As we enter Mark chapter 2, we find the story of the paralytic and his friends who go to great lengths to get him to Jesus! Pastor Steve applied this story with a discussion of spiritual diligence and encouragement to press on in our pursuit of His presence and power.
Finishing the fast-paced first chapter of Mark, we find the story of a leper whom Jesus heals completely, possibly requiring for the first time ever the ritual of Leviticus 14 to be performed by the priests! Pastor Steve applies the truths of this story as well as looking at the pictures of Christ found in the law and rituals regarding skin diseases from Leviticus.
Pastor Steve covers a 24-hour period filled with intense ministry for Jesus and the disciples in Mark 1 verses 21 through 39.
Who is the world following? What does it mean to "follow Jesus"? In this message, Pastor Steve takes us through Mark's brief overview of the selection of Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John as his first disciples, adding to the story from the account in Luke 5. We are challenged to think about what it means to "leave all and follow Him".
Mark continues his fast pace in chapter 1 with only two verses covering the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness--Pastor Steve takes a quick detour to Luke 4 to cover this important section in more detail and returns to Mark to discuss the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
This week we start the fast-paced "live-action" gospel of Mark, specifically focusing in on the life and ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner and messenger of the messiah, Jesus Christ.
Genesis 5 is *just* a dry, boring genealogy of names right? Well, you might be in for a surprise as Pastor Steve encourages us to consider that God rewards diligent study of His word, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the pages from Genesis to Revelation!
Our entire Christian faith rests on the truth and validity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthians on this point in his first letter, and made it clear that our faith is in vain if there is no resurrection from the dead. Praise God that there is resurrection by God's power, and that Jesus is risen!
Finishing up the rest of Genesis chapter 4, we see the curse against Cain and the beginnings of a culture and civilization created apart from God. However, there is hope as towards the end of the chapter there are those who begin to call on the name of the Lord.
Entering Genesis chapter 4 we have the birth of two children to Adam & Eve: Cain and Abel. The story of their sacrifices and "sibling rivalry" brings us to the first murder recorded in the Bible.
As Pastor Steve closed out Genesis chapter 3, we finished the discussion of the curse on Adam and the ground, and looked at both the effect of sin, as well as the hope of God's plan of salvation, already pictured in God's grace and mercy in making them a real "covering" (via the death of an animal) and in banishing them from the garden (so that there is the hope of eternal bodies rather than a perpetual life given to these now-corrupted bodies).
After Adam and Eve's choice to sin by eating the forbidden fruit, they are confronted by God in the garden. Pastor Steve covers the initial part of "the curse", but we note that there is even glimmers of hope in this dark time as the first prophecy of the Bible is given regarding the Messiah crushing Satan's head.
As we enter Genesis chapter 3, we come to one of the most foundational narratives in the Bible--the fall of mankind into sin through the deception of Satan, the serpent, and the choice of Adam and Eve to listen to their own reasoning versus God's commands.
For the rest of chapter two, we get a "zoomed in" view of day six of creation, as God relays through Moses the specific details of the creation of Adam and then Eve, whom God created "out of Adam". Pastor Steve brought out insights on God's design in creating a "strength" suitable and comparable to Adam, and creating them equally in God's image.
Pastor Steve finishes the days of creation with God's culminating work--in creating male and female in His image, and then resting on the 7th day.
Pastor Warren continues our study through the days of creation with days 5 and the first part of day 6.
One of our associate pastors, Warren McIvor, continues our new study in the book of Genesis looking at day 4: the sun, moon, and stars.
Continuing our new study in Genesis, Pastor Steve took us through the amazing truths of the first three days of creation and linked them with what scientists are finding out about our universe. Our faith is built up as we simply accept "In the beginning, God" and see that science is falling in line with these same truths as they seek to find the beginning of the universe apart from God.
As we start our study in the book of Genesis, Pastor Steve focused on the choice between believing the simple but profound "In the beginning, God" and the other theories of origins that exist. While we only covered two verses in this message, it was a great introduction into the topic of origins and a survey of what man has created to believe to try and take God out of the "beginning".
In this third installment of our brief series titled "Stop Loafing and Start Reading", one of our elders, Warren McIvor, teaches a practical message about digging into God's Word using Psalm 1 and Proverbs 2 as a framework for discussing reasons why we don't and why we should love God's Word!
The first installment in our brief series "Stop Loafing and Start Reading" looks at a section of Psalm 119 and kicks off the topic of treasuring God's Word. You can watch the video referenced during the message at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WvlHIEwcBg
Our Christmas Eve Service for 2014--Pastor Steve had us look at Philippians 2, where we see the humility of Jesus in the incarnation. From the splendor of heaven and all His glory to the humble beginnings in a manger.
The Gift of Yes: Joseph
As we enter the Christmas season, we're looking at the lives of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a series called "The Gift of Yes." Mary had the choice to respond to the invitation to be part of God's plan--at an inconvenient time and in an inconvenient way (possibly costing her her life). She responded with "let it be to me according to your word", and our response when God calls should be the same--this is the gift of saying "yes" to the right things!
The Christmas season can be a time of stress, anxiety, worry and everything that doesn't sound like "peace"! Pastor Steve took us through Philippians 4, a letter Paul wrote from prison no less, as he tells us to rejoice always and give everything to God in prayer as an antidote to the stress and anxiety that seeks to overtake us.
Finishing up our brief study through the epistle of 2 Peter, we finish up chapter 3 and the continuing reminder of what it means that judgement is coming, and how it should affect how we live now. Peter ends with a reminder to continuing growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Starting 2 Peter chapter 3 in our study of this short letter from the apostle Peter--he leaves the topic of false teachers specifically to remind them of the truth of God's future judgement. It is in these first few verses we get our theme for the book of "stirring them up" by way of reminder, and we need to be stirred up to remember what is coming to give us focus for what we need to be doing now!
Pastor Steve finishes up 2 Peter chapter 2 with the continuing description of the false teachers and their methods of seducing unstable and ungrounded young believers by attracting them with the desires and passions of the flesh. This was the very debauchery they had escaped from the world, and they were being enticed back into their old patterns, just as we can be enticed by the world and our old nature.
Pastor Steve covers the next section of 2 Peter chapter 2 as Peter continues describing the depravity of the false teachers that were seeking to draw and entice believers away from the faith.
Beginning in chapter 2 of 2 Peter, Peter begins to warn his readers of false teachers and their destructive doctrines.
