Fake vs Real
CHALLENGE: Be the Real Deal as a Christian The wise men are on a search for the Messiah following the guidance of a star. Herod will be interested in finding the Messiah as well, but for completely different reasons. One is real and the other fake. Some come to church to find God. Some […]
Faith in Bethlehem
READ: Luke 2:1 CHALLENGE: Handle All Things with Faith What kind of human will you be? What kind of parent will you be? It’s interesting to contemplate the ordeals of Joseph and Mary early on in their lives together. Luke 2:1-7 – In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken […]
Finding God in the Dark
TITLE: Christmas Encounter INTRODUCTION: How’d you like all that snow? Where’s our north of 90 crowd? You’re probably watching online. Doesn’t it just feel good to be part of history? You’ll all be able to tell the story to your grandchildren. They will talk about it for years. Classic photos will be distributed. We only […]
Christ and Change
INTRODUCTION: When cold air comes across the warmer water of Lake Erie, it creates a snow machine and deposits it all over us. Arctic cold air across warmish Lake Erie water equals white stuff. There is no other thing that can happen – it’s going to cause an effect! God moves in people’s lives and […]
The Net
READ PASSAGE: Matthew 13:47 CHALLENGE: Stand Out for Jesus Vv47-50 – “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but […]
True Treasure
READ: Matthew 13:44f CHALLENGE: Buy into the Kingdom of Heaven through Faith Matthew 13:44-45 – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is […]
Like Mustard Seeds
CHALLENGE: Be a Good influence for Jesus! Vv31-35 – He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds […]
Truth About Truth
READ: Matthew 13:1 CHALLENGE: Open Your Heart to God’s Truth Matthew 13:1-9 – That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, […]
Spirituality
READ: Genesis 24:45 CHALLENGE: Be Truly Spiritual Vv45-46 – “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll […]
Responding to God
READ: Genesis 24:22 CHALLENGE: Praise God for All That He Has Done This story is profoundly powerful. God leads the servant back to the place where Abraham’s family came from. To exactly where he needed to be. Where Abraham wanted him to be. Where God wanted him to be. The response of the servant is […]