The Vail Christian Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Vail Christian Church
Vail Christian Church is a congregation in south-east Tucson that is dedicated to making room in life to connect people with God and others. The teaching each Sunday is grounded in the Word of God and centers on the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus offers himself to us as the food that is eternal. No amount of working for God can get us to eternity. He is free. He does the work needed on the cross. All we can do is eat, or, believe, and live. And this becomes the treasure that dominates our heart, Jesus. He changes everything.
In this miracle of taking five loaves, a few fish, and feeding over five thousand people, Jesus opens up a window about who He is. He doesn’t do this so we might get excited about getting what we want, but that we might see that he is better than anything we ever wanted.
The measure of truly knowing God, honoring God, and loving God is knowing, honoring, and loving Jesus for who He really is.
Someday we will be raised from the dead. Our deteriorated bodies will respond to the voice of the Son of God. We will rise from the dead and face Him and He will look at our lives for evidence that we were living for Jesus. He will be looking to see if we have been bearing the fruit of love.
When Jesus heals this man and intentionally does it on the Sabbath, He is showing us something about himself.
Philippians 1:3-5,7b, Philippians 2:2-5, 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 3:9-10, Romans 12:10,16
John 3:16 (NET) For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish[c] but have eternal life.
1 Peter 5:1-5 Guest speaker and elder Mike Van Fleet has a message about leadership in the church.
Mayra Rodriguez’s primary interest has always been to care for women. How she’s accomplishing that is very different from where she began. It’s a testimony only God could write.
What does this have to do with me?
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Introductions are important. The introduction in this prologue is a model for us.
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Jesus came so that God could be known. That is Jesus’ ultimate purpose.
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Grace is the key to coming to Jesus and believing in Him so that you can know life.
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Let your life be a witness and testimony like John the Baptist.
John 1:1-3 “The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”
Luke 17:11-19 A liminal space, is a place of transition, waiting, and not knowing. This is a unique spiritual position where we hate to be but where God is always leading us.
"There are things that are bigger and greater than us and our mission. Among those things I believe is prayer. Prayer is key to everything and yet we’re really bad at it. " - Pastor Ben Pitney
Pray because life is war and God is sovereign. We gotta pray. That’s why we’ve been recruited. Are you going to be a part of it?
Ephesians 6:10-20 "The biggest problem we face today with social media is not that we spend too much time there. It’s that we don’t expect to be met with war there.
We approach social media without being spiritually alert." Pastor Ben Pitney
Genesis 3:1-15 “Satan exists to amplify and intensify the might, dominating command, wisdom, love, grace, mercy, patience, anger, rage, and fury of Jesus Christ.”
Ezekiel 28 :12-17 Four Nevers 1. Never despair that this evil world is out of God’s control. 2. Never give in to the sense that because of random evil, life is absurd and meaningless. 3. Never yield to the thought that God sins or is ever unjust or unrighteous in the way he governs the universe. 4. Never doubt that God is totally for you in Christ.
How do I live in light of this? 1. We must never hold this doctrine lightly. 2. Actively fight the delusion that it doesn't make a difference. 3. Require yourself to see sin as sinful. 4. Be thankful for final justice. 5. Celebrate grace. 6. Keep reminding yourself of what is important. 7. Be eager and devoted to sharing wherever you are, the gospel of rescuing grace.
Revelation 19:6-8
What does this have to do with me? 1. When you listen to this song in revelation it reaches into eternity and leads you to confess the need for your values to be clarified. 2. It determines that your worship should be retrieved from worshiping the wrong things. 3. It causes understanding that you need glory repositioned from stoping to worship the glorious signs to the glory that is ultimate….the glory of God. 4. It drives the need to embrace the satisfaction of resisting immediate reward in preference for a later reward.
Pitfall 1: We struggle to view our wealth and resources through the lens of eternity. Pitfall 2: It’s uncomfortable for us to talk about money, but we need to do it anyway.
Matthew 6:19-33 What does this have to do with me?
- Jesus reminds us of the good news of creation.
- Jesus reminds us of the good news of family.
- Jesus reminds us of the good news of the kingdom.
Matthew 6:19-33
What does this have to do with me? 1. Our behavior in any given situation is always our attempt to get what's valuable to us. 2. We have been designed to live for treasure. 3. Living in pursuit of the wrong treasure leads to the trauma of bitterness, envy, materialism, entitlement, doubting God, frustration, discouragement, and depression. 4. Our hearts are always ruled and shaped by one of these two systems of treasure. Earthbound or eternal treasures of the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 2:1–7
What makes it worth the cost? Or what does this have to do with me? 1. Those we invest in are the expression of our joy in Jesus. 2. We have a joy in God we would not have apart from these disciples. 3. No greater joy.
Psalm 51
What does this have to do with me?
- Are you committed to change? Are you?
- If you’re committed to change, then you will see confession as a grace.
- God opens our eyes; God brings the pain of conviction. He wants to help us to see the sinfulness of sin, not because He would turn his back on us, but because He's pulling us close and saying, I want you to continue to experience only what I alone can give you? Forgiveness! Grace!
Psalm 29 was written by David to reveal the devastating power of God like a thunderstorm. David poetically captures the power of a storm, but that storm immediately makes David reflect on the voice of God, the majesty of God, the presence of God. He has a unique poetic way of pointing to the God of majestic glory with a thunderstorm.
Psalm 42. What does this have to do with me?
- Feelings are productive.
- Actively pursue a solution.
- God intended that this would be done together.
- Take a chance on God.
"Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them. But there they are, talking to you. They bring back the problems of yesterday." Martin Lloyd Jones - Spiritual Depression
Psalm 4:1-8, David and Absalom. “Before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentle nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives.” - Oswald Chambers
“Complain if you must, but don't lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.” - Eugene Peterson
"You can experience worship on a personal level but that is not the entirety of worship. Worship is also meant to be experienced in community when the Church gathers. True and proper worship leads to unity in the Church." - Pastor Kevin Canterbury
2 Samuel 19:24-30 A Prototype Of Love For Jesus 1. Great admiration for the king. 2. Utter submission to the king’s wisdom. 3. Being amazed by grace. 4. A sense of having no rights or claims. 5. A deep sense of unworthiness.
1 Timothy 4:12 What does this have to do with the rest of us?
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We do not want our children to just be rule keepers.
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The shaping and sustaining power of the gospel is the key to successfully equipping the next generation.
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Life in Christ begins with the gospel that empowers, shapes, and sustains it.
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Pray, love, and teach our young people until Christ breaks in on their hearts and becomes their most valuable treasure.
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Pray that God gives us vision for the next generation that glorifies the gospel of Christ, and leads young people to the cross where they find forgiveness of sins, humility, and courage to rebel against low expectations.
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Pray for our young people to set an example inside the church and outside in their speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity.
Psalm 78:1-8 What does this have to do with me?
Parents are the primary stewards of caring out God's purpose with the next generation.
Parents need help in keeping a God-Centered vision of parenting alive.
Parents need a deep confidence in God.
Parents need the motivation to persevere consistently.
Parents need encouragement when everything seems to go wrong.
Parents need relief occasionally from the strain of parenting.
Parents need help in boiling down the Truth of God into essential, transferable, age-appropriate training.
Parents need help in teaching subjects and skills where they lack expertise and time.
Parents need solutions to tough problems raised by children.
Parenting is to be done in community.
John 9:1-12, 24-38
The life of abundance starts when you surrender your life and worship Jesus. Worship is - Acknowledging God and what He’s done. Worship is - The way you live your life. Worship is - The pathway to life overflowing.
John 10:10 What does this have to do with me?
- You must choose to walk into the abundant life Christ offers.
- You cannot help others experience abundant life if you have no margin in your own life.
- You cannot pull yourself out of the pit.
Philemon What does this have to do with me?
- Every Christ Follower was once a fugitive.
- Our guilt was great and our penalty was severe.
- Grace allowed the right of appeal.
- Christ paid the debt of our sin.
- We are accepted and adopted into God’s family.
Matthew 25:31-46 What does this have to do with me?
- The point of life in Christ is to feature the mercy of God in Christ. So, we must build our lives on the mercies of God. That’s why we exist.
- If we are the true church, and true disciples of Jesus, mercy must flow toward Christ Followers or we are self-deceived.
- If we are the true church we will show mercy to people far from God so they might come to know Christ.
Matthew 28:1-10; 16-20 What does this have to do with me?
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Do you have an appetite for this kind of Savior? Infinite power! Immeasurable kindness! Unswerving purpose!
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Confess the blindness and apathy of the past and set yourself on the road of faith and obedience and expect Him to meet you on the way.
Matthew 25:1-13 What does this have to do with me?
- You don’t have to hear the words “I do not know you!”
Verse 13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.
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Be spiritually awake!
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Use everything God has given you to know Him and love Him and trust Him.
Matthew 27:15-21 What does this have to do with me
- He was our penalty substitute.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
- The perennial madness of the crowd's choice.
Matthew 27:25 In reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
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We are guilty of the same kind of decision that prefers a Barabbas to the true son of the Father, The Lord Jesus Christ.
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There is a need for a decision and a need for a decision now.
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If you have never believed, put your trust in The Lord Jesus and abandon all other trusts.
Matthew 26:36-46
What does this have to do with me?
- Come with Him into this war and fight. Join Jesus in the fight.
Matthew 26:45–46 “Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!”
- Do you want to make a difference in this world? He has taught you in Gethsemane how to fight.
“Get up, let us go.”
Matthew 26:1-29 What does this have to do with me?
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Foolish people – no matter how powerful – can set themselves against the Lord God. But their schemes and opposition will come to nothing.
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The story of our lives can tempt us to see the various episodes and chapters of our lives as random or haphazard.
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Who had the greater insight into Jesus' words, and Jesus' death?
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We cannot read any one passage or book in isolation; we must read the Bible as a whole.
Matthew 19, Deuteronomy 24:1, Matthew 19:4-6, Matthew 19:7, Matthew 19:8-9, Matthew 19:9, Matthew 5:31-32, Matthew 5:27-28, Jeremiah 31:31-34, 1 Corinthians 7:10,11, 1 Corinthians 7:12-15, Jeremiah 31:34
Genesis 1:26-28 What Does this have to do with me?
- God created human beings.
- God created us in his image.
- God created us in his image as male and female.
- So, God created you; He created you in His image; and He created you male or female that you might be utterly, radically, uniquely, devoted to the Lord.
Matthew 21:1-17
What should you adjust in your life to make room for connecting with others? Do you need to: - down size? - knock out a wall? - have a garage sale? - equip yourself more? - take a class?
Should you change the way you think about school activities? When was the last time you decluttered or just reorganized? Could a budget help in any way?
Matthew 7:24-27
- We need a SOLID FOUNDATION.
Psalm 119:1-10.
- “Please don’t let me WANDER.”
John 10:10
- Beware the THIEF!
Revelation 2:4-5
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We must get back to our FIRST LOVE.
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When the heart is right, the FEET are SWIFT.
1 Peter 2:9–17 What does this have to do with me?
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The unborn should be honored!
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Let’s not simply be passive and apathetic people priding ourselves in our avoidance ethic.
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Let’s live in the power of the grace that called us out of darkness into light and let’s turn back to that very dark and dying culture and honor all people, love the family of believers, and fear God.
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Let’s honor the King. The one who called us to proclaim His virtues.
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Let’s be rich in doing good so that people might see the kind of Master we serve and glorify Him when he appears.
Matthew 7:7-12 What does this have to do with me?
- Jesus really wants to encourage us to pray.
- He gives good things.
- It is a great mercy to us and to the world that we do not get all we ask.
- Take Jesus at His word.
Romans 12:1–2 What does this have to do with me?
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The essence of worship is being satisfied in God and cherishing Christ.
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The renewed mind recognizes, tests, and approves treasures, and cherishes the will of God.
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Doing the will of God is the displaying of God in his glory.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.”
- All of life is shining light on what you truly value and cherish and treasure.
John 7:31-52
What does this have to do with me? 1. These stories in John 7 can help us most if we apply the offer of Jesus to ourselves: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.
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We have to admit that we are thirsty.
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We must recognize that Jesus’ offer is an act of sheer grace.
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We should observe that the Lord does not promise to alter our life circumstances.
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His offer is to quench the thirst of our hearts, providing ‘living water' from within.
Psalms 63: 2-4 Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you, and witnessed your power and splendor. Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you. For this reason, I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
John 14:25-31
What does this have to do with me?
- This is Jesus’ peace, not ours.
- Jesus will bring you into the very peace that He enjoys with His Father.
- Have you received His belief in the Father’s sovereignty over Satan?
- Have you received His gladness in the Father’s greatness?
- Have you received His peace in His Father’s favor?
1 Peter 1:17-21
What does this have to do with me? 1. Wake up to the futility and emptiness of hoping in sin over God. The price of sin is death, the free gift of God is eternal life. If you put your hope for happiness in sin, you die. 2. If you put your hope for satisfaction and happiness in God, you live. 3. Rediscover Christmas and stop trying to satisfy your heart's desire with this world and all its empty God-belittling ways. And turn to Christ. 4. Focus all your mind's attention and your heart's affection on Christ who was chosen from eternity, manifested or revealed in these last times, crucified for sinners, raised from the dead, glorified at the right hand of God—all for your sake—all that you might be satisfied in God and not sin.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.
Matthew 24:9-14
What does this have to do with me? 1. The "gospel of the kingdom" was foretold in the Old Testament, preached by Jesus—brought by Jesus!—preached by the early church, and should be preached by us until everyone hears it. 2. Since Jesus has come, God is wielding his right to rule in new and powerful ways. 3. Every one of us should turn from all other claims on our allegiance and surrender to the King of kings. Lets repent of all rebellion and faithlessness, accept the terms of his amnesty, and put our trust in the true King.
Matthew 28:18-20
What does this have to do with me? 1. Trust His companionship. 2. Bank on His authority. 3. Go make disciples of all the nations, and teach them everything Jesus commanded.
Ephesians 4:1–6
What does this have to do with me? 1. Count the cost of this truth. Believe this truth, but believe it with your eyes open. 2. Believing that Jesus is man's only hope has never been popular, and it is increasingly unpopular today. 3. If you know Jesus (if the glory of God through Christ shines in your heart)........ you know the way, the one Lord, the one faith, the one baptism. 4. Our culture will continue to make it more difficult for the Christ Follower and the church to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 5. It’s worth it to walk worthy of our calling (the call to bring glory to Christ.)
Matthew 6:25-36
What does this have to do with me?
- Clearly, Jesus wants His disciples to be free from enslaving worry and anxiety.
- If you will receive him as Savior and Lord and Treasure of your life, you will have these eight reasons or promises.
- Jesus’s eight reasons or promises not to worry are a gift to the Christ Follower to free you from worry and anxiety and to make you a generous giver.
- Receive them. Believe them. Make them the tools you use to fight the good fight of faith every day.
- We are walking into difficult days ahead. One group of people more than all others should be free from worry and anxiety: the people of Christ.
Matthew 6:19–34
What does this have to do with me?
- Taking New Ground
- A vision of our families grounded in the word of God.
- It is a vision of people loving the taste of Scripture and the supremacy of its Author.
- It is a vision of explaining Jesus to a lost world.
- It is a challenge to make room in life to connect people to God.
- We are asking you to be generous givers, extravagant givers.
Matthew 20:1-15
What does this have to do with me? 1. Do you fully grasp the extravagance of God given to us who did not work for it nor deserve it?
- Do you have the attitude of the last worker who is overcome with joy for receiving the extravagant grace of the Father?
“I am not going to Heaven because I have preached to great crowds or read the Bible many times. I’m going to Heaven just like the thief on the cross who said in that last moment: ‘Lord, remember me.” - Billy Graham
- We are all the last worker, we are all the thief on the cross next to Jesus who receives God’s grace. Let’s go after this week, living in and extending the extravagance of the God of the kingdom.
Matthew 16:13-26
What does this have to do with me?
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We Acquire the Nations by Dying and Living with Jesus, by Faith. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
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Will you die with him and live with him, by faith.
- Whoever loses his life for Christ and the gospel will find it and will bring others through the gates of death to life.
Matthew 16:24-26
What does this have to do with me?
- Your life belongs to God, and He decides what life is for.
- Are you going to throw your life away?
- Are you willing to lay down your life for Christ?
- Is your passion to showcase the unrivaled worth of Christ, and treasure Him above all things?
Matthew 10:24-31
What does this have to do with me?
- Don’t surrender to the spirit of the age.
- Love the truth.
- What you learn about Jesus in private, away from the public, speak in the light.
- What you hear in the Scriptures proclaim from the housetops.
- Do not fear the face of anyone.
Matthew 22:34-40
Review 1. God commands total allegiance to Himself. 2. Love for God precedes love for others. 3. Align yourself with causes that lead people to God 4. Practice the mission of Vail Christian Church.
What does this have to do with me?
- “Love your neighbor as yourself" is a radical command. It gets to the core of our sinfulness, exposes it and, disconnects us from it. It’s called pride.
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Pride is the motor or taproot of all sin.
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The passion to be satisfied and happy (self-love) is contaminated and corrupted by two things: A. The unwillingness to see God as the only source of true lasting satisfaction B. The unwillingness to see other people as designed by God receive the satisfaction in him that you have.
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In the first commandment, the focus is on the passion to be satisfied firmly in God and God alone.
- The second commandment opens a whole world of expanding satisfaction in God. People are designed to receive your satisfaction and happiness in God.
Matthew 22:34-40
Motives determine our actions. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." "Love your neighbor as yourself."
What is the result of a person who Loves God with their whole being? The result is Godly actions driven by Godly motives.
Matthew 5:43–48 What does this have to do with me?
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Power to love like this comes from The Lord.
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Could anything show the truth and power and reality of Jesus more than this?
Matthew 5:11–12, Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
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Jesus says that not only can you endure the mistreatment of the enemy, but you can also rejoice in it because your reward is great in heaven.
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The command to love your enemy is a command to find your hope and your satisfaction in the Lord and His reward—not in the way people treat you.
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Loving your enemy doesn't earn you the reward of heaven. Valuing or treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy.
Matthew 5:43, 33
What does this have to do with me?
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Jesus is calling us to do something different and deeper as Christ Followers
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There is a way of life that is authentic, deep, and un-hypocritical that you must live if you want to arrive in heaven.
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You can live and love (not perfectly, but powerfully), and your life can be the light of the world that proves you are the children of God.
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Loving our enemies is proof that the power of the kingdom has entered your life, not a payment for the power of the kingdom to enter your life.
Romans 13:1–7
What does this have to do with me? 1. There is no authority except from God. 2. Some rules and governments are good, and some are bad. Some reward the right and punish the wrong. Most do a little of both. 3. The demand for subjection is relative, not absolute. It depends on whether the demands of the governing authorities require us to disobey Jesus.
But if the demands of the state do not require us to disobey Jesus (as with speed limits, stop signs, income taxes, curfews, building codes, fishing licenses, etc…), we will be subject for the Lord's sake (1 Peter 2:13)
What does this have to do with me? 1. Is there a resource that most Christ Followers miss because they only experience church as worship services? 2. Is there a real flaw in our understanding of church that may account for untold weaknesses and discouragements in the body of Christ? 3. Are you living normal New Testament church life in personal spiritual community with others? 4. Would you put this to a test?
Genesis 37:1-50:26 What does this have to do with me?
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Joseph’s story is yours.
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If we reject God’s sovereignty over the sinful acts of men, we reject God’s work of salvation in Jesus. Acts 4:27–28 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen.
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Salvation was being accomplished through the evil of sinful men as they killed the Son of God. (Isaiah 53:10) “Though the Lord desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him. ”
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There is no gospel, there is no salvation if God cannot, in perfect holiness, govern the acts of sinful men in bringing his Son to the cross.
Colossians 4:7-18
What does this have to do with me?
- Colossians is a book that helps us to find our story in Christ.
- Colossians helps us to find out how the great mystery of God is played out in our Church, our lives, our homes, our jobs, and our community.
- We may be asked to give everything up.
- We may be humiliated.
- We may fail miserably.
- We may have to ask for forgiveness or forgive.
- We may have to relate to a group of people that are completely different from us.
- “See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”
- Your story will become apart of The Great Mystery of Christ in you.
Colossians 4:2-6
What does this have to do with me? • What are the possibilities of a life devoted to prayer? • Be strategic in your speech, live wisely. • Buy up opportunities for the Lord.
Colossians 3:12-17
What does this have to do with me? 1. What are your relationships like within the Church? 2. Of the virtues listed in verse 12, which come more naturally to you? Which are harder for you to express? Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 3. Sometimes we find it difficult to forgive other Christ Followers because we expect more of them. Is this ever true of you? 4. How might "the word of Christ dwell in you richly?" What could that look like in practical terms?
Susan's Sugar Free Cookies https://healthycookiesdirect.com/
Matthew 6:5-15
What does this have to do with me? 1. Make God's Priority Your Priority 2. Pray Those Priorities Into Reality 3. Let This Prayer Be Answered in Your Life
John 1:43-51 What does this have to do with me?
- This good heart desires to know people and treat people for who they really are as individuals.
- This good heart is willing to take risks to act against negative expectations and belittling stereotypes.
- This good heart is ready to repent quickly and fully when we have made a mistake and judged someone wrongly.
Acts 17 What does this have to do with me? Against the rising of indifference, alienation, divisiveness, and hostility in our nation...
- Embrace the supremacy of God's love and take new steps personally and corporately toward racial reconciliation.
- Let us cast out every belittling and unloving thought from our minds.
- Let us put every word, tone, ridicule, or scorn out of our mouths.
- Let us go out of our way to show oneness with Christ Followers of all ethnic backgrounds.
- Let us be the salt and the light of our hostile and fearful society with courageous acts of kindness and respect.
- Let us look to Christ and be forgiven, cleansed, healed, and empowered to love.
Daniel 6:1-13 So what does this have to do with me? 1. Prayer is a legitimate public testimony. (Matthew 6:5-6) 2. Daniel’s prayer life was a testimony that his life was built on prayer. 3. Daniel’s prayer life was disciplined and regular. 4. Prayer is more valuable than life.
Colossians 2:16-23 "Bear Shadow" by Frank Asch Grandma Annii's Story-time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9Ur_L8PdWs.
Colossians 2:6-15 A. The Affirming Confession - Alive in Christ B. The Warning - Empty Philosophy C. The Encouraging Insistence
Colossians 2:1-5 1. Concern about Deception and Distractions 2. Christ is the Source of Growth and Encouragement 3.What We've Learned so Far
Resurrection Sunday, Luke 24:1-12
- The Resurrection Story
- Do Not Be Unbelieving
- Be A Believer
- Practicing Resurrection
- Not "Air Guitar" Practice
Palm Sunday, Luke 19:28-44
- An Event of Huge Misunderstanding
- Jesus is Merciful Sovereign
- Jesus is Sovereignly Merciful
- Jesus' Mercy Intends to Help
Philippians 4:10-23
- The Perspective of Joy in Every Circumstance
- The Practice of Affirming Others
- The Ability to be Content in all Situations
- Confidence in God's Power
- Mature Christ Followers Give Sacrificially to Meet the Needs of Others.
What does this have to do with me?
Romans 10:1-2 Hebrews 10:19-22
- A Zeal for God, but far from God.
- Draw Near!
- The Heart of the Gospel
- Zeal with Knowledge
- Draw Near with a Sincere Heart.
What does this have to do with me?
Colossians 1:1-8
Quotes featured in this message: “Resentment is the curse of the faithful, the virtuous, the obedient, and the hardworking... Resentment is the complaint that life does not unfold the way we planned … It replaces faith, hope, and charity with fear, doubt, and rivalry or conflict.” - Henri Nouwen
Colossians 1:28-29
Quotes featured in this message: “Spiritual formation for the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself … So then the outer life of the individual becomes a natural expression or outflow of the character and teachings of Jesus.” - Dallas Willard
I think the effect that Jesus wants this promise to have on the disciples is to give them strength to continue in their meekness. This is the way the promise works in verse 12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. In other words, the promise of great reward gives the disciples strength to endure persecution and embrace it. So I think the promise that the meek will inherit the earth is intended by the Lord to give us the strength to endure in meekness when our natural inclination would be to defend ourselves or retaliate in anger. you don’t need to win in this world because God has already made you an inheritor of it.
Pastor Ben introduces us to the beatitudes and shows us why they should lead us to celebration and invitation.
Jesus appears before Pontius Pilate and Barabas is release. Pastor Ben looks at how the unjust trial of Jesus becomes good news for us. Mark 15:1-15
This week Pastor Kevin looks at the Peter's denial of Jesus and what it takes to follow Jesus when it's hard. Mark 14:53-72
Matt Miller continues our study of Mark. Taking scripture from Mark 14:32-52. Jesus agonizing night. A Man of sorrows and grief, burdened with all our sins, Jesus talks to His Father in the garden.
In this weeks message entitled ‘Devotion’, Pastor Ben looks at three expressions of worship found in Mark 14:1-11.
Jesus talks about signs that the time will be coming when His disciples will suffer as he does. He tells instructs them and Us to be diligent and watch . to stay alert. Look through the lens of the disciples eyes.
Jesus is being set up by the religious authorities. They ask him a political question and a theological question to trap him. but Jesus doe not fall for the traps and claims ownership of his faithful.
In this lesson from Judges 6-8 we find the Faulted Judge, Gedeon, and how God used him to do the impossible, Impossible for Gedeon, but not impossible for God!
1.God our creator will be glorified in His supreme right over his person forming in the womb. 2.That Christ will be glorified in His forgiveness for the sin of abortion for all who repent and trust Him. 3.That thousands of women in the threatening situation of an unplanned pregnancy would find the ready compassion of Christ's people, before the horror of abortion. 4. That through you, God's people, we would spread across our community a Christ-exalting commitment to the preciousness of God-given life.
Pastor Ben and his wife Linda renew their vows after 30 years of marriage. Pastor Ben talks about God's plan for marriage
Zachariah, John the Baptists father, was sent into Silence and solitude because he didn't believe God. He used this time to meditate on God's word and after John was born, he raised his Benedictus about Jesus, the "Horn of Salvation"
A king will come In Micah 5:2-6 The prophet talks about the promise that a Savior is coming.
Trey Gilmore continues the study of the Gospel of Mark. He talks about the Transfiguration in Mark 9:2-13, and how we all have our own "mountaintop experiences"
The ruler who Serves, theServant who rules, Marks account of Jesus ministry continues in Mark 8:27-9:1
This week Pastor Trey outlines the themes of compassion throughout the book of Mark and how it applies to us.
This week Pastor Ben looks at the story of Esther and how it can help us better understand the story of Herod and John the Baptist. Mark 6:14-30
This week, Pastor Ben looks at Jesus' relationship with his family and how it affected his ministry. Mark 6:1-13
This week, Pastor Ben looks at the miracle of the girls restored to life and a women healed. Mark 5:21-43
This week, Pastor Ben looks at the parable of the growing seed and how it applies to our lives. Mark 4:26-34.
This week Pastor Ben continues the series in Mark looking at the story of the Lamp stand.