Summary
Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning and rumblings and peels of thunder and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches which are the seven spirits of God and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass like crystal around the throne and on each side of the throne are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first living creature like a lion the second living creature like an ox the third living creature with a face like a human like a human face and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle and the four living creatures each of them with six wings are full of eyes all around and inside day and night without ceasing they sing holy holy holy the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come and whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne who lives forever and ever the 24 elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever they cast their crowns before the throne singing you are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created so this is where we are in the throne room this is where we're gonna step for a little bit so the purpose of the vision of God's heavenly court is to show us the the the coronation to show the church the coronation and enthronement enthronement of Jesus Christ the crucified and risen Lord so we're going to get to his enthronement after we talk about the throne room but but if we think about acts if you hold your hand here and then go back to the book of Acts chapter 1 books or the book of Acts chapter 1 so this is right after the gospel of John and this is this is the continuation Luke wrote the book of Acts and so when Luke's gospel and it picks up again then right here in the book of Acts so chapter 1 beginning in verse 6 of the book of Acts so when they had come together this is the the apostles they asked him Lord is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel he replied it is not for you to know the times or periods that the father has set by his own authority but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem in Al Judeian Samaria and to the ends of the earth when he had said this as they were watching he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight while he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven suddenly two men in white robes stood by them and so then angels talked to him so this is that's the earthly perspective of the ascension of Christ to the father now we're going to go back to to Revelation because this is where we receive the heavenly perspective of Christ entering or returning to the father so so we have it's the same thing but here in Revelation we get heaven's perspective of when Christ when Christ is received by the father so John sees the throne of God he sees the throne of God he sees the one sitting on it the one is the object of all worship there's a lot of worship happening here he doesn't give us any specific facial or bodily characteristics so he doesn't describe the one on the throne but says that his appearance is like the precious stones of Jasper and some say Sardius and some this one says Carnelian and then there's a rainbow of emerald around it doesn't mean that God is a stone it does not mean that God is a stone but the appearance of God's glory think of when you hold a precious stone in the sunlight and the light reflects through and the rays shine through and is cast out like put out everywhere so the appearance of God's glory it reflects it reflects the brilliance of his presence as precious stones reflect rays of the sun so we can't look directly at the sun but we can catch a glimpse of the beauty of the sun through the reflection of those rays so so God is not a stone but his glory is brilliant his glory is brilliant Isaiah and Ezekiel also have scenes within the throne room we're not going to study those today but I thought as I was studying I thought oh that would be a really fun small group so not this coming year but look for it in the future because I think that would be a fun one so the stones Jasper Sardius emerald those are all part of the breastplate that the high priest was told to wear in Exodus when when they got all the the instructions those stones were on the breastplate of the high priest and the high priest represented Israel before the throne or before God offering sacrifice for a tonement so this is this is the setting that we're in we get to the 24 elders these 24 elders are sitting on thrones they are wearing crowns and they are they are wearing white robes they are sitting and they are wearing robes and crowns they are not angels they are not heavenly beings or heavenly creatures they are elevated saints they're elevated saints and the 24 elders are the church of the Old Testament of Israel who believed in the New Testament we have the 12 tribes of Israel or the the 12 tribes from Jacob right those are represented for the Old Testament and we have the 12 apostles which are the saints of the New Church or of the church so we have the 24 right there together they're representing the totality of God's people they sit on thrones and they wear crowns because they are victorious in Christ they wear the crown of victory they have white robes because they have been cleansed through the blood of Christ they're in his presence they're in God's presence representing the church they're in God's presence because that by grace is exactly where they belong which is good news that is good news that the church belongs in the presence of God the other thing I want to talk about here is that glassy see that glassy see that is before before the throne there are a couple of things that are really interesting about this so so first of all there is there is that representation of a separation right and while we remain here on earth there is a separation between us and and God we're still separated from the eternal glory when he calls us to home to be in his presence then we will not be separated from his eternal glory but here on earth we are still separated from the eternal glory also think about how the sea is often portrayed or what it symbolizes in Scripture so often it's a raging steep sea it's chaotic it's tormenting and it's it's really representative of the evil and the wickedness and the chaos of our sinful lives and here the the sea is like crystal it's a glassy sea that is transparent it's like crystal it's still it's calm the turmoil of our sin which separates us from God before the throne of God it has been still it has been still it has been conquered and it is tranquil we don't have to fear the torment of the chaos we don't have to fear the the torment or the chaos of wrath of God's wrath and judgment because all is peaceful all is peaceful between God and his creation before the throne just calls for all of us to just take a deep breath and we know that all is at peace before the throne then we have these winged creatures that are flying to and fro Isaiah refers to them as Sarah Femme Ezekiel refers to them as Cherubem John doesn't give them either of those names he sees that that they are closer to God than any other creature and I like how one author says that they can be thought of as the choir masters leading the heavenly host in the song of praise and worship they sing praises of the Lord they initiate the worship the angels and the saints they join in as these flying creatures sing holy holy holy and that song that song continues throughout it comes up several times in revelation and there will be stanzas added to it we see this time in the throne or in the throne room it's a time of complete worship it is it is a time of singing and praising and honoring God God who is so brilliant that he can't be described this this is the scene in which we were seeing or that John John shows us so they're singing holy holy holy all the heavenly hosts are praising God the church on earth praises God and sings this song we sing this song even in suffering because we are still called to worship the Lord and we still can worship the Lord even in the midst of suffering so now we get to the really exciting part of the throne room we get to the lamb okay so we're going to go back to Revelation chapter 5 and we're going to just read the whole thing because it's so exciting it's so wonderful okay so so he's he's in the throne room he is seeing all of these heavenly hosts and the winged creatures singing and and and the majestic one the brilliant one on the throne and the church represented by the 24 elders and he says and then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back sealed okay so he sees the scroll in the right hand of God God's right hand works salvation for his people the contents of the scroll have ultimate good and glory of God's people the completeness of its contents is sealed but we know that there's a completeness of contents because it's written on the inside and on the back so it's fully fully written but it's sealed so the message is hidden the revelation is hidden it would remain closed and unknown until the worthy person came to claim it okay so let's keep going back in here so we're back to to a verse two and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals and no one no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it no one had earned the privilege or the ability to open this sealed scroll and John says I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it then one of the elders said to me do not weep see the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and it's seven seals so no one was found to be worthy no one in all of God's creation no no no one not even that an angel was worthy to open this scroll and to stand before the presence of God and lay legal claim to this scroll and then an elder an elder one of the church tells this weeping John who is so saddened so saddened that no one is found to be worthy and he's weeping bitterly and an elder representing the church he says look look to the lamb look to the lamb and he calls him the lion of Judah the lion was a messianic symbol of royal rain and power and when you think of a lion you think of a lot of power I mean we most of us have heard of or read the Chronicles of Narnia and God is depicted as the lion aslan you know and it's this powerful powerful being and so so we have the elder saying seeing the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered so he can open the scroll and it seven seals and then verse six then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth this is an amazing picture that we have here we have the angel announcing who's worthy who's worthy John weeping bitterly because there's no one who is worthy to open this scroll and elder says no no no look check out it's the lion of Judah and so John turns expecting a lion of Judah and he sees Jesus he sees the lamb the lamb who was slain who shows the marks of the crucifixion the lion of Judah is a lamb standing in the midst of them all this is a beautiful witness of the crucifixion of Christ because he stands the lamb as one who has been slain but it also is a beautiful testimony of the resurrection because it is the lamb who stands he stands there in the midst of them all living forever so we have both the crucifixion and the victory of the resurrection right there in that verse it's amazing I had one cohort who said he pictured this scene like a boxing ring where you you know they say oh and in this corner and there's just this light that shines on and all of a sudden it's the slain lamb in the light and so this is where we have him he has ascended to the Father he is right there all the heavenly hosts see him and we continue yes we continue so so he went this is verse 7 he went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell before the lamb each holding a harp and golden bowls of full of incense which are the prayers of the saints in that beautiful the church the heavenly beings they bring the prayers of the saints that's us that's us brought to the right hand of the Lord the lamb who has the right and legal claim to the scroll who has the right the legal claim to all of human history they sing a new song you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God and they will reign on earth then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands singing with full voice worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and glory and honor and blessing then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them singing to the one seated on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever this is not a mass Exodus of the of the Sunday school I'm just saying they are going to sing with the saints and the four living creatures said amen and the elders fell down and worshipped so the action of receiving the scroll is very very important because the lamb not only reveals human humanity's destiny but it shows that he also has control he has control no one anywhere can dominate over the contents of the scroll so what is in the scroll no one can dominate over it no one else has the power or authority over it they can't even receive the scroll only the chosen lamb only Christ himself can receive that he alone determines the outcome of human history he rules on behalf of his father and for the benefit of his church so that the church will be protected in faith and will be protected in hope and we'll be able to carry out the mission that it has been given so receiving the scroll that's the coronation of Jesus Christ he is the king of kings the Lord of Lords this is the beginning of the everlasting reign of Jesus Christ of God's righteousness through the exalted sun it's a reign that is consummated at the end at the resurrection that you and I will be a part of and in that new heaven and earth which we are going to talk about the new heaven and earth next week we're going to stay here this week remember in all of these cycles how I said that there were interludes so there are interludes that happen in here and I don't think it's a mistake that interludes happen because you read any of these plagues, scenes of the end and it's a lot you know and John receiving this vision there's no way that he's not filled with fear he's seeing all of this happen and so there is that is that is scary so we're going to turn to Revelation chapter 7 we're going to talk about the church triumphant and the church militant so the 144,000 beginning in Revelation chapter 7 verse 1 so we're going to start here and this is after the horses or the horsemen have come so after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or see against any tree I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun having the seal of the living God and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea saying do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads and I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel and then it goes through and it's 12,000 from any names all the tribes so the 144,000 that represents God's people on earth there are at least one cult of Christianity that claims that only 144,000 people will be in heaven we're going to see that that's wrong but this is representative of the church on earth of God's people who are in perfect order there is perfection in that order and they are ready to march it is the church militant poised and ready to carry out the mission that it has been given so we today are part of the church militant we are this side of heaven we have a mission given by the Lord to go to all nations making disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded we read right before the ascension in the book of Acts he said you will be my witnesses to go so we are the church militant with that mission so then we go down to chapter 9 of chapter 7 where it says after this I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation from all tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb robed in white with palm branches in their hands they cried out in a loud voice saying salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb and all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God and it continues well actually know we are going to continue because it is too beautiful not to and all the angels worship God singing amen blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever amen then one of the elders addressed me saying who are these robed in white and where have they come from I said to him sir you are the one that knows then he said to me these are they who have come out of the great ordeal they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb for this reason they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them they will hunger no more and thirst no more the sun will not strike them nor any scorching heat for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of the water of life and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes it's just incredible absolutely incredible John in this vision sees a multitude of people before God's heavenly throne from every nation every tribe the number is so great that it cannot be counted this is the church triumphant John is allowed to see God's people he's allowed to see that God's people on earth are ready to carry out their mission as the church militant they are ready to enter into the valley of the shadow of death and then before they are taken he sees them sealed the ceiling that they receive means that no matter what no matter how much he John and God's people no matter how much suffering we endure this side of heaven the mission will be fulfilled the mission will be fulfilled and God will protect us in faith God will protect the church militant in the faith there will be faith suffering there will be death we all die we all have our soul separate from our bodies we all do die but we won't lose faith the church does not lose faith and God will defend the faith in the end the church then becomes the church militant then becomes the church triumphant because we are all brought into the presence of God the church is sealed and kept in faith and elevated to glorify Christ and to live in his glory when John sees this great church triumphant he's filled with joy he's filled with joy because he knows they are coming out of tribulation they are coming out of suffering but they have been protected and brought to glory in Christ in Revelation in verse three of chapter seven it says that they've been sealed so God knows exactly who belongs to him and he seals them so the Christian and I had to write this exactly how it was written because it's so beautiful and it's such a comforting word that the Christian can be absolutely certain and sure of his salvation and faith because it rests on the truth of God's word and God's seal within that word the Lord knows who's who are his it's through his word that God seals his people assures them by his spirit that they belong to him and that he will protect them in faith Paul says Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit given to the Christian as God's pledge or guarantee of the inheritance that God has promised it's the pledge of God's promise that seals the Christian in his heart the seal then assures the believer that he belongs to God and is known by God the Holy Spirit does this through the word of God's promise which has been brought to fulfillment by Jesus Christ the throne room the lamb that sits upon the throne the church militant continuing to march we are a part of that but we have the assurance of God's protection we have the assurance of his promise we have the assurance that we have been sealed what do we do every single baptize or every single baptism we seal that person in the name of the Father the Holy Spirit that they are sealed sealed in the spirit of God they are claimed the Lord knows who are his and we are promised and we should find great comfort that regardless of the suffering that we have this side of heaven that we are promised that we will be part of the multitude that is countless that we'll be singing the praises and worshiping the Father in that glorious throne room Lord, we thank you for your grace, we thank you for your word, we thank you that your word is indeed truth and you lead us by your spirit into all things that are true. Now putting our fear aside I do have to stress and this is really important that it does not mean when we put our fear aside it does not mean that we stop with discernment right caution is always justified when dealing or encountering strangers it's really important that we don't just cast all caution all discernment aside because we are just not going to fear right we need to be smart we need to work in wisdom and and know people wisely when we set aside our fear we're really setting aside or aiming to set aside our timidity we can make all sorts of excuses not to speak to someone but it's often our own insecurities that are bubbling to the surface so when we're when we're timid right instead of fearful because most of us don't fear fear our neighbor right but we're a little timid about reaching out and meeting our neighbors but that's often our own insecurities that are bubbling to the surface you know this is going to be awkward I don't want awkwardness or maybe I'm an introvert so someone else would really be better at this than me what about my neighbor is going to think I'm really weird or what if my neighbor rejects me can you imagine going to the door knocking with something in hand brownies or or a pie and and they just say nope bye bye right that that's a little scary it's it's a little cause for timidity but let's go to Timothy second Timothy chapter one I keep closing my Bible and then reopening it I just need to leave it open but first Timothy so we were in Ephesians you're going to keep going to the right and you're going to find the tea books so after Thessalonians you'll have first Timothy we want to go to second Timothy chapter one verse seven God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self discipline in the ESV it says that God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control we have absolutely no need to be timid or fearful because God empowers us and enables us to be bold and to take that first step with our neighbors we can remind ourselves all the time as we feel those feelings of fear or feelings of timidity starting to bubble or rise we remind ourselves that getting through the weirdness or getting through the awkwardness is probably going to be the most difficult part in the process of neighboring so if we can make it through the awkwardness if we can make it through that weirdness that's probably going to be the worst part of it which really isn't too bad is it go to the next page so now we're going to talk about taking the first steps and then the steps after that so we want to be a good neighbor we want to reach out to our neighbors but how how do we do this J and Dave who wrote the book The Art of Neighboring they compare this perplexity to cleaning the garage I love this metaphor so if you ever stared into a garage and you think to yourself I know I need to spend the day cleaning this I know I do but I just don't know where to begin right where do I start and you're overwhelmed with the starting point how do I tackle this situation how do I tackle what I know I want to do what I know I need to do but I just don't know where to start or how to do it the thing is is that when we don't know where to start or we're overwhelmed a lot of times we'll give up another neighbor can talk to that one I don't want to do this I give up I quit right but we don't want to quit we want to continue to reach out to our neighbors and we want to continue to have that opportunity to connect and grow in relationship to the impact and glory of God's kingdom right so there's a simple framework that we can use as a helpful tool of where to start and then continue to grow in relationship with our neighbors and that is yep there we go so we are strangers and then we take that next step into acquaintances and then that from there we can build relationships so stranger acquaintance relationship stranger acquaintance relationship so how do we take this first jump from stranger to acquaintance all right we're going to get out that block map again lots of flipping here get out your block map because we're going to use this okay so the people that you don't know as you're filling this in the people that you don't know their names those are the strangers okay those are the strangers those are the ones that you have to meet so the first step as we discovered last week is to learn your neighbors names make it a point to have a conversation with a neighbor who you don't know his or her name so you can you can learn the name now right now that's going to look a little bit differently than it would under normal circumstances when we are not distancing ourselves from people and if we're unable to find a person's name or number right now some of these meetings or getting to know your neighbor some of that might might have to be on hold a little bit until we're able to actually go over to someone's house in person but if there's someone that you don't know their name but you do know their number or you don't know their name and when we're done with the quarantines the shelter in place the social distancing that you actually can get out and meet people a conversation might look at like this hi I'm Carrie I know you've told me your name before I got to be honest I am terrible with names can you please give it to me again right so you're you're telling them I know you've told me your name I can't remember it but I want to know it I want to remember it right and so you're learning their name and you're being honest and they know when you're being honest with them they can trust you more right that that builds right there just a little bit of trust or maybe if it's someone that you've never known their name you can you can approach them say hey you know we wave to each other all the time I'd love to know your name my name's Carrie and you'd say your name of course right um so now you have your names you've got your names what next well the first step is to after you learn their names write it down write it down on your block map you don't have to throw this out right keep your block map write their names down on it and then hang it on your fridge or hang it somewhere that's prominent enough that you will see it every single day this not only reminds you of your neighbor's names right now you know their names but it also keeps that neighbor at the top of your mind it keeps you thinking about the neighbors you know and the ones that you have yet to meet it's a tangible way for you to remember who God has placed you in the midst of right so keep that um and if you want to take it a step further with the block map you can do what one of the authors wife's did wife did she used this block map to make a block directory I love this she went door to door around this block and she ended up doing it for her whole neighborhood it depends on how big your neighborhood is but she went door to door she gathered contact information and she made copies for all of these other neighbors so she had addresses cell phone numbers email addresses and when she then distributed it to all the other neighbors that meant that they could connect with one another too that they all had means of building those relationships with their neighbors it'd be a very very handy tool to have something like a block directory at a time like this right where you could call your neighbor up really easily you have their name you have their number you have their email address and it's already there for you so that's a great way to use the block map um what they found was that by doing the block map where then they they made it a directory they found that the contact information it actually began to facilitate and further new relationships that the neighbors started contacting one another and they would say oh yeah it's laid out and I see your garage is still open I don't know if you want to close that or one woman had used the information to invite all the women of the neighborhood for a girl's night out so they started to see that by taking that step of of using their block map and then gathering the information and sharing it as a block directory they were seeing the fruits of that within their own neighborhood not everyone is going to be more than an acquaintance for us and that's okay but what relationships are we opening the door for if we take these little steps so the next step after learning names is to move into well after learning names and then work acquaintances right so we're strangers we know someone's name now we're acquaintances so now we want to move into that relationship realm we can't force relationships as much as I would love to do that as much as I sometimes try to do that be my friend we can't do that we can't force relationships but we can create the opportunity for relationships to develop right so one couple found that even though they didn't know how to take the first step in meeting people one of the things that they did to open the opportunity for relationships is that they moved their family's center of activity from the backyard to the front yard they put a swing in the front yard they put some chairs out there and instead of staying in the backyard fenced in where no one could access them they couldn't see who was walking on the street they moved everything to the front yard after a short while the other kids in the neighborhood were coming over to play with their kids people walking their dogs would stop to say hi they would be chatting they would get to know their neighbors and then all of a sudden these people were starting to share meals and these block parties were kind of forming out of just moving to the front yard block parties or parties are also a really great tool that can be used in creating warmth and opening that atmosphere for friendship within the neighborhood parties really create a safe space and an easy space for us to talk with others in a relaxed atmosphere this is what we do or attempt to do with the life groups too right we're not inviting someone to a very structured thing that they'll feel out of place it's it's a social time we're wanting people to be able to connect in a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere let's turn our bibles to Luke chapter five so you're going to go back towards the beginning of the New Testament Matthew Mark Luke and then John so Luke chapter five if I can find it which I think I can Luke chapter five we're going to start in verse 27 so after this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth and he said to him follow me and Levi got up left everything and followed him then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples saying why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners Jesus answered those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick I have come to call not the righteous but the sinners to repentance Levi threw a party there were all sorts there and Jesus used that banquet that time of party of fellowship of togetherness to show his solidarity with sinners not that he is okay with sin not that he encouraged sin but his solidarity that he came for the sinner he came for you and I he emphasized that his mission was to call the sinner to repentance so a block party a block party is not or should not be held with the intent of a bait and switch right we're not inviting people to come and mingle with us so that we can have an agenda and coerce them into hearing the good news of the gospel of course if it comes up if the topic arises we certainly want to bring a word of faith we certainly want to bring the good news to those people but to have that specific agenda to have any agenda it really has a false ring to it people can tell when we have agendas people can tell when we are not sincere or authentic in how or why we are connecting with them we don't want to give a false sense of interest because we are interested in these people certainly as human beings and we do want them connected with Christ we do want them we want everyone connected with Christ but we can't have a weird agenda about it if that makes sense right so it's just not new really so don't have an agenda allow for the godly relationship to develop naturally because it will the Lord will open the time or present the time for those conversations to happen we don't abandon our faith in order to fit in with the sinner we are all sinners right but we don't just throw it all away we don't throw our faith to the wind in order to feel like we fit in with the world but we don't use that false connection because it feels and it will be fake you have in the priesthood of all believers you have every right and you have every authority to speak of your faith and to speak of Jesus Christ as our Savior as our Redeemer you absolutely have that right and don't shy away from it that is not at all what I'm saying do not shy away from sharing your faith but use wisdom in how you bring it to your neighbor I want to encourage you if you have not yet taken the everyday missionary course that everyone has witnessed course or the everyday boldness workshop with Steve if you've not taken those witnessing workshops I really encourage you to do so you will find that in those classes and workshops you are going to find really natural ways of talking with people where you know you want to share the gospel with this person but you also know how to share it and when it's the appropriate time and when it just might not be yet and that's okay the door will open when God is ready for that door to be opened we have to trust that the Lord will work when and where He chooses when and where He wills right we we are open to being used as His vessel but we need to trust the Lord in where He's taking us with that the only way that we can start filling out these block maps that we can start actually moving from stranger to acquaintance and at least opening up the opportunity for relationship is by starting to get out and meet people right we need to actually meet people in order to know people right so for the most part people are not going to be knocking on your door saying hey you I think you need a friend I need a friend let's be friends most people don't do that there are the random occasional extroverts you know who you are who will do that who will knock on a door just to make a friend but for the most part that's not going to happen right but you can be the person to do that with your neighbors not necessarily knocking on everyone's door hey do you want a friend but when you're walking your dog or they're walking a dog or you see someone out waving greeting them saying hi meeting them speaking with them look for opportunities to meet your neighbor go on walks host or co host a block party right now at this time we can offer to get groceries or medicines for our neighbors we can offer to walk our neighbors dog right what if they can't get out and walk their dog maybe that's a service that we can offer for them we can find little ways of connecting all these little ways of connecting that truly truly have everlasting impact I look forward to continuing and wrapping up this study on the art of neighboring with you next week until then I invite you to put into practice your own neighborly selves and have an impact for Jesus in your world bye Hey, good morning. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate he ascended into heaven is seated at the right hand of the Father same thing he will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead his kingdom will have no end then moving over to the Athenation creed we read that the Father is one person the Son is another the Spirit is another but the deity of the Father Son and Holy Spirit is one equal in glory co-eternal and in majesty what the Father is the Son is and so is the Holy Spirit uncreated is the Son the Son is infinite eternal is the Son Almighty is the Son the Son is God the Son is Lord the Son was neither made nor created but was alone begotten of the Father he has taken humanity into himself he does not transform deity into humanity it's very important again that's holding those two full natures with one another as complete and whole truth those are from the creeds but those words that we hear from from that the the only Son we hear that in scripture and that's exactly where we're going to turn now let's go to John the the gospel of John that's the fourth gospel and we're just going right to that first chapter this first chapter when you really sit there and think and read through it and ponder and meditate on what it means and what is really being written and said here it can become overwhelming just the the heavy truth of it it's absolutely gorgeous so John the first chapter we're going to look first at verses one through three in the beginning was the word so in the beginning we have that in another place in scripture Genesis in the beginning in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God he was in the beginning with God all things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being so here we have it set up that there's this word the word was not only with God but the word was God that is absolutely trinitarian in in its nature and it's in its patterns words that this word which in the Greek is logos or logos this is held up as as that that which is with God in the beginning and not only with God but was God this is where we get that from the Athenation Creed the Sun is infinite eternal is the Sun right we have this uncreated that he is with God continuing on with verses 14 through 18 the word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of a father's only son full of grace and truth John testified to him and cried out this was he of whom I said he who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace the law indeed was given through Moses grace and truth came through Jesus Christ no one has ever seen God it is God the only son who is close to the father's heart who has made him known so we know God and God is revealed through the person of Jesus Christ Jesus himself tells us this which we will get to let's look at the birth of Christ we had this reading earlier today in service or we'll have it in a little bit in service Matthew 1 so go over you're going to flip backwards to the first gospel which is Matthew and this is about the birth of Jesus the Messiah bless you so skipping down into into verse the last verse in or last sentence in verse 18 she was found this Mary was found to be with child from the holy spirit then jumped down to verse 20 when Joseph had resolved to to dismiss Mary quietly an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child conceived in her is from the holy spirit you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins and this is what fulfills the prophet the words of the prophet look the virgin shall conceive in baris son and they shall name him in manual which means God is with us so again we have that set up right from the beginning in this birth telling or retelling of Christ that he is conceived of the holy spirit that he will be named Jesus that he will be called Emmanuel which means God is with us let's go over to the gospel of Luke the first chapter that's the third so you're going to go through Matthew past mark and find yourself in Luke the first chapter and starting in verse 30 this is where the angel has come to Mary to tell her well we'll read it the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus he will be great and will be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom there will be no end Mary said to the angel how can this be since I am a virgin the angel said to her the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you therefore the child to be born will be holy he will be called son of God again that birth story or the coming birth story the angel stating this is this is the son of God he will be called holy name him Jesus so we're getting before he's even born we're getting this set up by the angel through the holy spirit that that Christ will be conceived by the holy spirit and that he will be indeed the son of God here God with us in the solid declaration in the formula of concord so that's part of the book book of concord the confessions the Lutheran confessions it says it reads that he demonstrated his divine majesty in his mother's womb in that he was born of a virgin without violating her virginity I thought that was very poignant that even before birth Christ was proving himself to be God in that he was conceived within a virgin by the power of the holy spirit but she in her virginity was not violated right I think that's that's a really poignant poignant remark there so that was one demonstration of his divine nature he had humbled himself and he was found to be in human form but Jesus did reveal his divine nature in his earthly ministry let's go back oh you know what let's stick in Luke because we're here already and we're just going to go down to Luke 2 verses 41 or picking up in 41 and we're going to we're going to kind of skip ahead this is where Jesus was lost and I say that with air quotes they thought he was lost in Jerusalem so Mary and Joseph turned back to find him they found him on verse 46 after three days they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers listening to them and asking them questions and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers when his parents saw him they were astonished and his mother said to him child why have you treated us like this look your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety he said to them why were you searching for me did you not know that I must be in my father's house but they did not understand what he said to them then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them his mother treasured all these things in her heart and Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor so he knew he was in his father's house can you imagine a 12 year old speaking with such authority and such wisdom amongst these learned rabbis that there was even in his young age it he was already revealing his divinity just by his wisdom so now let's go over to John the second chapter where we have Jesus first miracle at the wedding at Cana John chapter 2 on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding when the wine gave out the mother of Jesus said to him they have no wine and Jesus said to her woman what concern is that to you and me my hour has not yet come his mother said to his servants do whatever he tells you now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rights of purification each holding 20 or 30 gallons Jesus said to them fill the jars with water and they filled them up to the brim he said to them now draw some out and take it to the chief steward so they took it when the steward tasted the water that had become wine and did not and did not know where it came from though the servants who had drawn the water new the steward called the bridegroom and said to him everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after their guests have become drunk but you have kept the good wine until now Jesus did this the first of his signs in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him so this is his first miracle that he performed he is revealing his glorified nature he's revealing his divine nature through that miracle if we go over to John 11 we see another incredible miracle in the raising of Lazarus we're going to start with verse 25 because I think this is a really important I don't think I just think but this is period a really important statement that Jesus makes about himself in verse 25 Jesus says to Lazarus's sister I am the resurrection and the life those who believe in me even though they die will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die he is declaring himself to be the resurrection let's go down to verses 38 through 44 Jesus again greatly disturbed came to the tomb it was a cave and a stone was lying against it Jesus said take away the stone Martha the sister of the dead man said to him Lord already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days Jesus said to her did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God so they took away the stone and Jesus looked upward and said Father I thank you for having heard me I knew that you always hear me but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here so that they may believe and that that you sent me when he said this he cried out with a loud voice Lazarus come out the dead man came out his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth Jesus said to them unbind him and let him go this only God could do the man had been dead and I know that that Paul does call someone back to life but this it's done in the name of Jesus right and here we have Jesus praying he's saying this is done to show his glory to show the Father's glory rather and it's it's very important to realize and this is something that I like to draw attention to when we're called into faith it is just as Christ called Lazarus right he said come out Lazarus didn't him and ha he didn't sit in the cave saying I don't know is this the choice I want to make right he just came he was called and he came and that is that is how we are called into faith we are dead in our sin we are dead in our trespasses we may as well be Lazarus physically dead we're dead and then Christ calls us into faith and we respond not because we make a choice but Christ has made that choice for us and has called us into faith by name we're about out of time I've got some more okay hold on okay I know I've got so in John 14 it tells us that Jesus is the revelation of the Father Philip Jesus is talking to Philip and Philip is saying where are you going and where are you going and and he says that Philip could believe because of all the works that Jesus had performed through his divine nature he was able to perform all of these works and that Philip could believe through those works by witnessing those works if not by the words alone but again those works always point to the word they always point to the truth that Christ is God in Philippians 2 6 through 11 it says though he was in the form of God he did not require a regard equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name so at that name of Jesus every knee should bend in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father in collagens to verse 9 it says in him in Jesus the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily second Peter has more we're going to go into this more next next class period where we'll also look at the transfiguration where Jesus glory is shown and revealed before three of his disciples so if you have questions ha ha that's the there you go no time for questions today ha ha ha ha if you have questions email me and we will pick up here on the first of January so not next week but the following week in 2020 we will pick up with the divinity of Christ Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for this morning, for calling us into gather, to hear Your Word, and to receive Your sacrament. The Eastern church rejected this they didn't like that they held to the Father holding all the deity really and truly and they were they were fine with saying the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Sun but they did not want to to say that the Spirit was from the Father and from the Sun so that's where that controversy lies that is part of the schism that was created between the Eastern and the Western churches but it's not the only reason and and truly the split came in in about 1054 when when those two churches finally the the patriarch of the Eastern church and the Pope of the Western church excommunicated one another so so that came a little bit later but this was part of it and this was in 381 when they started adding in that Holy Spirit article so moving on to what we're studying today that was just a brief overview of what we had last week with the creeds today we're going to talk about Jesus human nature okay Athanasius said for salvation the correct faith is necessary not only regarding the divine nature in Christ but also regarding the human and if we look at the creeds and take just what they state about the humanity of Christ we can see that it's built right into those creeds so the Apostles Creed says that Jesus was born of the Bible and Jesus was buried those are things that happen to all human beings we are all born we all not all of us are crucified clearly but we all have sufferings we all have pain we all die we will all be buried right so those are very human things that happened to him the Nicene Creed says incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made man was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate he suffered died and was buried very similar in those statements and then the Athanasian Creed says that our Lord Jesus became flesh he is man born in the world from the beginning of from the being of his mother existing fully as man with a rational soul and a human body he has taken humanity into himself he does not transform deity into humanity so he's not exchanging one for the other he is completely one in the unity of his person without confusing his natures for as the rational soul and body are one person so the one Christ is God and man he suffered death so that's getting a little more into the nitty-gritty that there are two natures there is a human nature it talks about his birth it talks about his death and that he is fully fully in the flesh fully man so there were some early claims against Jesus's Jesus humanity and and really no one in the very early church no one really denied his deity that seemed to be a given today it's a little bit different today more people deny his deity than his humanity but but it's interesting because the early church they couldn't quite believe that he was human that he had actually been a bit had actually been a human so they would say that Christ's body was not human that it had the appearance of a normal human it had it had the look of what a human has but it's actually a specter it's not a real true human being it looked real but it was more of a celestial substance this was taught by by several groups those who believed this then they also taught that Jesus actions all that he did and all that he suffered or went under or went through those were also fantasy they didn't actually happen so the sufferings that he underwent they only appeared to happen which we know is not true and we do not confess that we confess that he in true human form in his humanity suffered under Pontius Pilate so they taught that he was kind of a kind of a ghosty type thing right but let's open up to Matthew 14 this is the first gospel Matthew 14 so open up to the New Testament and we will see we're gonna look at 26 this is when Jesus is walking on the water chapter 14 verse 26 but when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified saying it is a ghost right they they thought he was a ghost and they cried out in fear but immediately Jesus spoke to them and said take heart it is I do not be afraid he would not let them believe or claim that he's a ghost he's saying it's me I'm here in the flesh let's go over to Luke 24 so we're gonna go past Matthew past Mark go into Luke the third gospel this is after Christ had been killed this is after he had risen from the grave and he is appearing to his disciples we're gonna go to verse verses 36 through 39 so he's coming to his disciples and while they were talking about this Jesus himself stood among them and said to them peace be with you they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost so this is after he's been resurrected they're thinking again they're seeing this ghost and he said to them why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts look at my hands and my feet see that it is myself touch me and see for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have so even after the resurrection Christ is coming back when anyone could possibly say it's a ghost it's a ghost and he's saying no even now I am not a ghost I have flesh I have bones we see in the gospel of John where he's eating food post resurrection he was a human he is a human it was very interesting I came across an article from a what would be considered a reputable source or reputable reputable publication it's an article from 2014 right before Christmas it's amazing how many articles come out right before Christmas to say Jesus isn't real it's amazing uncanny just watch for it this year there will be articles that come out trying to deny Christ right before we celebrate his birth but this man the author of the article he wrote did a man called Jesus of Nazareth walk the earth discussions over whether the figure known as the historical Jesus actually existed primarily reflect disagreements among atheists believers who uphold the implausible and more easily dismissed Christ of faith the divine Jesus who walked on water ought not to get involved so to discuss Jesus the historical accuracy of Jesus the person of Jesus this writer is is telling his readers that anyone who believes in Jesus really shouldn't be involved in this discussion I want to invite you as believers in Jesus to be involved in the discussion for those of you who have not been to service yet that's what it is that that's our sermon that you'll hear today that we are a part of this discussion this is what we are called to bring and to be a part of is the discussion of God and who God is and so I thought that was really interesting so yes Jesus actually walked on this earth I have a host of and we're just gonna dive in because we have time and I and it's gonna seem a little like wow we have so many Bible verses but this is just a sampling of where we find Christ walking the earth where we find him as a true human that can support anytime someone questions whether Jesus really was real or not really a human you can go to any of these verses and say no no look here here here tell me when you get tired here here right so there's a lot of biblical proof here so we're gonna just start with John 1 so that's the gospel of John so if you flip over probably about one page from where you are in Luke and you find John the first chapter we're looking at verse 14 and the word who if you go to the very beginning of John we're told that the word was with God the word was God and we know that to be Jesus which we will get more into in a couple of weeks but the word verse 14 became flesh and lived among us the word became flesh and lived among us let's jump back to Luke chapter 2 we're gonna jump around in chapter 2 for a moment here so we're gonna start in verse 6 so the gospel of Luke chapter 2 starting in verse 6 while they were there that's Mary and Joseph while they were there the time came for her to deliver her child and she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn she gave birth to an actual human being to a little boy so there is a man or a boy being born let's jump down to verse 21 after eight days had passed it was time to circumcise the child and he was called Jesus the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb so this little infant is taken in the ceremonial custom and he is circumcised and he is named humans well not all of them get circumcised but humans have bodies which things are done to right and we are given names that is a very human thing happening here then let's jump down to verse 40 we're just gonna read the first little bit here the child grew and became strong Christ had a childhood he didn't just appear as a man he was born of a woman he had a childhood and he grew in that childhood let's go back to or go over to Luke chapter 4 we're gonna look at those first two verses Luke chapter 4 verses 1 and 2 Jesus full of the Holy Spirit returned from the Jordan and was led by the spirit into the wilderness where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil he ate nothing at all during those days and when they were over he was famished if a human does not eat for 40 days he will be hungry God doesn't need food man does right so Jesus was in the desert constantly being tempted I don't know about about any of you if you if you know this too but humanity is tempted we get tempted as human beings so so we've got two things here he is physically physically famished hungry needing food wanting food right but he's also being tempted which the devil was trying to tempt him in his humanity now let's go over to John so we're just gonna go over one more book John 11 John 11 verse starting in verse 33 so Lazarus who was a good friend of Jesus Lazarus died and he went and he saw the sisters and picking up in verse 33 it says when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with him were also weeping he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved he said where have you laid him they said to him Lord come and see Jesus began to weep he mourned his friend he mourned he felt that he he wasn't this unemotional having no feeling man or being in his humanity he had feelings he had those feelings of love and he was mourning and weeping for his friend for his friends who were mourning so there's another human element to him let's jump over to mark so we're gonna go back a couple of gospels it's the second gospel mark two and we're gonna go to verse 16 mark 216 when the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he that is Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors they said to his disciples why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners Jesus as a man ate here he's eating with tax collectors and sinners he's eating he needed food again that's that humanity if we jump back into the Old Testament Isaiah so if you go to the middle of the Bible you'll find Psalms and if you flip to the right you will find the prophets after Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon you're gonna find Isaiah and we're going to Isaiah 53 verses 2 and 3 Isaiah 53 verses 2 and 3 and this is prophesying about Jesus for he grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground he had no form or majesty that we should look at him nothing in his appearance that we should that we should desire him he was despised and rejected by others a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity as one from whom others hide their face he was despised and we held him of no account this is telling us that people around him he didn't have an appearance that that looked majestic he didn't have anything special about his look but this is also giving him an appearance we know that Jesus had flesh we know that he had a look he wasn't just this ghosty type being he wasn't celestial in in his form he was a man he had an appearance nothing nothing that that anyone should desire to look at him which I think is really interesting um okay so let's go over to Hebrews so this we're going back into the New Testament we're gonna pass the Gospels pass the letters of Paul and then we're gonna come to Hebrews and we're going to the second chapter Hebrews 2 verse 14 Hebrews 2 verse 14 since therefore the children share flesh and blood he himself likewise shared the same things Jesus shared with mankind the same things of flesh and blood he was a physical human being let's go over to Galatians or back to Galatians you're gonna go back through the letters of Paul if you've got Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians and then you've got Galatians uh Galatians chapter 4 verse 4 when the fullness of time had come God sent his son born of a woman born under the law we are all born of women and we are all born under the law we are all born into the same condition not house or family but we're born into the same condition as human beings as Christ was also born of a woman under the law and let's go back one more to Romans this is the last one but you'll see I mean do you see how there's it's just verse after verse after verse that is proving the humanity of Christ we're going to Romans chapter or verse yeah chapter 1 verse 1 Paul a servant of Christ Jesus called to be an apostle set apart for the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures so he's promising God promised this gospel this good news through holy scriptures concerning his son who was descended from David according to the flesh he descended from David according to the flesh again just putting that humanity right there so this is a relatively long list that we've gone through but you'll see as you flip through scripture it is not hard to find proof from scripture from the Bible that Christ indeed was a flesh and blood man he needed to eat he needed to sleep oh we didn't even get to any of his sleeping right we he needed to function or he did function as a human did because he was a human he was a man so what about the people that say oh that's nice but you're just going to the Bible I don't I don't just go to the Bible that's not for me well there are historical historical accounts of Jesus also so we know that he was a human that walked the earth we have historical sources so the first one is from Tacitus or Cornelius Tacitus he he was a Roman senator and he was considered to be one of the best if not the best Roman historian so this was a history guy right and he studied he studied people he studied cultures he studied cultural phenomenon and and he wrote in this is in the context of a great fire of Rome it went for six days this fire burned it burned a lot of the city in 64 AD during the reign of Nero and he wrote this is Tacitus writing neither human effort nor the Emperor's generosity nor the placating of the gods ended the scandalous belief that the fire had been ordered by Nero therefore to put down the rumor so Nero there was a rumor that Nero started this fire or had this fire going so to put the the rumor down Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts whom the crowd called Christians the founder of this name Christ had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate suppressed for a time the deadly superstition erupted again not only in Judea the origin of this evil but also in the city Rome where all things horrible and shameful from everywhere come together and become popular so Tacitus in this is presenting four four pieces of accurate knowledge that we have about Jesus he said that well he called him Christus or Christ this was used by Tacitus to refer to Jesus he thought it was a name he didn't realize that it was a title but but he used it as a name but he called him Christ he talked about Christ being associated with the beginning of the movement of the Christians right for for the origin of this grouping that this man was executed by the Roman governor of Judea and that the time of his death was during Pontius Pilate's governorship during the reign of Tiberius so we have these four points of historical documentation that he's given us he is not a Christian he was a Roman senator a Roman historian and what he has told or what he has given to us is in line with what we have in scripture there was a Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and he was writing about James who is the brother of Jesus he's writing about his execution and he wrote let's see here there was a meeting of judges called and brought into it the brother of Jesus who is called Messiah James by name and some others he made the accusation that they had transgressed the law and he handed them over to be stone so Josephus had mentioned or mentions at least 12 other that are named Jesus because Jesus was a rather common name and so he's specifying which Jesus he was referring to as James brother so he used the one called or who is called Messiah Jesus who is called Messiah he also had a longer passage in a book that was called Jewish and equities and it refers to Jesus there was a Christian apologist who named Eusibius who added who some people think added some Christian claims in this text of Josephus Josephus wrote around this time there lived Jesus a wise man if indeed one ought to call him a man for he was one who did surprising deeds and a teacher of such people as except the truth gladly he won over many Jews and many of the Greeks he was the Messiah when Pilate upon hearing him accused by men of his highest standing among us had condemned him to be crucified those who in the first place came to love him did not give up their affection for him for on the third day he appeared to them restored to life the prophets of God had prophesied this and countless other marvelous things about him and the tribe of Christians so called after him have still to this day not died out now I don't know for certain if Eusibius added anything or not but all of the surviving manuscripts of this testimony or testament that are in Greek they contain the same version of this passage there are no significant differences which is very interesting that more than one source of this passage says the same thing Josephus also was not a Christian he was a Jewish historian the Celseus was a platenist philosopher he considered Jesus to be a magician who made exorbitant claims so he he didn't believe that Jesus was the Christ he didn't believe that Jesus was the son of man but he gives an account of a man named Jesus who did things that he thought were magical right Pliny the younger a Roman governor and friend of Tacitus wrote about early Christian worship of Christ as to a god little G god Soutenuse a Roman writer lawyer and historian wrote of riots in 49 that were among the Jews in Rome which might have been about Christus but which he thought were incited by the instigator of Christus whose identification with Jesus is not completely certain but this Roman writer is talking about these riots he thinks that at the very least it's linked to this group or this man Christ right um Mara Barcerapione Mara Barcerapione that's a fun name Mara Barcerapione a prisoner of war that was held by the Romans he wrote a letter to his son that described the Jewish the wise Jewish king in a way that seems to indicate Jesus but it doesn't specify his name but again we have that that non non-Christian source talking about a Jewish wise king so we see that there is a case to be made from scripture certainly for the humanity the flesh and bones of Christ but we also see that it's not just the biblical text we have outside sources we have historical sources that were also referring to Christ not Christians themselves but writing of a man who who had a group of followers a man who was crucified under Pontius Pilate so we have these historical these historical sources as well so what's the deal okay we can say yeah okay Jesus was a person he was a man that's great but why is it so important to hold this as absolute truth and to confess it in our creeds have it as a part of our common confession and that's what we're going to talk about next time we don't have class this next Sunday but the following Sunday we're going to dive into why the humanity of Christ actually matters in salvation or for salvation Today I want to examine with you the question of how do we know that we're going to heaven? okay yes good morning again so we are wrapping up with our heroes of faith today it's our last time that this does not mean that you cannot look up other heroes of faith and see how they how different people use their faith in action or even everyday people like you and me well they those are the heroes of faith though they're everyday people like you and me who have done something living out their faith lives where then they get known for it so we will probably never be known for our faith but we are known in the kingdom for our faith so there we go any hoozy so today we're finishing with the heroes of forgiveness and I don't know how many of you know the story of Corrie ten Boom yes no maybe okay and she wrote the hiding place I think that she she exemplifies forgiveness amazingly which we'll hear I'm gonna tell you a little bit about her then we're gonna jump into Scripture and then we'll jump back to her after that I think we hope so I will I'm working towards it okay so Corrie ten Boom it's a Dutch bless you Dutch woman grew up in Holland when she was 52 years old she well back it up four years in 1940 when the Nazis invaded Holland she and her family who were very faithful people they realized they needed to do something to help the Jewish people in their community and so they would get extra rations and they had kind of an underground network going they hid Jewish people in there in their house and they all told it's estimated that they helped to save approximately 800 Jewish people in Holland so they were living out their faith as a family it was just incredible I if you have not read the hiding place I highly recommend it amazing amazing story and lots of really good tidbits of wisdom in there which is fascinating it's one of those can't put down sort of books so I highly recommend it so when she was 52 and her dad was 84 and it was her her dad and her sister who all lived in the same house and were helping these Jewish people and they were betrayed by one of their countrymen and the Nazis came in and arrested her and her father and her sister and and they were sent to concentration camps 52 I don't know what the average age in here is some of you may have seen 52 come and go some of you are looking towards it but we've got a thumbs up higher higher but just imagine 52 Europe heading into this kind of unknown into this arrest and her 84 year old father did end up dying at one of the concentration camps but we're gonna just I'm gonna read a little bit from her book to you so we get an idea of what she experienced where's my first bookmark here we go oh so this is this is they had already been to two concentration camps they were in concentration camps for a period of ten months she was released after ten months but but this is the third one ravans Brooke this was a not not good place this is they had heard tales of how bad this concentration camp was and and that's where they were headed for two more incredible days and two more nights we were carried deeper and deeper into the land of our fears now mind you they are on a train they're not in Nice little seats they're kind of shoved in to cattle cars no room to sit or lay down her stur is incredibly ill and weak she was a little stronger so they were just trying to figure out how to best ride and this is in two days and two nights standing in a cattle cattle car just crammed with other women occasionally one of the loaves of bread was passed from hand to hand but not even the most elementary provision had been made for sanitation and the air in the car was such that you could eat and gradually more terrible than the crush of bodies and the filth the single obsession was something to drink two or three times when the train stopped the door was slid open a few inches and a pail of water passed in but we had become animals incapable of plan or system those near the door got it all at last the morning of the fourth day the train stopped again for days crammed into this cattle car and the door was opened its full width like infants on hands and knees we crawled to the opening and lowered ourselves over the side in front of us was a smiling blue lake on the far side among sycamore trees rose a white church steeple the stronger prisoners hauled buckets of water from the lake we drank through cracked and swollen lips the train was shorter the cars carrying the men had disappeared only a handful of soldiers some of them looking no older than 15 were there to guard a thousand women no more were needed we could scarcely walk let alone resist after a while they got us into straggly columns and marched us off for a mile the road followed the shore of the lake then left it to climb a hill I wondered if Betsy that's her sister Betsy I wondered if Betsy can make it to the top but the sight of trees and sky seemed to have revived her and she supported me as much as I her we passed a number of local people on foot and in horse-drawn wagons the children especially seemed wonderful to me pink cheeked and healthy they returned my stairs with wide-eyed interest I noticed however that the adults did not look at us but turned their heads away as we approached I think that the very telling tale of the blinding I purposefully those adults knew this was wrong they knew these people were being tortured they had spent at least four days on those cattle cars crammed in there no real food most of them had nothing to drink and they were expected to walk a mile uphill part of the way making it into this next concentration camp Friday's the recurrent humiliation of medical inspection the hospital corridor in which we waited was unheated and a full chill had settled into the walls still we were forbidden even to wrap ourselves in our own arms but had to maintain our erect hands at sides position as we filed slowly past of foul necks of green grinning guards how there could have been any pleasure in the sight of these stick-thin legs and hunger bloated stomachs I could not imagine surely there is no more wretched sight than the human body unloved and uncared for nor could I see the necessity for the complete undressing when we finally reached the examining room a doctor looked down each throat another a dentist presumably at our teeth a third in between each finger and that was all we trooped again down the long cold corridor and picked up our X marked dresses at the door all these women every single week had to just file through completely naked completely vulnerable completely bare and these guards would just smile smile I love how Corey says I don't I don't understand how anyone could find pleasure in this and yet she said stood strong and helped her helped her sister the whole time this is another excerpt from here this is their actual bare where they lived barracks 8 was in the quarantine camp compound next to us perhaps as a deliberate warning to newcomer newcomers were located the punishment barracks from there all day long and often into the night came the sounds of Hell itself they were not the sounds of anger or of any human emotion but of a cruelty altogether detached blows landing in regular rhythm screams keeping pace we would stand in our 10 deep ranks with our hands trembling at our sides longing to jam them against our ears to make the sounds stop it grew harder and harder even within these four walls there was too much misery too much seemingly pointless suffering every day something else failed to make sense something else grew too heavy every day the Sun rose a little later the bike took longer to leave the air it will be better everyone assured everyone else when we move into the permanent barracks we'll have a blanket of peace a bed of our own the move to the permanent quarters came the second week in October so it's getting colder and colder as this time progresses we were marched ten abreast along the Y wide cinder Avenue several times the column halted while numbers were read out names were never used at ravans Brook at last Betsy's in mind were called we stepped out of line with a dozen or so others and stared at the long gray front of barracks twenty-eight Betsy and I followed a prisoner guide through our door at the right because of the broken windows the vast room was in semi Twilight our noses told us first that the place was filthy somewhere plumbing had backed up the bedding was soiled and rancid then our eyes adjusted to the gloom we saw that there were no individual beds at all but great square tiers stacked three high and wedged side-by-side and end to end with only an occasional narrow aisle slicing through we followed our guide single-file the aisle was not wide enough for two fighting back the claustrophobia of these platforms rising everywhere above us at last she pointed to a second tier in the center of a large block to reach it we had to stand on the bottom level haul ourselves up and then crawl across three other straw covered plat to reach the one that we would share with how many the deck above us was too close to let us sit up we lay back struggling against the nausea that swept over us from the reeking straw suddenly I sat up striking my head on the cross slats above something had pinched my leg fleas I cried Betsy the place is swarming with them non-stop they were covered with fleas with lice there were roaches in all the other places constantly bugs everywhere we scammed across the intervening platforms heads low to avoid another bump drop down to the aisle and hedged our way to a patch of light they were in what we would consider hell on earth they had no real warmth that I never used this I'm gonna use it now the the beds were just these bunk beds like that and these tight rows and you would fit at least five women at least five women on these little beds they would be sleeping nearly on top the only the only saving grace in this sleeping arrangement was that they would have some body heat a little bit of body heat to keep each other warm truly truly a how on earth I say that when you read this book you will also see the hand of God everywhere throughout their experience and and the fleas are one of those her sister Betsy says oh we need to thank the Lord for the fleas and she says no mm-hmm nope this is where I'm drawing the line I'm not thanking the Lord for the fleas but it comes to air it turns out that they would hold a Bible study every single night with a Bible that they miraculously smuggled in and and the only reason the guards would not go in that barracks to break up the Bible study was because of the fleas so God's hand Trulli was in every moment of this he was with them in their suffering and would provide for them in that suffering at every turn it I highly recommend as you study the world war 2 study the Holocaust have your kids or grandkids study it bring them back to a book like this because a lot of people use the Holocaust as a reason to prove God's non-existence if God existed there wouldn't be such times as the Holocaust but this this book shows how God's hand was still there still with them still providing for them and still loving them so I highly recommend looking at this book or or some of her other books just incredible yes so he's saying that most cattle cars have some opening some some slats see my drawing is good so they have little slats in here so they're exposed to the weather as well so anyone who can't hear him he's just reminding us that most cattle cars are open have some sort of flats some exposure to the weather which these women also would have had to endure so right there they're malnourished they have no drink and they're exposed to weather for and not sitting there standing that whole time the biggest problem was Betsy's strength one morning after a hard night's rain we arrived to find the ground sodden and heavy Betsy had never been able to lift much today her shovels full were microscopic and she stumbled frequently as she walked to the low ground where we dumped the load the guard screamed at her can't you go faster why must they scream I wondered a voice coming from the bell-shaped speaker a scream lingering in the air even after Betsy had left to shut it off loafer lazy swine the guard snatched Betsy's shovel from her hands and ran from group to group of the digging crew exhibiting the handful of dirt that was all Betsy could had been able to lift look at what Madame Baroness is carrying surely she will overexert herself so he is mocking her for the little bit that she can do the other guards and even some of the prisoners laughed encourage the guard threw herself into a parody of Betsy's faltering walk a male guard was with our detail today and in the presence of a man the women guards were always animated as the laughter grew I felt a murderous anger inside the guard was young and well-fed was at Betsy's fault that she was old and starving but to my astonishment Betsy too was laughing that's me alright she admitted but you'd better let me taught her along with my little spoonful or I'll have to stop altogether vegard's plump cheeks went crimson I'll decide who's to stop and snatching the leather crop from her belts she slashed Betsy across the chest and neck without knowing what I was doing I seized my shovel and rushed at her Betsy stepped in front of me before anyone had seen quarry she pleaded dragging my arm to my side quarry keep working she tugged the shovel from my hand and dug it into the mud contemptuously the guard tossed Betsy's shovel toward us I picked it up still in a daze a red stain appeared on Betsy's collar a welt to begin to swell on her neck Betsy saw where I was looking and laid a bird thin hand over the whitmark don't look at it quarry look at Jesus only she drew her hand away it was sticky with blood malnourished no real hydration constantly exposed to the elements expected to do hard labor beaten when ever forced to do these humiliating medical check-ups every single week get worse death seemed a release it seemed a kindness to be able to leave that so now we're gonna jump to scripture we'll come back to this momentarily I just wanted to kind of lay the groundwork of what they were experiencing in this concentration camp so let's go to second samuel in the old testament it's after first samuel after after judges after ruth it's it's after the Pentateuch so you've got Deuteronomy at the end of the first five books and then go a couple more and you'll get to second Samuel chapter 11 if anyone has the page number of the Pew Edition you can holler it out 263 excellent thank you okay so the Bible the Bible character or person that we're gonna study today is David and I bring him up with good reason we're going to read about David's sin here so picking up in verse or in in chapter 11 in the spring of the year the time when the Kings go out to battle David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him they ravaged the eminent and menthe ammonites and besieged Rabbah but David remained at Jerusalem it happened late one afternoon when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the tin roof on the roof of the king's house excuse me that he saw from the roof a woman bathing the woman was very beautiful David sent someone to inquire about the woman it was reported this is Beth Sheba daughter of Eliam the wife of Uriah the Hittite so David sent messengers to get her and she came to him and he lay with her now she was purifying herself after her period then she returned to her house the woman conceived and she sent and told David I am pregnant so David sent word to Joab send me Uriah the Hittite and Joab sent Uriah and to David when Uriah came to him David asked how Joab and the people fared and how the war was going then David said to Uriah go down to your house and wash your feet Uriah went out of the king's house and there followed him a present from the king but Uriah slept at the entrance of the King's house with all the servants of his Lord and did not go down to his house when they told David Uriah did not go down to his house David said to Uriah you have just come from a journey why did you not go down to your house he's trying to get Uriah to be with Bathsheba so that that pregnancy is covered up and there's no sin known Uriah said to David the Ark in Israel and Judah remain in booths and my lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are camping in the open field shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife as you live and as your soul lives I will not do such a thing then David said to Uriah remain here today also and tomorrow I will say you back so Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day on the next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and make him drunk and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his Lord but he did not go down to his house still he won't comply he's being a good servant of David's he's being a soldier and remaining faithful to the king in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and Senate by the hand of Uriah in the letter he wrote set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting and then draw back from him so that he may be struck down and die now we're plotting murder as Joab was besieging the city he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there was a valiant warrior there were valiant warriors the men of the city came out and fought with Joab and some of the servants of David among the people fell Uriah the Hittite was killed as well then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting and he instructed the messenger when you have finished telling the King all the news about the fighting then if the Kings anger rises and if he says to you why did you go so near the city to fight did you not know that they would shoot from the wall who killed Abba Malik son of these names jerubbaal did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at the bez why did you go so near the wall then you shall say your servant to Uriah the Hittite is dead - so he delivers that message he knows that Uriah is dead and when the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead jumping down to verse 26 she made lamentation for him when the morning was over David sent and brought her to his house and she became his wife and bore him a son these are Biggie's these are what we consider big sins right adultery murder cover-up this is big if this happened in today's age this would be all over the news and we would hear a lot of people condemning David condemning Bathsheba they'd be in a lot of trouble and and we consider those big thins and it's pointed out to David the Prophet Nathan points out his sin to him and he realizes and something that I think that you may know you may not know when you've sinned which we all do when you sin doesn't it hurt it hurts physically you can't eat you can't sleep if you've murdered someone I don't know how you couldn't not run and confess to someone tell someone it physically hurts to bear the burden of sin flip over to Psalm 51 if you open up your Bible to the middle you'll almost be there and so it's Psalm 51 so these sins are what are the driving force behind Psalm 51 David writes his confession out in this Psalm and okay and I say this all the time but this really is my favorite pretty sure I love this I love this because it is so bold so honest and he lays it all out there let's read it have mercy on me O God according to your steadfast love according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions who else has the mercy who else is able to forgive as David needs that forgiveness but the law wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin for I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me against you you alone have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment again do you hear that we talk about this all the time that we sin when we sin we are sinning against God and we are absolutely worthy of his wrath and yet with David we cry for that same mercy we cry for that forgiveness from the only one who can offer us mercy indeed verse 5 indeed I was born guilty a sinner when my mother conceived me you desire truth in the inward being therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow let me hear joy and gladness let the bones that you have crushed rejoice here's that physical physical response the bones crushing hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities this is my favorite verse CLE a create in me a clean heart O God and put a new and right spirit within me who can do that we cannot do that for ourselves we cannot create a new and right spirit for ourselves at all we're born in sin we're born guilty the only one who can create in us a clean and right spirit is the Lord do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain in me a willing spirit then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you deliver me from bloodshed O God O God of my salvation and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance Oh Lord opened my lips and mouth will declare your praise for you have no delight in sacrifice if I were to give a burnt offering you would not be pleased the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart O God you will not despise the Lord wants us to come to him begging for that mercy the Lord wants to lavish us with redemption with forgiveness oh my gosh these are the big sins what we consider the big sins that David is confessing and asking for forgiveness and do we know what happens with David he absolutely has to deal with the earthly consequences of this but out of his branch he gets the ultimate forgiveness we get Jesus out of the branch of David if God can forgive David surely surely he can forgive us so now we're gonna go back to Corey and what does this mean in her life what what did this mean in her life and what does this mean in our life so does anyone remember Oh again small catechism pop quiz you know I do this you should all just keep going with your small catechisms right okay who remembers in the Lord's Prayer the fifth petition and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and what does this mean oh I thought I thought you were raising your hand okay we pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins or deny our prayer because of them we are neither worthy of the things for which we pray nor have we deserved them but we ask that he would give them all to us by grace for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment so we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us so we read about the horrors or some of the horrors that Corey experienced her dad died her sister died her her sister was beaten in front of her she was malnourished she was mocked and laughed at she was humiliated she was exposed to the elements what happened it was at a church service in Munich that I saw him this is post-war the former SS man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Robbins Brook he was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time and suddenly it was all there the room full of mocking men the heaps of clothing Betsy's pane blanched face he came up to me as the church was emptying beaming and bowing how grateful I am for your message Fraulein he said to think that as you say he has washed my sins away his hand was thrust out to shake mine and I who had preached so often to the people in bloom and all the need to forgive kept my hand at my side even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me I saw the sin of them Jesus Christ had died for this man was I going to ask for more Lord Jesus I prayed forgive me and help me to forgive him I tried to smile I struggled to raise my hand I could not I felt nothing not the slightest spark of warmth or chair and so again I breathed a silent prayer Jesus I cannot forgive him give me your forgiveness as I took his hand the most incredible thing happened from my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him while into my heart spring a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me and so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than our goodness that the world's healing hinges but on his when he tells us to love our enemies he gives along with the command the love itself she had gone to hell an earthly hell and this man who created that how part of that hell for her he stood before her saying oh it was a great message I heard that Jesus forgives my sins through your lips how was she supposed to forgive this man but notice it's not out of her power that she forgives is it it's out of Jesus it's out of the love of Christ the forgiveness that we have in Christ that she was able to extend forgiveness to that man and she was overcome with love for this man who had put her through hell and she could forgive him truly forgive him because she had that strength from Jesus so what that means for us in our own lives when we pray that prayer we pray it every single week probably a lot of us pray it at home daily forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against it's not out of our own power but we are called to forgive and I love how she brings it back to Jesus if Jesus already died for the person who has sinned against you if Jesus has forgiven those sins certainly we can call on him to help us to forgive because often when we hold on to that sin against us we too are burdened and we hold on to it and we bear the weight of that sin and we have no release of that so as we go forth as we think about the heroes of faith whether it's strength or peace or mercy or forgiveness we can turn every single time to realize that our strength that our peace that any mercy we may have and forgiveness that we may give truly is sourced at the cross truly is sourced in Jesus Christ because the hell that they endured the sin that we endure whether we commit it or we are sinned against it was already dealt with on the cross it was already overcome through Jesus Christ and we can take that into our daily lives to live out our faith we don't have to be amazing heroes we don't have to become famous to live our faith because when we are living out our faith it is known in the kingdom it's known to those around us and that should be good enough so go forth forgive be forgiven confessed read read David love that confession 51 so on 51 Psalm 51 and I think that's it two minutes over not to that please forgive me you Have you ever tried to communicate with someone that just does not seem to communicate in the same way? names of churches interest me I've always maintained that this church she has a great name living word why it refers to the word the Lord Jesus Christ it refers to Scripture it draws on the Hebrew verses there in terms of the word being living and active it is an incredible and wonderful name for a church some churches will designate themselves numerically sometimes you'll hear First Lutheran Church your second Baptist Church etc I came across recently a church and the name of the church was the tenth Presbyterian Church you have to do some serious accounting in a community there to make sure you've got your numbers right for that right today I want to use the numerical approach to naming a church and I'd like to name a church that we see in Holy Scripture it doesn't reveal this name to us in the Word of God but I think this name would be appropriate specifically the first Church of the Gentiles the first Church of the Gentiles and what we're going to see today is what occurred in the First Church of the Gentiles what they were called in the first Church of the Gentiles and what they did in the first Church of the Gentiles now to put this into a context for us you'll recall that in acts the tenth chapter you have it's an incredibly important chapter that's why we spent so much time in it in the tenth chapter of the book of Acts you have the message that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not only for the Jew but it's for the non Jew it's for the Gentile in the 11th Peter goes and he goes back to the church in Jerusalem and tells them what God has been doing among the Gentiles and the response take a look at chapter 11 verse 18 when they heard this they were silenced and they praised God saying then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life you then have more witnessing to the Gentiles notice in verse 21 please chapter 11 the scripture says the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord Barnabas then comes from the church in Jerusalem he comes to encourage these new believers he calls and exhorts them to remain faithful and to be devoted and what you have here in Antioch is the birth of a church and the name I'd like to give it this morning the first church of the Gentiles the first church of the Gentiles so let's pick up our story let's go to verse 25 now chapter 11 then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch you remember Saul Saul had dedicated his life to the eradication of Christianity Saul said if I run across a Christian they're gonna be thrown into prison we're gonna kill these Christians we're gonna eradicate this movement God met him on the road to Damascus transformed his heart turned him into a believer and the last we heard about Saul was back in the ninth chapter and Saul was going guess where to Tarsus de Tarsus so Barnabas Barnabas knows exactly who he wants to help him here in Antioch and so he goes to Tarsus to look for Saul Galatians tells us that during that period from the ninth chapter of Acts to the eleventh chapter of acts that paul had gone into syria and cilicia we know from Scripture that churches were born certainly Paul would have founded them and now Barnabas is gonna team up with Paul team up and they're gonna minister to this new church the first church of the Gentiles just reflect on this a second that is quite a team isn't it that is quite a pastoral team for the church church for the first Church of the Gentiles in Antioch to have Barnabas and pull that's a strong team strong team what do they do there at the first church look please halfway through verse 25 so it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people they talked remember back in the sixth chapter of Acts when you had the food distribution to the widows and the Apostle says we need to bring together a team that can do this they said and we ourselves will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word they understood that their calling was to teach notice what happens look at chapter 13 verse 1 scripture says now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers so as the pastoral team ven of Barnabas and Paul Minister in Antioch as they're teaching who's born but more teachers right they're instructed and now they themselves will teach what occurred at the First Church of the Gentiles they taught and they talked and they talked that's why there's Sunday school for age three through adult that's why Sunday school never ends until the Lord takes you home that's why there's small groups that gather together and study that's why there's a men's group and a women's group and they study that's why when the youths get together they study that's why when the kids go in for music on Wednesday nights they study what it is that they're singing what the words are that's why they're taught the great hymns of the church they're taught how come this hymn has remained for centuries here they're taught how great hymns preach that's why pastor malonic and I are working on the formation of an Academy here at Living Word we're gonna roll it out in the fall this is an academy it's a three-year program some thirteen classes that we're gonna combine together and we're going to teach it's gonna be theology it's gonna be doctrine it's gonna be biblical studies it's gonna be Christian caregiving it's gonna be witnessing there is no other Church in the Metroplex that is doing this and our prayer is is that every single person will enroll in this Academy will go through this three-year program receive the certificate that other churches in the area will become a part of it this is like a mini seminary that we are putting together for the expressed purpose of equipping the Saints for the work of ministry and what's going to be at the heart of it we're gonna teach and we're gonna teach and we're gonna tee and we're gonna make teachers that then go out and in even greater ways defend the faith why when someone in our faith community when they move out of our service area often times they'll say pastor can you recommend a church to me sometimes I can other times I can't but in the times that I can't what I do is I share with them please do this when you go to choose a church choose the church based upon what she teaches what she teaches it doesn't matter whether it's large doesn't matter whether it's small doesn't matter what's medium or in the whole full range of how churches come choose the church I'll say based upon what she teaches don't choose it based upon program is you can have the greatest program and the life of a church since the Lord Jesus walked this earth but if the teaching is bad what does it matter don't don't choose it based upon friend lines his friends come and go people come and move away don't choose it because your next-door neighbor has a friend of your child and they go to this particular church don't use it that way don't use it based upon the demographics don't choose it for any other reason than what the Church teaches because you see it's the teaching that forms us it's the teaching that God uses to transform us into who he wants to be it's the teaching that remains for your children it's the teaching that they then will pass on to the next generation when the church in Antioch the first Church of the Gentiles when they gathered they didn't gather to be entertained they didn't gather to have their ears tickled with cute stories from the preacher they didn't gather to have their opinions validated by the preacher they gathered they gathered to be taught because the teaching was paramount what they do in the First Church of the Gentiles what occurred they just taught and they just kept on teaching because that's by God's grace how mature disciples are born what were they called in the first church of the Gentiles look with me please at the last part of verse 26 and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians Christians the first place in scripture where Christians are ever referred to as Christians called a lot of things are called witnesses brothers and sisters followers of the way there's many different designations this is the first use of Christians and you know what the birth of this designation was not a compliment it was a form of derision it was born out of the derision of the pagans Christian honey the Greek word there means the party of Christ you belong to Christ so they said ah you belong to the party of Christ aren't you you are you're a Christian they'd say you don't belong to the party of Caesar like we do you belong to the party of Christ and so Christians was a term of derision derision the early Christians they wore that with a badge of honor badge of honor Becki the historian Eusebius says of an early martyr he turned to his torturers and said to his torturers I am a Christian I'm they belong to Christ they belong to him they didn't deserve that none of us deserve it we're sinners every last one of us we sin against him in thought word indeed what we've done and what we've left undone what we deserve is Hell itself but the Lord Jesus Christ has borne our sins on the cross his tomb is empty the sacrifice has been accepted God comes and claims us as his own in the waters of Baptism gives us the gifts of life eternal in faith and the Holy Spirit and eternal life he makes us a member of the family he says to us you're mine you're mine [Music] that's why Paul says in Romans the fourteenth chapter he says whether we live or whether we die we are the Lord's it's the Christian they belong to Christ they belong to him what occurred they taught what were they called Christians what they do what they do look when they please at verse 27 at that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch one of them named Agabus stood up predicted by the spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world and this took place during the reign of Claudius which is a little aside here Claudius reigned from 41 to 54 there are several historians secular historians from the day who recorded severe famines that affected Israel in 44 and 45 exactly as what was predicted exactly so what they do verse 29 the disciples determined that according to their ability each would send relief to the believers living in Judea this they did sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul that's what they do they loved in Jesus name and who they loved they loved the Jews the very people who for so long just hated them hated them didn't matter didn't matter they just loved them they gave proportionately those who had more gave more those who had less they gave less but both was proportional sacrifice they loved they had been claimed by the Lord Jesus Christ they were followers of him they belong to him Jesus Christ had given his all dying for them and rising for them and so as the act of service to the one who had served them through the cross and the resurrection they lived out their faith and they just loved they loved them they said here's help here's help they thought they were called Christians and they lived out their name they lived out their name today seven eighth graders are about ready to go through the rite of confirmation this is the time of year when you see a lot of gowns academic gowns they're gown is different this isn't a gallon of achievement it's a gallon of giftedness it's white because God has claimed them as his own in the waters of baptism and has given to them of the righteous garment of the Lord Jesus Christ this is not a gown of academic achievement this is a gown of rejoicing it's a gift when they rise they're not going to make their decision for Jesus today because Jesus has already made his decision about them in the waters of baptism when Jesus said calling them each by name you're mine you are mine no if ands or buts about it and he took his word 1 through the cross and the empty tomb and just washed the in the promises these confrim ends have been taught two years Wednesday night we've studied the small catechism of Martin Luther you see four years in Sunday school they learned the Bible stories and the doctrine and then they get the confirmation and they learned the doctrine and go right back to the Bible stories you see it comes out in both ways for two years studied they were taught and their gown today does not mean it's graduation day it's not graduation day from being taught it's a declaration that indeed the teaching of Almighty God goes on and on and on until that day when he takes us home and so when they rise we're gonna see people that have been taught and that continue to be taught when they rise we're gonna see Christians Christians and they wear that name proudly because they have been made one who belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and that is solely God's gracious act on their life as he transformed them into believers when they stand these ones who have been taught they stand as Christians and when they stand that is a declaration to the congregation that indeed having completed this period of study in their life they are ready to take on a greater responsibility in the life of Christ's Church they are saying in a specific way to each one of us today that they're ready in in greater ways to live out who they are Christians call to love and serve in the name of Christ when they stand it is a reminder to us that the First Church of the Gentiles they were taught named and they lived out their name and in living word lutheran church in Grapevine Texas taught named and living out their name and the same thing that happened in the First Church of the Gentiles by God's grace happens right here right here amen [Music] Would you open your Bible, please, with me to Psalm 90 for our study today?
Video citations
- Romans 9-11: Lesson 4 — Thank you so much for this day. We thank you for the sun that shines for the birds that chirp and for truly all of creation that sings praise to you. Lord, we thank you that we are part of creation…
- Romans 9-11: Lesson 3 — Thank you so much. We thank you that we are in the season of Easter and truly as a Christian people. We already live in Easter and we are promised that we will live eternally in Easter. Lord, we…
- David- Lesson 5 — Grace, this Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this day of grace. We give you thanks for your promises. We ask now for your blessing upon this class to your glory in Jesus' name. Well, we…
- David - Lesson 4 (2-22-16) — Thank you for the uniqueness and the beauty of this day. We thank you for your grace that surround us, that your promises that uphold us. We pray now for your presence in your blessing upon this…
- David - Lesson 3 — We'll go ahead and pray for you. Good morning. Let's pray together please. Grace is Heavenly Father. We give you thanks for today, for calling us together to this place, for giving us Word and…
- David - Lesson 2 (2-8-26) — Good morning. Let's join in prayer, please. Grace is heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Unique in all of history. Your day of grace, we thank you for gathering us together in this year's…
- David - Lesson 1 (2-1-26) — Thank you. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time to be in your house on this your day. We thank you. How you come to feed us through Word and Sacrament and to send us forth.…
- Angels - Lesson 4 (1-18-26) — Heavenly Lord, we thank you for your grace. We thank you that you are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the God above all. And we thank you that in your Almighty and sovereign love and wisdom,…
- Angels: Lesson 2 — Thank you so much. We thank you for your grace. We thank you for this day. We thank you for the good news that we are saved by grace through faith and it is not our own doing. Lord, we thank you…
- Angels- Lesson 1 (12-21-25) — We thank you for the birth that we are so eager to celebrate this week. We are thankful for all the angels that proclaimed of your coming, that proclaimed to the shepherds of your birth, and that…
- Confession: Repentance and Forgiveness - Lesson 4 — Thank you. Heavenly Lord, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you that we are in the season of Advent looking towards the celebration of the time in which you entered into humanity into…
- confession lesson 3 final — Thank you so much for the gift of confession. Because with confession, we know that absolution is soon to follow. We thank you that you give us an opportunity to confess our sins to you with one…
- Confession: Repentance and Forgiveness - Lesson 2 — Have a good Lord with them, so much, with them for your grace, with them for your love, with them for your mercy. Lord, we know that, left to our bottom, device that is left to our bottom, that the…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 9 — Good morning. Let's pray together. Holy God, we give you thanks for this time in your word, your word is truth. We ask for your blessing upon all the classes that are occurring now this hour to your…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 8 — Good morning. Let's join in prayer, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time in your word for your word is truth. We thank you that you call us together on the Lord's day…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord Lesson 7 — Good morning. Let's join together, please, in a word of prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this opportunity to open up the pages of Scripture. We know that the voice that we…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 6 — Good morning. Let's join in prayer, please. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for today and this opportunity to be in your house. We pray now, O Lord, that…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 5 — Good morning. Let's pray, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your word, for your word is truth. We ask Father for your blessing upon this lesson today. Guide us and lead us,…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 4 — Good morning. Let's pray please. Holy God, we give you thanks for this, your day, you call and you gather us as your people, you have something to give us. Word and sacrament. We thank you for your…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 3 — Good morning. Let's join together in prayer, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to be in your house on this the Lord's day. You have called us and you have gathered us together…
- Joshua: Servant of the Lord - Lesson 1 — Well, good morning. What a joy Raleigh Sunday is. As we rally a new around the Word of God and so great to start this new season. With you, why don't we join in prayer, please? Gracious Heavenly…
- Prepared with a Reason: Lesson 5 — Thank you. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for this opportunity to be in your house. We thank you, O Lord, how you feed us through word and sacrament and then send us forth to be missionaries.…
- Prepared with a Reason: Lesson 4 — Heavenly Lord, we thank you. We thank you for your word, your word is truth. We ask that you would use this time of study to lead us by your word that we would know you, that we would know your will…
- Prepared with a Reason: Lesson 3 — Heavenly Father, you created us in your image. Though we humans fell into sin, you chose to redeem us through your Son. As we study your Word and your world today, open our eyes to the truth of who…
- Galatians: Lesson 8 — Lord Jesus, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your love, your grace, your mercy. You never, never end in your love for us. And we thank you so much for that. We ask that you would…
- Galatians: Lesson 7 — Thank you. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this opportunity to be in your house, to receive word and sacrament, and then to be sent forth. We praise you for the holy scriptures that…
- Galatians: Lesson 6 — Lord Jesus, we thank you so much. We thank you for calling us as your own, for washing us in the waters of baptism to be redeemed and saved by your grace. Lord, we ask that as we continue to study…
- Galatians: Lesson 5 — Thank you so much for this day. We thank you so much for your love, your mercy, and your grace. Lord, we thank you that we are promised that we stand redeemed by your blood and that we have…
- Galatians: Lesson 4 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You. We thank You so much for Your Word. Your Word is truth and Your Word. Your Word delivers us. It delivers us through hearing that we are saved by the blood of Jesus…
- Galatians: Lesson 3 — Lord, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your grace. We thank you that we are free to live in your grace. Lord, we thank you that you have given to us your spirit of truth. We ask…
- Galatians: Lesson 1 — Thank you so much for your word. Your word is truth. We thank you that you guide us through your word. That you guide us first calling us as your own. That we would know that we are saved. That we…
- Wisdom Incarnate: 1-19-25 — Lord Jesus, we thank you so much. We thank you that you are the wisdom incarnate of God that through your wisdom, which is greater than our own, you have made yourself known. You have made your love…
- Wisdom Incarnate: Lesson 4 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You for Your grace. We thank You for the love that we have in You. Lord, we ask that You would use this time of study to grow us in the faith that You have blessed us with,…
- Wisdom Incarnate: Lesson 2 — Okay, let's open in prayer. Heavenly Lord, we thank You for Your grace. We thank You for Your mercy and we thank You that You give us every opportunity to share Your good news with those around us.…
- Wisdom Incarnate Lesson 1 — Good morning. We are going to start a new adult education series or topic today and we'll get into that in just a second. But first, let's pray. Lord Jesus, we thank you so much. We thank you for…
- Lessons from the Mission Field 11-24-24 — Lord Jesus, we thank you for your grace. We thank you for being the God that you are, the God who redeems us, saves us and calls us to be your own. Lord we ask that in this time of study together…
- Lessons from the Mission Field 11-17-24 — So we talked last week about how we are all missionaries, how we are not necessarily called to go and proclaim the gospel in China, we may be, but we may not be. But we are called to go and make…
- Lesson from the Mission Field 11-10-24 — Good morning. Okay, so we are starting a new Sunday school class. We'll be doing this for three weeks. And I think we're going to have a lot of fun with this. But fun is always a driving force for…
- 1,2,3 John: Lesson 9 — I, good morning. Let's pray together, please. Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor. And further us with your continual help that in all our works be gone, continued,…
- 1,2,3 John: Lesson 7 — Well, good morning. Well, the first thing I want to say is you folks can really keep a secret. Hi, goodness. Pastor Malonex shared about 25 years here and celebration afterwards how kind. Thank you…
- 1,2,3 John : Lesson 6 — Let's pray together, please. Almighty God, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts that He may rule and direct us according to your will, comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, defend us…
- 1,2,3 John: Lesson 4 — What a beautiful day the Lord has given us. Let's join together, please, in prayer. Almighty God, grant to your church your Holy Spirit in the wisdom that comes down from above, that your Word may…
- 1,2,3 John: Lesson 9-22-24 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Merciful God, we humbly implore you to cast the bright beams of your light upon your church that we being instructed by the doctrine of the blessed…
- 1,2,3 John — Good morning. Let's join together in prayer, please. Gracious God our and Lord, apart from you, we cannot know ourselves rightly. And apart from the gospel, we cannot know you rightly. Teach us to…
- Psalm: Lesson 10 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time in your Word. We give you thanks for the God that you are. You rule your people in justice and love. We confess that we have not always…
- Psalms Lesson 9 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for Your grace. We thank You for being the God that You are. We thank You that You are the God of creation. You are the God of redemption and You are the God that…
- Psalms: Lesson 8 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for Your grace. We thank You so much for Your Word and we thank You so much for letting us know You through Your Word. We ask that You would bless this time of…
- Palms: Lesson 7 — Thank you for your love, thank you for your grace, thank you for your mercy, and thank you for calling us together as your own children together. Lord, we ask that you would use this day, this time…
- Psalms: Lesson 6 — Thank you. Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for gathering us here once again. We thank You that You have given us Your Word and that You have given us Your Spirit which leads us in all truth. And…
- Psalms: Lesson 5 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for being our God and for calling us to be Your children. We ask that as we study Your Word together, that You would grow our faith in You and our service of You…
- The Psalms: Lesson 4 — We're going to be studying from Psalm 68. Definitely this week, very possibly further next week. It's a really cool psalm, and Martin Luther really loved this, as it gives us the story of God, but…
- Isaiah: Lesson 18 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the richness of this day and the richness of this week. We ask, O Lord, as we move through holy week that You will indeed bless these services to…
- Isaiah: Lesson 17 — Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for this, the Lord's day, and the joy of being in your house. We pray, Father, for Your blessing as we open up the pages of Scripture. Confident that the voice…
- Isaiah: Lesson 16 — Grace the Seventhly Father, we give you thanks. We praise you for your goodness. We praise you for your grace. We praise you for the solid word upon which we stand, the word that you give us, the…
- Isaiah: Lesson 15 — Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the beauty of today, but more importantly, we give you thanks for the beauty of your promises. We give you thanks for the beauty of who you are. Blessed we…
- Isaiah: Lesson 13 — Holy and gracious God, we give you thanks for this day unique in all of history. We give you thanks, O Lord, for the faithfulness of your promises that carry us through each and every day that…
- Isaiah 2 11 24 final — Holy and gracious God, we come before you, Throne today, lambs of your own redeeming and sheep of your own fold, and in the confidence set as ours through the blood of Jesus Christ. We thank you for…
- Isaiah: Lesson 11 — Gracious Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to be in your house on this year day. We thank you for the gifts that you have to give us word and sacrament. We pray, Father, that you will kindle the…
- Psalms: Lesson 3 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for Your Word. We thank You for the clarifying truth that You bring to us through Your Word. Lord, we ask that by Your Spirit You would lead us in this time of…
- Psalms 1-7-24 — Heavenly Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for this new year. We thank you for this new time of study. Lord, we ask that you would lead us by your spirit through the study that we have this…
- Isaiah: Lesson 9 — Gracious Heavenly Father, with thankfulness in our hearts, we come to your house. For you have gathered us here. We thank you, Lord, for word and for sacrament and for how you send us forth, as…
- Isaiah: Lesson 8 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the opportunity to be in your house and to receive your word. We give you thanks for your goodness and for your greatness and the opportunity to open…
- Isaiah: Lesson 7 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the preciousness of your Word and the opportunity to gather around Word and sacrament. Blessed we pray this time of study to your glory and praise in…
- Isaiah: Lesson 6 — The gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for the beauty of today and the beauty of your promises. We ask Father for your rich blessing upon our time and your word today. We thank You for the…
- Isaiah: Lesson 5 (10-15-23) — Good morning. Let's pray, please. Holy and gracious God would enjoy to be on this your house, on this your day. And we ask, O Lord, for your blessing, we open up the pages of Scripture, confident,…
- Isaiah: Lesson 4 (10-1-23) — Blessed, Lord God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to gather in your house on this the Lord's day. We give you thanks for your word, O Lord, for your word is truth. And Lord, as we open up…
- Revelation: Lesson 5 — Thank you so much for today. We thank you for every day that you have blessed us with this side of heaven. Lord, we thank you that today is but one day in all of eternity and that we will be called…
- Revelation: Lesson 4 — Lord, we thank you for your grace, we thank you for your word, we thank you that your word is indeed truth and you lead us by your spirit into all things that are true. Lord, open our minds, open…
- Revelation: Lesson 2 — Let's pray. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for the promises that are given to us through your word and that are answered for us through Jesus. Lord, we thank you so much for your…
- Genesis: Lesson 17 — Well, good morning, and welcome to, welcome to Holy Week, what a fantastic time this is in the life of the community, in the life of the church, isn't it? And what a wonderful time to study God's…
- Genesis: Lesson 16 — Lord, for your word, we thank you, Father, that you come to us in word and sacrament, we praise you, and we thank you that you call us your own and that you call us your servants in Jesus' name.…
- Genesis: Lesson 15 — Good morning and welcome back to our study on Genesis. Let's share a prayer together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your goodness and for your grace. We give you thanks…
- Genesis: Lesson 14 — Good morning. Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time and your word for your word is truth. We give you thanks, O Lord, for your grace…
- Genesis: Lesson 11 — We'll good morning. Another beautiful day that Lord has given us, and welcome to our continued study here on Genesis. Let's pray together. Gracious Heavenly Father, we do indeed thank you for the…
- Genesis: Lesson 9 — Good morning. Let's pray to get the place. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time to study your word. How precious O Lord is your word, inerrant and infallible. And so Father, as…
- New Beginnings: Lesson 4 — Okay, so let's just dive right in. Let's open up to Genesis chapter 6. I'm hoping that we can get through three. I'm hoping we can get through three. We'll see. Actually, we're going to. So that's…
- New Beginnings: Lesson 3 — Thank you so much. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for this beautiful day. We thank you for this blessed church that you have called us to be a part of. We thank you so much for your…
- New Beginnings: Lesson 2 — Thank you. Lord, we thank you for this morning. We thank you for your goodness, your glory. We thank you for every new beginning. You give us each day. You allow for us to draw in breath for our…
- New Beginnings: Lesson 1 — Okay, so we're gonna go ahead and begin with a word of prayer. Please join me. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for this glorious day. We thank you that we have been gathered here to worship…
- The Tabernacle: Lesson 3 — Thank you so much. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the blessings that you continue to pour out on us every single day. We wake never knowing what the day will hold, but we know that the…
- The Tabernacle: Lesson 2 — Okay, let's go ahead and open in prayer. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for having gone to your people, the Israelites, to dwell amongst them. And we thank you that you then have promised…
- Genesis: Lesson 8 — Well, good morning. What a beautiful day the Lord has given us today, huh? Wow, 70 degrees and the blue skies, what a great day the Lord has given us. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly…
- Genesis: Lesson 7 — Blessed we pray now, this study to your glory and to your praise in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, last week we studied chapter 17 to 19, and you'll notice that God had changed the name of Abram to…
- Genesis: Lesson 6 — Good morning. Thank the Lord for rain today, huh? Wasn't that a wonderful sound? I had read about rain in a book, you know, and to actually see it was really something else. And it wasn't on the…
- Genesis: Lesson 5 — Well, good morning. Let's share a prayer together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the beauty of today, but chiefly we thank you for the beauty of your promises. We praise you, O…
- Genesis: Lesson 4 — Well, good morning. What a gorgeous day the Lord has given us today. Ha, beautiful. Let us pray, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we do indeed thank you for the beauty of today, unique day and all…
- Genesis: Lesson 3 — Good morning. Let's pray together. Hold in gracious God we give you thanks for your goodness and for your grace. We give you thanks for the opportunity to go forth and to be salt and light into the…
- Genesis: Lesson 2 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to be in your house and to open up your word. We praise you, O Lord, for your infallible word. It is the bedrock…
- Genesis: Lesson 1 — Well, good morning. What a joy it is on Rally Sunday to begin a whole new season of teaching here, a whole new season. That's going to extend all the way through May of 2023. And it's just great to…
- Resurrections: Lesson 4 (5-22-22) — Good morning. Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blessed, and make our hearts your place of rest. Come with your grace in heavenly aid, and fill the hearts which…
- Resurrections: Lesson 2 (5-8-22) — Let's pray. The strife is ore and the battle done. Now is the victors, triumph one. Now be the song of praise begun. Hallelujah. The powers of death have done their worst, but Christ their legions…
- Around the World: Lesson 5 — Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you that you have led us to the truth, the truth of our sinfulness, the truth of redemption in you and the truth of eternal life in you and you alone. Lord, we…
- Around the World: Lesson 4 — Good morning. So we are going to open in prayer and then dive in. So let us pray. Lord we thank you so much. We thank you for your oneness. We thank you for your sovereignty. And we thank you that…
- Around the World: Lesson 3 — So good morning, surprise, surprise. We have a lot to get to today. So before we begin, let us open in prayer. Lord, we thank You so much. We thank You for the Christian witness that You have given…
- Around the World: Lesson 2 — So let's open in prayer. Lord, we thank You so much for gathering us here today. We thank You for Your Word of both law and gospel. We thank You that You have called us to live in the light of Your…
- Around the World: Lesson 1- Judaism — Good morning. I tell you what, I thought I would start with the easy world religion because you know we're Christians and we know so much out of where we learn and work so much out of the Old…
- Glory: Glory in Our Rule with Christ — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Lord Jesus, thank You for the forgiveness You won by submitting to the cross. Let our lives give thanks to You with willing and happy service, faithful…
- Glory: Glory in Witness — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. O Lord, open our lips and our mouths in order for us to show forth your praise. Empower us to be faithful witnesses to your love. Bend our knee before the…
- Glory: Glory in Tribulation — Good morning. Let us pray together, please. Forgive us, Lord, for doubting your love in times of trouble. Renew us by the forgiving power of the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father,…
- Glory: Glory in Our Union with God — Good morning. Let us pray together, please. We praise you, Jesus, for the glorious unity between us and the Holy Trinity, that you made possible by your cross. Help us more fully understand and…
- Glory: Glory in Christ’s Cross — Good morning. Let's pray. Help us, dear Jesus, to glory in your cross. Lift our eyes to see your great and final victory on Calvary. Move us by your patient love to glorify your cross in all our…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 6 — So let's open and pray. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for gathering us here once again to learn more about you and to know you better. Lord, we ask that as we conclude our study on the…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 5 — And we'll begin with prayer. Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for calling the 12 men that you called. We thank you for showing us their flaws and their weaknesses, as well as their strengths…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 4 — Let's pray. Lord, we thank You so much for Your Word. We thank You for gathering us today to hear Your Word. We ask that Your Spirit would guide us, that we would learn from the men that You called…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 3 — Good morning. All right, so we are going to be jumping back into the 12 ordinary men, though today we will be looking at one ordinary man, Andrew, but before we do, let us open in prayer. Heavenly…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 2 — We do have a lot to cover, so we are first going to open in prayer. Let us pray. Lord, we thank You so much for gathering us here. We thank You for Your Word that You are constantly shaping us,…
- Twelve Ordinary Men: Lesson 1 — Good morning. So today we are studying our study on the apostles, which should be fun. I guess I've been into the history of the church this year, so we're historicizing. But we are going to, of…
- Numbers in the Bible: Lesson 4 — Good morning. Let us join in prayer, please. Blessed Father in heaven, you are abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. We thank you for the grace and mercy…
- Numbers in the Bible: Lesson 3 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Gracious God, we ask your blessing on our daily lives, especially our relationships. Give blessing to all we do and say, use us as a blessing to others in…
- Numbers in the Bible: Lesson 2 — Good morning and welcome. Let us join together, please, in a word of prayer. Almighty in everlasting God, since you have given us your servants, grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity…
- Reformation: Lesson 5 — Okay, well let's turn to the Lord in prayer because that is always a good place to start. Let's pray. Lord we thank you so much for this morning, this day. It is a day that you have made and we do…
- Reformation: Lesson 4 — Let's open in prayer. Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for this morning. We thank You for calling us and gathering us here to worship You and to learn more from You and about You and to know You…
- Reformation: Lesson 3 — Good morning. Let's begin with prayer. Lord, we thank You so much. We thank You for this day. It is a day You have made and we do rejoice and we are glad in it. We thank You for all the blessings…
- Reformation: Lesson 2 — Okay, so we are in week two of the Reformation, and so I'm really, we have so much, so much, so much to get to. So let's open in prayer. Lord we thank You, we thank You for Your Word, we thank You…
- Reformation: Lesson 1 — Good morning. Oh my goodness. It is so exciting to be here in person. I'm not staring at a camera. I get to actually look at you. This is really, really exciting. And also for those of you who…
- "Trees" - Lesson 3 — Welcome back to our study on trees. This is session number three. Let us pray together, please. Lord God, Heavenly Father, you provided healing for your sinful people by raising up a bronze serpent…
- Apologetics in Action - Lesson 3 — Good morning and welcome back to adult education. We are wrapping up our class today on apologetics in action. We have a lot to get to so we're going to dive right in. I do want to say that if you…
- Apologetics in Action - Lesson 2 — Good morning and welcome to adult education. We are continuing with our class of apologetics in action. And before we turn to defending the faith, let us first turn to the Lord in faith in prayer.…
- Apologetics in Action - Lesson 1 — Good morning and welcome to adult education. We are going to be studying apologetics in action. And apologetics we know is a defense of the faith. We might ask ourselves why is apologetics important…
- Biblical Prophecy: Lesson 5 — Good morning and welcome back to our study on Prophecy. This is the concluding class in this series and I just want to briefly go over where we were last time in our study together. We took a look…
- Biblical Prophecy: Lesson 4 — Welcome back to our study on biblical prophecy. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for this time and your word. And especially, we want to thank you, O Lord, for the…
- Idols: Lesson 5 — Good morning and welcome to the fifth and concluding class in this series on idols. Let us pray together please. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks now for this time in your word your word…
- Idols: Lesson 2 — Good morning. We continue today with our study on idols, but before we begin, let us devote this time to our Lord through prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father, how precious it is to open up your Holy…
- Eyes on God; Lesson 5 — Good morning and welcome. Let us pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to open up the pages of Scripture, for we know that the voice that we hear is your voice. So Father, as we study…
- Eyes on God: Lesson 2 — Good morning and welcome. This is session number two in a class that I've entitled Eyes on God. And what we're doing is we're taking a look at the pandemic through the lenses of Holy Scripture. And…
- Eyes on God - Lesson 1 — Good morning and welcome. I look forward to sharing with you over these next five weeks special class that I have entitled Eyes on God. And what I'd like to do is I'd like to examine with you the…
- The Art of Neighboring: Lesson #3 — Good morning. How are you doing today? It is so wonderful to be able to gather with you again and to continue today. We're actually wrapping up our adult education hour on the art of neighboring. I…
- The Art of Neighboring: Lesson #2 — Good morning. It is so good to be here, gathered with you yet another Sunday. We hope that you're enjoying these adult education classes. We're hoping that you're able to put into practice some of…
- The Art of Neighboring — Hey, good morning. Welcome to our adult education hour. I'm very excited to be able to bring this class to you. It is not coincidental that as we were planning the adult education for this school…
- Blessings in Disguise Lesson 3 — Good morning. Good morning, let's pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings that abound, the blessings that you pour out. We thank you also, Lord, for these blessings, some so…
- Blessings in Disguise- Lesson 2 — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Gracious Heavenly Father, how precious is your Word, and what a joy it is to come into your house as you feed us with your very Word. Blessed now we pray…
- Contentment Lesson 4 — And a good morning. Let's pray, please. Gracious God, we give you thanks for today, the word that you place upon our lips and in our heart that word of proclamation. We ask Father that as we study…
- Christology- Lesson 1 — So today we are starting our study on Christ's Dology, which is figuring out how the two natures of Christ work and why both Jesus as truly man and truly God, 100% man, 100% God, why that's true and…
- Contentment: Courses and Patterns — Good morning. Let's pray together, please. Grace is Heavenly Father. We give you thanks for this opportunity to gather around your word. We thank you for the gift of contentment. And we ask, O Lord,…
- Christology- Lesson 5 — Lord, we thank you so much. We thank you for this time to come together and dive further into your word, further into what Scripture has to say about you. We ask that you would bless this time of…
- Christology Lesson 4 — Okay, so quick review because we are shifting over into the humanity or I mean into the divinity of Jesus today, but to go back to look at the humanity of Jesus, we know from biblical sources that…
- Christology- Lesson 3 — Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for this morning, for calling us into gather, to hear Your Word, and to receive Your sacrament. We ask that during this education hour that Your Spirit would…
- Christology- Lesson 2 — Lord, we thank you for calling us and gathering us here together to hear your word preach to us and receive your sacrament. We thank you for this designated time to learn more about about your…
- Understanding Heaven and Hell Part 6 — Today I want to examine with you the question of how do we know that we're going to heaven? And to individualize it more, how do you know that you're going to heaven? How does a person know that…
- Understanding Heaven and Hell Part 5 — Today, I want to explore with you more images of heaven, and specifically we want to focus on the book of Revelation today. Then one class we're going to take a look at, how do we know that we are…
- Understanding Heaven and Hell Part 4 — We studied last week the topic of the justice of God and the fate of the unbeliever. Today I'd like to take a look with you at the topic of the mercy of God and the fate of the redeem. The mercy of…
- 3 The Justice of God and the Fate of the Unredeemed — Today I want to talk with you about the justice of God and the fate of the unbeliever, the justice of God and the fate of the unbeliever. Of all of the seven sessions that we're going to have around…
- 2 What Happens When We Die — We began last week the class understanding heaven and hell and we're going to deal with this subject for about about eight weeks or so. Last week we talked about that when you look at the reality of…
- 1 The Reality of Heaven and Hell — Well, I look forward to beginning this seven-week walk with you on this subject, understanding heaven and hell. And during the summer months is actually when I plan out the entire teaching cycle for…
- Living the Life- Exploring Your Inheritance — Well, we're really early because technically according to the clock it's only 908. So I want to congratulate you for being here so early. Yeah, was getting up this morning hard for anyone? Okay, we…
- Living the Life - Love — It's so good to be back. It was awesome being with the women last weekend. Really great, but it's really good to be back here with all of you that aren't women. And or that could not. Yeah. Or that…
- Desert Flowers #7 — Well, last week as we continued on, we were talking about complexity and simplicity with regard to the prophetic word. Sometimes you'll see as we study a direct application where there will be a…
- Desert Flowers #6 — Well, we continue on in our study this morning. Last week, we took a look at an examination of the last days and understanding that the disciples understood that they were in the last days, but they…
- Minor Prophets January 27, 2019 — Well, last week we took a look at one of the more rugged parts of the prophetic books and that was Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Habakkuk and Zefania. And we saw the weeping prophet Jeremiah, but…
- Rugged 1-20-19 — Well, we have been walking these past few weeks in this series of entitled Flowers in the Desert and just to refresh where we were last week, we were taking a look at the book of Isaiah. That is…
- Flowers Emerge 1-13-19 — We studied last week in our walk in this class called Flowers in the Desert. And specifically, we're taking a look at the prophets from Isaiah to Malachi. And as you walk through that landscape of…
- Advanced Care Planning — doing advanced care planning. I think I know most of you, but I'm Pastor Tim Rairson from South Dakota. I am on a statewide task force to try to increase the number of people who do advanced care…
- Heroes of Forgiveness — okay yes good morning again so we are wrapping up with our heroes of faith today it's our last time that this does not mean that you cannot look up other heroes of faith and see how they how…
- Heros of Peace — Have you ever tried to communicate with someone that just does not seem to communicate in the same way? Were you talk past each other, no pointing at yourself? Were you talk past each other or they…
- Heroes of Strength — So we are going to get started. I'm really excited about this series. The premise of the class, we are going to be looking at Biblical and I use the word character really loosely. They're real…
- The Lutheran Middle 5 — Well today I want to take a look with you at the middle road between good good works and bad good works The middle road between good good works and bad good works When you consider bad good works…
- The Lutheran Middle 1 — One of the emphasis of this congregation because it is an emphasis of Scripture is doctrine. It is incorrect to say that whenever the Bible is taught there's no theology. There's always theology.…
- Comforting Others Session 3 — Well, we took a look last week about the subject of how do you comfort someone who is wondering if God is good or not? And that is the subject of the Odyssey. The Odyssey is the justification that…
- Comforting Others Session 1 — Well, welcome to this new class that's going to carry us through the end of this cycle of teaching. We move into summer on Memorial Day weekend and so this is going to keep us through up until that…
- Comforting Others Session 2 — Well, welcome this this morning. We continue on this class and that is focusing on the subject of bringing comfort to others. Last week we looked at the subject of how do we bring comfort to people…
- Heresies 1 — Well, good morning. Let's pray together, please. Grace is heavenly Father, it is such a joy to be in your house. We thank you that you call us together as your people. We thank you that you have…
- Heresies 3 — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this opportunity to be in your word. We thank you for the truth of Holy Scripture and the wonderful privilege that belongs to us to plummet's depths…
- Heresies 8 — Well, we continue on looking at heresies of old and responses for today. How it ties in to today. Last week we took a look at the heresy of dothatism. The heresy of dothatism was the belief that…
- Heresies 9 — Well, we pick up in our study on the heresies of old, last time that we were together, we studied about what is called a nosticism. Nosticism is the belief that God speaks to us apart from his word,…
- Heresies 10 — Well, we continue along in our study looking at some ancient heresies and how they apply today, where we see the expression of those. The purpose, of course, is so that when you hear these, you'll…
- Heresies 11 — Two weeks ago, we studied about a group called the Judiizers. And the Judiizers, you will recall, were those that said, that in order for a Gentile to become a Christian, they had to adhere to all…
- Heresies 12 — Well, we studied last week about the Sadducees and the Corinthians, and in particular, they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. We hear this expressed in the modern-day form of when…
- Education Witness Style 2 — Gracious Heavenly Father, it is a joy to be in your house on this year day. We thank You, O Lord, that You command us to come, for You have something to give us, word and sacrament. We thank You, O…
- Education Witness Style 4 — Well, welcome back from our little break last week. We were studying last time we got together two weeks ago about how Jesus witnessed to people. We noticed that sometimes Jesus was the one that…
- Education Witness Style 5 — Well, we have come to the last of our witnessing within your personality style classes. It's just a little bit of review where we were last time we got together. We talked about how God gives us…
- Justification 1 What Do We Mean By Justification — We give you thanks, O Lord, that all throughout this your house now and this hour, people from the youngest among us are gathering to receive your word. And we know that when your word is sent…
- Justification 2 Why Do We Need To Be Justified — Father, we confess how difficult it is to see our own sin and unworthiness. Pride runs deep in our sinful hearts. The devil works tirelessly to convince us that we're not desperate beggars before…
- Justification 3 What Moves God To Justify Us — Father, we have failed to obey Your Holy Law. We know that we deserve only Your wrath and punishment. Make sure us today that Your own Son kept Your law perfectly in our place and has given us His…
- Justification 4 Whom Does God Justify — Heavenly Father, it is easy to question your love for us and to have doubts about our salvation. Give us faith to trust you when you tell us that we are saved and to base that trust on the simple…
- Justification 5 Who Benefits From Justification — Jesus, you have carried out the work of our salvation perfectly and completely. Send the Spirit to give a simple trust in you as our Savior. May you receive all the praise for our salvation. May it…
- Justification 6 How Long Does It Take To Be Justified — O spirit, you alone have produced faith in us. The credit for us being believers is all yours. Help us now, O Lord, as we study to acknowledge your grace in giving us the gift of faith, in keeping…
- Justification 7 What Is The Connection Between Justification and Sanctification — Heavenly Father, give us deep and sincere gratitude for the gift of justification to Christ. Fand into flame our love for you by the love you have shown us in winning our salvation. Help us…
- Justification 8 What is the Current and Final Status of the Justified — Father, assure us today that no matter what our hearts may tell us, no matter what the world may say to shake our confidence in the full and free nature of our salvation, that they're wrong. Renew…
- "Actually..." 4-12-26 — To thy own self be true, to thy own self be true. A great man who once walked this earth said or wrote, those words shared, these exact words with the world, a creator of great works, unparalleled…
- "For You" 4-2-26 — There are many sweet, sweet words in Scripture. Off of the top of my head, I think of Psalm 23, and the beautiful beginning verse of the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Or in the prophet…
- Obtaining Eternal Life- "The Test" 3-1-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the gospel of Luke. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you will find that in the New Testament page 62. Luke the 10th…
- "Rooted" 2-22-26 — Please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew 13th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 12 in the New Testament. We are in Matthew 13th chapter. I'm from…
- "Patches and Wineskins" 2-19-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me this evening, to the ninth chapter of the gospel of Matthew, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, that you'll find in the Pew Rackin front of…
- Our Value: "Face to Face" 2-15-26 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the Gospel of Matthew the 13th chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find in front of you or underneath you, the 13th…
- Waiting - "Confidant Waiting" 2-8-26 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to mark the fourth chapter for our time and God's Word if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find the fourth chapter of Mark on page 33…
- Jesus' Stories - “Parables’ Purpose” — What you open your Bible's please with me to the 13th chapter of the gospel of Matthew, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament on page 12.…
- "Fulfilled" 1-11-26 — Would you please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew the third chapter? If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 3 in the New Testament. We're in the Gospel of…
- "Good News" 1-4-26 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark the first chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible which can be found in the Pue and front of you or if you're in the front…
- Second Coming: "Left Behind" 12-7-25 — Who's your open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our time of study. Today, if you're using a Pew edition, you'll find in the rack in front of you or…
- "Grace" - Finding Grace 11-2-25 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture in front of you or underneath you, you're going to find that in…
- "Know" 10-26-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John, the 14th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 95 in the New Testament. We are in the Gospel of…
- God’s claim on us: "Not Your Own" 10-19-25 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the gospel of John, if you're using a few addition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that New Testament page 90 for our study…
- Resurrection and Life: "But Jesus" 10-12-25 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John? If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 91 in the New Testament,…
- “Sustenance” 9-21-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John 6 chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 85 in the New Testament, where in the Gospel of John 6…
- Who am I? "AM and Am Not” 9-14-25 — Jesus is Lord and we can run into the arms of God. Receive O Lord the praise of your people. As we open up your Word, we are confident that the voice that we hear is your voice. And we proclaim…
- Children: "Set Apart for the Way” 8-24-25 — Would you open up your Bibles, please, with me to Proverbs 22nd chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find Proverbs 22 on page 567 in the Old Testament. Proverbs…
- Listening: "What?" 7-27-25 — Would you open up your Bible's please for our time and God's word today to Proverbs the 18th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the Old Testament…
- "Speak" 7-6-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to Proverbs chapter 31, Proverbs 31, if you're using a Puedition of the Bible, this can be found on page 576 in the Old Testament. We're in Proverbs 31. Last…
- Good Fear- When Fear is Good. 6-15-25 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to Proverbs 9th chapter for our time in God's Word today? Proverbs 9th chapter of using a Pew edition, you're going to find that on page 554 in the Old…
- "Reality Check" 6-8-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Book of Proverbs 24th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 569 in the Old Testament, where in the Book of…
- "Wisdom" 6-1-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the book of Proverbs chapter 1, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 547 in the Old Testament. We're in Proverbs chapter 1.…
- "Discipleship" 5-25-25 — Do open your Bibles, please, with me to the 14th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 67 in the New Testament. Luke, the…
- "Imitate" 5-11-25 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to first thisologians the first chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament, page 179. First,…
- "Stumbling" 5-4-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the first letter of John, this is in the New Testament. If you are using a Pue edition of the Bible, it is on page 211 in the New Testament, where in the…
- "Made and Molded" 4-27-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Book of Acts, the second chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, that can be found in the New Testament on page 104. The Book of Acts chapter…
- "God's Personal Love" 4-20-25 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to John the 20th chapter for our study this morning. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll see in the rack in front of you or…
- "Peace" Look Here 4-13-25 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to second Corinthians the fifth chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 159. Second Corinthians the…
- "For Him" 4-6-25 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to second Corinthians the fifth chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 159. Second Corinthians the…
- "Say What?" 3-30-25 — If you would please open your Bibles to the letter to the Romans, this is on page 133. If you are using a Pue edition of the Bible, page 133, we're in Romans chapter 1. While you're looking for…
- "Back to the Beginning" 3-23-25 — I want to share a story with you. There was a young girl who was in grade school and as they had show in tell one day, one of her friends stood up and showed a doll that was absolutely incredible…
- Impatience: Antidote for impatience 3-16-25 — What you open your Bible's please with me to Psalm 130 for our time and God's Word today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the Old Testament, page 537,…
- Ignorance/Bliss 3-9-25 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, for our time and God's Word to the fourth chapter of the Book of Ephesians. If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that page…
- “Fear Not (the Final Word)” 2-23-25 — Ever since the beginning of the year, we have been in a sermon series entitled Fearless, overcoming fear in the new year. And we began by talking about the difference between being scared and having…
- “Fear of Death” 2-16-25 — Would you open your Bible's please with May 2, Philippians, the first chapter? Philippians, chapter 1. If you are using a few addition, you'll find that in the New Testament page 174, Philippians,…
- "Fear of Not Being Liked" 2-2-25 — Hi, my name is Carrie and I am a recovering like a hollock. I open with that because I think I am in a room filled with those who are either like a hollock or recovering like a hollock as myself. We…
- "Blessings" 12-8-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me, too? The Gospel of Luke, the first chapter, for our study today, if you're using a pure edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New…
- Facing Problems: “Promise Focus” 12-1-24 — You open your Bible's please with me to the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you're using a Pew edition this morning, you're going to find that in the New Testament page 49. Luke the first…
- Give Thanks: "On Display" 11-27-24 — You open your Bibles, please, with me this evening to the 17th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament on page…
- Comparing: "Thanksgiving Twist" 11-17-24 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to Luke the 18th chapter for our study today? If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture you're going to find that page 70 in the New Testament the…
- Concern for Others: 10-13-24 — You open your Bible's please with me to the second chapter of the Book of Philippians. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, Philippians is in the New Testament page 174 for our time and…
- “Picking Up the Mantle” 9-22-24 — Relationships. Relationships are very, very interesting how we relate to one another and an aspect of relationships that I am very drawn to that I really enjoy studying is birth order. Now this may…
- Witnessing: "Come and See" 9-15-24 — Gracious Heavenly Father, indeed, may we bring you glory. You have given us breath and time this side of heaven for the soul purpose of bringing you glory. And so Father we ask, in Word and deed, in…
- "Advocate" 9-8-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to first Samuel the 19th chapter for our study today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the Old Testament,…
- "Redemption" “More to the Story” 9-1-24 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to the fourth chapter of the book of Ruth. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the Old Testament page 226, the…
- “Encountering the Living Lord” 8-11-24 — Oftentimes, when one travels to the Middle East, they have a tour guide and it's wise to have a tour guide when you visit the Holy Land because they know the ends and the outs, the safe places and…
- "Now, But Not Yet" 8-4-24 — bags are packed. All the suitcases have been loaded into the trunk. Everyone is buckled in. Everyone has their drink of water. The last trip to the bathroom was made. The GPS is running. We see the…
- “But...But...But…” 7-14-24 — For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the…
- Locating the Garden of Eden: "Finding Eden" 6-2-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, or use the few edition in the rack in front of you to the second chapter of the Book of Genesis. Genesis 2 for our study today. As a boy, we would oftentimes sit…
- "Hide and Seek" 7-7-24 — How you played hide and seek with a toddler? It's not very difficult. My favorite is when a little kiddo will run wanting to hide for all himself in the middle of the family room floor, but feel…
- "Dear Church...." 6-30-24 — Very simply returned with a group. We did a mission trip in Costa Rica. The youth that went to Colorado just returned a couple of evenings ago and you know if you have ever been to Colorado Costa…
- Prophecy, Tongues “Measure Up?” 5-19-24 — As we continue our series this morning on the hard saying, some of them in Holy Scripture would you open up your Bible's please to 1 Corinthians the 14 chapter. If you're using a Puedition of Holy…
- "Prayer" “Cause and Effect?” 5-12-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the 11th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, for our study today, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that New Testament…
- “The Question Regarding ‘Cherem’ ” 4-28-24 — Would you open your Bibles please with me for our study today to the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, the 20th chapter. If you are using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you are going to…
- “But I Say to You…” 4-21-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the fifth chapter of the gospel of Matthew. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that page 4 in the New Testament.…
- "UnForgiven" 4-14-24 — If you would have opened your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew, the 12th chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 11 in the New Testament, we're in Matthew…
- "Proof" 4-7-24 — A few years ago, there was a woman in Canada who was skydiving. She was 5,000 feet in the air and she jumped out of the airplane and she began plummeting to the earth. Her first parachute didn't…
- :Three Crosses" 3-29-24 — Which you open your Bible's please this evening to the 23rd chapter of the Gospel of Luke, beginning with verse 39, we read these verses. One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him…
- Doing the Right Thing 3-17-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 23rd chapter of the Gospel of Luke for our study today? If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 76 in the…
- "Expectations" 3-10-24 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 23rd chapter of the Gospel of Luke if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture in the Pew rack in front of you, you will find that page 76 in…
- "Courage through the Cross" 3-3-24 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, the 22nd chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 71 in the New Testament. We're in Luke the 22nd…
- "Prayer: Called to Pray" 2-25-24 — You open your Bibles, please, with me to Luke the 22nd chapter for our study this morning if you're using a Pew Edition of Holy Scripture that will be on page 75 in the New Testament. Luke the 22nd…
- "Disappointment" 2-18-24 — Open your Bibles, please, with me to the Gospel of John 11th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find in front of you or underneath you, the 11th chapter of the Gospel…
- “Belong Together” 2-14-24 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me for our study this evening to first John the 4th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you will find that on page 213 in the New…
- Wandering from the Lord.: Do You Also....? 2-11-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, for our time of study today, to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New…
- "Real Fruit" 2-4-24 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew 7 chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you will find this on page 6 in the New Testament where Matthew chapter 7. If it…
- Spiritual Sight 1-21-24 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me for our study this morning to the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. The eighth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy…
- "A Mystery" 1-14-24 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John the 8th chapter, if you're using a Puedition of Scripture, you can find this on page 87 in the New Testament, we're in the Gospel of John…
- “New Year” 1-7-24 — What you open your Bible's please with me to the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page…
- "Family Business" 12-31-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, the second chapter, we will be reading out of Luke the second chapter. If you want to use a Pue edition of the Bible, it is on page 51 in…
- The Heart and Words: "Trees and Hearts" — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the 12th chapter of the gospel of Saint Matthew? If you're using a few edition you'll find in the rack in front of you or underneath you, that's on page…
- Status: "Greater Than" 12-3-23 — Do you open your Bible's please with me to the 11th chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew. For our study today, if you're using a Pue edition, you'll find that in the New Testament page 10, Matthew…
- “What Do You Want Me To Do For You?” 11-12-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to Luke, the 18th chapter will be in the Gospel of Luke the 18th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 71 in the New…
- “Persistence” 10-29-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke the 18th chapter, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 70 in the New Testament, where in Luke the 18th…
- Replacing Worry 10-22-23 — Would your open your Bible's please with me to the sixth chapter of the gospel of Saint Matthew for our study today? We're using a Pewadition of Holy Scripture. You're going to find that in the New…
- Freed from Bringing Glory to Ourselves "Regarding Glory" 10-15-23 — Would you open your Bible's please for our time of study this morning to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of John, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page…
- “Who Do You Say?” 9-10-23 — We'll open up your Bibles Please with me for our time of study today. To the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, if you are using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on…
- "Here I Stand" 9-3-23 — If you wouldn't please open your Bibles to the letter of Jude, that's on page 216 in the New Testament, if you're using a Pew edition of the Bible, we're in the letter that Jude wrote page 216 in…
- “The Feet and Heart Connection” 8-27-23 — Would you open up your Bibles please with me to Psalm 86 for our study this morning? Psalm 86 in the Old Testament if you're using a Pue edition page 507 Psalm 86. The Gospel writer Luke was a…
- "I'm Not God" 8-6-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to Romans the first chapter, where in Romans the first chapter page 133 of the New Testament, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible. Romans chapter 1. As I…
- "Held" 7-30-23 — Let us pray together, please. Love divine, all love, exhaling. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for such incredible love that you are poor. Chiefly, in the Lord Jesus Christ, the cross…
- “Calming the Sea and Rocking the Boat” 7-16-23 — Let us pray together, please. Grace is Heavenly Father, we are indeed a people who buy your grace, sing the words that you are our Redeemer. Lord Jesus, we praise you for the cross and for the empty…
- "God is Not Angry" 6-11-23 — Do you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the fifth chapter of the Book of Romans, if you're using a Pue edition, you're going to find that in the New Testament, page 136, Romans the fifth…
- “Got Jesus?” 6-4-23 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the gospel of John the 10th chapter for our study today? If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture that is found on page 90 in the New Testament,…
- "Epilogue" 5-21-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to Luke the 24th chapter, Luke the 24th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 78 in the New Testament. We are in Luke…
- "One On One" 5-14-23 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 24th chapter of the gospel of St. Luke, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture this morning, you'll find that page 78 in the New…
- "His Christology" 4-30-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, the 24th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, that is on page 78 of the New Testament. We are continuing our walk on the…
- "See the Place" 4-9-23 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the gospel of St. Matthew 28th, chapter if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that on page 29 in the New Testament. Matthew…
- "Hidden" 3-12-23 — Do you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Luke for our study this morning. Luke the 18th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going…
- "Now I See" 3-5-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to Luke the 18th chapter, Luke the 18th chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 71 in the New Testament. We are in Luke…
- "Forgive One Another" 2-26-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to Ephesians the fourth chapter that's on page 171, if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, Ephesians chapter 4. Paul writes, under the inspiration of the…
- “Stir Up One Another” 2-19-23 — Would you open your Bible's please with me today to the 10th chapter of the book of Hebrews for our study if you're using a Pew edition of God's Word that's on page 198 in the New Testament. Hebrews…
- “Encourage One Another” 2-12-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to first Thessalonians chapter 5, it's on page 181 of the New Testament. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, we're in first Thessalonians chapter 5. I…
- “Fellowship With One Another” 1-8-23 — Put your open your Bibles, please, with me, to the book of 1 John in the New Testament. That is on page 211, if you're using a Pew edition this morning of Holy Scripture. 1 John, the very first…
- "Pray for One Another" 1-29-23 — Which opens your Bibles, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the Book of James. James is in the New Testament, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, it's found on page 204. James the…
- "Instruct One Another" 1-22-23 — Would you open your Bibles, please? With me for our time of study today to Romans the 15th chapter. Romans chapter 15, if you're using a Pue edition, you're going to find that on page 143. Romans…
- “Serve One Another” 1-15-23 — If you would please open your Bibles to Galatians, the fifth chapter, will be studying out of Galatians, the fifth chapter. Have any of you spent any extent of time around a toddler? There are days.…
- “A New Creation” 1-1-23 — Our text today is out of second Corinthians chapter 5, but we're not starting there. I want everyone to hold out their hand. Yes, for real. Hold out your hand. Now concentrate really, really hard…
- “For You” 11-27-22 — One of my favorite stories to read in this season leading up to the Christmas season is a Christmas Carol. It's a wonderful story written by Charles Dickens and in it we have a main character. It's…
- “Gratefulness in Service” 11-13-22 — What you open up your Bibles, please, to Colossians III chapter. If you're using a few additional Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 178 in the New Testament. Colossians III chapter…
- “All Circumstances” 11-6-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me? For our study today, to first desolonyans, the fifth chapter. First desolonyans, chapter five, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're…
- “How Do I Know God Loves Me?” 10-30-22 — How do I love the? Let me count the ways. We are all probably familiar with that most famous sonnet of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a 19th century poet. And she penned that sonnet in which she counts…
- "Heigh-Ho" 10-23-22 — Welcome to the second chapter. We are going to find the second chapter of Ephesians on page 170. We conclude today this sermon series, Salt and Light and what a joy. For choir and children to join…
- “Holding to the Truth” 10-16-22 — What you're open your Bibles, please, with me today, to John the 18th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the 18th chapter of John on page 99 in the New…
- “Praying for the City” 10-9-22 — With your Bibles, please, with me to Jeremiah the 29th chapter for our study today. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find Jeremiah the 29th chapter on page 690 in the…
- "Instead" 9-25-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me for our study today? To first Peter, the first chapter. If you're using a Pula Edition, you're going to find that on page 205 in the New Testament. Page…
- "Pure in Heart" 9-18-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me today to Matthew the fifth chapter for our study? If you're using a Puedition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find the fifth chapter of Matthew on page 3…
- "You Are" 9-11-22 — What you're open your Bibles please with me for our study this morning to Matthew the 5th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find the 5th chapter of Matthew in the New…
- “Omniscience” 8-28-22 — What you open up your Bibles, please, for our study this morning, to the book of Psalms, Psalm 139. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 540 in the Old…
- "Truth" 8-14-22 — Tell me if you have ever heard or told something that goes a little bit like this. I was out on the lake the other day. I was sitting in my boat. I cast a line into the water. Nothing had been…
- “Love, Justice, Wrath” 7-31-22 — You open your Bible, please, with me. For our study this morning to the third chapter of the gospel of John. You'll find that if you're using a Pew edition on page 82 of Holy Scripture, the third…
- "Holy" 7-24-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to Leviticus, the 11th chapter. The 10th chapter, I'm getting my chapters mixed up here. The 10th chapter, if you're using a pure addition of the Bible, you can…
- "Has a Will" 7-17-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John, the sixth chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you will find it on page 85 in the New Testament. That's the Gospel of…
- "Wise" 7-10-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to Romans the 11th chapter, that's Romans the 11th chapter. If you are using the Pew edition of the Bible, you can find that on page 141 in the New Testament.…
- “Impassibility” 6-26-22 — Would you open your Bible's please with me for our study today to the book of First John? We're going to study out of the fourth chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find…
- "On Retainer" 6-5-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me for our study today to the Gospel of John the 14th chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 95 in the…
- “If/Then Is Now” 5-29-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to Colossians the third chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of the Bible, that can be found on page 178 in the New Testament. We'll be in Colossians the third…
- "Day After Day" 5-22-22 — What you open your Bibles, please, with me for our study today to the book of first John, the first chapter. If you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New…
- “What We Need to Hear” 5-15-22 — Let us open our Bibles' Please for our study today. So first Corinthians, the sixth chapter. If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that on page 148. First Corinthians, the…
- "Grammar Lesson" 5-8-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to second Corinthians the fourth chapter for our study today if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you'll find that in the New Testament on…
- "The Lone Ranger" 5-1-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to first Corinthians the first chapter for our study today? If you're using a Pue edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament,…
- "Calls" 4-24-22 — In the Gospel of John, the 14th chapter, Jesus tells his disciples the advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said…
- "Fingerprints" 4-15-22 — Would you open your Bible's please to this portion of Scripture on this holy night? Mark the 15th chapter. Page 47, if you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, Mark the 15th chapter.…
- “Impressed” 4-3-22 — If you would open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark 13, chapter, it's on page 43 in the Pew edition of the Bible that is Mark 13 on page 43. The Taj Mahal. It took 21 years to build. It was…
- "Receive the Kingdom" 3-20-22 — We are going to remain in Mark chapter 10. So if you have your Bibles open, that's wonderful. It's page 40 in the New Testament of the Pue edition of the Bible. As people, we value a lot of…
- "Only Jesus" 3-6-22 — Please be seated. If you already have your Bibles open to the Gospel of Mark, you are right where you should be. If you need to open and you're using a Pue edition, you can find Mark the ninth…
- "Mercy on Us" 3-2-22 — Would you open your Bibles please with me this evening? To mark the eighth chapter for our study, if you're using a few addition, you'll find that on page 38. Mark the eighth chapter. The liturgy…
- “More Grace to Bestow” 2-13-22 — Welcome to your Bible's Please with me, too. The Gospel of Mark the 5th chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 34 for our study today, Mark the…
- "Boat Trip" 1-30-22 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the Gospel of Mark the 4th chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that in the New Testament on page 33, Mark…
- “Family” 1-23-22 — You're open your Bibles, please, with me, to mark the third chapter for our study today, page 32, if you're using a copy of the Scriptures in the Pew. Mark the third chapter for our study this…
- “A New Way” 1-16-22 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark the 2nd chapter, we will be in the Gospel of Mark the 2nd chapter. Have any of you ever tried to learn a new language or a 2nd language or…
- "The Need" 1-9-22 — Would you open your Bible's please with me this morning to the gospel of Mark chapter 2, if you're using a few addition, you're going to find that on page 31 in the New Testament, mark the second…
- "Grow" 12-12-21 — Would you open your Bible's please with me this morning for our study? To first Peter the second chapter, if you're using a Pue edition, you're going to find that on page 206, first Peter the second…
- "Repent" 11-28-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Prophet of Hosea, the Prophet Hosea, the 14th chapter. I love traveling. I love going on a trip. And there are always so many preparations and planning…
- “Today ” 11-14-21 — Would you open your Bible's please with me this morning to Psalm 118. An easy way of course to find the book of Psalms is simply to go to the very center of Scripture open it up. You're going to…
- “Grace to Serve—Serve to Glorify” 10-31-21 — Open to the gospel of Matthew, we are going to be diving into this parable. We have been going through Jesus' teachings, Jesus' parables for the past four weeks. I said, this is the fourth week. And…
- “A Mustard Seed, Yeast and Flour” 10-17-21 — What you're open your Bibles, please, with me this morning to Matthew the 13th chapter. If you're using a few edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 13 in the New Testament.…
- "Entrusted" 10-10-21 — Who's your open your Bibles, please, with me for our study today to Matthew the sixth chapter, the very first book in the New Testament, Matthew chapter six for our study today. We begin today a new…
- “Gentle and Humble” 9-12-21 — Would you open your Bibles please with me to the 11th chapter of the gospel of Matthew? If you're using a few additional this morning, you're going to find that on page 10 for our study today.…
- "Who Are the Saints?" 9-5-21 — If you would, please open your Bibles to Colossians, the first chapter will be studying out of Colossians, the first chapter. St. Christopher. This is the patron saint of Bachelors, Transportation,…
- “How Can I be “In” the World, but not “Of” the World?” 8-29-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to the book or the letter of Philippians, the third chapter, we will be doing most of our studying out of Philippians chapter three. Okay, so do you guys…
- "What is Bridled Speech?" 8-1-21 — would you open your bibles please with me this morning to james the first chapter for our study if you're using a copy of holy scriptures you'll find in the pew you'll find that on page 202 in the…
- "Does God Hear the Prayers of Unbelievers?" 6-27-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to Psalm 139, we're going to be studying Psalm 139. So in this Q&A series of taking questions to Scripture and seeing what God's Word has to say and using…
- "Should We Repeat Prayers?" 6-20-21 — Let's open our Bible's please to Matthew the sixth chapter for our study today. Matthew chapter six as we study God's Word. Solomon, first Kings the third chapter, and there we find Solomon praying.…
- "What are We Saved From?" - 1 John 2:1-2 — Would you open your Bibles please with me today to first John the second chapter for our study, first John chapter two. The late R.C. Sproul, a theologian, a told story of when he was walking along…
- "What Were the First Questions in the Bible?" 6-6-21 — Let's open our Bibles, please, for our study today, to Genesis 3rd chapter. Genesis 3 3 for our study today. The Bible contains a host of questions. I think, for example, of the question that Jesus…
- "How Do I Know I am filled with the Spirit?" 5-30-21 — If you would please open your Bibles to the Gospel of John 14th chapter, we're opening to the Gospel of John 14th chapter. I want to share a story with you of a Christian who grew up in a church in…
- "New Song" 5-9-21 — Let's open our Bibles today to the book of Isaiah, the 42nd chapter. Isaiah 42 for our study today is we continue on in this series simply entitled New as we celebrate that which God makes new. Game…
- "New Covenant" (4-18-21) — What you open your Bibles, please, with me today for our study to Jeremiah the 31st chapter. Jeremiah chapter 31 for our study today. Idioms. Idioms. There are a grouping of words that if you take…
- "New Life" (4-11-21) — If you would please open your Bibles to the Book of Romans, the sixth chapter, the Book of Romans, the sixth chapter. I love springtime. I love it all of the flowers and the trees that are beginning…
- "The Beautiful Feet" — Good morning and welcome to worship. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us sing His praise. God Himself is present, let us know our joy in and with our baby for…
- "Burden Bearing" — Would you open your Bible please with me today for our study in Galatians 6, chapter. Galatians 6 for our study today. Comfort zones. We all have them. Don't we? For example, if you were to say,…
- "Encourage" (2-28-21) — Good morning. If you would please open your Bibles to first Thessalonians, the fifth chapter, that's first Thessalonians, the fifth chapter. These past few weeks and in this sermon series, we have…
- "Love" — Let's open up our Bibles, please. Today, to first John the fourth chapter for our study, first John chapter four. Count your blessings. Count your blessings. Have you ever heard that phrase or have…
- “Come, Lord Jesus!” — If you would please open your Bibles to Revelation chapter 22, that's the last book in all of Scripture, Revelation chapter 22. Okay, we're going to think about a scene and you tell me if this is…
- "Consumed" — If you would please join me in opening your Bibles to the Prophet Isaiah, the 43rd chapter, the Prophet Isaiah, the 43rd chapter. If you look at verse 1, it begins, but now thus says the Lord. But…
- "With You" 12-27-20 — In this sermon series, we are talking about resolutions, God's, that is God's resolutions, and how he acts towards us, how he is resolved to act toward us. We have talked about how God was resolved…
- "Receive Much Joy" — So, let's open up our Bible, please, to the book of filemen for our study today, the book of filemen. All right, here's the question for you. What is the longest book in the Bible? Do you know? One…
- "Prayer Joy" — Let's open our Bible's please to the 16th chapter of the great gospel according to Saint John, John the 16th chapter for our study today. Prayer joy. Prayer joy. We've all experienced that haven't…
- "Stand Firm and Hold Fast" — We are going to be continuing in our series of joy. We have talked about the joy of revelation, the joy of God, and we are currently in the part of this series where we are discussing and learning…
- “Born of the Spirit’s Action” — Let's open our Bibles, please, today to Galatians the 5th chapter for our study. Galatians the 5th chapter. Several years ago, our family was vacationing at Disney World. It was a summer day and the…
- "Joy of Repentance" — The familiar. We are born with a sense of the familiar, of familiarity. We're born drawn to those voices that we could hear when we were in the womb. We are drawn to faces that we know well. We love…
- "The Joy Set Before Him" — Let's open our Bibles, please, to the Book of Hebrews this morning. Hebrews the 12th chapter for our study. This is sermon number three in a series that we have simply entitled Joy. And during this…
- "Ezra" — Okay, we've got an honest question for you and I expect you to give an honest answer. We can't see you. We know you're at home watching this. We're shipping with us. So I'm going to ask you, have…
- "Lois and Eunice" — Would you open your Bible please with me for our study today? The Book of Second Timothy, Second Timothy, the very first chapter for our study this morning, Second Timothy, Chapter 1. Sluggins,…
- "Salome" — The other morning when I woke up, I looked at my pedometer watch and it had a nice little message of motivation for me. It said, grab the glory, grab the glory. I'm going to go ahead and grab that…
- Melchizedek — Let's open up our Bibles, please, to the seventh chapter of the book of Hebrews this morning for our study. Hebrews the seventh chapter for our study. Game shows. The article said that the greatest…
- "Bartimaeus" — Let's open our Bibles, please, this morning for our study to the 10th chapter of the gospel of Mark, Mark the 10th chapter for our study this morning. As one moves through the various gospels of…
- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego — Let's open our Bibles. Please this morning to the great book of Daniel, the third chapter for our study today, Daniel the third chapter. It was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide, interesting dimensions,…
- "Enoch" — Today we are going to talk about Enoc. Enoc is probably a very familiar name. You know you've heard it or read it somewhere in Scripture. You know it's probably Old Testament. And if you're thinking…
- Rufus — Would you open your Bible with me this morning to the book of Romans? Please, the 16th chapter for our study this morning, Romans the 16th chapter. When you're watching a movie, there are some…
- "Formed" — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to Isaiah the 64th chapter for our study this morning, Isaiah chapter 64. One of the great revelations of Holy Scripture is the communication of Scripture…
- Living Peace — If you would please open up your Bibles to the Gospel of John, the 20th chapter, that's the Gospel of John, the 20th chapter. Today we begin a sermon series, a new series entitled Encouragement and…
- "Rock and Sand" — Let's open our Bibles, please. This morning to the 24th chapter of the gospel of Luke for our study on this Easter day. When one comes to Easter day, it is such a joyous day for so many reasons. And…
- Mistaken Identity: 3-29-20 — I'd like to invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Acts the 21st chapter. The Book of Acts the 21st chapter. Have you ever looked for stories on mistaken identity? There are some really…
- "For the Greater Purpose" — Would you open your Bibles' Please with me to the 21st chapter of the Book of Acts for our continued study in this great book. The 21st chapter of the Book of Acts for our study this morning. We've…
- Keeping On Keeping On — When I was in my 30s, way back when, when I was in my 30s, I thought it would be a great thing for me to be a runner. And I signed up for a race, a 10k, and I was very gung-ho and I trained…
- Living the Story — When you look at various figures, throughout the scriptures, oftentimes you can associate a word with them. For example, Adam and Eve, Apple, Noah, Flood, Abraham, and Sarah, covenant, David,…
- "Awestruck" — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me, to the 19th chapter of the Book of Acts? The seven sons of Skiva. Those band of boys were bad news. They were exorcists that went around, traveling…
- "11 to 4, and Evenings" — Schedules, we all have them, rhythms to life. Sometimes those schedules are kept in our phones or in our daytimeers or maybe sometimes even just in our minds. But we all have the rhythms that we…
- Gathered In — Let us pray together. Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for your infelible word. We give you thanks, O Lord, that as we open up the pages of Scripture, the voice that we hear is your…
- This is the Church — Okay, so we've all heard the saying, it takes a village, right? We all know this saying it's not uncommon in our daily usage. It's actually an African proverb, and it means that an entire community…
- "Hindsight" December 8, 2019 — Hinesite, hindsight. Perhaps you've heard the phrase or you've used it yourself. Hinesite is 100% or hindsight is 2020. In other words, when you're looking over your shoulder at something that is…
- Next Steps — I love games. I love interactive games. I love physical games, not much of an athlete, but I like physical games. One of my favorite games to play in a youth group is a trust game. Have you ever…
- Unknown to Known — It was a talk show and the topic for the day does God exist. The guest was an avowed atheist and the host and the guest were having a debate for the entire hour. As the show was starting to wrap up…
- When Everything Old is New Again — You know, through the years there have been various shows that were based upon the premise seeing if you could guess what the next lyric was or what the song title was. Well, I'm banking on the fact…
- "Relentless" — We're all familiar with Thomas Edison. We know who that is, a famous inventor, famous, possibly most famous for inventing the light bulb. Right? We enjoy the fruits of his invention in our modern…
- What Upside Down is Right Side Up — It is a house that was intentionally built upside down. It's rather disorienting as you walk into it, because literally everything is upside down. All of the appliances, all of the fixtures,…
- "Focus" October 27, 2019 — As you turn the pages of Scripture, and you meet various folks, it becomes evident, right? A little bit about their personalities. You've got extraverts, Scripture, you've got introverts, you've got…
- "Driven to the Knees" — It is my favorite math problem. Take whatever number you want, whatever number you want. Double it, then add 10 to it. Divide it in half, and then take the original number, and subtract it, and you…
- "Liberated" — Have any of you heard any modern day prophecies or any modern day prophets? I've heard some where there's a foretelling of political future or a foretelling of a certain healing that is just sure to…
- "Purple and White" 9-29-19 — Courtney Bennett's, a delightful lady that was part of the congregation that I served when I was in Washington. Courtney had a flare about her, and she also had a very distinctive voice. It had a…
- "Followers" — So I have a question for you. Who in here is a planner? You are a planner. You owe lots of you. I can only raise my hand halfway up. Not a super big planner, but a planner little. But we love…
- "Who Was Right?" — Don Driesdale, he was a fantastic pitcher with the LA Dodgers a few decades ago. He ran a consecutive scoreless innings of 58 consecutive scoreless innings he pitched. Now when you ponder that, a…
- Declaration — The last few weeks we have been studying out of this great chapter, the 15th chapter of Acts. And specifically, we have been looking at the three D's. We hope that it's a simple little memory device…
- "Itinerary" — As we come to the conclusion of the 14th chapter of Acts, we come really to a transition point in the book of Acts. This marks the end of what is called Paul's first missionary journey. The first…
- "Two Fold Witness" 8-11-19 — As one studies the miracles of our Lord, we see various reactions that occur. I think for example of the miracle in which Jesus comes the wind. He's walked on the sea. He's then with the disciples…
- "The Greater Healing" 8-4-19 — There are a host of healings recorded in Holy Scripture. And as you read the account of these healings, they are tremendously moving, aren't they? Does the Lord Jesus Christ still heal this side of…
- "Chutzpah" July 14, 2019 — So there was a little old lady who was selling pretzels on the street corner day after day selling pretzels just a dollar of pretzel and every day a young gentleman would pass by and pretty soon…
- A People That Point July 7, 2019 — So as I said, we are right at the tail end of Paul's sermon. And we have studied for the past couple of weeks. This sermon of Paul's, he was invited to proclaim a word. He's in a synagogue and they…
- Promise Fulfilled June 30, 2019 — The two brothers were having a serious discussion in the grocery store. It was one of those discussions that as you passed by them, as they were doing their shopping with their parents, you could…
- "Providential Care" June 23, 2019 — One of the great joys of studying through the Book of Acts is that you come across some amazing, amazing sermons. By Justin Art studies so far, we have studied the great sermon of Peter at the time…
- "Herzpunkt" June 9, 2019 — Hearspunked. Hearspunked. It's a German word. And it means the heart point, the central point. With Luther would preach, Luther would always look for the hearspunked. As he would study a portion of…
- "Glimpse" June 16, 2019 — You'll recall that the book of Acts is the second volume. The first volume was written by the gospel writer Luke and then Luke writes the second volume, which is the book of Acts. In the first…
- "Unexpected Surprise" June 2, 2019 — We are smack dab in the middle of a really exciting story of rescue and deliverance out of a miracle of God And as I was studying this text and I was trying to think of a great way to open this…
- "Rescued" May 26, 2019 — Rescues. Rescues. We see them throughout Holy Scripture. I think for example of the rescue of Jonah from the belly of the whale, that was the rescue, wasn't it? Or how about the rescue of Shadrack,…
- "Christians" May 12, 2019 Sermon — names of churches interest me I've always maintained that this church she has a great name living word why it refers to the word the Lord Jesus Christ it refers to Scripture it draws on the Hebrew…
- Easter Sunday Sermon- April 21, 2019 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to Psalm 90 for our study today? It was a trip to the zoo. It had been, well, a long time since we had been to the zoo. It's a wonderful, wonderful day. It…
- The Have and Have Nots Acts 10:44-48 — Let's open our Bible's, please, to the 10th chapter of the Book of Acts. We come to the conclusion of this great, great chapter. And we have been spending several weeks in this chapter. It is one of…
- "Essentials" Acts 10:34-43 (3-31-19) — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the Book of Acts? The sermon, the sermon. The proclamation of the anerrant and an enthelable word of mighty God. As we've studied,…
- Verboten 3-17-19 — So we're going to do a quick review of last week because where we're picking up today is right in the middle of a really really important and key story within all of Scripture. Last week in the…
- " Presented Alive" March 3, 2019 — So in today's text, we have two stories of miracles that are performed by Peter. The last that we had heard about Peter or seen Peter was when he was evangelizing in Samaria. In chapter eight before…
- After Some Time February 24, 2019 — You're open your Bible's please with me to the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts as we continue our study in this wonderful book. The Book of Acts is filled with action. Is it not? Why there are…
- Intensely Personal February 10, 2019 — Would you open your Bibles, please, with me to the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts? His name was John Newton. And John Newton penned the hymn that we just sang, amazing grace. Before John Newton…
- Perplexity and Opportunity January 27, 2019 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the eighth chapter of the book of Acts? His name was Philip. And Philip can be one of those well forgotten people in Scripture. You have huge names in…
- Moving Out January 13, 2019 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the book of Acts the 8th chapter this morning? As we return to our study of this great book. The book of Acts, you will recall, gives us 30 years of…
- Transformation and Struggle Acts 8:9-25 1-20-19 — Would you open your Bible, please, with May 2 8th chapter of the Book of Acts? You'll recall last week as we moved into the 8th chapter of the Book of Acts. That was a very, very important…
- "Eureka" January 6, 2019 — I've never had one of those, ah ha, ah ha moments when everything becomes clear and everything just makes sense. My kids and I have been watching an old detective show and recently in toward the end…
- "Personalized" December 30, 2018 — So lately, we have been talking about this gift that was given to us. Obviously, there's no huge surprise as to what this gift is. If you recall a couple of weeks ago, we heard about how this gift…
- "Planned" — Are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready for Christmas? We receive that question and we give that question, don't we? And when we do so, we certainly understand the meaning of it, right? At the…
- "Server" Nov 11, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Mark for our study today? These past several weeks, we have been studying in the sermon series entitled The Mission.…
- "Heartbeat" Nov 4, 2018 — Alright, honest, honest question, how many of you have had this hymn stuck in your heads for a couple weeks now? Anyone? Anyone? I see a couple hymns. I was driving along and last week, just,…
- "Light" October 28, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me, to the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. We are in a four-week study that I have entitled the Mission. Leveraging off of our study in the Book of…
- "Not Just A History Lesson" Acts 7:9-16 — We are working through Act still and we're in Chapter 7, looking at Stephen's sermon picking up in verse 9, but we will get there. First I want to tell you a little story. When I was in ninth grade,…
- Sermon 10-7-18 Review Sheet: Abraham — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the seventh chapter of the book of Acts, as we continue our study of this magnificent book that God has given to us. A few weeks ago, I had received a…
- The Bridge — Would you open your Bible, please, to the sixth chapter of the Book of Acts for our study together? I did my internship when I was in seminary in a place called Navato, California. It was 30 miles…
- Sermon September 16, 2018 — In our modern day, we talk a lot about people getting triggered, getting really, really upset. It's when something is so upsetting that you fly off the handle. You lose all reason, all peace of…
- Sermon September 9, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study this morning from this great book. You recall as we were in the fifth chapter last week,…
- Sermon September 2, 2018 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fifth chapter of the book of Acts? As an old children song, the lyric is simply this. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church…
- "When Does God Judge Us?" Mt:25:31-46 — To open your Bible, please, with me to the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study this morning. Throughout this summer, we have been dealing in the sermon series, questions and answers.…
- "What Is Not a Part of Faith" Romans 10:14-15 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me this morning to the 10th chapter of the Book of Roman. The miracle on 34th Street. It's a classic movie, isn't it? And within that movie, there are a…
- Predestined in the Promise Eph. 1:3-4 — Do we all know who Mr. Rogers is? Mr. Rogers' neighborhood, snapping new day, right? We know who Mr. Rogers is. I watched his documentary, or the documentary made about Mr. Rogers a couple of weeks…
- Why Do We Worry Mt 6:25-34 — Would you open your Bible please with me to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew for our study today? The couple is up late at night and they're thinking about the reorganization of the…
- Sermon 7-15-18 — If you would open your Bibles to Philippians 4 to follow along, but we're going to follow backwards. And I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but this is a really, really beautiful text. And…
- Sermon 7-8-18 — If I asked for directions to the Pacific Ocean, and I insisted that there was a way to get there by taking I-35, you would know I was completely wrong. There's absolutely no way that you can get to…
- Sermon June 17, 2018 "Maturity" — The Department Store was relatively quiet, save a few customers, a mother, and a couple of for kids. The kids were being, well, as kids can be, in a Department Store when they're trying to pass…
- Sermon June 24, 2018 The Conscience — Would you open your Bible, please, with me, to the first chapter of First Timothy, the first chapter for our study this morning? Brian Wolf Moller writes of a conversation that he had with one of…
- Sermon June 3, 2018 "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself" — Do you open your Bible, please, with me to the 22nd chapter of the book of Matthew. Questions? We all have them, don't we? And there is no better place to look for the answer than the infelible word…
- Sermon- May 27 "Perfect Church" — Today's a look for loop holes. I remember when I was a kid, there was a little bit of confession time. When I was a kid, I was tasked with changing the, the litter or the bedding of our rats cage.…
- Sermon 5-6-18 — Would you open your Bible's please with me to the fourth chapter of the book of Acts as we continue our study in this great chapter and this great book of God's infelible, holy word. If you had to…
- Sermon 4-29-18 — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the wonderful book of Acts. We're going to pick up where we left off last week. Silence can be such an interesting phenomenon,…
- Sermon 4-22-18 — You open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study in this great gift that God has given us this great book of Acts. In the first chapter of the…
- Grace Alone — Would you open your Bible, please, with me to Romans 3 chapter for our study this morning? Martin, he was the son of a copper smelter and his father, his father really wanted Martin to be a lawyer.…
- Faith Alone — Did you open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the book of Romans? His name was Jan Hus. Jan Hus. He was born about 100 years before Martin Luther. He was born in a town called…
- Word Alone — Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks now for this time and your infelible word. We thank you for the sure foundation upon which we are able to stand. Use now this word to your glory. In tune…
- Know With Certainty — You open your Bible Please with me to the second chapter of the Book of Acts as we continue our study in this great book. The sermon. The sermon. The sermon is a unique form of speech, isn't it? The…
- The Promise For You — How many times in your life have you heard the words I promise? And how many times in your life have you said the words I promise? I was thinking about what promises we make in our lives every day.…
- Devoted — Okay, we're going to start with some church statistics. Yes, statistics. But this is important. This is important to know and to think about this is from the 2016 Barner Report on the state of the…
- Utterly Astonishing — Okay, I have a fun surprise for you today. I'm going to do magic. Nothing, my sleeves, nothing in my hands. There's going to be something in my hands. I have here a plain cup of water and a second…
- Need Effect Basis — Would you open your Bible, please, with me this morning to the third chapter of the Book of Acts. Repent. Repent. So often when we hear those words, we get an image of someone standing on the street…