Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

In three parables that Jesus tells we find that there is great rejoicing in heaven when someone repents from their sin and turns towards God. We also see another group of people that thinks they are righteous and in no need of God's grace. These are the pharisees, and often our own hearts can become like theirs, thinking that we have earned the grace of God through our obedience rather than rememb...

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Christ tells of the intense persecution that Israel will endure in the near future during the fall of Jerusalem. We look into how the fall of Jerusalem foreshadows the final days when Christ returns. We also are given encouragement in the knowledge that Christ's return will not be missed.

The nation of Israel rebel against God after hearing the report of the spies. Israel, having clear knowledge and first hand experience of who God is and His power still resist trusting in Him. We explore what it means to truly believe in God.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

After Jesus is asked about the resurrection, a pharisee attempted to ask another question about which commandment is the greatest in hopes to test Jesus. Jesus responds saying "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself..." In this we see a need to balance our personal pursuit...

The Sadducees who do not believe in the resurrection form a question to try to trick Jesus in what they think is the absurdity of life beyond death. Jesus' response leaves them in awe as He reveals their great misunderstanding of the heavenly realm and the power of God.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

We are instructed by Paul in the book of Galatians of a war between our flesh and the Spirit. We find here an imperative to walk by the Spirit and not to gratify the desires of the flesh. We are to do this through the power of Christ crucified, by putting to death the desires and passions of the flesh and saturating our lives with scripture and fellowship with one another.

Jesus brings his accusations against the leaders of Israel through a series of parables. We reflect on their reactions and our own reactions to the gospel. Asking ourselves if we are disobedient, greedy and, ungrateful when being saved by Christ.

We take a look at an overarching idea in the first chapter of Mark. Here we see the importance of being conformed to the gospel rather than having the gospel conform to yourself.

Jesus makes his entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The people shout "Hosanna to the Son of David." The chief priests and the scribes ask Jesus if he is aware of what the people are saying. Answering yes Jesus declares that he is the long awaited King.

Towards the end of Paul's letter to the Galatians he instructs them on how the church ought to conduct itself leaning on the righteousness of Christ rather than that of any individual. We see that we are called to humbly draw back those that find themselves in sin. Throughout being encouraged by the cultivation of sanctification.

Paul speaks to the Galatian Church about how our love for God is displayed in how we love others.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Jesus speaks with the rich young ruler and tells him to sell his possessions and follow him. The ruler goes away saddened because of his great possessions. We look at the pride beneath the surface of the rulers questions and posture and how we share these same points of pride. Then looking at the children, we see that grace is granted to those who come before God in total dependance, as a child is...

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Paul admonishes the church of Galatia hearing that they have turned back to idols and have tried to find satisfaction in them rather than in God.

Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. How this servant was forgiven an unfathomable debt yet then went out and demanded from another servant what was owed to him. We see here that we are much like the unforgiving servant, being forgiven by God the immense debt of our sin yet often being unwilling ourselves to forgive others their tresspasses against us.

Jesus instructs that all who belong to Him are precious in His sight, and that we who follow Him ought to have great concern for those that are falling away. The church, and those in it, are tasked with the seeking and restoring of those caught in sin or have abandoned the gathering.

We explore righteousness and where we rest for our righteousness. Looking at the law and how often we try to earn our standing before God and in so doing we discount the work of the Cross.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church