Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Even the best lose their way from time to time. We are told in this passage that Solomon eventually loses favor with God due to his sinfullness and propensity to go astray. As I see this image of Solomon unfold I am reminded of the fact that, at times, we all sin. At times, we all do things we know are outside of God's will for us. There is good news, though, and that is that if we repent, if we confess our sins to God, he will forgive us and welcome us back into his grace. God loves us, despite our sins. And if we come to him with a truly loving and repentent heart, God will forgive us. We may be like Solomon in that we sin. But that does not mean God will cast us away forever. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
1 Kings 10: 14-29; Solomon's Splendor
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What isn't talked about in this passage is how much Solomon sacrificed back to the Lord. In other passages we learn that Solomon tithed, that he gave back to God some of what God had given to him. We can learn something from Solomon. God has given us all so much. He has taken care of us all of us in such great ways. We should have the desire in us to give back to God what he has given to us. We should want to help God by giving back to him. God has given us so much. Let us give back a little to him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
What isn't talked about in this passage is how much Solomon sacrificed back to the Lord. In other passages we learn that Solomon tithed, that he gave back to God some of what God had given to him. We can learn something from Solomon. God has given us all so much. He has taken care of us all of us in such great ways. We should have the desire in us to give back to God what he has given to us. We should want to help God by giving back to him. God has given us so much. Let us give back a little to him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, February 26, 2011
1 Kings 10: 1-13; The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Queen of Sheba may come to your house sometime. Sheba had questions about God, and she knew Solomon was the one who could answer them. Solomon, because of his great faith, was able to answer these questions. What will we share if Sheba comes to visit us? What will we be able to share? We all need to continue to grow in our faith so that we will be able to share our faith with others. Our calling is to make disciples of all nations. We need faith to do that. Faith to perform the action; and faith to tell people all about God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Queen of Sheba may come to your house sometime. Sheba had questions about God, and she knew Solomon was the one who could answer them. Solomon, because of his great faith, was able to answer these questions. What will we share if Sheba comes to visit us? What will we be able to share? We all need to continue to grow in our faith so that we will be able to share our faith with others. Our calling is to make disciples of all nations. We need faith to do that. Faith to perform the action; and faith to tell people all about God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, February 25, 2011
1 Kings 9: 10-28; Solomon's Other Activities
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Solomon liked to build things. It was almost a hobby, you might say. Solomon did not build these things for himself, or even for the Israelites. Solomon built all of these things for the glory of the Lord. His entire life, just about, was spent honoring and glorifying God. That is why Solomon was blessed the way he was: because he lived his life honoring and glorifying God. We can, and will, receive the same blessings if we honor and glorify God as Solomon did. Our lives can be just as good as Solomon as long as we recognize, and worship, the one from whom our blessings come. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Solomon liked to build things. It was almost a hobby, you might say. Solomon did not build these things for himself, or even for the Israelites. Solomon built all of these things for the glory of the Lord. His entire life, just about, was spent honoring and glorifying God. That is why Solomon was blessed the way he was: because he lived his life honoring and glorifying God. We can, and will, receive the same blessings if we honor and glorify God as Solomon did. Our lives can be just as good as Solomon as long as we recognize, and worship, the one from whom our blessings come. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 27, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Matthew 5: 1-12; The Beatitudes. The sermon is titled 'Driven' and will focus on what is the driving for us in our lives. We are talking about stewardship over the next couple of Sundays and as part of that we will be discussing what drives us to give to God. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Matthew 5: 1-12; The Beatitudes. The sermon is titled 'Driven' and will focus on what is the driving for us in our lives. We are talking about stewardship over the next couple of Sundays and as part of that we will be discussing what drives us to give to God. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
1 Kings 9: 1-9; The Lord Appears to Solomon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is a catch. God promises Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and everyone on down the line that he will bless them. The catch is, though, that they have to obey the commands God has given. There can be no compromise as far as that goes. If Israel does not obey God will take away what he has given. The Old Covenant was to last forever, but did not because of Israel's sin. I sometimes wonder if we will face the same punishment. The sacrifice Christ made on the cross is eternal. However, we have been commanded to be obedient to Christ, to obey the commands he has given, to live a life of faith. What will happen if we (continue?) to not follow every letter of Christ's word? Something to think about. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
There is a catch. God promises Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and everyone on down the line that he will bless them. The catch is, though, that they have to obey the commands God has given. There can be no compromise as far as that goes. If Israel does not obey God will take away what he has given. The Old Covenant was to last forever, but did not because of Israel's sin. I sometimes wonder if we will face the same punishment. The sacrifice Christ made on the cross is eternal. However, we have been commanded to be obedient to Christ, to obey the commands he has given, to live a life of faith. What will happen if we (continue?) to not follow every letter of Christ's word? Something to think about. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
1 Kings 8: 62-66; The Dedication of the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel." Worship is a time of joy. We should be happy when we are here in God's house. This is a time for us to celebrate, really celebrate, the good news of God for us. Of course we need to take time to reflect. But more than anything else worship should be about the joy we have in our hearts knowing God is with us; knowing that God loves us; knowing God gave his one and only son for us. Rejoice in the Lord! Always! God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel." Worship is a time of joy. We should be happy when we are here in God's house. This is a time for us to celebrate, really celebrate, the good news of God for us. Of course we need to take time to reflect. But more than anything else worship should be about the joy we have in our hearts knowing God is with us; knowing that God loves us; knowing God gave his one and only son for us. Rejoice in the Lord! Always! God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
1 Kings 8: 22-61; Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think these first words from Solomon are the most meaningful: “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below." In Solomon's time there were all kinds of other gods running around all over the place. It was important, and necessary, for Israel to confess God's supremacy in their lives every so often. The Israelites would often be led astray by other gods, but Solomon is making a confession here that there is no god like our God. We need to make this confession from time to time as well. We may not believe in other gods anymore, but there are a good many things that distract us from living a life centered on God and Christ. We need to confess that there is no one like our God. We need to remember to follow God and God alone, and not be distracted by other things in this world. “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below." God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I think these first words from Solomon are the most meaningful: “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below." In Solomon's time there were all kinds of other gods running around all over the place. It was important, and necessary, for Israel to confess God's supremacy in their lives every so often. The Israelites would often be led astray by other gods, but Solomon is making a confession here that there is no god like our God. We need to make this confession from time to time as well. We may not believe in other gods anymore, but there are a good many things that distract us from living a life centered on God and Christ. We need to confess that there is no one like our God. We need to remember to follow God and God alone, and not be distracted by other things in this world. “LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below." God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, February 21, 2011
1 Kings 8: 1-21; The Ark Brought to the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Ark of the Covenant is just about the most important artifact for the Israelites, for in it was the stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments, Aaron's staff, and a jar of manna. In short, items that reminded Israel of God leading them out of Egypt and through the wilderness. The Ark was to be housed in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies to continually remind the Israelites of God's goodness in the past. We have a very similar item in our churches. Almost every single church in the world has a cross in it somewhere. The cross reminds us of what Jesus did to save us, what he endured to give us life. We need to be mindful of the crosses we have in our churches. We need to be ever mindful of what has been done to give us the salvation we need so much in our lives. When Israel looked at the Ark they remembered God's grace. When we look at the cross we remember Christ's sacrifice. Let us always remember what was endured for our sake. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Ark of the Covenant is just about the most important artifact for the Israelites, for in it was the stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments, Aaron's staff, and a jar of manna. In short, items that reminded Israel of God leading them out of Egypt and through the wilderness. The Ark was to be housed in the Temple, in the Holy of Holies to continually remind the Israelites of God's goodness in the past. We have a very similar item in our churches. Almost every single church in the world has a cross in it somewhere. The cross reminds us of what Jesus did to save us, what he endured to give us life. We need to be mindful of the crosses we have in our churches. We need to be ever mindful of what has been done to give us the salvation we need so much in our lives. When Israel looked at the Ark they remembered God's grace. When we look at the cross we remember Christ's sacrifice. Let us always remember what was endured for our sake. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, February 20, 2011
1 Kings 7: 13-51; The Temple's Furnishings
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Temple is not just another building. It is God's dwelling place on earth. As such it needs to be decorated beautifully, and honored beyond all other things, save God himself. More than that, though the Temple should be treated with respect. The lack of respect is what caused Jesus to clear the Temple of money changers. We should honor our churches. Yes, they are places of business. But they are, first and foremost, houses of worship. Nothing should get in the way of our worship here at God's church. This is a place of worship and prayer. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Temple is not just another building. It is God's dwelling place on earth. As such it needs to be decorated beautifully, and honored beyond all other things, save God himself. More than that, though the Temple should be treated with respect. The lack of respect is what caused Jesus to clear the Temple of money changers. We should honor our churches. Yes, they are places of business. But they are, first and foremost, houses of worship. Nothing should get in the way of our worship here at God's church. This is a place of worship and prayer. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, February 19, 2011
1 Kings 7: 1-12 Solomon Builds His Palace
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Another lesson from Solomon's building projects. Solomon builds his palace only after the Temple is finished. He puts his own desires and comforts second to those of God. Without much more to say I leave you with this thought: I wonder what our lives would be like if we did the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Another lesson from Solomon's building projects. Solomon builds his palace only after the Temple is finished. He puts his own desires and comforts second to those of God. Without much more to say I leave you with this thought: I wonder what our lives would be like if we did the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, February 18, 2011
1 Kings 6: 1-38; Solomon Build the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Solomon has the Temple built. So important is Solomon's faith and love for God that he works tirelessly to make sure this monument to God is completed. This is Solomon's passion, the thing that consumes his life. He can think of nothing more than honoring God, worshiping his maker. We should show this same kind of dedication. We cannot all build a church, but we should live every moment in gratitude to God for all he has done for us. Just as Solomon did with the building of the Temple we should worship God with all our actions. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Solomon has the Temple built. So important is Solomon's faith and love for God that he works tirelessly to make sure this monument to God is completed. This is Solomon's passion, the thing that consumes his life. He can think of nothing more than honoring God, worshiping his maker. We should show this same kind of dedication. We cannot all build a church, but we should live every moment in gratitude to God for all he has done for us. Just as Solomon did with the building of the Temple we should worship God with all our actions. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 20, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament Lesson for Sunday is From 1 Samuel 16: 1-12, in which Samuel anoints David as King of Israel. The New Testament Lesson is from Mark 3: 13-19, in which Jesus calls the twelve disciples. The sermon is titled 'Umm, what?' and will focus on the fact that while we may not always understand what God is doing we can trust God anyway. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Old Testament Lesson for Sunday is From 1 Samuel 16: 1-12, in which Samuel anoints David as King of Israel. The New Testament Lesson is from Mark 3: 13-19, in which Jesus calls the twelve disciples. The sermon is titled 'Umm, what?' and will focus on the fact that while we may not always understand what God is doing we can trust God anyway. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
1 Kings 5: 1-18; Preparations for Building the Temple
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally there is peace in the kingdom. David never saw much peace. Israel fought many wars, and David had to deal with his sons trying to take the throne from him. David's life was difficult and filled with hardship, most of it of his own doing. Now, though, there is peace and quiet for King Solomon. Solomon has been blessed in a way we all have been blessed. God has brought all of us peace and comfort. Solomon is able to simply rest in God's presence, which is what we are able to do. We are blessed with the chance to be in God's presence, to rest there from the difficulties we face as we go through life. Enjoy that rest and be thankful for the peace God has brought you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Finally there is peace in the kingdom. David never saw much peace. Israel fought many wars, and David had to deal with his sons trying to take the throne from him. David's life was difficult and filled with hardship, most of it of his own doing. Now, though, there is peace and quiet for King Solomon. Solomon has been blessed in a way we all have been blessed. God has brought all of us peace and comfort. Solomon is able to simply rest in God's presence, which is what we are able to do. We are blessed with the chance to be in God's presence, to rest there from the difficulties we face as we go through life. Enjoy that rest and be thankful for the peace God has brought you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
1 Kings 4: 29-34; Solomon's Wisdom
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this passage we learn a lot about Solomon's widsom, but there is a detail about that wisdom that is very significant: God gave. Solomon did not come by hiw wisdom from books, or fame, or money. Solomon was wise because God made him so. Without God's blessings in his life Solomon would not have been wise. The same is true of us. Every good thing comes from God. We need to take time to remember the source of our blessings. We need to take time to be thankful for all God has done for us. We would have nothing without God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
In this passage we learn a lot about Solomon's widsom, but there is a detail about that wisdom that is very significant: God gave. Solomon did not come by hiw wisdom from books, or fame, or money. Solomon was wise because God made him so. Without God's blessings in his life Solomon would not have been wise. The same is true of us. Every good thing comes from God. We need to take time to remember the source of our blessings. We need to take time to be thankful for all God has done for us. We would have nothing without God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
1 Kings 4: 20-28; Solomon's Daily Provisions
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Solomon had a great many things, and he was given all of those things because he was faithful to God's call in his life. God have Solomon everything Solomon needed. There is a lesson in that for us. God has the power, and the willingness, to take care of us; to give us what we need. Too often we believe we can do it ourselves. Too often we give up on thing when they don't come right away. If we turn to God, with a faith with no doubts, he will be there to take care of us, to give us all we need. God took care of Solomon because Solomon believed. The same will happen for us. If we trust in God, really trust, he will give us everything we need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Solomon had a great many things, and he was given all of those things because he was faithful to God's call in his life. God have Solomon everything Solomon needed. There is a lesson in that for us. God has the power, and the willingness, to take care of us; to give us what we need. Too often we believe we can do it ourselves. Too often we give up on thing when they don't come right away. If we turn to God, with a faith with no doubts, he will be there to take care of us, to give us all we need. God took care of Solomon because Solomon believed. The same will happen for us. If we trust in God, really trust, he will give us everything we need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, February 14, 2011
1 Kings 4: 1-19; Solomon's Officials and Governors
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps one of the things that made Solomon so wise is that he recognized he could not do it alone. Solomon surrounded himself with many officials, advisers, etc. because he knew he was going to need a hand with the task of being Israel's king. The same is true for our journey of faith. We are not supposed to do this alone. Yes, we have Jesus. But we also have our brothers and sisters in Christ to offer help when we need. Faith is hard. Life is hard. That is why God gave us people around us: to help us when things get tough. Do not try to go it alone. Let Jesus help you, and let your family of faith help you as well. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Perhaps one of the things that made Solomon so wise is that he recognized he could not do it alone. Solomon surrounded himself with many officials, advisers, etc. because he knew he was going to need a hand with the task of being Israel's king. The same is true for our journey of faith. We are not supposed to do this alone. Yes, we have Jesus. But we also have our brothers and sisters in Christ to offer help when we need. Faith is hard. Life is hard. That is why God gave us people around us: to help us when things get tough. Do not try to go it alone. Let Jesus help you, and let your family of faith help you as well. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, February 13, 2011
1 Kings 3: 16-28; A Wise Ruling
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is King Solomon's most famous story, for in this story he shows his wisdom and that his wisdom comes from God. Solomon shows a cool head in a very tense situation. How many people would handle this situation in this way? Many of us would be so worked up we would not know what to do. What we learn from Solomon here is the importance of taking a deep breath and calming down. Only then will we be able to think clearly, and properly discern God's will for any situation we face in our lives. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This is King Solomon's most famous story, for in this story he shows his wisdom and that his wisdom comes from God. Solomon shows a cool head in a very tense situation. How many people would handle this situation in this way? Many of us would be so worked up we would not know what to do. What we learn from Solomon here is the importance of taking a deep breath and calming down. Only then will we be able to think clearly, and properly discern God's will for any situation we face in our lives. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, February 12, 2011
1 Kings 3: 1-15; Solmon Asks for Wisdom
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wisdom comes from God. This is something Solomon knows, and he wants to be a wise and faithful king. But he also knows he will not be able to do this by himself. He knows he needs God's help to be a wise and faithful king. We need to be wise and faithful people, but we cannot do this by ourselves. We need God's help. We need to come to God in prayer, asking for God's assistance to be the people he wants us to be. Like Solomon we all desire to be wise and faithful. We need God's help in achieving this. Ask and you shall receive. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wisdom comes from God. This is something Solomon knows, and he wants to be a wise and faithful king. But he also knows he will not be able to do this by himself. He knows he needs God's help to be a wise and faithful king. We need to be wise and faithful people, but we cannot do this by ourselves. We need God's help. We need to come to God in prayer, asking for God's assistance to be the people he wants us to be. Like Solomon we all desire to be wise and faithful. We need God's help in achieving this. Ask and you shall receive. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, February 11, 2011
1 Kings 2: 13-46; Solomon's Throne Established
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Solomon gets off to a bit of a rocky start. I think we can look at this passage and say that Solomon is perhaps being driven by fear: fear that his kingship will not last, that someone will try and take it from him. If Solomon had been a little more trusting in God maybe things would have been different in this passage. Maybe so many people would not have had to die. As we look at Solomon come into his kingship let us remember to trust God. He has promised us he will take care of us. God will not break that promise. Trust in him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Solomon gets off to a bit of a rocky start. I think we can look at this passage and say that Solomon is perhaps being driven by fear: fear that his kingship will not last, that someone will try and take it from him. If Solomon had been a little more trusting in God maybe things would have been different in this passage. Maybe so many people would not have had to die. As we look at Solomon come into his kingship let us remember to trust God. He has promised us he will take care of us. God will not break that promise. Trust in him. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, February 10, 2011
1 Kings 2: 1-12; David's Charge to Solomon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What instructions do you give your children? David says a number of things here, but one that stands out more than the others is what David says about being obedient: "Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses." David is about to die and he shares with his son what he thinks is most important. We should always share with our children and others around us the importance of following God's will. We need to share with them how important it is to live a life of faith. David encouraged his son to live a faithful life. We should do the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
What instructions do you give your children? David says a number of things here, but one that stands out more than the others is what David says about being obedient: "Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses." David is about to die and he shares with his son what he thinks is most important. We should always share with our children and others around us the importance of following God's will. We need to share with them how important it is to live a life of faith. David encouraged his son to live a faithful life. We should do the same. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
1 Kings 1: 28-53; David Makes Solomon King
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Solomon is often called one of the greatest kings of Israel, and we see why in this passage. Wisdom is the word most associated with Solomon, but here we see Solomon reaching out in mercy towards his brother. Solomon would have been within his rights to put Adonijah to death, but instead Solomon gives him another chance at life. Solomon takes the road of grace and love. This is a road we should take as well. We have all been sinned against, and some of us have found ourselves in positions of power over those who have sinned against us. If, and when, that happens we need to remember the grace and love Solomon showed, and the grace and love God has shown to us. We should walk the same path, forgiving, rather than seeking vengeance. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Solomon is often called one of the greatest kings of Israel, and we see why in this passage. Wisdom is the word most associated with Solomon, but here we see Solomon reaching out in mercy towards his brother. Solomon would have been within his rights to put Adonijah to death, but instead Solomon gives him another chance at life. Solomon takes the road of grace and love. This is a road we should take as well. We have all been sinned against, and some of us have found ourselves in positions of power over those who have sinned against us. If, and when, that happens we need to remember the grace and love Solomon showed, and the grace and love God has shown to us. We should walk the same path, forgiving, rather than seeking vengeance. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
1 Kings 1: 1-27; Adonijah Sets Himself Up As King
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
All is not well in David's kingdom. Things have settled down for David after his incident involving Bathsheba, but his life, and his kingdom, are far from peace. As David is dying there are plots all around him to take over the throne. What is the problem? The people are living outside of God's will. No one seems to be praying during all of this, asking for God's guidance. This passage, and David's life in general, is a lesson of what can happen if we do not work hard on our relationship with God. David's life falls apart because he lives a life of disobedience and unfaithfulness. We can learn from him. We need to continue to work hard on our faith, or our lives may follow the same path as David. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
All is not well in David's kingdom. Things have settled down for David after his incident involving Bathsheba, but his life, and his kingdom, are far from peace. As David is dying there are plots all around him to take over the throne. What is the problem? The people are living outside of God's will. No one seems to be praying during all of this, asking for God's guidance. This passage, and David's life in general, is a lesson of what can happen if we do not work hard on our relationship with God. David's life falls apart because he lives a life of disobedience and unfaithfulness. We can learn from him. We need to continue to work hard on our faith, or our lives may follow the same path as David. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, February 7, 2011
Luke 24: 50-53; The Ascension of Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the good news of the ascension? The good news is that it means Christ is still ministering to us today. Jesus was raised from the dead, but he did not die again years later. No, Jesus lives on today, and he continues to intercede for us; he continues to pray for us; he continues to teach us; he continues to heal our brokenness. Jesus still lives, and because he lives he continues to do for us all that we need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
What is the good news of the ascension? The good news is that it means Christ is still ministering to us today. Jesus was raised from the dead, but he did not die again years later. No, Jesus lives on today, and he continues to intercede for us; he continues to pray for us; he continues to teach us; he continues to heal our brokenness. Jesus still lives, and because he lives he continues to do for us all that we need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Luke 24: 36-49; Jesus Appears to his Disciples
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. Jesus lived a perfect life, the kind of life God had in mind when he gave the Law to the Israelites. Since Jesus fulfilled the Law we do not have to follow those rigid commandments anymore. Jesus has freed us from the Law. He is also the fulfillment of the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. all spoke of the Messiah who would come and redeem the world. Jesus is that one. He came here to give us life. Jesus is the word, or promises of God, fulfilled. Rejoice in this good news. We are free from the Law. And we have the salvation we need in our lives. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. Jesus lived a perfect life, the kind of life God had in mind when he gave the Law to the Israelites. Since Jesus fulfilled the Law we do not have to follow those rigid commandments anymore. Jesus has freed us from the Law. He is also the fulfillment of the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. all spoke of the Messiah who would come and redeem the world. Jesus is that one. He came here to give us life. Jesus is the word, or promises of God, fulfilled. Rejoice in this good news. We are free from the Law. And we have the salvation we need in our lives. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Luke 24: 13-35; On the Road to Emmaus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In the end of Matthew's gospel Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats, and in that parable he says he may 'appear' as someone who is hungry, thirsty, sick, in prison, etc. Here we see Jesus, not in disguise, but unrecognizable to the men on the road. What this reminds us of is that Jesus can appear in a lot of different ways. We need to always keep our eyes open to see Jesus and live our lives accordingly. Jesus is all around us. We need to be aware of his presence. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In the end of Matthew's gospel Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats, and in that parable he says he may 'appear' as someone who is hungry, thirsty, sick, in prison, etc. Here we see Jesus, not in disguise, but unrecognizable to the men on the road. What this reminds us of is that Jesus can appear in a lot of different ways. We need to always keep our eyes open to see Jesus and live our lives accordingly. Jesus is all around us. We need to be aware of his presence. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, February 4, 2011
Luke 24: 1-12; Jesus Has Risen
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke's version of the resurrection is, in some ways, a little more pleasing than Mark's. In Mark's version the women run away from the tomb and do not say anything to anyone, because they are afraid. Here, though, we see the women, the first witnesses to the resurrection, telling the disciples the good news. We should follow their example. Jesus is alive. He has risen from the grave, and that means everything. We need to go out into the world and share that good news with those around us. We need to follow the example of Jesus' followers and tell everyone we meet the good news that Christ is risen from the dead. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Luke's version of the resurrection is, in some ways, a little more pleasing than Mark's. In Mark's version the women run away from the tomb and do not say anything to anyone, because they are afraid. Here, though, we see the women, the first witnesses to the resurrection, telling the disciples the good news. We should follow their example. Jesus is alive. He has risen from the grave, and that means everything. We need to go out into the world and share that good news with those around us. We need to follow the example of Jesus' followers and tell everyone we meet the good news that Christ is risen from the dead. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for February 6, 2010
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Matthew 5: 13-16, in which Jesus tells us to be a light shining on a hill. The sermon is titled 'Business As Usual' and will focus on the idea that our acts of faithfulness should come naturally to us. I hope and pray to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Matthew 5: 13-16, in which Jesus tells us to be a light shining on a hill. The sermon is titled 'Business As Usual' and will focus on the idea that our acts of faithfulness should come naturally to us. I hope and pray to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Luke 23: 50-56; The Burial of Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is dead, and everyone believes he is dead, and is going to stay dead. Joseph of Arimathea gives his own tomb to Jesus. The woman go home to prepare spices to anoint the body of Jesus. The disciples go into hiding and remain there. Despite Jesus assurances of his resurrection no one seems to believe it is actually going to happen. The faith Jesus' followers had in him is now all but gone. Keeping faith in times of seeming hopelessness is a difficult thing to do. Jesus' disciples and other followers were not able to do it. We can do it, though. We know Jesus walked out of the grave. We know our salvation is secure. In other words, we know Jesus is a man of his word. Jesus comes through on his promises. We can count on him when he tells us he is going to help us. We can have faith in him because he arose, just as he said he would. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus is dead, and everyone believes he is dead, and is going to stay dead. Joseph of Arimathea gives his own tomb to Jesus. The woman go home to prepare spices to anoint the body of Jesus. The disciples go into hiding and remain there. Despite Jesus assurances of his resurrection no one seems to believe it is actually going to happen. The faith Jesus' followers had in him is now all but gone. Keeping faith in times of seeming hopelessness is a difficult thing to do. Jesus' disciples and other followers were not able to do it. We can do it, though. We know Jesus walked out of the grave. We know our salvation is secure. In other words, we know Jesus is a man of his word. Jesus comes through on his promises. We can count on him when he tells us he is going to help us. We can have faith in him because he arose, just as he said he would. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Luke 23: 44-49; The Death of Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The tearing of the temple curtain is the most crucial detail of the death of Jesus. The temple curtain was, first of all, about six inches thick. In other words, it would take a lot for this curtain to be torn in two. We see, then, God's great sadness in the tearing of the temple curtain(the tearing of clothes was an act of anguish in 1st century Judaism). But it's more important what the temple curtain did. The temple curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. The Holy of Holies was seen as the place where God actually sat, on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Holy of Holies was God's presence. Only one person was allowed in there, the Jewish High Priest, and him only one day per year, the Day of Atonement. The tearing of the temple curtain is significant because the curtain separated people from God, and now it has been torn. With Jesus' death comes the possibility of a relationship with God. We can come into God's presence because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. That is why Jesus died: to restore us to a proper relationship with God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The tearing of the temple curtain is the most crucial detail of the death of Jesus. The temple curtain was, first of all, about six inches thick. In other words, it would take a lot for this curtain to be torn in two. We see, then, God's great sadness in the tearing of the temple curtain(the tearing of clothes was an act of anguish in 1st century Judaism). But it's more important what the temple curtain did. The temple curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. The Holy of Holies was seen as the place where God actually sat, on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Holy of Holies was God's presence. Only one person was allowed in there, the Jewish High Priest, and him only one day per year, the Day of Atonement. The tearing of the temple curtain is significant because the curtain separated people from God, and now it has been torn. With Jesus' death comes the possibility of a relationship with God. We can come into God's presence because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. That is why Jesus died: to restore us to a proper relationship with God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Luke 23: 26-43; The Crucifixion of Jesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' compassion never ends. About those who were putting him to death Jesus says, 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' To one of the criminals crucified next to him Jesus says, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' As he is being put to death, as he dying Jesus is reaching out in love and compassion for those around him. In these, Jesus' most tumultuous moments he is offering care. Our Savior is truly a savior of grace. The good news for us is Jesus' grace continues. He continues to care for us in times of need. He continues to reach out to us even now. Our Savior of grace is still our savior of grace. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Jesus' compassion never ends. About those who were putting him to death Jesus says, 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' To one of the criminals crucified next to him Jesus says, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' As he is being put to death, as he dying Jesus is reaching out in love and compassion for those around him. In these, Jesus' most tumultuous moments he is offering care. Our Savior is truly a savior of grace. The good news for us is Jesus' grace continues. He continues to care for us in times of need. He continues to reach out to us even now. Our Savior of grace is still our savior of grace. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)