C53 Radio: Recent Episodes
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As we begin our series on Advent, anticipating the coming King, we consider what it would feel like to be in a time and place marked by hopelessness and longing. With Matthew 2 as our textual source, we examine the visit of three wise men from the east looking to worship the King of Israel. They first sought Him in Jerusalem and King Herod met with them in secret asking them to return to him when they found the King of Israel so he too could worship Him. Herod was already a king and wanted no competition in ruling so when the wise men did not return, Herod ordered the slaughter of all male children age 2 and under in the area where the wise men had been sent. There is much more to this story so please do listen. And while listening ask yourself who or what rules you and your life. Is it Jesus or someone or something else? What steps do you take to keep Jesus from being the center of your life, the ruler of your life?
Jesus heals a woman who has demonstrated faith and He restores life to the daughter of a man who believes in Him.
Jesus has just finished feeding a huge crowd using very little for food. Now He tells His disciples to get into their boat and leave Him as He needs to pray. The disciples put up some resistance but eventually cave. As they are crossing the sea in the middle of the night, Jesus comes stolling along. The disciples are now afraid; they are not sure it is Jesus. Only Simon Peter --when he realizes it is Jesus -- responds and then it is with the word IF. Eventually Peter doubts and begins to sink crying out "Lord save me".
Does this sound familiar? Could it be you? A willing follower of Jesus who sometimes questions His commands? Who sometimes doubts and has little faith?
Give a listen and see how the disciples handle themselves.
Matthew 22 begins with Jesus telling a parable of a wedding feast to help the crowds understand what the kingdom of heaven is like. Many of us have all been guests at weddings; some of us have been participants in the wedding. So we know what a wedding is. But the wedding feast Jesus describes is not any ordinary wedding. Listen to this parabe and ask yourself who you are in this story. Are you the father who invites the guests? Are you the groom? Are you the bride? Or are you one of the invited guests? Did you accept the invitation or did you refuse?
This message uses Matthew 11:2-18 as its source. In this passage, John is in jail and sends his followers to Jesus to inquire if he (Jesus) is the one to come. Jesus responds with a reassuring answer to John and then speaks to the crowds asking what they had come to see. Jesus' words gave encouragement then and give encouragement today. Give a listen to learn what the crowds went to see. Do you see it in your life today?
Jesus tells a parable of a rich man who seeks to increase his wealth to the point where he needs to tear down his storehouse and build a new one. The problem is the man didn't consider everything that was necessary to support the wealth he was building. He didn't consider the foundation that he needed to lay for the new structure. He was a fool and in the end he lost his life perhaps because of this; but even if not because of this, he discovered that what he had built would not last forever because of the inadequate foundation.
What is the foundation you are building your life and legacy on?
Jesus was here for the sick as well as the sinners. Zacchaeus certainly qualified as a sinner.
Word reaches Jesus that Lazarus is ill. He delays a couple of days before returning; however, His disciple fear not only His life but their own.
Jesus first miracle. The Bible says wine is to make the heart glad. The way man uses it now is a corruption brought about by buying the lies of Satan.
The sons of Zebedee want to sit at the right and left hands of Jesus when He establishes His kingdom. He asks if they are able to endure what He must go through before He claims the throne.
A blind man sees; the now sighted man schools the Pharisees and is kicked out of the temple. But the formerly blind man doesn't care as he is free indeed.
From Deuteronomy to John, the blessing and curses spoken by God through Moses are examined.
As Christians we help our brothers and sisters whenever we can - this includes laying down our lives for them just as a mother would for her children.
Jesus fed 5000 with a little bread and a few fish. When we feast on Him and His word, we will never be hungry again.
Paul is one his way to Rome. In his letter to the Roman church prior to his finally getting to Rome, he writes about his longing to be there with them - to teach them, to encourage them, to fellowship with them, to love them. The first few lines of this letter speak all the work that Paul has done for Jesus and how much more he hopes - LONGS - to accomplish for Jesus. What was true for Paul is true for us today. Let's listen and learn together.
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2) ESV
The church is not a building; it is the people, the relationships, and the One who binds us together - Jesus Christ.
The story of grace at the cross as Jesus is mocked by everyone. Yet one criminal crucified him speaks to defend Jesus and asks Jesus to remember him.
As Christians we know we will suffer and we should count it all joy. The suffering we endure will build our endurance, and character as we await with hope our resurrection and union with Jesus.
The rulers of the principalities of darkness conspire to make us believe white lies and keep us enslaved to the world
God promised to pour out His Spirit in the Old Testament; Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise; the Holy Spirit arrives like a rushing wind with tongues of fire.
Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension allows us to inherit the promised blessing of Abraham.
In short, we believe that Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again. In order to come again, He had to leave and to fulfill prophecy He had to ascend to the Father in Heaven
As a jar made of clay is fragile and easily destroyed, so can man be totally destroyed if he does not have God within him. Paul suffered many afflictions yet the treasure of Jesus within him burned brightly always. Paul, unlike a jar of clay, could not be broken.
Refusing the call to follow Jesus effectively says we desire to live less than a fully, completely human existence.
Self examination of ourselves to be certain we are in the faith and thus have the hope of eternal life through Christ Jesus
Responding to a prompting from God, Tanya delivers a message which is all about a single question that we all eventually have to answer. "What are you afraid of?" She draws upon passages which shows God defending, fighting, and delivering His people. So, what are you afraid of?
Today we opened to 2 Samuel 3:1-20 looking at Abner, the strongest man in the house of Saul, Ishbosheths right hand man, and his turn from the house of Saul to the Throne of David. Do you covenant with a kingdom that is not the Kingdom of Light? Do you not understand the depth and faithfulness of the the covenant and Hesed, steadfast love of the LORD? Is understanding where God's faithfulness is when you feel so distant a struggle for you? Please listen and see Christ and His passionate love for His Bride in the narrative about David and Michal and Abner's covenant. Also See Abner's response to this deep covenant of David! Like-Share-Pray-Go-Gather
With a new year approaching, we look at God's plans for Isaiah as one king of Israel dies and another comes ascends the throne of Israel. Listen and be blessed.
Lavish spending and lifestyle leaves a child broke, destitute. He returns home to serve his father.
Jesus has just finished a huge teaching (the Sermon on the Mount) and as he and his disciples are returning home, he is approached by a leper. As you listen to this message instead of hearing leperousy or leper, hear sins or sinner. When you do this it really becomes clear what it means to hear Jesus say "I will; be clean".
With the backdrop of Jesus' brothers and sisters, we look at what love means in terms of image bearers of God.
We looked at Jesus and His dealings with the Rich Young Ruler and what that means for us today.
In the sermon, Pastor Andrew hit on desiring to be free from your sin and self. We liked at the man in John 5 who Jesus healed and set free to then reveal Jesus' equality and glory with the Father!
One of our Elders, Brian Ingalls, guest preached at City Reach Lewiston, Maine. This was Psalm 71 and how God is sovereign over our Troubles and Sorrows yet is bringing us to restoration and bak into living fully human by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
We looked at Genesis 37 and Zechariah 3. Joseph was a set apart child, loved in such a way by his Father Jacob, that created envy, deception, murders and lies in the hearts of his brothers. They not only wanted to murder him but shame him as well by taking off his robe his Father gave him! But Reuben, a type of Christ, was interceding for Joseph. Like.Share.Pray.Go
This week, Kyle brought John 4! We learned about worshipping in Spirit and in Truth and what that overwhelming topic talks about. He wrapped it up with worship is about Seeing God, Praising God, and Sharing God!
Jesus Christ tells us to abide or remain in His word. In this text we see Jesus dealing with those who say they believe and yet Jesus knows truly that they do not. When they begin to speak negatively back toward Jesus Christ, He responds with unwavering truth in love.
Jacob has fled from his brother and travels to his uncle Laban's where he falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work seven years for her hand in marriage. Rachel has an older sister who is not as beautiful; after the seven years, Laban sends Leah (the older sister) into Jacob's marriage tent and bed. In the morning, Jacob is furious but agrees to work another seven years for Rachel. Leah is hated by Jacob, yet she bears him several sons - including Judah and Levi.
We continue to learn much about how God loves His daughters as we learn about Leah and Rachel. Listen to this tale of two sisters.
Jonathan and David have a plan in place to determine if Saul is actually trying to kill David. Jonathan has to come to terms with the fact that his father (Saul) has lost control of his mental faculties. We examine how this can and does apply in today's world.
Why Saul wanted to know whose son David was. A final look at David, Goliath, and Saul in this chapter.
In this Sermon, Andrew Preached through avid and Goliath and the sin the troubles us today.
In Part 3 of 1 Samuel 17, We saw what it was to be a man of humility as a warrior and to look to Jesus, a true man of humility and war the truly delivered us!
Picking up in verse 14, we look at what happens to Saul after he is rejected by God as king. We also look at how David serves Saul after his being anointed as Saul's replacement.
Saul does not annihilate Amalek but takes some spoils. The Lord is not pleased and rejects Saul as king.
After a powerful testimony prior to the message about reaching out to a couple at the abortion mill, Andrew brought the message he desires for this couple to hear. Manasseh repents and humbles himself and God was moved when He heard Manasseh. Listen and share. Like.Share.Comment.Pray.Go
Saul was a reactionary style leader. His son, Jonathan, was an initiator style leader. Which one are you?
Using Revelation 19:11-15 as the basis of the sermon, Andrew looks at and provides some answers to the age old question of "Who will rule?"
In this sermon, we looked at God as Sovereign. He is intimate in all the details that bring about all things to come to pass. Like God, we, as followers of Christ, must look at things with spiritual eyes and not with eyes of the world. Like.Share.Comment.Pray.Go
God's many promises are clear in scripture as well as His advice and commands. For example, Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding." In 1 Samuel 7 we can see what happens to the people of Israel when they seek the Lord with all their heart and trust in Him.
God will not have other idols be made and put on a shelf. The Levites knew better and should have destroyed the golden offerings from the Philistines.
Steve Obie preached from 1 Samuel 5 and showed us how the presence of God is greater than ALL! While some role early to worship dagon, the only God worthy of early rise and worship is the LORD.
Continuing through our series in 1 Samuel, Pastor Kyle preached on chapter 4. In this sermon, Kyle showed how the people of Israel got very religious once things got bad but neglected to seek the face of God and His holiness.
Today Pastor Matt preached through 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 looking at the exhortation for all believers to be using their gifts for the edification of the body and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God!
This week we continued in 1 Samuel moving to chapter 3. Samuel gets a called by the Lord through prophetic means of which were infrequent at that time. The prophecy was about the very High Priest he was serving. We see God has preserved for hope for HIs people during the time of Samuel just as He has for all of creation in Christ Jesus. We see the obedience of Samuel in saying the hard things and the numbness of Eli in not knowing the Lord. Are you like Samuel or Eli? Thank you for listening.