"For bodily exercise profiteth little but godliness is profitable unto all things" ( 1 Tim. 4:8 ). As sheep, we can often grow faint and weary in well-doing. If you want to see gains in your personal walk with Christ, have him anoint thine eyes to see things from his perspective ( Mt. 9:36 )
The rapture is perhaps one of the most misconstrued doctrines in all the Bible. In order to properly discern what time it is (and consequently which rapture happens at what time), we need to rightly divide the word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15 ).
The next character trait is a quality that is so close to God’s heart that it has been attacked since before the foundation of the world ( Isa. 14:12-14; Gen. 1:26-27; Gen. 3:1-5 ). It has always been the plan of God to have a people that would be conformed to his image; to be in his likeness. And God has promised to finish what he starts ( Phil. 1:6; Heb. 12:2).
Revelation 3:14-22- The Laodicean Church Period (1900AD - Present). Tonight, we close out Church History as well as the first part of our study of Revelation. Can we live as Philadelphians in Laodicea? A resounding "YES"!!! But it'll cost you...
Today we take a look at how to practically handle trials patiently from someone in scripture who is seen as an authority on the matter. We also take a look at how the disciples react when faced with a stormy trial (spoiler alert: they go nowhere fast).
Revelation 3:14-22- The Laodicean Church Period (1900AD - Present). Everyone loves a good underdog tale...a Cinderella story that's seemingly too good to be true. Has there ever been a greater underdog than the Church? By all accounts, she shouldn't have made it past the third century. After the great come-from-behind victory she had during Philadelphia, let's see how the story of the church ends prior to the rapture (Revelation 4:1)
2 Peter 1 takes a turn in qualities we are to "add to our faith". Whereas virtue, knowledge, and temperance are all actions we proactively take, this next one must be reactive. Tune in for "the impossible" (Matthew 19:26)
Revelation 3:7-13 - The Philadelphia Church Period (1500AD - 1900AD). Let there be light...the Bible is back in the hands of the common man (Ps. 119:130; Mk. 12:37)! We come to another watershed moment in church history where God took the gospel to the ends of the earth through the greatest missionary movement of all time. What will do? Will you be a pillar in the temple of your God (Rev. 3:12)?
Pornography, social drinking, and emotionalism: if there was ever a time for the church to possess temperance, it's now! Tune in for some eyesalve to the Laodicean Bubonic Plague
Revelation 3:1-6 - The Sardis Church Period (1000AD - 1500AD). We now enter the Midnight of the Dark Ages, where the Bible has been out of the hands of the common man for half a millennium. How then does God still shed his light during these times? It starts with a candle...
Soldiers in the Lord's Army can get worn out in the daily battle. That's when our most common foe strikes! Thankfully, God gave us the perfect defense to hold everything together: Temperance! So, add it to your faith so you don't give in to your emotions and carnal temptations!
Revelation 2:18-29 - The Thyatira Church Period (500AD - 1000AD). "Advance!" This has become the attack strategy of the enemy now that the church compromised with the world during Pergamos. Even so, there is still a faithful remnant of God's people who would not bow the knee. Hear how God supernaturally "put none other burden" upon them during the Black Death!
Last week, we looked at the heartbeat behind practical Bible study. This week, we've transformed the youth room into a workshop to add to our faith knowledge that takes our walk with Christ deeper and gives us sight to see where He's leading us.
Revelation 2:12-17 - The Pergamos Church Period (325AD - 500AD). Last week, we saw the Bride of Christ compromise with the world system. Tonight, we conclude our study in Pergamos where we'll learn why you never want to give Satan an inch along with some other key moments in world history taking place during this time frame.
A servant that does what's right ( virtue ) needs to grow deeper in their walk with God and add knowledge to their faith. Sometimes this is natural, but most of the time it takes work ( 2 Tim. 2:15 ). This week, we catch a vision of the need to take Bible reading to a deeper, more personal level as we look at the heartbeat behind practical Bible study.
Revelation 2:12-17 - The Pergamos Church Period (325AD - 500AD). Tonight marks a watershed moment in Church History. He that hath ears let him hear how the church began to compromise with the world and the false religious system forming in Rome.
Part 2 of 2: If we want to have vision to see where God is leading, then we need to grow in our faith (2 Peter 1:5, 9). The first thing we're told to add is "virtue". Last week, we looked at how God has defined the word. This week we conclude with a practical application of how to add it to our faith.
Revelation 2:8-11 - The Smyrna Church Period (175/200AD - 325AD). Think you're having a bad day?? Things can always be worse as we'll soon see from the testimonies of the faithful Bible believers of this time.
Part 1 of 2: If we want to have vision to see where God is leading, then we need to grow in our faith (2 Peter 1:5, 9). The first thing we're told to add is "virtue". The simple definition of the word is to do what is right, but before we check this attribute off the list, let's take a deeper dive into the Word to see how God has chosen to define it.
Revelation 2:1-7 - The Ephesus Church Period (90 AD-175/200 AD). How could a "fully purposed" church leave its first love? Tune in for a stark warning that has application to us today!
Our vision this year as a church is “Occupy till I Come” ( Lk. 19:13 ). That means we as a collective body are to possess what God has given us, but what does that look like for our Sr. High? Before we can answer this, we need to know what our personal vision is. Every now and then, you need to “ anoint thine eyes ” with eyesalve to see clearly where you are, and more importantly, where you are going ( Ps. 119:105 ). The first few verses of Peter’s second epistle provide the ingredients for an e...
In what is without a doubt the most ominous book in all of the Bible, many believe Revelation to also be the most confusing and cryptic as well. A proper understanding of the context helps dispel that notion as we simply set out to read, hear, and keep the words found therein as God promises to REVEAL truth and not conceal it (Rev. 1:3; 1 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 22:10).
Part 2 of 2 - Along with being the nation of Israel's hymn book, Psalms is also a collection of prayers. All throughout this book we are reminded to REST in God and to meditate on what he's telling us through those who went through similar situations as we do. Wherever you're at in your walk with God, whatever you may be struggling with, there's a psalm for that!
This is everything that we have been preparing for and everything we will continue to pursue as a church until the Lord calls us home. We were made for such a time as this. If we weren't, then we wouldn't be here. Let us be reminded of these truths together as we make final preparations because it is time to go!
Part 1 of 2 - "Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum!"...If you want peace, prepare for war! In the midst of transitions, it can be easy to doubt and waver with the choices we make. We crave certainty, rest, & peace with our decisions, but sometimes we must first "labor to enter into that rest" (Heb. 4:11).
Part 3 of 3 -- Names are extremely important... and the name of our Youth Ministry has lasted nearly 20 years for a reason! As we consider the name of our ministry along with the transitions we are in the midst of, let's move forward and shine our light faithfully.
Part 2 of 2 -- Names are extremely important... and the name of our Youth Ministry has lasted nearly 20 years for a reason! As we consider the name of our ministry along with the transitions we are in the midst of, let's move forward and shine our light faithfully.
Names are extremely important... and the name of our Youth Ministry has lasted nearly 20 years for a reason! As we consider the name of our ministry along with the transitions we are in the midst of, let's move forward and shine our light faithfully.
