Blog
Tell a Bible Story (part 3) - The Good Samaritan
Children’s Story: The Good Samaritan One day, Jesus was having a conversation with the people about the law of God Jesus asked the people what the law of God says and a man answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus said that he got the right answer and told him to go and do it But the man wanted to know: ...Read More
A Reflection on Change and Opportunities
A Reflection on Change and Opportunities Comfort and Resistance to Change We struggle to take on New Opportunities We develop an affection for our circumstances because we are familiar with it As Human beings we are at the top of the food chain because we are best at adapting to circumstances Whatever comes our way, we find a way to adapt and survive It this very skill of adaptation that is also responsible for us creating comfort zones We just love to make things ...Read More
Tell a Bible Story (part 2) - David and Goliath
Children’s Story: David and Goliath The Philistines invaded the land of the Israelites - they wanted to take everything from them On two hills on the banks of the valley of Elah, they were set up against each other - it was a stalemate - the Philistines on one side and the Israelites on the other… No one dared making the first move, because that would have meant that they had to go down through the valley where they would be at their most vulnerable They were ...Read More
Tell a Bible Story (part 1) - Noah's Ark
Children’s Story: Noah’s Ark A time after God created the earth, He saw that the earth became corrupted. God was not happy and decided to start over. God so that Noah was blameless among the people of his time and told Noah that He was going to send a great flood that will destroy everything on earth - God wanted to start over. He told Noah to build an Ark from Cypress wood. God gave Noah the measurements for the ark - 440×72×43 ft ...Read More
Godly Opinion with Great Impact
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16: 13 - 20 (NIV) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed ...Read More
New Purpose from an Encounter with God
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 19: 1 - 18 (NIV) Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. ...Read More
More than a Christian Heritage
Scripture Reading: Romans 9: 1 - 5 (MSG) At the same time, you need to know that I carry with me at all times a huge sorrow. It’s an enormous pain deep within me, and I’m never free of it. I’m not exaggerating—Christ and the Holy Spirit are my witnesses. It’s the Israelites . . . If there were any way I could be cursed by the Messiah so they could be blessed by him, I’d do it in a minute. They’re my family. I grew up with them. They had everything ...Read More
The Power of Repentance
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 40 (NIV) With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Message: The Power of Repentance (#7 Power of the Holy Spirit sermon series) Save yourselves from this corrupt generation “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” These are the last words of Paul’s famous sermon The sermon that brought about masses of people turning to God and accepting ...Read More
The Power of Generosity
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 44, 45 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Message: The Power of Generosity (#6 in Power of the Holy Spirit Series) Discomfort Ironic as this may sound, this Scripture passage was used in the past to justify the ideology of Communism Here we read of a congregation coming together, selling their possessions and sharing it with “all men” ...Read More
The Power of Adoration
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 43 (NIV) Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. Message: The Power of Adoration (#5 in the Power of the Holy Spirit series) Adoration for what God is doing There’s a case to be made that the book of Acts is titled incorrectly It is titled “the Acts of the Apostles” - a name given many years later by Bible editors when the Bible was compiled Shouldn’t it rather be titled ...Read More
The Power of Humility
Scripture Reading: Act 2: 46 (NIV) “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,” Message: The Power of Humility (#4 in “Power of the Holy Spirit” series) Paradox of Humility Humility is often seen as being weak Perhaps it has something to do with our body language… we have this idea of a humble body language this is similar to a little doggie ...Read More
The Power of Prayer
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 42 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Message: The Power of Prayer Teach us to pray - Give us the gift of prayer Luke 11: 1 - “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” Disciples asking - give us the gift of prayer (knowing how to pray) What follows ...Read More
The Power of Fellowship
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 42 (NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Message: Power of the Holy Spirit Series #2 - “Power of Fellowship” Definition of Fellowship Definition - “friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.” What is our shared interest? I would like to think that is the love for Jesus Greek word: ...Read More
The Power of Learning
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 42 (NIV) “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Message: “The Power of Learning” First congregation - eager to learn In this series we are turning to the first congregation to find inspiration for growing In the coming weeks we will look closely at what went on in the first congregation We will look closely at the work of the ...Read More
Moving Past Previous Convictions
Scripture Reading: Galatians 2: 11 - 21 (NIV) 11When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14When I saw that they were ...Read More
Love Changes Everything
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4: 7 - 12 (NIV) 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, ...Read More
A Life of Promise
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 38 - 42 (MSG) Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.” 40He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!” 41-42That ...Read More
Letting Go & Moving On
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 12: 22, 23 (NIV) 19David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21His ...Read More
Easter Sunday Notes
Scripture Reading: John 20: 1 - 10 (NIV) 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran ...Read More
Palm Sunday - "What the Hell?"
Scripture Reading: Matthew 27: 45, 46 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). - Psalm 22: 1 Message: “What the Hell?!” Exclamation - What the hell?! As an exclamation or an expression of surprise, we would often say: “What the…?” Now ...Read More