Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from John 10: 11-18, in which Jesus refers to himself as the good shepherd. The sermon is titled 'The Good Shepherd' and will focus on Jesus' role as shepherd in our lives and what that means for us. I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Deuteronomy 1: 19-25; Spies Sent Out
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us." The Lord did not steer the Israelites in the wrong direction. It is at this point the Israelites begin to see that the wandering was worth it. The Israelites begin to see that God came through with his promise to lead them to the Promised Land. Their trust in the Lord was rewarded. We have the same assurance Israel had. When God tells us he is going to do something for us, we can trust that he will make good on that promise. God is faithful, he will always keep the promises he makes to his children. We can count on that. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us." The Lord did not steer the Israelites in the wrong direction. It is at this point the Israelites begin to see that the wandering was worth it. The Israelites begin to see that God came through with his promise to lead them to the Promised Land. Their trust in the Lord was rewarded. We have the same assurance Israel had. When God tells us he is going to do something for us, we can trust that he will make good on that promise. God is faithful, he will always keep the promises he makes to his children. We can count on that. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Deuteronomy 1: 9-18; The Appointment of Leaders
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are not alone in our journey of faith. We have God with us, to be sure, but we also have each other. Moses appointed leaders of Israel to help with the day-to-day things. These leaders were there for guidance and assistance; to help their brothers and sisters in their life. In that same spirit let us help one another. Faith is sometimes hard. We all bear many burdens as we go along our journey. Let us be of guidance and assistance to one another. Let us recognize that we can all help bear one another's burdens. We cannot do any of this alone. We need help, and we need to help others. We should be bearing with each other as we go through our journey of faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We are not alone in our journey of faith. We have God with us, to be sure, but we also have each other. Moses appointed leaders of Israel to help with the day-to-day things. These leaders were there for guidance and assistance; to help their brothers and sisters in their life. In that same spirit let us help one another. Faith is sometimes hard. We all bear many burdens as we go along our journey. Let us be of guidance and assistance to one another. Let us recognize that we can all help bear one another's burdens. We cannot do any of this alone. We need help, and we need to help others. We should be bearing with each other as we go through our journey of faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Deuteronomy 1: 1-8; The Command to Leave Horeb
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Forty years is a long time to be wondering around in the wilderness, but Israel did. At times they complained; at times they wanted to go back to Egypt where they had homes, food, etc. In the end, thought, they knew that God would eventually make good on his promise to lead them to the Promised Land. In the end they knew God would deliver them to the place he had prepared for them. The Israelites trusted that God would take care of them. In this sense we need to imitate Israel. We need to trust that God is going to take care of us; that God is, someday, going to bring us to the place Jesus has prepared for us. Though at times this is hard, we need to trust God, knowing he will not lead us astray. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Forty years is a long time to be wondering around in the wilderness, but Israel did. At times they complained; at times they wanted to go back to Egypt where they had homes, food, etc. In the end, thought, they knew that God would eventually make good on his promise to lead them to the Promised Land. In the end they knew God would deliver them to the place he had prepared for them. The Israelites trusted that God would take care of them. In this sense we need to imitate Israel. We need to trust that God is going to take care of us; that God is, someday, going to bring us to the place Jesus has prepared for us. Though at times this is hard, we need to trust God, knowing he will not lead us astray. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, April 27, 2009
2 Thessalonians 3: 16-18; Special Greetings
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In conclusion Paul prays that the readers of his letter will receive peace. We should pray the same thing for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We all need the peace of Christ in our lives; we all need that comfort that Jesus offers to us. Paul knows this, which is why he spends time here praying that the peace of Christ to be upon those in the church at Thessalonica. Though we are all called to imitate Christ and no one else I think, in this sense, it would not be a bad idea to pick up something Paul does. In all things we should pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ will receive the joy and peace of Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
In conclusion Paul prays that the readers of his letter will receive peace. We should pray the same thing for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We all need the peace of Christ in our lives; we all need that comfort that Jesus offers to us. Paul knows this, which is why he spends time here praying that the peace of Christ to be upon those in the church at Thessalonica. Though we are all called to imitate Christ and no one else I think, in this sense, it would not be a bad idea to pick up something Paul does. In all things we should pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ will receive the joy and peace of Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, April 26, 2009
2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15; Warning Against Idleness
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Disciple is a verb, not just a noun. For those who follow Jesus there is a call to do things in his name. For those who follow Jesus there is a call to help those who are in need: to heal the sick, minister to the needy, spend time with those who are suffering. For those who follow Jesus there is a call to make known the good news of the gospel. We are called to share our faith with those around us, that all those around us would come to a life of faith in Jesus Christ. We are disciples, not just because we follow Jesus, but because we work for him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Disciple is a verb, not just a noun. For those who follow Jesus there is a call to do things in his name. For those who follow Jesus there is a call to help those who are in need: to heal the sick, minister to the needy, spend time with those who are suffering. For those who follow Jesus there is a call to make known the good news of the gospel. We are called to share our faith with those around us, that all those around us would come to a life of faith in Jesus Christ. We are disciples, not just because we follow Jesus, but because we work for him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, April 24, 2009
2 Thessalonians 3: 1-5; Request for Prayer
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We can pray about anything. We do not need to be afraid that our prayers are not lofty enough; we do not need to be afraid that God is too busy to help us with what we think are little problems; we do not need to be afraid that God is not going to listen to us. One of the many blessings about prayer is that we are free to pray for whatever is on our heart or mind. We are given the blessing of coming before God and bringing him any concern that we may have. Anything that may be weighing on you, take it to the Lord, and he will hear your prayer and will help through whatever you face. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We can pray about anything. We do not need to be afraid that our prayers are not lofty enough; we do not need to be afraid that God is too busy to help us with what we think are little problems; we do not need to be afraid that God is not going to listen to us. One of the many blessings about prayer is that we are free to pray for whatever is on our heart or mind. We are given the blessing of coming before God and bringing him any concern that we may have. Anything that may be weighing on you, take it to the Lord, and he will hear your prayer and will help through whatever you face. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for April 26, 2009
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is 1 John 3: 1-8, in which John tells the good news that we are children of God, and what we are supposed to do in response to that good news. The sermon is titled 'Now What?' and will focus on what we are supposed to be doing as the children of God.
I also want to remind everyone, again, that a representative from the Gideons will be with us in worship on Sunday to share with us information about what the Gideons are doing around the world. We will be taking up a love offering following the worship service.
I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is 1 John 3: 1-8, in which John tells the good news that we are children of God, and what we are supposed to do in response to that good news. The sermon is titled 'Now What?' and will focus on what we are supposed to be doing as the children of God.
I also want to remind everyone, again, that a representative from the Gideons will be with us in worship on Sunday to share with us information about what the Gideons are doing around the world. We will be taking up a love offering following the worship service.
I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17; Stand Firm
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"That you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus has done everything for us, and because of that has received much glory from God. We receive the same glory. Jesus died on the cross that we might have life in us, that we may be forgiven. Because we are forgiven, because we have been sanctified, we are to receive all the blessings of Jesus. I think the most substantial of these is eternal life. We no longer are bonded to sin, and because of that we have life in us. We now have the same life Jesus has. Through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection we are sharing in his glory, and in his blessings. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"That you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus has done everything for us, and because of that has received much glory from God. We receive the same glory. Jesus died on the cross that we might have life in us, that we may be forgiven. Because we are forgiven, because we have been sanctified, we are to receive all the blessings of Jesus. I think the most substantial of these is eternal life. We no longer are bonded to sin, and because of that we have life in us. We now have the same life Jesus has. Through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection we are sharing in his glory, and in his blessings. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
2 Thessalonians 2: 1-12; The Man of Lawlessness
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must be careful to not let ourselves be led astray. Many people come in the name of the Lord claiming to preach the gospel, but are not from the Lord. Many come in the name of the Lord claiming to have all the answers, but are not from the Lord. Paul is warning his readers here to be on the lookout for those who would lead them astray. We need to be careful of the same thing. We need to keep our ears open to the words of Jesus, not the words of false prophets who would lead us away from Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We must be careful to not let ourselves be led astray. Many people come in the name of the Lord claiming to preach the gospel, but are not from the Lord. Many come in the name of the Lord claiming to have all the answers, but are not from the Lord. Paul is warning his readers here to be on the lookout for those who would lead them astray. We need to be careful of the same thing. We need to keep our ears open to the words of Jesus, not the words of false prophets who would lead us away from Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
2 Thessalonians 1: 1-12; Thanksgiving and Prayer
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"God is just: [He will] give relief to you who are troubled." Once again we hear that at sometime in our lives we are going face trouble. We will be persecuted for believing in the name of Jesus, we will fall ill, etc. We are reminded throughout Scripture that there is suffering for those who follow God. However, there is also deliverance for all those who follow God. We are told that we will suffer in this life. But we are also told God will deliver us from those difficult times. Hold on to your faith, trusting that God's mighty hand will come forth to deliver us one day. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"God is just: [He will] give relief to you who are troubled." Once again we hear that at sometime in our lives we are going face trouble. We will be persecuted for believing in the name of Jesus, we will fall ill, etc. We are reminded throughout Scripture that there is suffering for those who follow God. However, there is also deliverance for all those who follow God. We are told that we will suffer in this life. But we are also told God will deliver us from those difficult times. Hold on to your faith, trusting that God's mighty hand will come forth to deliver us one day. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gideons International
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wanted to remind everyone that this coming Sunday, April 26, a representative from Gideons International will be with us in worship, and he will be sharing a little about the work the Gideons are doing around the world. A love offering will be taken following the worship servie to assist the Gideons in their work. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I wanted to remind everyone that this coming Sunday, April 26, a representative from Gideons International will be with us in worship, and he will be sharing a little about the work the Gideons are doing around the world. A love offering will be taken following the worship servie to assist the Gideons in their work. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
1 Thessalonians 5: 12-28; Final Instructions
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Pray continually." In other versions this verse reads, 'pray without ceasing.' Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have as children of God. We are blessed with the opportunity to go before the throne of grace and talk to God for a little while. In prayer we can ask God for help, tell God of our troubles, and praise God for all he has done. Through prayer we are lifted up in spirit, and are strengthened for our journey of faith. Prayer works both ways. It is a time for us to talk to God, but it is also a time for God to talk to us and give us strength and peace. In the words of Paul: Pray without ceasing. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Pray continually." In other versions this verse reads, 'pray without ceasing.' Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we have as children of God. We are blessed with the opportunity to go before the throne of grace and talk to God for a little while. In prayer we can ask God for help, tell God of our troubles, and praise God for all he has done. Through prayer we are lifted up in spirit, and are strengthened for our journey of faith. Prayer works both ways. It is a time for us to talk to God, but it is also a time for God to talk to us and give us strength and peace. In the words of Paul: Pray without ceasing. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, April 19, 2009
1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11; The End Times
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." In the end we are going to live with Jesus. No matter what happens to us in this life we know that in the end we know we are going to be with Jesus for all eternity. We sometimes get concerned with what is going to happen in the end: who is going to be taken to heaven, how many people will be there, when will it happen, etc. We do not know, for sure, what is going to happen, or when. But what we do know is that we will be with Jesus. We can take comfort in the fact that while we may not know everything that is going to happen we do know that we are going to be taken to the place Jesus has prepared for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." In the end we are going to live with Jesus. No matter what happens to us in this life we know that in the end we know we are going to be with Jesus for all eternity. We sometimes get concerned with what is going to happen in the end: who is going to be taken to heaven, how many people will be there, when will it happen, etc. We do not know, for sure, what is going to happen, or when. But what we do know is that we will be with Jesus. We can take comfort in the fact that while we may not know everything that is going to happen we do know that we are going to be taken to the place Jesus has prepared for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, April 18, 2009
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; The Coming of the Lord
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus promises us a resurrection. He, like Paul does here, talks here about the resurrection of the dead, which is going to happen when Jesus comes to take us to the place he has prepared for us. This is the good news of Easter, the eternal life we are promised through Jesus. Jesus was raised from the grave; Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave; and because of that we, too, are going to have life in us. This is our hope. Our bodies may die, but we will still live forever in the kingdom of God with Jesus for all eternity. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus promises us a resurrection. He, like Paul does here, talks here about the resurrection of the dead, which is going to happen when Jesus comes to take us to the place he has prepared for us. This is the good news of Easter, the eternal life we are promised through Jesus. Jesus was raised from the grave; Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave; and because of that we, too, are going to have life in us. This is our hope. Our bodies may die, but we will still live forever in the kingdom of God with Jesus for all eternity. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, April 17, 2009
1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12; Living to Please God
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders." It used to be the practice of churches to go overseas as an entire congregation. When they reached their destination they would evangelize through action, not preaching. They would live holy, loving lives and witness in that way. The hope was that people would see how they live, see their happiness, and accept Jesus as personal lord and savior. We are called to witness through how we live our lives. The 'un-churched' watch the 'churched' and because of that we need to witness to them through how we live: that they may see our joy and peace and come to follow Jesus. The way we live our lives matters, not just to God, but to those around us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders." It used to be the practice of churches to go overseas as an entire congregation. When they reached their destination they would evangelize through action, not preaching. They would live holy, loving lives and witness in that way. The hope was that people would see how they live, see their happiness, and accept Jesus as personal lord and savior. We are called to witness through how we live our lives. The 'un-churched' watch the 'churched' and because of that we need to witness to them through how we live: that they may see our joy and peace and come to follow Jesus. The way we live our lives matters, not just to God, but to those around us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, April 16, 2009
1 Thessalonians 3: 6-13; Timothy's Encouraging Report
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith." Faith is hard, especially when we face persecution. There are those who wish to cause us harm because of our faith in Jesus Christ. There are those who wish to destroy our faith. In those times we have the blessing of being able to call on the name of the Lord to give us strength. The good news is that he will listen to our call; he will be with us and give us strength. Jesus is with us always, but even more so in times of trouble. In times of trouble Jesus is with us, ecouraging us and strenghtening us for our journey of faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith." Faith is hard, especially when we face persecution. There are those who wish to cause us harm because of our faith in Jesus Christ. There are those who wish to destroy our faith. In those times we have the blessing of being able to call on the name of the Lord to give us strength. The good news is that he will listen to our call; he will be with us and give us strength. Jesus is with us always, but even more so in times of trouble. In times of trouble Jesus is with us, ecouraging us and strenghtening us for our journey of faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
1 Thessalonians 2: 17-3:5; Paul's Longing to See the Thessalonians
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul has a deep love for his brothers and sisters in Christ. In this letter, and in others, he talks about his longing to see the people to whom he is writing. Paul shows the kind of love Christ would have us show to one another. We are a family of faith, and part of what it means to be a family of faith is that we love each other. We also need to show that love to one another. In so doing we strengthen our faith individually and collectively. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Paul has a deep love for his brothers and sisters in Christ. In this letter, and in others, he talks about his longing to see the people to whom he is writing. Paul shows the kind of love Christ would have us show to one another. We are a family of faith, and part of what it means to be a family of faith is that we love each other. We also need to show that love to one another. In so doing we strengthen our faith individually and collectively. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
1 Thessalonians 2 1-16; Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else." Paul worked for God not himself. He followed Jesus' example of never seeking to glorify his own name. When we go out to proclaim the good news to those around us we are not doing it for ourselves. We don't preach and teach the name of Jesus so we can be famous, so we can have the biggest church, so we can win a contest. We do all of these things for God's glory, that he might be praised more for what he has done for the world. God has done so much for us, and the work we do for him is meant to honor and glorify him for what he has done for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else." Paul worked for God not himself. He followed Jesus' example of never seeking to glorify his own name. When we go out to proclaim the good news to those around us we are not doing it for ourselves. We don't preach and teach the name of Jesus so we can be famous, so we can have the biggest church, so we can win a contest. We do all of these things for God's glory, that he might be praised more for what he has done for the world. God has done so much for us, and the work we do for him is meant to honor and glorify him for what he has done for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, April 13, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10; Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Most of Paul's letters begin with a declaration that he is praying for the people to whom he is wiritng. Before Paul does anything else he lets the people know is praying for them. We need to spend more time in prayer on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we do this it serves as a reminder that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and should treat each other accordingly. We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us. We get better at that when wepray for each other. Prayer also works. When we pray for one another we are helping each other in our journey of faith, as we are also called to do. As Paul prayed for the Thessalonians let us also pray for each other. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Most of Paul's letters begin with a declaration that he is praying for the people to whom he is wiritng. Before Paul does anything else he lets the people know is praying for them. We need to spend more time in prayer on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we do this it serves as a reminder that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and should treat each other accordingly. We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us. We get better at that when wepray for each other. Prayer also works. When we pray for one another we are helping each other in our journey of faith, as we are also called to do. As Paul prayed for the Thessalonians let us also pray for each other. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Mark 16: 1-8; The Resurrection
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eventually, Mary and the other women said something to someone about the resurrection. We take this Sunday to celebrate the risen Lord, and it is fitting that we do so. However, we also take this time to remember that we have some work to do. We are supposed to tell everyone the good news of Jesus' resurrection. We are supposed to go forth into the world to make disciples of all nations, to tell all those around us of the blessings we have received because of Jesus walking out of the grave. Celebrate the good news of the risen Lord, but also share that good news with those around you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Eventually, Mary and the other women said something to someone about the resurrection. We take this Sunday to celebrate the risen Lord, and it is fitting that we do so. However, we also take this time to remember that we have some work to do. We are supposed to tell everyone the good news of Jesus' resurrection. We are supposed to go forth into the world to make disciples of all nations, to tell all those around us of the blessings we have received because of Jesus walking out of the grave. Celebrate the good news of the risen Lord, but also share that good news with those around you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Easter Sunday Scripture and Sermon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sunrise Service tomorrow morning will be a Service of the Word in which we will relive the story of our salvation as told to us through the Scriptures. The message will focus on Jesus' words from the cross, 'It is finished,' which means our salvation is complete.
The Scripture for the 11:00 a.m. service is from John 20: 1-18, in which we are told of the risen Jesus. The sermon is titled 'Because He Lives' and will focus on the blessings we have received through the resurrection of Jesus. I hope you will all be able to join us for this blessed Easter celebration. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Sunrise Service tomorrow morning will be a Service of the Word in which we will relive the story of our salvation as told to us through the Scriptures. The message will focus on Jesus' words from the cross, 'It is finished,' which means our salvation is complete.
The Scripture for the 11:00 a.m. service is from John 20: 1-18, in which we are told of the risen Jesus. The sermon is titled 'Because He Lives' and will focus on the blessings we have received through the resurrection of Jesus. I hope you will all be able to join us for this blessed Easter celebration. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus in the Grave
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus spent this day in the grave, having died for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus spent this day in darkness, having giving us the light of life. I encourage you to take this day and think about the life we would have had were it not for Jesus. Our lives would have been filled with darkness and death had Jesus not died on the cross to give us life. Our lives would have been epmty but for Jesus. But because Jesus died we have received all the blessings. Our lives have been made whole because of him. Jesus died for us, and because he died we our lives have been blessed. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus spent this day in the grave, having died for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus spent this day in darkness, having giving us the light of life. I encourage you to take this day and think about the life we would have had were it not for Jesus. Our lives would have been filled with darkness and death had Jesus not died on the cross to give us life. Our lives would have been epmty but for Jesus. But because Jesus died we have received all the blessings. Our lives have been made whole because of him. Jesus died for us, and because he died we our lives have been blessed. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, April 10, 2009
Mark 15: 1-47; Jesus's Trial, Death, and Burial
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Good Friday got its name because even though this was not a good day for Jesus it is a good day for us. On this day our salvation was made complete. On this day, as Jesus died on the cross, we were given a new life. We call this Good Friday because through Jesus' death on the cross we have received all the blessings. I invite you to take this day to think about the good things we have because of Jesus' sacrifice. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Good Friday got its name because even though this was not a good day for Jesus it is a good day for us. On this day our salvation was made complete. On this day, as Jesus died on the cross, we were given a new life. We call this Good Friday because through Jesus' death on the cross we have received all the blessings. I invite you to take this day to think about the good things we have because of Jesus' sacrifice. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Maundy Thursday Celebration
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This evening we will be celebrating a Seder Service in the Chapel at Mt. Lebanon Christian Church. You are all invited to celebrate with us the last meal Jesus ate before he died. We will begin the service at 7:00 p.m. Please note that we are not having the full meal, only smaller portions of the food Jesus and his disciples ate. I hope to see you all there. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This evening we will be celebrating a Seder Service in the Chapel at Mt. Lebanon Christian Church. You are all invited to celebrate with us the last meal Jesus ate before he died. We will begin the service at 7:00 p.m. Please note that we are not having the full meal, only smaller portions of the food Jesus and his disciples ate. I hope to see you all there. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Mark 14: 12-72; Jesus' Last Meal, Betrayal, and Arrest
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It begins tonight. Jesus is going to be betrayed, arrested, and put to death. As we watch our Lord suffer in this way we might want to ask the question: 'Why, Lord, would you go through all of this?' If we were to ask that question we would hear Jesus answer: 'Because I love you.' Jesus went through all of these things because he loves us. Jesus loves us so much he did not want to be heaven without us. That is why he went to the cross. Not because he had to, not to win glory and honor for himself, but because of his amazing love for us. Over the next two days, as we watch Christ suffer so much, let us remember the love he has for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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It begins tonight. Jesus is going to be betrayed, arrested, and put to death. As we watch our Lord suffer in this way we might want to ask the question: 'Why, Lord, would you go through all of this?' If we were to ask that question we would hear Jesus answer: 'Because I love you.' Jesus went through all of these things because he loves us. Jesus loves us so much he did not want to be heaven without us. That is why he went to the cross. Not because he had to, not to win glory and honor for himself, but because of his amazing love for us. Over the next two days, as we watch Christ suffer so much, let us remember the love he has for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Mark 14: 1-11; Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes it is fine to sit down and worship Jesus. Jesus has called us to serve him, to continue his ministry. We should spend a great deal of our time doing those things. However, there are times when we need to just sit by and worship Jesus for all he has done for us. The disciples, here, are concerned with doing things, which is a good thinsg, but they lose track of honoring Jesus. Let us remember, especially during this Holy Week, to worship Jesus for all he has done for us. Let us take time to honor him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sometimes it is fine to sit down and worship Jesus. Jesus has called us to serve him, to continue his ministry. We should spend a great deal of our time doing those things. However, there are times when we need to just sit by and worship Jesus for all he has done for us. The disciples, here, are concerned with doing things, which is a good thinsg, but they lose track of honoring Jesus. Let us remember, especially during this Holy Week, to worship Jesus for all he has done for us. Let us take time to honor him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Mark 11: 20-13: 37; Final Teachings
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In a very short time Jesus is going to be betrayed, handed over, and crucified on the cross. Despite the things that he is about to go through Jesus continues to teach and preach. He knows his time is limited so he spends time teaching those around him how to be faithful when he is no longer with them. In the face of death Jesus is continuing the ministry God gave him. It seems not even the threat of the cross is able to slow him down. That is how we should be. We face many trials and tribulations on our journey of faith. None of those things should get in the way of our ministry. No matter what comes our way we should continue to teach, preach, or anything else God has called us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
In a very short time Jesus is going to be betrayed, handed over, and crucified on the cross. Despite the things that he is about to go through Jesus continues to teach and preach. He knows his time is limited so he spends time teaching those around him how to be faithful when he is no longer with them. In the face of death Jesus is continuing the ministry God gave him. It seems not even the threat of the cross is able to slow him down. That is how we should be. We face many trials and tribulations on our journey of faith. None of those things should get in the way of our ministry. No matter what comes our way we should continue to teach, preach, or anything else God has called us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, April 6, 2009
Mark 11: 12-19; Jesus Clears the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In both of these incidents, the cursing of the fig tree and clearing of the Temple, we see Jesus getting upset because Israel is not doing what they are supposed to be doing. The fig tree serves as a metaphor for Israel who is supposed to be bearing fruit. Since they are not, they are cursed. Even their Temple practices are not aligned with the will of God, and because of that Jesus clears out the Temple. During this Holy Week, as we are reminded of everything Jesus went through for us, we are also reminded of our call to be the people God wants us to be. We can be the people God wants us to be because of Jesus' death on the cross. Since Jesus died on the cross the bonds of sin have been broken, making it possible for us to live a holy and righteous life. Israel fell short of God's will. Let us not make that same mistake. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
In both of these incidents, the cursing of the fig tree and clearing of the Temple, we see Jesus getting upset because Israel is not doing what they are supposed to be doing. The fig tree serves as a metaphor for Israel who is supposed to be bearing fruit. Since they are not, they are cursed. Even their Temple practices are not aligned with the will of God, and because of that Jesus clears out the Temple. During this Holy Week, as we are reminded of everything Jesus went through for us, we are also reminded of our call to be the people God wants us to be. We can be the people God wants us to be because of Jesus' death on the cross. Since Jesus died on the cross the bonds of sin have been broken, making it possible for us to live a holy and righteous life. Israel fell short of God's will. Let us not make that same mistake. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, April 5, 2009
Mark 11: 1-11; The Triumphal Entry
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This was God's plan. Jesus knew exactly what would be waiting for him, down to the colt of a donkey tied up at someones house. As gruesome and shameful as the cross was for Jesus it was all part of God's plan. And God ordained all of this to happen for our sake. God allowed Jesus to go to cross that we may have life in us. As we begin Holy Week we should think about the cross and how awful it was for Jesus to endure it. But we should also think about the amazing love God has for us in his heart: a love so strong that he gave his one and only son that we might have salvation. If we see nothing else this week we will see the love of God coming to us through Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This was God's plan. Jesus knew exactly what would be waiting for him, down to the colt of a donkey tied up at someones house. As gruesome and shameful as the cross was for Jesus it was all part of God's plan. And God ordained all of this to happen for our sake. God allowed Jesus to go to cross that we may have life in us. As we begin Holy Week we should think about the cross and how awful it was for Jesus to endure it. But we should also think about the amazing love God has for us in his heart: a love so strong that he gave his one and only son that we might have salvation. If we see nothing else this week we will see the love of God coming to us through Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, April 4, 2009
Micah 7: 8-13; Israel Will Rise
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame." We need not worry about fighting our enemies, for the Lord is going to take care of them. What we are supposed to be doing is exactly what Jesus tells us to be doing: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. At all times we should lift up our enemies in prayer in the hopes that they will experience the love of Christ in their lives and begin to live a life of faith. That is our calling. Let God take care of the rest. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame." We need not worry about fighting our enemies, for the Lord is going to take care of them. What we are supposed to be doing is exactly what Jesus tells us to be doing: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. At all times we should lift up our enemies in prayer in the hopes that they will experience the love of Christ in their lives and begin to live a life of faith. That is our calling. Let God take care of the rest. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, April 3, 2009
Micah 7: 1-7; Israel's Misery
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." This is not the best picture of the world. If only half of these types of things happened I think we could all understand Israel's misery. Sometimes the world is not what we think it should be. As we look around we don't always see neighbor loving neighbor; we don't always see people following Jesus. Sometimes we are left dejected for what we see going on around us. But amidst all of this we have the hope of the kingdom Christ has prepared for us. This world may not always be to our liking, but someday we will all be gathered together in the heavenly kingdom where there will be only joy and peace. Let us hope for that day. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." This is not the best picture of the world. If only half of these types of things happened I think we could all understand Israel's misery. Sometimes the world is not what we think it should be. As we look around we don't always see neighbor loving neighbor; we don't always see people following Jesus. Sometimes we are left dejected for what we see going on around us. But amidst all of this we have the hope of the kingdom Christ has prepared for us. This world may not always be to our liking, but someday we will all be gathered together in the heavenly kingdom where there will be only joy and peace. Let us hope for that day. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, April 2, 2009
Events for Holy Week
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Next week is Holy Week, and we have a lot of opportunities for worship here at the church. I hope you are able to take time during the next week to reflect on Holy Week and what it means for us. And so you know, here is a list of things we will be doing next week:
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m.
Evening Worship: 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Bible Study: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Lent Prayer Meditation: 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Maunday Thursday Seder Service: 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Community Good Friday Service: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
(MLCC's time slot is from 1:45-2:10)
24 Hour Worship Chain: Friday 7:00 p.m.-Saturday 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunrise Service: 7:00 a.m.
Church Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.
Children's Easter Activites: 9:00 a.m.
Easter Worship: 11:00 a.m.
If you have any questions regarding any of these services please feel free to contact me: jsnyder@pts.edu God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Next week is Holy Week, and we have a lot of opportunities for worship here at the church. I hope you are able to take time during the next week to reflect on Holy Week and what it means for us. And so you know, here is a list of things we will be doing next week:
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m.
Evening Worship: 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Bible Study: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Lent Prayer Meditation: 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Maunday Thursday Seder Service: 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Community Good Friday Service: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
(MLCC's time slot is from 1:45-2:10)
24 Hour Worship Chain: Friday 7:00 p.m.-Saturday 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunrise Service: 7:00 a.m.
Church Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.
Children's Easter Activites: 9:00 a.m.
Easter Worship: 11:00 a.m.
If you have any questions regarding any of these services please feel free to contact me: jsnyder@pts.edu God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Scripture and Sermon for Palm Sunday
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This Sunday in the worship service we will be celebrating Palm Sunday, the day on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem to save the world from sin. We will be reading from John 12: 12-16, which tells of Jesus' triumphal entry. The sermon is titled 'Hosanna' and will focus on how we are saved by Jesus. I hope you all will be able to join us for this very special Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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This Sunday in the worship service we will be celebrating Palm Sunday, the day on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem to save the world from sin. We will be reading from John 12: 12-16, which tells of Jesus' triumphal entry. The sermon is titled 'Hosanna' and will focus on how we are saved by Jesus. I hope you all will be able to join us for this very special Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Micah 6: 9-16; Israel's Guilt and Punishment
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it very fitting that just a couple of days before Palm Sunday we here read a passage about judgment. On Palm Sunday Jesus rides into Jerusalem to save the world from sin. Without that we would suffer the punishment and judgment we read about in Micah. This is a great time for us to thank God, really thank Him, for sending Jesus into the world to save us, especially as we read about what would have happened to us if God did not send Jesus. As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week I encourage to take time to think about the punishment we would have received were it not for Jesus. Think about that and be thankful for what we did receive: Jesus Christ, our Savior. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I find it very fitting that just a couple of days before Palm Sunday we here read a passage about judgment. On Palm Sunday Jesus rides into Jerusalem to save the world from sin. Without that we would suffer the punishment and judgment we read about in Micah. This is a great time for us to thank God, really thank Him, for sending Jesus into the world to save us, especially as we read about what would have happened to us if God did not send Jesus. As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week I encourage to take time to think about the punishment we would have received were it not for Jesus. Think about that and be thankful for what we did receive: Jesus Christ, our Savior. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Micah 6: 1-8; The Lord's Case Against Israel
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." This 'list' of instructions is for anyone who says Christianity is full of 'do nots.' Certainly, there are things that we are not supposed to do, but these things listed by Micah seem pretty simple to me. I do not feel stifled or burdened when I look at what the Lord requires of us. Let us all remember that what the Lord requires of us is not anything more than we can handle. That is not to say it is easy. Faith is sometimes hard. Living by faith is sometimes hard. But if we live in the Spirit all things are possible, especially doing what the Lord requires. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." This 'list' of instructions is for anyone who says Christianity is full of 'do nots.' Certainly, there are things that we are not supposed to do, but these things listed by Micah seem pretty simple to me. I do not feel stifled or burdened when I look at what the Lord requires of us. Let us all remember that what the Lord requires of us is not anything more than we can handle. That is not to say it is easy. Faith is sometimes hard. Living by faith is sometimes hard. But if we live in the Spirit all things are possible, especially doing what the Lord requires. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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