Beth's Journal

"Going Local: On Time"

2009-11-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

Psalm 90:1-12
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men.
For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning- though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (09/20/09):

*"You have never locked eyes with someone who does not matter to God."
*"God's vision is what is setting the agenda for our day."
*"The word 'someday' is one of the most dangerous words. 'Someday' never comes. This is the day the Lord has made."
*"Being busy is different than being productive."
*"Small investments yield a great return when put into significant places."
*"Decide what is important."
*"Worry reveals what you are devoted to, allow God to define my reality."
*"Embrace limits God has put in your life."
*"God will provide not only a way back to Him but a way forward with Him!"

Psalm 62:8
"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah"

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Isaiah 6:1-5
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Isaiah 6:8
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

John 15:15
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Matthew 28:20
"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Proverbs 4:11
"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths."

Ephesians 5:15-16
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Psalm 78:23-25
"Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat."

"Going Local: Vision Sunday"

2009-11-01T16:54:00.000-08:00

Revelation 3:14-20
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (09/13/09):

*"Nothing of eternal value happens without God's help, without God's presence."
*"Herapolis was a place that was known at this time as a place with hot springs, a place of healing."
*"Colossae was a place known at this time with cold water, where they could quench their thirst."
*"Things don't change lives. Desires laid on people's hearts need to be satisfied. Your soul was created to be satisfied by the love God has provided for you."
*"Self-sufficiency never really happens without God."
*"He has called us to change the world."
*"Think of people who are outside this community first."
*"God will never tell you to do something that is destructive to you."
*"God will use this to change lives."

Isaiah 40:31
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Psalm 149:2
"Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King."

Psalm 25:20
"Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you."

2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

The Perfect Will of God"

2009-10-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Notes taken from sermon given by Dr. Tuttle (09/06/09):
*"Re-engaging the perfect will of God."
*"Clarity in the perfect will, if we really knew, we would be bored."
*"The manna has to be renewed daily. Trust God with my future."
*"It is constantly being refreshed and renewed daily."
*"In the parable of the vineyard owner- the owner blessed them all."
*"He is still with us."
*"You never have to settle for second best...God has no Plan B."
*"The perfect will of God is refreshed and renewed every day."
*"Put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ."
*"God will take that mess and use it for gris for the Holy meal."

Philippians 2:7-8
"but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"

I John 4:7-8
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

I John 4:19
"We love because he first loved us."

I John 4:21
"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

I Timothy 2:5-6
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time."

Romans 11:33
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"

Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

John 15:1
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."

Philippians 3:6-7
"as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ."

"Message from Rob Duford from Orlando North Communitiy Church"

2009-08-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

Luke 22:24-32
"Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Notes taken from Rob Duford (07/26/09):
*"Faith- How is your faith when you fall (when you keep doing those things you hate doing?)
*"We sometimes minimize faith to only those times we "need" it."
*"Faith is trusting in the One who has the capacity to make the impossible possible."
*"Arguing about Who is the greatest after God told them He would die."
*"If you want to be great, serve!"
*"Trusting in the One who has the capacity to do everything."
*"God is not as concerned about the failure, but what the failure does to us."
*"Peter weeped bitterly...when you fail, your faith does not fail."

Psalm 46:1-3
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah

Revelation 19:6
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns."

Romans 8:35-37
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Deuteronomy 4:39
"Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other."

Isaiah 54:10
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you."

Psalm 9:10
"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."

Isaiah 40:28-29
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Romans 8:26-27
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

"Virtue and Vanity: Khrushchev had to Buy New Shoes"

2009-08-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

Matthew 5:38-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (08/30/09):
*"We really can become more like Jesus. The gospel STILL changes people."
*"Jesus begins to transform our desires."
*"Always contribute more than you take."
*"Our natural reaction is not always a helpful response. We need to think and pray for the most helpful response."
*"Don't use the world's means to get back at the world's injustice."
*"Love breaks down those walls."

Revelation 19:6
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns."

Psalm 148:3
"Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars."

Romans 8:36
"As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

Matthew 5:43-45
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

"Virtue and Vanity: Lebron Got Dunked On"

2009-08-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:5-8
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (08/23/09):
*"We all struggle with pride and vanity...getting on with life as it really is, instead of keeping up appearances."
*"Have a bigger heart for God and who He loves."
*"We trust in what we have done vs. what God has done."
*"Pride looks like a judgemental spirit. If your evaluation keeps you from loving someone, this is a form of pride."
*"If we refuse to seek help, this is another form of pride."
*"What you do for God, God will honor."
*"Get to the point where acts of service become as natural as breathing."

Psalm 25:8-10
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."

Psalm 14:2
"The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand,any who seek God."

2 Corinthians 8:9
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

Philippians 2:5-7
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

"Virtue and Vanity: Sullenberger Flew a Plane into a River"

2009-08-31T15:01:00.001-07:00

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 6:1-6
""Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

C.S. Lewis says miracles are "definite interventions that go beyond natural laws. Miracles are consistent with nature, but beyond natural law. They are caused by a benevolent being."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (08/16/09):
*"God is pleased to work a miracle within someone else versus the miracle alone."
*"Virtue happens when someone quietly learns something so that that something becomes second nature."
*"Our pursuit of God will lead to virtue."
*"You are God's people. Be God's people. Remember whose people you are and Who you are called to."
*"Best thing...'well done my good and faithful servant'."
*"Don't need to think about it, it just happens, becomes natural."
*"We are already loved by God whether we get the works thing or not."
*"Understand this is a result of His love preceding any forward progress on our part."
*"We don't earn His love...it is a gift. God is crazy about you. He knows all about the brokeness."
*"We are loved, He will come, and we can do things that represent Him well."

Psalm 37:23-24
"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

Psalm 86:12
"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Matthew 28:19
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Psalm 10:12
"Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless."

Micah 6:8
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Ephesians 5:1
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children."

Psalm 86:5,11
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

Ephesians 5:13-14
"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

"Amphibious People: Week Two: Cardia"

2009-07-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 4:23
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

Ezekiel 36:26-27
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (July 12, 2009)...
*"We live in a society that is sick at heart. Most of our problems are heart problems."
*"Cardia/soul can be use interchangeably.
*"The heart is in the process of being transformed."
*"A heart that looks right...is made to extend grace...it has righteous anger (healing and restoration)...it is submissive to the One who loves us most."
*"Study Jesus."
*"Figure out how your heart actually looks. Jeremiah 17:9 says"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
*"You never know how selfish you are unless you are faced with a situation that highlights those. Matthew 15:16-17 says " 'Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body'?"
*"Exhortation and encouragement should come from your mouth."
*"Being a prophet vs. being a jerk...your charge should be walk humbly with your God."
*"Are you angry...how often do you have words that come out of your mouth that are regretful or hurtful."
*"Are you complaining...we live in a society that makes us discontent with everything."
*"Awe-filled moments...be fully awake to God...experience moments of joy (ie. children's face while they sleep, walking outside first thing in the morning).
*"Jesus is crazy about you right where you are."
*"Decide not to appear different, but actually be different."
*"All the law hangs on love the Lord your God with all your heart."
*"The rule is in place because He loves me."
*"Disciplines are to constantly change you over time. It should not become about the discipline rather than the One you are following. Judge not, love people where they are."

Psalms 35:18
"I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you."

Psalms 86:11
"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

Psalms 51:10
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Psalms 51:12
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Ephesians 2:4-5
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

Deuteronomy 4:29
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

2 Chronicles 15:4
"But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them."

Isaiah 55:6
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near."

Hebrews 13:15
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name."

"Amphibious People: Week One: Psyche

2009-07-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

Luke 10:27
"He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[a]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

Philippians 4:4-9
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

2 Corinthians 10:4
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (July 5, 2009)...
*"God is constantly moving us towards perfection, reflecting who God is, to what we were created to be."
*"Every portion (meaning the heart, flesh, and mind) would work as they were intended and work in unity."
*"Every good and perfect gift is from above."
*"There is constant tension between our spiritual nature and our flesh."
*"Minds are transformed by giving yourself to the study and refuse to be done learning."
*"Never stop being qualified for the job, devote ourselves to the study."
*"A mind that is being redeemed is a mind that refuses to dwell on things that hinder its freedom."
*"Take every thought captive."
*"There are things that we should let go of. Take a posture of prayer and your mind will be free."

Romans 12:1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."

Philippians 3:8
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Psalm 25:8-10
"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."

Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Psalms 37:23-24
"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

Deuteronomy 6:5
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

I Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

"Grace"

2009-06-30T05:36:00.000-07:00

John 8:1-11
"But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Notes taken from sermon given by Tim Harmon...
*"God meeting you in the middle of our mess."
*"Sin is grievous to God, all sin."
*"He meets us in the middle and loves us no matter what."
*These men thought they had set the perfect trap."
*"She is not completely innocent yet Jesus responds to her with grace and forgiveness."
*"What they intended for evil, God used for good."
*"There is no place too far that your mercy can't reach."
*"When he called her "woman", it was actually an endearing term that was filled with love, dignity, and compassion."

Ephesians 2:4-5
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

Psalm 145:1
"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever."

Psalm 10:12
"Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless."

Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Hebrews 13:15
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name."

Hebrews 7:24-25
"but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Hebrews 2:10
"In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering."

Romans 8:38-39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Psalms 139:17-18
"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you."

Matthew 28:19
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

Micah 6:8
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

"Of Whales and Worms: Week 3"

2009-06-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

Jonah 3
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 4:1-4
But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (June 14, 2009):
*"God is not done with Ninevah because of Jonah's disobedience."
*"God is not done with people who are broken. God will use us where we are."
*"Do the same things He called us to do, just do it better."
*"You are always delivered for a purpose. GO and DO the things God has called you to do."
*"God can use half-hearted obedience. Faithfulness matters. God uses obedience to change your heart."
*"God's ways are not confined to human effort."
*"The people of Ninevah understand that they need grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion."

Job 11:7-9
"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave —what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea."

Psalm 33:8-9
"Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."

Psalms 96:2-3
"Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

Psalms 96:6-7
"Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength."

Psalm 5:11
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you."

Psalms 46:1-3
"God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah

Psalms 86:12
"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Psalms 37:23-24
"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

Psalm 25:20
"Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you."

Psalms 104:1-2
"Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent."

Psalm 51:7
"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:10
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

"Of Whales and Worms: Week 2"

2009-06-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Jonah 1:17
"But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights."

Jonah 2
"From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.'
The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.
"When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (06/07/09):
*"Down- word used to describe Jonah. Great- word used to describe God."
*"Jonah doesn't pray (at least not a recorded prayer) until he is in the belly of the fish."
*"Choose to surrender or find ourselves miserable without Him."
*"Jonah was stuck with his thoughts and with God. Usually we do not pray because we have so many other options."
*"It is good to be quiet and alone with God."
*"God uses a man that is broken."
*"Jonah's name means dove, beloved one."
*"God is great and He redeems broken people that meet Him at the cross."

Psalms 14:2
"The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."

Philippians 2:7-8
"but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[a] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"

I Timothy 2:5-6
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time."

John 7:38
"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Romans 11:33
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"

Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

I John 4:7-8
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

I John 4:19,21
"We love because he first loved us. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

"Of Whales and Worms"

2009-06-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

Jonah 1
"The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."
Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"
He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
"Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."
Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.
But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (05/31/09):
*"Be obedient, be faithful."
*"God may call you to places you do not want to go."
*"God will redeem disobedience and He will bless obedience."
*"The ship of Tarshish was from a huge kingdom of great wealth. Jonah was a wealthy guy running to a wealthy place. His God was bigger than his wealth"
*"Sometimes we think rebellion will produce better results than surrender and obedience."
*"The sooner you surrender, the better off you are."
*"The world is saying to us, just as those on the boat said to Jonah..."Wake up...pray to your God."
*"Do something to make a difference. Keep your eyes open to what is going on."
*"Jonah is humbled, God is great."
*"Even if it costs him his life, it would save theirs."
*"Give ourselves fully to find life with Him, to the One who loves us best."

Psalms 104:1-2
"Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent."

Psalms 84:1-2
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

Psalms 84:10
"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

Psalms 119:67
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word."

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Hebrews 7:25
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Jonah 2:2-3
He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me."

Jonah 2:5-6
"The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God."

"The Vision"

2009-06-02T04:29:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 4:11-16
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Notes taken from Jeff Kern's Sermon (05/24/09):
*"Our job with our kids is to get our kids to be all that God would have them be, to be mature."
*"To be mature, as compared to Christ, to look more and love more like Jesus."
*"Be continually engaged in the process. Participate in the community of God's people."
*"The apostles were not together because they were alike. They had a common vision and a common purpose."
*Ephesians 2:12 says, "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world."
*"Hear about God's love, give God's love, experience God's grace."
*"1) Learn- knowledge that goes way beyond head knowledge, when it is a deeper, personal relational knowledge. Orient our lives to live for the sake of others."
*"2) Serve- faith working through love."
*I Corinthians 13:1-3 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
*Psalms 111:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."
*Hebrews 5:14 says, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
*"3) Worship- die to ourselves, offer our bodies, be consecrated, be on mission together."
*Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
*"The body builds itself up on love."

Psalms 100:1-2 says, "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."

Psalms 7:17 says, "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

Psalms 30:4 says, "Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name."

Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Nehemiah 9:5-6 says, "And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Psalms 46:10 says, ""Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

I Peter 2:5 says, "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

I Corinthians 12:12 says, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

"Acts in the Aftermath: Week 5"

2009-06-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

Acts 5:12-21
"The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (05/17/09):

*"None of us has strayed so far that we are out of reach of His loving, merciful arms."

*"Follow people who are intentional about following Jesus."

*"These people were living out unity, where division was the exception, rather than the rule. They had a common faith, common Savior, too big for any one person to accomplish."

*Ephesians 4:3 says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

*"Unity is a bi-product of the bigger picture. Unity, not uniformity."

*"When the church stops being on a mission, they start to turn, start to fight."

*"Don't quit, God has great things for you. Don't put extra barriers up; move forward and do what God calls you to do."

*"God is the deliverer of His people. No man-made prison can hold you. God still delivers His people for the sake of those who need deliverance."

Nehemiah 2:5

"and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."

2 Corinthians 4:6-7
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

John 1:16
"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."

Micah 4:2
"Many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

Hebrews 9:14
"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

Isaiah 6:8
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

"Acts in the Aftermath: Week 3"

2009-05-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Acts 3:1-12
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (May 3, 2009)
*"These were men and women who went to the uttermost parts of the earth."
*"We follow a God who has defeated life, who breathes life into all who follow Him."
*"Everything may have changed, yet nothing was different."
*"Certain practices should not be abandoned after the fact."
*"This man was crippled. He didn't know what it was like to move like you are supposed to move."
*"He also got carried by people who were charitable to him. Are we carrying people to some place to bring them closer to God? Their faith should matter in your life. Be a person who brings people to the throne of grace."
*"Extend ourselves to the world around us."
*"Most people settle for what we think we need to get by."
*"People need to be treated with dignity. There is no them or us. We are all us."
*"He did not need to be shackled by shame. There is redemption. Remember the forgiveness. You are so weighed down by your past/what you have done. It is already paid for. There is no condemnation."
*"We still serve a God who heals."
*"There is no such thing as righteous indignation, if it keeps you from God. There is something in all of us that hopes to see someone made whole. People still need to see that Jesus still makes people whole."

I Peter 3:1-4
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you."

I John 4:11
"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Psalms 25:5-6, 8-10
"guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
ood and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."

Romans 4:20-24
"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."

Isaiah 41:10
"o do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Psalms 139:7-10
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."

"Purpose in Prayer by E.M. Bounds"

2009-05-26T06:20:00.000-07:00

Recently our summit connect group did a two week study on Prayer. Here are some quotes that really stood out to me from the study. Quotes taken from a book written by E.M. Bounds in the book Purpose in Prayer.

*"The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be."
*"God shapes the world by prayer."
*"Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them."
*"...too busy or too unbelieving to pray."
*"Fortunate are they whose fathers and mothers have left them a wealthy patrimony of prayer."
*"Earth is changed, revolutionized, angels move on more powerful, more rapid wing, and God's policy is shaped as the prayers are more numerous, more efficient."
*"God's conquering days are when the saints have given themselves to mightiest prayer."
*"God conditions the very life and prosperity of His cause on prayer."
*"To a prayerful man God is present in realized force; to a prayerful Church God is present in glorious power."
*"Ask of me is the condition of a praying people, willing and obedient."
*"Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened."
*"The one who can wield power of prayer is the strong one."

Service from Beach Baptism...April 26th, 2009

2009-05-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

Acts 2:42
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
2 Corinthians 4:8
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
"Have hearts that are willing and able to humbly yield to God."
*"He had told Peter to 'feed my sheep'. People were pierced to the heart. Repent. Be baptized. Be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Spirit."
*"Be fully devoted. God's kingdom will come in us and through us. Leave the results of your obedience up to Him."
*"Carriers of this hope are so weak."
*"Do not give up...devote your life to something that matters. If you falter, get up again."
*"These people valued one another and value those who are not like them."
*"Give your lives for the sake of others."

"Acts in the Aftermath"

2009-04-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Acts 1:4-11
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (04/19/09)
*"Act in accordance with a resurrected life."
*"Jesus calls those who follow Him to be baptized. This is about you and God."
*"Sometimes there is a season of waiting to see that God is good."
*"Trust the One who says wait, even if it is uncomfortable."
*"Wait in patient hope and in patient trust. God can use you while you wait. Fight against settling in."
*"Display His glory and His power with your life. Help other people know who He is."
*"God calls us to be His witness also. His strength made perfect by our weakness. God call us to be witness of His grace and His mercy."

Deuteronomy 4:29
"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

2 Chronicles 15:4
"But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them."

Isaiah 55:6
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near."

Ephesians 5:8, 10
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light...and find out what pleases the Lord."

I John 4:18
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Isaiah 40:31
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Romans 11:33
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"

Hebrews 4:11
"Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience."

I Peter 1:18-19
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

Psalm 139:17-18
"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you."

Romans 8:38-39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Easter 2009"

2009-04-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

I Corinthians 15:14-20
"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

I Corinthians 15:54-58
"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (04/12/09)...
*"There is no gospel except this gospel. There is no good news except this good news."
*"Christianity was not a religion based upon evolution of thought. It beagan on a night."
*"Base your faith, your hope, your life on it."
*"If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless."
*"Jesus didn't come for people to become more religious, He came for people to be more free."
*"He comes to us where we are and it changes everything."
*"The best is yet to come."

Psalms 33:8-9
"Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."

Isaiah 53:5
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

"Lent: A Triumphal Exit"

2009-04-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

John 12:12-16
"The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" 14Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him."

Exodus 14:10-14
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (04/05/09)...
*"Many people's backs are against a wall...job, health, relationship, finances."
*"Israelites reacted 2 ways...fear and sarcasm!"
*"We make decisions our of reaction to fear."
*"Sarcasm can be unbelievably destructive. It is non-productive and not that helpful."
*"Don't let your reaction be ruled by your initial responses. Hang out with old saints, who have learned that God is faithful. They have learned to not base their decisions on fear."
*"He did not give us a spirit of timidity. God can redeem any situation."
*"Stand firm...recognize that you have to stand in the place that you are. Jesus paid for our sins. Wait patiently, not passively on the strength of God. Wait and expect God to move."
*"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Matthew 6:27
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

"Lent: A Humble Beginning"

2009-04-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

Exodus 2:16-25
"Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock. Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock.
When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, "Why have you returned so early today?"
They answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock."
"And where is he?" he asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat."
Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, "I have become an alien in a foreign land."
During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."

Exodus 3:14-15
"God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (03/22/09)
*"People don't plan on screwing up their lives. We find ourselves in a place we never thought we'd be. Most people are not consciously running from God."
*"A geographical change does not guarantee a biographical change."
*"We still serve a God who has not given up on His people. He does not care more about the mess we have made than He cares for us."
*"Moses still serves even when he can't be the hero."
*"The goal is 'what is it God wants from me?'."
*"Choose to trust God. God still knows. God still cares."
*"What Moses messed up didn't stop what God can use Moses for."

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

John 7:38
"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

John 15:15
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Hebrews 4:15
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."

Luke 9:25
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"

Isaiah 49:16
"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."

I Peter 1:18-19
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

"Lent: A Gradual Resolution"

2009-03-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Exodus 2:10-15
"When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water."
One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?"
The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and thought, "What I did must have become known."
When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (03/15/09):
*"Moses had the option to live a life of luxury."
*"Great things happen when well placed discontent is fueled so that something must be done...so frustrated with the injustice being done."
*"There are injustices...we need to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. Runs to the place that needs you most."
*"Righteous and holy discontent can lead to redemptive work."
*"Every single one of us has things that frustrate us. What you do with that anger is what matters."
*"Moses substituted vengeance for justice."
*"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." Proverbs 29:11
*"The ends should be congruent with the means, the means must be congruent with what God desires."
*"Use the weapons God has given us...forgiveness, love, patience, peace, understanding."
*"Lean into the one who gives us rest."

Matthew 6:26
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Colossians 1:27
"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Psalm 9:10
"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."

Ephesians 2:4-5
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."

Hebrews 13:15
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name."

Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Psalm 37:4,7
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

"Lent: A Beautiful Hunger"

2009-03-09T07:10:00.000-07:00

Exodus 1:13-22
and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"
The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (03/01/09)...
*Matthew 5 :6 says "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
*"People find themselves waking up under oppression that they never thought they would encounter....we need the hope of God."
*"It was harder to live in the promised land than Egypt."
*"We need the hope and the help of God."
*"You don't have to wait, there is a God who still delivers His people."
*"The midwives greatest fear was of God. They simply did their jobs. You can have titles or you can have testimonies."
*"Refuse to remain a passive victim of circumstance."
*"It is our job to get people safely from where you are to where Jesus is."
*"Recognize there is something more to do, more to be done. Recognize and remember our most important job."

Philipians 3:8
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Proverbs 13:12
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Hebrews 12:1
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Matthew 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Psalm 18:31
"For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?"

Psalm 119:14
"I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches."

"Mastering Affluence: Your Plan is Not Your Hope"

2009-03-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

I Timothy 6:17-21
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (02/22/09)...
*"Honoring God with the entirety of our life, fully devoted to Him, reflecting Him to the world."
*"Our plan is never our hope. Greatest benefit is to put our hope in God."
*"It is all a gift from God, it is temporary."
*David's prayer in I Chronicles 29:10 says "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting."
*"Who owns you? Where is your hope?"
*"Give the best you can and then some because you love Him."
*"Get to the point that your heart wants to do more for God and for others."
*"Joy is a product of obedience, joy does not preceed obedience."
*"God is a God that cannot be outgiven."

Philippians 4:19 says "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus".

Reveletion 4:11 says "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Revelation 15:4 says "Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Colossions 1:27 says "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Psalms 100:1-2 says "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."

Psalms 36:7, 9-10 says "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart."

"Mastering Affluence: Hope is not a Plan"

2009-02-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

I Timothy 6:6-10

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Proverbs 6:6-8

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest."

Malachi 3:8-10

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (02/15/09)...

*"Our hope is that the we are marked by generosity."

*"Our stories are written by how our theology affects our actions."

*"Do we have a Christ honoring budget...giving first fruits of our labor?"

*"Trust Him, He is faithful."

*"If I trust Him with my salvation, how can I not trust Him with what I have?"

*"SAVE." Proverbs 21:20 says "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."

Psalms 119:166

"I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands."

Psalms 139:17-18

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you."

"Mastering Affluence: Work on your Image"

2009-02-17T12:36:00.001-08:00

Genesis 1:26-31
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (02/08/09)...
*"God works from the overflow of His love."
*"Be productive, be constructive. Be workers that honor God in ways that create value in those around us."
*"Work isn't always something you are paid to do." Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
*"Recognize that there is something valuable in someone who works." Colossians 3:22 says "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord."
*"How you work matters to God. Good godly character does not make up for lack of competence. God did not make us to be mediocre."
*"Treat the people you encounter everyday the way Jesus would treat them." Philipians 2:4 says "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
*"God says 'you must follow me'. Peter kept saying 'what about him?'. Our call is unaffected by what others are called to do."
*"Be faithful to Him in the process. Pour yourself into where you are right now."

Jeremiah 10:12
"But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding."

Psalm 89:5
"The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones."

I Peter 1:15-16
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Exodus 15:11
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

"Mastering Affluence: What You Value Shapes Your Values"

2009-02-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

Deuteronomy 26:3-5
"and say to the priest in office at the time, "I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our forefathers to give us." The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous."

Luke 19:1-10
"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (02/01/2009)...
*"We are called to turn the world upside down. Christians who are half-hearted do not turn the world upside down."
*"Be grateful. Be responsible. Don't forget whose all this really is."
*"Rules are for your benefit and the benefit of others."
*"Rely on the everyday faithfulness of God. Everything you get is a gift from God."
*"Contentment is a learned behavior. Ask God for that continued perspective no matter what others have. Always say, 'it could be worse'."
*"Decide I have enough this day!
*"Be the kind of people God called us to be. 1st realize you have enough. 2nd, God will take what you have and use it to feed more people than you thought possible.

Deuteronomy 26:13
"Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them."

Psalm 96:9
"Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth."

I Timothy 1:17
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Psalm 148:2-3
"Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars."

Psalm 148:13
"Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens."

Romans 12:1
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."

Psalm 103:19
"The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all."

"Mastering Affluence: Congrats You are Middle Management"

2009-02-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

Luke 16:10-20
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (January 25th, 2009)...
*"Money has a significant power in one's life."
*"Jesus is talking about a staggering amount of money. 1 talent=10,000 denerio. This was equal to 10,000 days of work."
*"Rich is relative. Scripture has a lot to say to the rich. When you recognize that you are rich, you can recognize where the blessings come from."
*"Guilty is not a productive feeling. Our stuff is not ours. God could take our stuff if He really wanted to."
*"Comparision is the enemy of contentment."

Psalm 139:17-18
"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you."

Psalm 86:11
"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

Psalm 25:8-10
"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant."

Hebrews 4:16
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Hebrews 7:24-25
"but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Romans 8:38-39
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Good Expectations: Holiness and Community"

2009-02-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

Colossians 3:8-17
"But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon (January 18, 2009)...

*"We are all called to exhibit goodness...to the world around us."
*"You have never locked eyes with a person who does not matter to God."
*"The value of something is set by the price someone is willing to pay for it."
*"Value those we come into contact with."
*"Putting on new self is a process."
*"How do we love those people that are hard to love? Remember that they are one of Jesus' favorites. Begin with our understanding of who they are to God. Serve them- embody what Jesus modeled and what He taught. Pray for them...Love your enemies."
*"Change whatever needs to be changed inside me, whatever this relationship highlights."
*"Treat others as if they are chose by God, loved by God, wounded by the world. Recevieve grace and love people well."

Deuteronomy 4:39
"Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other."

Colossians 1:17
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Exodus 15:11
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

Ephesians 4:16
"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

"Advent: The Fullness of Time: Blue Hour"

2008-12-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:8-20

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...

*"Message of God comes to all kinds of people...The shepherds lived a rough, harsh life. They were able to spot an unblemished, spotless lamb."

*"God loves people because of who He is not because of who we are."

*"Come to Jesus and recognize He has come for you."

*"Jesus is not born in a place you expect it to happen."

*"God is not afraid of the mess."

*"Go to Jesus, have an encounter that changes you."

Philippians 2:9-11

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

"Advent: The Fullness of Time: Midday

2008-12-23T04:55:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:28-38
"The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"Always a story of grace and redemption...use broken people to further His kingdom."
*"Be driven by grace, not by guilt."
*"You need to know if you are it for God. God loves you more than you understand."
*"Expectations can ve very different from reality. We need to give those over to God."
*"Give your days and your moments over to Jesus."
*"They walked with God...God will be with you...These phrases are said over and over again throughout Scripture...Joshua, Abraham, etc."
*"Not only do you like who you are when you are around them but you see in others what He sees."

Advent: Fullness of Time: Daybreak

2008-12-10T03:46:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:24-45
"After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"Elizabeth saw her blessing as a means to glorify God. She waited until it would affect someone else. She embraced the role, 'How can I be helpful?'"
*"God chooses to work in the context of relationships. God uses not just the circumstances but the timing for providential purposes."
*"The angel pointed Mary towards Elizabeth."
*"We need family...regular and spiritual."
*"Mary doesn't care about the inconvenience of the journey, she wants to hear what Elizabeth has to tell her."
*"You need people who love you that way. Elizabeth poured herself into Mary."

Philipians 2:5-7
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

"Advent: Fullness of Time"

2008-12-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:5-7, 21-25
"In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years."

"Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...

*"They (Mary and Elizabeth) didn't know what their tomorrows would bring or how the story would end. What defined this era was the actions of God. It is the same with our era."
*"God really can't be known as all you need unless all you have is Him to hold onto."
*"We expect immediate feedback. Trust God in the outcome. Their hope was anchored in God. Motivation should not be a circumstantial reward. Be faithful in the middle of the story. We can trust God with faithfulness. Giving up cannot be an option."
*"Notice there is never a serene reaction to seeing an angel."
*"It is harder to be faithful when the prayer is answered than during the waiting/praying for it to be answered."
*"Silence always follows doubt. Everytime you choose to trust, you choose to participate in it."
*"Recognize that God is at work, even in the middle of the story."

Isaiah 40:1, 3, 9-11
"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

"I Don't Believe in Hopeless"

2008-12-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

John 6:1-13
"Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten."

Notes taken from sermon given by Tim Harmon...

*"Even in the darkest circumstances, there is hope. No matter how hopeless a situation, God's presence brings hope."
*"God is not asking about a solution but He does invite us into the process. Where God is present, hope abounds. Bring people to Jesus, the rest is up to Him."
*"God does not ask us to give what we do not have."
*"God can take the flawed, the broken, and sinful and do something extraordinary."
*"We are made perfect by what God has done. When we minister, God ministers to us."

"If I Sound Harsh, Lean In"

2008-12-08T03:38:00.000-08:00

Matthew 15:21-28

"Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...

*"He is waiting for someone to step up. Will you love people who are difficult to love?"

*"The one we think is least valuable to God recognizes their value to God and embraces that grace."

*"You always have the choice between hope and despair."

*"Keep offering it up to God."

*"Is there someone really hard in your life to love?"

"Let's Get to the Point, Shall We?

2008-11-03T03:45:00.000-08:00

John 4:4-13
"Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"Be known as a community that loves each other and loves those outside of our community."
*"Jesus was intentional about building relationships."
*"Think more about others than we think about ourselves."
*Matthew 6:33 says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." "This side of heaven brings trouble and more trouble the next day."
*"Consider others better than yourselves. There are 2 kinds of people. One is the type that walks into a room and says 'here I am'. The other walks into a room and says 'there you are'."
*"Our job is to love every single person well. The secret to bein popular is to care about every person you meet and that they matter to God, but you cannot fake it."
*"Jesus did not lock eyes with a person He would not die for."
*"There is a story behind the face of everyone we meet. Everyday has a story."
*Proverbs 20:27 says "The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being."
*Psalm 139:1 says "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me."
*"We are created for community. Get outside of ourselves to know what goes on with others."
*"Relational genius of God...He knows all about our sin and He loves us still. God's grace is bigger than any sin."

I Corinthians 1:28-31
"He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

I John 4:7-8
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

John 15:15
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Matthew 28:20
"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Proverbs 4:11
" guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths."

I John 4:16-18
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

"Essentials: Ecclesiology 201"

2008-10-30T05:38:00.000-07:00

Matthew 28:16-20
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"Even after all that had happened, some believed, some did not."
*"There are moments you know you can't fix it. Politicians come and go and there are just some things that can't be fixed."
*"Does anybody have an answer?"
*"ALL authority was given to Him."
*"Go to people who are nothing like you. Remember somebody did this for you."
*"Disciples understand that they need grace. Recognize that we can lean into Him and we will not be disappointed."

"Essentials: Bibliology 101"

2008-10-29T03:41:00.000-07:00

2Timothy 3:14-17
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"If we base our life on a Book, we should read the Book!
*"All of the book is equally inspired."
*"The question at the end of the day...who needs to be altered?"
*"Psalms 1 says to delight in the law of the Lord."
*"Consider the ways of your leaders, consider also the way of those who have fallen. You can learn through personal experience or through others failures. Watch where people have fallen or failed and refuse to step where they did."
*"This text will make you incredibly insightful. Scripture challenges our faith to help build our faith. This helps us wrestle with who God is."
*"Better to wrestle with God than dance without Him."
*"It will keep you surrendered instead of always right."
*"The Word is the chief revealer of God's character. The better you know God, the better you are to serve others for Jesus sake and to serve God."
*"How to read...Ask the question, 'What does this text mean and what it meant'?"
*"Begin somewhere..."
*"Write down your questions."

"Essentials: Bibliology 201"

2008-10-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Acts 15:12-22
"The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: " 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' that have been known for ages.
"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"We all want to know what God wants us to do with our live." Use Scriptures to form and shape us."
*"Don't get frustrated with God because He does not give us insight into the future...it is actually by God's grace." Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
*"We can give our life to God, not just our days."
*"God will use us in spite of our past. There is no condemnation (Romans 12:1)."
*"Chief desire of God...to learn who God is."
*"When reading the Bible, read it in the context it was meant for that time period."
*"Are you willing and do you desire to let the Scriptures speak into your life?"
*"When we isolate ourself from God, our desires become chief desires in our life."
*"David repents of his sin in Psalm 51"

Romans 11:34, 36
"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Psalm 14:2
"The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."

"Essentials: Theology 201"

2008-10-27T03:36:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:1-2
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

Notes taken from Dr. Robert Tuttle's sermon...
*"Power of the Holy Spirit available to you to deliver you."
*"Everyone has the need to measure up to some form of law. Jesus didn't come to destroy the law but to fulfil the law."
*"God loves us so much, He wants to be in a relationship with us."
*"Condemnation=unresolved guilt"
*"Guilt is not bad, condemnation is."
*"Repentance- grieving over the sin which separates you from God and those around you."
*"Renew our faith in Jesus Christ."
*"Believe God is who God is."
*"Repentance and faith creates low pressure"
*"Hebrew for be still is 'Enough is Enough'."
*"Get the volume low enough on the history channel to hear what God has to say."

"Tell Me All the Great Things"

2008-09-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

2 Kings 8:1-6
"Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the LORD has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years." The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.
At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to the king to beg for her house and land. The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, "Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done." Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to beg the king for her house and land. Gehazi said, "This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life." The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, "Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"Always start with who Jesus is..."
*"Not just recipients of grace but conduits of it."
*"The world is not a place where it breathes life into people. We need to breathe life into people by encouraging them. Everybody needs it, therefore, everybody needs to be part of it."
*"Don't quit, God has got something great for you."
*"Lost vision, lost hope...think God has forgotten about you. What we see as dead and broken, God can restore and breathe life into it."
*"How are you treating those around you?"
*"His grace is as deep as His expectations are high."
*"God will use broken people to help broken people."
*"God will entrust much to those who will return the glory to Him."

"Authority Issues: I'm Kind of a Big Deal"

2008-08-26T04:48:00.000-07:00

"Christian leaders cannot simply be persons who have well-informed opinions about the burning issues of our time. Their leadership must be rooted in the permanend, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus, and they need to find there the source for their words, advice, and guidance...

Dealing with burning issues without being rooted in a deep personal relationship with God easily leads to divisiveness because, before we know it, our sense of self is caught up in our opinion about a given subject. But when we are securely rooted in personal intimacy with the source of life, it will be possible to remain flexible without being relativistic, convinced without being rigid, willing to confront without being offensive, gentle and forgiving without being soft, and true witnesses without being manipulative."

~Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus

Matthew 20:25-28
"Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 13:3-17
"In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's Sermon...

*"The disciples are trying to find out how to be the greatest and who was the greatest. This is not a bad desire- Jesus defines what it means to be great."
*"Authority inside the context of love has the power to effect eternal change."
*"His authority springs from love for you. While we were sinners...not while we were cleaned up."
*"Your sin is not strong enough to cancel God's love for you."
*"Love always desires the good of its object."
*"We never serve from a position of weakness, we serve from a position of strength- our identity comes from the One who loves us."
*"Give up freedoms for the sake of others."
*"Whatever authority you have is a gift from God...every good gift comes from the Father."
*"Decide to serve Jesus."

I John 4:7-21
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

"Authority Issues: You're Not the Boss of Me"

2008-08-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

Colossians 3:12-21
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon:

*"Trust Christ with the results."
*"Breathe life into the lives of the ones you love."
*"You cannot bear God's image in isolation."
*"Don't give the devil a foothold. He wants division."
*"Nothing is beyond the redemption of God. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. If pain is caused, it leads to redemptive healing."
*"Everyone is equal in value in the eyes of God."

Psalm 24:1-2
"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."

Psalm 89:11, 13
"The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it. Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted."

Psalm 37:23-24
"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

"Authority Issues: When it comes to pride...I'm #1"

2008-08-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

John 8:28-29
"So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."

John 12:29
"Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him."

John 14:31
"But the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...
*"We exist best under His authority and those authorities God has placed in our authority."
*"Some of us have an inherent distaste for authority."
*"Jesus submitted fully to what God says. Submission was something Jesus modeled and made beautiful. Jesus was doing what God wants me to do, as seen when He said 'not my will, but Thine'. He fully submitted to the authority of our Father."
*"People in our culture hold those up, who fight and do not conform to authority."
*"Some of us have been or are in the rebellious zone- you know the right things to do but you do not care, puffs you up. You say 'I am above the rules and I am able to manage the consequences when they came'."
*"Rebellion is a common thing seen many times in Scripture. ie. Ezekial 28 with Lucifer."
*"You feel God is holding you back from something. We feel we can survive this even though we have seen others suffer consequences doing the same actions we are doing. However, God sees you, He knows you, He loves you, in the midst of all your 'junk' or will He have to force you to surrender?"
*"You can isolate but you can not insulate yourself."
*"If you surrender now, you will have scars but the pain will be minimized. It is better to throw up your hands and surrender."
"God wants to love you now. All this stuff (what we have on earth) is going away, but all this stuff (what God has to offer) is forever."

"Bread Expires"

2008-08-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

Exodus 16:1-5
"The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

Exodus 16:16-20
"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' "
The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them."

Psalm 13:6
"I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."

Nehemiah 9:6
"You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Luke 11:11-13
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermons:
*"God's people are no longer wanting to do what it takes, getting complacent, getting soft."
*"Created not just as recipients of God's grace but conduits of grace to others."
*"Reacknowledge our need for God's help."
*"Arise- God can change our position- does forgiveness start or end there?"
*"Hard question- 'do you want to be made well?'. The progress/journeying is difficult. When it gets hard, ask for God's help. Recognize you need something you do not have."
*"Focus in on being fed by God. Consumption, not just looking at it. Form and shape our character by what we read in the Scripture."
*"Challenge- set aside a time daily to give our time and energy to read the Scriptures. Pick a time, pick a place. Make a plan."

How I need to take on this challenge...
My plan is this, I will set aside time in the morning to spend time with God. I will do it right after I work out in the morning, this way, I am fully awake to take it all in. Once school starts, I need to get up earlier. When I am in the Word, I see the need I have to spend time with God. When I am away from studying the Word, I also see that the need I have to spend time with God. It is necessary for me to do this. Please God, I desire to love more and look more like you Jesus!!!

Funny Quotes from My Girls

2008-07-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

My friend Jennifer was getting Laurynn a drink of water. She asked her if she wanted water. Laurynn replied "Yes". Jennifer said "Yes..." hesitating, waiting for that magic word. Laurynn instead responded with "Yes my queen". It was priceless.

"Bread: Fasting without Famine"

2008-07-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 58 (The Message)

"Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout! Tell my people what's wrong with their lives, face my family Jacob with their sins! They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me. To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— law-abiding, God-honoring. They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me on their side. But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way? Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?' "Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit. You drive your employees much too hard. You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight. You fast, but you swing a mean fist. The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground. Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility? To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black? Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?
"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places

"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.
"If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there—Then you'll be free to enjoy God! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! God says so!"

Notes taken from sermon given by Jeff Kern...
*"v. 1 God is willing to bring hurt if that is what gets our attention."
*"v. 2 They give the appearance of being godly."
*"v. 3 They are asking "God where are you?"
*"Inconsistencies are astounding- what goes on in our life matters."
*"Temporary things never satisfy our eternal souls. BREAD that your soul needs is GRACE. God wants our hearts quickened and awakened."
*v. 6 & 7 Shows God's passion. Clothe the people and care for their needs. Give the need, share the truth.
*"Job description seen in Luke 4 says "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed" This is also restated in Isaiah 61."
*"To bring God glory and to make Him known."
*"When we give, we are making known we are His people. When we give, we are making known we are His people"
*"Psalm 67 says 'May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.' God blesses us to bless others."

"The more you obey your conscience, the more your conscience will demand of you. And your natural self, which is thus being starved and hampered and worried at every turn will get angrier and angrier...The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says 'Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half measures are any good... Hand over your whole natural self... I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Personal Application...
Through studying these passages of Scripture, I felt the need to be more aware of those around me. I desire to be more aware of needs, rather than putting my head down, focused on what I am doing and what I need to get done. God is challenging me to look around, outside of my own comfortable area, look at the needs of those around us. God is challenging me to be bold, not scared. I can hind behing being scared. That gets me nowhere.

Psalm 7:17
"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

Psalm 30:4
"Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name."

2 Corinthians 6:18
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Revelation 1:5-6
"Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."

John 14:12
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

"Bread: Taken. Blessed. Broken. Given."

2008-07-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

Luke 22:14-20
"When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's Sermon:

*"Jesus looks forward eagerly."
*"He uses an ordinary vessel (vehicle) for the extraordinary."
*"We are forgetful people- we do this to remember who He is and what He has done for us."
*"We live in a world that is about tomorrow. He doesn't want us to forget how much He loves us."
*"It helps us connect with the family of God."
*"It helps us be in that place where we remember the incredible love of Jesus."
*"Gave thanks- live a life of good response, something we do for the world around us."
I John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
*"We are chosen, not to the exclusion of others but on the behalf of others."
*"Think that I have the opportunity to serve. Make them understand that they are important to God. Serve not from the position of weakness but from the power of humility. Recognize your gifts and bring them to the table."
*"Humility is not thinking less of yourself rather it is thinking of yourself less."
*"Take root in the reality that God loves you, God created you."
*"Power poured out through weakness. The most powerful words are "me too".
*"Need more anguish than anger."

John 15:16
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

Romans 11:33-36
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Matthew 11:27-29
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Ephesians 2:13
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

Personal Application:
What practices has God affirmed in my life? Taking communion has become a ritual. It has become something that you just do every once in a while. These passages of Scripture has given me the opportunity to realize and live what the Scripture says. I need to take the time to remember what God has done for me because He loves me. He eagerly desires for me to know that He loves me. Once I realize and acknowledge His love for me and remember what He has done for me, I want to share that with others. He has done the same for them.

Where in my life is God challenging me to take the next step? I feel that I need to share this with others. Remember that I am "chosen, not at the exclusion of others but on their behalf". I need to be bold on their behalf because of what God has done for me and for them. I need to remember what He did that day He died on the cross.

"Bread: Stop Playing with your Food"

2008-07-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

John 6:26-36
"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat."
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe."

Psalm 51:6-7, 9-10
"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon...

*"Sometimes we seek bread, not the giver of bread. Some want the problem fixed. Sometimes filling the appetite with what we want will lead us further from Him."
*"Daily hunger...As God says 'If I give you the bread you will never have your souls filled'. The paradoxil reality is the better we are able to fill our souls on our own, the less likely we are to turn to God."
*"God can use that frustrating thing to turn you to Him."
*"This world has everything you want and nothing you need."
*"Recognize the work done on your behalf, not the work that needs to be done. When it becomes work, it is no longer grace."
*"IF you want the joy He has to offer, follow and believe in Him."
*" 'C.S. Lewis says "Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased'."
"No matter how simple this message may sound, it is no way easy."

Life application...
WHAT WILL I DO TODAY?!?!?
This past week, I have reflected daily on this passage of scripture. It is such a simple message, but it is one that I struggle with weekly, daily, hourly. I want the quick fix. I want it to just go away. I think if I talk about the problem enough to others, they can fix it or I will feel better talking about it to them. I do have momentary times that it does feel better. It never last. Only when I surrender to Him daily, do I get my fill. So, why do I not do this daily? Why have I not learned that this is the answer? I do not know, but I am so grateful that He accepts me back with open arms. He is always there waiting and listening, never am I ever far from His grasp.

"One Prayer: Make us One"

2008-06-30T07:21:00.000-07:00

Revelation 8:3-4
"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand."

Romans 8:26-27
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

Notes taken from sermon by Craig Groeschel...

*"3 ways to bring unity...
1) One enemy- steal our unity, kill our churches
John 10:10 says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
I Peter 5:8-9 says "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
2) One Heart- unity does not mean conformity
Acts 4:32, 34 says "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. There were no needy persons among them."
John 13:34-35 says "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
3) One Purpose
Matthew 28:19 says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
*"As Christians, we have become consumer minded by using phrases such as 'church shopping'."
*"We exist for the world. We are playing for ourselves, not for Him. Not only should the world know the name of Jesus but see Jesus."

"Ghost" Sermon Series Week 5

2008-06-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Romans 8:1-6
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"

Psalm 37:23-24
"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."

Psalm 104:31-34
"May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works- he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's Sermon...

*"Martin Luther never felt good enough, worthy enough..."
*"God really does love His people."
*"Shackled by the past...we are acceptable in God's sight well before we do anything. The law could not make you righteous. The law is good to evaluate. What makes us Christian is we trust the grace of God."
*"The Spirit has come to you. Keep in step with the Spirit. Set your mind on things of the Spirit. The Spirit is with us to empower us to make the next right choice."
*3 specific times to listen/wait for the Spirit...1) When you wait (ie. in line at the store, at a red light), 2) When you open your eyes, 3) When you rest/lay your head at night."

"Ghost" Sermon Series Week 4

2008-06-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

I Corinthians 12:4-7
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

I Corinthians 12:12
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

I Corinthians 12:15-21
"If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"

I Corinthians 1:27, 31
"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Jeremiah 9:23
"This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches"

Matthew 7:9-11
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Notes taken from Jeff Kern's Sermon...

*"Dreams...to risk AND to fail."
*"All believers are shaped for ministry. Bob Buford says, 'I cannot recall one thing worth doing that I did by myself."
*"We are conditioned to find value in what we do, not the value of Christ love for us."
*"Gifts are not for us but as a means for service."
*"Instead of competing, we should be celebrating."

"One Prayer: Make us Passionate Lovers"

2008-06-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Luke 10:25-37
"On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Sermon notes from Dave Gibbons:

*"Neighbor is defined as someone not like us."
*"Love your enemies..."
*"Judas Principle...Judas was a traitor. Jesus loved Judas and included him in his inner circle."
*"It is not about your feelings but doing what is right."

2 Corinthians 6:18
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Ephesians 3:17-19
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:20-21
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

"One Prayer: Make Us Crucial"

2008-06-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Genesis 3:9-10
"But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

Matthew 14:27-31
"But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Notes from sermon given by Isaac Hunter:

*"We even put off good things. Some of us struggles with the same pattern of sin (ie. Pharoah and the frogs...tomorrow). We put off the joy put in front of us."
*"Go to places...to bring glory to God. We could fight battles on other's behalf."
*"God will not bless sin, He will redeem it."
*"Perhaps- most of us look for guarantees."
*"There are days when your best efforts seem meaningless. Be faithful, trust Him with the results. If we are faithful, God will bless, God will be faithful in return."
*"Will you use your influence to serve the people? Just because we go first doesn't mean we go alone. We go because and for those who can not. You are going toward a vision that is bigger than you are. Sometimes the vision becomes about the church rather than the kingdom. Losing focus on that starts the arguing."
*"Love, serve, give...you are most closely connected when you are following God's vision."

Ezekial 36:26
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Psalm 51:10-12, 17
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Quiet Time (05/15/08)

2008-05-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 42:5-8
This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another "

Isaiah 42:16
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. "

Isaiah 43:2-3a
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God."

Isaiah 43:4-7
"Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

Isaiah 43:18-19
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:24b-25
"But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

Notes:
God loves me. I am created for His glory. Do not dwell on the past. He forgives, even though my sins are great in number and they are definitely recurring. I keep doing the same things over and over again. Yet, He still forgives me. He is doing a new thing in my life. Every day is new. The path is unknown, but I can rely on Him that He will lead me on those unfamiliar paths, He will turn darkness into light, and He will make the rough places smooth. May all that God does in my life be for His eternal glory!!

Community

2008-05-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 4:3-4
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—"

I Corinthians 12:12
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."

Colossions 3:8-17
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Hebrews 6:1
"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,"

Ephesians 4:11-13
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Psalm 103 (Human Frailty)

Notes taken from Margi McCombs talk on Principles of Community...

"Unity does not mean conformity"

"Anything we have learned, we have learned from pain."

"If there are 2 or more, that is community"

"We get uniformity mixed up with community."

"Our identity should be Jesus is Lord."

"Our children are growing up where the idea of entertainment has become a lifestyle."

"Our sin nature will die when we are filled with the Holy Spirit."

"We are afraid of being exposed."

"We all feel unqualified."

"We have an illusion of being in control."

"Doubt leads to distance which leads to division which turns into isolation. Satan loves this!"

"Ghost" Sermon Series Week 3

2008-05-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5:14-21
"for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's sermon:

"We should be continually searching and reaching out for the Spirit."

"Psalm 119 speaks of a person who takes delight and loves the law of the Lord. Sometimes, we are afraid to give these over to God because we think, 'What if God disappoints us?'."

"Begin to be satisified with sufferings to God's glory."

"God is the most glorified when we are satisfied in Him."

"Find pleasure in Him, not what He gives us. God's glory is found in His pleasure."

"Keep being filled with the Holy Spirit. Continue to fill yourself up with the Holy Spirit. You can't do what God has called you to do without being filled up."

"How to be filled up- just ASK. In the Psalms, people expressed their experiences with God. By song, you can fill yourself with thoughts of Him. Give thanks to God for everything."

"If you trust Jesus, He does not disappoint."

Romans 7:19
"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

2 Corinthians 12:9
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Deuteronomy 31:8
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Romans 15:13
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Application:
Dear God, I pray that I would fill up everyday with Your Holy Spirit. I want to look and love more like You, Jesus. I praise You God that You will never disappoint me. You are always with me.

"Ghost" Sermon Series Week 2

2008-05-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Numbers 11:15b-17
"If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin."
The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone."

Numbers 11:24-29
"So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.
However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."
Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"
But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!"

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter:

"Snow White idea of 'Someday my Prince will Come'."

"The Holy Spirit- receive Him and He will receive us."

"The Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity to be filled with His power without the pride."

Numbers 12:3
"(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)"

Acts 7:22
"Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action."

"The hardest person you will ever lead is yourself."

"God will deal with people."

One of the biggest mistakes we make is to "compare what God gives you compared with what God gives others, how gifting is distributed is not up to us. We need to trust the One who is in the driver's seat."

"What is it you have done with your gifts?"

John 13:3
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;"

Application:

I often compare myself to others. When I do this, I believe the lies that Satan would love for me to believe. I believe that I am not good enough compared to _____. Instead of focusing on what I do not have, I need to focus on what God has given me. Everything is under His power. It is all for His glory, not mine.

"New: Freely Subject"

2008-05-10T13:32:00.001-07:00

Romans 14:7-15
"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died."

Notes taken from Isaac Hunter's Sermon:

"Vision, Intention, and Method"

"What happens in our life does not happen in isolation, rather in relationships."

"Your job is not to be their Messiah"

"Remember, you are not the other person's Holy Spirit."

"Instead, meet them where they are."

"Primary job is to love one another."

"The only thing that changes a human heart is GRACE."

"Ghost" Sermon Series

2008-05-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Genesis 1:2
"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

2 Corinthians 3:18
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Job 11:7-8
"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know?"

*"It is personal, not the same for everyone."

John 3:8
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

*"God is God and we are not."

*"You need friends who will help you with the sins you love, justify, etc."

*"The Holy Spirit will prompt, lead, and guide you, not in opposition to Scripture."

*"There is a power, not explainable any other way."

*"The Spirit is poised for action even when things are in utter chaos."

*"God needs nothing to create ________ in your life. God created the world from nothing."

Genesis 2:7
"the LORD God formed the man The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah) it is also the name Adam. from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

Genesis 1:26
"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

*"Construction work before production work. He is the Creator of Life, Sustainer of Life. He sustains people with the Breath of His Word."

*"He loves us even when we do nothing right, He loves us right now."

Application:

God loves me where I am right now. . No matter what I have done wrong, God sees what I can be. God created the entire universe out of nothing. He can create something out of me. By studying the Scripture, I can let the Spirit guide and lead me everyday. He loves me right now, not when I have done everything right.

*Notes in italics are quotes from Isaac Hunter's sermon, "Ghost".

To God Be the Glory

2008-04-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

My thoughts are constantly thinking of the pastor and his family of my sister and parent's church. Their daughter, Caitlin, was in a car accident a week ago. She still has not woken up since the accident. Her body is continually improving and healing as she is resting now. When I first heard this, you often wonder, "why won't she just wake up?". So many people right now are rallying for this precious girl. They are lifting her up in prayer. Churches, once separated by the walls and their denominations, are uniting together for one common good. This is what God has always wanted, unity. When Christ prayed for us in John 17:20-24. He asked 3 times for unity among the believers. It says...
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."

It is all for God's glory. As I was reading my quiet time today, I came across Psalm 145:8-12 which says, " The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom."

God loves Caitlin and her family more than I will ever understand or know. He has His loving arms wrapped around her. Believers are banding together, unified, right now to lift this precious girl up to God. No matter what happens, God's glory will be revealed. His love, mercy, and compassion will become clear. Thank You God for loving us more than we will ever realize.

"New: Finally Beginning"

2008-03-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

John 20:1-18
"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her."

Notes from Pastor Isaac Hunter:
*"During this time in Scripture all were skeptical, all had lost hope. All thought this was a lost cause."
* "Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' disciples, she worked in ministry with Him as seen in Luke 8:1-3" which says..."After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."
*"When hope is lost/died, you are just marking time. If you let your hope die, you will miss the adventure that God has for you."
*"When she sees Jesus, she goes back to Him and clings to Him, since this is all she has known. God wants us to embrace what God has for you next, not hold onto what was."
*"Sometimes you wonder if God is really with you. He is with you every step of the way."
*"God can, God will, and God is making all things new."
*Hope-redeem every scar you bear. Every wound means something in the redemption. The pain will be redeemed."
*"Hold onto not what has been but what is coming!!!

Application:
*This service was very powerful. It reminded me of the power of Hope. I have a hope and a future with my Savior. He is calling my name. He is my best possible resource that I can call on when things seem hopeless all around me. Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
*John 1:14 says "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
*John 11:25-26 says, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Dear God, Thank You for the hope that You have given us. My hope rest in You God. As it says in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." No matter what mistakes I have made, You can redeem me Lord. No matter what wounds I carry, there is redemption through you God! Help me to not cling to what could have been or has been. Help me to cling to what You have for me. Help me not to embrace what once was, but what God has for me next. Thank You God! Amen.

"The Crucifixion, the Death, and the Burial of Jesus" NIV

2008-03-23T12:12:00.001-07:00

John 19:17-42
"So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:sc JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."
Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Application:
*Crucifixion- The passage that stood out to me was when Pilate wrote the sign that read: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". Pilate himself, had this posted, no matter what the Jews said, he kept this sign up. Jesus also was looking at His mother, Mary. He told John to take care of her as his own mother. The fulfillment of scripture in this part was when they cast lots for Jesus clothes.
*Death- Fulfillment of Scripture- 1. Jesus drank vineager. 2. None of the bones on Jesus were broken. 3. They pierced Him on the side.
*Burial- His body was prepared as was custom for Jewish burials.

"Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified" NIV

2008-03-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

John 19:1-16
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."
The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."
When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Application:
*This is where our precious Jesus is physically abused for being the King of the Jews. He was beaten, assaulted, verbally abused, had a crown of thorns placed upon His head. Pilate has a fear of being wrong, of condemning the wrong man, but because of the public pressure, he caved and turned Jesus over to be crucified.

"Jesus Before Pilate" NIV

2008-03-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

John 18:28-40

"Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."
Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"
They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion."

Application:
*Since the Jews could not execute them, they sent Jesus to Pilate to do the executing. He could find no reason to do this, but He offered to release Him. They insisted that the Romans release Barabbas instead.

"Peter Denies Jesus" NIV

2008-03-23T11:37:00.000-07:00

John 18:15-18;25-27
"Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."
It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself."
As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not."
One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow."

Application:
*Oh passionate Peter, how I can so relate to you. You first react by cutting off a soldier's ear in defense of Jesus. Next, Peter is denying Him. Was he scared? He must have feared for his own life, as he is surrounded by all the officials.

Dear God, Peter is one of those guys I can relate to. He is a fearful, yet passionate person. He loves and defends those he loves, but he also can turn on a dime, based upon fears and what others must think. Help me God, not to be fearful. Help me be bold for Your sake God and for Your glory. I love You God!

"Jesus Arrested" NIV

2008-03-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

John 18:1-14;19-23

"When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"
"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.
"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."
When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.
"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest."

Application:
*The questioning begins. All those chief priests are now trying to find reason for the "One" to die. This high priest, questioning Him, was the guy who said that "it was good for one man to die for the good of many."

John 17

2008-03-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

John 17

Jesus Prays for Himself

"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Application:
*All the glory belongs to God.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Application:
*Jesus ask for protection for the disciples. He clearly has a closeness with them. He wants them to be set apart for holiness.
*Even though the all knowing God knows all this that Jesus says, Jesus still says it. It makes it all to clear, how we are to bring all of our request to Him. He wants that relationship with us.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Application:
*Jesus desires for them to be one in heart and mind, just as God and Jesus are one. With this oneness, the believers can make the godless world evidence that God loves them.
*Jesus' desire is that ALL will experience God's love.

"Joy Like a River Overflowing" Message

2008-03-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

John 16:17-33
"That stirred up a hornet's nest of questions among the disciples: "What's he talking about: 'In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? And, 'Because I'm on my way to the Father'? What is this 'day or so'? We don't know what he's talking about."
Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions.
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."
His disciples said, "Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God."
Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

Application:
*The disciplesbelieve. Jesus reassures them that even though they will experience pain and grief, through that there will be much Joy.
*They will experience pain, trials, troubles, but they can rest assured that they can live with the peace that the God in heaven that sent Jesus loves them.
*"But take heart! I've conquered the world."

"The Friend Will Come" NIV

2008-03-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

John 16:5-16

"I didn't tell you this earlier because I was with you every day. But now I am on my way to the One who sent me. Not one of you has asked, 'Where are you going?' Instead, the longer I've talked, the sadder you've become. So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to you.
"When he comes, he'll expose the error of the godless world's view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He'll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.
"I still have many things to tell you, but you can't handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I've said, 'He takes from me and delivers to you.'
"In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me."

Application:

* God is in control. The "Spirit of Truth" will guide the disciples. This counselor will help guide them in truth. This counselor will not speak on his own, but will tell what God tells him to say.
* I love the part where God says I have so much more to tell you but you can not handle it all at this time. God knows and gives us what we need to know at the moment. He knows what we need to hear. He knows what we can handle. He will only give us what we can handle. To get this knowledge, all we need to do is ask.

"Hated by the World" NIV

2008-03-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

John 15:18-27;16:1-4
"If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you.
"When that happens, remember this: Servants don't get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them.
"They are going to do all these things to you because of the way they treated me, because they don't know the One who sent me. If I hadn't come and told them all this in plain language, it wouldn't be so bad. As it is, they have no excuse. Hate me, hate my Father—it's all the same. If I hadn't done what I have done among them, works no one has ever done, they wouldn't be to blame. But they saw the God-signs and hated anyway, both me and my Father. Interesting—they have verified the truth of their own Scriptures where it is written, 'They hated me for no good reason.'
"When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start."
John 16:1-4
"I've told you these things to prepare you for rough times ahead. They are going to throw you out of the meeting places. There will even come a time when anyone who kills you will think he's doing God a favor. They will do these things because they never really understood the Father. I've told you these things so that when the time comes and they start in on you, you'll be well-warned and ready for them. "

Application:
*Choosing to love God was not the easy route to choose for the disciples. They would be beaten and abused for their belief, just as Jesus was beaten, abused, and killed. Others will do this to them because they do not know the One True God.
*If you hate Jesus, You hate the Father.
*They saw the signs that were prophesied in Scripture, and they still chose not to believe. Scriputre verified what Jesus had done, but they hated Him for no good reason. Were they jealous? Were they worried about losing something of their own that they valued more than the Truth? Why would they choose to hate? Was power that important to them?
*If we are feeling abandoned, abused, betrayed, neglected, etc., it does not affect the value that we areworth. We are a treasure to You God. We matter to You.

Precious God, please help me to know that I do not have to please anyone except You dear Jesus. You love me, just as I am. I am Your treasure. It does not matter what anyone else says or thinks of me. Please help me to remember that, when I worry to much about what others think.

"The Vine and the Branches" NIV

2008-03-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

John 15:1-17
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other."

Application:
* This has always been one of my favorite parts of Scripture, ever since I was little. As I read it now, I am a little older, been through more hardships, been through really beautiful moments. It means even more and seems even more special to me. It describes the relationship we can have with God, if we desire. It also describes the relationship He desires to have with us, His beautiful and wonderful creation (Psalm 139:14).
* Apart from God, we can do nothing, we can wither away and die. With God, all things are possible.
*When we remain in His love, we have joy. God does not promise us happiness, but He does ensure us joy. If we obey His commandments, we remain in His love. If we love God, we want to obey His commandments, because He knows what is best for us. It also keeps us within His safe arms.
*"No love is greater than he who would lay down his life for a friend." No love is greater than the Jesus who would lay down His life for everyone. No love is greater than the Father, who would allow "His one and Only Son" to die on the cross for the sake of ALL.
*This fruit that was made and pruned and cared for and cultivated in these disciples will last forever.
* Love each other. Love when it is hard. Love when it is easy. Love when it hurts. Love when it is necessary. Love when others do not expect it. Love...love...love!!!

Thank You God for your perfect love! Thank You God for loving us. Thank You for laying down Your life for me. I want to be cultivated, I want to be pruned. I want to be forever in Your grasp. Please help me love others. It is easy to say and hard to do. I want to love others as You have loved me.

"Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit" NIV

2008-03-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

John 14:15-31
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave.

Application:
* Jesus would soon leave this world to be with His Father. The Holy Spirit would now live in those who love and obey God's commandments.
* "I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." PRAISE GOD! He does not give as the world gives. He gives even more than what the world gives. He gives not out of selfish ambition, but rather, He gives out of His perfect love for us.
*"Peace I leave with you." Jesus wants them to know that there will be a peace. This is the peace that passes all understanding. If we know Jesus, we know the Father, therefore the Holy Spirit lives within us. With this, we have that peace.

Dear God, Thank you for the peace that passes all understanding, that peace that calms us even when we are going through the unknown, that peace that comes, when we no longer feel in control of what is going on around us or to us. I love You God and I thank You that the Holy Spirit is always present with me.

"Jesus the Way to the Father" NIV

2008-03-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

John 14:5-14
"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Application:
*If we know and accept Jesus, we know and accept God.
*God the Father is doing the work in Jesus, because the Father lives in Him.
*Ask God for anything.
* All the things that Jesus did were to bring glory to God the Father.

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for bringing Jesus to earth. Thank You for taking all of the bad things we do and taking the punishment for each one of them. No sacrifice is greater than the one that You made that fateful day. Please God, remind me of this when I am about to sin. Your grace is sufficient for me and Your grace is greater than all our sin.

"What If...It's Hard to Accept"

2008-03-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

John 1:9-18
"The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."

Notes from Pastor Isaac's Sermon...

*"Once we accept God's grace, it is for eternity, not just for today/tomorrow, not for us to do on our own"
*"Sin mars the image of God in us. Every time we sin, sin mars our character- the gap widens without grace. It is a universal reality that we all experience."

*"Why don't we accept this grace?...
1. We like being lost for a little longer...outside grace, the prodigal went down to rock bottom. He didn't understand the grace his father had to offer. If you think the Father doesn't see you, He does. There is grace-come home now.
2. It is hard/difficult to receive from Him-difference from being a taker/than a receiver. Believers are bad at this. They believe that they should have taken care of this by now. Mercies are new every morning.
3. We don't believe it. How could He really love me? (see John 1:12). The same crowd that cheered Jesus as their king would be the same crowd that would yell to crucify Him. People are fickle."

* "The cross is a visual reminder of the depth of His love."

Application..

This particular Sunday was a rough one for me. I was in desparate need of God's mercies. Yet again, here I was sinning, on a Sunday none the less, on the way to church. It was only 8:30 a.m. and I had lost it. My kids and my husband suffered the loss of my temper. This service hit me hard. I feel like I should have this fixed by now. I have been losing my temper since I was 5 (at least that is what my mom says). This service made me aware how much I need God's mercies every day. As I took communion, this is the prayer I wrote...
"Dear God, forgive me for my unkindness today towards my husband, my children. I praise You God for Your mercies that are new every day. Please make me new in You today. I keep messing up, but You are always there every day to pick me up and put me on track. Thank You for seeing me as I can be. I love You! Amen."

Grace that is Greater than All Our Sin

"Jesus Comforts His Disciples" NIV

2008-03-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

John 14:1-4

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Application:

The disciples must be feeling pretty defeated at this moment. One of them would betray this Man they had followed for so long, another would deny Him. Jesus says "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God". Christ would return to them again to return them to have them live with Him in eternity.

Many rooms...Heaven and the permanent dwelling He has created is not only for a select few. It is for those who choose to believe in God. God desires that ALL believe, but ONLY those who put their faith in the One True God, will live with Him forever.

Dear God, how my heart has been very troubled this past week. My very dear friend was in the hospital, my children have been very sick, my husband is not feeling completely well. I feel completely overwhelmed, so overwhelmed that I have felt as if I could not catch my breath. It revealed to me, how much I need You God. I need to put my complete trust in You. You are there waiting for me to take complete rest in You. These situations are completely out of my control. Your Word says in Psalm 62:5-8, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

"Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial" NIV

2008-03-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

John 13:31-38
"When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"

Application...
Now there would be another betrayal, this was done by the same man that who passionately wanted to have Jesus wash His whole body, not just his feet. Jesus tells them to love one another, so others would see Christ love in them. Peter's passion gets the best of him. He wants to go with Jesus, saying he would lay down his life for Him, when instead Jesus says, you will deny Me, not one, not two, but three times.

Dear God, I can see myself so much in Peter. There are times, when I am so passionate about You, that I could just burst. There are other times, depending upon the situation, that I just seem indifferent to You and Your sacrifice. Please God, let me be bold, be strong. When I am weak, reveal Yourself to me. Let me never forget the ultimate sacrifice You made for me and everyone I see everyday.

"Jesus Predicst His Betrayal" NIV

2008-03-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

John 13:18-30
"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'
"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night."

Application:
This betrayal was going to happen, to "fulfill" the Scriptures. Christs' concern was for the disciples, not for Himself. Even though Jesus knew of this betrayal before it happened, He was deeply bothered by it, that it was a close person to Him. None of the disciples knew who it could be. Jesus broke the bread and gave it to his betrayer. As soon as Judas took the bread, the devil went in Him. As Jesus said, "What you are about to do, do quickly." Jesus was still in control of how He would die, the accusers/opponents were not in control of that, even though it seemed that way. "

Dear God, please make me aware of my denials of You. There are times when my behavior denies You. Thank you God for sending Your son to die for me and my sins. I love You God.

"Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet" NIV

2008-03-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

John 13:1-17

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Application:

V. 5 Jesus washed their feet, this was a task usually performed by a servant. It was also a lesson in humility. Luke 22:27 says "For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."

V. 8-11 Peter objects to this. Peter wanted his whole body washed. Jesus did not need to do this because he did not need to be entirely clean again.

V. 12-16 Just as Jesus washed the disciple's feet, as believers, we should be willing to do menial task for another.

My prayer is that I would Your humble servant. Please God, make me aware of opportunities to make myself a servant to others. Please help me not to avoid situations. Please make me aware of those around me, including those in my home, in my friendship circles, even strangers. Please God, make me to be a reflection of Your love and Your sacrifice You made for each one of us. I love You God!

"The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief" NIV

2008-03-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

John 12:37-50
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them." Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."

Application:
*V. 37-43 Many who saw the miracles and signs continued not believing Him. They did so out of fear of men (the Pharisees). They cared more about the praise of men than the praise from God.

*V. 44-46 When we believe in Jesus, we also believe in the One who sent Him, our God in heaven.

*V. 47-50 Jesus' purpose was not to judge the world as it says in John 3:17 which says "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Thank you God for bringing salvation to the world. Without this perfect sacrifice You sent I would be completely lost. With you as my Savior, I am completely secure in Your perfect love. I know that You only want what is best for me, even if I cannot see that. Please make me aware when I do things only for the approval of men and not for your glory. I desire to love you God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my might.

Jesus Predicts His Death

2008-03-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

John 12:20-36
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Application:
*V.24 This kernel of corn dieing for the sake of a new plant symbolizes life through death. This death must happen so that there is new life.

*V. 25 To hate your life to me means to not concentrate on what we have on earth...to know that what is on earth (our successes) are only temporary and will not matter for eternity.

*V. 27 Compare this to 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus was the only one who could make this sacrfice, because of being morally perfect. Jesus made it possible for us to be reconciled to God.

*V. 28 Instead of asking God for deliverance, He wanted God's glory

*V. 31 This prince is Satan, who will consider the cross would appear to be his winning moment, however it will be his ultimate defeat.

*v. 32 "All men..." The sacrifice made at the cross would be for everyone.

God made the ultimate sacrifice at the cross, his One and only Son. Christ died for all of God's creation. This cross allows ALL access to the God of this universe.

My prayer today is that I would look at everyone I come into contact with as creations of God. There is not one person that I will make eye contact with that God does not love so very much. There is not one person on this earth that you did not die for. You died for ALL PEOPLE. Please God, help me to see everyone as you see them. Give me the compassion and love you have for them. I love you God and I thank you for loving me.

"What If You Don't Die Tomorrow"

2008-03-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Mark 4:35
"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."

Mark 5:1-4, 18-20
The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man
"They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him."
"As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed."

Mark 6:53-56
"When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed."

Points made by Pastor Isaac Hunter...
*Mark 4:35 "the nation that they crossed over to was Decapolis which was where the settlers from the 7 nations of Canaan resided. Acts 13:19 says "he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance." It was also a place that is a symbol of Roman power. The pig in this nation was highly valued and exalted in this country."

*Once Jesus healed the demon possessed man, he wanted to go with Jesus. Jesus told him he could not, but instead, he should go tell people in his city what had happened. "The man was begging which also mean 'exasperated'. He did not want to go back to a hopeless situation. This man had a deep connection, he must have felt angste/heartache that Jesus said 'no'. He saw himself going back to a hopeless situation. Jesus knew that there was a way in which this guy could reach these people in a way that no one else could. The hope was now in him. Jesus did not come to take him with, but to send him back so that others could see the hope that lives in Him."

*"Remain faithful in whatever situation you are in. "

*"When we are speaking/preaching our story, the 'audience' is not there for our edification, rather we are out there to serve them."

*"Wherever you are, whenever you are reminded of who you were (past mistakes, past hurts, etc.), God looks at you with our Father's eyes who sees who we CAN be. The God of this universe is crazy about you. His grace extends to eternity and new mercies are there every day."

Life Application:
No matter what things I have done in my past, no matter what mistakes I have made God's mercy and grace are bigger than what I have done. He does not see me as the mistakes I have made, He sees me for what I can be. If the situation, that God sends me in or that I am experiencing seems hopeless, God wants me to look and be the hope in the situation for Him.

Romans 12:1-2
(NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
(Message Version) "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

A Hymn that we sang it church today, really sums it all up...
"Take My Life and Let it Be"

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee;

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee.

The Triumphal Entry

2008-03-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

John 12:12-19

The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

Application:

OOOHHH!!!! This must have angered the chief priests and pharisees. This man, Jesus, was getting a huge following. Not only were they following Him and hanging upon every word that He spoke, now they were treating Him as King. As was stated in John 12:10 and John 11:50, the pharisees were willing to kill for such a thing as this. They felt their power was going away fast as seen in v. 19 when they said, "Look how the whole world has gone after him."

How beautiful are the words that are spoken for this King v. 13..."Hosanna! , Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!"

My prayer is that I would celebrate every day as one day closer to meeting the King. Not only is He my King, He is my Creator. He created me to to love, adore, and serve Him.

Jesus Annointed at Bethany

2008-03-04T15:12:00.000-08:00

John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

Application...

The piece of this passage that really sticks out to me is when Jesus said, "Leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Mary shows her passion and her heart for Jesus by pouring this expensive perfume at Jesus' feet. What others saw as a "waste", God saw as a sweet sacrifice. It also showed the faith she had for the Savior that had come for her. She also showed humility, by washing Jesus feet with her hair. She was at her Savior's feet with her hair down (a respectable woman did not show her hair down in public), not caring at all what others around him were thinking and saying. She chose to be a servant.

This further angered those in the room, the chief priests (John 12:10). Their fear was shown in John 11:50 where it says "You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation should perish." They now were after Lazarus, wanting to kill him, because when Lazarus was risen from the dead, many were now putting their faith in this Jesus. How much power did they have now? Instead of believing in the God who loved them so much and was their creator, they feared their loss of power, maybe. I wonder why they despised Jesus so, that they were willing to kill another innocent person for their own agenda.

My prayer is that I would be like Mary. I want to be a servant for Jesus. I desire to give him my best, not just the leftovers. I want a relationship with Him that I do not care what others think of me. Please, God, make me aware when I am like the chief priests...when I am only after my own selfish gains. Thank you for loving me.

"What If...It's Better Than What You Want"

2008-03-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

John 14:6
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Mark 4:1-9
"Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (see Isaiah 6:9-10)

John 10:10
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Mark 4:21
"He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?"

Notes taken from Pastor Isaac Hunter:

"Refusal to believe something does not change the reality."

"Do you want to know what God looks like- look at Jesus."

"If the soil of your heart is rocky, you will do what makes you happy."

"Get your body in the right place-near Jesus."

Isaiah 6:9-10
"He said, "Go and tell this people: 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."

What If...You Die Tomorrow?

2008-03-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Matthew 10:28-31
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

John 14:1-7
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."

Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
"Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The Parable of the Lost Son
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

*Points Made By Pastor Isaac Hunter:

"There is nothing else on earth that can ultimately satisfy your soul."

"The God of the universe is crazy about you."

"Admit you are wrong and turn around."

Life Application:

The story of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son are three different stories with 3 common threads which are as follows:

1. Something of value is missing
2. There is a search
3. There is a party/Celebration (the joy is seen in v. 7, v. 10, and v. 32)

God does not want us to fix ourselves and come to Him. He wants us to come as we are, broken, battered, betrayed, abandoned, etc. He can satisfy what we need. He can fill us with the love we need and desire. He will "satisfy our soul".

Revelation 19:1
""Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God."