The Gift of Jesus

Sunday, December 30. 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Question #1 Did God want us to be good? Answer Genesis 1:26-28 We are the only creature made after His image and likeness. We have been given the ability to think and reason. He made us to have a relationship with Him. God is good (Matthew 19:17) and He created us in His images that we would do good. Question #2 Why did God make us, knowing we were't going to obey Him? Answer 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 God made us because He loves us. As a parent loves a child whose done wrong, so God loves His children so much that when they do wrong, He wants them to return to Him.  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18 "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goe...

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus This Week: Anger & Forgiveness Sunday, December 23, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Righteous Anger Mark 3:1-5 Jesus looked on the religious accusers with anger for their hardness of heart. He was angry because they were sinning against God. We too should be angry when we see someone doing something ungodly. We should have godly anger. Instead, we take our anger, which is and emotion, and turn it into action that causes us to sin. Jesus took his anger and turned to heal a man. He didn't lash out by disregarding those around Him. In his anger he did righteousness. Mark 11:15-17 Jesus was angry, not because of broken tradition... He was angry because the religious were defiling His Father's house. Even though there is anger, there is still forgiveness. Even though there is forgiveness, there is still discipline. There must be an equal balance (Proverbs 11:1). If God is love then God must hate. If God loves children...

Sunday, December 9, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Are We Crying DAY & NIGHT? Luke 18:1-8 Are we crying day and night unto Him? We may say a traditional prayer before meals and before bed time, but do we continually cry unto Him with our heart? "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again..." Proverbs 24:16 The just man gets back up because He wants Jesus... he's continually seeking Him. He has heart! "Get-it-Quick" Jesus Gospel Today we have a "get-it-quick", "drive-thru" Jesus gospel going on in our church buildings. Have you ever heard this from an evangelist? "Would you like to come down and be saved? It will only take 5 minutes of your time. " Who (or What) is Your God? Want to know who your God is? Who (or what) do you think about and dream about the most? Money? Business? Church? Family? Friends? Television? God? That's is your God... what ever most fills your...

Keeping the Temple This Week: Have Faith Sunday, December 2, 2012 Led by Eric Gintert Mark 11:1-33 Fruit Bearing Mark  11:12-14 Jesus cursed the tree because it didn't bear any fruit. It was useless to Him because it didn't satisfy the hunger that he had. "Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured." Proverbs 27:18 Jesus always follows up with what He says He is going to do. When He proclaimed that the tree was cursed... it was cursed and withered away. Ask & Receive Mark 11:20-24 This is not the justification for the "word of faith" movement. When we pray and ask God for things, sometimes He answers with a "yes" or "no", but then other times He says "yes, but not now".  This scripture doesn't mean that He is always going to give us what we want because we have a desire for it.  When we're in communion with...