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."
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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!
info_outline
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!
info_outline
Questions - Week 13: Is Marriage Outdated?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%...
info_outline
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_outline
Big Questions - Lord and God! Jesus' Amazing Claims
Awake Us Now
Lord and God? A great moral teacher? A very good man? What claims did Jesus actually make about His identity?
info_outline
Big Questions - Stop Doubting and... Believe!
Awake Us Now
Faith is essential ... but in what do place our faith? The scriptures make it clear that we are to place our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Savior of all the nations, and the Hope of all the earth!
info_outline
Big Questions - Receive... the Holy Spirit!
Awake Us Now
When Jesus says to His disciples, "Receive the Holy Spirit," it is not a "one-and-done" activity. He desires us all to live continually in the Spirit!
info_outline
Dig Deeper - Week 1: In the Beginning
Awake Us Now
Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Let’s look at the words “God” and “created.” in this verse in Hebrew the word used for God is a plural noun and created is a singular verb. What day did God create the world? It says God created everything in 6 days and He rested on the 7th day, the Sabbath, and that is Saturday. Which means the first day of creation was on Sunday. What was the day of the week that God began a new creation? That was on the day Jesus arose from the grave. The Bible tells us this was on the first day of the week, on a...
info_outlineLuke 1:57-80; “John’s Story”
Pastor Dodge explores Luke’s account of John the Baptist in today’s study. It’s a story that starts with the miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth who was well past her child-bearing years, yet God was faithful to His promise to her husband Zechariah.
In today’s text John is born and it is the 8th day after his birth, the day that the baby boy would be circumcised and named. Their family and friends are sure the baby boy will be named a family name after Zechariah. However Elizabeth follows through with what the angel Gabriel had told her husband when the angel had announced they would have a son. And Elizabeth states the child would be named John just as the angel told them to name him.
Since the angel’s visit to Zechariah he had become unable to speak because he doubted the word of God through the angel. As family is saying how can you name him John, Zechariah writes on his tablet that the child’s name is John and he is instantly healed and able to speak. He praises the Lord and everyone joins in thanking God for this miraculous healing.
The story is a reminder that God has never stopped doing things. He has never stopped acting. He is moving constantly and revealing himself to men, women and children. He is the Living God. He is near and He does these things still today!
Zechariah is a priest - with some holy speculation - it is possible he is the one who may have circumcised John that day. We read that Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit. From the beginning of the Last Days which began with the coming of Jesus when Mary became pregnant God has been filling people with His Holy Spirit - men, women, young and old. Not just then, 2000 years ago, but still today.
Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and then prophecies the coming of the Messiah, the fulfillment of God promises of a Redeemer. Zechariah goes on to prophecy over his son as the one to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
John grew up and became strong in the Spirit. He lived in the wilderness until he began to appear publicly to the people of Israel.
We read in all 4 gospels about
JOHN’S CHARACTER
1. Prophetic - John was prophetic in his actions and his behavior. Wearing a camel hair garment and a leather belt - an outfit that harkened back to the prophet Elijah - John like Elijah calls people back to God.
2. Courageous - John called all to come back to God. He even told the religious. He told soldiers, prostitutes, tax collectors, even a king. John did not back down from courageously speaking God’s of all needing a Savior.
3. Humble - John knew his life belonged to God. He knew his life was not his own. We too are called to be humble before God because a humble heart is open to receive what God desires to impart.
JOHN’S MESSAGE
1. Sin - John taught the unpopular message that God takes sin seriously. Sin is rebellion against God. All have sinned and all of us need a Savior. Sin is treason against God.
2. Repentance - repentance is the proper response to recognizing that “I am a sinner.” Repentance is a 180 degree turn around - it’s an about face in one’s life and it is turning back to God. Repentance is also a change of mind in the way we look at our sinful nature.
3. Salvation - John taught that God keeps His word and redeems us by sending His Son to save us all through faith in Jesus. John points us to Jesus - our Savior who brings us Salvation.
In our lives we too are to prepare the way for Jesus’ return, He is coming, and so we prepare by living for Him alone.
⁃ Prepared.
⁃ Changed.
⁃ Renewed.
⁃ Inviting Jesus into our daily living.
⁃ Reflecting on Him.
⁃ Living out of the Good News.
He transforms us
and on the last day
He will raise us!
Until then we are to serve, follow and grow in Him who is Lord of our lives.
Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com
Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper
Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01
St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by 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 study.