Because He lives, you and I can live! Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Easter answers Job’s question.
The resurrection of Christ is the core of our faith. The Apostle Paul stated: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9,10). Jesus said: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).
The resurrection of Christ is foundational. It is the cornerstone of Christianity. Just as our heart pumps blood to every organ in our body, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart of the Gospel that pumps life to every doctrinal truth. It is central! In the New Testament alone, it is referred to 104 times. Peter’s first message at Pentecost that led to a great revival was founded and built around the truth of the resurrection.
I Corinthians 15:12-19 reveals that everything stands or falls with Christ’s bodily resurrection. If Christ did not conquer death by rising from the tomb, we would all be false witnesses still dead in our trespasses and sins.
I Corinthians 15:17- “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain (worthless); ye are yet in your sins.”
Acts 4:33- “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
Matthew 12:40- “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
I Corinthians 15:3-4- “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
The proclamation of Christ’s resurrection was the very heart and theme of the early church. The fact that He arose was the motivation behind every suffering and sacrificial endeavor for Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fundamental doctrine of Christianity. The following passages reveal it is clearly an essential part of the Gospel.
1)Anticipated and announced in the Old and New Testament
•Psalm 118:22-24
“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
•Isaiah 52:13; 53:10-12 (Isaiah spoke of a future day of redemption)
•Jonah 2:1-9 (Jonah is a type of Christ- Matthew 12:39-41)
•Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:17-19 (Jesus regularly referred to this before His disciples)
•John 2:22 (The disciples finally remembered after it was a fact)
•Acts 13:33
•Matthew 27:63-64 (The enemies of Jesus remembered)
2)Post-resurrection witnesses
•1st appearance- Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11)
•2nd appearance- Other women (Matthew 28:8-10)
•3rd appearance- Peter (I Corinthians 15:5)
•4th appearance- Two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
•5th appearance (Sunday evening)- 10 Apostles in the Upper Room without Thomas (John 20:19-25; Luke 24:36-43)
•6th appearance (The following Sunday)- 11 Apostles and Thomas believes (John 20:26-28)
•7th appearance- 7 disciples by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-14)
•8th appearance- 500 at a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; I Corinthians 15:6)
•9th appearance- Half-brother James (I Corinthians 15:7)
•10 appearance- The disciples again in Jerusalem (Acts 1:3-8; Luke 24:44-49)
3)Christ’s Ascension to Heaven
•Acts 1:11
“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
•Mark 16:1-20
•Luke 24:50-53
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
January 2010 Events/Services
Weekly- Sunday school (9:15AM); Worship Service (10:30AM); Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:00PM); Visitation
Monthly- Mission gift designated to a particular missionary family or individual (Jan.- Van Delinder family)
Jan. 10th- Church business meeting to follow our morning service (2010 Budget; outreach plans)
Jan. 31st- Sunday 9:15AM, 10:30AM- Missionary guest Jeremy Van Delinder and his family (They are planting a church in Austin, TX, later this year.); 6:30PM- Pizza/Game night with missionary family
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Contemplating Christmas
As we focus on Christmas, consider what I John 4:9 says, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him." Charles Spurgeon said, "The holiday will come and go, so we must now take the opportunity to exalt Jesus Christ."
Christmas is not just a date on our calendar. Christmas is the heralding of the entrance of God into human history! It is heaven descending to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Our response should be the same as the angels on Christmas Eve: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14).
The Gifts of Christmas
The Magi had seen Christ's star in the east and had come specifically to worship the newborn King. They were humbled by Christ's coming and fell at His feet (Matthew 2:11). They presented to Him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Observe how these gifts symbolize precious truths concerning worship and sacrificial giving. Should we not fall down before Him and worship Him with our gifts?
1. Gold - Nothing less than a gift of gold was worthy of their act of worship. The dignity of the occasion required the best that they could give. Gold was a recognition of Christ's sovereignty. "What an indictment this is on our approach to worship in our day! So often we hurry to church without real preparation of heart and mind"(Olford).
2. Frankincense - This was used by the priests in connection with an offering of sacrifice to God. Figuratively, it speaks of devotional fervor and recognition of Christ's deity (Jesus is God).
3. Myrrh - Nicodemus brought myrrh and aloes to the grave to embalm the body of Jesus (John 19:39). Myrrh speaks of suffering. This was a recognition of Christ's humanity.
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)
Bible Verses for Christmas Evangelism
John 10:10,11
"… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: The good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
I Timothy 3:16
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
Isaiah 9:6
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
II Corinthians 8:9
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
I John 2:1-2
"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Fulfilled prophecies of Christmas
God never works haphazardly! He is a God of order. At precisely the right time in history, Jesus Christ was born (Galatians 4:4-5). Furthermore, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would come at just the right time in Israel's history (Isaiah 49:8). As the Jewish fathers choose the time for their sons to become adult sons, so the Heavenly Father chose the time for His Son to arrive.
The message of Christmas was prophesied over 700 years before the birth of Christ. The theme of Old Testament prophecy is the coming of a king. There are at least 189 prophecies in the New Testament that associate Christ to His coming as King.
1. He would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5). "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
2. He would be called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:19-21).
3. There would be weeping in Rama (Matthew 2:17-18). " Rachael weeping for her children" (Jeremiah 31:15)
4. He shall be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
5. He shall be virgin born and rise out of Israel. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6) "…there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." (Numbers 24:17)
As you contemplate Christmas this year, make sure that your focus is on the CHRIST of Christmas.
Christmas is not just a date on our calendar. Christmas is the heralding of the entrance of God into human history! It is heaven descending to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Our response should be the same as the angels on Christmas Eve: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14).
The Gifts of Christmas
The Magi had seen Christ's star in the east and had come specifically to worship the newborn King. They were humbled by Christ's coming and fell at His feet (Matthew 2:11). They presented to Him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Observe how these gifts symbolize precious truths concerning worship and sacrificial giving. Should we not fall down before Him and worship Him with our gifts?
1. Gold - Nothing less than a gift of gold was worthy of their act of worship. The dignity of the occasion required the best that they could give. Gold was a recognition of Christ's sovereignty. "What an indictment this is on our approach to worship in our day! So often we hurry to church without real preparation of heart and mind"(Olford).
2. Frankincense - This was used by the priests in connection with an offering of sacrifice to God. Figuratively, it speaks of devotional fervor and recognition of Christ's deity (Jesus is God).
3. Myrrh - Nicodemus brought myrrh and aloes to the grave to embalm the body of Jesus (John 19:39). Myrrh speaks of suffering. This was a recognition of Christ's humanity.
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)
Bible Verses for Christmas Evangelism
John 10:10,11
"… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: The good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
I Timothy 3:16
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
Isaiah 9:6
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
II Corinthians 8:9
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
I John 2:1-2
"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Fulfilled prophecies of Christmas
God never works haphazardly! He is a God of order. At precisely the right time in history, Jesus Christ was born (Galatians 4:4-5). Furthermore, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would come at just the right time in Israel's history (Isaiah 49:8). As the Jewish fathers choose the time for their sons to become adult sons, so the Heavenly Father chose the time for His Son to arrive.
The message of Christmas was prophesied over 700 years before the birth of Christ. The theme of Old Testament prophecy is the coming of a king. There are at least 189 prophecies in the New Testament that associate Christ to His coming as King.
1. He would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5). "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2)
2. He would be called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:19-21).
3. There would be weeping in Rama (Matthew 2:17-18). " Rachael weeping for her children" (Jeremiah 31:15)
4. He shall be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23).
5. He shall be virgin born and rise out of Israel. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6) "…there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." (Numbers 24:17)
As you contemplate Christmas this year, make sure that your focus is on the CHRIST of Christmas.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
THANKSGIVING REMINDERS
Ephesians 5:20
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God…”
I Thessalonians 5:18
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Colossians 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Psalm 95:2
“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
How should Christians be thankful?
1. Continually- Hebrews 13:15
-“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
2. In everything- I Thessalonians 5:18
-“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
3. Always for all things- Ephesians 5:20
-“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. In the midst of many- Psalm 109:30; 105:1
-“I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.”
5. In church- Psalm 100:4
-“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
6. Among the people- Psalm 57:9
-“I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.”
What are you thankful for?
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God…”
I Thessalonians 5:18
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Colossians 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Psalm 95:2
“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
How should Christians be thankful?
1. Continually- Hebrews 13:15
-“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
2. In everything- I Thessalonians 5:18
-“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
3. Always for all things- Ephesians 5:20
-“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. In the midst of many- Psalm 109:30; 105:1
-“I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.”
5. In church- Psalm 100:4
-“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
6. Among the people- Psalm 57:9
-“I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.”
What are you thankful for?
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
DEDICATION SERVICE- SUN. SEPT. 27TH (10:30 AM)
Come and join us this Sunday for our official dedication service in our new church facility at 1810 Brown Trail, Bedford, TX 76021.
1. We will dedicate our building and our lives to the service of the Lord.
2. We will present our local officials (i.e. Mayor, City Council Members, Fire Chief, etc.) with a "thank you" gift for making "Life Better in Bedford."
3. We will sing songs that praise our God for His marvelous works.
4. We will preach the Word of God that provides hope, peace, life and stability in a time of economic instability in our country.
Please come and worship with us! And call me if you have any questions...we would love to meet you.
Pastor John
817-876-9901
1. We will dedicate our building and our lives to the service of the Lord.
2. We will present our local officials (i.e. Mayor, City Council Members, Fire Chief, etc.) with a "thank you" gift for making "Life Better in Bedford."
3. We will sing songs that praise our God for His marvelous works.
4. We will preach the Word of God that provides hope, peace, life and stability in a time of economic instability in our country.
Please come and worship with us! And call me if you have any questions...we would love to meet you.
Pastor John
817-876-9901
Monday, August 24, 2009
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