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_outlineThis is a controversial topic. The Shroud of Turin is the most studied, most scientifically tested artifact in history. It has been subjected to literally hundreds of thousands of hours of intensive study by people of multiple disciplines.
What do we know for certain…. The Foundation:
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
Paul is calling us to anchor our faith in the Biblical foundation:
- Heed the Prophetic Scripture - God will send the Messiah, and here’s how to recognize Him, and then the Messiah comes as Jesus
- Eyewitness Testimony - from the early believers who saw Jesus post-resurrection and who were willing to share that news at the risk of their lives
- Holy Spirit’s Witness - Jesus said the Holy Spirit leads us to understand who He is.
- Historical Confirmation - from ancient authors who were not believers in Jesus, who were not christian, but who freely confessed the fundamentals of the christian faith: that there was Jesus, that He did remarkable things, that He was crucified by Pontius Pilate, that His tomb was empty on the third day, that His followers spread rapidly, that many were brought to faith in a short time, and that the christians were willing to die for what they believed in.
50 years later:
We still can not duplicate the image - it has stumped scientists.
The physics contradicts the chemistry and the chemistry contradicts the physics.
The Contradictions:
- Depth - why is this just a microscopic image - why didn’t it seep through the cloth
- Contact - chemical reactions on the Shroud happened outside the area that was touching the body.
- Heat - If this image was produced by a burst of energy - it should have burned through the cloth and it did not..
Is it the real thing? Pastor says he doesn’t know. He’s read from both sides, he’s not certain…. But he says there are two possibilities:
1 Inexplicable Art
2 Incomparable Artifact
Is this possibly the burial shroud of Jesus? - Pastor says, “Yes, it could well be, and also there’s evidence that maybe may not be.” Pastor goes on to say that he wouldn’t be surprised if it is The burial Shroud of Jesus. He goes on to explain why it would not surprise him.
We are living in amazing day and an amazing age that has seen gigantic discoveries:
- Scriptural - Dead Sea Scrolls - confirmed the present day scriptures
- Archaeological - discoveries over the last 70 years confirm biblical locations, items, etc
- Scientific - evidence is overwhelming in support of a brilliant Creator
- Prophetic - fulfilled in the last 70 years - 1948 the nation of Israel was born. 1967 the Jewish people reoccupied the city of Jerusalem.
These are things that ought to call all people into examining what the Bible says and what the gospel of Jesus says because the evidence for the Bible’s truth is incredibly powerful.
If the Shroud is genuine - then God took the first selfie!!
And we are looking into the face of the Lord Jesus!
The Shroud of Turin’s image reminds us of the Scripture's truth:
- Christ died for our sins
- He was buried
- He rose on the third day
- He appeared to His disciples
Whether the Shroud of Turin is real or not we know that God has broken into our world in the person of Jesus and because He is risen, our lives are not the same.
He is real and He is coming back. He calls us to receive Him now - to turn from our old ways and turn to the Gospel message of His love for us in Christ.
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