Week 24 - There's More to The Story!

We end our year long journey through the Bible with some words from John/Jesus to the church of Ephesus - and about the importance of not losing Jesus, our First Love.  It's been a wonderful journey, and I hope you've enjoyed it!

All throughout this year I've been lifted up by sharing these blogs and songs with you - so I want to share with you again the wonderful song, You Raise Me Up.  Sing along!

 Week 24 - Sunday Preview!

We come to week 24 of our year long journey through the Bible, and today we're entering into a somewhat confusing book of the Bible - Revelation, as the unveiling of Jesus Christ.  You'll learn some good things in the sermon on Sunday, and also just a brief introduction in this Sunday preview.  Enjoy!

And our song is a wonderful rendition of How Great Thou Art by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill - Enjoy and sing along! 

 Week 23 - There's More to The Story!

Today I'd like to share some words with you about two prayers that Paul has for the Ephesians believers.  Remember that Ephesians was one of the "Prison Epistles" that Paul wrote while he was in prison in Rome at the end of his life.  And in this letter of care and compassion he has a couple of prayers that are just so wonderful that I wanted to share with them to show Paul's great concern for the people in the church he planted in Ephesus.  Enjoy!

And our song is by Alisa Turner, This is my prayer for you.  Enjoy and let the words roll over you!

 Week 23 - Sunday Preview!

We're looking at the story of Peter and Cornelius today as background for Paul preaching to the Gentiles.  It's a massive shift that happens in the book of Acts, when the focus of the church goes from focusing exclusively to the Jewish Christians and to the Gentiles, which carried Paul on a 15,000 mile journey to the Gentiles.  It's just another piece in the story of Paul's mission and ministry.  So listen in!

And here's a great song, No Longer Slaves to Fear - Enjoy and sing along!

     Week 22 - There's More to The Story!

We're on Paul's Mission and  Ministry and today I want to run through a couple chapters of Acts that take place before Paul's conversion in Acts chapter 9.  It's the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch, which is a fascinating story about the development in the early church about the ministry beyond the Jewish Christians.  Hope you enjoy the insights!

And here's a wonderful old song, The Heart of Worship.  Enjoy and sing along!

 Week 22 - Sunday Preview!    

This week we're on Chapter 29 of The Story and looking at Paul's mission and ministry to the Gentiles.  Today's Preview is just a brief overview of Paul's ministry as told in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  And on Sunday we'll look more at both the very beginning and the very ending of Paul's ministry.  Lots of material to cover these days, so the next two weeks will be a bird's eye view!

And here's another enthusiastic Phil Wickham song, Hymn of Heaven.  No written lyrics, but a great song to listen to!

 Week 21 - There's More to The Story!

We're on New Beginnings, and the letters of Paul.  Today I want to share with you some insights into the context of the writing of Ephesians, and how Paul says that we are "holy and blameless."  That is especially interesting as he was writing to the people of Ephesus, which was Sin City on steroids!  To be holy and blameless was quite a statement he made to them as they turned their lives to Christ and away from all the immorality of the community in which they lived.  Listen in!

And we sing this song in church, but it's a great reminds that it's not me, but it's through Christ IN me.  Sing along!

 Week 21 - Sunday Preview!

Today we start to look at the beginnings of the early church after the Day of Pentecost, and what characterized the spread of Christianity from those small beginnings at the church of Jerusalem to the ends of the earth!  Today, as a preview of how the early church developed, I'd like to tell you the story of the healing of a paralyzed man who lay at the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem.  It's a fascinating introduction to the ministry of John and Peter.  Here's the video:

And I love this song about the Goodness of God.  Listen in and sing along!

 Week 20 - There's More to The Story!

Today we talk about Doubting Thomas, having faith, and overcoming doubts.  Jesus appeared to toe disciples, though Thomas wasn't with them.  But when Jesus appeared again, Thomas was with them and he came to a new level of faith when he said, "My Lord and My God."  Let's think about Thomas and what we can learn from him.  Listen in:

And here's Resurrection Power by Chris Tomlin.  Enjoy and sing along!

 Week 20 - Sunday Preview!    

On Sunday we talk about the resurrection of Jesus!  Last week we were with Jesus on the cross - this week we're with Jesus and the disciples at the empty tomb.  And in this video, I'd like to share with you some empty things at the resurrection of Jesus that really brings new life and promise!  Instead of empty promises, there are three empty things that bring promise and hope.  So - listen in!

And I can never get enough of this song - and I hope you like listening to You Raise Me Up one more time!

 Week 19 - There's More to The Story!

We're on week 19 with There's More to The Story and we're considering the role that Caiaphas played in the death of Jesus.  He didn't mean to have Jesus crucified...but he handed him over.  He's an important character in the trial of Jesus - though he didn't mean to do what he did.  Sometimes....sometimes we're a bit like Caiaphas.  Listen in and see if you agree!

And since we're dealing with the Hour of Darkness, here's a medley from Anthem Lights from some favorite "cross" songs.  Enjoy! 

 Week 19 - Sunday Preview!

We are on chapter 26 with the Hour of Darkness when Jesus dies on the cross.  The Sunday sermon will be about Jesus' words to the thief on the cross, telling him that he will join Jesus in paradise.  So this is an important chapter about the events that led to Jesus going to the cross - the betrayal, the trial, and the crucifixion.

Nonetheless, Jesus, through the cross, is Mighty to Save - You know the song, so sing along!

 Week 18 - There's More to The Story!

Yes, there is more to the story of Jesus!  He came to us as Lord and Savior in a totally different and distinct way than had ever (or since) happened!  But today let's talk about how fewer and fewer people recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior, and what we might do about witnessing to Jesus' importance in our lives.  Here's the video:

And here's a familiar song that we sing at church - Take the world, but give me Jesus!

 Week 18 - Sunday Preview!

We're covering chapters 24 and 25 in our readings this week, which tells so much about the ministry of Jesus!  It's so fascinating to read the way it's put together in The Story, with one action scene after the other, mixed with healings and teachings and miracles.  These weeks in the Gospels are overviews, so hang on to your hats, and keep reading!  Here's the Sunday Preview:

And here's Phil Wickham's Amazing Grace which the lyrics so you can sing along!

 Week 17 - There's More to The Story!

As we begin to get into the New Testament, I'll share some words with you this morning about John 3:16 - the International Date Line of the Bible - whosoever believes in Jesus will not die, but have eternal life.  Let's talk about it in context of Nicodemus, a Pharisee, and with the Old Testament backdrop of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness.  I hope you enjoy it!

And here's a song by Phil Wickham, Living Hope, that we'll be singing in church for the next two Sundays so we can learn it.  Listen to it several times as it's a great new song!

 Week 17 - Sunday Preview!

We're back in The Story - and we begin our final 8 weeks through the New Testament!  For this weekend read chapters 22 and 23 as we begin to talk about the birth of Jesus and his public ministry.  On Sunday, in the sermon, we'll learn about the Intertestamental Time - the time between the Testaments - the 400 years between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New!  But for now, listen in here for the Sunday Preview.

And I love this song by CeCe Winans - I will sing of the goodness of God.  Enjoy, and sing along because God is certainly good!

 Week 16 - There's More to The Story!

Today we look at Nehemiah for There's More to The Story!  Nehemiah is one of the last books of the Bible that was written, about 444 BC.  It's then that Nehemiah started rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (in Nehemiah 1-6) and then he started reviving the people (in Nehemiah 7-13).

Unfortunately the battery on my camera ran out halfway through, so today's talk is in two portions - click on the second when the first is done - I still haven't learned how to stitch them together, so there's two today!

And now we take a break from the blogs until April 16 - the Sunday after Easter, when we return to an overview of the New Testament for 8 weeks!

And Lincoln Brewster has a great song entitled "God of the Impossible" - it seemed impossible for the people of Israel to get back home, but they did, because our God is the God of the Impossible!  I hope you like the song!

 Week 16 - Sunday Preview!    

Finally!  Finally the exiles return home from their captivity in Babylon!  We're on Chapter 19 of The Story with The Return Home.  It's a fascinating story of how they returned in three waves of people, spanning 60-70 years.  You'll hear more in the sermon on Sunday, and then even more about Nehemiah on Monday with There's More to The Story!  In the meantime, listen in to the Sunday Preview.

And, as they returned home, they must have been singing Hallelujah in their hearts - so listen in to this beautiful version of the well loved Hallelujah!

 Week 15 - There's More to The Story!

On Sunday we learned about Queen Esther and how she saved her people from annihilation.  It was in Persia, at the end of the time of the Babylonian Captivity.  But their 70 years in captivity was now ending, and there were starting to be waves of people returning to Jerusalem.   Zerubbabel led the first wave, Ezra led the second, and Nehemiah led the third.  And Nehemiah started rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem - SO in this More to The Story (and next Monday) we'll hear more about Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem!

And here's one of my favorite songs - Build my Life - We sing it at church so sing along with the lyrics!

 Week 15 - Sunday Preview!

Today we're on Chapter 20 of The Story and the intrigue of the story of Esther!  It's a fascinating book of the Bible, partly because it tells of the success of the Jews against a threat of annihilations, but without even one mention of the name of God!  But the fingerprint of God is all over the story of Esther, which we'll see.  Here's the video:

And here's a great song by Don Moen entitled "I will sing of the goodness of God."  Great song - I hope you like it!