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...
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Growing Gracefully: Renewed Minds
Awake Us Now
True faith is not simply a matter of knowing certain truths. It is a matter of knowing Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out!
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Growing Gracefully: In His Word
Awake Us Now
The Bible is more than just a fascinating book! It was written by an author who loved us enough to die for us, and it is a book that leads us to the One we worship.
info_outlineToday’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 are in conflict with each other but careful analysis of the Bible shows the Biblical worldview to be trustworthy.
No matter your worldview - there is evidence of the Biblical worldview.
THE FOUR GOSPELS:
⁃ The Gospels are Jewish in both their content, background and details
⁃ Matthew - Genealogy + 55 quotations
⁃ Mark begins with Old Testament quote
⁃ John: “In the beginning…” just like Genesis starts
⁃ Luke: Priesthood + “deathbed prayer” Luke 23:46 + Psalm 31:5 (Jesus spoke this prayer “into your hands…”)
⁃ Geographical knowledge - written by people familiar with the territory
⁃ 26 different towns; Sea of Galilee, etc.
⁃ Up to/Down from Jerusalem
⁃ John: 2 pools - Bethesda + Siloam (archeological proof has been found)
⁃ 2 Gardens - Gethsemane + Golgotha
⁃ Details
⁃ Common Jewish names in Israel
⁃ Clarification: e.g. frequently used names: Simon…Mary… thus the need for the clarity given in the Gospel around common names
⁃ Dill and cumin dispute (Mt 23:23) things known at only a specific time in history
⁃ Tax Collectors in Capernaum/Jericho
⁃ Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic languages
⁃ Identity - not the most likely candidates to have written the Gospels
⁃ Interesting names of Gospel authors
⁃ Matthew = former tax collector
⁃ Mark = not one of the original 12
⁃ Luke = physician, Gentile(?)
⁃ John = Jesus’ closest friend
⁃ Dating - when were they written? Everything that we have suggests that these books were written early and are accurate
⁃ The Gospels reflect the “early days” of the Jesus movement. Jesus is Jewish, the 12 disciples were Jewish, the early believers were Jewish - The Gospels speak from a Jewish view
⁃ Passover within Jerusalem’s walls
⁃ Best documented texts from antiquity
⁃ Paul quotes Luke’s Gospel (1 Tim 5:18 from Lk 10:7 and 1 Cor 11:24-25 from Lk 22:19-20)
⁃ But this verse is a stumbling block for acceptance to the gospels because it is “productive prophecy”: Jesus said, “Jerusalem will be destroyed…”
And that brings us back around to the word:
MIRACLES.
If your worldview is that of atheistic materialism, a miracle / predictive prophecy would seem impossible.
But if you believe there is a God and that He is the Creator then He does these things.
If Jesus is….
who He claimed to be…
who the Gospels declare Him to be….
who the Old Testament said He would be…
Then
that Good News in the Gospels changes everything
the Gospels deserve to be observed
they call us to believe
it is not irrational
it is not foolish
the Gospels make perfect sense
it is rational
it is reasonable
and Jesus alone offers life forever and He invites you and me to receive what He freely gives.
May we each respond to His Word of truth as we see it proclaimed by those early eye witnesses.
Pick up a Bible and read it today!
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