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...
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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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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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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 10) - Impure or Unclean
Awake Us Now
Day 1 of our story Today’s story takes place in Caesarea - Acts 10:1-8. Cornelius, a Roman soldier, a Centurion, lives there. (Pastor shares pictures of this city, still visible today!) Cornelius was one who worshiped the God of Israel but was not a full convert. He and his family were devout and God-fearing. Then he receives a vision of an angel. The angel tells him to bring a man from Joppa named Simon known as Peter. We see Cornelius respond immediately to what the angel told him to do. Day 2 Story moves location to Joppa where Cornelius’ servant and one of his...
info_outlineHappy Resurrection Sunday - Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Today’s question is “Why do you believe He is risen?”
Pastor starts today’s class with a personal testimony in which the Bible changed the direction of his life at the age of 15.
Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
Pastor shares the Evidence Trail of Jesus’ Resurrection on the bases of writings from believers, unbelievers, recorded data, and old and new studies.
The Evidence Trail will encourage believers and will challenge those who are skeptics.
1. Resurrection was a scandalous message in the ancient world.
a. The CROSS was foolishness (1 Cor 1:18,23) Sources beyond the Bible record Christ’s crucifixion - this was a scandalous way to die. If it was made up they would have chosen a more honorable way to die for Jesus.
b. The CROSS as stumbling block (1 Cor 1:23) yet many gave their lives for faith in Christ
c. The RESURRECTION story was nonsense (Lk 23:11) yet they proclaimed the truth of His resurrection
- Painful Honesty
a. All 4 gospels declare that women were the first eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. We nowadays have no problem with this. But in the ancient Middle East and the ancient mediterranean world, people of that time were skeptical about anything told by woman. Example - Women could not testify in court trials. In that day women were considered untrustworthy. Yet the writers of the Bible honestly reported the truth saying that women were first irregardless of perceived credibility. (Mt 28:1ff; Mk 16:18, Lk 24:1ff; Jn 20:1ff)
b. Gospel “heroes” were flawed (Mt 26:60ff; Lk 22:54ff; Jn 7:5; Jn20:25ff) The writers of the New Testament told of their flaws and failures and did not hide the truth of their actions. They didn’t “clean up” the stories, instead they boldly told the truth in painful honesty.
- Strategic Locale
a, Jerusalem as the center of Judaism
b. Unsilent witnesses of the empty tomb - even the enemies of Jesus admitted the tomb of Jesus was empty.
- Multiple Witnesses
a. Jesus’ chosen Apostles - boldly shared the story of Jesus’ resurrection
b. Significant doubters - Jesus’ brother James, for example, did not believe Jesus was who He said He was, but after the resurrection James did believe and was later martyred for His faith in Jesus. (1 Cor 15:7-10)
c. 500 eyewitnesses (1 Cor 15:6)
d. Vocal opponents against Jesus freely conceded that Jesus did amazing things, was crucified by Pontius Pilote, that many believed He rose from the grave, and that the message was spread throughout the ancient world.
- Sacrificial lives
a. Being a believer in that day was not the popular thing, as many of those ancient early believers suffered heinous deaths and yet, were unwilling to change their minds and recant and willingly died for their faith in Jesus. They died for what they knew as truth (as one would not die for a lie.)
- Early documentation
a. Unparalleled Gospel accounts - many copies discovered - from across the ancient world
b. Early New Testament sources - the evidence shows believers and unbelievers agreeing that copies were written during the lifetimes of eye witnesses.
c. Non-Christian writings (Tacitus, Suetonius, et al) Roman officials concede the fundamentals of the Christian faith. People did believe Jesus was raised from the grave.
d. Jewish rabbinic sources (Sanhedrin 43a)
- Shocking Conclusion
a. Those living in the year of Jesus’ death and into the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60’s of the first century, boldly proclaimed Jesus’ death, deity and resurrection.
b. The New Testament authors and the early believers, both testified to the Old Testament pointing to Jesus and that He fulfilled what was foretold about a Savior.
c. Clear declaration in the New Testament that Jesus is none other than the Living God come to earth.
The Evidence Trail gives us strong, rational, historical, biblical, and literal evidence for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Let us give thanks for the evidence and be prepared to share it!
If you are not a believer, check out this evidence and we encourage you to pick up a Bible.
Christ is risen, He is risen, indeed!
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