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Questions - Week 13: Is Marriage Outdated?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...
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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?
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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!
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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!
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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...
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Big Questions - All Nations: How Close Are We?
Awake Us Now
From Genesis to Revelation, God's plan remains the same - to reach all nations and bring people back to Him. How close are we to seeing that happen? Why is belief in Jesus growing at such an astounding pace in much of the world, but not in Europe and North America?
info_outlineLuke 2:22-40; “Simeon and Anna”
What is the meaning of the name, Jesus? Do we fully comprehend what this name means? In Hebrew it is Yeshua. It literally means Yehovah, Jehovah, Yahweh saves. “God Saves.” This is the name given to Jesus. A precious name. “God Saves” is a powerful name, a mighty name and a remarkable name, a name that blesses all who call upon Him, a name that declares God is the One who saves us.
Every time we speak His name we are reminded of the truth that God has broken into our world and stepped in to save us. We need this divine intervention. It is God who saves us and not we ourselves.
In today’s story we see Jesus, Mary and Joseph at the temple and are introduced to Simeon. The Holy Spirit told him he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Simeon was in the temple as Mary, Joseph and Jesus entered and Simeon was prompted by the Holy Spirit to know this baby was the promised Savior. Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and speaks, “Sovereign Lord, now dismiss your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all nations, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”
Simeon was thrilled to be holding God’s promised Savior in his arms and to know God’s promise was right before his very eyes.
Then Simeon blessed them and to Mary he added, “This child is destined to cause the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against so that the thoughts of hearts will be revealed.”
The good news: God is fulfilling all He promised, but there’s also a warning that the fulfillment of the promise of a Savior comes at a great cost - that many will not receive what God so graciously offers. This is a prophetic word about the later years of Jesus’ ministry.
Jesus will grow in favor with God and men, but when He begins His ministry there will be a division that will occur because many will not receive what Jesus has to offer. This is still true today. Many will not admit their need for a Savior.
God loves humble people. He opposes the proud and pride will get in the way of many from believing.
Simeon also prophecies to Mary, “And a sword will pierce your own soul.” Words that were fulfilled for Mary - a mother that experienced unbelievable sorrow and incredible grief. She would watch her son die on the cross, see Him rejected by many and Simeon gives her a heads up on what’s to come.
In verse 36 - We are introduced to Anna. Anna was a prophet who also recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah and comes up to the group. She gives thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel. What a day of joy this was as the realization of God’s promises are being fulfilled in Jesus.
This is also for us today, an indication of what is to come. Just as they yearned for Jesus to come, we too yearn for His return. Through the fulfillment of the promise of a Savior - We too can trust the promised fulfillment of His return.
This day IS coming! There will be a day for us like there was for Simeon and Anna when we behold the One whom the Father promised. And like Anna and Simeon we too will rejoice!
This story reminds us that God keeps His word! Just as they saw baby Jesus face to face, we too on His return will see Him face to face in His full glory! And there will be endless rejoicing!
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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.