January 8, 2014
This is from Jesus’ sermon on the mount. Focus on the eternal things of God and trust Him with your temporal earthly needs. When Jesus teaches us to stop worrying and start seeking God, He is giving us the proper focus for our internal voice. Stop the self-talk (worry) and start talking to God (prayer). It takes the same amount of energy to pray as it does to worry, except the first actually works. Turn your worries to prayers. Lift up your eyes and hearts and seek God’s kingdom!
January 6, 2014
Jesus’ definition of love was so much higher than what His hearers had ever understood. He tried to describe unmerited, unconditional love (agape) to them, but they couldn’t see it. So, He went to the cross and stretched out His arms and showed them how much His kind of love required. When we receive Jesus, His Spirit resides in us and gives us access to this amazing love. Who is your enemy? How can you show them love today?
January 4, 2014
After Jesus overcame Satan and returned from His wilderness fast, He began His public ministry. News of Him soon reached other lands, including Syria. In the book of Acts we read that Christians were in Damascus in such number that the persecutor, Saul, headed there to bring them to trial. Of course, His mission was changed when the Lord struck him blind along the way. Instead of persecuting them, he ended up preaching the gospel there. A large Christian fellowship of believers has lived in Syria since the 1st century. Yet, today they are experiencing terrible persecution once again. Pray for the Christians in Syria. Before the civil war, they made up over 10% of the population. Untold numbers have been persecuted and killed. Pray that the Lord once again directs help to a street called “Straight” (Acts 9:11).
January 3, 2014
After Jesus was baptized, He fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan. Adam and Eve were tempted too, but in the garden. They were well fed and satisfied. Jesus was hungry, thirsty and tired. Satan used the same bag of tricks on both. The first Adam sinned after the devil caused them to doubt God’s Word asking, “Did God really say?” (Gen. 3:1). The “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:22; 45) overcame by His righteousness, answering every temptation with the Word of God. We have this same Word available to us to overcome temptation.
December 8, 2013
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Matthew 2:1-12
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advent conspiracy, christmas
Pastor Gary Combs begins a new 4-week series called the Advent Conspiracy 2013. This message from Matthew 2:1-12 challenges us to recognize the battle for our worship this Christmas and to choose to pull our worship off of the kingdom of this world and to fully worship King Jesus.
November 17, 2013
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Matthew 10:1-10
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generosity
Pastor Gary Combs began a 3-week series entitled “FLOW” with this message from Matthew 10:1-10. This message describes the life of joyful generosity of living with one hand open to God and the other one open to others, letting God’s power and provision “flow” to and through you.
July 28, 2013
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Matthew 13:44-46
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discipleship
Pastor Jonathan continued our Parables sermon series by looking at the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Merchant in Matthew 13:44-46. Do you ever feel like God is hidden from you? Or in the busyness of life, are the things of God the first things to get pushed off your list? These little parables from Jesus have great meaning for us as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
February 14, 2013
An angel clothed in white with an appearance of lightning announced the resurrection to the women as they came bearing spices for Jesus’ body. They expected a morning of mourning, but they left sprinting with surprise. Have you yet fearfully peered into Death’s tomb and discovered that the Christ has left it empty?
February 8, 2013
This is what Jesus will say at the last judgment to those who have cared for those who are hungry, thirsty, estranged, naked, sick or imprisoned. Would you do something for Jesus? If He came to your door, would you put him up for the night or offer Him supper? If you would do something for Jesus, then here’s your chance: Do something for the “least of these.”
February 5, 2013
This was a part of Jesus’ answer to the disciples questions concerning end times. The Greek word translated “nations” is ethnos (ἔθνος). It might also be translated every race/culture/tongue. According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, there are still 350 million people in the world who do not have a Scripture translation in their heart language. There are still “ethnos” who have not heard the gospel. God is still asking, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” (Isa.6:8).