Blog Archives

"WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

12/27/2015

Matthew 2:1-11

Lessons we learn from the wise men
1. It is never too late to seek the Lord.

Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him.

2. You do not have to sacrifice your intellect to seek the Lord. (I Corinthians 1:18, Romans 1:21-25, Colossians 2:2)
Intellectualism, without faith, creates things to worship that are not God.
The Bible is a treasured mystery that can take your whole life to unravel.

3. If we seek the Lord, then God will direct our paths. (2:9)

He can altar circumstances and make it evident the way we should go.

4. When we seek the Lord, there is always someone lying in wait for us, trying to deceive us.

Deception is exposed when you know the Word of God.

5. When they worshiped the the new King, they gave Him gifts.

Our Christian lives cannot be full if we do not give to Jesus.

"MAKING THE MOST OF CHRISTMAS"

12/20/2015

Luke 2:15-20

1. Calculation (vs. 15)
The Lord has been transforming lives for 2,000 years and continues to do so today.
Jeremiah 29:13
2. Contemplation (vs. 17)
Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The story of the manger doesn't mean a lot unless it is linked to prophecy.

3. Celebration (vs. 20)
The best way to celebrate Christmas is with our lips and with our lives.

4. Circulation (vs. 17)
The shepherds lived in a world plagued by confusion because people had no direction, controversy
because there had been no revelation, conflict because there seemed to be no hope.

Jesus is the answer to our confusion, controversy and conflict.
Come home spiritually, even if you can't come home physically.

"HABITS OF HYPOCRISY"

12/13/2015

Matthew 23:25-28

1. Making salvation as complicated as possible (13)
Hypocrites leverage people into religion and out of that personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. Using people in the name of God. (15)

Hypocrites hurt people, they don't help them.

3. Squirming out of promises you don't want to keep (16-22)

It doesn't matter how good your intentions are if you can't follow through and keep your word.

4. Making a big deal of little things and ignoring things of critical importance. (23-24)
It's not the amount you put in, it's the condition of your heart as you put it in.

5. Exhibiting laziness in all matters of the heart. (25-26)
Your obsession with how things look on the outside is going to come back to bite you!

6. Looking good to others, no matter what the cost. (27-28)
Jesus points out the irony of sprucing up the outer appearance of your life, when all the while, inside your heart, there is wickedness and malice and hatred.

7. Pretending to be better than others, no matter what the evidence. (29-36)
Failing to identify your actions as sin and trying to pretend you are something you are not is indeed hypocrisy.

"AARON'S ROD"

12/6/2015

Numbers 17:1-8

The Jews in the wilderness were like us as we also are:
1. Wandering in a place that is not our home.
2. Learning to obey and apply God's commandments.
3. Preparing for and entrance into a promised place.

Aaron's rod marked the beginning of the Priesthood.
The Ark of the Covenant represented the Presence of God.

Jesus is the “rod”
1. Isaiah- “rod from the stem of Jesse”
2. Zechariah – the “Branch” - the offshoot of David
3. priest- His name superseded the name of Levi
I Timothy 2:5 - “one Mediator between God and man”
4. resurrection- the budded branch- Jesus is alive!!

Other uses of “the rod” fulfilled by Christ
1. chastisement- Jesus was punished for our sin.
2. Shepherd’s staff_- Jesus is the Good Shepherd
3. authority- the kings' scepter
4. reminder of sin and need for His love and salvation.