What does a New Year make you think of?
All the things you didn’t do last year that you wanted too?
All the things you want to strive for in the new year?
It always makes me think about a chalk board
No matter how many things are written on it, they can always be erased; and you are left with a brand new space
Old things have passed away and all things are now New
As a believer in Christ, there is a verse that comes to my mind
The old has passed away and the new things have come; just as 2021 is gone and 2022 is here.
The great thing about a new year, is that it hasn’t been written yet. Everything you do is the first time this year.
“Now ALL things are from God”
“who gave us the ministry of reconciliation”
I’m sure that I’m not the only one that made mistakes last year
This is a new year for us to be reconciled again with God, and for us to reconcile with others because of God
One of the greatest barricades to destroying racism is the unwillingness to reconcile with the past
In order to be better this year, we need to be purposeful about reconciling with others
This means we must use the power that God gave us if we are ever to get there
He gave us the word of reconciliation, and, as we are reconciled with Him, we lead others to do the same
The only hope that we have for this world of ours is to show everyone Jesus is the ONLY answer
It is another year and another chance to be an ambassador for Christ
RA stands for Royal Ambassadors for Christ
You see, what we have another chance to do this year is be the child of the King that we are supposed to be
We can serve as an ambassador to show every person the way to the King and eternal salvation
He became sin that we might become righteousness
Another year means another chance to lead people to Christ
Last year and the year before that I challenged you to strive to lead just one person to Christ
In order to lead one, you have to talk to many
I wonder how many actually met the challenge and led someone to Christ.
Another year, another chance
Last year, in this church, the baptismal pool remained dry
Let’s be His ambassadors this year and see that pool full often.
You can’t be His ambassador if you haven’t committed your life to Him yet
- Jan 2, 2022Another Year Another Chance
Another Year Another Chance
What does a New Year make you think of?
All the things you didn’t do last year that you wanted too?
All the things you want to strive for in the new year?
It always makes me think about a chalk board
No matter how many things are written on it, they can always be erased; and you are left with a brand new space
Old things have passed away and all things are now New
As a believer in Christ, there is a verse that comes to my mind
The old has passed away and the new things have come; just as 2021 is gone and 2022 is here.
The great thing about a new year, is that it hasn’t been written yet. Everything you do is the first time this year.
Now look at verse 18-19“Now ALL things are from God”
“who gave us the ministry of reconciliation”
I’m sure that I’m not the only one that made mistakes last year
This is a new year for us to be reconciled again with God, and for us to reconcile with others because of God
One of the greatest barricades to destroying racism is the unwillingness to reconcile with the past
In order to be better this year, we need to be purposeful about reconciling with others
This means we must use the power that God gave us if we are ever to get there
He gave us the word of reconciliation, and, as we are reconciled with Him, we lead others to do the same
The only hope that we have for this world of ours is to show everyone Jesus is the ONLY answer
It is another year and another chance to be an ambassador for Christ
Did any of you men ever participate in RAs as a child?RA stands for Royal Ambassadors for Christ
You see, what we have another chance to do this year is be the child of the King that we are supposed to be
We can serve as an ambassador to show every person the way to the King and eternal salvation
He became sin that we might become righteousness
Another year means another chance to lead people to Christ
Last year and the year before that I challenged you to strive to lead just one person to Christ
In order to lead one, you have to talk to many
I wonder how many actually met the challenge and led someone to Christ.
Another year, another chance
Last year, in this church, the baptismal pool remained dry
Let’s be His ambassadors this year and see that pool full often.
You can’t be His ambassador if you haven’t committed your life to Him yet
- Dec 29, 2021Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 8:24-36
Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 8:24-36
- Dec 26, 2021The Christmas Gifts – Myrrh
The Christmas Gifts – Myrrh
Over the last two weeks we talked about the gifts of Gold and Frankincense
These were two of the gifts that the Magi brought to JesusIf you ever wondered what Myrrh looked like:
Myrrh is a aromatic, sap-like resin derived from a small Commiphora myrrha tree
It was commonly used in perfume mixtures and especially for embalming a body during Jesus’ day
This passage speaks of a Holy anointing oil made with MyrrhWe see that here, Myrrh was used as a perfumeMyrrh also has pain relieving qualities and was used during crucifixionsToday Myrrh is still used for many things:
Inhaled, it is used to help congestion, respiratory issues and coughing,
It is used topically to prevent hair loss, give younger looking skin
It can be use medicinally to heal wounds, stop infection, and calm inflammation, among other things
One of the most common uses was by the Egyptians, as they used it during the mummification process
Which is probably how it came to be used as embalming fluid
While Myrrh has so many positive qualities, this isn’t what I want you to know most about it
You see, myrrh would eventually be used to anoint Jesus’ body before burial
Perhaps the wise men, having learned the prophecy of the Messiah from Daniel, knew more than we thought
Myrrh certainly represents Jesus as the Savior through His death burial and resurrection
Perhaps, the wise men were just bringing gifts suitable for royalty
Either way, we know that these three gifts were more than just gifts; they were telling of the things Jesus would be
Jesus is the gift from God to save the world. His death burial and resurrection was the ultimate purpose of His birth
He came that we might have life and have it abundantly
He came into the world to save the lost
He is our King, and He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
He is our high priest that sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on our behalf
He came as a child, and died as the perfect sacrifice for your sins and mine
He is the ultimate Christmas gift, and I pray that you have received Him today.
- Dec 24, 2021Christmas Eve Service 2021
Christmas Eve Service 2021
- Dec 19, 2021The Christmas Gifts – Frankincense
The Christmas Gifts – FrankincenseSo, what is Frankincense?
Frankincense is the gum or resin of the Boswellia tree, used for making perfume and incense.
It was one of the ingredients God instructed the Israelites to use to make the sacred incense for the Holy place
It is clear that this specific blend, including Frankincense, was to be used for Holy purposesFrankincense, itself, was also used in offerings to the Lord
Frankincense was mainly used by priestsLast week we discussed the gift of Gold, representing Jesus' kingshipToday, as we look at Frankincense, it is clear that it represents Jesus' status as a priest
He is our High Priest and the only one eligible for that role due to His holiness
In all His holiness, Jesus grew up and suffered for you, in order that you might have life
Frankincense tears are collected and ground up to make the incense and perfume
It has been said that these tears represent the torture Jesus suffered during His crucifixion
The sweet aroma of the Frankincense was pleasing to God as an offering
Jesus was a sweet sacrifice, pleasing to God
We are to be imitators of Christ, that same sweet smell, as we serve GodToday, Frankincense is no more
Oh wait, that is not true! You can even purchase Frankincense in an essential oil
It is used to promote relaxation, peace, and overall wellness.
The wise men came to worship Jesus and to announce His priesthood to the worldAs you consider today how God’s perfect plan unfolded so long ago, have you considered why?
It was to make a way for you to receive salvation.
This is the Christmas gift, will you receive it?
- Dec 15, 2021Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 8:1-23
Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 8:1-23
- Dec 12, 2021The Christmas Gifts – Gold
The Christmas Gifts – Gold
Many times people wonder about the gifts the wise men brought Jesus
Each of the gifts had specific meaning, and the wise men knew this
Today we are going to look at the gift of Gold.Gold, as a gift, was only given to those in a royal line
Kings were given gold, and this was a symbol of their royalty
Today, we know that Jesus is king of kings, but how did the wise men know this?
These magi were not from Jerusalem or Bethlehem or anywhere close by
Scripture says they were from the east. This is talking about the far east sometimes referred to as the orient
This area included the lands of Babylon and surrounding areas
Prominent Jew with much influence lived there and his name was Daniel
Daniel had been given the vision concerning the Messiah, so certainly he would have taught that
The magi were part of a group that Daniel would have had influence over
It is important to know that Jesus was born to be King
This prophecy clearly shows Jesus taking the throne of David and ruling forever
Jesus, Himself, during His earthly ministry, said He was King
Timothy reminds us in 1 Tim 6:13-15 about Jesus’ kingship.You see, the wise men, who learned from Daniel, knew that Jesus was a King; so they gave the appropriate gift
For us today it is important to remember that, as Timothy said, Jesus is King of Kings
Our world is so crazy sometimes to stop and remember that God is still in control and Jesus is still King brings peace
Remembering that Jesus is King also helps us as we are faced with many things that want our attention
Matthew 6:24 says no one can serve two masters
This means for us to keep Jesus’ Kingship in mind and serve Him alone is paramount
We see Jesus as King in Revelation as well
When the end comes and the battle is over, Jesus is still King of Kings
The wise men knew this and celebrated this with the gift of Gold
Do you call Him King today?
You can!
- Dec 8, 2021Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 7
Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 7
- Dec 5, 2021The Miracle Called Christmas
The Miracle Called ChristmasJesus coming to save us from our sins wasn’t an afterthought
The prophecy of a coming Messiah had been passed down for centuries before Jesus’ birth
While it may not have been an afterthought, it was truly a miracle
God chose to provide a sacrifice to pay the price of sin for every person
He provided His Son Jesus through a virgin so that all would know this was a miracle
He provided an earthly father to look after Jesus until His time had come
It was a miracle that Joseph listened to the angel instead of saving face with people
I want you to understand that every part of this familiar story is a miracle
A young woman’s miracle conception that she probably didn’t really understand
The fiancé that went against his instincts to protect them both and became an object of ridicule
All of this was done as God had designed
He made the preparation for man’s salvation from the moment He decided to give us free will
We say the words “From the manger to the cross” but sometimes it is hard to really grasp that reality
What if you were told you were going to have a child and that child’s purpose was to die
That would be unimaginable
But God
He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son
This miracle that we call Christmas is the celebration of the most important gift to the world
So I’m begging you all, this year, please don’t let the miracle of Christmas become an afterthought in your celebration
We decorate our homes, we buy wonderful gifts, we make delicious food and all these things are good
But what if the true miracle of Christmas becomes lost in the celebration
I saw a scene once that had all these giant secular objects to celebrate and off to the side a tiny manger scene
That is how the world sees Christmas if the manger exists in the celebration at all
The miracle that will never be repeated has been pushed into the background
By Christians
If we don’t actively celebrate the Miracle of Christmas the world will forget it was even a thing
The question for you today is, do you believe in the miracle called Christmas
If you believe, the scripture says you shall be saved by this miracle
Will this be the year that you truly celebrate the miracle of Christmas?
- Dec 1, 2021Bible Study – Ezra Chapter6
Bible Study – Ezra Chapter6
- Nov 28, 2021Thankful For God’s Protection
Thankful For God’s Protection
- Nov 21, 2021Thankful For God’s Blessings
Thankful For God’s Blessings
Today we will celebrate our Thanksgiving together after the service
What, exactly, are we thankful for each year at this time?
Many answers to that question may come, but, let me say, the greatest reason to be thankful is God’s blessingsWe looked at this verse last week when we talked about God’s Grace Today, I want to look at it through the lens of blessings The first part of this verse says “all things are for your sakes” Understand, that this means the things that are good and the things that we call bad are for our sakes In other words, blessings can come in heartache as well as happiness We need to realize this and thank God for all the blessings I know that it is really hard to give thanks in everything because some things feel so bad Sometimes things happen to us and, at the moment, we can’t see how it is a blessing But God uses these things to change our direction or reinforce our trust in Him When we finally understand that God’s plan for us is never to hurt, but always to bless, it is an amazing revelation God’s blessings in every form give us peace, if we look for them Are you thankful for God’s blessings today?The greatest blessing we can be thankful for is found in Romans 5:8The KJV says while we were still sinners Christ died for us. The greatest blessing to be thankful for is that Jesus paid for our sin on the cross and He overcame the grave Prior to Jesus death He gathered His disciples together for the Passover meal During this time, He told the disciples that the bread represented His body and the wine His blood He told them to take this supper and remember Him until He returns Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for the blessings God has given us Have you ever received the blessing of salvation? - Nov 17, 2021Bible Study – Ezra 5
Bible Study – Ezra 5
- Nov 14, 2021Thankful For God’s Grace
Thankful For God’s Grace
We celebrated Veteran’s day last week, so you would think that is what we would talk about today;
Instead, I want to talk about something even more powerful.
America, America! God shed His grace on you.God’s grace. What a wonderful thing to think about. It is only by the grace of God that we can have salvation As we spend November to Remember, think about how great the grace of God is in your life If God withheld grace and only gave us what we deserve, every single one of us would receive damnation But God! God gives us His incredible grace, and it is the thing we should be thankful for every day.Just to get a great picture of God’s grace, look at Psalm 103:1-12 NASBIf you took all the rest of this passage out and only focused on verse 12, it is the most amazing thing But you can’t take the rest of the passage out because God’s grace is all over us every day What should we do with the knowledge of God’s grace in our lives? Praise Him and thank Him daily. Live our lives graciously, remembering His grace To realize how much God’s grace has done for us and not live thankful is beyond comprehension Knowing God’s grace has covered us in our shortcomings should make us thankful to God for eternity What grace should really do is cause His people, who are called by His name, to extend grace to others in this world Reality is, the very people who are so blessed with God’s grace are the same people who rarely extend grace to others The slave whose debt was forgiven, refused to give that same grace to those who owed him Christians are some of the most brutally judgmental people in the world, but we should give the most grace Understand that as God gives us so much grace, when we also give it to others it spreads When grace is spread, God is glorified In modern day language we would say “Pay it forward” As God gives grace to you, give it to all those around you. “Grace, Grace, God’s Grace, Grace that is greater than ALL our sins” Have you ever experienced God’s grace? Have you trusted Him and realized that, because of His grace, your sins are cast as far as the east is from the west? You can experience the Grace of God that is available today Once you do….pass it on! - Nov 10, 2021Bible Study – Ezra 4
Bible Study – Ezra 4
- Nov 7, 2021Thankful For God’s Love
Thankful For God’s Love
Welcome to Fall! When the weather turns cool and foliage changes, I’m blown away by how Great God is!
This is when the world seems to look toward Christmas
November is a great time to remember to be thankful to God for everything
Over the course of 4 weeks we are going to see how to use November to RememberProbably, most of us could quote John 3:16, but have you ever dwelled on it? “For God so loved the world” Think about the most loved you have ever felt, isn’t that wonderful? God’s love makes that look tiny. God SO loved, meaning a love that was everything He has And He gave it to ALL! Understand that God’s love is not withheld from anyone Yes! God loves even what we call “bad” people. He loves every person! That is a love that is amazing, right? I’m thankful that God loves me, even when I know I’m not a perfect person. I’m thankful that God loves even the “bad” people, because it is so easy to become one. Now that we are all feeling thankful for God’s love, let me ask you something; What do we do with that Love? You see being thankful means we live graciously. If we live graciously, then we follow the example given to us in our Savior and love EVERYBODY I know “that’s impossible!”, right? It is, in the flesh, for certain. We all struggle to love, when we can’t even like everyone. For believers, one stumbling block to loving everyone, is when people are blatantly living in sin. Think of it this way, those are the people who need God’s love most urgently. If we don’t live the love God gave us, then how will they see it? You see, being thankful means it actually changes your life. You live thankful every day. God’s love is the most amazing gift that anyone can receive. Have you experienced God’s Love and the Salvation it brings? Are you ready to live that love everyday? - Nov 3, 2021Bible Study – Ezra 3:7-13
Bible Study – Ezra 3:7-13
- Oct 31, 2021Beware Of The Monster
Beware Of The Monster
As children, we seem to have irrational fears about monsters
We see them in the closet, under the bed and especially in the shadows
Over time, we learn that there is no such thing as monsters and our fears mostly subside
I say mostly because we still see monsters as we grow up
What if I told you a fear, or at least a healthy respect of monsters is a good thing
Today is Halloween and people all over will dress up and celebrate fear
The thing about fear is that it is a mechanism to keep you safe
I titled this sermon “Beware of the Monster”
In our scripture today, we see is that satan is seeking people to devour like a lion
Remember how I said, as we age, we are taught there is no such thing as monsters
Well I want you to know today that there is one monster, and he is in this world, and his name is satan
On Halloween, people, who are normal looking, dress up as something scary
Satan, who is scary, masquerades as an angel of light according to 2 Cor 11:14
We normally fear scary things, but the problem is, satan doesn’t appear scary
Our text says satan is seeking to devour, yet people are not afraid
People treat satan as if he is a child in a costume
Satan can’t destroy those who have given their life to Christ, but he can make us miserable
Look at verse 9Being firm in our faith, we can resist satan
Because of satan, we will have suffering
What we have to understand is how to overcome the suffering through Christ
Beware of the devil but don’t dwell on him. Instead dwell on Christ.
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” Phil 4:13
Look back at vs 6-7 of our textThe best way to be on the alert is to humble ourselves and cast our anxiety on Christ
I don’t tell you to beware of the monster so that you dwell on him but so you recognize his attacks
If we can recognize the enemy, we know how to defeat him
The question is; do you know the only One that can defeat him?
Without a relationship with Christ, satan can not be defeated
Are you sure of your salvation today?
- Oct 24, 2021Funerals For Good Living
Funerals For Good Living
Hebrew 9:27 says “it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgement”
In the last 8 days I have been a part of three funerals
Knowing this was the week ahead, I began to think about eternity and how many people live like there isn’t one
I found an article about a service in South Korea that is offered to all
Free funerals for the living
Since it began in 2012 more than 25000 people have participated in “living funerals”
These simulated death ceremonies are designed to help you appreciate life and inspire gratitude and even forgiveness
Death is the destiny of everyone and the living should take it to heart
I saw many pictures at the funeral home this week that were different
One had a coffin being transported to the grave in a fishing boat
Another had a set of golf clubs leaned against the coffin
I’ve even heard of someone being buried with their rifle in the coffin
While all of these things were meant to show the things people loved to do in life, they were sad to me
Because there is no hunting, fishing, golf or football in heaven
If there is a service for me one day, the only item I want people to see is my Bible
Because, if death is the destiny of everyone, then, as a living person, we need to understand what really matters
So why do I say funerals for good living? To remind us that we only have a finite amount of time here
That should help to remind us do what Matt 6:20 says and store up treasures in heaven
Look at verse 4This is saying, instead of living in this life to pleasure ourselves, we need to remember what is ahead
Think about this…if you die today what would your funeral look like?
Would people be talking about what a great football fan you were?
Maybe they would even say you were a good person and many other nice things
But what about you….do you know what is going to happen after your death?
Have you laid up any treasure in heaven?
Will you be in heaven?
It isn’t automatic that you are going to heaven
When we spend time at funerals, it makes us think about our own mortality
One day death will come for you. So, the question is: Are you ready for what happens after that?
Have you ever given your life to Christ and accepted the salvation that He offers?
Let the Funeral help you live better by trusting in God and living every day for Him
Will you give your life to Jesus today?
- Oct 20, 2021Bible Study – Ezra 3:1-6
Bible Study – Ezra 3:1-6
The Prophecy:
