Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

After a long wait and much anticipation John the baptist breaks the 400 years of silence and announces the coming of the King and to repent and prepare for His coming.

Matthew's account gives a fearful and strained beginning to the life of Jesus, telling of Herod's plan to kill Him and of how His family fled to Egypt. The account also provides an eye to the magnificence of Jesus in that the magi from the east gave Him kingly gifts and worshiped.

The recounting of the wonderful surprise given to Mary and Joseph concerning the miracle pregnancy and soon to come Jesus.

The record of the line of Joseph, in order to give an account for the fulfillment of the Messiah to come from the Seed of Jesse, from the line of David. Also of the wonderful mercy and grace God give even in the lineage of Christ.

Through the use of parables Jesus describes key points of what His Kingdom will be like.

How we ought to imitate our past and present leaders in their Christ like qualities and how the leaders of the church are to behave having the responsibility to give an account for those they shepherd.

The writer of Hebrews brings attention to the reality we live in, that is we live in the kingdom of God. In such light we are told to live lovingly towards our fellow brothers and sisters, towards strangers and towards the oppressed and afflicted. Finally we are told to honor marriage and be free from the love of money.

Reminding the Hebrews that the glory of God they now experience is far greater than that of Mount Sinai though the physical presence might not be felt. The writer also warns and reminds his readers that with this great knowledge and intimacy with God comes a greater responsibility to remain in the faith and hold fast to Christ.

God commanding His people to rebuild His temple in order that the people may properly and rightly praise and glorify Him.

Encouragement through trials as God uses many means by which to discipline His people in order that they might draw nearer to Him.

"... looking to Jesus, the founder an perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. " (Hebrews 12:2)

Mortify your sin, cast of the weights that hinder, and look to Christ your king.

Looking at the Transfiguration and how it confirmed what Peter had said that Jesus is the Christ. Posing the same question that Jesus asked Peter to you "Who do you say that I am?".

The author of Hebrews highlights two main ends of faith. Faith leads to deliverance but it can also lead to death.

Looking at how our faith appears foolish to the world and how God saves sinners.

This passage looks at the faith of Moses and what choices he made as indicators of his faithfulness. Highlighting a greater fear of God, the King of kings, more than anything else.

Looking at the test that are presented in scripture and what test we are confronted with throughout our lives and how a genuine faith endures to the end.

Looking at the character of some of the patriarchs of the Faith and how their obedience came through their faith rather than faith through obedience.

Peter begins his letter of encouragement by giving praise to God. Looking at three aspects of what spur on Peters praise.

Examining what we put our trust in and how we ought to shift some of our trusts to the Lord and fully lean on Him.

Looking at, Abel, Enoch, and Noah and how they inform us of how a real faith will look.

Of how faith is like a sixth sense by which we are wholly convinced, as much as we are of the physical, of the reality of the spiritual and the future promise that awaits.

A warning of the danger faced in apostasy, such that knowing more of the riches of Gods grace yet turning away warrants a greater judgment form God.

Of how we aught to love and encourage one another and so cause the body of the church to grow and reflect the glory of God.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church