When the time comes, where will you be? John 20:19–29 4-12-2026 Are we true to the word? Are we faithful when our faith is tested? Persecution is here and persecution is coming. John 20:19–29 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  John 14:27   27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;

The Power of the Resurrection The resurrection of Jesus is not a nice religious story or a metaphor. It is the single most powerful event in human history. It proves that death has been defeated, sin has been paid for, and hope has been guaranteed. 1. The Power to Conquer Death (1 Corinthians 15:12-19) Paul is blunt: If Christ is not raised, our faith is useless and we are still in our sins. But Christ is raised! Death lost its sting. The grave lost its victory. The resurrect

TRUTH LESSONS FROM A DONKEY Palm Sunday is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy in: Zechariah 9:9 – “Rejoice greatly… Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Matthew 21:1–11 (ESV) Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2  saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you

HOW TO PRAY FOR A MIRACLE Luke 18:35–43 (NLT) Much of life is beyond our control. Sometimes your best efforts aren't good enough. Sometimes the only thing that will work is a miracle . God wants  to work miracles in our lives.  1. BE PASSIONATE  Put your whole heart into it. Pray with intensity, feeling, and urgency. The blind man shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (v. 38) — he prayed with passion . Many of us fall into perfunctory praying  — just mouthing word

Go Therefore and Make Disciples: Moving from Follower to Disciple In a world where many people follow Jesus from a distance, there's a crucial distinction between being a mere follower and becoming a true disciple. This difference isn't just semantic—it's transformational and determines how we live out our faith daily. What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple? A disciple is simply defined as a follower or student of a teacher. Since Jesus was called "teacher" at least 45 times in S

Going Vertical with Your Life  Matthew 11:28–30. 3-8-2026 What does it mean to go vertical with your life? Matthew 11:28–30. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mathew 6:33. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be add

How to Put Power in Your Prayer Prayer is more than just words spoken to God - it's about recognizing our complete dependence on Him every moment of every day. When we look at the early church in Acts 4, we discover powerful principles that can transform our prayer lives from routine religious exercises into mighty encounters with the Almighty. Why Did Jesus Pray If He Was the Son of God? Before we can understand powerful prayer, we must first understand why Jesus prayed. In

Faith Fears God Hebrews 11:7 (CSB) By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by Godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Faith fears God. From previous weeks: Abel → Faith Listens to God Enoch → Faith Walks with God Noah → Faith Fears God 1. By faith Noah... in godly fear constructed an ark Faith can lead to fear: There is a fear that faith r

The Significance of 40 Days and Selah in the Bible? Luke 24:27 Acts 1:3 (NLT) The number 40 seems to have special significance in Scripture: The rains fell for 40 days and 40 nights before Noah’s flood (Genesis 7:4). Moses spent 40 days in God’s presence on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:18). The 12 spies spent 40 days exploring the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:25). A Generation wandered in the wilderness 40 years (Numbers 14:32). Jonah warned Nineveh of coming judgment in 40 days (Jonah

Faith Walks with God: Our Reason For Being Hebrews 11:1 ESV Faith believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. Faith listens to God God gave his one and only Son as the sacrifice for our sins. God had revealed the acceptable sacrifice and faith listens to what God has revealed. Faith walks with God Hebrews 11:5 ESV The most important thing about you – what will matter about you forever is not how many people know your name, or not how many people follow yo

The Story Of The Sower Faith believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. Faith is formed and fed by the Word of God. This is how it is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith listens to God. Matthew 13:1–9 (NLT) Matthew 13:18–23 (NLT) The word parables literally means comparisons. Parables are earthly stories that teach heavenly truths. The parable of the sower is about not just about how to hear, but how to listen. The

What Does Faith Look Like in Action? Lessons from Abel's Sacrifice Faith is more than just believing God exists. It's an active force that shapes how we live, worship, and respond to God's Word. The story of Abel in Hebrews 11:4 provides a powerful example of what genuine faith looks like when it's put into action. Why Was Abel's Sacrifice Accepted While Cain's Was Rejected? The Bible tells us that "by faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through w

Faith Defined Hebrews 11 is an exposition of faith. Hebrews 11 was written to strengthen believers in the face of unrelenting pressure. Hebrews deals with two questions: What faith is and what faith does. Heb 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is an Assurance and a Conviction Faith is a firm persuasion in the mind and in the heart. It is a steady confidence, a joyful anticipation. Hebrews 3:14 “For we have come to s

WHY GOD MADE YOU God has never created anything without a purpose.   It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.  .  . GOD CREATED ME AND YOU FOR HIS GLORY.  The Bible calls this worship. TO WORSHIP GOD. GOD CREATED ME AND YOU FOR HIS FAMILY.  Being a part of God’s family is not automatic. It’s a choice. 1 Timothy 3:15 says “That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.”  ANOTHER REASON FOR YOUR AND MY LIFE I

Why Were You Born? Discovering God's Purpose for Your Life Mark Twain once said there are two most important days in a person's life: the day you are born and the day you figure out why you were born. This profound statement captures a truth that many people spend their entire lives searching for - their purpose. God Creates Everything with Purpose God has never made anything without a purpose. Every rock, every leaf, every animal, every star in the universe has a particular

The Characters of Christmas: The Shepherds and Jesus Luke 2:8–20 (ESV) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David

The Characters of Christmas:  JOSEPH A RIGHTEOUS, MERCIFUL, OBEDIENT MAN OF GOD Matthew 1:18–25 (NLT) This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19  Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.  20  As he c

The Characters of Christmas: Why God Chose Mary Luke 1:26–38 (ESV)   In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30  And the angel

John the Baptist: A Life Pointing to Jesus In a world filled with confusing signs and unclear directions, we need clear guidance more than ever. Just as road signs can sometimes mislead us to the wrong destination, unclear spiritual direction can lead us astray. Today, as we begin the Advent season, we look to John the Baptist - a man whose entire life served as a clear, bright sign pointing directly to Jesus Christ. What is Advent and Why Does It Matter? Advent marks the beg

Finding True Self-Control Through God's Spirit In a world full of distractions and temptations, self-control can feel impossible to achieve. We live in a society that constantly pulls us in different directions, making it challenging to stay focused on what truly matters. But there's hope - and it's found in walking with God's Spirit. What Does the Bible Say About Self-Control? Galatians 5:22-25 tells us that self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit: "But the fruit of