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Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ~Matthew 26:36 On the night of his betrayal and arrest, Jesus went to a familiar place and committed Himself to an even more familiar task… prayer. The hour had grown late and Jesus gave Himself to spend what little time He had left communing with God the Father in prayer, but this time it was…

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hac-aliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. ~Nehemiah 1:1,2 Pastor began a new sermon series this past Sunday and it is built on the book of Nehemiah. It is entitled “Nehemiah’s…

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ~2 Corinthians 5:18 When Paul begins verse 18 with “All this is from God,” he is referring to those things he had just been talking about, the renewing of the human heart, his own desire to forsake all and give his life for the furthering of the Gospel. He says all this to make the point that even though he may…

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” ~Jeremiah 1:5 Although the number of abortions today indicate our society’s low view of life in the womb, it is an indicator of something far more serious. The “pro-choice” movement and abortion laws reveal our society’s low view of the Creator God Who gives that life. Pastor’s message this last Sunday was both saddening…

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12 The Bible is God’s Book and when you open it up and start reading it will be just a matter of time before a verse or a passage will grab your attention and speak to you right where you’re at. The…

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ~Hebrews 11:13 After speaking about the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, the writer of Hebrews notes the connecting thread in all of their lives; they died not receiving the fulfillment of the promises of God, but could see the fulfillment of them and…

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” ~Matthew 6:19,20 Where is my treasure? That is a question I have been asking myself this week after Pastor’s last message about “Treasuring Christ Together.” This whole series has not been a means to pry more…

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ~2 Corinthians 8:1,2 The Macedonian churches were both poor and persecuted, but they rejoiced for the opportunity of giving towards the poorer and more persecuted brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. Don’t miss what Paul points…

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ~Hebrews 10:24,25 This past Sunday (as cold as it was) Pastor began a new sermon series entitled “Treasuring Christ Together.” He began our first Sunday of the new year by focusing on the “together” part of treasuring Christ. Think…

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ~Matthew 1:23 This past Sunday Pastor shared with us the account of Jesus’ birth from the book of Matthew. As he noted, this account was written about Joseph’s perspective and the encounter he had with an angel in a dream. The angel came to assure Joseph the child Mary was carrying was of the Holy Spirit and not from…

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6 In chapter eight of the book of Isaiah, the prophet paints a dark and depressing picture of the condition of his people and their immediate future. The gloom spills over into chapter nine but here in the sixth verse a starburst of…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~John 1:1 In the gospel penned by John the disciple, he calls Jesus the “Word of God”. This is, perhaps, one of the best descriptions of who Christ is. Jesus as the Word of God, is the express image of God Himself. Jesus was God in human form communicating God’s will in all He said and did; He embodied ultimate and total truth.…

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ~1 John 2:1 I don’t know about you, but I have come to love the truth revealed in this verse and to take great comfort in knowing Jesus is an ongoing advocate before the Father on my behalf. Over the course of my years I have been in…

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. Luke 7:36 Pastor made an important observation for us this past Sunday; Jesus always goes where He was invited. It did not matter if one was a tax collector, a fisherman, or a Pharisee. When Jesus was invited to a meal, He went. There was no distinction for Him who the host or hostess was because…

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. ~Isaiah 52:13 God, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, tells us of His Servant whom He will send to redeem His people. This Servant will be high and lifted up, He shall be exalted! However, He will not be high and lifted up in the usual sense, what God means is that this Servant will be above others because He has been crucified and…

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ~Hebrews 4:14 This past Sunday Pastor Dave shared with us another name of Jesus; one which describes a specific role He came to fulfill on our behalf. That name and role was “The Great High Priest.” By the time you reach chapter 4, the writer of the book of Hebrews has already argued and proven…