Grace Travelers

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

A Christmas Message:  By faith through grace, a most unlikely person was accepted into God’s kingdom.  Even more astounding, this person was in the genealogical line of Jesus.  This person is a woman. A woman of ill repute. She is mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, the chapter of faith.

Salmah was Jewish, Rahab Gentile.  Boaz was Jewish, Ruth was Gentile.  Each of enemy territories.  Both women became Jews.  Heaven will have all tribes, nations and tongues.  all reckoned by faith in Jesus, a Jew.  Born in Bethlehem of Judah in modern day West Bank.

Scriptures:  Joshua 2;  Hebrews 11:31;  James 2:25;  Matthew 1
Preacher:  Pastor Mark

How do we build our life on solid foundations?  But in all things stand.  The foundation is there so stand.  How can we stabalize our life through faith in Jesus?

Scripture:  Luke 6:49; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Corinthians 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 1 Peter 5:8
Preacher:  Jeff Lund, Elder

Faith is the substance hoped for.    Jesus was silent when she first called out to him.  But she wasn’t going to take ’no’ for an answer.  Right at that moment faith was demonstrated.  

 

Like the disciples standing there, we too can learn a lesson from this on welcoming in outsiders who are fighting their way to Jesus.

Scripture:  Matthew 15:21-28  
Preacher:  Bob Haggerty

Israel is the staging ground of God’s story of salvation  “Salvation is of the Jews.”

The areas currently being fought over (Gaza, West Bank) are the biblical locations of Gaza, Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem, Mount Mariah, Bethel, Bethlehem, Jericho, Emmaus  et.al.    There is a future battle that will be staged there at a place called Har-Magedon when Jesus arrives for the second time.  

Is this area and these battles important to Christians?  Yes!  Without the Jews we wouldn’t have the gift of Salvation.  New Jerusalem is our future eternal home.

Todays message is dealing with Jesus’ prophecy in Ma 24, Mk 13.  It sheds light on the biblical events happening right now in Israel.  Every Christian should have a biblical understanding—not a social media understanding.  This message is about God’s faithfulness to His promises.  All Israel will be saved.

 

Scriptures: Romans 11:11-31; John 4:22; Matthew 24:3-11;  Revelation 16:12-16. 
Preacher:  Pastor Mark

How is the church supposed to deal with those who have mental illness?

Disclaimer: I’m not the expert on this, but this is my offering so far.  I already said I’ve failed at this.  At the end of the day we know the main answer is Jesus.  

Is it a demon?  Possession?  Chemical?  Psychological?  Spiritual?  What are the contributors to mental illness?  What is mental illness?   Does medication play a part?  We'll look at some biblical directives on answering the question and practical help and direction will be offered.

Scripture:  John 5:9-17; Luke 10:29;  Psalm 43; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Preacher:  Pastor Mark

Who is God?  How do we explain Him to those wanting to know?  

Do you believe there is something, a force, a deity that is in ultimate control of the world, all things that exist, and of you?

Who or what is this force?  Some will say, The Universe.  Others refuse to consider anything other than unexplained randomness.  Some say Karma.  Some say Spirits.  Some say Science or scientific laws.  Many say Mother Nature.  We say God.

This message will give you a great start on answering this question.  We encourage you to take a listen.

Scripture:  Psalm 103
Preacher:  Pastor Mark

There is a lot of heresy and misinformation about the bible on the news and social media.  (Don’t get your 'bible' from there.)  In particular, a lot of anti-biblical misinformation about the Hamas > Israel war is being spread.  Whose land is it?  My job today is to answer the question, “what does the bible say?”  This is a core topic for a biblical worldview. 

Biblical Timeline of the Land of Israel starting in 5000 b.c. continuing up to today.

Which side should we be on?  Is God on one side or the other?

Scriptures:  Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-18;  Joel 3:1-3, 3:18-21;  Amos 9:11-15;  Galatians 3:8,16
Preacher:  Pastor Mark

Jesus gave His churches the signs to look for as time rolled on, which announce the main event we are waiting for - the Rapture.  Truly, the Rapture is the next event.  The wars and rumors of wars are signs not events.  

If this current war in Israel draws in other specific nations against Israel, this Rapture may well be right on the horizon.  Ezekiel 39 describes the first Gog Magog war against Israel naming the nations.

Paul wrote the church explaining how to hang on during these tough times when they were discouraged and inclined to give up.  Things were going to happen that would test the faith of these beautiful people.

Scriptures: Jude 17-23;  2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:15
Preacher:  Pastor Mark

Hamas, the immediate neighbor, who says that Israel does not have a right to exist, launches ‘operation al-aqsa flood’ on Oct 7,2023 with 5000 rockets launched and for the first time, sending soldiers across the border fence into Israel.  Initially, 100+ Israelis were killed and 200+ Hamas killed.  Thousands injured.

This was a surprise to Israel.  That is unusual.  It was done on the Sabbath.  Hamas was saying prior to this they weren’t planning anything.  They were not happy with the Saudi’s developing a new cooperative relationship with Israel.

Israel has not yet struck back (as of Saturday evening Oct 7).

Is this a sign of the end or the Day of the Lord?

Listen in for a biblical answer to this question.