Nov 3, 2021
Bible Study – Ezra 3:7-13
Series: Book of Ezra
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  • Nov 3, 2021Bible Study – Ezra 3:7-13
    Nov 3, 2021
    Bible Study – Ezra 3:7-13
    Series: Book of Ezra
  • Oct 31, 2021Beware Of The Monster
    Oct 31, 2021
    Beware Of The Monster
    Series: 2021

    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 9

    Being 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 text

    The 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
    Oct 24, 2021
    Funerals For Good Living
    Series: 2021

    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 4

    This 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
    Oct 20, 2021
    Bible Study – Ezra 3:1-6
    Series: Book of Ezra
  • Oct 17, 2021Don’t Settle For Less
    Oct 17, 2021
    Don’t Settle For Less
    Series: 2021

    Have you ever heard someone say “I got a better offer”

    Sometimes people say that and others looking on don’t think it is a better offer

    Sometimes it is just taking an offer in a moment when it wasn’t thought through

    Often times that better offer ends up being much less than what you could have had

    Don’t settle for less!

    Look with me today to
    Eph 3:14-19 NASB
     
    Paul was writing this passage to the church at Ephesus

    He wanted them to understand that, even if he was in prison, they could still be filled with the Holy Spirit

    Surely after Paul was put in prison they may have felt as if all was lost

    Maybe what they had was as good as it was going to be

    Look at verse 13
     
    Because he knew their weakened state, he prayed for them

    He was praying in 16 that they would be blessed and strengthened through the Holy Spirit

    He knew there was more and he didn’t want them to lose heart and settle for less

    Sometimes it isn’t losing heart as much as it is losing sight of the things ahead

    Believers sometimes get so wrapped up in the here and now they forget about the eternal

    The problem with doing that is we are settling for something temporary

    Instead of striving for something more

    John 10:10 Jesus says “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly”

     
    Paul is still praying here that believers would live in Christ and be rooted in love

    That believers would see the breadth and length, height and depth

    Before we settle for the tiny things this life has to offer we need to see how much more we could have

    The prince of this world, satan, tries desperately to make this world beautiful and pleasing to you

    He knows that if you look past this world you will not settle

     
    “that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God”

    If we allow ourselves to be satisfied in this world, we have not received that fullness God offers

    When we are only partially filled, it is much easier for satan to make us ineffective by settling for less

    The only thing that will lead to is buyers remorse

    Do you long for a life that is full and abundant?

    Do you know the one that can give it to you?

    Don’t settle for less when the best is available!

  • Oct 13, 2021Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 2
    Oct 13, 2021
    Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 2
    Series: Book of Ezra
    Chapter 2
  • Oct 10, 2021Let’s Be Builders
    Oct 10, 2021
    Let’s Be Builders
    Series: 2021

    Division

    This seems to be the word of the 21st century

    Every time you read a news story some group is angry at another group and unwilling to come together

    We know that the lost world will always be this way but it is not how the church is called to be

    In today’s world the church is just as much divided as the lost world

    Do you know that almost anyone can do demolition but it takes skill to build

    Look with me to
    1 Thes 5:11-25 NASB
     
    The very first verse of this passage is encouraging building one another up

    Let’s be builders within the church and those outside the church will notice

    When I say the church, I’m speaking of the church universal, meaning all God’s people

    This is something that 21st century Christians do not do very well. Build across the spectrum of all believers.

     
    “Live in peace with one another”

    Are you getting this, we are to build up the whole body not just one arm and demo is not a good thing

     
    This is called building up of the body of Christ

    As I said before it takes skill to be a builder

    You aren’t going to find a video on YouTube on being a builder of the body.

    There isn’t a book at Lowes or Home Depot that can teach you.

    How do I attain the skills to be a builder of the body?

     
    This is exactly how you become a good builder

    Notice the first steps are “rejoice always” and “pray without ceasing”

    If we follow those two steps, then what we are really doing is living in Jesus so he can teach us.

    Something modern believers find very hard to do is give thanks in “everything”

    We only want to be thankful for the “good stuff”

    God uses all things to teach us how to be good builders

    Vs 21 – 22 sound so easy but in this world these are areas we struggle in

    When we do not abstain from evil we are tearing down and not building up

    Satan is throwing everything he can at you to help you fail

    But ultimately we are the ones that give in to evil or not

    When we overcome the evil, through constant prayer it is God sanctifying us to continue to build

    The greatest thing we can do to help each other in this endeavor is vs 25
     
    Pray for one another

    Are you a demolition specialist or are you ready to build?

  • Oct 6, 2021Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 1
    Oct 6, 2021
    Bible Study – Ezra Chapter 1
    Series: Book of Ezra
  • Oct 3, 2021Rest
    Oct 3, 2021
    Rest
    Series: 2021
    The word rest brings many different thoughts to people Some immediately think of sleep Some a vacation Some even think of Retirement I want to look at why rest is important for the Human body 1 in 3 adults are not getting enough sleep according to a new study by CDC The American Psychological Association says that one large factor of sleep deprivation is STRESS WebMD lists stress as a factor in Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even alzheimers disease No wonder rest is something people say they want
    Look with me today to Matthew 11:27-30 to see what the scripture says about rest
     
    First of all Jesus says “ALL things have been handed over to me by my Father”
    In vs 28 Jesus says “Come to Me” “Come to Me” doesn’t mean swing by for a minute. It means to live in Him. When we live in Christ daily we give Him everything. “All who are weary and heavy laden” are you tired, worn out, at the end of your rope? “come to Me” Jesus says and “I will give you rest” This isn’t a temporary rest. It’s not a day that you can sleep late or a vacation or even a day to just relax. This is permanent rest. He will give you rest by you living in Him daily. Vs 29 says “take my yoke upon you and learn from me” Jesus is telling you if you come to Him to live in Him daily He will give you rest by teaching you to give all your troubles to Him In order to take His yoke…..we have to let Him remove ours. “you will find rest for your souls” The burdens, the weariness, all this can be overcome if we allow Christ to remove our yoke and place His on us Again however, I want to remind you this isn’t a picture of a brief rest and then back to the grind This passage is showing us that Jesus wants us to live in Him and let Him be our Lord every day and night When we say Jesus come be my Lord, we have to let Him, every day
     
    “My yoke is easy and My burden is light”
    Doesn’t that sound much better than to be overloaded and burdened down? If you have never come to Jesus, He is calling you today, to give Him your life If you have asked Him to be your Lord already then strive to live in Him everyday, it is what He wants from us. Are you ready to Rest today?
  • Sep 29, 2021Bible Study – Isaiah
    Sep 29, 2021
    Bible Study – Isaiah
  • Sep 26, 2021First Place
    Sep 26, 2021
    First Place
    Series: 2021
  • Sep 19, 2021Outside The Camp
    Sep 19, 2021
    Outside The Camp
    Series: 2021
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