Awake Us Now

A difficult and challenging message, this week we address the reality of hell. Hell is not a topic of regular conversation, yet the reality of hell is true. Therefore, it is essential we understand the consequences of our beliefs, our actions, and our behaviors, and that we understand what the future holds. The Bible teaches we have only two destinies: With God (heaven) - or - Apart from Him (hell). Which destiny are we living for?

The Gospel of John Week 26 Scripture: John 20:19 - 21:25. Today's study will conclude our two year study of the Gospels with a dramatic and amazing ending. We begin with John 20:19, it is the first day of the week (Sunday) and the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly Jesus was standing among them saying "Peace be with you." This is a phrase in English that sounds so common, like "have a good day." But in Hebrew it carries much more meaning. Shalom (peace) more than just an absence of conflict or warfare, it refers to all creation - it means everything is right between us and God. Real peace, lasting peace, God's peace, life-changing peace the way things were intended to be before sin broke into a perfect creation. Jesus shows them His hands and side and the disciples are overjoyed. Everything the Jewish people have been longing for has come to a dramatic crescendo. Then He breathed on them saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  In verse 23 Jesus says, "If you for

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

This is the final week in our study of 400 years of Kings and Prophets from Solomon to Jeremiah. King Josiah     •    Young King seeks God     •    Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem     •    Book of the Law discovered     •    Reform beyond Judah     •    Passover observance  - King Josiah gives an order to all people to observe God's Passover. This had not been celebrated according to what was written, not even in the days of the judges, nor in the days of any of the kings of Israel and Judah. Josiah made sure the celebration was carried out according to what was written in the Book of the Covenant. He, like David, was a man after God's own heart. He reads the scriptures and applies them and a time of revival begins.  We read in 2 Kings 23:25 "Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did - with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses."     •    Death at Megiddo - A prophetic word comes from Huldah tell

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The message starts with Matthew 1:18 "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit."  Pastor explores today's question: "What about the Virgin Birth?" by tackling these 5 questions:     ⁃    Is the "Virgin Birth" really that important?     ⁃    Why do only Matthew and Luke mention it?     ⁃    Couldn't this have been a later development?     ⁃    This seems impossible to the modern mind!     ⁃    Isn't it based on pagan mythology? Importance of the Virgin Birth     ⁃    It is taught by clear Scripture throughout the Bible. Note: Matthew 1:18 (above) and Matthew 1:22-23 "…an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from th

Are we recognizing the "signs of the times," which include things from past, present and future? Pastor Dodge explores three specific and important signs that are apparent, visible and happening today! They remind us that as believers, we need to recognize the "signs of the times" and to be awake (i.e. ready for Christ's return)!

The Gospel of John Week 25 Scripture: John 19:25-20:19 Today's study will take us from the depths of hell to the heights of heaven! We start at verse 25 of John chapter 19 and it starts with who is at the foot of the cross: His mother, His aunt, His cousin (John the author of this gospel) and  another aunt who was the wife of His step-father's brother  - all family.  The disciples have all run except John and this group of women. Family.  Verse 28 we read, "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." By saying this Jesus again fulfilled prophecy from Psalm 69:21 and from Psalm 22:15. But also let's remember what Jesus said in John 18:18 when He told Peter to put his sword away and said, "Will I not drink the cup my Father has given me?" And here we see Jesus drinking the cup because as verse 28 says, He knew that everything had now been finished. He took all the judgement of human sin upon Himself and then verse 30, "When He had r

Scripture: Luke 2: 1-20 The Christmas Story is familiar to most of us - a story we've heard over and over, year after year.  When something becomes so familiar we can easily be deceived into treating it too casually without the awe and gratitude this story should cause in our hearts.  Familiarity can cause us to forget this is a REAL story, with REAL people and our REAL Savior.   So let's look at this very familiar story in Luke 2:1-20 with new eyes and new ears and new hearts. May we experience and receive THE GREAT GOOD NEWS as the best gift ever given. As Pastor reads the Christmas Story he shares insights about the location of where Jesus was born, and other interesting historical information, even specific insights into the shepherds in the fields and the intended use of their lambs. Mary and Jospeph arrive in Bethlehem for a census, Jesus is born, and then the angels announce the Great Good News to the shepherds. When the angels broke through the skies the shepherds went from experiencing great fear at

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Micah 6:8 Being in the Scripture is a great place to be because God DOES speak in His Word, both 2,000 years ago and today!   Today's text from the Bible is a powerful Word, a life-changing Word… Matthew tells the Christmas story from the vantage point of Joseph, who after finding out about Mary being pregnant decided to divorce her quietly, but… Joseph receives a visit by an angel in a dream and the angel tells him that he is not to divorce Mary, that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and that he is to name the child Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.  Following the dream, Joseph stays engaged to Mary, doesn't consummate the marriage until after Jesus' birth, and he names the baby, Jesus. A virgin birth is implausible if there is no god. But there IS a god!  He is the God who reveals Himself in the Scripture and through His Holy Spirit and like in today's reading, through angelic beings. What prophets predicted, is fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth

First Sunday in Advent - The Great Awakening Scripture: Luke 1:5-25 and Malachi 4:5-6a   The season of Advent is a time we prepare to celebrate that Jesus came, but it is also a time we eagerly anticipate that He will return! When asked about the Great Awakening, people most often mention the The Great Awakening of the 1700s, an awakening that fundamentally changed what would become the United States of America, and imparted America's destiny and the make up of our country. But THE Great Awakening Pastor refers to today is the one that far out strips the awakening in the 1700s. This is THE Great Awakening that started just over 2000 years ago!  And it has completely changed the world!  Pastor suggests that it began in Luke chapter 1 verse 5, that THE Great Awakening began with Zechariah and Elizabeth's story. In the Gospel of Luke chapter 1 verses 5-25 we read the story of the coming one who would prepare the way for the Promised One, the Savior, the Messiah. The Great Awakening     1.    Started with Zechari

Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20. Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king.  He did evil in God's eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story.  He destroys everything good his father had done. King Manasseh     ⁃    Apostasy and Idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:33     ⁃    Sacrificed his children  - 2 Chronicles 33:6     ⁃    Innocent blood shed including the blood of prophets -  2 Kings 21:16. (Hebrews 11:37 - ancient Jewish tradition that says it was during Manasseh's reign that Isaiah was sawn in half by Manasseh)     ⁃    Captivity in Babylon - Manasseh was taken prisoner by Assyria and taken to Babylon  - 2 Chronicles 33:11     ⁃    Repentance and return to Judah- while in prison Manasseh had a change of heart, humbling himself gre

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:14, 1 Samuel 16:7 In today's Scripture, we look at an incredible and great announcement from the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God, Jesus. In this season of Advent we also look with anticipation to the incredible and great announcement of Christ's return.  This will not be a quiet visit to just one person, this will be an announcement the whole world will see and hear! As we look at today's reading, the question for us is how will we react to the announcement of the Savior's birth? We can learn from Mary… The angel Gabriel came to Mary, saying, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" (Hold onto that word favored - we're coming back to that!) She was pretty shocked, but the angel said to not be afraid and he announces to her that she will conceive (even though she is a virgin) and have a son.  She is to name Him Jesus and he will be the Son of the Most High - His kingdom will never end. This c

Acts 1:6-11, Psalm 22, Luke 21:28, Matthew 24:6-8, 14 Our story today, the ascension of Jesus on the Mount of Olives, takes place 40 days after His resurrection. Throughout His ministry, Jesus has shared what the end times will be like: Disasters Wars Rumors of wars Earthquakes Famine Pestilence Jesus said that these events are like birth pains - meaning they start slow and they increase in strength and frequency. These show us the end is coming nearer.  Pastor shares evidence of the ramp up to the events that lead to Jesus' return as these signs grow closer and closer together and get more and more severe. Though Jesus had often talked about the end times, the disciples with Him that day of His ascension, ask Him yet again, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They were anticipating that Israel's freedom would be restored when Messiah came, that with the resurrection would come all that God had planned. And their anticipation that it must be now that it will happen, after all

Today's message looks at the words of John the Baptist from Matthew 11:2-3, "When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'" John although a deep believer came to a point where he had his doubts. Such big doubts that he had his own disciples travel 100 miles to ask Jesus that question. Matthew 11:4-5 "Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."  These are words from the Old Testament's prophecies, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 35:5-6 "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy."  And Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor." Jesus

"Rescuer," based on Mark 5:21-43, shares two powerful and encouraging stories of Jesus rescuing people. Even today He is still rescuing us, because as Truth #31 says: Jesus is our Rescuer! He rescues all of us who trust and believe in Him and His victory over sin, death and the devil.

The Gospel of John Week 24 Scripture: John 18:38 - 19:24. As we begin our story today, Pilate is telling the crowd he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus. So he offered to free a prisoner asking if they wanted Barabbas or Jesus released.  The crowd wants Barabbas release and then Pilate has Jesus flogged. Pastor talks in graphic detail what a flogging was like, the equipment used and what Jesus experienced: excruciating pain, horrendous suffering, brutal torture, and cruel ridicule.  Again Pilate goes out to the crowds telling them he can find no basis for a charge. Pilate brings Jesus out in front of the crowd and the crowd shouts to crucify Him. The Jewish leaders insisted that Jesus had to die because he claimed to be the Son of God. Pilate says to Jesus, "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" And Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From that ti