Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is living out some of Jesus' directions here. He is helping the folks on the ship even though they are his enemies. These men have arrested Paul and are taking him to stand trial for being a Christian. But Paul does not let that stop him from helping these men through the storm they are fighting. Jesus tells us to love one another. This love is not supposed to be limited to those who are our friends, for even thieves love their friends. Our love is supposed to be showed to our enemies as well, those who may even wish us harm. 'Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.' Straight from the mouth of Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Acts 26: 1-32; Paul and Agrippa
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the things Paul keeps mentioning in his many defenses and some of his letters is the resurrection, the fact that death is not the end. In being followers of Jesus we are blessed with eternal life. We do not have to worry about death. Yes, our bodies will die, but one day we will be raised up and we will live forever in the kingdom of heaven. Paul knew what he was talking about when he said to Agrippa, 'Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?' Paul knew the good news that Jesus offered, that there is eternal life for all those who follow Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
One of the things Paul keeps mentioning in his many defenses and some of his letters is the resurrection, the fact that death is not the end. In being followers of Jesus we are blessed with eternal life. We do not have to worry about death. Yes, our bodies will die, but one day we will be raised up and we will live forever in the kingdom of heaven. Paul knew what he was talking about when he said to Agrippa, 'Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?' Paul knew the good news that Jesus offered, that there is eternal life for all those who follow Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Acts 25: 1-12; The Trial Before Festus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul had a couple chances to get out of the trial and suffering he endured. All he had to do was deny his faith and toe the line. And as we witness Paul 'not getting out of it,' I'm reminded of the fact that Jesus had a couple of chances to get away, too. He could have asked God to get him out of it; he could have ran away at the garden; he could have talked his way out of things before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, or anyone else. Jesus could have gotten out of it all, but he did not. He went through the pain, the suffering, and humility of the cross for our sake. Jesus loves us so much he went to the cross for us. He had chances to relieve himself, but his love for us is too great. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Paul had a couple chances to get out of the trial and suffering he endured. All he had to do was deny his faith and toe the line. And as we witness Paul 'not getting out of it,' I'm reminded of the fact that Jesus had a couple of chances to get away, too. He could have asked God to get him out of it; he could have ran away at the garden; he could have talked his way out of things before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, or anyone else. Jesus could have gotten out of it all, but he did not. He went through the pain, the suffering, and humility of the cross for our sake. Jesus loves us so much he went to the cross for us. He had chances to relieve himself, but his love for us is too great. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Acts 24: 1-27; The Trial Before Felix
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The main thing that we can learn from Paul, and the rest of the Apostles, is that there is a cost to discipleship. Being a follower of Jesus is not a 'bed of roses.' We are not promised a perfect life. Being a follower of Jesus means that sometimes we must go through trials and tribulations for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are persecuted, sometimes we suffer for other reasons. But the point is that Paul shows us that being a disciple of Christ means that we will face difficult times. The good news is, though, that we have God with us in those difficult times. We have a God who will never ,eave us or forsake us, but who will forever remain with us as we go through difficult times. Even though we may face trials and tribulations God will be with us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The main thing that we can learn from Paul, and the rest of the Apostles, is that there is a cost to discipleship. Being a follower of Jesus is not a 'bed of roses.' We are not promised a perfect life. Being a follower of Jesus means that sometimes we must go through trials and tribulations for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are persecuted, sometimes we suffer for other reasons. But the point is that Paul shows us that being a disciple of Christ means that we will face difficult times. The good news is, though, that we have God with us in those difficult times. We have a God who will never ,eave us or forsake us, but who will forever remain with us as we go through difficult times. Even though we may face trials and tribulations God will be with us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, September 26, 2008
Acts 23: 1-11; Paul Before the High Priest
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." Paul, when he said this, was standing before the Jewish High Priest. He was able to stand before the High Priest with a clear conscience. We should live our lives in the same way. Someday we will all see Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. When that happens I'm sure we all want to stand before him with a clear conscience, knowing that we lived a life of faith. Paul was able to stand before the High Priest with a clear conscience, we should aspire to be able to do the same thing when we stand before our great High Priest. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." Paul, when he said this, was standing before the Jewish High Priest. He was able to stand before the High Priest with a clear conscience. We should live our lives in the same way. Someday we will all see Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. When that happens I'm sure we all want to stand before him with a clear conscience, knowing that we lived a life of faith. Paul was able to stand before the High Priest with a clear conscience, we should aspire to be able to do the same thing when we stand before our great High Priest. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for September 28, 2008
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture for this Sunday comes from Micah 6: 1-8, which mentions specifically what the Lord requires of us. The sermon is titled 'Do This,' and will go into more detail about what Micah says the Lord requires of us. I hope to see you Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture for this Sunday comes from Micah 6: 1-8, which mentions specifically what the Lord requires of us. The sermon is titled 'Do This,' and will go into more detail about what Micah says the Lord requires of us. I hope to see you Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Acts 22: 1-21; Paul's Defense
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' " Paul continued one of the many things Jesus came here to do: be a light to the Gentiles. Part of Jesus' ministry included breaking down some of the social and religious barriers that existed between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus called Paul to continue that ministry. Jesus called Paul to proclaim the good news that Jesus came here for everyone, the whole world. We should be saying the same thing. I have met people in my time, as I'm sure you have, who thought, for whatever reason, that they weren't good enough for Jesus, that Jesus did not love them. That is simply not true. Jesus came here for everyone, he loves everyone. That is the good news we should be sharing with those around us: that Jesus loves the world. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' " Paul continued one of the many things Jesus came here to do: be a light to the Gentiles. Part of Jesus' ministry included breaking down some of the social and religious barriers that existed between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus called Paul to continue that ministry. Jesus called Paul to proclaim the good news that Jesus came here for everyone, the whole world. We should be saying the same thing. I have met people in my time, as I'm sure you have, who thought, for whatever reason, that they weren't good enough for Jesus, that Jesus did not love them. That is simply not true. Jesus came here for everyone, he loves everyone. That is the good news we should be sharing with those around us: that Jesus loves the world. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Acts 21: 27-36; Paul Arrested
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul was arrested for his faith, and he never wavered. Paul continued to preach the gospel until the day he died, and because of that he sometimes suffered greatly. We should be motivated by Paul's faith. First century prisons were not very good places to be, and first century jailers were not very nice people. Paul suffered greatly for his faith. We should do the same thing. The Christian faith is not as acceptable as it used to be, which means for us that we are sometimes persecuted like Paul. When that happens we need to remember Paul and his faith and remember that he never wavered in his faith. We will sometimes face opposition, and when that happens we need to remember our faith and remember to never waver in our faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Paul was arrested for his faith, and he never wavered. Paul continued to preach the gospel until the day he died, and because of that he sometimes suffered greatly. We should be motivated by Paul's faith. First century prisons were not very good places to be, and first century jailers were not very nice people. Paul suffered greatly for his faith. We should do the same thing. The Christian faith is not as acceptable as it used to be, which means for us that we are sometimes persecuted like Paul. When that happens we need to remember Paul and his faith and remember that he never wavered in his faith. We will sometimes face opposition, and when that happens we need to remember our faith and remember to never waver in our faith. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Acts 20: 13-38; Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Even though these are Paul's words I think Jesus would say the same thing. We have all been dedicated, or committed to the Lord; to go forth and do his work. We have a holy task, one that requires our strength and our faith. Not all of us are elders like those to whom Paul is writing, not all of us are preachers, but we have all been given a task, a call, from God. We have all been called to go forth and make disciples of all nations, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus has committed us to God, to the word of his grace. Go forth to love and serve the Lord. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Even though these are Paul's words I think Jesus would say the same thing. We have all been dedicated, or committed to the Lord; to go forth and do his work. We have a holy task, one that requires our strength and our faith. Not all of us are elders like those to whom Paul is writing, not all of us are preachers, but we have all been given a task, a call, from God. We have all been called to go forth and make disciples of all nations, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus has committed us to God, to the word of his grace. Go forth to love and serve the Lord. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, September 22, 2008
Acts 19: 1-22; Paul in Ephesus
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus." When we are baptized we are, as Paul shared with the Ephesians, baptized into the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The key word in this is 'into.' When we are baptized into the name of Christ we are united with Christ. And when we are united with Christ we receive the blessings Christ has received from God: son/daughtership with God, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, etc. Christ has a very special relationship with God, and we are baptized into his name we receive the same blessings. We all, in being united with Christ, are called sons and daughters of God, are given the gift of eternal life, are blessed with God's presence in our lives. Remember you baptism into the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus." When we are baptized we are, as Paul shared with the Ephesians, baptized into the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The key word in this is 'into.' When we are baptized into the name of Christ we are united with Christ. And when we are united with Christ we receive the blessings Christ has received from God: son/daughtership with God, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, etc. Christ has a very special relationship with God, and we are baptized into his name we receive the same blessings. We all, in being united with Christ, are called sons and daughters of God, are given the gift of eternal life, are blessed with God's presence in our lives. Remember you baptism into the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Acts 18: 1-17; In Corinth
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"From now on I will go to the Gentiles." Jesus called Paul to the Gentiles, and what a mission it was. The mission to the Gentiles means for us that Jesus is for everyone. There is no such thing as a select group of people; a lonley few who are the only ones who get to receive salvation and go to heaven. We are all given the blessing of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Every person has the opportunity to have Jesus in their life. This is good news for us, no one is left out. We are all invited into a personal relationship with Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"From now on I will go to the Gentiles." Jesus called Paul to the Gentiles, and what a mission it was. The mission to the Gentiles means for us that Jesus is for everyone. There is no such thing as a select group of people; a lonley few who are the only ones who get to receive salvation and go to heaven. We are all given the blessing of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Every person has the opportunity to have Jesus in their life. This is good news for us, no one is left out. We are all invited into a personal relationship with Jesus. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Acts 17: 16-34; In Athens
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill." While it is true God is all around us in nature, He is not in any of the things man has made. That is to say, as great as our inventions are they are no substitute for God. So many times we look around us and we see all the wonderful things humans have invented and think maybe God is in those things. We need to remember that God is bigger than silver and gold and anything else we may have come up with. God is greater than our inventions. We need to remember to worship God and not worship the things we have made. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill." While it is true God is all around us in nature, He is not in any of the things man has made. That is to say, as great as our inventions are they are no substitute for God. So many times we look around us and we see all the wonderful things humans have invented and think maybe God is in those things. We need to remember that God is bigger than silver and gold and anything else we may have come up with. God is greater than our inventions. We need to remember to worship God and not worship the things we have made. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, September 19, 2008
Acts 16: 16-40; Paul and Silas in Prison
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." Paul and Silas, after being tortured, were still so filled with the joy and peace of Christ that they could do nothing but sing hymns. One of the hardest things for us to do is rejoice when things are going wrong. But we have all the reasons we need to rejoice. Through our Lord Jesus Christ we are given all the reasons we need to rejoice and be glad. Remember Paul and Silas; remember their joy in hardship; remember the many blessings we have received from God and let that be your source for joy. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." Paul and Silas, after being tortured, were still so filled with the joy and peace of Christ that they could do nothing but sing hymns. One of the hardest things for us to do is rejoice when things are going wrong. But we have all the reasons we need to rejoice. Through our Lord Jesus Christ we are given all the reasons we need to rejoice and be glad. Remember Paul and Silas; remember their joy in hardship; remember the many blessings we have received from God and let that be your source for joy. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Evening Worship: Prayer Service; Sunday, September 21, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Evening Worship service for this coming Sunday will be a time of prayer. There will be no singing or preaching. We will spend the time Sunday evening in prayer, in the presence of our God. If you, or anyone you know, needs special prayer please come to worship with us this Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Evening Worship service for this coming Sunday will be a time of prayer. There will be no singing or preaching. We will spend the time Sunday evening in prayer, in the presence of our God. If you, or anyone you know, needs special prayer please come to worship with us this Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for September 21, 2008
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture lesson for this Sunday is Jonah 1: 1-17, in which Jonah is called by God to prophesy to the town of Nineveh but instead runs away. The sermon is titled 'Mercy and Compassion,' and will focus on the lesson we get from Jonah to find mercy and compassion from those around us. I hope you all are able to make it to worship on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture lesson for this Sunday is Jonah 1: 1-17, in which Jonah is called by God to prophesy to the town of Nineveh but instead runs away. The sermon is titled 'Mercy and Compassion,' and will focus on the lesson we get from Jonah to find mercy and compassion from those around us. I hope you all are able to make it to worship on Sunday. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Acts 15: 1-21; The Council at Jerusalem
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What we learn here from the Apostles is that belief matters more than rules. The Gentiles, non-Jews, were not circumcised. And according to the Law those who are uncircumcised cannot be a part of the people of Israel. Likewise they are not given the blessing(s) Israel receives from God. The Apostles, following the exmple of Jesus, preach the message that faith, what you believe, matters more than anything else. If we belive that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then we will receive all the blessings God has to give. It is not the rules we follow that save us, it is Jesus, and our belief in him. Salvation and grace come from Jesus, which is the message the Apostles tried to get across. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
What we learn here from the Apostles is that belief matters more than rules. The Gentiles, non-Jews, were not circumcised. And according to the Law those who are uncircumcised cannot be a part of the people of Israel. Likewise they are not given the blessing(s) Israel receives from God. The Apostles, following the exmple of Jesus, preach the message that faith, what you believe, matters more than anything else. If we belive that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then we will receive all the blessings God has to give. It is not the rules we follow that save us, it is Jesus, and our belief in him. Salvation and grace come from Jesus, which is the message the Apostles tried to get across. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Acts 14: 21-28; The Return to Antioch in Syria
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." The journey of faith is filled with many trials and tribulations. Jesus never promised us a rose garden; he was always honest about the kind of lives his disciples, which includes us, would have to live for the sake of his name. As we read in the book of Acts, Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and the rest of the Apostles had to go through many hardships. The good news is that Jesus is with us as we go through trials and tribulations. Yes, we must sometimes endure pain and suffering, but as we do we have the Lord with us, giving us strength and all we need to make it through the difficult times we sometimes face. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." The journey of faith is filled with many trials and tribulations. Jesus never promised us a rose garden; he was always honest about the kind of lives his disciples, which includes us, would have to live for the sake of his name. As we read in the book of Acts, Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and the rest of the Apostles had to go through many hardships. The good news is that Jesus is with us as we go through trials and tribulations. Yes, we must sometimes endure pain and suffering, but as we do we have the Lord with us, giving us strength and all we need to make it through the difficult times we sometimes face. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Acts 13: 13-52; In Pisidian Antioch
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the things we talked about in our Evangelism Class we had a few months ago was telling our faith story. When we go out to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ we do not always have to preach a big sermon filled with theological constructs. Often times, preaching means simply sharing our faith story with those around us. That is what Paul is doing here. He is restating Israel's story in an attempt to get people to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. We need to do more of what Paul did; we need to share our faith story more. Tell people not only the good news of Jesus Christ, but also what Jesus has done for you in your own life. People respond to that kind of message. Not to mention the fact that it reminds us of what Jesus has done for us. Like Paul, go forth and share your faith story. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
One of the things we talked about in our Evangelism Class we had a few months ago was telling our faith story. When we go out to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ we do not always have to preach a big sermon filled with theological constructs. Often times, preaching means simply sharing our faith story with those around us. That is what Paul is doing here. He is restating Israel's story in an attempt to get people to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. We need to do more of what Paul did; we need to share our faith story more. Tell people not only the good news of Jesus Christ, but also what Jesus has done for you in your own life. People respond to that kind of message. Not to mention the fact that it reminds us of what Jesus has done for us. Like Paul, go forth and share your faith story. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, September 15, 2008
Acts 12: 1-19; Peter's Miraculous Escape From Prison
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
In church yesterday we talked about hos God reaches into the world and makes things happen for his children. Peter, and his escape from prison, is a prime example of how God sometimes reaches into this world. One important thing to remember, though, is that God does not reach in for the sake of doing something cool. God reaches in for the sake of the ministry of Christ, for the benefit of the world. When Peter was let out of prison he visited some friends to let them know he was alright, but then he went out and continued to proclaim the good news of Jesus. God does not do magic tricks. The things God does in this world are for our good. It's not just that God reaches in, it's that he reaches in to do something good. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
In church yesterday we talked about hos God reaches into the world and makes things happen for his children. Peter, and his escape from prison, is a prime example of how God sometimes reaches into this world. One important thing to remember, though, is that God does not reach in for the sake of doing something cool. God reaches in for the sake of the ministry of Christ, for the benefit of the world. When Peter was let out of prison he visited some friends to let them know he was alright, but then he went out and continued to proclaim the good news of Jesus. God does not do magic tricks. The things God does in this world are for our good. It's not just that God reaches in, it's that he reaches in to do something good. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Acts 11: 19-30; The Church in Antioch
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
To me, this sounds like a very exciting time. Paul, and the rest of the Apostles, were running around telling as many people as possible about Jesus. There was a sense of urgency; that this preaching was very important; that Jesus was going to come back soon and they needed to get busy. I wonder what things would look like if we got as busy; if we were all out there spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. We may not all need to go to Asia and Africa, but we should all be out there telling as many people as we can about the good news of Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
To me, this sounds like a very exciting time. Paul, and the rest of the Apostles, were running around telling as many people as possible about Jesus. There was a sense of urgency; that this preaching was very important; that Jesus was going to come back soon and they needed to get busy. I wonder what things would look like if we got as busy; if we were all out there spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. We may not all need to go to Asia and Africa, but we should all be out there telling as many people as we can about the good news of Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Acts 10: 1-8; Cornelius Calls for Peter
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
God sometimes gives visions in order to make people do a certain things. In other words, God makes things happen, he gets involves in the lives of his children. This is good news for us because God, who is loving and wise, gives us guidance and direction we need as we go through life. What this means for us is that we are not alone; God is with us; he is continually guiding us and directing us as we go through life. Just as he guided Peter and Cornelius he guides us as well. Heed the words of God and let him guide you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
God sometimes gives visions in order to make people do a certain things. In other words, God makes things happen, he gets involves in the lives of his children. This is good news for us because God, who is loving and wise, gives us guidance and direction we need as we go through life. What this means for us is that we are not alone; God is with us; he is continually guiding us and directing us as we go through life. Just as he guided Peter and Cornelius he guides us as well. Heed the words of God and let him guide you. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Friday, September 12, 2008
Acts 9: 1-19; Saul's Conversion
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who says Jesus isn't still working. I realize this story happened about 2000 years ago, but this sort of stuff is still going on. When I was in Africa a few years ago I learned that people are converted to Christianity like this all the time. Jesus is still working in the world. He is helping us with the work he has given us; he is still working himself. We may not always witness this kind of event, or have anything to do with one. But what we really need to remember is that Jesus is still working in the world. Yes, he has given us work to do. But he has also continued to work himself. Believe in these sorts of happenings; believe that Christ is still working in the world. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Who says Jesus isn't still working. I realize this story happened about 2000 years ago, but this sort of stuff is still going on. When I was in Africa a few years ago I learned that people are converted to Christianity like this all the time. Jesus is still working in the world. He is helping us with the work he has given us; he is still working himself. We may not always witness this kind of event, or have anything to do with one. But what we really need to remember is that Jesus is still working in the world. Yes, he has given us work to do. But he has also continued to work himself. Believe in these sorts of happenings; believe that Christ is still working in the world. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sunday Scripture and Sermon for September 14, 2008
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Obadiah: 15-21, in which Obadiah talks about how God is active in the world, and in the lives of His children. The sermon is titled 'Dirty Hands,' and will focus on the ways in which God has been active and involved in the world.
Do not forget, this Sunday is also the Installation for all the new officers for this church year. All officers please make sure you are here. And everyone else should please come, too, and take part in this special event. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Obadiah: 15-21, in which Obadiah talks about how God is active in the world, and in the lives of His children. The sermon is titled 'Dirty Hands,' and will focus on the ways in which God has been active and involved in the world.
Do not forget, this Sunday is also the Installation for all the new officers for this church year. All officers please make sure you are here. And everyone else should please come, too, and take part in this special event. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Acts 8: 26-40; Philip and the Ethiopian
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"How can I [know what the scriptures mean]," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" If there was ever a passage to motivate us to share with people the good new of Jesus, this is it. Sometimes we may think everyone knows who Jesus is; sometimes we may think we don't need to go out and share with people the good news of Jesus Christ. This passage is a pretty big statement against that. Our friends, our neighbors, and even our enemies may not know anything about Jesus. It is our calling to tell them about Jesus. We are called to share our faith and bring to others the good news, because they may not hear about Jesus any other way. Can you imagine the look of joy on the Ethiopian's face when he heard the good news from Philip? We can bring that smile to others' faces when we teach them the good news of Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"How can I [know what the scriptures mean]," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" If there was ever a passage to motivate us to share with people the good new of Jesus, this is it. Sometimes we may think everyone knows who Jesus is; sometimes we may think we don't need to go out and share with people the good news of Jesus Christ. This passage is a pretty big statement against that. Our friends, our neighbors, and even our enemies may not know anything about Jesus. It is our calling to tell them about Jesus. We are called to share our faith and bring to others the good news, because they may not hear about Jesus any other way. Can you imagine the look of joy on the Ethiopian's face when he heard the good news from Philip? We can bring that smile to others' faces when we teach them the good news of Jesus Christ. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Acts 7: 1-53; Stephen's Speech to the Sanhedrin
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a decent preview of the sermon for this Sunday. Stephen is going through the history of Israel here, highlighting all the times in which God has been active in the lives of his children. God continues to reach into the world and work for good for those who love God. This message is good news for us; it gives us hope to know that God is so active, that he continues to reach into the world. God is not absent, but he is not simply present either. God is active in our lives. God is working in your life right now. Have hope knowing you have God working in your life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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This is a decent preview of the sermon for this Sunday. Stephen is going through the history of Israel here, highlighting all the times in which God has been active in the lives of his children. God continues to reach into the world and work for good for those who love God. This message is good news for us; it gives us hope to know that God is so active, that he continues to reach into the world. God is not absent, but he is not simply present either. God is active in our lives. God is working in your life right now. Have hope knowing you have God working in your life. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Acts 6: 1-7; The Choosing of the Seven
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
This highlights the importance of doing good works on behalf of those who are in need. Widows, more than any other group of people, needed some serious help. Women, when their husbands died, were seen as useless. No one would marry them, and no one would take them in. They were in need. And so the Apostles did what they were told to do by Jesus, care for all those who are need, in this case, the widows. As part of the Growing in Ministry process we will be looking at things we can do to grow in ministry, and that begins with carrying out the most important commandment from Jesus: love your neighbor as yourself. In other words to care for those in need. Let us follow the example of the Apostles and the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ in caring for those who are in need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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This highlights the importance of doing good works on behalf of those who are in need. Widows, more than any other group of people, needed some serious help. Women, when their husbands died, were seen as useless. No one would marry them, and no one would take them in. They were in need. And so the Apostles did what they were told to do by Jesus, care for all those who are need, in this case, the widows. As part of the Growing in Ministry process we will be looking at things we can do to grow in ministry, and that begins with carrying out the most important commandment from Jesus: love your neighbor as yourself. In other words to care for those in need. Let us follow the example of the Apostles and the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ in caring for those who are in need. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Monday, September 8, 2008
Acts 5: 17-42; The Apostles Persecuted
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"We must obey God rather than men!" We see here the Apostles being persecuted for preaching the name of Jesus. The people of Israel said they must stop, but they did not. They continued to obey God and do the work that he had given them. And thank God they did. Thank God that there were such people who spoke without fear, who never stopped proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank God that the good news of Jesus Christ spread throughout the land. There are many people in the world, even people in Mt. Lebanon, who do not believe in, or know, Jesus. We shoud follow the Apostles' example and continue to preach the good news to them in the hopes that one day "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"We must obey God rather than men!" We see here the Apostles being persecuted for preaching the name of Jesus. The people of Israel said they must stop, but they did not. They continued to obey God and do the work that he had given them. And thank God they did. Thank God that there were such people who spoke without fear, who never stopped proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank God that the good news of Jesus Christ spread throughout the land. There are many people in the world, even people in Mt. Lebanon, who do not believe in, or know, Jesus. We shoud follow the Apostles' example and continue to preach the good news to them in the hopes that one day "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday, September 7, 2008
Acts 4: 23-31; The Believer's Prayer
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." The early Church faced some opposition from those around them. The Romans and their fellow Jews did not care to much for what the Apostles and other Christians were doing. All of that is to say that the early Christians had a lot of reasons to be afraid. But the early Christians also knew how important it was for them to continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. They knew that it was of the utmost importance to share with others the good news of Jesus Christ, which is the reason why they asked for the strength to speak with great boldness. We should all speak with the same boldness. We should all boldly proclaim the saving power of Jesus Christ to all those around us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." The early Church faced some opposition from those around them. The Romans and their fellow Jews did not care to much for what the Apostles and other Christians were doing. All of that is to say that the early Christians had a lot of reasons to be afraid. But the early Christians also knew how important it was for them to continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. They knew that it was of the utmost importance to share with others the good news of Jesus Christ, which is the reason why they asked for the strength to speak with great boldness. We should all speak with the same boldness. We should all boldly proclaim the saving power of Jesus Christ to all those around us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Saturday, September 6, 2008
Acts 3: 1-10; Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember this story. We, as Christians, may not always have a lot to give. We may not have money, we may not always be able to do neat tricks, but at all times we have the ability and opportunity to share with people the good news of Jesus Christ. The messagae that saves, the message that brings people hope, the message that brings peace to people's heart is ours to share with the world. Never feel like words are not enough, for the words that we can share with people are the words of life. What we carry and give to others is worth more than anything else we can give. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Remember this story. We, as Christians, may not always have a lot to give. We may not have money, we may not always be able to do neat tricks, but at all times we have the ability and opportunity to share with people the good news of Jesus Christ. The messagae that saves, the message that brings people hope, the message that brings peace to people's heart is ours to share with the world. Never feel like words are not enough, for the words that we can share with people are the words of life. What we carry and give to others is worth more than anything else we can give. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Friday, September 5, 2008
Acts 2: 14-41; Peter Addresses the Crowd
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
What a sermon! I think this sermon of Peter's is in the Bible for two reasons. One, to give us the history of what happened to the disciples, as well as what they actually did, after Jesus returned to heaven. Two, and I think for our purposes for the day the most important reason, is so we would have a sermon to preach. Peter's sermon is the sermon we should all be preaching. When witnessing to people this is the message that we should share: the mesage of Jesus. In so doing we will bring people into a life of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Go forth and proclaim the good news. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
What a sermon! I think this sermon of Peter's is in the Bible for two reasons. One, to give us the history of what happened to the disciples, as well as what they actually did, after Jesus returned to heaven. Two, and I think for our purposes for the day the most important reason, is so we would have a sermon to preach. Peter's sermon is the sermon we should all be preaching. When witnessing to people this is the message that we should share: the mesage of Jesus. In so doing we will bring people into a life of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Go forth and proclaim the good news. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Evening Service: India Experience; Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a special treat for our evening worship service this Sunday. Kate Snyder will tell us all about the year she spent in India. She will be giving us a slide show presentation and telling us all about her time there. She will also be providing Indian food, to enhance the 'India Experience.' We will begin the meal at 5:30 p.m. and Kate's presentation, as well as the rest of the worship service, will take place following the meal. I hope you all are able to make it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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We have a special treat for our evening worship service this Sunday. Kate Snyder will tell us all about the year she spent in India. She will be giving us a slide show presentation and telling us all about her time there. She will also be providing Indian food, to enhance the 'India Experience.' We will begin the meal at 5:30 p.m. and Kate's presentation, as well as the rest of the worship service, will take place following the meal. I hope you all are able to make it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Sunday Scripture and Sermon for September 7, 2008
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Amos 5: 7-13, in which Amos admonishes Israel for failing to do their duty of caring for those in need. The sermon title is 'Care For Them' and will focus on our call as Christians to care for those who are in need. I hope you all are able to make it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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The Scripture passage for this Sunday is Amos 5: 7-13, in which Amos admonishes Israel for failing to do their duty of caring for those in need. The sermon title is 'Care For Them' and will focus on our call as Christians to care for those who are in need. I hope you all are able to make it. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Acts 1: 1-11; Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The ascension of Jesus into the heavens is one of the most important things for our faith. Why, because it is important for us to remember that Jesus did not die again. Jesus, upon being raised from the dead, did not live out the rest of his days and pass on to a quiet sleep like the rest of us will. No, Jesus went back to heaven, the place he came from in the first place. And this important for us because what it means is that Jesus is still doing his ministry. Jesus is still praying for us, lifting us up before God; Jesus is still teaching us, through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus speaks to us and guides us; Jesus still heals us, through his eternal presence in our lives Jesus continues to lift our burdens off of us. The good news for the day is that Jesus is still alive, he is still in heaven continuing his ministry? God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Wednesday, September 3, 2008
2 Samuel 24: 18-25; David Builds and Altar
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is fitting that, as we come near the end of David's story, the last thing we see David do is build an altar to the Lord. It is fitting because David, even though he sometimes fell short of who God wanted him to be, always found time, energy, etc. to worship God. I guess that is why David is called 'a man after God's own heart.' David, no matter what kind of scrape he got himself into, and he got himself into plenty, always worshipped God for all God had done for him and Israel. What an amazing lesson for us. Sometimes we run out of time; sometimes we run out of desire; sometimes we come up with other excuses as to why we should not worship God. We should remember David and all the times he fell before the Lord in praise and worship. No matter what we have done, no matter where we have gone, we need to spend more time in worship of God who has done so much for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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It is fitting that, as we come near the end of David's story, the last thing we see David do is build an altar to the Lord. It is fitting because David, even though he sometimes fell short of who God wanted him to be, always found time, energy, etc. to worship God. I guess that is why David is called 'a man after God's own heart.' David, no matter what kind of scrape he got himself into, and he got himself into plenty, always worshipped God for all God had done for him and Israel. What an amazing lesson for us. Sometimes we run out of time; sometimes we run out of desire; sometimes we come up with other excuses as to why we should not worship God. We should remember David and all the times he fell before the Lord in praise and worship. No matter what we have done, no matter where we have gone, we need to spend more time in worship of God who has done so much for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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Tuesday, September 2, 2008
2 Samuel 23: 1-7; David's Final Words
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
'One rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God.' To make this applicable to all of us we might change the phrase 'rules over men' to the word 'lives.' 'One lives (a life of) righteousness when he lives in the fear of God.' Fear in this sense does not just mean fear in the sense of being afraid. Fear also means respect. We live a righteous life when we respect God. This is something David should have remembered a little more in his life. But from the life of David we today do learn how important it is to live in respect of God. We honor and glorify God with how we live our lives. Let us remember to live a life of righteousness, a life of respect for God, to honor and glorify him for all he has done for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
'One rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God.' To make this applicable to all of us we might change the phrase 'rules over men' to the word 'lives.' 'One lives (a life of) righteousness when he lives in the fear of God.' Fear in this sense does not just mean fear in the sense of being afraid. Fear also means respect. We live a righteous life when we respect God. This is something David should have remembered a little more in his life. But from the life of David we today do learn how important it is to live in respect of God. We honor and glorify God with how we live our lives. Let us remember to live a life of righteousness, a life of respect for God, to honor and glorify him for all he has done for us. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
Monday, September 1, 2008
2 Samuel 22: 1-51; David's Song of Praise
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer." David sure knows what he is talking about here. God is our strength. I will not speak for the rest of you, but I for one know I could not make it through life were it not for God. Like David we all face trials and tribulations, times in which we are in need of God's help. And in those times God delivers us. No matter where we go or what we do God will always delver us. We can rest in knowing God will always be with us, and God will always carry us through the dark valley. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
<><
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer." David sure knows what he is talking about here. God is our strength. I will not speak for the rest of you, but I for one know I could not make it through life were it not for God. Like David we all face trials and tribulations, times in which we are in need of God's help. And in those times God delivers us. No matter where we go or what we do God will always delver us. We can rest in knowing God will always be with us, and God will always carry us through the dark valley. God bless you.
Pastor Josh
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