Bethelfriends: Recent Episodes
Steve Rhodes
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/08/09/come-humbly-before-god-he-accepts-us-based-on-jesuss-death-and-resurrection-luke-189-14/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/08/02/the-disciples-ask-to-have-their-faith-increased-luke-175ff/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/07/19/prayers-to-increase-faith-mark-924-2/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/06/21/parable-of-the-sower-i-urge-you-to-pray-for-faith-that-has-good-soil-pray-this-for-yourself-and-your-descendants/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/06/07/jehoshaphats-prayer-of-faith-in-crisis-2-chronicles-206-12/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/05/31/solomons-prayer-for-wisdom-1-kings-33-9/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/05/17/god-speaks-to-peter-during-his-prayer-time-acts-109/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/05/03/special-topic-words-of-encouragement/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/04/26/peters-deliverance-acts-126-19/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/04/05/jesuss-death-and-resurrection-corrects-our-greatest-problem/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/03/29/palm-sunday-pray-surrender-share-matthew-211-11/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/03/22/the-prayer-life-of-elijah-1-kings-171/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/03/08/daniel-intercedes-for-the-people-daniel-94-19/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/03/01/abraham-intercedes-for-lot-gen-1816-33/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/02/22/hannahs-prayer-and-the-birth-of-samuel-1-sam-2/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/02/15/gain-strength-in-the-lord-1-sam-301-7/
see link:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/02/08/pray-that-god-strengthens-your-soul-matt-613-luke-2136-heb-121-2/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/01/18/call-upon-the-lord-like-jabez-1-chronicles-49-10/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/01/11/give-our-prayers-and-praise-to-jesus-introduction-to-sermon-series-on-prayer-eph-314-21/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2026/01/04/the-wise-men-worship-jesus-matt-21-12/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/12/24/christmas-eve-jesus-was-born-to-save-us-matthew-121-john-1244-47/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/12/21/advent-jesus-became-like-us-to-save-us-hebrews-214-18/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/12/14/jesus-came-to-testify-to-the-truth-john-1837-38/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/11/30/why-did-jesus-come-he-came-to-do-the-fathers-will-john-638-40/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/11/23/always-be-thankful-reframing-things-can-help-us-cultivate-gratitude/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/11/16/paul-encourages-the-churches-in-macedonia-and-greece-acts-201-6/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/11/02/paul-experiences-violent-opposition-at-ephesus-acts-1923-41/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/10/26/the-seven-sons-of-sceva-acts-1911-22/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/10/19/the-disciples-in-ephesus-are-baptized-in-the-name-of-jesus-and-receive-the-holy-spirit-acts-191-10/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/10/12/paul-and-aquila-instruct-apollos-acts-1823-28/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/09/28/cultural-christianity-pray-you-are-genuine-in-your-faith/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/09/21/paul-is-encouraged-by-jesus-acts-181-23/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/09/14/love-is-the-greatest-gift-1-cor-138-13/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/09/07/paul-exhorts-us-in-christian-love-1-cor-134-7/
see link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/08/31/special-topic-love-is-a-more-excellent-way-1-cor-131-3/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/08/24/paul-witnesses-in-athens-acts-1716-34/
see link below: https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/08/17/be-like-the-bereans-acts-1710-15/
see link below: https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/08/10/christian-pursue-spiritual-mental-and-emotional-depth/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/07/27/more-cultures-receive-the-gospel-acts-171-9/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/07/20/paul-witnesses-in-philippi-acts-1611-40-the-gospel-is-for-everyone/
see link https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/07/13/spread-the-word-and-follow-the-holy-spirit-acts-161-10/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/07/06/how-to-live-as-christians-in-a-world-that-is-not-our-home-1-peter-211-17/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/06/29/paul-and-barnabas-differ-over-mark-acts-1536-41/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/06/15/the-jerusalem-council-acts-151-35/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/06/08/paul-and-barnabas-witness-in-lystra-acts-148-28/
see the link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/06/01/paul-and-barnabas-continue-to-preach-the-gospel-they-persevere-through-persecutionacts-141-7/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/05/25/our-best-is-good-enough-matthew-633/
see the link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/05/18/paul-turns-to-the-gentiles-acts-1342-52-persistently-sharing-the-gospel/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/05/04/christians-agree-on-the-universal-church-matthew-1618/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/04/27/paul-preaches-the-gosepl-in-the-synagogue-of-pisidian-antioch-acts-1313-41/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/04/20/resurrection-sunday-the-curse-is-reversed-gen-3-john-201-16-rev-21/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/04/13/the-letter-to-the-church-at-philadelphia-rev-37-13/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/04/06/the-letter-to-the-church-at-sardis-rev-31-6/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/03/30/the-letter-to-the-church-at-thyatira-rev-218-29/
See manuscript at this link:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/03/23/the-letter-to-the-church-at-pergamum-rev-212-17/
see the link belowhttps://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/03/16/lent-message-the-letter-to-the-church-at-smyrna-no-rebuke-only-encouragement-28-11/
see link below:https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/03/09/dont-forget-your-first-love-rev-21-7/
see https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/02/23/paul-and-barnabas-witness-on-cyprus-acts-134-12/
See Link below https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/02/16/the-antioch-church-commissions-paul-and-barnabas-acts-131-3/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/02/09/the-death-of-james-peters-deliverance-from-prison-acts-126-19/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/01/26/the-jerusalem-church-is-persecuted-acts-121-5/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/01/12/the-antioch-church-witnesses-to-the-gentiles-acts-1119-26/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2025/01/05/special-topic-knowing-god-in-the-details-john-173-gal-522-23/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/12/24/christmas-eve-this-will-be-a-sign-unto-you-luke-28-14/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/09/01/sauls-witness-in-damascus-and-jerusalem-acts-919b-31/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/07/28/philipps-witness-to-the-ethiopian-acts-826-40/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/07/07/while-the-church-is-persecuted-they-scatter-spreading-the-gospel-acts-81-4/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/06/02/the-apostles-appear-before-the-council-summarize-acts-432-37-and-acts-51-16-preach-acts-517-42/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/05/12/the-relationship-of-naomi-and-ruth-gods-providence-working-through-their-love-loyalty-and-wise-counsel/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/04/28/peter-and-john-witness-before-the-jewish-council-acts-41-22/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/04/21/peter-preaches-in-the-temple-square-acts-311-26/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2024/02/25/shine-on-great-savior-luke-928-36-transfiguration/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/11/19/god-supplies-every-need-and-he-is-rich-phil-419-23/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/11/12/pauls-gratitude-for-the-philippians-phil-414-18/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/10/08/a-call-to-follow-pauls-example-of-commitment-to-jesus-as-lord-phil-317-21/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/10/01/pauls-progress-in-the-gospel-through-christ-not-the-law-phil-312-16/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/09/03/epaphroditus-another-example-of-self-sacrifice-phil-225-30/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/08/27/timothy-an-example-of-self-sacrifice-phil-219-24/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/08/13/you-can-do-this-god-is-working-in-you-work-out-your-salvation-because-god-is-working-in-you-phil-212-13/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/07/30/encouragement-to-unity-and-faithful-service-to-one-another-phil-21-4/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/07/23/strive-side-by-side-for-the-gospel-phil-127-30/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/06/25/pauls-thanksgiving-and-prayer-for-the-philippians-phil-13-11/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/06/18/fathers-day-by-faith-moses-parents-protected-him/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/06/11/grace-and-peace-from-god-our-father-and-the-lord-jesus-christ-phil-11-2-theme-an-introduction-to-philippians/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/06/04/gods-love-enables-you-to-love-others-1-john-410-11/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/05/14/the-influence-of-a-mothers-faith-sarah-bore-a-son-through-a-barren-womb-and-influenced-a-nation-and-all-nations/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/04/23/gods-love-seeks-us-when-we-are-lost-luke-151-10/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/04/16/gods-extravagant-love-sending-jesus-to-die-for-you-john-316/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/04/02/jesus-entered-jerusalem-to-take-care-of-our-sin-to-break-down-the-wall-between-us-and-him/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/03/12/god-loved-you-before-you-were-born-psalm-13913-18/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/03/12/god-loved-you-before-you-were-born-psalm-13913-18/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2023/01/15/where-are-they-now-present-heaven-versus-future-heaven-deut-2615-heaven-is-where-god-resides-revelation-21-phil-123-luke-1619-31-rev-69-11/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/11/27/jesus-was-prophesied-as-the-hope-of-the-world/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/11/20/giving-thanks-is-gods-will-for-us-1-thess-518/
When Do We Set Boundaries? How Do We Get Free from Difficult People?
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/11/13/how-do-we-set-boundaries-how-do-we-get-free-from-negative-hurtful-people/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/11/06/coping-with-low-self-esteem-having-our-worth-come-from-christ-ps-16/
Spiritual Warfare (Acts 19:11-20)
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/10/30/dont-trifle-with-the-spiritual-realm-acts-1911-20/
1 Cor 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/10/23/dealing-with-difficult-people-1-cor-134-7/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/10/02/what-is-the-biblical-view-of-marriage-gen-224-25/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/09/11/how-should-christians-respond-to-divorce-even-if-it-is-a-relative-or-friend/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/09/04/how-are-we-to-respond-to-rejection-especially-by-the-church-spouse-or-parents-matt-2216-romans-831-33%ef%bf%bc/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/08/28/how-are-we-to-make-sense-of-the-death-of-the-innocent-such-as-children-luke-131-5/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/08/14/dealing-with-lifes-difficulties-introduction-we-are-all-in-need-luke-189-14-the-pharisee-and-the-tax-collector/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/08/07/the-significance-of-genesis-wrap-up-abraham-his-call-his-significance-genesis-121-3/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/07/31/the-significance-of-genesis-family-line-of-abram-the-family-line-of-christians-genesis-1110-32/
The Significance of Genesis: The Tower of Babylon (Genesis 11:1-9)
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/07/24/the-significance-of-genesis-the-tower-of-babylon-how-does-babel-connect-with-the-rest-of-the-bible-genesis-111-9/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/07/17/the-significance-of-genesis-noahs-family-multiplies-genesis-101-32/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/07/03/prayers-for-our-leaders-1-timothy-21-7/
1 Tim 2:1-7: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/06/19/god-desires-a-relationship-with-wayward-children-luke-1511-32/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/06/12/the-significance-of-genesis-gods-covenant-with-the-new-world-genesis-91-17%ef%bf%bc/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/06/05/noah-worships-and-receives-a-word-of-promise-genesis-820-22/
Isa 49:3-4: And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.”
Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/05/29/be-encouraged-what-you-do-does-matter/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/05/22/1962/
Genesis 8:15-19: Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.
Genesis 8:1-14 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. 2 The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, 3 and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, 4 and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. 11 And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.
13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/05/15/the-significance-of-genesis-gods-remembrance-and-rescue-of-noah-genesis-81-14/
Proverbs 1:8: Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching...
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/05/08/listen-to-your-mother-proverbs-18/
Gen 7:11-24
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/04/24/the-significance-of-genesis-worldwide-flood-of-judgment-and-gods-grace-genesis-711-24/
Christ Is Our King and He Is Coming Back (Mark 11:1-11)
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/04/10/palm-sunday-message-christ-is-our-king-and-he-is-coming-back-mark-111-11/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/04/03/the-significance-of-genesis-coming-judgment-but-the-ark-of-promise-genesis-613-710/
Genesis 6:13-7:10: 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
7 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.
6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.
Genesis 6:9-12 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/03/27/the-significance-of-genesis-noah-was-different-from-others-he-walked-with-god-gen-69-12/
Genesis 6:1-8: When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/03/19/the-world-is-growing-increasingly-corrupt-yet-noah-finds-favor-in-the-eyes-of-the-lord-genesis-61-8/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/03/12/human-beings-continue-from-adam-to-noah-but-without-a-savior/
Gen 5:1-2: This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/03/05/the-significance-of-genesis-51-2-being-created-in-the-image-of-god/
Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/02/12/the-significance-of-genesis-3-and-the-rest-of-the-bible/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/02/05/the-significance-of-the-first-adam-and-the-second-adam-how-is-the-historical-adam-foundational-to-our-faith-selected-scriptures-from-genesis-2-and-3-romans-517-20-1-cor-1520-22-45-49/
The Significance of Adam and Eve as a Special Creation (Gen 2:15-25)
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/01/29/the-significance-of-adam-and-eve-as-a-special-creation-genesis-215-25/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/01/22/the-significance-of-the-seventh-day-as-consecrated-genesis-21-3-ex-208-11/
The Significance of the Creation Account (Genesis 1:1-2, 31) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/01/15/1865/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2022/01/08/the-significance-that-god-is-creator-genesis-11-john-11-5%ef%bf%bc/
Luke 2:8-20: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/12/26/the-angels-visit-the-shepherds-luke-28-20%ef%bf%bc/
3 Kings and the Providence of God (Luke 2:1-7) Luke 2:1-7: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/12/24/3-kings-and-the-providence-of-god-jesus-is-born-in-bethlehem-luke-21-7/
Luke 1:5-25: 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/12/04/the-angels-in-luke-1-gabriel-visits-zechariah-luke-15-25/
Romans 16:25-27: Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/11/27/the-doxology-of-romans-glorify-god-romans-1625-27/
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-best-known-hymn-in-history
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/11/20/pauls-personal-greetings-and-appreciation-of-christian-workers-romans-161-24/
Romans 15:22-33: 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Sermon manuscript at this link: https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/11/13/pauls-plan-to-visit-rome-romans-1522-33/
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/11/06/paul-the-minister-to-the-gentiles-romans-1514-21/
Romans 15:14-21: 14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, 21 but as it is written,
“Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”
Romans 15:8-13: 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/10/30/christ-the-hope-of-jews-and-gentiles-romans-158-13/
Romans 14:13-23 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/10/16/do-not-cause-another-to-stumble-romans-1413-23/
Romans 14:1-12
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/10/09/do-not-pass-judgment-on-one-another-romans-141-12/
Romans 13:8-14: 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/10/02/fulfilling-the-royal-law-romans-138-14/
Romans 13:1-7: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/09/25/submission-to-authorities-romans-131-7/
Romans 12:1-21
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/09/18/do-not-be-conformed-to-the-world-but-be-transformed-by-renewing-your-mind-and-out-of-that-live-different-lives-than-those-of-the-world-romans-121-21/
Romans 11:25-36: 25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/09/05/the-mystery-of-israels-salvation-romans-1125-36/
Romans 11:11-24: 11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/08/29/gentiles-grafted-in-romans-1111-24/
Romans 10:5-21: For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for
“Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,
“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Romans 10:1-4: Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/08/08/pauls-desire-for-israel-romans-101-4/
Romans 9:30-33: What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 9:19-29: 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,
“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,
“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah.”
Romans 9:14-18: 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/07/18/gods-providence-israels-unbelief-is-not-inconsistent-with-gods-plan-romans-914-18/
Romans 9:6-13: 6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Paul's Sorrow Over the Israelites and God's Providence (Rom9:1-5) I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/06/27/pauls-sorrow-over-israelites-and-gods-providence-romans-91-5-part-1-of-a-5-part-message-on-romans-9/
Acts 16:1-3 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Romans 8:31-39: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:26-30: 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Matthew 11:28-30: 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” John 14:16-17: 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/05/30/your-eternity-and-daily-living-are-on-jesus-not-you-matthew-1128-30/
Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Jesus Takes Care of His Mother (John 19:26-27) John 19:26-27: 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Romans 8:1-11
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/05/01/life-in-the-spirit-romans-81-11/
The Triumph of Grace (Romans 7:6) Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. Colossians 2:6: Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him...
Dead to Sin Alive to God (Rom6:1-23) Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 12:12-15: The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
Peace with God (Romans 5:1-11) Romans 5:1-11: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 3:1-8 God’s Righteousness is Upheld, God is righteous as a judge, even while we are sinners.
https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/02/13/gods-righteousness-upheld-romans-31-8/
Romans 2:12: For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
Romans 2:1-11 https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2021/01/30/gods-impartial-judgment-romans-21-11/
Romans 1:16-17; 15:20: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 15:20: and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation...
Romans 1:16-17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 15:20: 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation...
Matthew 1:18-25: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Luke 2:1-7: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
John 14:1-6: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 1:1-5: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Col 1:12-14: 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The article I referenced at the beginning was this: https://breakpoint.org/live-not-by-lies/?_hsmi=97908173&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ZlXJqrdrZabJUMFhimw3I4-Rw2e1PWxUUWa5ue5tuZs2Op9ms74TP3mAEPin0HQLiW80RfRpWmWGcMy70U2YbHRMenQ
Rev 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
1 Thess 5:21-22: But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.
Phil 4:4-8: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Phil 4:4-8: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Phil. 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
James 5:19-20: My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
In this sermon I answer question. We had hymns in between the question, but only the first hymn is on the recording.
James 5:12: But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
2 Timothy 2:8-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 11 It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
James 4:13-17: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James 2:1-13: My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 1:19-27: 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:13-18: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
Luke 5:27-32 After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” 28 And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.
29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Acts 2:42-47: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
2 Tim 2:15: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
a sermon on knowing Jesus through prayer Matthew 6:9-13: 9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Ps 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways.
Phil 2:12-13: So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 1 Timothy 4:7: But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness...
Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
This Will Be a Sign Unto You…the Ordinary Shepherds Meet the Extraordinary Angels (Luke 2:8-14)
Isa 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Matt 1:23: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Gal 4:4: 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, Matt 1:23: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
1 Chron 4:9-10: Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” 10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.
A sermon on Saul from 1 Samuel 15 https://pastorsteverhodes.com/2019/09/08/saul-did-not-seek-the-lord-1-samuel-15/
Gen 25:19-34: Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham became the father of Isaac; 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.” 24 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33 And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 12:1-5: Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” 4 So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.
Gen 4:1-16: Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” 2 Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.
16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 3:15: but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence...
Mark 1:35: In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
acts 15:36-41: Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Romans 12:1-2: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ps 32: 1-5: How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
1 Timothy 4:7-8 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Genesis 3:1-10: Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”
2 Cor. 5:17: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Gal. 6:11-18 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Gal 6:1-10 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Gal 5:16-26: 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
John 20:1-10: Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Mark 11:1-11: As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 2 and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.” 4 They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. 5 Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. 7 They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.
This is a sermon on Gal. 5:13-15 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Gal. 5:1-12: It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
Gal 4:21-31 21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:
“Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child; shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”[a]
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[b] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Gal. 4:12-20: I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Paul rebukes the Galatians for their return to legalism Gal. 4:8-11: However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
We are sons and daughters in God's Kingdom. the passage For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Sonship in Christ 4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
A sermon on Gal. 3:19-25: 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
the promise to Abraham stands in Christ (Gal.3.15_18).m4a A Hands-Tied Experience Imagine if I was preaching in a straight jacket right now… I would illustrate our tendency to return over and over again to the constraints and strictures of the Law instead of enjoying the fact that we are "Free to Enjoy" the new life God gives us. We limit ourselves by thinking we are saved by keeping the law. We limit our ability to rely on the Holy Spirit. We end up literally tying our hands because we are living on our own strength and not the strength of God.
Galatians 3:15-18: Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
I. The covenant doesn’t change. II. The covenant was to Abraham’s seed, Christ. III. Now, the law came later, but does not change the promise. IV. The covenant is based on a promise.
The Galatians Conversion, Saved by the Holy Spirit, Live by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:1-5)
This is a sermon on Gal. 2:11-19 about Paul confronting Peter on hypocrisy and reaffirming salvation by grace alone.
Christmas Eve: Ponder this: The POINT of Christmas is that We NEED a SAVIOR (Luke 2:1-7)
This is a sermon by Doug Pollock about his book, "God Space." This is about creating spiritual conversations
This is a sermon introducing Galatians. Paul's themes include salvation by grace alone. Gal 1:1-5
This is a sermon on persecution in the early church and being ready for persecution today.
This is the second of a two part series on sharing the Gospel. In this one there is the challenge to pray that we have Paul's passion for evangelism. We looked at Romans 1:16-17; 15:20 and 2 Timothy 2:10. This is part of the broader series on Scriptures to pray.
This is a sermon about imitating God and praying that we and our children imitating God
A sermon about 1 Cor. 10:31 and Rev. 5:8-14 and worship God. A sermon about praying the Scriptures and praying that our descendants live to glorify God.
Pastor Bill Rotar, our Minister of Music and Worship gave the message on making your life count
This is a sermon about praying that we live in godliness and praying that for our descendants
Pray that we and our descendants love God, love others and love the Bible (Matthew 22:37-39; Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:1-5)
This sermon did not record properly so I had to re-record it with my iPhone. I apologize for anything that sounds different. This is a sermon regarding Scriptures that I have been convicted to pray. The sermon relates to spiritual leadership in the home. The sermon related to loving God, others and the Word.
This is a sermon given by our youth pastor, Kevin Coy. It was youth Sunday. This is a sermon on making Jesus Lord of our life
This is a sermon regarding the Bible as Scripture. I talk about inspiration, Jesus' view of the Bible and the church history view of the Bible.
I wanted to share for 5 minutes about my upcoming sermon series which will begin Sunday, January 7, 2018. This will be a study about Theology, Doctrine. I will call it "the Study of God."