Growing Gracefully: Contentment
Awake Us Now
Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!
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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.
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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