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Questions - Week 13: Is Marriage Outdated?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...
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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...
info_outlineToday’s question, “How should I read the Bible?” is often asked by new believers, church going people who’ve never read the Bible and those questioning what they’ve heard about the Bible. It is often stated this way:
⁃ Which is the best Bible translation?
⁃ Where should I start as I begin reading?
⁃ What schedule should I follow?
⁃ Where can I find extra help and resources?
And the often not asked question, but should be asked:
⁃ What are the essential things to remember?
The Bible is the Word of God and is self authenticating, speaking to every generation. There are difficult parts and very clear parts. The Scriptures speak the Truth from God, and they are practical and very beneficial.
Which translation?
There is no perfect translation. Each translation works to capture what was originally written down to convey it’s original meaning without translating word for word.
1. New International Version (NIV) - seeks to follow a literal translation
2. English Standard Version (ESV) - emphasizes word for word translation
3. King James Version (KJV) - a favorite for centuries - a language different than today’s modern day language, and is easily memorized
4. New Living Translation (NLT) - seeks to convey the thoughts of Scripture versus a word for word translation - more easily understood
5. New King James Version (NKJV) - attempts to keep the text and rhythm of the King James Version but in more modern language
Pastor shares an example of each translation using Matthew 5:17.
Where to start?
1. Start with one of the Gospels (1 of the first 4 books of the New Testament) where we meet Jesus. Listen to what He says.
2. Matthew - written from a Hebrew perspective - Prophesied Messiah.
3. Mark - shortest of the 4 - speaks in dramatic terms and talks about the active Son of God - Mark offers lots of details.
4. Luke (and Acts) - Jesus as the Savior of the Nations - Luke has a heart for the desperate.
5. John - an insiders view of Jesus’ ministry and teaching and covers what’s not covered in the other gospels. John’s focus is the Deity of Jesus Christ.
What Schedule?
1. Find a time that works for you
2. Consider your season of life - and don’t let the enemy trip you up or discourage you
3. A place to meet with God - it is beneficial to have a place to sit down and reflect on what God is saying in His Word.
4. Read a section of Scripture - important to listen to God as He speaks to us in sections: chapter, book.
5. Select a plan that will work:
• Chapter a day, one book at a time
• Gospel chapter and a Psalm every day
• Bible in a year - 3+ chapters a day
• Foundational books: Genesis, Exodus, Luke, Acts, John, Romans, Ephesians
• Read a section of scripture out loud
• Listen to the Bible with various platforms
Where to find help?
1. Use a study Bible - each of the suggested Bible translations mentioned at the beginning have a study Bible available.
2. BibleGateway.com a great place to go to take a look at the Bible in a multitude of translations and also a great way to listen to the Bible - completely free.
3. AwakeUsNow.com we have everything available free of charge: Sunday services, Tuesday Bible class, Bible in a Year, TV and radio and podcasts.
What are the Essentials?
⁃ Purpose - Read the Scriptures with the purpose of allowing God’s word to be transformative in your life, for the purpose of wanting to encounter the Lord Jesus, the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit.
⁃ Approach the Scriptures with Prayer - talk to the Author, ask Him what He wants to say to you. Look at your time in God’s Word not as a class assignment but a time to draw close and closer to Him.
⁃ Ponder what you are reading, think on what you are hearing God say to you in His Word.
⁃ Practice what you read and learn from the stories you read.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God desires that we know Him, that we experience His goodness and forgiveness in Christ, that we experience the power of His Holy Spirit and that we be used by Him to be a blessing to others. He desires we share the news of the only One who can save. Jesus, our crucified, risen Lord who is coming back and coming soon. May we encounter Him daily in His Word.
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