Fall Bible Reading Plan Week 12: Luke 7:36-50

In Luke 7 we see Jesus' full power and compassion on display! He heals a centurion's servant from afar with just his word. He raises a widow's son from the dead....
Keep ReadingOn Sunday we talked about how when the accuser threatens us we respond with the blood of the lamb. As we connect our lives to the truths of the gospel we find a profound and unshakeable hope. ...
This church was known for suffering. Smyrna is the Greek word for myrrh, a flagrant perfume used in burial. Many believe that this church represents the martyrs of all the ages and the sweet-smelling fragrance of their faithfulness until death. There was no rebuke for this church and because they were faithful until death, their lampstand has never been removed. Christianity has never completely left this city. It is the only one of the seven cities still in flourishing condition....
What do we know about Ephesus? Paul spent between two to three years teaching in Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10). In his farewell letter to the Ephesian elders, he gives a clear warning to look out for "savage wolves" and men who would speak "perverse things.” Ephesus was once considered the most important Greek city and the most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. There were 14 temples dedicated to idolatrous pagan gods, but none rivaled the Temple of Artemis, the Greek goddess who was heartily worshiped by the Roman Empire during this time. ...
Want to learn more about Revelation? It’s a rich, beautiful, powerful book. Here are a few places to start in your journey in addition to our sermons on Sunday mornings and your study in Community Groups. ...
Why are we meeting off-site for Easter? Because we are one church, singing one song, about one Savior. ...
We understand that the church Jesus was building was a people for Himself. Sin created a chasm between us and a holy God. By God’s grace, that chasm has been closed! We’ve been justified by Christ’s death on the cross and are now part of His church because when God sees us, He sees Jesus’ righteousness. Our identity now becomes one who is a citizen of the Kingdom of God. The way we live must align with what God has called us to. Let’s take a look at how we live as members of Jesus’ church....
The news about Ukraine and Russia has been inescapable. The first war of this scale in decades. Many calls to prayer but…how are we to pray? What are we to pray for? ...
At the end of Ruth Chapter 3, it seems the stars are aligning for Boaz to redeem Ruth. Then Boaz says, “yet there is a redeemer nearer than I” and it seems a new character is going to swoop in and redeem Ruth. Chapter 3 leaves us on the edge of our seats wondering how things will play out for Ruth. Will Ruth be redeemed by this new character? What about Boaz? Today we are going to study how the kindness of God comes through a person, through Ruth’s redeemer. ...
In chapter 2, Ruth meets Boaz and the tides start to turn for Naomi and her view of God’s kindness. Up to this point, we noticed the work ethic displayed by Ruth. Her physical strength was not the only thing that was noticed by others. ...
The kindness of God is the theme that threads throughout the book of Ruth. We find ourselves during the time of the Judges where all did “what was right in their own eyes”. Chapter one introduces us to a family who leaves Bethlehem for Moab in search of food during a famine. Tragically the father and two sons die and we are now focused on two specific characters: Naomi and Ruth. Chapter one displays the kindness of God through an unlikely character, a Moabite woman named Ruth. Despite Naomi’s circumstances, God’s kindness can often be displayed in the mundane and routine places of life. Chapter two introduces a new character whom we can learn a lot from in our lives today. Let’s begin!...
In Luke 7 we see Jesus' full power and compassion on display! He heals a centurion's servant from afar with just his word. He raises a widow's son from the dead....
Keep ReadingAs we finish John 4 we continue to see the depth of the Father's sovereign plan in salvation and Jesus' absolute commitment to accomplish his Father's work with his disciples, the Samaritans, and the nobleman....
Keep ReadingJesus encounters a Samaritan women and, breaking cultural norms, begins an amazing converstation about living water, personal details of her life, true worship and His identity. During this encounter our wonderful Savior brings the good news of his gospel and tenderly reveals the condition of her heart and her need of his forgiveness as he openly acknowleges that He is the...
Keep ReadingChurch, Thank you for continuing to partner was us over this past year, even in the most precarious of circumstances. As Ricky preached on Sunday, the kingdom of God never stops increasing and moving forward and we are very grateful for your partnership that allows us to continue to move forward together in the small slice of God’s growing kingdom that is Cross of Gr...
Keep ReadingJohn 3:16 is perhaps the most well-known verse in the entire Bible. But if we understand what surrounds it, we’ll find even more good news....
Keep ReadingLuke chapter 6 gives us a long block of Jesus’ teaching. Much of Jesus’ teaching is counter-cultural and counterintuitive. What Jesus teaches here is in line with the heart of the law to love God and love your neighbor, but Jesus applies it radically to situations like loving enemies and sharing with those in need....
Keep ReadingAs Luke shows us the early ministry of Jesus we see that Jesus does not do his ministry alone but forms a group of disciples. This story shows us how Jesus called Simon Peter. Jesus performs a miracle, but there is also a deeper purpose in the miracle. Jesus’ miracle illustrates what following Jesus will look like for Simon Peter. ...
Keep ReadingAs you may have heard the new city order today adds additional restrictions to various aspects of life in our city. I wanted to provide a short update on how we are responding as a church. ...
Keep ReadingJohn’s gospel is structured differently than the other gospels and one of the ways it’s different is that John gives us a series of “signs” that unfold as we read the gospels. These “signs” help reveal not only Jesus’ power and identity but also reveal what he came to do on the earth. In this week's passage we see Jesus' first "sign" and it occurs at the begi...
Keep ReadingAfter the longest of introductions to the person of Jesus, Luke now shows us the start of Jesus’ ministry. But before even ministering publicly Jesus faces a test: being tempted by the devil himself. This story is meant to echo two scenes from the Old Testament....
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