Growing Gracefully: Humility
Awake Us Now
The humility modeled for us by Jesus is not only refreshing, it is life-changing and God-pleasing! Pride, on the other hand, makes us nauseating not only to others, but to God as well.
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 11: The Origin of "Christian"
Awake Us Now
In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. “Disciple” is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word “Christian” is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but “disciples” is Jesus’ favorite word to describe His followers. Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, “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...
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Growing Gracefully: Freedom
Awake Us Now
True freedom is living the full life that God always intended us to possess. In Jesus, we are freed from bondage to sin and are now free to please 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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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 11) - The Disciples Were Called Christians
Awake Us Now
God’s Gospel Goes Global After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that “… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, ‘So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God’s Gospel Goes...
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Armor of God #11 - Full Armor
Awake Us Now
We are to be strong in the Lord (with His strength), and to put on the full armor of God (His equipment), so that we are both prepared and equipped for spiritual warfare!
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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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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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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 10: All the Centurions
Awake Us Now
Using the Bible and Roman sources, Pastor teaches us about Centurions. In Sunday’s message we met the Centurion, Cornelius. (See teaching here ) Acts 10:1-2 Cornelius was a centurion in the Italian Regiment. What we know about Centurions Backbone of the Roman Army Tested and dependable leaders Commanded 80-100 soldiers - 6 Centurions to a Cohort (600) and 10 Cohorts to a Legion (6000) Mentioned more that 20 times in the New Testament - Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13, Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47, Acts 10:1-7, Acts 21:32, Acts 22:25-29, Acts 23:17, Acts 23:23, Acts...
info_outlineThis series looks for answers to some of the most common, pressing and most difficult questions that are heard today.
The question for this video: “Is Jesus the only way to God?” This question comes from supporters of Jesus, from seekers looking for truth, and from skeptics.
Pastor will approach this question with the desire to be:
⁃ Biblically Accurate: tell what the Bible actually says
⁃ Rationally Defensible: and why what the Bible says makes sense
Many times our question, “Is Jesus the only way to God? Starts with this question, “Didn’t Christians invent the claim that Jesus is the only way to God?”
So let’s address this first. No, we didn’t invent this - Jesus did, He’s the one that made the claim.
John 14:6 we read: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.’”
Luke 19:10 - He came to save the lost
Matthew 20 - He came to give His life for us
Mark 10 - He is the ransom payment
Biblical Narrative
- Creation - The story of creation - God made all things by His Word and God gave man 1 choice….
- The Fall into sin - man broke the relationship with God, others, nature and self.
- Promise of a deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus.
- Provision through God’s Grace - We are saved by the mercy of God not by our actions. God provided His Son as the Sacrifice for the sin, the shedding of blood and death on the cross
- Fulfillment was found in the coming of Jesus into the world, who lived the perfect life, willingly went to the cross for the sins of all. For my sins and your sins, it’s personal. See John 3:16.
Our sin has separated us from God and what we need is a sacrificial victim who lays down his life for all and Jesus, the Son of God, gives His life for all. He pays the price for our sin.
Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may now that you have eternal life.”
Eternal life is a gift offered through the shed blood, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. That is the clear teaching of the Bible. It is biblical accurate and rationally defensible.
The final question:
“Whom will YOU believe?”
When one looks at other religions outside Christianity, our to other leaders that people follow, they were and are mortal. There is only one who is immortal. Only one has conquered death through His resurrection. There’s only one who is alive. And that is Jesus.
This is the fork in the road…
Who will you listen to. The dead ones or The Living One?
Jesus is alive forever more and He will return. Without Him there is no hope. With Him we have everlasting life and that is the Gospel truth!
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