Growing Gracefully: Holiness
Awake Us Now
Holiness is a gift, offered to us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But once God has made us holy, we are then called to pursue holiness in our lives!
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Questions - Week 21: Why Do You Believe He Is Risen?
Awake Us Now
Happy Resurrection Sunday - Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Today’s question is “Why do you believe He is risen?” Pastor starts today’s class with a personal testimony in which the Bible changed the direction of his life at the age of 15. Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Pastor shares the Evidence Trail of Jesus’ Resurrection on the bases of writings from believers, unbelievers, recorded data, and old and new studies. The Evidence Trail...
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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 14
Awake Us Now
Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king. He did evil in God’s eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story. He destroys everything good his father had done. King Manasseh ⁃ Apostasy and Idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:33 ⁃...
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Growing Gracefully: Obedience
Awake Us Now
Growing gracefully in obedience is a response to the salvation God has worked in our lives through Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in obedience as a response to our faith in Jesus. Obedience is not necessary for salvation, but obedience is necessary! Join us as we explore Growing Gracefully in our relationship with Jesus Christ through obedience to Him and His Word. Obedience does not save, but neither is it optional. God desires not simply outward actions, but inner obedience to His Word. Pastor focuses on two important Biblical truths: 1. Obedience does not save - Jesus saves --Grace of...
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Growing Gracefully: Training
Awake Us Now
Despite the most rigorous physical exercise and training regimen, our bodies will age and, eventually, die. But there is a training - training in godliness - that lasts into eternity. The spiritual diet we eat, the spiritual exercise we do and the spiritual training we choose affects our ability to grow graceful as Jesus’ disciples. Training ourselves for godliness has benefits for today, tomorrow and for eternity. Spiritual training is timeless. Train to be godly - Christianity is not a spectator sport. We can’t be a couch potato. We must be in training to be godly. This is training with...
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Growing Gracefully: Contentment
Awake Us Now
Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!
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Dig Deeper - Week 9: Were Lambs Crucified?
Awake Us Now
Luke 22:7-8 ‘Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”” What we know about the Passover during the time of Jesus, is that the Passover meal had to be celebrated in Jerusalem itself. The lambs were killed at the Temple and the priests worked hours and hours to slaughter all the lambs needed for the meals - as many as a quarter million lambs were killed. The people came to the temple to pick up their lambs. This is where Jesus was sending...
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Growing Gracefully: Humility
Awake Us Now
The humility modeled for us by Jesus is not only refreshing, it is life-changing and God-pleasing! Pride, on the other hand, makes us nauseating not only to others, but to God as well.
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Growing Gracefully: Freedom
Awake Us Now
True freedom is living the full life that God always intended us to possess. In Jesus, we are freed from bondage to sin and are now free to please God!
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Questions - Week 20: Is Palm Sunday Jewish?
Awake Us Now
Happy Palm Sunday! Hosanna! Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: Palm Sunday - Passion Sunday - story is found in: Matthew 21 Mark 11 Luke 19 John 12 Many of us know the Palm Sunday story, but do we know the details? Today we will look at some of the most fascinating and intentional details of this story. 1. Did you know that donkeys around the world have a similar dark marking on their backs that runs along the spine and across their shoulders? It is a cross. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a beast with a cross emblazoned on its...
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.