Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Acts 2: 29-40 in which Peter gives a sermon regarding the life and ministry of Jesus. The sermon is titled 'Tell Your Story' and will focus on the need for all of us to share our faith and do so through telling the story of what Jesus has done for us in our own lives. I hope to see you all on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
2 Timothy 1: 1-5; Introduction and Thanksgiving
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
If there is one thing I have always loved about Paul it is that he has such an appreciation for his brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul recognizes he is not on his journey of faith alone; he knows he cannot do it all by himself. Paul's offers of thanksgiving in his letter is a testimony to how much his friends and loved ones mean to him. In these words there is a reminder that we are to be a community of faith; a community that shares each others burdens, that works together for the sake of Jesus, that collectively shares the good news of Jesus Christ. We are none of us alone. We have each other. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
If there is one thing I have always loved about Paul it is that he has such an appreciation for his brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul recognizes he is not on his journey of faith alone; he knows he cannot do it all by himself. Paul's offers of thanksgiving in his letter is a testimony to how much his friends and loved ones mean to him. In these words there is a reminder that we are to be a community of faith; a community that shares each others burdens, that works together for the sake of Jesus, that collectively shares the good news of Jesus Christ. We are none of us alone. We have each other. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, June 29, 2011
1 Timothy 5: 1-25; Widows, Elders and Slaves
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
These are some pretty strict, and clear, provisions for the care of widows. There was a great need for this sort of thing as widows were often held in very low esteem. Women were not allowed to inherit property, and re-marriage was not usually a viable option. In short, widows were left to their own devices and generally not cared for by society. The Christian Church, though, saw the widows as their sisters-in-Christ. They cared for them, making sure the widows had everything they would need in life. This was an issue of faith. The disciples, and other Christians, lived out their faith in Jesus by caring for those in need. We should live our lives the same way. Widows may not be ostracized anymore, but they are still in need of love and care, as are many other people in the world. We should care for them, as Jesus has cared for us. Our faith should drive how we live. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
These are some pretty strict, and clear, provisions for the care of widows. There was a great need for this sort of thing as widows were often held in very low esteem. Women were not allowed to inherit property, and re-marriage was not usually a viable option. In short, widows were left to their own devices and generally not cared for by society. The Christian Church, though, saw the widows as their sisters-in-Christ. They cared for them, making sure the widows had everything they would need in life. This was an issue of faith. The disciples, and other Christians, lived out their faith in Jesus by caring for those in need. We should live our lives the same way. Widows may not be ostracized anymore, but they are still in need of love and care, as are many other people in the world. We should care for them, as Jesus has cared for us. Our faith should drive how we live. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011
1 Timothy 3: 14- 4: 16; Reasons for Paul’s Instructions
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are to be an example for other people in the world. For those who are not a part of the faith right now we are to be an example so they might see the way we live and come to a life of faith in Jesus. For those who are new to the faith we are to be an example to they will know how to live their lives now that they have accepted Jesus. We practice holiness to the glory of God, but also so that people in the world night have faith, or a deeper faith. Live your life according to your calling. In so doing you serve as a model, an example, for others. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We are to be an example for other people in the world. For those who are not a part of the faith right now we are to be an example so they might see the way we live and come to a life of faith in Jesus. For those who are new to the faith we are to be an example to they will know how to live their lives now that they have accepted Jesus. We practice holiness to the glory of God, but also so that people in the world night have faith, or a deeper faith. Live your life according to your calling. In so doing you serve as a model, an example, for others. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, June 27, 2011
1 Timothy 3: 1-13; Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think I can sum up Paul's instructions for church leaders with two very simple words: be faithful. And I would also add that this command does not apply only to those seeking to be leaders in the church. It applies to us all. All of us are called to live holy lives; lives worthy of our calling. Follow these instructions Paul gives here. In so doing you act in faith and bring honor and glory to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I think I can sum up Paul's instructions for church leaders with two very simple words: be faithful. And I would also add that this command does not apply only to those seeking to be leaders in the church. It applies to us all. All of us are called to live holy lives; lives worthy of our calling. Follow these instructions Paul gives here. In so doing you act in faith and bring honor and glory to God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, June 25, 2011
1 Timothy 2: 1-15; Instructions on Worship
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer is the best form of worship because in that time we are speaking to God and God is speaking right back to us. I encourage all of you, strongly, to spend time each and every day in prayer. Even if it is just a couple of minutes. Pray to God every day. Speak to him and allow him to speak to you. In so doing you offer God the praise and worship he deserves. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Prayer is the best form of worship because in that time we are speaking to God and God is speaking right back to us. I encourage all of you, strongly, to spend time each and every day in prayer. Even if it is just a couple of minutes. Pray to God every day. Speak to him and allow him to speak to you. In so doing you offer God the praise and worship he deserves. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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1 Timothy 1: 18-20; The Charge to Timothy Renewed
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul tells Timothy, here, to hold on to faith. This can be a very difficult thing to do. Life is hard. Life is filled with many things that can very much threaten our faith. We, as Children of God, are not spared from the sufferings of this world. But there is something we will always have, provided we always hold on to it: faith. We will always have our faith in God; in his presence, love, and grace. Bad things will happen to all of us, evil things that we cannot explain or understand. When that happens to you, hold on to your faith. Keep believing in God and his love for you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Paul tells Timothy, here, to hold on to faith. This can be a very difficult thing to do. Life is hard. Life is filled with many things that can very much threaten our faith. We, as Children of God, are not spared from the sufferings of this world. But there is something we will always have, provided we always hold on to it: faith. We will always have our faith in God; in his presence, love, and grace. Bad things will happen to all of us, evil things that we cannot explain or understand. When that happens to you, hold on to your faith. Keep believing in God and his love for you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, June 24, 2011
1 Timothy 1: 12-17; The Lord's Grace to Paul
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have all done things we are do not like, and Paul is no exception. We all remember the scene well when Paul, then Saul, stood by and watched as Stephen was stoned to death. We all know Saul spent countless hours and energy hunting down Christians and persecuting them for their beliefs. But then Paul ends up becoming the greatest missionary the church has ever seen. His past did not matter anymore. Because of God's grace Paul was forgiven from his sins and called to a new life. The same is true for us. God has saved us in Christ Jesus. Our pasts to not matter anymore. We have been freed fom sin and called to a new life in Christ. Do not let yourself be held down by your past sins. They have been erased. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We have all done things we are do not like, and Paul is no exception. We all remember the scene well when Paul, then Saul, stood by and watched as Stephen was stoned to death. We all know Saul spent countless hours and energy hunting down Christians and persecuting them for their beliefs. But then Paul ends up becoming the greatest missionary the church has ever seen. His past did not matter anymore. Because of God's grace Paul was forgiven from his sins and called to a new life. The same is true for us. God has saved us in Christ Jesus. Our pasts to not matter anymore. We have been freed fom sin and called to a new life in Christ. Do not let yourself be held down by your past sins. They have been erased. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for June 26, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Acts 1: 1-9, in which Jesus ascends into heaven. The sermon is titled 'Stewards' and will focus on the fact that we, as Disciples, are called to be steward for Christ, to stand in for him, until he returns. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Acts 1: 1-9, in which Jesus ascends into heaven. The sermon is titled 'Stewards' and will focus on the fact that we, as Disciples, are called to be steward for Christ, to stand in for him, until he returns. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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1 Timothy 1: 1-11; Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are all kinds of heresy in the world today, and if we are not careful we may get swept up in it. The same was true in Paul's day, which is one of the reasons Paul writes this letter to Timothy; the encourage Timothy to stay away from false doctrines and to teach others to do the same. The one thing I can say about this is that the best, and perhaps only, way to stay grounded in the true faith is to read the Bible. In so doing we are connected, directly with God. We hear his voice, we witness his miracles, we see his Son. Read Scripture, which will ground you in your faith and keep you from straying away. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
There are all kinds of heresy in the world today, and if we are not careful we may get swept up in it. The same was true in Paul's day, which is one of the reasons Paul writes this letter to Timothy; the encourage Timothy to stay away from false doctrines and to teach others to do the same. The one thing I can say about this is that the best, and perhaps only, way to stay grounded in the true faith is to read the Bible. In so doing we are connected, directly with God. We hear his voice, we witness his miracles, we see his Son. Read Scripture, which will ground you in your faith and keep you from straying away. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Ephesians 6: 21-24; Final Greetings
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are never alone. As the Letter to the Hebrews tells us we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Paul knows he cannot always be with the church at Ephesus. And Paul also knows how distraught this makes the church at Ephesus. So Paul sends someone else. At times Paul sends Timothy, but here he promises to send Tychicus. Tychicus' identity is not really important here. What is important is the reminder that there is always someone there with us: a friend, a family member, a brother or sister in Christ. We are blessed to have fellowship; to have the body of Christ surrounding us, for that means we always have someone with us. We are never alone. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We are never alone. As the Letter to the Hebrews tells us we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Paul knows he cannot always be with the church at Ephesus. And Paul also knows how distraught this makes the church at Ephesus. So Paul sends someone else. At times Paul sends Timothy, but here he promises to send Tychicus. Tychicus' identity is not really important here. What is important is the reminder that there is always someone there with us: a friend, a family member, a brother or sister in Christ. We are blessed to have fellowship; to have the body of Christ surrounding us, for that means we always have someone with us. We are never alone. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Ephesians 6: 10-20; The Armor of God
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
For a variety of reasons I usually do not like to put too much emphasis on the devil. However, in reading this passage I think we cannot shy away from the fact that the devil is real; there are forces of evil at work in the world. With that in mind I encourage you, just as Paul does, to protect yourself from these evil forces. You can do this through prayer, worship, Bible study, and in several other ways. In short, be faithful. Do not let evil pull you away from God; do not let evil stop you on your journey of faith. Rather, remain strong in your faith; practice your faith. In so doing you will keep the forces of evil at bay in your own life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
For a variety of reasons I usually do not like to put too much emphasis on the devil. However, in reading this passage I think we cannot shy away from the fact that the devil is real; there are forces of evil at work in the world. With that in mind I encourage you, just as Paul does, to protect yourself from these evil forces. You can do this through prayer, worship, Bible study, and in several other ways. In short, be faithful. Do not let evil pull you away from God; do not let evil stop you on your journey of faith. Rather, remain strong in your faith; practice your faith. In so doing you will keep the forces of evil at bay in your own life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, June 20, 2011
Ephesians 5: 21- 6: 9; Instructions for Christian Households
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Be faithful. That, I think, is a pretty good summation of what Paul is getting at here. We are to treat each other in Christian love. As husbands, wives, sons daughter, parents, brothers, sisters, etc. we are supposed to treat one another in the way Christ has treated us. We could all do with a little more Jesus in our homes. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Be faithful. That, I think, is a pretty good summation of what Paul is getting at here. We are to treat each other in Christian love. As husbands, wives, sons daughter, parents, brothers, sisters, etc. we are supposed to treat one another in the way Christ has treated us. We could all do with a little more Jesus in our homes. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, June 19, 2011
Ephesians 4: 17- 5: 20; Instructions for Christian Living
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This life matters. Perhaps not for our salvation, for that is secure always. But certainly in terms of pleasing God and bringing others to Christ does this life matter. The way we live is important. Let us remember these words from Paul, and the commands from Jesus, and in so remembering do what is expected of us as God's children. Be holy. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
This life matters. Perhaps not for our salvation, for that is secure always. But certainly in terms of pleasing God and bringing others to Christ does this life matter. The way we live is important. Let us remember these words from Paul, and the commands from Jesus, and in so remembering do what is expected of us as God's children. Be holy. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, June 18, 2011
Ephesians 4: 1-16; Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Unity is a big concern Paul has because the church during his time was divided in a lot of ways. And that is one of the things that makes Paul still relevant today. We are divided amongst ourselves, which Jesus tells us is not a good thing to do. We need to unite under the One God who has called us all into being. This is not an easy task, to be sure, but it one to which we should all strive. We being by praying for each other, for that builds love between us. Pray for other churches, and their members. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Unity is a big concern Paul has because the church during his time was divided in a lot of ways. And that is one of the things that makes Paul still relevant today. We are divided amongst ourselves, which Jesus tells us is not a good thing to do. We need to unite under the One God who has called us all into being. This is not an easy task, to be sure, but it one to which we should all strive. We being by praying for each other, for that builds love between us. Pray for other churches, and their members. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, June 17, 2011
Ephesians 3: 14-21; A Prayer for the Ephesians
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
As a church we continue to be in need of all of these things: strength, the presence of Christ, power, wisdom, and many more. When you spend time in prayer make sure you lift up the church during that time. I mean by this both the entire church, in its various forms throughout the world, and Mt. Lebanon Christian Church. Pray that all of us would have everything we need for the work Jesus has given us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
As a church we continue to be in need of all of these things: strength, the presence of Christ, power, wisdom, and many more. When you spend time in prayer make sure you lift up the church during that time. I mean by this both the entire church, in its various forms throughout the world, and Mt. Lebanon Christian Church. Pray that all of us would have everything we need for the work Jesus has given us to do. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, June 16, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for June 19, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Joshua 3: 14-17, in which the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The sermon is titled 'Cross the River' and will focus on our need to react to the miracles God does in the world. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is from Joshua 3: 14-17, in which the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The sermon is titled 'Cross the River' and will focus on our need to react to the miracles God does in the world. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Ephesians 3: 1-13; God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has brought all people to himself. This includes the Gentiles. This includes all who believe in the name of Jesus. No one is left out; no one is not good enough. Regardless of the sins we have committed God still cares for us and he has opened the door for us to come to him in a life of faith. God's marvelous plan for the world was to send his one and only son into the world to save the world. We all have a place at Christ's table. We all have a place in God's presence. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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God has brought all people to himself. This includes the Gentiles. This includes all who believe in the name of Jesus. No one is left out; no one is not good enough. Regardless of the sins we have committed God still cares for us and he has opened the door for us to come to him in a life of faith. God's marvelous plan for the world was to send his one and only son into the world to save the world. We all have a place at Christ's table. We all have a place in God's presence. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Ephesians 2: 11-22; Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Nothing separates us from one another anymore. We have all been loved and saved by the one true God. The one true God has sent his one and only son into the world to remove the sin from all of us. This means it is time for us to set aside our petty differences and meaningless disagreements and unite as One body under the One True God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Nothing separates us from one another anymore. We have all been loved and saved by the one true God. The one true God has sent his one and only son into the world to remove the sin from all of us. This means it is time for us to set aside our petty differences and meaningless disagreements and unite as One body under the One True God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Ephesians 2: 1-10; Made Alive in Christ
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have been given the life we have now, a life in which we are free to live the life God wants us to live. Prior to Jesus coming into the world we could not do anything but sin. The bonds of sin were too strong; we could not break them. In our hearts we wanted to live holy lives, but were unable to do so. Now, thanks to Jesus, we are blessed with the opportunity to live the life God wants us to live. We are free to live in his grace. We used to be dead to sin, now we are alive in Christ. Now we can live how God wants us to live. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
We have been given the life we have now, a life in which we are free to live the life God wants us to live. Prior to Jesus coming into the world we could not do anything but sin. The bonds of sin were too strong; we could not break them. In our hearts we wanted to live holy lives, but were unable to do so. Now, thanks to Jesus, we are blessed with the opportunity to live the life God wants us to live. We are free to live in his grace. We used to be dead to sin, now we are alive in Christ. Now we can live how God wants us to live. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, June 13, 2011
Ephesians 1: 15-23; Thanksgiving and Prayer
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
I would like to break from my normal 'what does this passage mean' format and take a page out of Paul's books. I am eternally grateful for each and every one of you. Whether you are a member of Mt. Lebanon Christian Church, an occasional visitor, and/or a reader of the blog, I give thanks for you every day. It is my life's honor to help you in your journey and I thank God for that blessing, and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
I would like to break from my normal 'what does this passage mean' format and take a page out of Paul's books. I am eternally grateful for each and every one of you. Whether you are a member of Mt. Lebanon Christian Church, an occasional visitor, and/or a reader of the blog, I give thanks for you every day. It is my life's honor to help you in your journey and I thank God for that blessing, and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, June 12, 2011
Ephesians 1: 1-14; Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Predesination is a word that has caused some people some problems, and while we do not have time to go into all the details, there is one aspect of it, mentioned in this passage, that I want to talk about today. God had is in mind before we were made. In other words, ever since the creation of the world we, you and I, have been on God's heart and mind. He has known us since the beginning of the world. And what's more, he has loved us for that amount of time as well. God's love for us is eternal, and not just from the time we take our first breath. God has loved us even before we were born. Allow that blessing to sink in for a moment. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Predesination is a word that has caused some people some problems, and while we do not have time to go into all the details, there is one aspect of it, mentioned in this passage, that I want to talk about today. God had is in mind before we were made. In other words, ever since the creation of the world we, you and I, have been on God's heart and mind. He has known us since the beginning of the world. And what's more, he has loved us for that amount of time as well. God's love for us is eternal, and not just from the time we take our first breath. God has loved us even before we were born. Allow that blessing to sink in for a moment. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, June 11, 2011
2 Kings 25: 27-30; Jehoiachin Released
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Standing up for your faith is not always an easy thing. Jehoiakin is released fro prison and instead of standing up for his Jewish faith he becomes a friend of the invading King of Babylon. Jehoiakin turns his back on God for a more favorable position. In this we are reminded that it is difficult sometimes to cling to faith. The people of the world expect us, as people of the world, to do certain things. God, though, calls us to do something different. We need to decide to whom we are going to listen. Are we going to follow God's way, or the world's way? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Standing up for your faith is not always an easy thing. Jehoiakin is released fro prison and instead of standing up for his Jewish faith he becomes a friend of the invading King of Babylon. Jehoiakin turns his back on God for a more favorable position. In this we are reminded that it is difficult sometimes to cling to faith. The people of the world expect us, as people of the world, to do certain things. God, though, calls us to do something different. We need to decide to whom we are going to listen. Are we going to follow God's way, or the world's way? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, June 10, 2011
2 Kings 24: 20b- 25: 26; The Fall of Jerusalem
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"So Judah went into captivity, away from her land." It is hard to put into perspective just how bad it was for Israel to be forced to leave the Promised Land. The Promised Land was given to the Israelites by God; it was a sign of the covenant made between God and the Israelites, and now that sign is gone. Now the Israelites have lost this blessing God has given to them. Even in all of this, though, is the promise that the Israelites will get to return to the Promised Land someday. In other words, their suffering will not last forever. The same is true of us. This world is not always a good place to be. This is a place that is sometimes filled with suffering and pain. Through all of that, though, we have the promise that someday we will be delivered from this place. We will be blessed with the opportunity to enter God's kingdom, Heaven, where there will be no suffering. Someday we will have perfect peace. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"So Judah went into captivity, away from her land." It is hard to put into perspective just how bad it was for Israel to be forced to leave the Promised Land. The Promised Land was given to the Israelites by God; it was a sign of the covenant made between God and the Israelites, and now that sign is gone. Now the Israelites have lost this blessing God has given to them. Even in all of this, though, is the promise that the Israelites will get to return to the Promised Land someday. In other words, their suffering will not last forever. The same is true of us. This world is not always a good place to be. This is a place that is sometimes filled with suffering and pain. Through all of that, though, we have the promise that someday we will be delivered from this place. We will be blessed with the opportunity to enter God's kingdom, Heaven, where there will be no suffering. Someday we will have perfect peace. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, June 9, 2011
2 Kings 24: 18-20a; Zedekiah King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'In the end he thrust them from his presence.' God is always with us. No matter what we do or where we go, God's Spirit is with us always. We do not have to live in fear of being cast from God's presence. We do not have to worry about being abandoned. We can rejoice, and live in peace, knowing God will always be with us. Our sins are forgiven; we have been given the gift of life. Neither of those things will be taken away from us. Nor will the Lord ever leave us or forsake us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
'In the end he thrust them from his presence.' God is always with us. No matter what we do or where we go, God's Spirit is with us always. We do not have to live in fear of being cast from God's presence. We do not have to worry about being abandoned. We can rejoice, and live in peace, knowing God will always be with us. Our sins are forgiven; we have been given the gift of life. Neither of those things will be taken away from us. Nor will the Lord ever leave us or forsake us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, June 8, 2011
2 Kings 24: 8-17; Jehoiachin King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It must be difficult having to sit by and watch someone take away everyhing you know and love, including your land. Jehoiachin is in that kind of situation, as is all of Israel. They had been warned that this was going to come, and now their punishment has arrived. Their punishment is, essentially, having everything taken away from them. This is yet another thing we do not have to worry about. We do not have to worry that God is going to take Jesus away from us. We can rest in peace and hope knowing that, no matter what happens, God will never take away the life and salvation we have through Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
It must be difficult having to sit by and watch someone take away everyhing you know and love, including your land. Jehoiachin is in that kind of situation, as is all of Israel. They had been warned that this was going to come, and now their punishment has arrived. Their punishment is, essentially, having everything taken away from them. This is yet another thing we do not have to worry about. We do not have to worry that God is going to take Jesus away from us. We can rest in peace and hope knowing that, no matter what happens, God will never take away the life and salvation we have through Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, June 7, 2011
2 Kings 23: 36- 24: 7; Jehoiakim King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the beginning of the end for the Israelites, in the sense that the Exile is coming. They had spent too much time sinning rather than listening to the will of God. Very soon the time will come when they will pay for the sins they have committed. I do not know about you, but I feel good knowing I will not have to pay for my sins. Jesus has paid the price for us, which means we don't have something like the Exile hanging over our heads. We can leave in peace. We can live in God's grace for Jesus has done it all for us; he has taken the punishment that should have been ours. Thanks to Jesus we do not have to live in fear. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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This is the beginning of the end for the Israelites, in the sense that the Exile is coming. They had spent too much time sinning rather than listening to the will of God. Very soon the time will come when they will pay for the sins they have committed. I do not know about you, but I feel good knowing I will not have to pay for my sins. Jesus has paid the price for us, which means we don't have something like the Exile hanging over our heads. We can leave in peace. We can live in God's grace for Jesus has done it all for us; he has taken the punishment that should have been ours. Thanks to Jesus we do not have to live in fear. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, June 6, 2011
2 Kings 23: 31-35; Jehoahaz King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The honeymoon did not last long. When Josiah was king we got the sense that maybe things were going to improve for the Israelites. But now we see that their times of trial are really just beginning. What is difficult about that is the fact that Israel has a special relationship with God. At least, they are supposed to. With that in mind we may wonder why God is allowing all of these bad things to happen. The answer is quite simple: Israel lost their way. They fell to the desires, temptations, etc. of the world rather than follow the path God had laid out for them. With that in mind let us always strive to do better, to be obedient to God's will, so that we can maintain our relationship with God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The honeymoon did not last long. When Josiah was king we got the sense that maybe things were going to improve for the Israelites. But now we see that their times of trial are really just beginning. What is difficult about that is the fact that Israel has a special relationship with God. At least, they are supposed to. With that in mind we may wonder why God is allowing all of these bad things to happen. The answer is quite simple: Israel lost their way. They fell to the desires, temptations, etc. of the world rather than follow the path God had laid out for them. With that in mind let us always strive to do better, to be obedient to God's will, so that we can maintain our relationship with God. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, June 5, 2011
2 Kings 23: 1-30; Josiah Renews the Covenant
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Josiah makes a lot of improvements. He is noted for instituting many religious reforms in Israel to try and get the nation back on track. Josiah's faith led him to do these great things. We can do great things with our faith as well. We can move mountains, we can move trees. But most importantly we can move ourselves. We can move ourselves forward on the path God has laid out for us. Josiah's faith moved him to obedience. Ours can as well. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Josiah makes a lot of improvements. He is noted for instituting many religious reforms in Israel to try and get the nation back on track. Josiah's faith led him to do these great things. We can do great things with our faith as well. We can move mountains, we can move trees. But most importantly we can move ourselves. We can move ourselves forward on the path God has laid out for us. Josiah's faith moved him to obedience. Ours can as well. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, June 4, 2011
2 Kings 22: 1-20; The Book of the Law Found
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Josiah will forever be known for finding the Book of the Law, which is what we can Deuteronomy. In that book there are commandments and guidelines by which Israel is supposed to live. Without the book they were lost, on the wrong path. With it, their lives became blessed. I wonder if there is a book we can read that will lead us to the same blessings. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Josiah will forever be known for finding the Book of the Law, which is what we can Deuteronomy. In that book there are commandments and guidelines by which Israel is supposed to live. Without the book they were lost, on the wrong path. With it, their lives became blessed. I wonder if there is a book we can read that will lead us to the same blessings. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, June 3, 2011
2 Kings 21: 19-26; Amon King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
At some point we have to take responsibility to make sure our children are raised in faith. Amon sins because his father, Manasseh, never showed him a different way to live. Amon continued to lead Israel astray because he did not know any other way. We need to take this story to heart and make sure we are raising our children in faith so that they would know the same faith we know, so they might have a relationship with God. If we want our children to have faith, we need to raise them in faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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At some point we have to take responsibility to make sure our children are raised in faith. Amon sins because his father, Manasseh, never showed him a different way to live. Amon continued to lead Israel astray because he did not know any other way. We need to take this story to heart and make sure we are raising our children in faith so that they would know the same faith we know, so they might have a relationship with God. If we want our children to have faith, we need to raise them in faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for June 5, 2011
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture lesson for this Sunday is from Exodus 19: 1-6 in which Moses gives The Law to the Israelites. The sermon is titled 'Hear, O Church!' and will focus on our need to listen to what God is calling us to do.
After the worship service we will be having a cookout on the church lawn. We will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, and other side dishes. This is in celebration of our church's 61st Anniversary celebration.
I hope to see you all in church on Sunday and at the festivities afterwords. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture lesson for this Sunday is from Exodus 19: 1-6 in which Moses gives The Law to the Israelites. The sermon is titled 'Hear, O Church!' and will focus on our need to listen to what God is calling us to do.
After the worship service we will be having a cookout on the church lawn. We will provide hamburgers, hotdogs, and other side dishes. This is in celebration of our church's 61st Anniversary celebration.
I hope to see you all in church on Sunday and at the festivities afterwords. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
2 Kings 21: 1-18; Manasseh King of Judah
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Manasseh messed up, but his biggest mistake was never coming back to the path of God. Manasseh had several chances along the way to atone for his sins. Instead he chose to continue sinning and leading Israel astray. If there is one thing to which we can all testify it is that God gives second chances. God would have given a second chance to Manasseh, but Manasseh was too sinful. If you ever find yourself straying from God's path remember the grace of God. If you turn astray, God will welcome you back, no matter what, of only you repent. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Manasseh messed up, but his biggest mistake was never coming back to the path of God. Manasseh had several chances along the way to atone for his sins. Instead he chose to continue sinning and leading Israel astray. If there is one thing to which we can all testify it is that God gives second chances. God would have given a second chance to Manasseh, but Manasseh was too sinful. If you ever find yourself straying from God's path remember the grace of God. If you turn astray, God will welcome you back, no matter what, of only you repent. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, June 1, 2011
2 Kings 20: 12-21;Envoys From Babylon
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wolves can sometimes come in sheep's clothing. As Christians we have to walk a fine line between loving everyone and being wary of those who would cause us harm. Hezekiah is in a similar position in this passage. The envoys from Babylon seem to care about Hezekiah and his illness, but they are really after his possessions and money. We may not all have a lot of possessions and money, but some people just want to cause pain in any way they can. At the end of the day all we can really do is reach out in love to anyone, regardless of their intentions, and trust that God will be with us to bless us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wolves can sometimes come in sheep's clothing. As Christians we have to walk a fine line between loving everyone and being wary of those who would cause us harm. Hezekiah is in a similar position in this passage. The envoys from Babylon seem to care about Hezekiah and his illness, but they are really after his possessions and money. We may not all have a lot of possessions and money, but some people just want to cause pain in any way they can. At the end of the day all we can really do is reach out in love to anyone, regardless of their intentions, and trust that God will be with us to bless us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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