Looking for a Hero in Desperate Times I. JOY of every longing HEART. (Jn 12:12-19)A. A LONG time of WAITING. (12:12-15; Zech. 9:9-17)B. A REASON to be JOYFUL. (12:12-18)C. A PROBLEM for those in POWER. (12:17-19) We are all looking for a hero in...
Read moreTag: Lent
Lent 2020 – Part 5 | Nehemiah 12:27-13:31
Lessons in Exile Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be streaming our worship service live at 11:00 AM each Sunday morning via Facebook Live for the foreseeable future. (Our church building is now closed for any events/activities). A copy of...
Read moreLent 2020 – Part 4 | Nehemiah 7:73b-10:39
Nehemiah 7:73b-10:39 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be streaming our Sunday service live at 11:00 AM each Sunday morning via Facebook Live for the foreseeable future. (Our church building is now closed for any events/activities). A copy of...
Read moreLent 2020 – Part 3 | Ezra 7-10
Wrestling with Ezra I. UNDERSTANDING the FLOW of “Ezra-Nehmiah.” A. Rebuild the TEMPLE. (Ezra 1-6) B. Rebuild the TORAH COMMUNITY (Ezra 7-10) C. Rebuild the CITY of JERUSALEM. (Nehemiah) To grasp the heart of the message today it is important to...
Read moreLent 2020 – Part 2 | Ezra 1-6
The Temple: It’s not what you think I. RETURNING to build the TEMPLE. (Ezra 1-6)A. SUPPORT from the KING. (Ezra 1:1-8)B. Initial STAGES and DISAPPOINTMENT. (Ezra 3:1-13)C. The problem with KINGS and TEMPLES. (Ezra 4-6)D. Still SOMETHING is...
Read moreLent 2020 – Part 1 | 2 Kings 24-25; Ezra 1
Realize, Reflect, Release, Refocus I. From BAD to WORSE to NOTHING. (2 Kings 24-25)A. A CYCLE of REBELLION… (2 Kings 24:1-20)B. …Leads to a KINGDOM in RUINS… (2 Kings 25:1-12)C. …And a FAITH that appears POWERLESS. (2...
Read morePalm Sunday – The 6th Sunday of Lent
Isaiah: Preparing the Way ~ Part 6 (Palm Sunday) The Two Sides of Welcoming a King Mt. 21:1-17; Is. 56:7 April 14, 2019 I. What THEY have all been WAITING for. (v. 1-11)A. YEARS of LONGING. (v.4-5; Zech. 9:9)B. Finally, the ARRIVAL of the KING...
Read moreThe 5th Sunday of Lent
Isaiah: Preparing the Way ~ Part 5 “Blessed” Isaiah 40:9; 52:7; 61:1-3; Matt. 5:1-12 April 7, 2019 I. The CONTEXT around the BEATITUDES. (Mt. 5:1-12)A. An ANCIENT LONGING. (Isaiah 40:9; 52:7; 61:1-3)B. The specific OCCASION and AUDIENCE. (Mt...
Read moreThe 4th Sunday of Lent
Isaiah: Preparing the Way ~ Part 4 The Unusual King Isaiah 42:1-4, Matthew 12 March 31, 2019 I. QUARRELS and KINGSHIP – Mt. 12A. One Greater than the TEMPLE – Mt. 12:1-14B. One Greater than JONAH – Mt. 12:38-41C. One Greater than SOLOMON – Mt...
Read moreThe 3rd Sunday of Lent
Isaiah: Preparing the Way ~ Part 3 The Fasting God has Chosen Isaiah 58 & Matthew 6 March 24, 2019 I. The TRAP of RELIGION Is. 58:1-5; Mt. 6:1-21A. It becomes an ACT Mt. 6:2,5,16B. It becomes a TRANSACTION Is. 58:3, Mt. 6:2,5,16C. It is...
Read moreThe 2nd Sunday of Lent
Isaiah: Preparing the Way ~ Part 2 Repentance is Relational Mt. 21:13; Isaiah 56 March 17, 2019 I. JESUS in the TEMPLE. (Matt. 21:12-15)A. Jesus CREATES a RUCKUS. (v.12-13)B. Two TYPES of PEOPLE. (v.14-15) As we follow this Lenten journey...
Read moreThe 1st Sunday of Lent
Isaiah: Preparing the Way ~ Part 1 A Highway for our God Isaiah 40: 1-11; Matthew 3: 1-3 March 10, 2019 I. A TEXT for REFUGEESA. A WORD of COMFORT (Isa. 40:1-2)B. A PROMISE of RETURN (Isa. 40:3-5)C. GOD will do it! (Isa. 40:5-11) II. Matthew’s...
Read moreLent 2018: The Words of Amos – Part 6
The Words of Amos – Part 6 Joyful Sadness Luke 19:28-44 March 25th, 2018 I. The REASON for JOY. (v.28-40)A. The King COMES with POWER. (v.28-37)B. A MOVEMENT of the PEOPLE. (v.36-39)C. More than MEETS the EYE. (v.40) It’s Palm Sunday. A day when...
Read moreLent 2018: The Words of Amos – Part 5
The Words of Amos – Part 5 From Ruin to Renewal…in only 15 verses. Amos 9:1-15 March 18th, 2018 I. A vision of RUIN and REVELATION. (v.1-6)A. The IMPLODING temple. (v.1)B. No CHANCE of ESCAPE. (v.2-4)C. Seeing and KNOWING the LORD. (v.5-6) Wait a...
Read moreLent 2018: The Words of Amos – Part 4
The Words of Amos – Part 4 An invitation to a funeral Amos 5:1-27 March 11th, 2018 I. SINGING a FUNERAL song. (v.1-3; Ecc.7:2)A. Your whole LIFE ahead of you…NOT! (v.2)B. A bad RETURN and a good RETURN. (v.3) Amos seems to move from hard words to...
Read moreLent 2018: The Words of Amos – Part 3
The Words of Amos – Part 3 Prepare to Meet Your God! Amos 4:1-13 March 4th, 2018 I. This is why they KILLED the PROPHETS. (v.1-3)A. Politically incorrect HONESTY about… (v.1-3)B. …EXTRAVAGANT self-ABSORPTION… (v.1; 6:4-6)C. …NUMBNESS to the WORLD...
Read moreLent 2018: The Words of Amos – Part 2
The Words of Amos – Part 2 Hard Words Amos 3:1-15 February 25th, 2018 I. Chosen (Known) for PURPOSE, not PRIVILEGE. (v.1-2)A. God’s CALL should yield THANKFULNESS…B. …HUMILITY…C. …and ALIGNMENT to His PURPOSES.D. KNOWING should change our LIVING...
Read moreLent 2018: The Words of Amos – Part 1
The Words of Amos – Part 1 Looking Inward Amos 1:1-2:16 February 18th, 2018 I. Amos WHO?A. Amos is a POOR NOBODY… (1:1; 7:14)B. …speaking to the WEALTHY and POWERFUL… (2:6-16)C. …on BEHALF of the “LION”. (1:2; 3:8,12) For Lent this year we turn...
Read more“Who do you say that I am?” Mark – Part 10 (Palm Sunday)
“Who do you say that I am?” Mark – Part 10 The One who comes in the name of the Lord Mark 11:1-33 April 9, 2017 I. The one with AUTHORITY…AGAIN. (Mark 1:21-2:12; 11:1-33)A. Authority over OWNERSHIP. (v.1-6)B. Authority to FULFILL PROPHECY...
Read moreEzekiel: Repentance and Hope – Lent 2017, Part 5
Ezekiel: Repentance and Hope – Lent 2017, Part 5 The Temple and the River Ezekiel 47:1-12; 48:35 April 2nd, 2017 I. EZEKIEL’S final VISION (Chap. 40-48)A. A MOUNTAIN and a TEMPLE in ISRAEL (Chap. 40-42)B. God’s glory RETURNS and RESTORES...
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