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What are your thoughts about suffering? We tend to stay away from it, we try to remove ourselves from it, yet it is through trials and suffering that we still can have the mindset of an opportunity to bring the Gospel— maybe to someone who is suffering more than us. No, no one likes suffering but as Jesus taught us, there will be trials in this world, but He has overcome the world.
As we enter the book of Philippians, we need to start with a solid foundation. Every book of the Bible is put there to help and assist us to know God more intimately through His Son Jesus Christ and to encourage us to stand firm in the faith. Philippians is no different. This letter written by Paul to the Church of Philippi is a friendship letter. He knows them intimately and therefore knows what they are going through as an early church, believers following Jesus. Take this journey with us as we walk through Philippians and learn what it means to partner with Christ.
Living the Christian life as a follower of Jesus is not any ordinary life. We are called to a higher standard. We are called out to be separate from the world to be peculiar people. Different in a good way to shine our lights so brightly to season the world with salt so that they can taste the difference of life being in union with Christ. Join us this week as we come together to discover what it means to live a higher standard.
As we continue with our Places of the Passion Sermon Series, we find ourselves at Golgotha (the place of the skull) or we may know it as Calvary (Latin meaning skull). The cross is never easy. It is repulsive and ugly. A symbol of the worst kind of torture, injustice, and brutality. And yet it is the central symbol of our faith. Join us as we venture to the cross and find there faith and love intersecting and announcing triumph.
There are two emotions or thoughts we could have as we move into Pilate's Judgment Hall. We can either search for the truth about Jesus the Christ or fear what will happen. Earth's kings and rulers joined forces to destroy the Lord's Anointed, the Messiah. The nations raged against Him and people plotted in vain against Him. And yet, full authority was given to Him. Such a plan God had in mind from the beginning of the world to ransom souls through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Truth always overcomes fear.
We find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane this week. The prayers Jesus prayed give us insight into His nature, His heart, and His mission on earth. The prayers of Jesus also inform and encourage us in our own prayer lives. In today's message, we dive into the topic of cultivating prayer. Far more important than where, when, and in what position to pray is the fact that Jesus prayed and so should we.
This week, we are traveling about 2 miles east of Jerusalem to the small village of Bethany. There are about a dozen references found in the Scriptures of this town. It was the home of Simon the leper, it is the place where Mary anoints the feet of Jesus. It is where preparations start for Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But most of all it is probably best known for being the hometown of Jesus' good friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. And, we too can look at Jesus as our friend.
This weekend we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday. Jesus’ divinity is revealed to Peter, James, and John, but also God the Father reinforces who Jesus is for those who believe. Jesus is the Son of God and the words He gave us, taught us are words we ought to follow as we go on our faith journey.
It’s hard to believe we are at the end of the first month in the new year. Have you been listening for God during this time? Have you heard Him speak to the one thing He wants you to do for Him this year? Maybe you have heard something or had a thought about what to do and yet you asked God, Why me? Why now? That’s exactly what we’ll be discussing this weekend during worship. We might know what God's answer is already— Why not you! Why not now! Imagine the people you know or that know you, there is no better person to speak to them about the love of Christ than you!
We’re hanging out the “Gone Fishing” sign— well not really, but it does make us think about going out. When someone hangs out that sign, they in fact are going fishing. As believers, as followers of Christ, He has given us a great commission to go out and make disciples teaching all He had taught us. Have you gone fishing lately? Have you told your story of how God through Christ has made you new? Listen in this week as we dialogue about what it takes to be purposefully active in ministry with Christ.
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