Awake Us Now

You and I are to desire a pure heart, because that is what God desires of us! Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God effects a "heart cleansing" in believers, purifying and lifting us up.

Even when we are going through the most trying of days, God is merciful, and He frees and enables us to be merciful to others!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." When we seek God, He fills our hunger for Him - not just once, but daily so that each of us becomes the person He desires us to be!

Is the grave our final destiny? Scripture says, "no!" At the Lord's return, the dead will rise, the living will be changed, and for those who belong to Christ, there will be a glorious and eternal life with Him!

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 5 Scripture - Mark 11:19-33, 1-14, Matthew 21: 28-45, Isaiah 5, Psalm 118 Pastor takes time to discuss the chronology of Jesus' ministry, the length of His ministry, and the questions of Palm Sunday or Pam Monday along with Good Wednesday, Good Thursday or Good Friday. Our teaching covers:     ⁃    The rest of the story about the fig tree     ⁃    The cleansing of the Te...

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Jesus' words may sound strange at first, but He assures us of comfort - comfort that comes from knowing that Jesus has triumphed over the grave, that because He lives, you and I live as well.

Whether we recognize it or not, we are all "poor in spirit" and need what only God can give. We are truly blessed when we realize how much we need a Savior.

Each of us needs what only Jesus can offer - new birth and new life. It hurts to be re-born, but to be reborn is to be transformed!

What does Jesus mean when he offers us "living water?" What deep thirst of the soul does He promise to quench if we believe in Him?

Scripture - Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-14, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19, Psalm 118, Zechariah 9:9, Galatians 5:22-23 We explore Palm Sunday – the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of hosanna. It was the 10th day of Nissan on the Jewish calendar. The day when the Passover lambs were herded in and prepared for sacrifice in Jerusalem at the temple. Palm Sunday on Nisan 10 - recorded...

"Am I a good person?" Many in our culture have been taught to answer "Yes," but the Bible says "No" -- we are all born sinful, and our best efforts still fall far short of God's perfect holiness. Only salvation through Jesus Christ can make someone a child of God!

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 3 Scripture - Luke 19:11-27, John 12:1-11, Psalm 45:4, 6-8, Mark 14:10-11, Hebrews 1:8-9 Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem and will carry out  the heavenly Father's will. People were expecting the Kingdom of God to appear suddenly - political deliverance - a great king to rule - but Jesus continued to emphasize the difficulties that lie ahead as well as the glory t...

Through redemption by the blood of Jesus, we are now part of God's Royal Family. We should conduct our lives so that they honor the King!

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 2 Scripture - Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43, Luke 19:1-9 "Up to Jerusalem" are words used by several of the Gospel authors - this phrase is teleological, meaning it has evidence of design, purpose, and planning of the Heavenly Father.  And it shows the heart of Jesus as He steadfastly walks the route that leads to Jerusalem where He knows the coming even...

Romans 13:4 exhorts believers to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." But what about the old clothes, the "desires of the flesh?" How do we remove sinful behaviors and keep them off for good?

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 1 Scripture - Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34, Luke 18:31-33, John 11:55-57 Jesus is the most courageous man who ever lived.  He knew what lay ahead and yet He chose the road that led to the cross anyways!  Clearly, we matter to God. God loves us each individually so much that He was willing to go Up to Jerusalem. Up to Jerusalem      1.    Biblical     2.    Jewish    ...

Colossians 3:12-14 tells us about God's "dress code" for believers: We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, so that others may see the very image of Jesus in our lives!

Scripture - Luke 24:36-49  "What Is Written".  Other scripture: Exodus 15:2,Isaiah 52:7, Psalm 27:1, 1 Chronicles 16:35  Our story today continues with the two disciples in the story, "Road to Emmaus" from last week who once they understood that it was Jesus they had been talking with, immediately returned to Jerusalem. Our story picks up after they have arrived back in Jerusalem and are with the...

In the midst of life's sorrows and fears, Jesus promises to sustain us in His strength -- the strength to not only endure but to triumph -- when we give Him our worries. "Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will sustain you."

Scripture - Luke 24:13-25  "Surprise Encounter".  Other scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 13:20-21 The first day of Jesus' Resurrection was a day of surprises!   Today's story is one of the most incredible stories in the Bible. It is one of the most incredible acts of historical reporting found anywhere in all of literature and all of history!  It is the story of two disciples...

Is the Holy Spirit a "Who" or a "What?" Scripture makes it clear that not only is the Holy Spirit a definite person rather than a "force," but He is God!

Scripture - Luke 19:28-44 Triumph and Tragedy Today's teaching on Jesus crying is found only in the book of Luke. It takes place on the Tenth Day of Nissan - a day we call Palm Sunday. We will explore the triumph and the tragedy of that day and what it says about the heart of God, along with what it says to us about our need for Jesus. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the Tenth Day of Nissan - a signi...

Scripture - Luke 19:1-10, Romans 6:23, Romans 12:2, Titus 2:13-14 "Inner Healing"  Today's teaching is on the familiar story of Zacchaeus, but come along with us as we discover some new insights. Zacchaeus was a very wealthy chief tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by people for their greed, for cheating people out of more than what was owed and they were considered to be traitors. Matthe...

Scripture - Luke 18:1-8; "The Widow's Plea"  The Parable: "The Widow's Plea" is an earthly narrative with a heavenly meaning - We should always pray and not give up! This is a story that lets us know that there will be challenges and difficulties that we all will face. But in this parable Jesus is teaching us to endure - to not give up and to do so through prayer - leaning into Him and trusting Hi...

Luke 17:11-19; "Top 10%"  Today's teaching is a story from the last weeks of Jesus' life before His arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection.  This story speaks with immediacy, power and direction to us today. Top 10% - what comes to mind is human achievement- we want to be at the top, but God sees things much differently.  When God speaks of the top 10% He's talking about those who walk by fai...