Know That Christ Defeated Death

Through death He . . . destroy[ed] him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release[d] those who through fear of death were . . . subject to bondage.

- Hebrews 2:14-15, emphasis added

Over fifty-five million humans will enter eternity this year. Some will perish through starvation or murder, others through disease and accident. Some will die painlessly while others will die painfully, but all of them will die. Is that a…

Know That You Believe Christ

And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

- John 20:28, emphasis added

Thomas was not present on the first occasion when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His Resurrection. The others told him about it afterward, but he replied, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it" (John 20:25 NIV).

Thomas is our pattern; he reflects…

Know What Christ Did

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

- 1 John 1:3, emphasis added

The greatest power unleashed in Jesus is that He is now available anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. In fact, look at all the chapters in the gospel by John where Jesus was meeting people right where they were-just as He does today:

• Watching…

As the end of days approaches, you can find genuine and lasting hope by knowing Christ's presence!

Know That Christ Is Alive

[John] bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all things that he saw.

- Revelation 1:2, emphasis added

John saw Jesus on Patmos-alive and powerful. The book of Revelation introduces us to the risen Christ of the Gospels and shows Him as the real Christ. When Jesus stepped from the tomb on Resurrection…

IT’S NOT TOO LATE . . .

Pt. 1 - FOR A FRESH START

Isaiah 43:19 NLT

“For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!”

Isaiah 6:1-8 NIV

“ [1] In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. [2] Above him were seraphs, each…

Trials and Temptations a Formula of Faith

James 1:1-12

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives…

New Testament Books & Key Words

1. Matthew: King - Jesus Christ presented as the King of the Jews, the prophesied messiah (Anointed One), and Emmanuel (God with us). (4:17)

2. Mark: Servant - Jesus Christ presented as the perfect Servant who came "to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (10:45).

3. Luke: Perfect Man - Jesus Christ presented as the perfect Son of Man whose mission was "to seek and to save that which was lost." (19:10).

4. John:…

Defeating the Devil's Strategies

John 21:15-19

All of us make tracks through the valley of failure. Then the key question is, What we will do next? Sadly, many believers who stumble give up a vibrant kingdom-serving life for a defeated existence. But failure can also be a chance for a new beginning of living in Christ's strength.

In pride, Peter thought his faith was the strongest of all the disciples' and swore that even if the others left Jesus, he never would (Mark…

Psalm 119:105 likens the Word of God to a “lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Bible is the all-sufficient guide given to us by God for navigating our lives in a dark world. In and of itself, it contains everything we need to know in order to have faith in God, repent, receive salvation, and live a life pleasing to Him. It teaches us right and wrong, shows us the difference between true and false doctrines, and reveals the character and nature of God. “All Scripture,” as 2…

HISTORICAL BOOKS

MATTHEW: PRESENCE – JESUS AS KING – TO THE JEWS

Key Scripture: Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Mark: presence – Jesus as a servant – to the Romans

Key Scripture: Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke: presence – Jesus as perfect man – to the Greeks

Key Scripture: Luke 19:10 for the…

A PARABLE OF JESUS

Four Hearts in the Field

Matthew 13:10-23 (NIV)

[10] The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

[11] He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

[12} “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

[13] “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though…

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Inner Purity

How does it TRANSFORM our lives?

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

[1] “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship.”

[2] “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and…

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

The Lost Son

Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

[11] Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons.

[12] The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.

[13] Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

[14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole…

Faith is: obeying when I don’t understand it.

A man named Noah. Had Faith!

Just think of the doubts that Noah might have had. Can you imagine if God came to you one day and said, “I m going to wipe out the whole world and start over with you.” Would you have any doubts, by chance?

The Bible says in Hebrew 11:7 “It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God who warned him about something that had never happened before.”

Faith,…

"Building a Great life" is about Faith. It's built on the verse of Jude 1:20 Which says, "Build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith."

The foundation of a great life is faith.

What is Faith?

"How faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Faith is: First believing when I don't see It.

Faith is visualizing the future in the present, it's seeing it in advance, it's being certain of what we do not see.

As…

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

What does it take to please God? What would you say? some people think that the way you please God is:

Through RITUAL:

That you chant certain prayers, you pray certain rituals over and over, you light some incense or you light some candles and you do some ritualistic things -- to please God.

But…