it, he rallied his men and went to save him.
Abraham was sent to the Amorites to be a witness to them and give them the opportunity to repent. As believers, we are called to go into a sin filled world, shining the light of Christ to be a witness to them of the power of God that can change their lives.
When God called Abraham, He told him to start walking and He would show him where to go. Abraham trusted God and took the step of faith, and he was blessed because of it. We can experience the blessings too if we step out in faith when God calls us to new things.
When we’re going through hard times, it’s easy to only focus on the negative and not see Jesus working in the middle of them. As we shift our focus to God, we can be encouraged as we see Him working in the midst of the hard times.
For God so loved the world that He sent His son to die on a cross to pay for our sins. On the 3rd day, He rose from the dead as confirmation of all that He taught. Through the power of the resurrection, God offers a new start to anyone who believes in Him.
As Jesus approached Jerusalem, he wept over it for all of the wasted chances that the Jews had for blessing that they didn’t take advantage of. He cried over all those whose hearts were hard and refused to accept the offer of salvation that His death on the cross and resurrection three days later would soon pay for. Have you accepted His offer?
Are you ready for the day that your life on the earth ends and you stand face to face with Jesus? Many of the things God told us would happen in Revelations are on the doorstep of our lives even now, meaning Christ’s return is growing ever closer. Are we ready for it?
We will all face adversity in life, but with God’s help, we’ll get through it and come out better. As we go through adversity, continuing to pray and trusting God can help to change the situation. We stand upon the rock of Jesus, knowing that the storms won’t defeat us.
We all go through periods of day and night in our lives. Whether you are in the day or night right now, Jesus is with you. If you’ll dare to change your focus and make Him the center of your life, the night won’t seem so dark because you’re focusing on the Light. He leaves the choice to you!
Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/7136288
As we celebrated National BGMC Day, our kids from The ROCK ministered in song and Judy Landis, our BGMC & Missions director, shared a message about God’s promises entitled “Many Great and Mighty Promises.”
This week, the girls from New Life For Girls joined us to minister in song and testimony.
After the death of David’s baby from his sin with Bathsheba, he went into the temple and worshipped, knowing that God was the only one who could help him through the pain. God is able to help us through our pain too as we spend time with Him in worship.
Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/7066387
Worship can take on a variety of different looks with different actions accompanying it, depending on how the Spirit leads. As we see in the book of Psalms, anything from being still before God to singing, clapping, raising hands, and even dancing are ways that we can express worship to God.
Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/7062799
Jesus tells us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. To worship in spirit means to worship Him from our heart. Worshipping in truth means to be genuine with our feelings and emotions in worship, however they should always be filtered through the truth of God’s word to be sure they line up with scripture.
Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/7058330
Worship is commanded by God. Worship honors God, is directed to God, and requires our involvement. Jesus should be the center of our worship, because without Him, we have nothing to offer God.
Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/7054141
We all face fears in life, however, we have a God who loves us and is with us through the fears. Much like a child is calmed by a parent’s presence, we can be calmed by God’s presence as we trust Him to help us through the fearful situation. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/694389
As we continue to grow and mature as Christians, we should strive to reflect Jesus in how we live our lives so that when people see us, they get a glimpse of Jesus in our lives. Sermon Notes on YouVersion bible.com/events/690138
Andrew was known for bringing others to follow Jesus. As we approach Invite Your One day, we should take a page from his book and invite others to join us, encouraging them to come and see what it’s all about! On Fire Video: doverassembly.com/onfirevideo Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/685798
Abraham was called a friend of God. Through spending time with Him each day, we can build our relationship with God to also be called His friend. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/681420
As Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall, they faced discouragement, but didn’t let it stop them. Instead, they cried out to God about the situation, kept working, and took steps to defeat the enemy. The same process can help us to defeat discouragement in our lives. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/676846
As Peter wrapped us his letter in 2 Peter 3, he reminded us of what he has already said throughout the letter, emphasizing the importance of it, especially the need for others to get saved before the day of judgment. It is our responsibility to be the light in the world to share the good […]
In Peter’s letter to the church, he encourages us to remember and understand. We need to remember all that God has done, and study and understand the Bible on our own so that we know the truth and aren’t led astray by those whose aren’t teaching the truth. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/668606
In 2 Peter 2, Peter warns of false teachers, and the destruction that they will face. We need to know God’s word in order to make sure that we aren’t led astray by false teachers, whose word sounds good but isn’t the truth. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/665003
We’d likely all say that we believe in Jesus, but there’re more to it than that. In order to truly believe in Him, we need to have knowledge of Jesus, agree to that knowledge, and put our trust in Him. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/660945
As we go through situations in life, we can stand firm on the promises found in the God’s word, trusting Him to do what He promised to do. Jairus didn’t let his daughter’s situation influence his belief. He stood firm, based on his understanding of the Word and ministry of Jesus, and his daughter was […]
God still does miracles today. In John 14, Jesus tells us that if we ask for anything in His name, He’ll do it. It may not happen right away, but we should continue to pray and trust God, knowing that His perfect will will be done in our situation. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/653435
In the spiritual world, we often carry our mountains with us. There is one direction that we can move to change this, which is drawing closer to God. As we draw near to God, we can speak to our mountains using God’s authority to move them out of our way. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/649631
Peter’s goal in the first chapter of 2 Peter was to encourage to the church to wake up and remember what God has already done, so that they could continue to grow and mature as believers. As we become increasingly mature believers, it becomes easier to fight off the infiltration of the enemy. Sermon Notes […]
As Peter begins writing 2 Peter, he shares several qualities that we should strive to possess to be effective Christians. Each one builds upon the former, and this week we finished discussing each of them, covering perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/641678
As Peter begins writing 2 Peter, he shares several qualities that we should strive to possess to be effective Christians. Each one builds upon the former, and this week we began discussing each of them, covering faith, goodness, kindness, and self-control. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/637732
As we begin a new series looking at the book of 2 Peter, we explore Peter’s past as a courageous, careless Christian that God turned around and used to do His work, allowing Peter to be an apostle of Christ. He wrote several books in the Bible, including 2 Peter, which was his last before […]
This week, we honored 3 of our girls who have completed the Girls’ Ministries program and crowned them as Honor Stars. As part of the crowning, Anna Bender challenged each of us with a message entitled “Speak Lord, Thy Servant Heareth.” Congratulations Honor Stars! This Week’s Digital Bulletin & Message Notes: bible.com/events/629980
God has a plan for each and every person on earth, even YOU! As we look at Jeremiah 29:11, we can begin to see His plan, which is to prosper us spiritually, and as that happens, He’ll take care of our needs. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/625296
No matter the situation you’ve experienced with your mother, Jesus is there to help navigate you through it, which in turn will allow you to have a positive effect on the children in your life. Mother’s Day Testimonies: vimeo.com/335766284 Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/621935
It’s the end of the 4th quarter and God’s about ready to work in your life. Doubt creeps in and knocks you off course! Many times, our lack of faith keeps God from working. We can build our faith up by reading and knowing the word of God, and then speaking it over our lives. […]
Worshiping in truth demands that we have a reverence for God’s word and a desire to study it, which will help us to understand how, why, and when we worship. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/609749
When God sent Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins, He gave us His best. With that in mind, we should give God our best in every area of our life to thank Him for His great sacrifice. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/605531
Worship can be defined as the response of man when he encounters God or God’s actions. On Palm Sunday, as Jesus entered riding on the colt, the people’s reaction was to worship Him. How do we react when we see God stepping into our situation and working in our life? Holy Week Timeline: doverassembly.com/holyweektimeline Sermon […]
Worship is an essential part of our lives as Christians. The Bible calls us to worship many times and Jesus tells us to worship in Spirit and in truth. That means we must be actively involved, focusing on God wholeheartedly as we worship. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/596987
Jesus never promised a wonderful life to those who follow Him. He tells them to repent of their life of sin, and in turn, He will be the parachute to save them from ending up in hell. That offer still stands for everyone who is willing to turn from sin and follow Jesus. Will you […]
Paul knew about the world he lived in so that he could make conversation with those he came into contact with, which would eventually allow him to share the gospel with them. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/588397
As David was going through a hard time, he praised God and trusted that He would bring him through it. As we go through life, we can praise God, knowing that He is good and worthy of praise, and trusting that He will see us through. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/584069
When we’re going through hard times, we can bring them to God in prayer and ask Him to give us joy while we’re waiting and trusting for His perfect answer. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/579635
After arriving in Athens, Paul began looking for opportunities to preach the gospel to anyone who would listen, which landed him in a meeting of Areopagus. While being questioned in the meeting, he gave us an example of how to share the gospel with others when those opportunities arise. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/571444
Hell is a real place, where those who don’t acknowledge Christ and accept His free gift of salvation will spend eternity. As Christians, we should have a sense of urgency to share the truth with as many people as we can so they can avoid God’s judgment that will land them in hell for eternity. […]
After leaving Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were sent to Berea, where the people accepted their message with great eagerness and studied the Scriptures themselves to verify that what they were hearing was truth. As we encounter different opinions, we should study the Bible for ourselves to know the truth. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/563175
After a successful time in Thessalonica, the Jewish leaders became jealous of Paul & Silas and began to attack them. When they couldn’t be found, other believers also fell under attack. The enemy doesn’t like it when he loses ground and will almost always push back. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/554174
Rather than stopping at the smaller towns along the way, Paul & Silas continued to Thessalonica, the next larger town, after leaving Philippi to continue their mission of spreading the gospel throughout the region. After spending a few weeks there, many people were persuaded and joined Paul & Silas. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/550343
Following the imprisonment of Paul & Silas, the magistrates sent to have them released quietly, but Paul wouldn’t let that happen since his rights were violated as a Roman citizen. He wanted things to be made right with the magistrates before leaving so that it wouldn’t happen to them again or to others. Sermon Notes […]
When Paul and Silas were jailed, they didn’t let that stop them. They spent their time in jail singing hymns of praise to God, which brought about the miracle that ultimately freed them and brought the jailer and his household to the faith. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/542035
After the slave girl continued to interrupt Paul and Silas for days, Paul used discernment to realize she was demon possessed and cast the demon out of her. The promptings of the Holy Spirit can give us discernment about situations we may find ourselves in, allowing us to make the decision to act upon them. […]
The book of Micah begins by warning of the coming judgment for sin, but chapter 5 tells of a ruler who will come from Bethlehem who will save us from that judgment and be the source of our peace. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/531361
Lydia’s hospitality to Paul helped him to form his relationship with the church in Philippi. We should strive to show the same hospitality for those who walk through our doors. It could impact their lives for eternity! Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/519335
Paul had an idea of where he planned to go, but as he began to move, the Holy Spirit directed him to go to a completely different location where God needed him to be. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/515971
When Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark on their journey because of his previous failing, God worked through the situation, giving Mark a second chance and sending two separate missionary teams to continue to share the gospel. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/512132
When conflict arose after the leaders in the church in Jerusalem began to drift from the truth, Paul & Barnabas used the model found in Matthew 18 to address the conflict and get the church back on the same page that anyone can be saved through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Sermon Notes […]
The psalmist continually cried out to God, trusting that God heard his prayer and that He would answer in His perfect timing. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/504259
David put his trust in God as he was in the desert while his son was plotting to kill him. Whenever we are going through hard times, where do we put our trust? Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/500196
Our pastors strive to be a blessing to our church family throughout the year, but they aren’t the only ones called to bless others. In 2 Timothy, we’re all called to preach the gospel and lift others up. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/496299
In Acts 13, Paul & Barnabas were sent out on their first journey to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/492378
As the early church was gathered praying for Peter’s release, they almost didn’t believe that their prayer was answered as he knocked at the door. When they let him in, he shared his testimony of how God brought him out of jail to encourage the other believers that God worked through their prayers. Sermon Notes […]
We don’t always know or understand God’s will, but we know that He calls us to pray and leave the results to Him. Many were praying for Peter, and he was released from jail. We never know if our prayer will be the one that is answered and completely changes a situation. Sermon Notes on […]
As the early church continued to grow, a few different congregations formed that did things differently, but that didn’t change the fact that they were all true Christians. The same holds true today with different denominations. We all follow the same Jesus. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/480116
We prepare our kids with all of the supplies they need to go back to school, but do we prepare them spiritually? Each of us, parent or not, can be used by God to mentor the next generation and prepare them for the work God has called them to do. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/476086
As the early church continued to grow, God used a trance to show Peter that there would no longer be any distinctions, but all would be welcome into God’s family. The same holds true today, God accepts everyone as they are, even YOU! Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/471880
After persecuting the Christian believers, God got Saul’s attention and began to use him to preach the gospel rather than persecuting those who were. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/467619
As Christians, we have the truth that many others in the world are looking for. We should look for every opportunity that God gives us to share that truth with others. Philip was obedient to God and was used to explain the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch. You never know whose life He’ll use you […]
Following the stoning of Stephen, the believers were scattered as Saul persecuted and destroyed the church by throwing believers in prison. Those who were scattered continued to preach the word wherever they went and many continued to come to Christ. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/459826
Although he was chosen to distribute food, Stephen used his position as an opportunity to continue to share the gospel with those he came into contact with. This angered the elders, but Stephen continued to preach, even to them, which ultimately led to his death. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/455718
God calls us to be strong and courageous to do His work, spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. God will equip us to meet the needs to accomplish that mission, if we make ourselves available to be used by Him, rather we feel called to that area or not. Sermon Notes on […]
Psalm 37 focuses on the promises that God has given to those who trust Him. This trust only develops as we spend time with God in His word and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/449047
As the first church continued to grow, the disciples eventually encountered their first problem. Rather than preaching like they were called to do, they found themselves serving food. They decided to spread the workload to others, allowing them to fulfill their calling while allowing the others to use their abilities to serve the church. Sermon […]
We should live our lives expecting that God will answer our prayers and work in our lives. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/441456
Jesus’ love for his friend prompted Him to take action in faith; this action became a witness to others, who in turn put their faith in Him. The same is true for us. Love prompts our faith into action, which can in turn bring others to Jesus. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/438241
Do we expect that God will do what His word says? What is your faith in? We are having faith every minute of every day and in every circumstance; the sad reality is that it just isn’t always in God. Put your faith in God and watch Him do something awesome! Sermon Notes on YouVersion: […]
As fathers, we should first focus on our relationship with God, then our relationship with our wife, and finally our relationship with our children. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/431042
As many were hearing the gospel and being saved, the religious leaders became violently jealous and continued working to silence the disciples. They attacked the truth of the gospel by attacking the disciples who were speaking that truth, but with the power of the Holy Spirit on their side, the disciples continued to share their […]
Even after the death of Ananias & Sapphira, while great fear gripped all who heard, the disciples continued to perform miracles and more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/423411
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the church and ultimately to God. The Holy Spirit enabled Peter to recognize the lies and eliminate them from the church. As Christians, we should have a holy fear of sin, since it ultimately leads to death. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/419619
The day of Pentecost is a day of empowerment. The Holy Spirit gives us the supernatural power to overcome fear and doubt and go out to do God’s work. The early church experienced it and God still offers it to each of us today! Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/415332
Whenever God is at work accomplishing His will, the enemy will do what he can to stop it. Peter & John were distracted by the religious leaders who threw them in jail. They didn’t let the opposition stop them, which ended up with more people coming to Christ. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/407730
God uses divine appointments and miracles to draw people to the faith. God setup a divine appointment with the crippled man for Peter and John, and then used his healing to open the door for Peter to preach to those who witnessed the miracle. The same is true today and we should expect God to […]
The early church in Acts devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. We can experience the same power of God by following the example of that church. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/399858
If we are patient going through them, pressures in this life will help us to be transformed into the people God wants us to be. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/395787
When filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter, who was previously lacked confidence and denied Jesus, preached to a crowd of 3,000 and changed their lives through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/391687
Jesus is alive! Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God offers a new start to every person. The resurrection is God’s down payment to show us that the new start is believable. All we have to do is believe in the resurrection and appropriate it to our lives. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/387753
As Pentecostal believers, we need to be sure by way of scripture, not experience, that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for today. Based on scripture, we believe that it is for today, and just like the apostles and all who were with them, God wants us to pray and seek to be baptized. […]
We need the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill God’s mission. Even the disciples were told to wait until they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit to go out and witness. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/379097
As children of God, we can boldly come to his throne, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did for us. We don’t come to God because of who we are. We are able to come because of whose we are. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/375349
Stand on the firm foundation of God’s word and put on the full armor of God to withstand the wiles of the devil. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/367366
The woman with the issue of blood believed in faith that by touching the tziziyot of Jesus’ robe, she would be healed. Her faith allowed for action that led to physical manifestation of healing. Where is our faith? Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/363286
After Andrew started following Jesus, the first thing he did was to bring someone else to Jesus. We should have that same excitement and tell others about the hope we’ve found in Jesus so they can experience it for themselves. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/354746
Not only does sin not give what is promised, it always leaves us worse off than before. After Amnon’s sin with his half sister Tamar, he was left hating his half sister, and even referring to her as a thing. Tamar’s life was left in ruin. She went to her brother Absalom, who now hated […]
Our church exists to connect people to God, build them up, and offer them the hope that can only be found through Jesus. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/346682
Following the excellent example from his father, David’s son Amnon fell in love with his half sister Tamar and did everything he could to get her. His sin was fun for a time, but left him feeling terrible and hating her more than he ever loved her. Sermon Notes on YouVersion: bible.com/events/342039
We can’t continue to live in the past, but we can use our experiences from the past to push us forward and allow God to finish the work He’s started in each of us. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/332767
Our hope should be in the person of Jesus Christ, rather than things or events that will often end up letting us down. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/332767
The first Christmas was the fulfillment of prophecy and the introduction of Jesus to the world. Now, Christmas is a yearly reminder of our mission to introduce Jesus to our world. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/329383
When God sent Nathan with an emotional word picture to confront David about his sin, David became angry about the story, not realizing Nathan was actually talking about him. David repented of his sin, but he still had to suffer the consequences, including the death of Bathsheba’s son. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/325869
Rather than admitting his wrong with Bathsheba, David’s sin multiplied as he attempted to cover his sin by sending Uriah home to his wife from battle. When Uriah didn’t go home, sin continued to multiply as David decided to have him killed in battle. Just as James 1 says, when sin is full grown, it […]
As things continued to go well for David, he became overly confident and even took off his armor when he didn’t go to battle with his soldiers, which led to his downfall. The enemy used David’s lack of armor to attack and lead him into sin with Bathsheba. Like David, when we don’t keep our […]
Answered prayer didn’t affect the faith of those who trusted God. Zechariah and Elizabeth remained faithful to God even though their prayer for a child wasn’t answered right away. God eventually did give them a child, but their dedication to Him was not based on that. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/315002
Prayer and fasting hold the keys to spiritual breakthrough. When the disciples couldn’t cast a demon out of a boy, Jesus told them that it would only come out by prayer and fasting. There are many accounts of others in the Bible who fasted and prayed for breakthrough as well, including Jesus. Learn more about […]
We always receive blessing when we show hospitality to others. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/306484
What is a pastor & why should we appreciate them? As we wrap up Pastor Appreciation Month, Gil Tunney answers both of these questions to remind us how blessed we are to have Pastor Jeff, Pastor Luis, & Pastor Keith, as well as their wives and families. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/303299
When David decided he wanted to build a temple for God, he had to accept God’s will that he would not be the one to build it. Instead, God would establish David’s son and he would be the one to build the temple. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/299600
Following David’s failure moving the ark that resulted in Uzzah’s death, he became fearful to move the ark until he learned of the blessings that were bestowed upon Obed-Edom’s house, where the ark was following David’s failure. David admitted his failures and trusted God to create a plan to move the ark, using the proper […]
Are we ready for the day when we meet Jesus? In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us to keep an eye out for the signs of the end. Since we don’t know when He will come back or when our number will be called, we need to live like he’s coming back today even though it […]
We need to put on the full armor of God so that we can resist the enemy’s attacks and stand against the wiles of the devil. This Week’s Notes: bible.com/events/288597