Church of the Nazarene

The Hurdle of Unforgiveness – Angela Kohl Welcome…. Recap – Pastor Jared has been sharing over the past few weeks about the hurdles to our faith sharing and asking to evaluate us where we are in these potential hurdles and how they are impeding us? Are we attempting to live a saved life without actually […]

NEVER ALONE - NEW SERIES COMMON STRUGGLES MANY OF US EXPERIENCEHOPE CAN COUNTER WHAT IS TACTIC OF ENEMYNOBODY ELSE IS DEALING WITH THISCHRIST HAS HEALING FOR YOU/FOR MECOMMUNITY IS WHAT HELPS BRING HEALING TODAY WE EXAMINE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION I STUDY OFTEN ON TUESDAYS AT HOME- THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE LIVE IN VIDEO OF JACK HAMMER GOING ON FOR 3 WEEKS- SAME SPOTMRI ON STEROIDS- BING BING BING BING NEVER ALONE LOGO NEVER ALONE- YOU ARE NOT ALONETODAY PULL CURTAIN- ANXIETY/DEPRESSION VIDEO BOB WILEY MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH BOB WILEY HAS ALL MENTAL HEALTH ISSUESANXIETY: INTENSE WORRY OR FEAR THAT CAN EBB AND FLOW. DEPRESSION: IS MORE OF A STEADY STATE OF HOPELESSNESS. SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3 3. PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT. SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 4. WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES, SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT WE OURSELVES RECEIVE FROM GOD. SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 1:5 5. FOR JUST AS WE SHARE ABUNDANTLY IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, SO ALSO OUR COMFORT ABOUNDS THROUGH CHRIST. SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 1:6 6. IF WE ARE DISTRESSED, IT IS FOR YOUR COMFORT AND SALVATION; IF WE ARE COMFORTED, IT IS FOR YOUR COMFORT, WHICH PRODUCES IN YOU PATIENT ENDURANCE OF THE SAME SUFERINGS WE SUFFER. SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 1:7 7. AND OUR HOPE FOR YOU IS FIRM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT JUST AS YOU SHARE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, SO ALSO YOU SHARE IN OUR COMFORT. TikTok, for example, launched in September 2016, and by mid-2018, it had already reached half a billion users. To put this in perspective: TikTok gained, on average, about 20 million new users per month over this period. BIBLICAL CHARACTERS- BIBLE DOESN’T HIDE KING DAVID WAS DEPRESSED. (PSALM 13:1) JOB WAS HOPELESS. (JOB 3,4,7,15,16) ELIJAH WAS SUICIDAL (I KINGS 19) KING SOLOMON. HATED LIFE. (ECCLESIASTES 2:17) JEREMIAH WISHED HED NEVER BEEN BORN (JER 15:10) One of the crucial roles of the family of God is to offer comfort and support in times of suffering. According to Romans 12:15, we are to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” This happens because “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO- FUNERAL NEVER ALONE LOGO SLIDE TELL US A LITTLE OF YOUR STORY PARTCULARLY AS IT RELATES TO ANXIETY? WHEN DID IT START FOR YOU? HOW DID IT START? DID ANYONE ON YOUR TEAM KNOW? 2. HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO SOMEONE WHO SEES YOU, YOUR GIFTS AND STRENGTHS- YOUR ABILITIES AND WONDERS, WHY WOULD YOU EVER STRUGGLE WITH ANXIETY? WHEN HAD YOU EVER FAILED? WAS THAT A BIG PART? WHATS SOMETHING YOU THINK PEOPLE DON’T UDERSTAND ABOUT ANXIETY?What do you say to the person who says, Your a Christian, why are you taking medication?WHAT WAS PRAYER LIKE FOR YOU DURING THIS TIME?YOU TRANSFERRED FROM INDIANA BACK TO VIRGINIA- WE MOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS-YOU GOT HOME, WHAT PART HAS THAT PLAYED IN YOUR STORY?- WAS THERE A PERSON, A MOMENT, A SONG A PRAYER WHERE YOU HEARD THE LORD REALIGN YOU TO WHAT HE WANTED MORE THAN WHAT YOU WANTED? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED A VICTORY IN THIS AREA? ELIJAH HAS MAJOR VICTORY VS 450 PROPHETS BAAL SCRIPTURE I KINGS 19:3 3. ELIJAH WAS AFRAID AND FLED FOR HIS LIFE. HE WENT TO BEERSHEBA, A TOWN IN JUDAH, AND HE LEFT HIS SERVANT THERE. RAN 100 MILES SCRIPTURE I KINGS 19:4 4. THEN HE WENT ON ALONE INTO THE WILDERNESS, TRAVEING ALL DAY. HE SAT DOWN UNDER A SOLITARY BROOM TREE AND PRAYED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. SCRIPTURE 1 KINGS 19:5 5. “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH LORD, HE SAID. “TAKE MY LIFE, FOR I AM NO BETTER THAN MY ANCESTORS WHO HAVE ALREADY DIED. SCRIPTURE I KINGS 19:14 14. HE REPLIED AGAIN, “I HAVE ZEALOUSLY SERVED THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. BUT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAVE BROKEN THEIR COVENANT WITH YOU, TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND KILLED EVERY ONE OF YOUR PROPHETS. I AM THE ONLY ONE LEFT, AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL ME TOO. WE OFTEN DON’T SEE THINGS AS...

https://www.bible.com/events/49603042 https://www.bible.com/events/49603042 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Never Alone Part 2 Broken Relationships Today we continue in our teaching series called “Never Alone”. Throughout this series we are going to talk about common struggles that many of us experience but don’t always feel comfortable talking about in church. Part of our goal over the next few weeks is that we might disrupt one of the devil’s primary tactics of getting us to believe that we are alone in our struggle. Or that nobody else is dealing with it and therefore there must be something wrong with us and we should keep quiet about it. When we give into that temptation, we risk missing the healing that is available in Christ and in community with other believers. The truth for us today is that we are never truly alone. We are going to talk about broken or messy relationships. Often as believers we feel like we should have everything together. Our marriages would be perfect, our relationship with our kids would be perfect, and politics would never be an issue at the family reunion. And because we see everyone else smiling with their Sunday best every week, we think we are the only ones who have relationship challenges in our lives. So, we keep it to ourselves, we pull back from community into isolation, and we miss out on the opportunity for help and encouragement from others. Our goal today is to shine light on these areas of our lives and to see that we are never alone in facing relationship challenges. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬‬ The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Sin enters the human story and a relationship fractures. Adam, feeling the weight of his own shame and guilt, makes the classic move of passing the blame to his wife. “It was her fault.” And so, the story of broken relationships begins. Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Able. Cain became jealous and angry at his brother Able. So, he invites him out to the field and kills him. I wish we could say that things got better after this, but it doesn’t. It's not an exaggeration to say that you cant hardly open your bible without encountering a broken or messy relationship. As we have shined light onto this area of relationships, we also want to look to the scriptures for guidance as we seek the Lord in the area of our relationships. With the vast array of challenges we can face in our relationships, from marriage and family, to friends and co-workers, I wanted to try and offer a few key principals for how we can begin to seek the Lord and his healing in our lives. God cares about your relationships. He cares about you and your pain. Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 147:3 says "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." 1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Cast your cares on him, for he cares for you. As the Lord cares about us, he also cares about how we engage in relationships. As you look to the bible, there is an immense amount of teaching on how we are to relate to one another. Of the 10 commandments in the Old Testament, 6 of the 10 deal with how we relate to others. As we come into the teachings of Jesus, he summarized the entire Old Testament law by saying that we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He takes that a step further when he calls us to love even our enemies. Of course, just because Jesus said it, doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. But as followers of Jesus, the bible is our go to place for guidance for our relationships. As we look to the scriptures, we...

WELCOME- GLAD YOU ARE HERE- BAPTISMTHIS PAST WEEK- HOPE DISTRIBUTED HONOREDCHAMBER OF COMMERCE- NON PROFIT OF YEARQR CODE- NEED VOLUNTEERS (12 JMU STUDENTS) BAPTISM SUNDAY TODAY IS A CELEBRATIONLAST WEEK ENDING SERIES ON ENCOUNTERSSPOTLIGHT ON MAN SAUL- TERRORIST SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:1-2 MEANWHILE SAUL WAS UTTERING THREATS WITH EVERY BREATH AND WAS EAGER TO KILL THE LORDS FOLLOWERS. SO HE WENT TO THE HIGH PRIEST. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:3 3. AS HE WAS APPROACHING DAMSCUS ON THIS MISSION, A LIGHT FROM HEAVEN SUDDENLY SHONE DOWN AROUND HIM. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:4 4. HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND HEARD A VOICE SAYING TO HIM, “SAUL SAUL! WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?” SAUL ENCOUNTERS JESUS-PERSON HES PERSECUTING SAUL IS BLINDED AND LED TO DAMASCUS 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” ANNANIAS ANSWERED- FEARFUL- GO TO HIM-PRAY SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:15 15. BUT THE LORD SAID, “GO, FOR SAUL IS MY CHOSEN INSTRUMENT TO TAKE MY MESSAGE TO THE GENTILES AND TO KINGS, AS WELL AS TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:16 16. AND I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MUCH HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAMES SAKE.” SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:17 17. SO ANNAIAS WENT AND FOUND SAUL. HE LAID HIS HANDS ON HIM AND SAID, “BROTHER SAUL, THE LORD JESUS, WHO APPEARED TO YOU ON THE ROAD, SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:17 17. HAS SENT ME SO THAT YOU MIGHT REGAIN YOUR SIGHT AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:18 18. INSTANTLY SOMETHING LKE SCALES FELL FROM SAUL’S EYES AND HE REGAINED HIS SIGHT. THEN HE GOT UP AND WAS BAPTIZED. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:19 19. AFTERWARD HE ATE SOME FOOD AND REGAINED HIS STRENGTH. SAUL STAYED WITH THE BELIEVERS IN DAMASCUS FOR A FEW DAYS. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:20 20. AND IMMEDIATELY HE BEGAN PREACHING ABOUT JESUS IN THE SYNANGOGUES, SAYING, “HE IS INDEED THE SON OF GOD!” SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:21 21. ALL WHO HEARD HIM WERE AMAZED. ISN’T THIS THE SAME MAN WHO CAUSED SUCH DEVASTATION AMONG JESUS’ FOLLOWERS IN JERUSALEM?” THEY ASKED SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:21 21. “AND DIDN’T HE COME HERE TO ARREST THEM AND TAKE THEM IN CHAINS TO THE LEADING PRIESTS?” SCIPTURE ACTS 9:22 22. SAUL’S PREACHING BECAME MORE AND MORE POWERFUL, AND THE JEWS IN DAMSCUS COULDN’T REFUTE HIS PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS INDEED THE MESSIAH. PAUL- NO CLASS-NO MEMBERSHIP- DON’T HAVE CLOTHES WHAT SO WHAT IS BAPTISM? MENTIONED 77 TIMES IN NTBAPTIZO- PLUNGE- IMMERSE- SHIP SINKING IT MARKS A BREAK WITH THE PAST AND A BOLD STATEMENT WITH THE FUTURE LIFE IN CHRIST NICK STITZMAN- RAILROAD CAR WORKER STUCK IN A REFRIGERATOR CARSTARTS WRITING NOTES- THINKS HES DYING WHO ANYONE WHO GETS SAVED SHOULD GET BAPTIZEDBAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE YOUYOU DON’T DO IT TO BE SAVED GREAT COMMISION BARNA REPORT-REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDERSHOW MANY KNOW WHAT GREAT COMMISION IS?52 % OF CHURCH GOERS DON’T KNOW25 % HEARD OF IT- CAN’T RECALL EXACT MEANING17 % YES AND IT MEANS…6 % I’M NOT SURE- LESS THAN 1 IN 5 KNOWS WHAT IT IS AND ITS MEANING SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 28:16 16. THEN THE ELEVEN DISCIPLES WENT TO GALILEE, TO THE MOUNTAIN WHERE JESUS HAD TOLD THEM TO GO CRIPTURE MATTHEW 28:17 17. WHEN THEY SAW HIM, THEY WORSHIPPED HIM; BUT SOME DOUBTED. (WORSHIP AND DOUBT PRESENT) SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 28:18 18. THEN JESUS CAME TO THEM AND SAID, “ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 28:19 19. THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 28:20 20. AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE. 98% AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WILL DIE WITHOUT EVER SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH ANYONE OUTSIDE-FAMILY TEACH THEM TO OBEY MOST OF WHAT I SUGGESTED WHY THE WHY IS JESUSJESUS PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNIONJESUS GETS BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING WET- ITS ABOUT BEING WOVEN INTO GODS STORY ITS NOT JUST A SPIRITUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY IT’S A SPIRTUAL ALLEGIANCE THIS IS BURIAL AND BIRTH ALL...

https://www.bible.com/events/49599824 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Never Alone Part 1 Anxiety and Depression Today we are starting a new teaching series called “Never Alone”. Throughout this series we are going to talk about common struggles that many of us experience but don’t always feel comfortable talking about in church. Part of our goal over the next few weeks is that we might disrupt one of the devil’s primary tactics of getting us to believe that we are alone in our struggle. Or that nobody else is dealing with it and therefore there must be something wrong with us and we should keep quiet about it. When we give into that temptation, we risk missing the healing that is available in Christ and in community with other believers. The truth for us today is that we are never truly alone. Our series begins today talking about depression and anxiety. Anxiety and depression can bring a certain sense of shame, especially for the Christian, which then often results in a reluctance to talk about it openly. Depression and Anxiety are not new problems facing the people of God. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭5‬‬ Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. One example in the Old Testament is the prophet, Elijah...He was a mighty man of God, sent to call the hearts of Israel back to God. He experienced great spiritual victories and the full depths of despair that we can experience. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭2‬-‭5‬‬ So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” If we follow Jesus into the garden of gethsemane, we see him there experiencing such extreme anguish and sorrow that he said that he was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭44‬‬ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. From the Old Testament throughout the New Testament and even in the story of Jesus we see people of faith dealing with depression and anxiety. And God’s people are dealing with these things today. In our campus and across our other locations. You are truly not alone. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭7‬‬ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭29‬‬ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. The invitation to find healing in Christ, doesn’t exclude pursing healing through other avenues. We believe that God has gifted people in the field of counselling and that a counsellor may play a critical and life giving role in pursing healing. Talking to Jesus about your anxiety or depression, doesn’t mean you don’t talk to your doctor about it, it doesn’t mean you don’t receive medical care or medicine in your journey of health. The invitation is that we take that journey, with the Holy Spirit guidance and peace that only he can give to us. And to the point of this series, as we take that journey with Jesus in pursing healing, we can open ourselves up to...

On today’s broadcast of Hope Talks we are joined by Pastor Kevin Griffin. Pastor Kevin joins us today to talk about how God called us to be discipled and to disciple others. We also talk about the importance of evangelism. We pray that today’s broadcast is a half hour of hope for your life.We would love to hear your feedback on HOPE Talks! Below is the link to a short survey! https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPageV2.aspx?prevorigin=shell&origin=NeoPortalPage&subpage=design&id=rMtAr_aDl02Dki0XlUrGIhYk-WuZPbRHkFKyO4BJJKdURTIyS1JBNU1TSjRYQjA3VVo5RlNPT0dSWS4u

What does an “encounter with the Lord” look like? Calls you by name Confronts you about sin in your life and the need to repent Convicts you about actions you need to take Speaks over you who you are in Him Reveals truth to you that you have not “seen” yet Directs you to do something specific Overwhelms you with peace/courage at a time when only He could Transforms you into a new creation by His grace through faith Acts 9:1-19 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Knowing Christ vs. Knowing about Christ Knowing About Christ Matthew 15:8-9 (Isaiah 29:13) “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” Knowing Christ Philippians 3:7-11 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. When Paul speaks of “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,” then, he means that he has acknowledged God’s great act of deliverance in Christ and submitted to Christ’s lordship. To know Jesus is not the same as knowing about His historical life; it is not the same as knowing correct doctrines regarding Jesus; it is not the same as knowing His moral example, and it is not the same as knowing His great work on our behalf. To know Him means to grow in practical day-by-day...

WELCOME - SERIES ON ENCOUNTERSSTARTED 3 WEEKS AGO PALM SUNDAY JESUS ENCOUNTERED THE PHARISEES- LAST WEEK- HYPOCRITES WEEK 2- MARY (SEEMED MES FAR FROM GOD- 7 DEMONS)WEEK 3- 2 ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS- EYES WERE OPEN WEEK 4: BEFORE GET TO TODAYS MAIN ENCOUNTER LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS ENCOUNTER ENCOUNTER: UNEXPECTED, UNPLANNED SUDDEN MEETING VIDEO SHOWS JESUS ENCOUNTER WITH MATTHEW MATTHEW WAS A TAX COLLECTOR- HATED BY ALL MATTHEW A JEW RIPPING OFF JEWS FOR ROMANS DEMOCRATS DIDN’T LIKE HIM- REPUBLICANS DIDN’T MATTHEW 9:9 9. AS JESUS WENT ON FROM THERE, HE SAW A MAN NAMED MATTHEW SITTING AT THE TAX COLLETOR’S BOOTH. “FOLLOW ME,” HE TOLD HIM, AND MATTHEW GOT UP AND FOLLOWED HIM. “SAW” MEANS HERE- DIDN’T SPOKE TODIDN’T WALK PASTNOTICE- GLANCE ATOBSERVE- RED SHIRT/JEANSMEANS TO RECOGNIZE AND FULLY KNOW HE SAW AND KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME MATTHEW DOESN’T MENTION THIS TILL CHAPTER 9 KIDS WATCHED CERTAIN MOVIES OVER AND OVERJAS WAS YOUNG SHE WATCH SOUL SURFER A LOTSOUL SURFER TRUE STORY BETHANY HAMILTON13 YEAR OLD BETHANY HAMILTON SURFINGSHARK ATTACK- LOSES HER ARMRETURNS TO COMPETITVE SURFINGJAS WATCHED AND WATCHED- LOVED STORYWET GREY RAINY DAY IN JUNE IN OCNJJAS IS PROB 8 YEARS OLDMY PARENTS/JAS/ME. OFF IN DISTANCE NO ONE ELSELOOKING DOWN BEACH-A COUPLE PEOPLELITTLE GIRL- CAMERA MAN- SURFING BOARDTHEY GET IN WATER- WE WAITBEACH IS TOTALLY EMPTYMY DAD WALKS DOWN AND ASKS CAMERA GUY JAS /BETHANY HAMILTON JAS ENCOUNTERS BETHANY HAMILTONUNEXPECTED/UNPLANNED MEETINGAWE STRUCK- WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? JEREMIAH SAW THE PICTURE- WHY YOU SHOWING THIS- SERIES ON ENCOUNTERS HE SAYS “YOU KNOW IF YOU WANNA TELL A STORY ABOUT ME- YOU CAN SHARE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ENCOUNTER ME” JEREMIAH FRIENDS MAYCEE AND ALI ENCOUNTER JERRY ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ENCOUNTERS EVER SCRIPTURE ACTS 7:54 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. SCRIPTURE ACTS 7:55 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. SCRIPTURE ACTS 7:56 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” SCRIPTURE ACTS 7:57-58 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. SCRIPTURE ACTS 7:59 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” SCRIPTURE ACTS 7:60 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. STEPHEN STONING SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:1 “MEANWHILE, SAUL WAS STILL BREATHING OUT MURDEROUS THREATS AGAINST THE LORD’S DISCIPLES. HE WENT TO THE HIGH PRIEST. Acts 9 NLT 9 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:2 AND ASKED HIM FOR LETTERS TO THE SYNAGOGUES IN DAMASCUS, SO THAT IF FOUND ANY THERE WHO BELONGED TO THE WAY, WHETHER MEN OR WOMEN, HE MIGHT TAKE THEM AS PRISONERS TO JERUSALEM. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9: 3-4 AS HE NEARED DAMASCUS ON HIS JOURNEY, SUDDENLY A LIGHT FROM HEAVEN FLASHED AROUND HIM. HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND HEARD A VOICE SAY TO HIM, “SAUL, SAUL, WY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?” LATER MID DAY ACTS 26:13 KING AGRIPA SUPER BRIGHT SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:5-6 “WHO ARE YOU, LORD?” SAUL ASKED. “I AM JESUS, WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING,” HE REPLIED. 6. “NOW GET UP AND GO INTO THE CITY, AND YOU WLL BE TOLD WHAT YOU MUST DO.” SCRIPTURE ACTS 9:7 7. THE MEN TRAVELING WITH SAUL STOOD THERE SPEECHLESS; THEY HEARD THE SOUND BUT DID NOT SEE ANYONE. SCRIPTURE ACTS 9: 8-9 8. SAUL GOT UP FROM THE GROUND, BUT WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES, HE COULD SEE NOTHING. SO THEY LED HIM BY THE HAND INTO DAMASCUS. FOR THREE DAYS HE WAS BLIND, AND DID NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING.” NT WRIGHT PAUL PRAYING/RECITING...

https://www.bible.com/events/49592769 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Encounters Part 3 The Emmaus Road encounter Today we continue in our Easter teaching series called Encounters. We are looking at different stories in the bible where people personally encounter Jesus. Today we are looking at Jesus’ encounter with two disciples walking down the Emmaus Road What did this encounter mean for them? What can we learn for our lives today? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭13‬-‭16‬‬ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. In Lukes Gospel, this is the first post-resurrection encounter of Jesus. As they are walking along, the text says they were discussing everything that had happened. The language here indicates this more than a casual discussion- it was one of passion and perhaps even debate. Disillusioned and confused, they start walking away- trying to sort it all out as they go down the road. And that’s when Jesus shows up. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭17‬‬ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. The weight they were carrying becomes clear as Jesus invites himself into their conversation. Literally the emotion, the burden of what has just taken place is written all over their face. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭18‬-‭21‬‬ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In the Jewish tradition, 3 days after death was the point of no return- death was final at that point. For these disciples, it was more than Jesus that was dead- their hope of him overthrowing the Roman’s and returning the nation of Israel to a place of prominence and freedom was over too. What they had focused on, what they thought was sure to come, what they were excited about- was over. It didn’t come, and seemingly never would. Have you ever been there? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭22‬-‭24‬‬ In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭25‬-‭27‬‬ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Jesus continues the conversation with some stiff words- calling out their resistance to believing all that was written about Jesus. It’s interesting here- Jesus doesn’t go after them for not believing his own teaching, or his own words about his identity and resurrection. He doesn’t even rebuke them for not believing the testimony of the women, or the other disciples, or even the empty tomb itself. He calls them out because they have not believed what the word of God, the bible said about him. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭28‬-‭29‬‬ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. Jesus was willing...

ENCOUNTERS WELCOME- HAPPY EASTER- STARTED SERIESSPOTLIGHT ON ENCOUNTERS WITH JESUSSTARTING WITH PALM SUNDAY-PASSION WEEK LAST WEEK- JESUS ENTERS A PARADE JESUS -LAST WEEK LAST MOMENTS LAST BREATH PHARISEES – ADDRESSES HYPOCRISY THIS WEEK- SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON MARY MAGDALENE MARY MAGDALENE -BEEN WITH JESUS FOR A WHILE MARY MAGDALENE- HEALED OF 7 DEMONS THERE WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED-SUPORTER OF JESUS PAINTING OF MARY MAGDALENE ARCHEOLOGIST DISCOVERED MANY REMNANTS CHURCH - DUC IN ALTUM (PUT OUT INTO DEEP)ATRIUM DEDICATED TO WOMENBEAUTIFUL MOSAIC DEDICATED TO MARY MAGD THIS IS THE CHOSENS INTERPRETATION MARY MAGDALENE- MEETS JESUS MARY ENCOUNTERS- THE ENCOUNTERS JESUS HAD WITH PEOPLE STARTING WITH PALM SUNDAY THROUGH PASSION WEEK AND BEYOND WHERE DID WE END ON FRIDAY NIGHT MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY SIT FACING A STONE SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:1 “EARLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE TOMB AND SAW THE STONE HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ENTRANCE. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:2 SO SHE CAME RUNNING TO SIMON PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE, THE ONE JESUS LOVED, AND SAID, “THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LORD OUT OF THE TOMB, AND WE DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM!” SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:3-4 SO PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE STARTED FOR THE TOMB. BOTH WERE RUNNING, BUT THE OTHER DISCIPLE OUTRAN PETER AND REACHED THE TOMB FIRST. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:5-6 5 HE BENT OVER AND LOOKED IN AT THE STRIPS OF LINEN LYING THERE BUT DID NOT GO IN. THEN SIMON PETER CAME ALONG BEHIND HIM AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE TOMB. HE SAW THE STRIPS AND LINEN LYING THERE, JOHN FASTER- PETER LESS SCADER. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:7-8 7. AS WELL AS THE CLOTH HAD BEEN WRAPPED AROUND JESUS’ HEAD. THE CLOTH WAS STILL LYING IN ITS PLACE, SEPARATE FROM THE LINEN. FINALLY THE OTHER DISCIPLE, WHO HAD REACHED THE TOMB FIRST, ALSO WENT INSIDE. HE SAW AND BELIEVED. BELIEVED WHAT? WHY? WHAT DO YOU HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING IN? ANNA BAGENHOLM SKIING ACCIDENT- TRAPPED ICE- PUPILS DIALATEDShe had no heart beat for 2 hours 35 minutes Bågenholm's spent the following 35 days connected to a JUSTIN SMITH attempted to walk home 2 MILES in Tresckow, PA, wearing hoodie and jeans.Temp-4 DEGREES- passed out snowdrift (12 hours) father, Don Smith, found him the next morning. Justin was rigid, his skin was purple, and he had no pulse or breathing. Paramedics assumed DEAD, sheet placed over him- 1 SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:9-10 9. (THEY STILL DID NOT UNDERSTAND FROM SCRIPTURE THAT JESUS HAD TO RISE FROM THE DEAD) THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE STAYING SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:11-12 11. NOW MARY STOOD OUTSIDE THE TOMB CRYING. AS SHE WEPT, SHE BENT OVER TO LOOK INTO THE TOMB AND SAW TWO ANGELS IN WHITE, SEATED WHERE JESUS’ BODY HAD BEEN, ONE AT THE HEAD AND THE OTHER AT THE FOOT. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFIGANCE OF THIS?ON TOP- 2 ANGELS- ONE ON EACH END THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OLD TESTAMENT- THE PRESENCE OF GOD LIVED HERE ARK TRAVELED AT ONE POINTARK THEN ENDS UP IN THE TEMPLEONCE A YEAR- THE HIGH PRIEST HOLY OF HOLIES VODDIE BAUCHAUM WHAT WAS HE SAYING? ADMIT YOUR’E A SINNER- IN NEED OF A SAVIORBELIEVE ON AND IN THE LORD JESUSCONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:13 13. THEY ASKED HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?’ “THEY HAVE TAKEN MY LORD AWAY,” SHE SAID, “AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM.” VERSE 2 SHE SAID THE LORD- ITS PERSONAL SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:14 14. AT THIS, SHE TURNED AROUND AND SAW JESUS STANDING THERE, BUT SHE DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS JESUS. SCRIPITURE JOHN 20:15 15. HE ASKED HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING? WHO IS IT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?” THINKING HE WAS THE GARDNER, SHE SAID, “SIR, IF YOU HAVE CARRIED HIM AWAY, TELL ME WHERE YOU HAVE PUT HIM, AND I WILL GET HIM.” HOW DOES SHE NOT KNOW WHO HE IS ? DARK- SHES CRYINGSHE HAS ZERO EXPECTATION HE IS ALIVE REMBRANDT PAINTING JESUS GARDNER SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:16 16. JESUS SAID TO HER, “MARY.” SHE TUNRED TOWARD HIM AND CRIED OUT IN ARAMAIC, “RABBONI!” (WHICH MEANS “TEACHER”) SERIES...

https://www.bible.com/events/49589832 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Encounters Part 2- Easter Sunday Mary Magdalene Today we continue in our Easter teaching series called Encounters. We are looking at different stories in the bible where people personally encounter Jesus. Today we are looking at Jesus’ encounter with Mary Magdalene on resurrection Sunday morning. What did this encounter mean for Mary? What can we learn from it today? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬ After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. We learn that Jesus had healed Mary from evil spirits and infirmities- It tells us specifically that 7 demons were cast out of her life. And that’s all we really know about her background She was once in darkness, living with demonic presence in her life. But an encounter with Jesus was all it took. And her life was changed forever. What about you? ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬‬ Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. The last time Mary saw Jesus. He was dead. It was on the evening of Good Friday after she witnessed Jesus lifeless body being placed in the tomb, with a large stone rolled in front of the entrance. That stone on Friday evening had to feel like the end of her world. Hopeless and heavy. And she carried that same feeling with her on Sunday morning. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬-‭7‬‬ So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Mary’s only conclusion at the sight of the stone being rolled away is that someone has taken the body of Jesus out of the tomb. She runs to tell the other disciples. The other disciple who is not named here, is believed to be John, the one writing this gospel. Peter arrives and goes right on in to see for himself. He is taking it all in, trying to process the evidence that’s right in front of him. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬-‭13‬‬ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” Mary is still so upset, that she is seemingly unphased by the sight of two angels as she looks in the tomb. As the angels ask about her condition, she can only reply that someone has taken away Jesus. And now comes Mary’s encounter – the one that would change her forever…the one that would change the world – change you. If you let it. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭14‬-‭16‬‬ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was...

WELCOME- START OF PASSION WEEK BEGIN NEW SERIES ENCOUNTERSENCOUNTERS JESUS HAD THIS SEASON SET THE SCENE- MATTHEW 21 ( ALL 4 WRITERS SAY) 21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away. 10 day of Nisan This was the day they selected the lamb to be sacrificed on the 14th day- the day when Jesus this lamb would ride. He then says to them and us- I will take on the entire sin nature of these dirty people The mud was cleaner than the souls of the people LIMO VEHICLE VLADIMIR PUTIN CAR HELICOPTER FORMER BRITTISH PRIME MINISTERRISHI SUNAK TRAIN ARORMORED- FOOD SECURE- POWEREDKIM JONG UN DONKEY LAST YEAR PASTOR STEPHEN WILLISDONKEY- THIS CROSS DESGN ON ITS BACK HORSE- A WAR HORSE RODE DONKEY MEANS YOU “COME” IN PEACEWAR HORSE MEANS YOU COME TO …SIZE DIFFERNCES ARE BIG SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:9 9. “REJOICE, O PEOPLE OF ZION! SHOUT IN TRIUMPH, O PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM! SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:9 9. LOOK YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU. HE IS RIGHTEOUS AND VICTORIOUS, YET HE IS HUMBLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY- RIDING ON A DONKEY’S FOAL. SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:10 10. I WILL REMOVE THE BATTLE CHARIOTS FROM ISRAEL AND THE WARHORSES FROM JERUSALEM. SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:10 10. I WILL DESTROY ALL THE WEAPONS USED IN BATTLE, AND YOUR KING WILL BRING PEACE TO THE NATIONS. HOSANA-(SAVE NOW) PALM BRANCHES SCRIPTURE 9:10 10. HIS REALM WILL STRETCH FROM SEA TO SEA AND FROM THE EUPHRATES RIVER TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” THE VISUAL PICTURE DIFFERENCE JESUS ARRIVES ON A COLT- PEACE-HUMILITY WASN’T THE FIRST KING TO ARRIVE DONKEY- SOLOMON RODE IN TO JERUSALEM SCRIPTURE LUKE 19:41 41. “AS HE APPROACHED JERUSALEM AND SAW THE CITY HE WEPT OVER IT.” WHY- WHY IS HE WEEPING?BECAUSE OF THE PAIN WILL SUFFER? PASSION WEEK FOCUS MATTHEW – 40 %- LAST WEEK OF JESUS LIFE MARK- 60 % LUKE 33 % JOHN- ALMOST 50 % HOW MUCH TIME THIS WEEK IN REFLECTION? BE INTENTIONAL IN REPENTANCE- IN PRAISE SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:13 13. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (1)YOU SHUT THE DOOR OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN PEOPLES FACES. HYPOCRITE DEFINED A PERSON WHO PRETENDS TO HAVE MORAL STANDARDS OR OPINIONS THAT THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE. ACTOR Ain’t going to church- church is full of hypocrites- TRUE ON SOME LEVELI also had some relatives and friends who loved Jesus and they were NOT hypocrites- do you know some real very real THE HYPOCRISY STARTED 6 DAYS BEFORE THIS JUDAS AND JESUS BEING ANOINTED- WOW WHAT A JOKE THIS WAS – JUDAS WHEN YOU HEAR HYPCOCRITE- YOU THINK OF WHAT IT IS OR DO YOU PICTURE A FACE? LANCE ARMSTRONG/HOLLYWOOD NOT PICKING ON LANCE- BUT HE TALKEDHOLLYWOOD- EVERYONE GETS UPSET THEM SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:13 13. YOU YOURSELVES DO NOT ENTER, NOR WILL YOU LET THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23 23. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (2) YOU GIVE A TENTH OF YOUR SPICES-MINT, DILL, CUMIN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23 23. BUT YOU HAVE NEGLECTED THE MORE IMPORTANT MATTER OF THE LAW-JUSTICE, MERCY, AND FAITHFULNESS. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23 23. YOU SHOULD HAVE PRACTICED THE LATTER, WITHOUT NEGELCTING THE FORMER. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:24 24. YOU BLIND GUIDES! YOU STRAIN OUT A GNAT BUT SWALLOW A CAMEL.” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:25 25. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (3) CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, BUT INSIDE THEY ARE FULL OF GREED AND SELF-INDULGENCE. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:26 26. BLIND PHARISEE! FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, AND THEN THE OUTSIDE ALSO WILL BE CLEAN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:27 27. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (4) YOU ARE LIKE WHITE WASHED TOMBS, SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:27 27....

https://www.bible.com/events/49585583 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Encounters Part 1 The Pharisee's Today we begin our Easter teaching series called Encounters. Throughout this series we will be looking at encounters that Jesus had with people to see how it changed their lives and what we can learn for our lives today. Our series begins today with Jesus encountering the Pharisee's in Matthew 23. This particular encounter we are looking at today, happens on Tuesday of passion week. Throughout the gospel accounts you will read of different encounters with the Pharisee’s and legal experts. The Pharisee’s were a group of Jewish religious folks who had completely separated their lives from normal activity to dedicate themselves to the strict observing of the law of Moses. They were the best of the best as far as being religious goes. The Legal experts or scribes (depending on your translation) that are also mentioned here in the text- They were professional religious intellectuals. They were highly trained in the law of Moses, they were often asked to teach and give rulings when there was a dispute. After multiple failed attempts to trap Jesus in his words, Jesus turns his attention to the crowds of people in the temple and addresses them. That’s where we pick up in Matthew 23 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭7‬‬ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. Jesus reveals that most of what these Pharisee’s were doing, was for show, was to impress other people- Jesus says “don’t do that” After speaking to the crowds, he then turns his attention directly to the Pharisee’s and legal experts and begins to reveal what’s really behind all of their religious practices. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬-‭14‬‬ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. The word hypocrite here means to be a play actor, a pretender. A person who does right things for the wrong reasons. A person who says one thing and does another. Jesus calls the Pharisee’s and legal experts hypocrites because all of their religious rules and activities actually prevent people from finding God- and they themselves don’t even have a relationship with him. They are pretending. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭15‬-‭22‬‬ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. Here Jesus seems to be calling out a convoluted system of swearing oaths-...

How can we live "strong in grace.”? The answer is quite plain and simple: We grow strong in grace when we understand God's unconditional forgiveness of us, then learn to unconditionally forgive others. God calls us to grow strong in giving grace to others — growing in Christlikeness Giving grace to another person is simply to forgive them, unconditionally, just as God forgave us through Christ SO, WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? Forgiveness = Deliberate release of anger, resentment, and other negative feelings toward someone who has wronged you GRUDGE (Merriam-Webster) A persistent, long-lasting feeling of deep-seated resentment, bitterness, or ill will toward someone, often stemming from a past insult, injury, or perceived wrongdoing. It involves holding onto anger rather than letting it go, sometimes leading to a desire for retaliation or a continued refusal to forgive. It negatively impacts your relationship with God. It negatively impacts your other relationships. It affects your health. — mentally and physically It affects your soul Hebrews 12:14-15 (tells us what happens when we fall short of grace): Ephesians 4:30-32 Get rid of all bitterness,forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? Oswald Chambers. We trample the blood of the Son of God if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and for the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the atonement which He has worked out for us. It does not matter who or what we are; there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at a door other than the one that Jesus has opened. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy. "The purpose of the cross," someone observed, "is to repair the irreparable.” Matthew 6:14-15 (directly after teaching them how to pray ‘Lord’s Prayer’) 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Unforgiveness is inherently contradictory to godliness “Often it is the case that we judge others by their worst actions, and we judge ourselves by our best intentions.” Just as we don't deserve God's forgiveness, someone you know may not deserve yours. “The devil doesn’t care if you go to church or read your Bible as long as you don’t apply it to your life.” THE LITMUS TEST FOR GRACE Have you extended the grace of God, the grace of forgiveness, towards the person(s) who has hurt you the most and least deserves it? Forgiveness is an action you must choose, rather than a feeling you must create THE CHOICE IS CLEAR AND IT’S YOURS TODAY Repent of unforgiveness & Release it so you no longer carry that anger/resentment/grudge no matter how justified you feel in doing so.

The Hurdle of Unforgiveness Recap – Pastor Jared has been sharing over the past few weeks about the hurdles to our faith sharing and asking to evaluate us where we are in these potential hurdles and how they are impeding us? Are we attempting to live a saved life without actually giving our life to Jesus, have we fully surrendered and received the gift of sanctification that frees us from a desire to live in the depths of sin, and then he reminded us the destruction that even a little bit of sin will bring to our lives (or our water!). This morning, we will look at another hurdle that often impedes our faith. This hurdle is one that will keep us bound, keep us stuck, cause physical illness, and even paralyze us in hopes to hurt another – the hurdle of unforgiveness. I don’t want you to stop listening before we even dive in this morning so I want to speak to those of you in the room that may have suffered deep betrayal, hurt, or abuse – whatever your story – forgiveness is essential BUT is not forgetting, it is not validating a persons poor choices. Forgiveness is not an invitation to more hurt, it is an invitation in Christ for healing. It does not even require reconciliation it is an invitation to our release and restoration. And though it does not require reconciliation with those relationships that need boundaries or are no longer continued at all– I will also remind you that all relationships this side of heaven at some point will require forgiveness – even the best ones. PRAY When I heard we were going to tackle hurdles to our faith – I chuckled as I remembered in middle school being asked by a friend if I would run track with her and be on her hurdle relay team – I think that is what its called. We ran with our batons and passed it as we also ran and jumped over the hurdles. We even went home with a metal from a huge track and field event that we had the opportunity to participate in. Wow! Cant you just see me jumping over hurdles with ease? Me neither, not now. It is only a fond memory, and I can only think of the physical pain that would result if I attempted anything remotely like that now. For me it feels more like a wall than difficulty or an obstacle. Do we feel the same way about forgiving those in our lives that have wronged us. It is more than a hurdle – it’s a wall, it feels impossible. You may be thinking to yourself, You don’t know what I’ve been through, what they did, what they said – if I forgive I will give freedom to hurt me again, it will validate their behavior, or they don’t deserve it. Forgiveness is a gift … a gift I just can’t give them. And for those moments you carry – I am truly sorry. This is a tough message but one with deep hope on the other side. FORGIVENESS is a GIFT that we have all been given the opportunity to receive, and one we CERTAINLY don’t deserve. Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed". We have all been given opportunity for forgiveness of our sins through his name - through his wounds. All of us simply by believing, by receiving. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7 This is the foundation of our faith – the gift we are given through Christ. He bought our redemption by his blood, his sacrifice allows for the forgiveness of our sin according to the riches of His incredible, indescribable grace. We have (present tense) redemption as we say yes to him and invite him in. If you have not received him as your Savior – that is the most important message of forgiveness that you should hear this morning. He died to provide forgiveness for our sins, to provide redemption when we do not deserve it, when we will never deserve it. That’s what makes it the greatest gift. Receiving this gift available to us is foundational to our Christian faith. As we...

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49578577 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus Hurdles Part 3 Control freak… We are continuing in our 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”. Throughout this series we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ. Today we are talking about the […]

Panel Discussion on the hurdles of our culture ““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49575323 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus Hurdles Part 2 A little dance with darkness… We are continuing in our 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”. Throughout this series we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ. Today we […]