Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 9
Awake Us Now
Today we continue our study of Elijah’s ministry. Elijah’s Ministry ⁃ Prediction and Provision - no rain or dew ⁃ Contest at Mount Carmel the time of drought ends in a contest ⁃ Encounter at Mount Horeb ⁃ Word at Naboth’s Vineyard ⁃ Elijah taken to heaven We pick up the story from last week, at the contest at Mount Carmel where we learn that Jezebel has promised to kill Elijah. After the threat, Elijah, fearful for his life, travels forty days...
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The Living One - Week 21: First Christians
Awake Us Now
As pastor takes a look at the word “Christian,” its definition, what it means for us and for the world today, we will see a blueprint God has laid out for believers not just in Antioch long ago but also for us today! The word “Christian” came about from non-believers in the city of Antioch. As persecution caused the Jewish believers in Jerusalem to seek other cities in which to live, many chose to move to Antioch. It was a welcoming city without persecution and the message of Jesus exploded. It was then that Barnabus was sent to encourage these new believers. Barnabus, led by the Holy...
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The Living One - Week 20: Set Free!
Awake Us Now
Scripture: Acts 12, John 14:27, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:11 Even in darkness and apparent defeat, Scripture assures us of this truth: We win because God wins, and He will bring that victory to its final fulfillment on the day our Lord Jesus returns. This teaching is taken from Acts 12. It is a story of Peter being set free from prison chains by an angel, but also set free from the destructive thoughts and emotions and feelings that can rise up inside us during challenging times. Peter shows us how to hold on tight to what we know about God and let Him carry us through difficult...
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The Living One - Week 19: Renewed Minds
Awake Us Now
This teaching is taken from the Acts 10, the story of Peter and Cornelius the Centurion. Both Peter and Cornelius experienced divine encounters through visions. Cornelius sees an angel with a message, Cornelius obeys and has Peter brought to his home. Peter receives a vision in which God gives Peter eyes to see beyond his cultural rules of clean and unclean. Peter was a prisoner of his culture until God gave him a vision of truth and that breakthrough brings Peter to a Gentile’s home, Cornelius’ home, and Peter, going against the culture, obeys God and enters the house of a Gentile....
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Dig Deeper - Week 4: Is the Holy Spirit an "it"?
Awake Us Now
Pastor starts with a deeper exploration of John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet to come.” People have used this verse to argue that the word Spirit is not about a personal being but about an impersonal force because in the original Greek text “spirit” (pneuma) is a neuter noun. Yes, this is true, and so they determine that neuter means the Holy Spirit is an IT. Yet the verse goes on by saying, “…He will guide you…, He will speak…....
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The Living One - Week 18: Conversion
Awake Us Now
Today’s teaching show us the significance of the Conversion of Paul. Not only is it a remarkable event, it brings forward remarkable truths. New archeological discoveries of Paul’s tomb help emphasize these verses are not just a story. This is an actual account of an actual event, that happened to an actual person, and it changed the world! This account of Paul’s conversion calls us to a deep relationship with God and demonstrates how God desires to be at work in our lives not just back then, but today in the 21st century as well. God took Paul from being a bulldog for the enemy’s use...
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The Living One - Week 17: Divine Direction
Awake Us Now
Today’s teaching shows us what happens when we follow where God leads and when we share the Good News of our Savior Jesus. Philip used “Isaiah’s Prophecy” to teach the man in today’s story, all about Jesus. Scripture text: Acts 8:26-40, Isaiah 52:13-52:12 awakeusnow.com
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Questions - Week 15: What is the Holy Spirit?
Awake Us Now
This question is often asked this way: ⁃ Is the Holy Spirit an impersonal force? ⁃ What does the Bible say about this? ⁃ What does the Holy Spirit do? ⁃ Why are some afraid of the Holy Spirit? Let us consider: Is the Holy Spirit a “Force” or a “Person” Marks of Personality: ⁃ Intellect ⁃ Emotion ⁃ Will Are these evident in the Holy Spirit? Let’s look in the Bible and see what we...
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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 8
Awake Us Now
Pastor opens today’s class with the words from Psalm 135:15-18 “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” We will see the truth of these words in today’s study. Elijah’ Days: Most of this prophet’s ministry was during the height of King Ahab in the north in Israel and King Jehoshaphat in the south in Judah. His name, Elijah, is even prophetic. In...
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The Living One - Week 16: Facing Opposition
Awake Us Now
A study on how God uses opposition, and how to handle it. Pastor teaches us to deal with opposition through the applied truths found in the Bible. These words of God will encourage, build up, and carry us through our times of opposition!
info_outlineLuke 10:38-42; the story of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by tasks and activities, but Jesus says that what really matters, what really lasts, is knowing Him and listening to Him.
Jesus came to the village of Bethany where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. Martha invited Jesus and those with Him into their home. As Jesus taught them, Mary sat at his feet listening to what he said.
Observation: Every time Mary is mentioned in the Bible she is at Jesus’ feet.
Mary longed to be near Jesus and to listen to His voice and to internalize His goodness, His mercy and His love. At Jesus’ feet listening is where we want to be, too. Sitting at His feet listening closely to what He’s saying develops our relationship with Him.
Do we desire to be at Jesus’ feet? Are we ready to hear what He has to say to us and how He longs to pour into us His love, mercy and goodness and how He longs to give us guidance and direction.
Martha was distracted by the preparations that needed to be made for having guests in the house and she said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Many look at this story and condemn Martha - but Martha is a devout believer and she makes one of the most powerful declarations of Jesus’ identity found in the gospels. In John 11:27 she says, “Lord, I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God who has come into the world.” Martha understood that Jesus is the fulfillment of everything the prophets foretold.
Yet we can learn from Martha: she is upset and angry. Have you ever been in Martha’s spot? She goes to Jesus, not her sister.
Martha is obviously an outspoken person. There is nothing wrong with being outspoken. But what matters most is speaking ONLY what God would have us speak.
Even with Martha’s words to Jesus about her sister, Jesus responds kindly: “Martha, Martha, You are worried about many things, but few things are needed - indeed only one. Mary has chosen better and it will not be taken from her.”
There’s no rebuke here, but Jesus does go to the heart of the issue and the issue is Martha’s heart. She wanted to be a good hostess but that wasn’t the most important thing. The most important thing was listening to Jesus and getting to know Him even more.
Observation: What matters is knowing Jesus and listening to Him.
It’s not about how much we’ve achieved, how much we’ve accomplished. It’s not about how well organized we are, how busy we have been and not about how successful we are. What matters is knowing Jesus and listening to Him.
John 10:14 Jesus says, “My sheep know Me.”
John 10”27-28 “My sheep listen to My voice, they follow Me. No one will take them from Me.”
It is one thing to know what Jesus did, but it’s another thing to believe He did it for me. That’s true faith!
It’s easy to become distracted with things that have no abiding value or to concentrate on things that are important but not paramount. What the Bible tells us is above all else seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be given.
The story of Mary and Martha gives us a real life picture of listening to Jesus and getting to know Him and putting that into practice. Jesus desires ALL of us to have a close enduring relationship with Him.
Are we working on our relationship with Jesus?
Are we spending time in His presence or is he an after-thought? Are we receiving what He wants to give us or are we like Martha and upset about so many other things?
Pastor shares a book reference: “God’s Favorite Place On Earth” by Frank Viola. The book addresses the difficulties of life and addresses when we feel betrayed by people and how God allows these times so that He can strengthen and mold us and to teach us to rely on Him as never before.
Another point the author makes in the book is admitting he was often like Martha busy trying to get things done, but he says, “I learned how to work for God. Then I learned how to work with God. Finally, I learned how to watch God work!” Frank Viola
This story teaches us that life’s not about being busy for God and life’s not about learning ABOUT Him. It’s actually about knowing Him personally, it’s about watching Him move in powerful ways as we sit at His feet. It’s the best place to be!!!
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St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. The Gospel of Luke takes a look at the life of Jesus, beginning with the well-known Christmas stories. Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.
This study is great for large group, small group or home group Bible study.