Questions - Week 14: Why Am I So Tempted?
Awake Us Now
Common questions on this age old topic: ⁃ Why is sin so tempting? ⁃ Why do I do things I don’t want to do? ⁃ How can I conquer temptation? ⁃ Where can I find strength to resist? ⁃ Why is this so difficult? Genesis 3:1-7 - First sin in the Bible. But prior to sin, Adam and Eve were in a time of blissful innocence. A perfect creation, perfect relationship with God, perfect relationship with each other. No death, no sorrow, no pain, but that...
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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 5
Awake Us Now
Pastor begins with a brief overview of Solomon’s divided kingdom. Judah was in the south with two tribes ruled by a descendant of David, Reheboam. Israel in the north with ten tribes was ruled by Jeroboam (1 Kings 11-14) 931-910 BC. God had said that Jeroboam’s kingship would be blessed if he followed the Lord, but he chose the exact opposite path. In today’s class we will look closely at three incidents with Jeroboam. In 1 Kings 12:31-33 we read some of the first things he did that were against God, everything Jeroboam did was counterfeit, just like what the enemy always tries to...
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The Living One - Week 1: Did He Really Live?
Awake Us Now
This teaching compares non-Christian writings of Tacitus, Josephus, Suetonius and Pliny from the first and second centuries to the New Testament writings. The evidence is clear and calls us to recognize we are sinners in need of a Savior, The Living One!
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Big Questions - Power... When the Holy Spirit Comes
Awake Us Now
Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit to believers, is all about the power of God -- the power to live a new life, the power to give glory to the Living God, the power of faith that transforms us and that beckons to others to come to God as well!
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Big Questions - My Witnesses... To the Ends of the Earth
Awake Us Now
It is easy to get distracted by other things — some of them perhaps important things — but Jesus makes it clear to His followers that our primary task is make disciples. To that end, we are to be His witnesses, "even to the ends of the earth."
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Dig Deeper - Week 2: The "Submission" Passage
Awake Us Now
Today’s class is a study of Ephesians 5:21-33. A group of verses that are controversial, often attacked and many times misunderstood. Ephesians 5:21-22 “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, [submit] yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.” In the original Greek text the second [submit] word is not there. There is not a verb in this sentence and so in traditional Greek practice, you take the verb from the previous sentence and insert it into the next sentence. Please note that this is really important - because what this is saying is,...
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Big Questions - Obey... Everything I Have Commanded
Awake Us Now
Obedience is not optional - it is command from Jesus Himself. But we are not saved because we obey; rather, we obey the Lord because He has saved us!
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Big Questions - All Authority... in Heaven and on Earth
Awake Us Now
God has chosen you and me not simply to be religious, but to be disciples. We are to follow Jesus faithfully, grow in the knowledge and love of Him, and share with others the powerful things He has done so that they become disciples too!
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Questions - Week 13: Is Marriage Outdated?
Awake Us Now
In this message we will look at what the Scriptures have to say about marriage, analyze concerns and questions raised in our day, overview the cultural changes that have led to many questioning the value and benefit of marriage, and do so from a Christian worldview. We will also take a look at some secular contemporary research and what it indicates. Common Reactions: 1. The culture has changed: - Married Couples comprised: 1950 — 78% of all US households 2020 — 47%...
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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 4
Awake Us Now
Our study opens with a look at Civil War between Rehoboam and Judah vs. Jeroboam and Israel (931-910 BC). 1 Kings 12:1 We read that Rehoboam went to Shechem, “for all Israel had gone there to make him king.” Shechem was an historic site for the nation from about 500 years early when Levitical priests recited the blessings and the curses from Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Shechem is the city near these two mountains. In verses 3 and 4 we read that Jeroboam challenges Rehoboam. Reheboam goes to 2 advisory boards. One was the elders that had served under his father, Solomon. They...
info_outlineWeek 30 - Mark 15:40 - 16:8 (including 9-20). Death and burial of Jesus; The Resurrection; Women, the first witnesses to the Resurrection.
In this study we finish the final chapter of Mark by taking a closer look at the women at the foot of Jesus’ cross when he dies and the women who were on their way to anoint Jesus on Sunday morning and find Him gone and also a look at the woman who was the first to talk with Jesus after His resurrection. This look at these women brings some great insight into who these women were and takes a specific look at Mary of Bethany (Lazarus’ sister) and Mary Magdalene with some exploration into them possibly being the same person.
Pastor puts out the lay of the land, where specific houses were located and where the tomb was along with the look at the women and puts together the resurrection story using the accounts of all 4 gospels and unites them into one cohesive reconstruction of the events of Resurrection Sunday.
Here’s how Pastor takes Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and puts the pieces together:
Scene 1: Very Early Sunday morning
1. Mary Magdalene, Mary (Clopas’ wife) and Salome head to the tomb.
2. They see the open tomb and Mary Magdalene returns to town to tell Peter and John.
Scene 2: Early Sunday morning
1. Joanna (& Susanna?) leave Hasmonean Palace for the tomb
2. Meeting Mary (Clopas’ wife) and Salome, they enter tomb and see 2 angels
3. They return to town to tell the others
Scene 3: Early Sunday morning
1. Peter and John run to the tomb. Mary Magdalene follows shortly thereafter.
2. Peter & John return home. Mary Magdalene lingers. Sees 2 angels.
3. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. (The first eyewitness to see Jesus after His resurrection).
Scene 4: Sunday morning
1. Salome and Mary (Clopas’ wife) and others head to tell the other disciples.
2. Jesus meets them on the way.
Scene 5: Sunday afternoon/evening
1. Cleopas/Clopas and companion head to Emmaus.
2. Jesus meets them on the way
3. They return to upper room to meet disciples
4. Jesus shows up!
The teaching time continues with the story of “Doubting” Thomas. And His words, “My Lord and My God!” Thomas understood that because Jesus was alive, He is who He claimed Himself to be AND He is the One whom the Scriptures claim Him to be: The Son of the Living God come to earth.
Pastor ends with the story of Peter being asked 3 times by Jesus if he loves Him, and Peter being commissioned 3 times by Jesus to feed His sheep. Peter willingly committed his heart to Jesus and would willingly go to his death for his faith in Jesus some 30 years later. Peter was sold out for Christ. Will we too be sold out to Christ and follow Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength? Will we love Him with everything we are?
We close out this first of the 4 gospels with Jesus ascending to the Father and letting us know that He is with us always, even until the end of the age. The summary of Mark: God is amazing, He is an amazing Savior, and He does everything He says He’s going to do!
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The Gospel of Mark is the first of the 4 Gospels we are studying. The book of Mark highlights and applies the fundamental teachings of the Biblical faith as encountered through the life and teachings of Jesus as written by Mark.
This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.