Can you imagine what it must have been like to be present the first time the Holy Spirit appeared and filled the place where the disciples were? We read about it in Acts 2 ~
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Today’s worship devotional is based on the Jesus Culture song “Holy Spirit.” The chorus is quite simple, but it reflects Acts 2.
Holy Spirit You are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory God is what our hearts long for To be overcome by Your Presence Lord
Don’t be satisfied and content with where you are. Actively pursue the presence of God.
Yeah, yeah, I know – the first rule of fight club is…
Still, here we are.
For those readers who have never see and know absolutely nothing about Fight Club, it’s a movie about an underground fighting organization. Think of illegal dog fights only with humans. There are no rules – just do what you can to beat the other guy.
That’s the kind of world we live in. There is something within us that compels us to be better than the other guy. Often it matters less HOW we play the game – only that we win the game.
And that brings us to the word of the day: GREATEST
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
Now who is the greatest? This was the argument the disciples were having one fine day. I always imagine Peter started off the conversation something like this…
46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” 49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
C’mon, Jesus, you’re not being much fun. We want to talk about greatness and you keep harping on humility. Whoever is least is great? What kind of talk is that? No one in this world strives for leastness (I’m pretty sure I invented a new word – which is pretty great).
But do you get what Jesus is saying? Our world pushes us to pursue the best. Sports, business, school…for our entire lives we are groomed to desire greatness. How many different Hall of Fames do we have? Each sport has one. Rock ‘n Roll has one. Each segment of society has its own version. We annually look forward to crowning the world champion in our favorite sport. Humility has become a completely foreign concept to us, altogether.
HUMILITY HAS BECOME A COMPLETELY FOREIGN CONCEPT TO US. (did you say it with me?)
Yet this is the attitude Jesus calls us to embrace.
Ironically, the Bible DOES talk about those who believe in God being conquerors and victors. But here’s the thing – it’s never about winning under our own strength and ability. It’s about recognizing our weakness and limitations and relying on God to see us through. It’s not about our greatness – it’s about GOD’s greatness.
We still need to maintain a humble attitude. It’s hard, I know. Especially when we’re really good at something.
How about it? Will you embrace humility in order to take care of others? Are you willing to be weak so that God can be strong? Are you willing to set aside your greatness in order to magnify God’s?
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “Victorious.” It’s not about what WE can do. It’s about what GOD can do (and has done).
We face the trials this world will wage
We pray for strength to stand in faith
Through it all our God remains…
God is the victor.
Our secondsong is “God Is Able”. It declares the awesome wonder of God – the foundation and rock upon which we build our faith and lives. The song declares,
God is able, He will never fail – He is almighty God
Greater than all we seek, Greater than all we ask – He has done great things
Lifted up, He defeated the grave Raised to life our God is able In His name we overcome For the Lord our God is able
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– Do I actively seek greatness?
– Am I comfortable wearing humility? Is my humility a false humility?
– Am I willing to embrace a humble lifestyle and NOT pursue greatness?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, practice humility and service. Find a way to let others have the day.
– Intentionally take the back seat. Find a way to serve someone else.
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
There’s an age-old debate among religious people regarding mental health and spirituality. One extreme believes that all mental health issues really come down to spiritual issues. Instead of mental health professionals and medication, sick people simply need “deliverance” from the spirits that are afflicting them. The other extreme believes that there are legitimate physiological issues concerning mental health that have nothing to do with spiritual issues. Instead of praying for these people, we ought to be getting them therapy and medication.
This brings us to the word of the day: DELIVERANCE
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
There is a natural tendency in the western world to dismiss elements of the supernatural in the biblical narratives. We hear “experts” saying things like, “Well, the young man must have suffered from epilepsy or some other affliction that made him act the way he did.” We like to sanitize the bits of the Bible that make us uncomfortable.
Like a person who acts completely bananas and the Bible calls it demonic possession.
But we cannot simply dismiss the parts that don’t fit within our cultural framework. Regardless of how you feel about the mental health profession or about exorcisms, the simply truth of the text is that we are presented with a case of spiritual attack. And notice how Luke describes the end-result of the encounter. It’s not really about a demon-possession and exorcism – it comes down to illness and healing. The power Jesus wields as a healer is the power that restores the young man to wholeness.
Sometimes we go through things that are physiological. Sometimes we go through things that are spiritual. Sometimes we go through things that are combinations of the two with no clear-cut distinction. That’s not really the point. The point is that the “majesty of God” has the power to heal WHATEVER afflicts us. It’s not about trying to control the demons or illnesses. It’s about recognizing that the power of God at work in Jesus can overcome any power seen in this world.
Rather than trying to fit the Bible in our framework, perhaps we should be remodeling our thinking to fit what God is trying to tell us.
His majesty is astonishing.
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “Open Up the Heavens.” It’s one of my favorites and is a cry out to God, asking for his presence in our midst.
Open up the heavens we want to see You
Open up the floodgates a mighty river
Flowing from Your heart
Filling every part of our praise
Our second song is “Waiting Here For You”. It declares the awesome wonder of God – the foundation and rock upon which we build our faith and lives. The song declares,
If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for You
Waiting here for You
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– How do I need spiritual healing? Physical healing?
– Have I tried everything EXCEPT Jesus to solve the problem?
– Am I willing to ask Jesus to heal me?
– Am I willing to live with the answer if God says, “No.”?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, start being persistent in asking God to heal your affliction.
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
No, it’s not being racist or Islamophobic. It’s a proclamation of faith. In the same way that Muslims declare that Muhammad is the ultimate prophet of Allah, Christianity proclaims with certainty that there is NO equal to Jesus. That’s a difficult message in today’s world – a world that values diversity and letting everyone find their own path. But there is no escaping the biblical message that there is no other way than Jesus.
And that brings us to the word of the day: UNIQUE
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
LUKE 9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[a] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
This is the second time in the Gospel of Luke that Heaven makes a proclamation about Jesus. When Jesus is baptized, God says, “You are my beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased.” (Luke 3:22). Now Jesus once again gets the official heavenly seal of approval.
Notice the heavenly visitors spending time with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. The first led God’s people in the original Exodus and the prophet represents the last things and end of time (the eschaton). Jesus is leading a new Exodus, a spiritual journey out of the slavery of sin and into the promised land where we are renewed in our relationship with God.
But Peter doesn’t get it. He sees some great spiritual characters and wants to set up shelters for all of them. He’s inadvertently lumping Jesus in with the other two, not realizing it. But you can’t equate Jesus with anyone else in all of human history. The Spirit of God envelops them all and declares the uniqueness of Jesus – He is the Son of God, the Chosen One. No one else gets to use this claim.
And while people who follow other religions may be good people in their character and behavior, the Bible never compromises that all other roads don’t lead to the same place. There is only one true path, and that’s the path that follows Jesus. So hear what God is saying about who Jesus is and what our response needs to be: LISTEN TO HIM. It does no good to say, “I follow Jesus,” if we’re not actually going to listen to what he says and put it into practice in our lives.
So stop trying to set up tents for everyone else and find the unique Jesus. And listen to him.
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “This I Believe (The Creed).” In a day and age where belief has become so individualized that it is seen as rude to proclaim one’s faith, it is important for Christians to KNOW what we believe and to still proclaim it publicly
.
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus
Our second song is “The Stand,” one of my all-time faves. It declares the our position before God – that we will stand in awe and worship the Chosen One. The song says,
So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– What do I believe about Jesus?
– Do I place Jesus on the same level with others or do I see him as unique?
– Am I willing to listen to Jesus?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, come to a personal decision about what you believe about Jesus.
– Identify what it would mean to actually LISTEN to Jesus if he is Lord.
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
Yeah, I wasn’t sure how to respond. My sarcasm and skepticism meters initially jumped off the chart and it took me a couple hours to bring it down. When a very public figure goes from wild-child to disciple of Jesus there’s bound to be a lot of disbelief. He can’t be serious. This must be a publicity stunt. What’s he REALLY trying to pull?
I imagine this is the similar response the Apostle Paul received after his dramatic conversion experience. And no, that’s not to put Bieber on the same level with the Apostle. It’s merely saying that salvation leading to extreme turn-arounds should NOT be shocking to Christians. We, of all people, should be the first to say, “Yeah, that’s the kind of thing our God can do! Look at how he radically transforms lives.” So I’m not sure how or to what extent, but Justin Bieber has publically proclaimed that he wants to live like Jesus.
And that brings us to the word of the day: ASHAMED
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Tough words from Jesus. It’s the part of the Bible where the rubber meets the road. It’s not merely enough to believe the right thing, but being an authentic follower of Jesus must mean something and actually play out in real life. In his book “Growing True Disciples,” George Barna writes: …most believers say their faith matters, but few are investing much energy in the pursuit of spiritual growth.”
This is a problem, folks. We want the title without putting in any of the work. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Those who claim the title “Christian” need to be working to see evidence of a life change. That change is then projected into the world around us. It’s about rejecting the world and embracing Jesus. It’s about not being a closet-Christian but a public one.
While some might mock Justin Bieber for his public proclamation about his desire to live like Jesus, isn’t this EXACTLY what Jesus is talking about? Are we willing to publicly state, “I’m going to do my best to follow him”?
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “Unbroken Praise.” It’s new to me, but it quickly is becoming a favorite! It’s about our praise of the God who calls us, saves us, and changes us. When we think about what God has done in our lives THIS should be our natural response!
Unbroken praise be yours, God forever all my praise, God, be yours forever Lord, take this life
Let it become your throne
Unbroken praise be yours.
God accepts us as we are.
Our second song is “God Is Able”. It declares the awesome wonder of God – the foundation and rock upon which we build our faith and lives. The song declares,
God is able, He will never fail – He is almighty God
Greater than all we seek, Greater than all we ask – He has done great things
Lifted up, He defeated the grave Raised to life our God is able In His name we overcome For the Lord our God is able
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– How has God changed my life?
– Am I willing to pursue spiritual growth and discipleship or do I mere want the title?
– Am I willing to make a public stand for Jesus?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, make a discipleship plan – how will you pursue spiritual growth?
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
Sometimes I have a hard time remembering names. It can take me a while before I learn a name.
So it’s great in the military where we all wear our names right on our shirts – every day!
But even though we sometimes have difficulty in remembering other people, it’s not very often that we forget who we are. Of course, when Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” he’s not asking them to jog his memory. 😉
And that brings us to the word of the day: REMEMBER
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
Instead of recording my own video devotion this week, I wanted to share a powerful video about the identity of Jesus from a sermon of the late S.M. Lockridge. Here it is:
Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
After coming from a crowd of thousands, Jesus now puts the top 12 to the test. He knows who he is. The reader of the gospel knows who he is. At his baptism a voice from heaven told him:
You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.
The question is designed to see if the people listening to Jesus understand who he is. Of course, the masses DON’T get it. There are guesses: John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the other prophets…. But none of those are right. So Jesus pushes the 12 a bit further and says, “But what about you??”
And for once in his life Peter seems to “get it.”
The question that Jesus asks the disciples is the same question we all have to answer. Who is Jesus? A good teacher? One of the prophets? Or can we say that he is the Christ – the Messiah?
This is the question that separates the doubters from the faithful. The identity of Jesus as the Christ – God’s Messiah – is a key Christian distinctive. And when we take it on faith that this is the identity of Jesus it affects our own discipleship. We’re not merely trying to follow the teachings of a wise man.
We’re following in the footsteps of God in the flesh. His character needs to be our character.
So how about you?
Who do YOU say Jesus is?
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “I Am.” The words are powerful. Though today we were talking about the identity of Jesus, let’s talk about who we are in Him!
I am holding on to you
I am holding on to you
In the middle of the storm
I am holding on – I am
No matter where your life has taken you, you can hold on to a faithful and unmovable God!
Our secondsong is “Your Grace Finds Me”. It declares the awesome grace of God. The song declares,
From the creation to the cross
There from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes your grace finds me
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– Who do I believe Jesus is?
– How does my belief (or lack of it) influence my behavior?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, share your belief about Jesus with someone else (through conversation, email, whatever). If you don’t believe, have a conversation with someone who does and talk about your position.
– Ask yourself why you do (or don’t) believe.
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
Today’s worship devotional is based on Matt Redman’s “Your Grace Finds Me”. It declares the awesome grace of God – found in every corner of the world. The song declares,
From the creation to the cross
There from the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
Yes your grace finds me
Actually, I avoid going to the doctor at all if I can.
But that’s just for myself. When it comes to my kids, I’m willing to take them to the doctor at the drop of a hat. They’re my babies, and I’m not going to have them suffer if there’s anything I can do about it.
So what happens when a dad loses his little girl? How will Jesus respond?
And that brings us to the word of the day: QUACK
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
Not all of the religious leaders are opposed to Jesus. Here we see one of them actually coming to Jesus for help with his sick child. Of course, when we are desperate we will do things that sometimes goes against the crowd. Rather than being pro-Jesus, it could be that this desperate father simply is out of options. The healer/rabbi could be the only thing left that Jairus has not tried.
It’s funny how desperation will bring people to Jesus unlike anything else in the world. We see a global resurgence in faith and religious activity after major crises. I’m sure most American churches saw an upswing in attendance following the 9/11 attacks. This isn’t a commentary on people’s behavior other than to point out that, in times of stress and crisis, people usually fall back to spiritual truths that are forgotten or neglected when life is good.
So in a moment of crisis, Jairus turns to Jesus for help.
The stage is set, clearly this is an emergency. This girl who is at the beginning of womanhood is about to be taken from the world. If there were anything pressing Jesus to hurry, this might be it. But then something terrible happens – Jesus’s journey to help the child is interrupted.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Here is someone else who is filled with desperation. A woman who had been suffering for over a decade seeks healing and relief. She had seen everyone and had spent all she had. Nothing helped. So her last shot is to try to touch this healer/rabbi and catch some of his power.
A woman.
A woman with feminine issues.
A woman with feminine issues touching a man.
A woman with feminine issues touching a man in public.
There is no way that this ever should have happened, yet here she is. And it works!
It wasn’t even anything that Jesus did. He didn’t speak any special words of blessing. He didn’t reach out and touch the woman. He’s completely passive in this story – it’s just about WHO HE IS. The power flows off of him like a super-charged divine battery.
While she fears for the worst, Jesus reassures her that she isn’t in trouble. Her faith in Jesus’s power has led to her healing, and Jesus sends her away in peace.
But don’t forget why Jesus is traveling in the first place. He’s off to meet with a dying young girl. I love the way that these stories of desperation of juxtaposed. The father and the woman are both desperate. Both seek the help of Jesus. And what we see happen to the woman should cue us about what is about to happen with the girl.
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
She’s dead, but Jesus is not your ordinary healer. He doesn’t need special words. Heck, he doesn’t even need to touch the sick person. This man who handles demons without batting an eye, who controls the elements of nature, and heals all manner of disease can help.
And he does. Death is no match for the power of God at work in and through Jesus. Unlike the father and the woman who show their belief in approaching Jesus, the mourners at the little girl’s house have no faith. Indeed, they laugh at Jesus.
But Jesus pulls a Taylor Swift and shakes off the haters. He gets the girl and restores her to life and health. To top it off, he instructs the family to feed the child. Here’s your miracle proof. She was really raised and not a ghost or apparition, ’cause ghosts don’t need to eat! 🙂
This is the same Jesus who is at work in the world today.
Do we have faith to approach him in our time of crisis?
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “Walk By Faith.” Jeremy Camp wrote it when he was going through a dark time iwife’s illness.
I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because this broken road
Prepares your will for me
We might not see the big picture, but we walk in faith knowing God has everything under control.
Our second song this morning talks about how the love of God is bigger than any problems we might face. Even if we don’t receive healing in this life, God still loves us more than anything. The song is called “One Thing Remains” and says:
Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in thr trial and the change
This one thing remains
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me!
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– Would I approach Jesus? Is he my last resort or my first option?
– What kind of faith do I have?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, pursue Jesus’s help in your crises (whatever they may be).
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
It’s normal to forget things. It’s human to forget things. The human brain can only retain so much – everything else is washed away.
When I think about memory and retention I’m always reminded of a particular Far Side cartoon.
The other day my wife told me a small detail about her love for a certain kind of ice cream: why she liked it and why another kind of ice cream simply wouldn’t do.
When I was next at the store buying ice cream, what she told me came to mind and actually influenced my purchasing decision. Later when she asked if we had ice cream I said, “Yes, but I didn’t get such-and-such because you told me that your preference was….”
She nearly collapsed right there. She was stunned that I remembered that small detail (’cause let’s face it, I forget a lot of more important ones!). But c’mon – WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ICE CREAM!!! 🙂
And that brings us to the word of the day: STORMS
It’s time for church…
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
Here’s the Bible passage:
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25)
I bet the disciples were OUT OF THEIR MINDS terrified. In the Ancient Near East they believed raging seas were the activity of the gods and demons. The storm isn’t just a nautical problem they face – it represents high powers at work coming against them.
But Jesus asleep isn’t just about him being tired. Jesus’s sleep is an image of His complete trust in God’s care and provision. The psalmist writes:
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
Jesus’s confidence in the power of God is SO complete that he can lie down and sleep even in the middle of a raging (demonic?) sea. Not so the disciples. So in their panic they wake the rabbi. And Jesus goes to work handling the spiritual turmoil. Remember that I mentioned that raging seas were seen as demonic activity? Interestingly, Jesus’s rebuke of the wind and waves uses the same language he uses to subdue the unclean spirits he exorcises! Jesus exorcises nature – there is no power in the physical world or the spiritual world that is greater than the power of God.
Does God seem asleep in the middle of our chaos? Do we react rudely and demand, “Don’t you care?!?” But the disciples should have known better. Psalm 65:6-8 declares:
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.
But the disciples don’t think this way. In fact, they seem to have forgotten everything Jesus has done up to this point. Exorcisms, healings the sick, raising the dead! But memory is a funny thing. What you think you’d remember sometimes vanishes. A psychologist named Ebbinghaus did a detailed study on memory and forgetfulness. Here’s what he came up with…
– Most of what we experience is forgotten within the first 60 minutes. After a full 24 hours we only retain 33%.
– After a week we’re down to 25%.
– You can fight forgetfulness by practicing recall – work on pulling something to memory throughout the day and throughout the week…
Still – you would THINK the disciples would retain a LITTLE bit more. Even today we tend to forget what God has done in the past. And remembering what God has done in the past helps instill hope for tomorrow. Recognizing Jesus should lead us to desperately pursue Him. The disciples had that part right. But in their fear they had forgotten the power of God at work in Jesus. The time will come when we all get hit by storms. The “American Dream” used to be about securing stability and defining life by possessions. The problem is that it’s an empty promise – a false dream. Even those who have “arrived” still face the same problems the rest of us face. We all get sick. We all get hit with storms.
In the middle of the storm, when night is darkest and you’re being battered, the real presence of Jesus can calm the wind, instill courage, and reduce fear.
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “You Never Let Go.” It’s all about the fact that, no matter what we go through, God never lets go of us. The songwriter says:
Oh, no, you never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh, no, you never let go
In every high and every low
Oh, no, you never let go
Lord, you never let go of me
Through the storms, he is there.
Our second song is “Still”. The song declares,
Father, you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– What storms am I facing right now?
– Have I been living in fear and terror or resting in the peace from knowing the power of God?
– Can I ask Jesus to rescue me from the storms I face?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, write out your “storms” in life.
– Start praying every day that God would give you peace so that you can lie down in safety.
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
No matter how bad your family is it could always be worse.
Right?
I mean, how many of us have had to deal with Dad chopping off our hands with an ancient-yet-futuristic weapon?
While we may not have had to face something so extreme, we can still admit that relatives can fail us.
Blood may be thicker than water, but what do you do when blood turns on you? What do you do when you don’t want anyone to know you’re related to that guy. The embarrassment. The oddball. The kook. The one who brings shame upon the WHOLE family!
And that brings us to the word of the day: NUTJOB
It’s time for church..
At the end of this digital church service there’s a place for comments. We’d love to hear from you. What did you take away from the service? What spoke to you? What do you have questions about? How can we do better to serve you and your friends and family? Thx!
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:19-21)
Jesus encountered people turning on him with his own family. His mother and brothers came to “collect him” – they were shamed by his public behavior – and so they tried to label him as crazy. Just quietly put Jesus away so our family doesn’t have to deal with the embarrassment of having him run around ticking off the religious leaders.
But Jesus rejected them.
Instead, he formed a new family – a spiritual family.
Who my family? Those who hear the word of God and do it.
Blood may be thicker than water, but the Spirit of God is thicker than blood. And so Jesus formed a new kinship group. It’s not about our ties through blood. Now it’s about our ties through a common faith in Jesus.
While you don’t hear it too much anymore, Christians once referred to one another and Brother so-and-so or Sister so-and-so. It represented the new kinship group Christians embraced.
We too often forget that we’re part of this family. We still treat each other as “other than.” We gossip about each other and treat each other like strangers, not like family. When we fully embrace Jesus’ radical view of a spiritual family it will change how we treat each other, talk to each other, and talk ABOUT each other. When we fully embrace Jesus’ radical view of a spiritual family it will play out in how we take care of each other.
Once I knew someone who had been dealing with some housing difficulties. She was told by two different families in the church, “You and your kids can stay with us until you get something worked out.”
This woman then told me:
“That’s more than my own family offered to do.”
I stopped her and said, “No – This IS your family.”
Let’s live like the community Jesus calls us to be – a new kind of family, bonded together with bonds stronger than blood.
_ _ _
We’re going to have some reflection and response time. Think about the message and focus on the words of the songs.
Our first song is called “Your Grace Finds Me.” It’s a new fave.
From the creation to the cross
From the cross into eternity
Your grace finds me
God’s grace brings us all into this new family!
Our second song this morning is “Jesus Paid It All” and declares:
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left crimson stain
He washed it white as snow!
It’s not about maintaining an appearance of holiness. We can’t do anything to be good enough. It’s not about what we can do – it’s about what Jesus has already done!
Let’s worship…
FOR REFLECTION:
– How have I been rejected by “family?”
– Have I accepted that I am now welcome into this new family?
– How can I be welcoming towards others who might be looking for a new family?
MAKING IT REAL:
– This week, look to connect with other people of faith and have some family time.
– Identify someone who is an outsider and invite him/her to join your family for a meal, worship, etc.
– At the end of the week share your God moments with us here on the site or on our page at Facebook.
– If you’ve never come to the place in your life where you have decided to be a follower of Jesus and want to know more, please shoot us a message and we’ll be glad to talk to you about what it means to be a follower!
– – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anything you would like prayer for just contact us and we’ll be happy to pray for you. We also provide pastoral counseling. Let us know how we can serve you. We’d love feedback from you. You can send us an email or comment below. Let us know your thoughts and how you think we can get better.
Finally, if today’s message resonated with you at all, we would appreciate it if you would share this digital church service with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or any other media you use. Help share about Jesus! Thanks, and have a great week!
appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Jesus isn’t as good as Muhammad.
Sometimes I have a hard time remembering names. It can take me a while before I learn a name.
The oddball. The kook. The one who brings shame upon the WHOLE family!
The Church Plant 