Jesus Stories: Recent Episodes
M Kenenske
I love to share stories of Jesus from the Scripture. We will look into the world of Jesus and into the hearts of those around Him.
Our leaders have always, and hopefully always will, valued the the gifts of God expressed through our congregation.
The Word of God is with us today, the church, its teaching, because someone passed them on to the next generation. We need to do the work to ensure that we continue to pass on those things are important.
Why send missionaries when there is work to do here? Why send missionaries when you just send money?
An essential part of spiritual warfare is prayer. God has obligated Himself to work in the world in response to mankind's prayers.
God has equipped us to stand without falling when we are assailed by enemies. Our hearts and our thoughts can be kept safe as we stand on His word in fellowship with His people.
Look at the I am statements of Jesus in the light of the resurrection. His deep meaning is brought into focus by His appearance having conquered death.
The excitement surrounding Jesus has reached mountain heights. People are waiting for Him to come. When He appears He shows Himself to be the long awaited Messiah. Songs and shouts of joy proceed and follow Him.
The work of Jesus on the cross, what His suffering accomplished, is more than we can comprehend. And there are various and Biblical perspectives on it. But this one is fundamental to understanding all the others; from this one all others radiate - Jesus died for the sins of the world.
What if the armor was already yours? What about those people that cover beautiful hardwood floor with carpet?
Understanding the nature of spiritual warfare is vital for us to achieve effectiveness and to reach our potential
Did you find yourself thinking about the biblical stance on slavery this holiday weekend? We did.
We are called to be a people whose words and actions, our goals and pursuits are to line up with one another. We are called to be people of integrity.
We believe God has intentions to magnify Himself and His works in a greater way year after year. It is not for the church to fade to worldliness or obscurity. Rather they will do greater things!
Men are simple creatures. Our needs are few. Our most basic, being respect from our wives.
If men want to be good husbands, they need to first understand how Jesus loves them. Then husbands are to reflect that love to their own wives.
Communion is an important practice in Christianity, constantly present in all denominations for 2000 years. There are many variations on how it is performed. But the meaning is significant.
Before we get into how husband and wife relate, let's take some time and define some terms. What does the scripture mean when it speaks of being "subject" or being a "helper"?
The Christian life is not a lists of Do Nots. It is a life empowered to interact with the world with God's love mercy and grace, If we focus on doing the good we can do, the things we shouldn't do will become much less of a problem.
It is possible for the Lord to turn on lights, stir our hearts, call our names and we still have to make a choice to open our eyes to Him.
We are called to be Light in the world. And then it goes on to describe what that looks like. The formula is easy to understand and available to all. Be Light.
Somehow didn't mention the verse in Romans 12. But it summarizes beautifully the thought in these verses, We must allow the Lord to examine to make sure we are not drawn away from the Lord and corrupted by the world.
God only requires us to surrender to His love. In that love we find mercy and grace for those around us.
The Holy Spirit is not just a power source but a personality. We can please or grieve Him through our lives. We should try to grow in our relationship with Him.
We need to be more careful with our words. We need to be responsible to speak appropriate, need-meeting, grace filled words.
It seems like a simple thing to say, "Steal no longer" until you take an honest look at yourself. Most everyone finds justification for theft on some level. In addition, all of us rob God of what we owe Him. And that is a lot.
This is not a command to be angry. It is a command to deal with anger in a godly manner. How do we deal with anger as the world tries to stir up anger and hatred in our hearts?
There is a great need for truth and honesty in the world today. It is the church's responsibility to present the truth.
Our old self had been corrupted by the world, polluted, hardened, and callused. In fact the world is still working hard at affecting our thoughts and feelings. It's time to put off and put on the New Self.
The body of Christ will never grow up to what it's supposed to be unless you brings your gifts.
Jesus has given gifts to the church, gifts of calling, gifts of the Spirit and gifts of inclination. Everyone has gifts. And everyone is a gift to the body of the church,
The unity of the church is not based on the background, denomination, culture, politics, or favorite color. Our unity is based on the fundamental truths of the Gospels. And we should be diligent to preserve it.
Ephesians 4 will talk to us about how we should live. For starters, let's talk about how we relate to others in the body of Christ. Do we treat each other in a way worthy of the calling?
We too often pray along the lines of our abilities or our ability to imagine what God could do. But God can do more, immeasurably more. It's time we start believing.
There are very few qualifications that need to be met for prayer to be heard. But here is a definite one: Sincerity. And that means we must be willing to cooperate in the request.
There is praying that is talking to God. That you can do anytime anywhere in any condition. But effective prayer has some qualities that the Bible talks about. We can pray and see results.
There are many misunderstanding about why your prayers are heard. Let's look to the scriptures for answers. God wants to hear your prayers.
Our prayers are powerful. And we have the privilege of cooperating with God in the work of changing the world.
God has an amazing plan for demonstrating His glory. At the present time He will display His wisdom by demolishing the devil's works using you. Salvation is the only required qualification.
If some make the Christian faith out to be comparable to other religions the claim of the resurrection sets it apart. The divine nature of Jesus and the insistence in His resurrection, set it far apart from others. The credibility of those claims can be built on solid logic. Come and see.
Jesus came to Jerusalem for the last time. He revealed Himself to be the long awaited Messiah. In doing so, He awakened the hopes of the peoples, even though they did not yet understand His mission. For us that is hope sure and more clear. We have hope because of Jesus.
If the claims of Jesus are taken seriously it is obvious that He believes He is the Lord of all, God Almighty. But such a ridiculous claim must be backed by fantastic proofs. The scriptures written hundreds of years before the life of Jesus provide proof.
It seems unreasonable to murder a good guy, seems down right evil. But if we listen to Jesus speak, His words paint a very disturbing picture for the first century religious Jewish mind.
Jesus seems like a great guy on the surface. But if you look a little deeper there are certain ways He can rub people the wrong way. And if we are honest it's not just other people.
God gives each person individual responsibilities. It is good to ask, "What is my job?" If we don't, the world or our own desires will have us chasing other things. Those things will eat up our time and energy that should be focused on our God given stewardship.
Paul did a great job dealing with loss, suffering, persecution and trials. Christians today have to read books about such things. We are so far removed from them. It is good for us to examine ourselves, asking ourselves "Will I let this go if God asks for it?" Would I suffer the loss for the kingdom's sake?"
It is important to have a biblical understanding of how God relates to the Jews and how the church should relate to them.
It shouldn't be awkward to talk about race, specifically when you are speaking against it. Christians are called to a higher calling. Not harming people is fine, but we are called to love people
Walking shouldn't be hard. It should be natural. God wants our good works to be as natural as walking. Why isn't it?
What is our life and faith built on? Have we built any additions with poor materials? It is good to look at the foundation and examine our life.
We may feel like a sack of garbage. But God is the great artist who is turning our mess into a masterpiece.
If we consider that God did not have any obligation to us, to save us from the consequence of our sins, it reframes the incarnation and suffering of Christ. The love shines all the brighter when we know He didn't have to save us. What a great Love!
The greastest gift given. The only gift that matters. The most costly of the gifts. The most underappreciated gift. The gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Every once in a while we should reflect on the key elements of our salvation. Maybe we need to be reminded that we don't have to flap our arms.
The gospel or even the Christmas story doesn't have the impact it should unless we understand and acknowledge our situation: We were dead!
There is an uneducated and anemic idea that Jesus was something lower than God. Some think an ascended man, other a celestial being, and more theories still. But the witness of the Old and New Testament leaves no wiggle room in the discussion. Come see the glorious Jesus.
We are praying that you would understand on a spiritual level how surpassingly great is the power that in you by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
It's much easier to endure the difficulties of work and life when you have a vacation to look forward to. That's hope, the reassurance that the future holds something better. Jesus wants you to take hold of His hope for your future.
It is important to know the scripture, but it isn't enough. We need to receive the revelation of its truth for ourselves, and allow it to affect the way we live.
It seems the whole world fights to dominate our thoughts, to fill us with terror, hate, and despair. There is a God given antidote that brings us peace: Gratitude. Let's give thanks.
Do you question if anyone would say, I've heard of your Faith, to you? Maybe we are still struggling to get it together. Maybe we haven't reached the good side of a testimony yet. But your struggle, your efforts, the trying to change is a demonstration of sincere faith. You're not doing it because it easy. You are changing your life because you have believed in Jesus.
Our understanding of free will could lead us to believe that this world is a random mess of luck and happenstance. But there is a God who has forseen aa of this. There is sweet security in understanding God's free will and how He chooses to use it.
Understanding and believing who we are in Him is one of the fundamental truths that we renew our minds and empower us to live a full life in Him.
Let's dig into Ephesians, a book written for us, to tell us how great God's plan is, who are and how we should live in this world.
It was not God's intention to save us and hide us. He wants us to play a part in saving this fallen world. We need to shine like a light. Be loving, be gentle, but be bold.
There is plenty of talk about love and an incredible amount of mistakes about what it is. Let's talk about love and how it should look in a christian's life.
Everyone has a problem with evil. Even super messed up weirdos see the problem. Why does our world have it? If there is a god, why do we have to put up with evil?
If we want to grow in the Gifts of the Spirit, we need to do so in love. The Body of Christ is meant to work together with a variety of gifts, but differences can cause divisions. It is our priority to keep the unity of the body as we grow in the Spirit.
We eagerly desire the gifts that build up the church. But are we first being faithful with gratitude and praise? Do we need to prime the pump to the well of living water inside us? Or what does that even mean?
God has blessed the church with spiritual gifts that are still with us today. In fact, if you are a believer, you are probably moving in them even if you don't know it.
Some conversations are hard to get through, just awkward. But some things are important enough to say. Here is a guy talking about a few things this group of Christians think about.
This creation was designed to display God's glory. And God has planned to use your life.
If we want to flow in the Spirit. If we want to hear His voice. If we want to nurture His fruits and gifts. Then we should engage in the ministry of reconciliation. The Holy Spirit is about the work of saving the lost.
Even while we have the Spirit and can hear Him, we may not have learned to distinguish His voice and follow Him. It may be harder than we want. But it's not hard.
At the most basic level, spiritual life begins with opening our hearts. Can we open our hearts in praise, prayer or sharing?
How is it possible that we have received the Holy Spirit and yet lack power to change ourselves or to effectively share the Gospel? What can we do to be filled?
There is nothing that we can accomplish for God without the Holy Spirit. But we can accomplish Anything with the Holy Spirit! It's time to focus on the Spirit of God.
If you are really hankering for a one message summary of 3 1/2 years of teaching: Here it is. Didn't think it could be done? Wrong.
Jesus told us to go make disciples throughout the world. It would be hard to argue with that. So we say, "Yeah...But..." And then make some excuse for not participating in the work.
How about instead of a man-centric view of the resurrection, we consider a God centered view?
How about that Old Testament? Prophecies and what-not? How do you account for that? Worth looking into.
Jesus struggles with obedience. Does that sound like something we can relate to? There are important keys displayed by Jesus in the garden. Follow Him in the hard way of God.
Here we focus our attention on Judas the betrayer. But there are eleven other disappointing friends who say they'll always be there. Then run away when there is trouble. Do we treat Jesus like this?
There is a woman who does such a wonderful job of expressing her love for Jesus, that He says that she will be forever remembered. Maybe we can learn something from her.
When Jesus talks about the final judgement, He sidesteps all verbal arguments and self proclamations. He will look at how you live the faith you confess. Will you hear, Well done, good and faithful servant?
If you have any questions about how to understand the eschatology of Matthew 24, here are the answers you need.
Somehow when we start to look at the end times we focus on the negative. How about we focus on the reality of the return of Jesus!
There are strong denunciations against self righteous religious hypocrites. Jesus unloads on them. And then Jesus offers hope.
We need to preserve the unity that God has provided. Jesus has united us. He has redeemed us.
If we confess Jesus as Lord, is He practical lord of our lives? Who sets the schedule? Are we lord or is He?
When Joseph found out Jesus was coming, he probably has a lot of work to do. Affairs to put in order, finances to rearrange, priorities to reorder. Which makes me think we should be doing the same thing. Because Jesus is coming.
We celebrate Christmas with presents and lights and trees. Everyone likes Christmas. It's a beacon of hope and joy. But why? Why is this birth so important?
"What is this Give to Caesar thing about? Why? Who? What? What?" Maybe we should focus a bit more on the part we need to give to God. Huh? How about that?
If you are thinking that it doesn't apply to you, that may be the exact kind of prideful self elevating attitude that needs a rebuking. Step on in.
A look at thanks and gratitude through the Bible and how to be more thankful in our everyday lives,
There are two related lessons in this one story about a Figless Tree. Why did Jesus curse the tree and How did He?
Jesus cleaned the temple in His time. But now we are the temple of God, and it falls to us to clean it. So, how is the clutter?
How complicated do we make serving God? I think we would serve better if we followed some good biblical examples.
Sometimes you have no idea where God is going with His plan, or how He came up with it. But we could trust Him more if we consider a few things.
"Two blind men and a Rabbi walk into the middle of a parade." It's the set up for a great example of fully functional blind faith. And if you don't know what good blind faith is, listen to this.
If you feel like the least in this world, a loser, a nobody, you may be encouraged to know that the perspective from heaven can be dramatically different. Look how Jesus sees you.
Have you ever seen a child run after an ice cream truck? I remember dropping everything when we heard that tune. Nothing else seemed to matter in that moment. The kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.
His enemies lays a trap for Him in the form of a question. They are asking about divorce; Jesus school them on God's intention for marriage and His heart concerning divorce.
If we struggle to find mercy for someone, it isn't their fault. We need to look at ourselves. Do we appreciate the amount of mrecy we have received from God?
If church discipline is done correctly you may never see it happen. So here is a behind the scenes of how it works.
Relationship are difficult to fix once they are broken. But Jesus gives us guidance to lead us through the process of reconciliation,
Jesus gives a powerful warning to take care of the little ones. Who are they? What does it mean to stumble?
Jesus gives a wonderful lesson on how to be great in theKingdom of God. And it has to do with being child-loke.
There is a fun fish story about Jesus, Peter, and taxes. In it maybe we can learn something about when to speak and when to keep our mouths shut, a bit about needless offense.
Jesus says there is a lot that you can do with a little faith. If you feel like your faith is small, take a listen.
Jesus with Moses and Elijah in an epic meeting on the mountain top. Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us...
Is the church secure against attacks? Uh... yes. But Jesus expects better than that. We are not on the defense. We are on the offense?
The most important question you will ever answer. But what follows is even more important (click bait!)
Jesus tells us to be on the lookout for the evil influence of bad teaching. In addition, He has provided means by which we can keep ourselves safe from error.
What's up with redundancy? Why would Jesus do the same thing again? Hint: Same yesterday, today and forever.
Only two people heard from Jesus that they had Great Faith. Wouldn't you like to hear Him say that to you?
Tradition is sneaky because it doesn't always call itself by name. Sometimes it's just a pattern. Sometimes just the way we do things. When it affects us so that we judge people or keeps us from obeying the Word, it's a problem.
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Jesus rose from the dead and Peter is saved. But Peter still needs to adjust his identity. What is your identity based on, your past, failures, or something else?
We are the temple of God. So when Jesus clears the first century temple, it is an example to us, a warning, to self-examine. We need to clean up ourselves.
You might be asking what does longanimity mean? I did. We all need this, and Our God wants us to reflect this.
Have you been tempted to quit, to give up or turn back? Do you think you are the only to feel that way? Where will you go? Forward with Jesus. That's where.
How easy is it to just follow Jesus? Anyone who wishes to come are welcomed to follow. It is free. But have we considered what it will cost?
Dr. Mark Farnham explains to us the truth of Christ's resurrection, and the ever growing hope in that truth.
He does not call us to ministry or service because we are able. We are able because He has called us. There is grace in obedience.
It is not enough to ask the Lord to bless a thing. Whether it is our life, our gifts or our offering we must be willing for them to be broken.
Our ministries would excel if we possessed similar characteristics of John. We should examine his life and compare ours to his.
It is not enough to hear the Word. God expects us to engage on several levels. Dig in and get the most out of God's Word.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
There is a net waiting to catch us up after we leave this world. Will you be ready for where it takes you?
Can anything change? Will the world be any different this year? Will you be different than last year? God can make things new!
When you think of Christmas, and what is your first thoughts? Blue Lights, the right present, family gathering or the prefect christmas tree? Christmas is so much more!!!
Christmas is the celebration of the Light coming into the darkness. He has called us to be lights as well, and here are some practical tips for evangelism during Christmas time.
If God had an application process for doing great things in His Kingdom, it would be searching for the least, the insignificant, inarticulate, the weak. Would you qualify?
The world is very negative and sometimes we find our own thoughts turning dark. Is there anything you can do about that? Yes, there is. Take a listen.
Why does God allow evil to go on in the world? Believe it or not Jesus answers that question with a simple story of a sower and some seed.
We can learn a lot about ourselves from the Soil in this parable. But the main point of the story is the Seed. Listen and be encouraged. Speak and be generous.
Parables are incredible. They are timeless illustrations of Kingdom Principles. But we need to handle them correctly. Let's take a look at how to do that.
Jesus provides a wonderful picture of contrasts: Rejecting Him and suffering without Him in this world and the next vs. submitting to Him and becoming family with Him forever.
Jesus should not be talked down to. He has not presented Himself as a teacher or a prophet. He stands infinitely higher than all others. Take a brief look at who we are talking to when we pray.
When running a race we run to win, but to win we must train for that race. With training comes suffering, so how do you suffer.
Jesus sends a dire warning to us. Can we put off making a decision for Jesus? Are we unforgivable?
It is important for us to know who our real enemy is. Too often we have been tricked into thinking of others as our enemies when they are not. Let's get this straight.
It is important for us to know who our real enemy is. Too often we have been tricked into thinking of others as our enemies when they are not. Let's get this straight.
Many people do not understand how Christians should relate to the Sabbath. Are you keeping the Sabbath in Jesus?
Many people do not understand how Christians should relate to the Sabbath. Are you keeping the Sabbath in Jesus?
Jesus calls out a promise to a crowd of people. Take a look at the crowd and see if you got in there. Hear what Jesus offers them. Can you find rest?
Jesus calls out a promise to a crowd of people. Take a look at the crowd and see if you got in there. Hear what Jesus offers them. Can you find rest?
The power of the gospel, the plan of God, the Spirit that lives in those who believe - These are unstoppable forces. Christians should live with great boldness and confidence knowing that our Kingdom can not lose.
The power of the gospel, the plan of God, the Spirit that lives in those who believe - These are unstoppable forces. Christians should live with great boldness and confidence knowing that our Kingdom can not lose.
Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest person who had lived up until that time. Why? Then He said that anyone in the Kingdom of God is greater than that! That is you.
God is not just faithful; He is also loyal. But while He is faithful to all, He is loyal specifically to those who have made covenant with Him. That loyalty is impressive and should be appreciated.
God is not just faithful; He is also loyal. But while He is faithful to all, He is loyal specifically to those who have made covenant with Him. That loyalty is impressive and should be appreciated.
The principle behind the instructions to the disciples still apply today. But it is up to us to listen to the Holy Spirit as He addresses them to our lives.
The simplicity of the calling is wonderful. It means anyone can be effective in the kingdom.
Faith that God finds acceptable is not faith for healing, but Faith in Jesus. That faith never disappoints.
Some resist the calling out to God until they have tried everything else. But God isn't bitter. Jesus will accept the call and be happy to hear from you.
Jesus refuses to be a patch on our life. He is not another one on a list of notable or inspirational people. Jesus is alone and demands all of our devotion and life.
If we could relate to God without any weight of guilt and believe He loves us and accepts us, what a life that would be.
Jesus died to save us from all our enemies. He clearly includes sickness. But how should we understand that?
When Jesus saves the demoniacs with the word He gives hope to us for everyone. There is no one outside of the reach of the gospel.
Jesus calms the storm and shows that His voice commands nature. And His authority reaches even to our own nature.
Jesus is speaking to us as He interacts with these two potential disciples. Through them He clarifies our need to consider the cost of real discipleship.
Jesus died and rose again to obtain for us great blessing and benefits. It is sad that many recognize the sacrifice, but fail to walk in the resurrection life.
The miracle of Jesus' Resurrection and the Victory it Bought is a truth He expects us to share not just hold as our own.
If the crowds coming to Jerusalem for the Passover could testify of His goodness and praise Him in hope, how much louder should we raise our voices?
As we read the Old Testament you can see foreshadows of Jesus. Esther provides an image of the perfect mediator.
Wouldn't we like to have faith that causes Jesus to marvel? In the story of the centurion we get insight into what makes great faith. And we'll also explain how faith doesn't work.
Keep our hope strong and growing by hearing God's Word, knowing His Will, and ALWAYS being prepared to do His Work!
How can we do the hard things when we don't feel like we can? Christ lives in us and equips us to do the things we judge as difficult or even impossible.
The leper's healing gives us the key to relating with God. Listen to this story of isolation, shame, guilt, and finally, acceptance and love.
Make sure you never put Jesus besides any other moral teachers, religious preacher or philosopher. He is worlds away from them. Listen to His uniquely authoritative message.
How can someone who calls Jesus Lord not make it to heaven? Well, Jesus explains that pretty good right here.
How should we be living when threatened with a pandemic? What is the role of Christians in times like these?
We have been bound by fears. But God intends for us to be free. And not just so that we can have comfort. We are to set free those around us from the bondages in which the devil has kept them.
How do we cast our anxieties, fears and concerns on Him? We have so many fears. While most of us have no conscience idea how to give them to Jesus. I think this is a simple thing we have to rediscover.
The body of Christ was put together for a reason, so that we would support and strengthen one another. Let's be deliberate in holding each other accountable.
God lifts up the humble. Does humble mean sad? Self-hating? Insignificant? What does humble look like?
Everyone struggles with pride. Which is scary because God opposes the proud. Those who claim they don't have a problem with pride should probably be more concerned than the rest.
Inbetween the promise and the fulfillment can be difficult. We can learn something about how to handle it by looking at blind Bartimaeus.
This is first a word to the Elders of the church. But it is also a word for us all. We are all shepherds, responsible for someone on some level. If we take that seriously we can look forward to receiving a crown no matter how big our flock.
All the material trappings of the season can add nothing to the internal and infinite Joy that comes from knowing Jesus.
Let's share more than just a birth announcement. Let's share the whole story. Why did Jesus come to earth?
Light can be a comfort or a disturbance. Salt can add flavor to your life or burn an open wound. We can only be what we are. People will appreciate it or not. We cannot choose their response or hide who we are.
If we have learned anything from what we have been through, it is this: Now it is time to live for the will of God. Suffering teaches us that everything we enjoy can be taken away, except for Jesus. And, Jesus is enough.
The Apostles' Creed says of Jesus, "He descended into Hell." What does that mean? Was He tortured? Who did He talk to? What did He say?
Pastor Bob talks to us about obligation we have to be thankful each and everyday, not just once a year.
What if we do what is right and end up suffering for it? That stinks, right? Or... are we blessed? What do we think being blessed means? How is suffering a blessing?
Doesn't it seem like Christians are more concerned with whether you smoke or curse than how you treat people? I'm pretty sure God is more concerned about how we treat people. Are we merciful, compassionate, respectful? Might want to step it up.
We'll talk briefly about the husband and wife dynamic, then expand to include other relationships and social change in the world. All of these areas seem to be subject to God's slow strategy. His plan can feel slow. But it is moving just as He wants it.
If you don't like to hear about submission then this is the message for you. Everybody has problems with submission. Let's look at it head on.
God requires us to be subject to the authorities that are over us. He does not excuse their behavior or condone all their actions but for our part we are held responsible to live in submission to them so long as they do not ask us to break the laws of God. This is a firm and clear New Testament teaching, consistent from Jesus through the Apostles and into the early church.
Peter continues to use images and metaphors to help us understand who we are in Jesus. This one concerns our relationship with the people around us and the system of the world.
Is the priesthood necessary today? Who would need it? What would the priests do? Peter has something to say about it.
Peter heard Jesus describe Himself as the Chief Cornerstone. And he heard Jesus tell him that Peter was the Rock. Now Peter tells us that we also are living stones being built together into a house for God.
There is a growth process that occurs once we have been born again. Our spirit needs nourishment and we are responsible to care for it. What do we need? What is a good diet?
This section gives us numerous reasons why we should live a holy life. God has been goodness toward us started before creation, was revealed to us by the gospel, and extends beyond the grave.
Holy is misunderstood and inaccurately taught. How is it defined and how does it look? Christians should be holy as God is holy. Let's step it up.
What is the focus of your life? What is our defining trait? Is it our natural ancestry? Our political association? Our circumstance or financial position? It should be Jesus.
There is a reason God speaks to us through certain people. He often chooses people with whom we can relate. Peter is an extraordinarily ordinary. He does very well sometimes and terribly others. He feels out of place and unfit for the job. He is a lot like us.
Jim Ford shares about real life witnessing by living with integrity. Let your yes be yes, and your no, no.
We have given up too much territory. It is time to move forward. Nothing can stop the church that moves in the power of God.
Many people have died to give us the ability to read the Word of God. The preserved it and passed it on, trusting us. Do we know the Word? Have we passed on the Word to the next generation?
We need to understand how to honor, how to be and how to forgive fathers. Everyone can do with some help.
For what purpose were we saved? What is our reason for being here and not going right to heaven? Does God have a plan for us? An occupation to which we should be applying our time and energy?
Moving from the Judicial metaphors for salvation to the more Familial, we look at Regeneration and Adoption. These two drive home the realities that we have been Changed and Chosen. You are (or can be) a child of God.
The very basic understanding of Salvation should include forgiveness from sins, pardon from punishment and the outrageous credit of righteousness. And even though it is basic, most of us misunderstand these concepts or have lost hold of them.
Let's talk about two aspects of our salvation. Grace is what we are in. And Faith is how we get in it. How well can we explain them to others? Do we really understand them ourselves? I hope that we get all that we can from Grace.
Everything Jesus said has to be evaluated in light of the Resurrection. Even the most outrageous teachings have to be considered if Jesus rose from the dead.
There are various revelations of what Jesus is: Behold, the Lamb of God, Behold the Man and finally Behold Your King. Let's take some time and consider what our King would do for us.
The determination of Jesus to press through all the opposition to fulfill His calling should be more than an inspiration to us. It condemns us, empowers us and saves us.
The world had to wait a long time for this moment but it has finally arrived. God has come to save His people. Behold, the Lamb of God.
God gave, in the past, clues and images that pointed toward His plan for dealing with man's sin. If you follow the trail of blood starting in the garden you can almost see where this is going to end but it doesn't look pretty.
The Bible describes our position before God as quite precarious before we find a Savior. We should consider it so that we appreciate the Grace given to us and so that we love and reach out to the people around us who are still in that desperate place.
Everyone wants a God who is perfectly just, unless He is judging us. Then we want mercy. Take a listen to some of the undeniable Bible Truths concerning the end of this life.
It is important for us to remember that we are in a war, we need protection and God has provided it.
Everyone sins. And, everyone is a sinner. Are your sins better than mine? Will my sins send me away from God while other sins are not that bad?
Mankind wants to believe that we are good by nature. But is that what the Bible teaches? Do we have good in us? Do we do right by God?
How do we describe God? Or how does He describe himself? What sets our God apart from other gods? What does it mean to be Holy? We think we know. But do we?
The Trinity separates Christianity from other religions and from cults. It is important to understand why we see God this way. Although, while we hold to its truth we acknowledge it is beyond our ability to understand God completely. Our God is an awesome God.
Theology and Doctrine are the study of God and the teachings of the Church. Why do we need them? How do we benefit from them? On what doctrines do we stand? This series will look at both in a very practical way.
God has good plans for us but they will lead us through hard times. If we misunderstand this we may give up when we meet obstacles. What God wants to bring us to is glorious beyond compare and worth pressing through the difficulties ahead.
The incarnation is a universe changing, world shaking, heart breaking, life re-creating event. Take some time to think what it means for God to come visit us.
One quiz was not enough to cover the highlights of this sermon series. So we enter the Championship Rounds. Different questions and sound effects.
There has been 16 or so sermons in the series, now comes the quiz to see if people have been learning anything. Obviously it is not meant to challenge you so much as remind you of the things we should know (and entertain us).
It is not enough to get to heaven. If the love of God has been poured into our hearts then we will want to take people with us. Imagine escaping a tragedy, arriving in safety, to then realize that you left your friends behind. That is not what we want. Let's bring others with us.
How are the Spiritual Gifts supposed to interact? Why don't we each have them all? What releases or restricts the flow of miracles, signs and wonders?
Some of the gifts that God has given us have been in us since before we were born. And now with the Holy Spirit we can plug them in to the power source. Now we can use them to their full potential and for His glory.
The Holy Spirit has gifted us with many gifts. They are not just the so called "supernatural" ones. Let's take a good look at the ministers that God has given to us for our blessing.
Mark Farnham Professor of Apologetics at Lancaster Bible College talks about the credibility of the New Testament writings. It is refreshing to hear how we can rely on the witness of Scripture.
To release the Power and Glory that resides within us by the Holy Spirit we must be broken. We want to give the image of the perfect, holy person but the real perfection and holiness comes out when we are broken.
We are called to be witnesses in the most important trials. Your friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances will choose life or death depending largely on the testimony of witnesses. Will you tell what you have seen and heard? Will you tell it with the full power of the Spirit?
The Fruit of the Spirit are far too often overlooked. Not today. Take a good gander at the character of a Spirit Filled Christian.
What is it to be led by the Spirit of God? Maybe the most distinctive attribute of a Spirit Filled person is how they are led. A Spirit Filled person allows the Spirit to lead them. By doing so they are recognizably different from one who is led by their own devices.
We have prayed for the Holy Spirit and yet we don't feel like we have received the answer. What could be the hold up? Is God not telling us the truth? Or maybe the problem is something in us.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a strange topic. Some don't talk about it at all. Others talk about it but give no details on what it means or how to achieve it. I think this message could help you understand what we mean by "Filled with the Spirit" and how to get there. Also, there are balloons and someone gets shocked.
Jesus is God from all eternity but while He was on earth He lived like us. Perhaps the co-starring role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus is one of the most underrated and misunderstood performances in history.
We may mistakenly imagine that the Holy Spirit just showed up in the New Testament but He was quite active before that. What exactly was He up to???
We are starting a series on the Holy Spirit. First of all, why does Fire represent the Holy Spirit? How is the Spirit like fire? What are the prime conditions for Spiritual Fire? How does a bowling ball burn?
Want to be a Saint? Try living on top of a pole for a few years. It worked for one guy. Or maybe listen to this message and learn about what the Bible teaches about being a saint.
I don't like to talk about finances but you need to know the kingdom principles. Will you give 15% to a good waiter and gripe over suggesting God could get 10%? Hey now!
Why do we chase after nonsense when God provides everything we need? We need to learn the secret of being content (not lazy). Then we can pursue what God has for us.
Jerry preaches about the crossing of the Red Sea and how it provides an image of what the Word of God can do for us.