David and the Heart of God - Week 2: The Battle
Awake Us Now
Scripture: 1 Samuel 17-51, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Corinthians 15:57. Today’s story is the most familiar, famous and well-known battle in the Old Testament - David and Goliath - but is there still something we can learn from a story we know so well? This is a battle between Goliath and the Philistines and the Israelite army. Goliath challenges them every day for 40 days: “send a man to battle me, if I kill him you become our slaves and if your man kills me we will become your slaves.” 40 days are significant in the Bible - it is a time of preparation and renewal that at its...
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Rescued by Truth: Week 27
Awake Us Now
Pastor Dodge continues excavating Truth #15: “The stones cry out to our generation.” This week we hear from “hidden stones” as he shares the newly discovered backstory to the healing of the blind man, bringing John 9 and 2 Chronicles 32:30 together in a powerful way!
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Two Year Gospel Study Week 79
Awake Us Now
The Gospel of John - Week 1 Scripture: An overview of John chapters 1-21. The Gospel of John is different than the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The Gospel of John is unique as 90% of what is written in this gospel is found nowhere else. And John gives us a unique view of Jesus, too. Pastor Dodge shares with us who John was, and the evidence around John being the author of this book. John was considered Jesus’ best friend and one of Jesus’ inner circle. Also, John and Peter often worked together in their mission work. It is thought that The Gospel of John was...
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The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah - Week 7
Awake Us Now
Revelation 2:18 - 3:13 -- Letters to the churches of Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia; Thyatira - Lydia vs. "Jezebel"; Exhortation to "Wake Up!" What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together.
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The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah - Week 6
Awake Us Now
Revelation 2:8-17 -- Format of letters to 7 churches, Letters to Smyrna and Pergamum; Word "Repent" used more in Revelation than in any other New Testament book. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together.
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The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah - Week 5
Awake Us Now
Revelation 1:12 - 2:7 -- Identity of Jesus in John's vision confirmed by Old Testament references; Overview of letters to the 7 "churches" or assemblies; meaning of "ekklesia," often translated church; Letter to Ephesus. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together.
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Armor of God #5 - Fit Feet
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The "readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" gives us a solid platform on which to stand firm in resisting the devil's attacks. Pastor's shares about an archeological discovery of "Caligae,' the shoes worn by Roman soldiers in the day that the text of Ephesians was written by Paul. Some amazing analogies bring light to today's verse, 'and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians
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The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah - Week 4
Awake Us Now
Revelation 1:7-13 -- Jesus, the promised great Passover Lamb; Old Testament references and fulfillment; Why "Seven" churches?; What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together.
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The Revelation of Jesus the Messiah - Week 3
Awake Us Now
Week 3 is on our need for humility in interpretation; Overview of Millennial interpretations (Historic Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, Amillennialism, Dispensational Premillennialism); References to Old Testament permeate Revelation. What does The Book of Revelation say about the future? How does it address the events of today? So many different interpretations — which is the correct one? Is this book scary? — or — Is this book an incredible comfort? Join us as we explore this controversial book together. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:1-7
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David and the Heart of God - Week 1: The Anointing
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Scripture: 1 Samuel 16. There are many Biblical characters of faith in the Bible, but none with as many Old Testament chapters devoted to them as David. Abraham - 14 Chapters Joseph - 14 chapters Jacob - 11 chapters Elijah - 10 chapters David - 66 chapters (and this does NOT include the Psalms written by him!) Our story takes place around the year 1025 BC. We read in 1 Samuel 13:14 that God is going to replace the Israelite’s first king, King Saul. In 1 Samuel 13:14 we read about Elijah telling Saul the following, “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man...
info_outlineIn Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus states that He has been given "all authority on Heaven and on Earth," and with that authority gives us our marching orders - make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit, and teach them to obey everything He has commanded. But this isn’t just about His command, this is about God’s faithfulness and His desire for us to experience that faithfulness.
Let’s begin by contrasting genuine faith with mere religion:
⁃ Relationship vs. Religion
⁃ Knowledge of God/Knowing God vs. Information/Knowing ABOUT God
⁃ Trusting in God vs. Believing only certain things
⁃ Obedience because we trust God vs. Acceptance of only certain things
We are to keep on growing in faith - to know and experience Him - to follow and obey Him. In our verses today, His desire is that we not only obey, but that we teach others to obey Him. He gives us the command to “Make disciples,” and to encourage us He gives us the promise of His faithfulness “to the end of the age.”
Jesus opens today’s teaching with “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
- Authority of Jesus: Why? because of His death and resurrection, His sacrifice on the cross and His glorious triumph AND His obedience to the Father. Thus we live in His authority, living by faith in the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus continues, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”
⁃ Priority of Discipleship: Note that He didn’t say make church members. He didn’t say make Christians. He didn’t say make converts. He said make disciples (followers of Jesus) - build up each other in the faith.
Jesus goes on with, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
⁃ Unity of God: three, yet One.
And then He says, “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
⁃ Necessity of obedience: we are not saved by obedience, but when we know Him and are empowered but the Holy Spirit, our desire is to obey Him.
Then Jesus closes with, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
⁃ This is His assurance! His promise! And this gives us strength, hope, power, encouragement and peace, because God is faithful. God is good but above al else He is faithful and God can be trusted no matter what is happening in our lives.
Pastor goes on to share a very powerful and very personal story centered on his grandfather. It is an amazing story of God’s faithfulness. (Grab a tissue…)
Our good God is calling us to walk with him, to know him more and more, to experience the fullness of His presence, His Holy Spirit and His astonishing love in Jesus ,our risen and returning Savior, the One to whom all authority has been given, the One who tells us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..” And we can do this because He ends this Great Commission with this great promise, “ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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