Questions - Week 20: Is Palm Sunday Jewish?
Awake Us Now
Happy Palm Sunday! Hosanna! Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem: Palm Sunday - Passion Sunday - story is found in: Matthew 21 Mark 11 Luke 19 John 12 Many of us know the Palm Sunday story, but do we know the details? Today we will look at some of the most fascinating and intentional details of this story. 1. Did you know that donkeys around the world have a similar dark marking on their backs that runs along the spine and across their shoulders? It is a cross. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a beast with a cross emblazoned on its...
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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 13
Awake Us Now
Today we come to one of the most fascinating times in the history of the kingdom of Judah, an amazing king who does amazing things by the power of an amazing God. But first we take a look at King Ahaz who ruled from 731-715 BC. In 2 Kings 16:2-3 we read that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of other kings, even sacrificing his son in the fire. King Ahaz ⁃ Finds himself under attack by Pekah and Rezin ⁃ Discovers there is a price to pay when you turn your back on the Living God ...
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Growing Gracefully: Thankfulness
Awake Us Now
Some Biblical virtues mirror God's character, but this one -- thankfulness -- exalts God's character. Thankfulness promotes humility in us and strengthens our faith. ThankLESSness, by contrast, is an exceptionally dangerous sin.
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Growing Gracefully: Kindness
Awake Us Now
Kindness is not weakness. Kindness reflects the character and strength of God, and is seen throughout the ministry of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus should show that same character in their lives!
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Growing Gracefully: Forgiveness
Awake Us Now
Jesus not only taught the importance of forgiveness, He practiced it, even from the cross (Luke 23:43). The example of Jesus and the magnitude of His love changes people and gives them the power to forgive even the most bitter of enemies!
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Dig Deeper - Week 8: Green Grass Grows
Awake Us Now
The past Sunday Pastor taught on “What’s the Answer - Are the Gospels believable?” This teaching is a follow up to that message. Pastor takes us to the story of the Feeding of the 5000 BUT it’s not about the feeding!! So what is this teaching about if it isn’t about the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 men (plus all the women and children) from 5 small barley loaves and 2 little fish, then what’s this teaching about? Why even bother looking at the story if we’re not going to look at the miracle of Jesus? Well, come along and find out what Pastor is going to show us today! The...
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Growing Gracefully: The Ultimate Indicator
Awake Us Now
Our devotion to the Living God is demonstrated in the way we love other people - including even our enemies. Genuine love is the truest expression of right doctrine (teaching) - and without love, the doctrine collapses.
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Growing Gracefully: In Joy
Awake Us Now
Unlike happiness, joy is not an emotion, dependent on particular circumstances. Joy is anchored in God, and through Jesus it is triumphant even over the sufferings of this world! Growing Gracefully In Joy - We are living in a time of chaos and uncertainty, a time of unbridled anger on all ends of the spectrum and if ever there was at time that the people of God needed to remember and reflect the joy of the Lord, THIS IS THE TIME! This is a great time to be growing in joy as we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen us every day and in every circumstance and situation. The Bible is...
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Questions - Week 19: Are the Gospels Believable?
Awake Us Now
Today’s question is one that Pastor has heard most often from young people. The questioning of the Gospels seems to center around miracles, especially the resurrection. Atheistic Materialism Worldview ⁃ No God - universe is by chance ⁃ Matter only - Life came from non-life ⁃ No Miracles - Life is meaningless Bible’s Worldview ⁃ There is a Creator ⁃ He created life ⁃ Life has a purpose These two worldviews...
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Kings & Prophets: From Solomon to Jeremiah - Week 12
Awake Us Now
Our story picks up with Joash (the hidden royal) being brought forth at the age of seven and hailed as the king of Judah followed by the death of Athaliah. Peace reigns in Judah as we see over 100 years of four fairly “good” kings reigning in Judah from 835-731 B.C. These kings started well but didn’t always finish well: Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Jotham. King Joash ⁃ Takes the kingship at age 7 ⁃ Jehoiada, the High Priest, is Joash’s mentor, advisor and instructor ⁃ Spiritual reformation was taking...
info_outlineHow do we know what God’s will is?
Our Acts story continues: Paul leaves Miletus for Jerusalem and stays at the house of Philip the Evangelist.
A couple days after Paul arrives at Philip’s home a prophet named Agabus comes to visit Paul. Agabus takes Paul’s belt, wraps it around his own hands and feet and says, “The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.” The people gathered in Philip’s home pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem after they heard this word, but Paul responds, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart. I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Paul makes it clear that he is willing to risk his life to give glory to His Lord, Jesus Christ.
In Acts 21:14, we read that when the group could not dissuade him they gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The Holy Spirit had given Paul a warning through Agabus - that he would be captured by the Jewish leaders and then turned over to the Gentiles.
So this is the question: Was Paul disobedient when he decided to go on to Jerusalem? Were the words of the Holy Spirit a warning to say do not go to Jerusalem or could they perhaps be words of warning meant to prepare Paul for what was coming? Could these words be asking Paul’s obedience in going to Jerusalem but God in His goodness is giving Paul a heads up of what he will suffer for Christ’s sake in obeying.
Theologians are split on this but here are some reasons to see Paul’s decision to go on to Jerusalem as being obedient. We will use Bible texts:
Acts 9:15-16 - from Paul’s conversion story we hear God tell Ananias that Paul will be a chosen instrument to proclaim God’s name to many and God goes on to say, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Paul as Saul had caused many believers to suffer, but as a transformed believer in Jesus - Paul would come to see that suffering would come into his life over and over again. (Beaten, ship wrecks, jailed, and many more difficulties) these were all part of Paul’s life. Paul understood suffering.
Acts 20:22-23 - When Paul had announced to the leaders in the Miletus meeting that it was time for him to move on, he said, “I am COMPELLED by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are ahead.”
He already knew that difficulties were ahead. The Holy Spirit had already warned him, nonetheless he says he was compelled. This text speaks nothing from God about NOT going - only that ahead were hardships.
Acts 23:11 - Several chapters after today’s text, Jesus speaks to Paul, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome.”
These are more warning words - no correction for disobedience, but rather kindness and encouragement for Paul - Take Courage! The Lord says! These words are words of kindness to prepare Paul for what more is to come.
What we can learn from Paul:
Comfort is NOT job #1. Comfort is not our primary focus.
Obedience IS job #1. We are not saved by obedience, but by the death and resurrection of Jesus our Savior. Saved by and through Him alone, by grace. However, when we know Him - we desire to follow Him. Salvation leads us to obedience.
God’s glory is paramount - What matters MOST is that our glorious God receives glory in each of our lives. In thanks and gratitude for what the Savior bought for us (life forever with God) and so we give Him glory with our lives in response to His gift of salvation to us.
God’s plan is incredible - our destiny is to be made new - transformed with glorified bodies with Christ forever.
As a result of Paul going to Jerusalem he
WAS ACCUSED FALSELY
WAS ATTACKED
HIS LIFE WAS ALMOST TAKEN
HE WAS PUT IN CHAINS
SOME PLOTTED TO KILL HIM
HE WAS JAILED FOR 2 YEARS
THEN SENT BY SHIP BACK TO ROME AS A PRISONER TO APPEAR BEFORE THE EMPEROR
But look at what happened as a result of Paul going to Jerusalem - Paul’s Gospel testimony went to:
Huge temple crowds
Sanhedrin
2 governors
King Agrippa
Emperor Nero
So to the question: Did Paul disobey by going to Jerusalem? Will we see the Holy Spirit warning as God’s way of giving Paul the strength for what was going to happen in Jerusalem, because God wanted to use Paul’s difficulties to get the Gospel message to many who otherwise may not have heard.
As Paul walked faithfully before God, God used his faith in remarkable ways.
God uses our faithful walk before Him in remarkable ways as well.
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