Amazing Grace Community Church

Lessons Along the Road

Jesus starts His final journey towards Jerusalem.  He chastises the cities that had experienced His miracles yet refused to believe on Him.  This makes me wonder how the city I live in would be assessed by Him.  I'm part of the city.  

During this journey Jesus is not received by the Samaritans.  Two of the apostles want to call down fire from heaven upon them.  Jesus responds with a heavenly truth: He didn't come to destroy people, but to save them.  

Join us as we open up the lessons along the road.

Scriptures:  Luke 9:51-62; 17:11-19; 10:1-24; 25-37;  Matthew 11:28-30

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

 

I Am's of Jesus

The Jews were making conclusions based on wrong facts.  The "world" does this same thing today.  Who is Jesus?  When He speaks who really hears Him?  The pharisees kept asking Jesus questions and no matter how many times He answered, they would not believe.  Instead they got angry and wanted to kill Him.  They refused to accept that He is God.  Jesus uses an illustration of sheep and a shepherd to explain who actually hears Him.  Do YOU hear Jesus?  Are YOU one of His sheep?   

No Truth = No Sight = No Freedom.  Must have Truth to be free.

Continue Jesus' journey to the cross with us.

Scripture: John 9 and 10

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

The Source of Light and Freedom

Jesus' "debate" with the Jews continues during the Feast of the Tabernacles wherein He declares Himself to be the Light of the word.  Jesus clearly teaches how He and the Father are one.  A discussion arises over who His Father is and who theirs is.  An important point of having two or three witnesses arises. Jesus reveals how the Truth gives us freedom.  Without Truth, there is no freedom, only slavery.  

Walk with us as we look at Jesus' journey to the Cross.

Scriptures:  John 8;  Romans 6:15-23;  Galtians 4:30;  1 John 3:8-10

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

Jesus Teaches at the Feast

We start reading chronologically as we follow Jesus' journey to the Cross.  That moment at the cross is the reason and the hour He came for.  Today's scripture examines Jesus' discussion with the Jews while at the Feast of the Tabernacles about mid-way through His three year ministry.

Jesus went up to the Feast by Himself because the Jews were already wanting to kill Him.  He is found teaching openly in the temple and people wondered why the rulers were letting Him speak.  He was not widely accepted. Hecklers were claiming He had a demon.  In spite of this Jesus makes some astounding claims. Like...

Scripture: John 7

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

The Taking, then the Four Horsemen

Knowing the truth about the Rapture and the Return of Jesus to gather His bride is important to the Believer’s faith.  There is so much speculation even wild tales.  After The Taking, the Four Horsemen are released by Jesus as He opens the seals on the scroll.

Scriptures - Study these to get the full scriptural background of todays message: 1 Peter 4:7-11;  Luke 17:26-37; Genesis 7:1-5; 19;  John 14;1-6;  1 Corinthians 15:50; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 6:1-8; 2 Peter 3:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12; 1 Thessalonians 5:9

The Key of Knowledge

Belief is an inward and individual conviction. Truth is an outward actuality, provable and observable. When belief and truth combine, we gain knowledge. Knowledge is that overlap of Truth and Belief.   From prudent, ethical and practical application of knowledge comes wisdom.

What happens when truth is removed from the diagram?   Both knowledge and wisdom disappear and there is only belief.  Belief alone is nothing more than opinion.

What did Jesus say about the key of knowledge?  Listen in.

Scriptures:  Luke 11:52; Matthew 23:13; Romans 2:17-24; Hosea 4

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

Better Than Sunshine

Is your cup half full, half empty, or overflowing?  How can you frame your life so that you can have the frame of mind where your cup is overflowing?

In order to have a half-full even overflowing frame of mind,  We have to set our mind on something that brings us joy, something we can always count on, and God is this something.  We have to make the choice between earthly or heavenly focus.

Having peace, joy, contentment is a product of what our mind is set on.  Setting our mind on the Lord takes our mind off being set on us.  Thinking too frequently about ourselves is the root of unhappiness even creates poor mental health. 

Scriptures: Psalm 16:5; 23;  Hebrews 12:2; James 1:2-4; Colossians 3:1-17

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

The Draw of Home

There are times during the year when we travel back  home.  Where we grew up.  Where our parents or family is.  As we think about going home, we remember the good smells and the great food we ate.

But for some, the memories of home are horrible.  Things didn’t work out so you left and set up home in a new location.

Joseph and Mary's trip home is a powerful lesson for us.  When things don’t go like we think they should, do we ask and listen for what God might be saying?  And if we hear from Him do we respond?

There’s another home that is calling US.  Heaven.  Do you long to go there?  Have you thought about what happens when you die?  Can’t be avoided.

How Do We Find Our Way Home?

Scriptures:  Luke 2:1-7;  Matthew 2:19-23;  John 14:1-7

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

Birth Stories

We all have birth stories.  Did your mom or dad tell you yours?  We repeat them over and over as we remember.  We show baby pictures and put them on the wall.

No birth story outdoes the one of the Messiah.  It was planned from eternity and was so miraculous it would be hard to believe.  Each step towards that fateful day was planned in advance… in a way that was hard to see and was unpredictable to all but God.

We read of the birth stories of John and Jesus.  The Bible says Jesus came to give us second-birth—to be born of water and spirit.   Are you born a second time?  Do you have a spirit-birth story to tell?

Scriptures:  Luke 1:5-25;  Matthew 3:3-15; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 1:39-45; Luke 2:25-38;  John 3:5-8

Preacher:  Pastor Mark

 

John 3:5-8   “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Two Genealogies?

There are two genealogies of Jesus in the Bible and they aren’t the same!   Is this a mistake or is it a divine plan of God’s?   Christmas is about Eternity.  People around the globe are fascinated with their family tree.   God wrote out Jesus’ family tree long before Ancestry.com. 

There is another book of the genealogy of Jesus. It contains a list of names that begins AFTER Jesus,  It’s called the Book of Life. 

Scriptures:  1 Chronicles 17:11-14;  Jeremiah 22:24-30; Matthew 1:6-16;  Luke 2:23-38; Revelation 20:7-15

Preacher:  Pastor Mark