Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Disney movie 'Remember the Titans' Herman Boone (portrayed by Denzel Washington) gives a speech to his football players about the American Civil War and how destructive it was for the nation. He says to the team, which is struggling at the time, 'if we don't come together we, too, will be destroyed, just like they [the soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg] were.' I think this has significance for the church. We are divided, and if we do not find a way to come together this house, as Jesus calls it, will be destroyed. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Luke 11: 1-13; Jesus' Teaching on Prayer
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Persistence and trust go hand in hand, and it is an odd combination to be sure. On the one hand we are supposed to trust God. Jesus teaches us the Lord's Prayer, a simple prayer, because we are supposed to trust that God will take care of our needs. On the other hand we are to be persistent in our prayers to make sure God is taking care of us. Think of the persistence as us making the prayer come true. When we pray for something we need to be prepared to be a part of the prayer. For example, when we pray for God's kingdom to come, we need to be ready to make that happen. Our persistence is our act of doing what we can to make the prayer come true. We trust that God is going to take care of us, but we need to be active as well. We trust in God's love, but we persist in our own work. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Persistence and trust go hand in hand, and it is an odd combination to be sure. On the one hand we are supposed to trust God. Jesus teaches us the Lord's Prayer, a simple prayer, because we are supposed to trust that God will take care of our needs. On the other hand we are to be persistent in our prayers to make sure God is taking care of us. Think of the persistence as us making the prayer come true. When we pray for something we need to be prepared to be a part of the prayer. For example, when we pray for God's kingdom to come, we need to be ready to make that happen. Our persistence is our act of doing what we can to make the prayer come true. We trust that God is going to take care of us, but we need to be active as well. We trust in God's love, but we persist in our own work. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
Luke 10: 38-42; At the Home of Mary and Martha
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we just need to stop and spend a little time with Jesus. There are a lot of things to do in this world, and most of them actually do need to get done. But we sometimes just need to slow down, and take a seat at Jesus' feet. We need to spend some time with Jesus and allow him to give us rest, and give us a hand when we need it. Though we are busy, we need to come to Jesus. We need to allow him to give us rest and help. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sometimes we just need to stop and spend a little time with Jesus. There are a lot of things to do in this world, and most of them actually do need to get done. But we sometimes just need to slow down, and take a seat at Jesus' feet. We need to spend some time with Jesus and allow him to give us rest, and give us a hand when we need it. Though we are busy, we need to come to Jesus. We need to allow him to give us rest and help. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, November 27, 2010
Luke 10: 25-37; The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the details that often gets lost in this parable is the fact that the Samaritan and the 'man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho' are mortal enemies (due to religious disputes between the two religious/cultural groups). There are no words to describe the hatred they feel for each other. And yet, the Samaritan takes care of the man. Even though the victim is his enemy the Samaritan still cares for him when no one else would. The Samaritan loves someone he is supposed to hate. I wonder what the lesson for us is? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
One of the details that often gets lost in this parable is the fact that the Samaritan and the 'man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho' are mortal enemies (due to religious disputes between the two religious/cultural groups). There are no words to describe the hatred they feel for each other. And yet, the Samaritan takes care of the man. Even though the victim is his enemy the Samaritan still cares for him when no one else would. The Samaritan loves someone he is supposed to hate. I wonder what the lesson for us is? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, November 26, 2010
Luke 10: 1-24; Jesus Sends Out the Seventy Two
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is a trust factor here. In all of his instructions Jesus offers an underlying word of comfort: God will help you. The seventy two are told to take very little with them on the road. The idea is that they are supposed to be trusting in God to take care of their needs. They are supposed to rely on God, through the kindness and love of people they meet, to give them what they have to have. This is another thing that applies to us as well. Through our many technological advances we have come to believe we do not need God. We can make anything for ourselves, for we have the know-how and power. We still need God. We still need his love and power and grace in our lives. Trust God and rely on his goodness. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
There is a trust factor here. In all of his instructions Jesus offers an underlying word of comfort: God will help you. The seventy two are told to take very little with them on the road. The idea is that they are supposed to be trusting in God to take care of their needs. They are supposed to rely on God, through the kindness and love of people they meet, to give them what they have to have. This is another thing that applies to us as well. Through our many technological advances we have come to believe we do not need God. We can make anything for ourselves, for we have the know-how and power. We still need God. We still need his love and power and grace in our lives. Trust God and rely on his goodness. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, November 25, 2010
Luke 9: 57-62; The Cost of Following Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Following Jesus does not cost us anything, monetarily speaking. We do not have to pay Jesus to believing in him. We do not have to pay anything to attend church (that's right, offering IS voluntary). That does not mean following Jesus does not require sacrifice. We have to give up a lot to follow Jesus. We have to give up our claim to ourselves and recognize we are God's. We have to give up our dreams, hopes, desires, etc. and submit to God's will. We have to give up material possessions and trust in God's abiding care. Following Jesus is free, but there are sacrifices. Discipleship is not for the faint of heart. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Following Jesus does not cost us anything, monetarily speaking. We do not have to pay Jesus to believing in him. We do not have to pay anything to attend church (that's right, offering IS voluntary). That does not mean following Jesus does not require sacrifice. We have to give up a lot to follow Jesus. We have to give up our claim to ourselves and recognize we are God's. We have to give up our dreams, hopes, desires, etc. and submit to God's will. We have to give up material possessions and trust in God's abiding care. Following Jesus is free, but there are sacrifices. Discipleship is not for the faint of heart. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for November 28, 2010
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
During worship this Sunday we will be celebrating the Hanging of the Greens. There will be various scripture passages read that tell us some of the meaning behind the 'greens' we hang. There will also be reflections on each scripture passage on the meanings of the decorations.
Prior to the worship service we will be having a breakfast, beginning at 9:00 AM, which will be followed by the decoration of the church.
I hope you are all able to attend these special events. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
During worship this Sunday we will be celebrating the Hanging of the Greens. There will be various scripture passages read that tell us some of the meaning behind the 'greens' we hang. There will also be reflections on each scripture passage on the meanings of the decorations.
Prior to the worship service we will be having a breakfast, beginning at 9:00 AM, which will be followed by the decoration of the church.
I hope you are all able to attend these special events. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Luke 9: 51-56; Samaritan Opposition
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness forgiveness forgiveness. Jesus could take this opportunity to teach the Samaritans a lesson. The disciples certainly want to. Jesus, though, shows mercy. It is in our nature to seek vengeance, to hold grudges. Jesus wants us to go out of our nature. Jesus wants us to act according to God's nature. In this case, Jesus wants his disciples to show mercy, to be forgiving of others. He wants the same for us even now. We have all been sinned against. We have all been hurt. The flip-side of that is that we have sinned against God. We have hurt God. God has forgiven us. As God has forgiven us, let us forgive others. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Forgiveness forgiveness forgiveness. Jesus could take this opportunity to teach the Samaritans a lesson. The disciples certainly want to. Jesus, though, shows mercy. It is in our nature to seek vengeance, to hold grudges. Jesus wants us to go out of our nature. Jesus wants us to act according to God's nature. In this case, Jesus wants his disciples to show mercy, to be forgiving of others. He wants the same for us even now. We have all been sinned against. We have all been hurt. The flip-side of that is that we have sinned against God. We have hurt God. God has forgiven us. As God has forgiven us, let us forgive others. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Luke 9: 43b-50; Jesus Predicts His Death A Second Time
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'Delivered' is a very important word here. That word, more often that not, perhaps makes us think of pizza. We order a pizza and thirty minutes later it is delivered. It is part of our plan to eat dinner. God has a very similar plan with Jesus, which is why Jesus uses the word 'delivered.' This is all part of God's plan. Jesus' death was not an accident, it was God's plan for our salvation. The word delivered lets us know that, as sad as it is, Jesus' death was part of God's plan, his plan for our salvation. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
'Delivered' is a very important word here. That word, more often that not, perhaps makes us think of pizza. We order a pizza and thirty minutes later it is delivered. It is part of our plan to eat dinner. God has a very similar plan with Jesus, which is why Jesus uses the word 'delivered.' This is all part of God's plan. Jesus' death was not an accident, it was God's plan for our salvation. The word delivered lets us know that, as sad as it is, Jesus' death was part of God's plan, his plan for our salvation. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, November 22, 2010
Luke 9: 37-43a; Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We see some frustration from Jesus here, and it is more than understandable. The disciples are supposed to continue Jesus' ministry. They are supposed to heal and cast out demons when Jesus is no longer in the world. Here we see the disciples have a little farther to go before they are ready. Jesus is frustrated because the disciples lack faith. Jesus is not magic. He has great faith. He is able to cast out demons because he believes he can. The disciples need to have that same faith. We need to have that faith as well. We need to believe that we can do what Jesus wants. That is the only way we are going to be able to do it. We have to have faith. We do not need anything other than pure belief that we can do what Jesus asks us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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We see some frustration from Jesus here, and it is more than understandable. The disciples are supposed to continue Jesus' ministry. They are supposed to heal and cast out demons when Jesus is no longer in the world. Here we see the disciples have a little farther to go before they are ready. Jesus is frustrated because the disciples lack faith. Jesus is not magic. He has great faith. He is able to cast out demons because he believes he can. The disciples need to have that same faith. We need to have that faith as well. We need to believe that we can do what Jesus wants. That is the only way we are going to be able to do it. We have to have faith. We do not need anything other than pure belief that we can do what Jesus asks us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, November 21, 2010
Luke 9: 28-36; The Transfiguration
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why are Moses and Elijah there with Jesus? What is the significance of these two heroes from the Old Testament? Moses' presence is meaningful because he delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. Jesus is going to deliver the world from sin. Elijah never died, but was instead swept into heaven in a fire-storm. Jesus is going to give the gift of eternal life to all who believe in his name. Jesus is going to bless us in the same way Moses and Elijah were blessings to those around them. Through Jesus we have been delivered. Through Jesus we have life eternal. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Why are Moses and Elijah there with Jesus? What is the significance of these two heroes from the Old Testament? Moses' presence is meaningful because he delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. Jesus is going to deliver the world from sin. Elijah never died, but was instead swept into heaven in a fire-storm. Jesus is going to give the gift of eternal life to all who believe in his name. Jesus is going to bless us in the same way Moses and Elijah were blessings to those around them. Through Jesus we have been delivered. Through Jesus we have life eternal. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, November 20, 2010
Luke 9: 21-27; Jesus Predicts His Own Death
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think this passage highlights one very important detail: Jesus knew he was going to die. Obviously that is the point of this passage, but I think what is even more significant is the fact that because Jesus knew he was going to die he could have avoided it. Jesus prayed, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to let this cup pass from him. Jesus did not want to go to the cross. He knew the cross was coming. He could have done something to get out of it. Instead, though, Jesus went to the cross. He went there and he died that we might have salvation. Jesus knew he was going to die, and he continued on that path that we might live. What love. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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I think this passage highlights one very important detail: Jesus knew he was going to die. Obviously that is the point of this passage, but I think what is even more significant is the fact that because Jesus knew he was going to die he could have avoided it. Jesus prayed, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to let this cup pass from him. Jesus did not want to go to the cross. He knew the cross was coming. He could have done something to get out of it. Instead, though, Jesus went to the cross. He went there and he died that we might have salvation. Jesus knew he was going to die, and he continued on that path that we might live. What love. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, November 19, 2010
Luke 9: 18-20; Peter Declares That Jesus is the Messiah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who is Jesus? Is he a prophet, someone we should maybe listen to, but whose ideas are too radical for the current cultural climate? Is he an idealist, someone who had good ideas, but whose ideas are not based in reality? Is he an example of how to live, someone who should be imitated, so long as it falls into the category of 'socially acceptabel?' Or, is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God; the one to whom we have given our very life; the one who we will follow even unto death; the one who we will obey even if it means losing things (though we will gain everything in the end). Who is Jesus to you? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Who is Jesus? Is he a prophet, someone we should maybe listen to, but whose ideas are too radical for the current cultural climate? Is he an idealist, someone who had good ideas, but whose ideas are not based in reality? Is he an example of how to live, someone who should be imitated, so long as it falls into the category of 'socially acceptabel?' Or, is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God; the one to whom we have given our very life; the one who we will follow even unto death; the one who we will obey even if it means losing things (though we will gain everything in the end). Who is Jesus to you? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for November 21, 2010
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from John 6: 25-35, in which Jesus speaks of bread and being hungry. The sermon is titled 'I'm Hungry' and will focus on the hunger we sometimes feel and what we can do about it. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from John 6: 25-35, in which Jesus speaks of bread and being hungry. The sermon is titled 'I'm Hungry' and will focus on the hunger we sometimes feel and what we can do about it. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Luke 9: 10-17; Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Could the disciples have performed this miracle? Is that what Jesus means when he tells them to give the people something to eat? I think so. At other times Jesus tells his disciples to do things that they will not do because they do not believe they can. 'Oh ye of little faith,' is one of Jesus' 'catch phrases' throughout the gospels. So many times we look at the miracles of Jesus and see his power and glory. What we should be thinking is what we can do as well. Jesus tells us if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains. He really means this. If we have faith amazing things can happen. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Could the disciples have performed this miracle? Is that what Jesus means when he tells them to give the people something to eat? I think so. At other times Jesus tells his disciples to do things that they will not do because they do not believe they can. 'Oh ye of little faith,' is one of Jesus' 'catch phrases' throughout the gospels. So many times we look at the miracles of Jesus and see his power and glory. What we should be thinking is what we can do as well. Jesus tells us if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains. He really means this. If we have faith amazing things can happen. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Luke 9: 1-9; Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The disciples are supposed to rely on God to provide for their every need. This is why Jesus tells the twelve to not take anything with them. This is a tough one. We are taught in our culture that if we want something we have to get it ourselves, or make it happen ourselves. We are taught to not count on anyone else, but to do everything alone. From a faith stand-point that is not how it is supposed to be. We are supposed to rely on God to give us what we need, to take care of us. It is good that we can be self-sufficient, but that is not how God would have us be. God would have us be reliant on him, trusting in him. The twelve were supposed to rely on God. We are supposed to do the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The disciples are supposed to rely on God to provide for their every need. This is why Jesus tells the twelve to not take anything with them. This is a tough one. We are taught in our culture that if we want something we have to get it ourselves, or make it happen ourselves. We are taught to not count on anyone else, but to do everything alone. From a faith stand-point that is not how it is supposed to be. We are supposed to rely on God to give us what we need, to take care of us. It is good that we can be self-sufficient, but that is not how God would have us be. God would have us be reliant on him, trusting in him. The twelve were supposed to rely on God. We are supposed to do the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Luke 8: 40-56; Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have to believe. The woman who had been subject to bleeding believes that if she can only touch Jesus' cloak she will be healed. Jairus believes that if Jesus comes and lays hands on the little girl she will be healed. Jairus and the woman subject to bleeding have great faith. They believe Jesus can, and will, help them, and because of their faith they receive what they need. We need to have the same kind of unconditional faith. When we come to Jesus in prayer to ask for something there is doubt in our hearts. Doubt that Jesus has the power, or will, to help us. We need to rid ourselves of that doubt and fear. We need to believe Jesus can, and will, help us. Just as he helped Jairus, and just as he helped the woman subject to bleeding, so Jesus will help us, if we believe in him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We have to believe. The woman who had been subject to bleeding believes that if she can only touch Jesus' cloak she will be healed. Jairus believes that if Jesus comes and lays hands on the little girl she will be healed. Jairus and the woman subject to bleeding have great faith. They believe Jesus can, and will, help them, and because of their faith they receive what they need. We need to have the same kind of unconditional faith. When we come to Jesus in prayer to ask for something there is doubt in our hearts. Doubt that Jesus has the power, or will, to help us. We need to rid ourselves of that doubt and fear. We need to believe Jesus can, and will, help us. Just as he helped Jairus, and just as he helped the woman subject to bleeding, so Jesus will help us, if we believe in him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Luke 8: 26-39; Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The key word in this passage is actually in the subtitle: restores. This man, who is demon-possessed, is not a part of normal society. Due to his ailment he has been ostracized by those around him out fear and anger against his sin. Jesus, in casting out the demon, restores the man to the community. The formerly demon-possessed man can now rejoin society and rebuild all of his relationships. Jesus does the same for us. Due to our sin our relationship with God had been broken. Jesus' ministry restored us to right relationship with God. Now we can know God, and God can know us. Now we can worship God. Now we can enter God's kingdom. Jesus has restored us to where we truly belong: to God's presence. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The key word in this passage is actually in the subtitle: restores. This man, who is demon-possessed, is not a part of normal society. Due to his ailment he has been ostracized by those around him out fear and anger against his sin. Jesus, in casting out the demon, restores the man to the community. The formerly demon-possessed man can now rejoin society and rebuild all of his relationships. Jesus does the same for us. Due to our sin our relationship with God had been broken. Jesus' ministry restored us to right relationship with God. Now we can know God, and God can know us. Now we can worship God. Now we can enter God's kingdom. Jesus has restored us to where we truly belong: to God's presence. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, November 14, 2010
Luke 8: 22-25; Jesus Calms the Storm
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The disciples are freaked out. The boat is rocking back and forth, getting closer to sinking every second. Water is filling the boat. The winds are howling. At a word from Jesus all of that goes away. The storm ceases to rage. The fear that fills the hearts of the disciples is gone. They were in a storm, now they are in peace. Jesus calms the storms in our lives as well. We are all in storms at various times. Storms that are so fierce we can hardly move. If we let him, Jesus will come into our lives and make those storms go away. He will cause the boat to stop rocking, the water to stop filling the boat, and the winds to stop howling. When we face difficult times in our lives Jesus is there to calm the storms. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The disciples are freaked out. The boat is rocking back and forth, getting closer to sinking every second. Water is filling the boat. The winds are howling. At a word from Jesus all of that goes away. The storm ceases to rage. The fear that fills the hearts of the disciples is gone. They were in a storm, now they are in peace. Jesus calms the storms in our lives as well. We are all in storms at various times. Storms that are so fierce we can hardly move. If we let him, Jesus will come into our lives and make those storms go away. He will cause the boat to stop rocking, the water to stop filling the boat, and the winds to stop howling. When we face difficult times in our lives Jesus is there to calm the storms. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, November 13, 2010
Luke 8: 19-21; Jesus' Mother and Brothers
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Being Jesus' brother sounds pretty cool to me. I think we should all aspire to achieve that high distinction. We should all 'hear God's word and put it into practice,' that we might be called brothers and/or sisters in Christ. We have a goal in mind. Let us do everything we can to achieve that goal. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Being Jesus' brother sounds pretty cool to me. I think we should all aspire to achieve that high distinction. We should all 'hear God's word and put it into practice,' that we might be called brothers and/or sisters in Christ. We have a goal in mind. Let us do everything we can to achieve that goal. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, November 12, 2010
Luke 8: 16-18; A Lamp on a Stand
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are to let our light shine. Jesus is supposed to shine out of us so that the world around us might see that light and be drawn into a life of faith in Jesus Christ. I think this concept is a helpful reminder that our actions speak just as loud as our words. We are under the eyes of our neighbors. They are watching us to see how we live our lives. Our lives should be lived in such a way that they want to live the same life. Let us, therefore, live as though Christ is in us. Let us shine Christ out of our hearts so others will find their way to him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We are to let our light shine. Jesus is supposed to shine out of us so that the world around us might see that light and be drawn into a life of faith in Jesus Christ. I think this concept is a helpful reminder that our actions speak just as loud as our words. We are under the eyes of our neighbors. They are watching us to see how we live our lives. Our lives should be lived in such a way that they want to live the same life. Let us, therefore, live as though Christ is in us. Let us shine Christ out of our hearts so others will find their way to him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, November 11, 2010
Luke 8: 1-15; The Parable of the Sower
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think we want to be the good soil. We should soak up every word Jesus says so that we might bear good fruit and bring others to Christ. We need to be receptive to what Jesus is saying. We need to listen. Not just hear, but listen to his words and allow them to change our lives. These words should change our lives in such a way that want to share them with others. We start out as the soil, but we should eventually turn into the sower. We should plant seeds to grow and bear more fruit. Listen to what Jesus has to say, and tell others those same words. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I think we want to be the good soil. We should soak up every word Jesus says so that we might bear good fruit and bring others to Christ. We need to be receptive to what Jesus is saying. We need to listen. Not just hear, but listen to his words and allow them to change our lives. These words should change our lives in such a way that want to share them with others. We start out as the soil, but we should eventually turn into the sower. We should plant seeds to grow and bear more fruit. Listen to what Jesus has to say, and tell others those same words. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Luke 7: 36-50; Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a stunning act of love. How have you showed your love for Jesus today. This woman, who is called sinful, does all she can to show Jesus how grateful she is for his ministry. She has had an experience with Jesus that has touched her heart in some way. We have all had similar experiences. Jesus has touched all of us in some way. We should show our gratitude. Whether it is buying a jar of perfume and washing Jesus' (or someone else's) feet, or something else, we need to show Jesus, in some way, how grateful we are for the blessings he has brought to us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This is a stunning act of love. How have you showed your love for Jesus today. This woman, who is called sinful, does all she can to show Jesus how grateful she is for his ministry. She has had an experience with Jesus that has touched her heart in some way. We have all had similar experiences. Jesus has touched all of us in some way. We should show our gratitude. Whether it is buying a jar of perfume and washing Jesus' (or someone else's) feet, or something else, we need to show Jesus, in some way, how grateful we are for the blessings he has brought to us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Luke 7: 18-35; Jesus and John the Baptist
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist has a very important job: to prepare the world for Jesus. John's job was to preach in such a way that people would be ready to hear what Jesus had to day. His job was to get people to repent so that when Jesus came, preaching repentance, people would know what Jesus was talking about. John was supposed to, in short, get things ready for Jesus. We have a very important job, too: to prepare the world for Jesus. Jesus is going to come back, and we need to prepare the world for that event. We do that by sharing our faith with those around us, by encouraging others to live a life of faith. We are John the Baptist. We are supposed to prepare the way of the Lord, so that the world will be ready for him when he gets here. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
John the Baptist has a very important job: to prepare the world for Jesus. John's job was to preach in such a way that people would be ready to hear what Jesus had to day. His job was to get people to repent so that when Jesus came, preaching repentance, people would know what Jesus was talking about. John was supposed to, in short, get things ready for Jesus. We have a very important job, too: to prepare the world for Jesus. Jesus is going to come back, and we need to prepare the world for that event. We do that by sharing our faith with those around us, by encouraging others to live a life of faith. We are John the Baptist. We are supposed to prepare the way of the Lord, so that the world will be ready for him when he gets here. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, November 8, 2010
Luke 7: 11-17; Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The resurrection that takes place in this story is meant to make us think of our own resurrection. We are all going to die. At least, our bodies are going to die. However, we are all going to be brought back to life. Jesus is going to raise us all up on the last day. We are going to be given a new life in God's kingdom. While it sometimes is sad to think of our own deaths, let us all be lifted up in knowing we will be brought back to life through Jesus. Just as the widow's son was raised from the grave, so, too, will we be brought back to life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The resurrection that takes place in this story is meant to make us think of our own resurrection. We are all going to die. At least, our bodies are going to die. However, we are all going to be brought back to life. Jesus is going to raise us all up on the last day. We are going to be given a new life in God's kingdom. While it sometimes is sad to think of our own deaths, let us all be lifted up in knowing we will be brought back to life through Jesus. Just as the widow's son was raised from the grave, so, too, will we be brought back to life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, November 7, 2010
Luke 7: 1-10; The Faith of the Centurion
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is impressed with the centurion. The centurion shows great faith in Jesus, as well as great humility, and because of that Jesus finds favor with him. Jesus will find favor with us as well. If we show great faith in the power and love of Jesus, and if we humble ourselves before the Lord then Jesus will love us. He will actually love us. Not tolerate, not like, not 'don't mind being around you,' but actual love. I think that is something to shoot for. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Jesus is impressed with the centurion. The centurion shows great faith in Jesus, as well as great humility, and because of that Jesus finds favor with him. Jesus will find favor with us as well. If we show great faith in the power and love of Jesus, and if we humble ourselves before the Lord then Jesus will love us. He will actually love us. Not tolerate, not like, not 'don't mind being around you,' but actual love. I think that is something to shoot for. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, November 6, 2010
Luke 6: 46-49; The Wise and Foolish Builders
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?' That is a fair question for Jesus. When we confess Jesus as personal Lord and Savior we are signing on the dotted line of the gospel, and with that signature we agree to do everything Jesus calls us to do. Not just the stuff we want, but everything. If we are going to call Jesus 'Lord' then we need to be ready to follow him every step of the way. That means we obey him, whatever that means. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
'Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?' That is a fair question for Jesus. When we confess Jesus as personal Lord and Savior we are signing on the dotted line of the gospel, and with that signature we agree to do everything Jesus calls us to do. Not just the stuff we want, but everything. If we are going to call Jesus 'Lord' then we need to be ready to follow him every step of the way. That means we obey him, whatever that means. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, November 5, 2010
Luke 6: 43-45; A Tree and its Fruit
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
A tree grows from the roots up. If the roots are bad, the tree will cease to grow and may die. Our faith grows from our hearts. If our hearts are in bad shape we will not grow in the way we should and our faith may become meaningless. Love is what makes our hearts grow in the right way. We have to continue to feed our hearts with love of God and of neighbor if we are to grow in faith. Our heart is our root. It needs to be in good shape. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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A tree grows from the roots up. If the roots are bad, the tree will cease to grow and may die. Our faith grows from our hearts. If our hearts are in bad shape we will not grow in the way we should and our faith may become meaningless. Love is what makes our hearts grow in the right way. We have to continue to feed our hearts with love of God and of neighbor if we are to grow in faith. Our heart is our root. It needs to be in good shape. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, November 4, 2010
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for November 7, 2010
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Luke 20: 27-38 in which Jesus is questioned about marriage and the resurrection. The sermon is titled 'Heavenly Life' and will focus on our future life in heaven. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Luke 20: 27-38 in which Jesus is questioned about marriage and the resurrection. The sermon is titled 'Heavenly Life' and will focus on our future life in heaven. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Luke 6: 37-42; Judging Others
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have ALL sinned. No one on this earth is in a position to judge someone else for sin, for all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We all have a plank of wood in our eyes. What we all need to do is recognize our own sin, confess, and ask for God's mercy. We are not allowed to judge others for their sins, because we all have sins of our own. It is that simple. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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We have ALL sinned. No one on this earth is in a position to judge someone else for sin, for all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We all have a plank of wood in our eyes. What we all need to do is recognize our own sin, confess, and ask for God's mercy. We are not allowed to judge others for their sins, because we all have sins of our own. It is that simple. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Luke 6: 27-36; Love For Enemies
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage is one that makes being a Christian really tough. On the one hand, we have assurance from Jesus that there will be those in the world who will persecute us. And on the other hand, we are supposed to love these people who do persecute us. Does Jesus mean all of this? Absolutely. Christians are called to trust and love. We are to trust that God is going to be with us as we face opposition, giving us strength for what we face. And we are to love those who harm us, just as God has loved us (even though we have harmed him with our sin). Our memories are the key ingredient to fulfilling this call. We need to remember all God has done for us in the past, which will help us trust God. And we need to remember God's salvation for us, which will help us forgive others when they sin against us. Remember. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This passage is one that makes being a Christian really tough. On the one hand, we have assurance from Jesus that there will be those in the world who will persecute us. And on the other hand, we are supposed to love these people who do persecute us. Does Jesus mean all of this? Absolutely. Christians are called to trust and love. We are to trust that God is going to be with us as we face opposition, giving us strength for what we face. And we are to love those who harm us, just as God has loved us (even though we have harmed him with our sin). Our memories are the key ingredient to fulfilling this call. We need to remember all God has done for us in the past, which will help us trust God. And we need to remember God's salvation for us, which will help us forgive others when they sin against us. Remember. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Luke 6: 17-26; Blessings and Woes
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Things are going to get better. That is a big part of Jesus' message. Jesus does not ever say this life is going to be easy, that we are not going to have any trouble. Rather, Jesus promises the exact opposite, that life is going to be hard, and filled with suffering. What Jesus also promises, though, is the fact that life is going to get better. We may be suffering now, but someday we are going to receive perfect peace and joy. The blessings we find in this passage tell us that. We may be poor, hungry, and hated now, but someday we will receive the Kingdom of God, we will be satisfied, and we will have the final victory over the powers of evil. Life may be hard now, but someday we will be blessed. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Things are going to get better. That is a big part of Jesus' message. Jesus does not ever say this life is going to be easy, that we are not going to have any trouble. Rather, Jesus promises the exact opposite, that life is going to be hard, and filled with suffering. What Jesus also promises, though, is the fact that life is going to get better. We may be suffering now, but someday we are going to receive perfect peace and joy. The blessings we find in this passage tell us that. We may be poor, hungry, and hated now, but someday we will receive the Kingdom of God, we will be satisfied, and we will have the final victory over the powers of evil. Life may be hard now, but someday we will be blessed. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, November 1, 2010
Luke 6: 12-16; The Twelve Apostles
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Handpicked by Jesus, these 12 men were supposed to be the ones to carry on Jesus' ministry when Jesus was no longer around. I have news for you, they are not the only ones handpicked for the job. All of us are called, by name, by Jesus, to continue his ministry. We have all been called into Christ's service, and we all need to get busy doing it. The disciples worked hard, we need to as well, to make sure Jesus is known to everyone in the world. Is that a tall order? Perhaps, but we can start with our neighborhood, our very own street. We have been called by name. Let's get to work. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Handpicked by Jesus, these 12 men were supposed to be the ones to carry on Jesus' ministry when Jesus was no longer around. I have news for you, they are not the only ones handpicked for the job. All of us are called, by name, by Jesus, to continue his ministry. We have all been called into Christ's service, and we all need to get busy doing it. The disciples worked hard, we need to as well, to make sure Jesus is known to everyone in the world. Is that a tall order? Perhaps, but we can start with our neighborhood, our very own street. We have been called by name. Let's get to work. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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