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_outlineThis teaching is from Matthew 28:1-20, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Corinthians 15:6
Today we finish up the Gospel of Matthew. Pastor helps us see the Old Testament Feasts through New Testament eyes showing us some interesting insights.
The resurrection of Jesus took place on the 1st day of the week, Sunday, which is the first day after the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday. Jesus’ resurrection also happened on the day called The Day of First Fruits which is celebrated on the first day after the Sabbath as part of their week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Day of First Fruits a day to celebrate the harvest and to give back a part of the harvest to God as an offering. Israel has two harvest times. One in the spring - this is the springtime harvest - but there is also a second harvest in the fall. (The second harvest will be at Jesus return.)
It is no coincidence that Jesus was raised from death on the day of First Fruits. God had a plan from the beginning and Jesus is the fulfillment of that plan, He is the First Fruits of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”
Our story picks up with another earthquake, the guards being frightened and running off as an angel comes down from heaven to the tomb of Jesus and talks to the women that are there. The tomb is open and Jesus is not there and the angels tells them Jesus is risen. The story goes on with the women being the first to meet Jesus and worship Him.
The runaway guards go to the chief priests to tell them all that’s happened. So the chief priests and elders gather to devise a plan, paying off the guards, they tell them to say that Jesus’ disciples stole Jesus’ body. Verse 15 ends with “And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”
There is no record of anyone suggesting the tomb was still occupied, everyone knew the tomb was empty - the only story the priests could come up with was that the disciples stole the body. Yet the truth is - Christ rose!! Victorious over the death and the grave.
Our story goes on with the disciples going to a mountain in area of Galilee to see Jesus where they worshiped Him. He tells them that all authority of heaven and earth has been given to Him. Jesus is the Lord of the Universe! Jesus is the image of the invisible God, He’s the One through whom everything was created.
Jesus saying he has all authority is the first part of the Great Commission and explains why He can give the command of the great commission. The Great Commission tells all disciples then and now to make more disciples, not believers, but disciples, meaning those who believe AND follow Christ.
We are told to baptize them in THE NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. “The Name” why not “names” - Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three names. Jesus specifically says, “Name” no “s” - not plural. Because they are ONE.
Jesus goes on telling us to teach everything He’s commanded us. Ending with the assuring promise that He is always with us.
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