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Christ is Our Rest

September 11, 2024 • Pastor Jacob Mayard

Christ is Our Rest The Pentagon says Iran’s supplying of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia is a "deeply concerning development" that threatens European security and shows how Iran’s destabilization efforts are reaching beyond the Middle East. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Tuesday that the missiles were transferred between the two countries, adding that Russia "will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine." "The supply of Iranian missiles enables Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets that are further from the front line, while dedicating new missiles it's receiving from Iran [for] closer range targets," Blinken said while speaking alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a trip to London. Blinken also vowed Tehran would face repercussions for the transfer and that the U.S. would be announcing additional sanctions on Iran later in the day. Strengthening of alliances who are mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39 The State of Israel’s creation was aided by strong Soviet advocacy. On November 29, 1947, the Soviet Union voted in favor of the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which opened the doors for a Jewish state. Joseph Stalin adopted a pro-Zionist foreign policy, seemingly convinced that the new nation would be socialist and reduce British influence in the Middle East. While the United States first recognized Israel de facto upon Israel’s declaration of independence on May 14, 1948, the Soviet Union was the first nation to extend de jure recognition to the newly established Jewish state three days later. However, during the Suez Canal Crisis in 1957, the Soviet Union, stripped of its socialist dreams for this new country, began supporting the Arab states against Israel.  Iran’s weapons sale to Russia strained Russia and Israel’s relationship. Israel has been concerned about Iran and Russia’s increased military cooperation, mainly through arms deals and potential joint defense initiatives. The war in Ukraine exposed that Russia must obtain weapons from Iran. Russia understood this would be unacceptable in Israel, clearly indicating that Putin is not afraid to antagonize the two states completely. Although Israel is hesitant to enter full-blown conflict with Russia, Russia has chosen its side, evidenced by its invitation of Hamas leaders to Moscow on October 26, 2023.  Isaiah 17 Russia’s S-400 air defense systems stationed in Syria against Israeli planes patrolling the region.  The hook in Gog’s mouth? The similarities and the point: Israel is BACK in the land. The enemies to the north of Israel. Israel doesn’t have to do anything. God fights for them and destroys the enemy. “ALL nations will know the the Lord is God” This is the work we’re called to as well, that the world may know who Jesus is. God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, wisdom, and a sound mind. Work to be done until the trumpet Trust in no man (psalm 146) Not your own hands. Figuring out God’s will. Far easier to trust Him to bring His will about. Stop doing things in your own strength. Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. He calls us where we’re at! What has He asked of you to do today? Who is within your reach today? How can you affect them? Jesus is our greatest example always. Section 1: John 4:1-6 The Samaritans. To explain the origins of the Samaritans, we must go back to the days of the kings. After King Solomon ruled over the Israelites – God’s people – the unwise actions of his son Rehoboam in the tenth century BC led to a schism in which the kingdom was split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, each with its own king. Both kingdoms devolved into corruption and sin, despite repeated warnings from prophets sent by God. Thus, God warned, they would be overtaken by conquerors. The northern kingdom fared worse than the southern kingdom, with a long line of wicked rulers. It didn’t help that the temple, where God’s people were to worship, was located in the southern kingdom.  In 721 B.C., the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians. Many of the people of Israel were led off to Assyria as captives, but some remained in the land and intermarried with foreigners planted there by the Assyrians. These half-Jewish, half-Gentile people became known as the Samaritans. In 586 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire once and for all, as the walls of Jerusalem were breached, the temple was destroyed, and the city walls torn down.  Samaritans are first mentioned in the Bible in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the 5thcentury B.C. At this point, Babylon had given way to the Persian Empire. Nehemiah, a Jew, curried favor with the king and was able to return to Jerusalem to rebuild. However, the Samaritans remaining in the land opposed the rebuilding efforts and caused problems for Nehemiah and his fellow workers (Nehemiah 6:1-14). This was the beginning of a long-lasting hatred between Jews and Samaritans. Where is Samaria Today? Samaria as a city was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. After Israel’s fall, Samaria as a region was in the central area of what used to be the northern kingdom. During the time of Jesus, Samaria was located between Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. Today, Samaria is in what is now the northern West Bank. Several hundred Samaritans still live in Israel and continue to practice their faithcentered on the Pentateuch and Mount Gerizim. Why Were the Samaritans Disliked So Much in Jesus' Time? The Samaritans, being a mix of already spiritually corrupt Israelites and pagan foreigners, created a religion for themselves that the Jews considered heresy.  They established as their center of worship a temple on Mount Gerizim, claiming it was where Moses had originally intended for the Israelites to worship. They had their own unique version of the five books written by Moses, the Pentateuch, but rejected the writings of the prophets and Jewish traditions. The Samaritans saw themselves as the true descendants of Israel and preservers of the true religion, while considering the Jerusalem temple and Levitical priesthood illegitimate.  When Jews returned to rebuild Jerusalem, they were opposed by Samaritans. This led to further ill-will as the two sects were established in the land in opposition to one another. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan); Samaritans were half-breeds who defiled the true religion. So the Jews never went through Samaria, even though it was the most direct route between Galilee and Judea. With all that in mind, here we see Jesus, needing to go through Samaria. Jesus was never in a hurry. He never left Israel. He was always where He needed to be, right on time. He went out of His way to meet people right where they were at. Section 2: John 4:7-15 Jesus cuts right to the heart with a simple request. Living water Hear her desperation for fulfillment and belonging. Hear her tone and the way she is weary. Jesus knows her longing for rest from this place in which she finds herself. Matthew 11:28-30 “weary and heavy laden…” For the non-believer, this is an invitation to assurance for tomorrow. For the believer, this is an invitation to peace for today. For Both, it is forgiveness for yesterday. Section 3: John 4:16-26 In Spirit and truth Jesus is bringing those who are on the outside of the circle into His family The messiah will tell us all things. Not any man. She is hoping and waiting and hanging on for the messiah. Earnestly awaiting Him to rescue her from this confusion and turmoil. And here Jesus meets her at the peak of her need. Joshua messed up.  Deceived into a covenant of peace. Joshua is still in God’s will, as He seeks to honor the Lord. READ Joshua 10:1-15 Called on to rescue the deceivers. Joshua is faced with another decision. He responds in Christ- like fashion to go above and beyond what is required Joshua calls on the Lord in response to what He’s already done with the hailstones! God blesses more than Joshua blesses. He delivers the enemy into His hand. God takes care of it on his behalf. God fights for even those who are on the outside. And so we see Jesus meeting this woman is lower than even the gentiles, she is a part of the family but estranged. Jesus brings her in. Section 4: John 4:27-38 Feasting on doing God’s will. Satiates the desire to make an impact in this life. Purpose filling. Jesu longs for His disciples to see that people are ready to receive Him! and He is ready to serve and satiate the longing for truth and purpose. And He promises His disciples fulfillment and blessing when we step into the father’s will. Striving for True sabbath rest Hebrews 4:10-11 Stop doing things in your own strength! Aren’t you tired of striving? Of keeping things together. Needing to be seen and accepted. Of being critical of everyone around because you’re afraid they’ll see you and that you’re not enough. A believer who gets here is free. You can do no wrong; yourprioritize honoring the Lord over everything else. And so every decision is a wise decision. Even when there’s a mistake. Don’t you want to be free? Section 5: John 4:39-42 the women brings people to Jesus. Speak truth about Jesus. Bring Jesus to people like Joshua did. Going above and beyond. What’s my calling? Maybe it’s just a to be a light in a dark world. Stop doing things in your own strength!! He calls us where we’re at. Sometimes the call is to go in order to get to the next season. But we’re called today in this season for the work we have that He has placed in front of us. Let us rest in that. Jesus never left Israel! And He’s coming back to it. Jesus ministered to those who were with Him, those who were in front of Him, and those who were in His path. He also ministered to His hometown people even though they didn’t receive it. He also went miles out of His way in order to meet with those who needed to encounter Him. He ministered to a people that weren’t His own people. The work He has for us today is right in front of us today. There’s faith in being content with what’s in front of you. There’s peace too. Live today in anticipation and expectation of the coming kingdom  Rest comes when I whole-heartedly step into doing everything God has called me to fully trusting(resting in) that He has put me there. I have a choice to trust God or not. I have a decision to make to prioritize Christ in my life, spending time seeking Him and His heart and His ways and what He has to say on the matter. If you prioritize Him, not only will you make time to be with the Lord, but you’ll find that you have even more time than you realized. When you decide to make Him priority number one, you begin shedding all of the things that bring no value or profit to your life. Because in light of Jesus, they don’t matter. They weigh you down. You will find that you have more time. When you sacrifice sleep to meet with the Lord, watch the rest that He gives you. Watch Him multiply the hours in the day for you. Watch Him give you opportunities to glorify Him because He’s done the impossible. Don’t confuse rest with non-action. Do today what God has called you to do today. It’s impossible to do tomorrow’s task today. Have goals, have vision, but what can you do today. Be open to the plans changing. Let the decisions you make today be unto the Lord. He’ll work the rest out. Have in mind that God’s heart is to reconcile the lost to the Father. Every decision Jesus made was to fulfill that. 2 Corinthians 5 the ministry of reconciliation.  Simply to be a light in the dark world. Tomorrow is not promised - to the non believer an appeal to an urgency to make a decision for Christ today. To the Christ follower, an appeal to trust god for your tomorrow  He’s able to do abundantly exceedingly more than we’re able to ask or think. Jesus did more than what was required of Him, He stepped into His creation. He took those nails and a spear in his side just for a shot at a relationship with me. Settle your heart if your desire is to seek God in the decision you’ve made. I’m learning and relearning when it comes to teaching an discipleship, to let the Word speak for itself, to let the Spirit speak for Himself, and to let people make their own decisions in response to the truth and grace of God. But I’m telling you, responding to the Lord FOR the Lord, will reap everlasting life. And then indeed, it is proven, that Christ is our rest.

Guest Teacher - Pastor Tony Clark

August 18, 2024 • Pastor Tony Clark • Ephesians 5:22–33

Ephesians 5:22-33 Marriage—Christ and the Church 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

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Father's Day 2024

June 16, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes

I have a simple message to give today. And that message is an exhortation and teaching that what is needed most today is for Godly men that will lead. Us men, we all beat our chests and grunt in agreement. But what that means biblically, what that means truly, perhaps will thin out the crowd.   If I lead in righteousness, in wisdom, in service, in knowledge, in authority, in providing, and yet I do not lead in love, I am not a Godly man or a Godly leader, and ultimately, I’m not effective in bringing about the result that I even think I am leading towards. What am I getting to… Where are the men that are strong enough, awake enough, aware enough, resolute, steadfast and honorable enough to actually follow the Lord and lead in love?   To lead in love, that’s a Christian. Even more so, that’s a Christian man. A Christian husband. A Christian father. A Christian worker. A Christian politician (there are none of those)! A Christian church goer. A Christian pastor…. A Christian is one who leads in love. Guys, honestly, it is SO easy to be a Christian today. Because no one does this. The type of love with which we are loved, deploy that…, no one is doing that… We have the ultimate opportunity to honor God in these last days!   Romans 5:8 is authoritative. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While no one else was doing it, while no one else was doing what is right, while no one else was doing what was good, while no one else was walking in love, Jesus did it. That’s leadership. That’s Jesus leadership…, Godly leadershihp (and the more we decide, say to ourselves, allow God to do this work in us…, the more that is us…), the more we look like Jesus, the more we are grown. What is needed most today is not experienced, educated, culturally connected men…, what is needed most today in all venues is grown Christian men.   We want to be like Jesus before the Father but we don’t want to be like Jesus before our brother. Before our wives. Before our co-workers. Before the protesters… Doesn’t add up, y’all, and the world isn’t the way it is because of “those idiots that reject Jesus,” the world is the way it is because of those idiots that have accepted Jesus! And now we who begun in the Spirit seek to be made complete in the flesh…   A man worked 25 years at his job doing the same thing for the same pay and when he went to complain to his boss, he said, “Boss, I’ve got 25 years of experience and I’ve never gotten a raise or a promotion!” And the boss replied, “No, you have one year of experience that you’ve done 25 times.” Men, fathers, husbands, leaders…, we are to promote in the kingdom of God. Not cycle through the same mistakes over and over again that we call “lessons” when we are actually learning nothing! When 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of God!” Do you know what that means? As you mature, move forward, learn and grow up, YOU look more like Jesus!   Ephesians is a book that can be divided very cleanly into 2 partitions. The first part, Chapters 1, 2, and 3 are educational and enlightening, and encouraging, to give us all of the information in terms of what Christ has done for us… And in light of what Christ has done for us and who Christ is to us, then comes Chapters 4, 5, and 6. They are the so what chapters… All that we have in Christ, what is it that we are supposed to do with it progressively and increasingly as we walk with Him, and it’s a great verse set to continue this discussion…   Ephesians Chapter 4 Verses 1 – 16 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring (running to) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”   “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”   Everything is being torn down and ripped off and withheld…, that’s the ploy of the world and its ways because that was the original and is the one single aim of the god of this age. And the days are getting darker! Example: I used to take my lunch to work in a Walmart bag… They took that! HA! Now I take it in a trash bag! It’s horrible! HA! But God says to Godly men, the whole body is yours to lead, to join and knit it together, and to cause growth for the edifying of itself…, and the way, the path, the truth and the life…, is LOVE.   Now, I’m not talking about kindness or affection or consideration…, primarily. I’m talking about agape. The kind of love shown and described in Romans 5:8. The kind of love put on display at the cross. The kind of love you have received and do receive from God. Unconditional, unrestrained, unmerited, unearned and really unmaintained. It’s to take self-setting-aside care of those around you… That’s the love leadership that is needed most and if you get really honest about things, that’s the definition of a Christian.   Loving our wives, or our children, or our brothers in the Lord or even our enemies is not and cannot be a means to an end or it’s not love. That’s just self-service or phileo at best. This love has no aim other than to love. That kind of love takes far more grit than quit…, and is stupidly rare in the church… Especially amongst so-called “leaders…,” and sadly definitely amongst the men of the faith. The role of the Christian man is always to bring the authority of Christ through the character of Christ!   Again…, nowadays…., it is SO easy to be a Christian because the love of many has grown cold! Leaders in love represent Christ and His authority. What we read in Ephesians, Paul says that He Himself has given some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastor teachers… That word for pastor is the word shepherd. He has given us shepherd teachers. Who is the GOOD Shepherd? That is Christ Himself. Christ refers to the instructors, the teachers, the leaders in His church by His own title. That’s who He is therefore that is who they are. A shepherd must serve His sheep not himself why? Because if you don’t serve sheep, they die… And if a shepherd serves himself amongst the sheep, they die…, because he eats them!!   Later on in Ephesians 5 we see husbands called heads of their wives. Who is the Head of the church? This is again a representation of Jesus Christ. Christ is also called the bridegroom and we are told, “husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.” Period. And gave Himself for her that He might, check this out… cleanse her and present her to Himself spotless!   Well then you go a bit further and it says “fathers do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the things of the Lord.” Where did that title, “father,” come from?   Well then you go a bit further in the household talk of Ephesians and Paul brings up slaves and masters. Today we call them employees and employers. But his title “master,” who wears that one? Again, the role of the Christian man is always to bring the authority of Christ through the character of Christ!   All of the places that we share God’s title, we must also share God’s character or we are not building things up at all but we are tearing down and stealing, killing and destroying. The most necessary and needed and truly the most basic thing missing all over the place today is Godly men that will lead, and I am talking solely about leading in love…   I am responsible and will be held accountable for everywhere that God has me… But in the end, I don’t need anyone else to hold me responsible…, that’s my job. Maybe not in the first year of my job…, but definitely by the 5th…., or I’m not gaining any growth… I’m just doing my first year over and over again…   My goal is to glorify God, that is the basic basic of Christianity and I implore you to consider this for yourselves. That should be the goal of all Christians. Not to install the wisdom of the Bible to find worldly success. Not to teach, correct, instruct, or lead those around you that some sort of change will come about advantageous to you or to them. That is weak Christian leadership and will be met with tons of frustration. My goal is to glorify God because in the end I know that leading in love is rational, reasonable, and I’m just starting to be smart enough to understand that it’s the only effective leadership towards God’s purposes on earth, which is ENTIRELY to glorify Jesus!   Explanation, your Godly wisdom, your memorized command of the scripture, even the example of success in your own life, none of these things have the power on their own to call a person to repentance. And look, repentance leads to victory in Jesus! Only love, agape, non-agenda’d, gift agape, love without terms and conditions, service and kindness and joy sharing without a point or a hoped for or expected return on investment, just simply to climb up on your own cross for the hell bound doomed condemned pharisees that put you there, that kind of love changes the world. How do I know? Because it did.   I get it. That’s hard. The hardest. Of course you don’t want to do that. Neither did our Lord. And if you have not the resolve of faith to do what I have just described, to bring the authority of Christ through the character of Christ, then my exhortation to you is do not stand in the way of those that will. Stop competing, cease challenging, and start serving. One man who says something cannot be done should not interrupt the man that is doing it… Lead in love or step aside and serve in silence. This is what is most needed in the world today!   My heart’s desire is for God to fill my life with Himself. That Christ might fill my wife. That Christ might fill my children. That Christ might fill my church. That Christ might fill my place of work…., and this is the only way…, for a Godly man to lead in love and really for me to be a Godly man. Bring Christ’s authority through Christ’s character and boom… it becomes, well, back to Ephesians 4:16…, “the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Last thing…, as we long for our wives to love us and to respect us and to live Godly lives… same thing for our children, our churches, our personal world…, Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” How you gonna heal all that? Take stripes. Love. Listen. Correct and rebuke and teach far far far far less…, lead in love. And watch the body, whatever body it is, grow up and edify itself in the love of Christ.   What is needed most today is for Godly men that will lead.

What's the Big Deal About Baptism

June 9, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes

After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we read in Matthew 28 verses 18 – 20 the words of the Lord that we have come to know as “The Great Commission.” It says there in the text, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”   In all the things that baptism is and isn’t, one that is hardly discussed is that it is part of what Jesus told us to do. Jesus told the church, told the Christian, do this…   Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Or is it? This is the fundamental argument in the church today. Honestly, we’d rather argue about it than just do it! Look at it this way. Can you be a Christian without obeying God? Interesting question, right? How about this one? Can you be a Christian without having the Holy Spirit? Now we are getting concerned…   Jesus said in Luke Chapter 6 verse 46, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?” So, can you be a Christian and not follow Jesus? I don’t know… You answer that for yourself. My answer for myself is no… Not a one of us will be perfect, but there will be an inclination, a desire and that desire WILL work its way to behaviors, to follow Jesus…, and following Jesus looks like doing what He says…   Peter said in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” People have asked me and there is a constant debate, do you have to repent to be saved? Do you have to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to be forgiven of your sins? My answer is, “Why do you ask?” I think we have gone so intensely into flattering ourselves with perfect knowledge that we have left simple obedience behind. Why do you ask? Are you planning to not repent? To repent simply means to turn the ship around. To agree with God. Are you saying you don’t have to do that and you can still be a Christian? Jesus told the church to baptize. Are you saying you don’t have to follow Him, obey Him to be a Christian? Still debating, I know…   How about the Holy Spirit? Can you be a Christian and not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? If you have no intention to turn to God, no intention to follow Jesus and actually do what He has said…, you have no need for the Holy Spirit…! Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will testify of Him. His whole purpose, the work of the Holy Spirit is a life, will be to point folks to Jesus and enable them towards righteousness…   Well, someone says, all that is needed to be saved is to believe in God. I completely agree… And you’re telling me that if you have not the heart to obey God, you believe in Him? Something simply isn’t adding up…. As my beautiful, lovely wife says, “That math ain’t mathing!”   A believer is someone who hears the truth and obeys it. That’s what a believer is… You don’t determine what someone believes by what they say, agree with or even think. You determine what someone believes by what they do! Suppose I told you that there is a massive sink hole on I25 North and the entire highway is gone. You could be like, “Tell me more! Oh wow! How’d it happen?! Give me the details! That’s crazy!” And then setting out to go home and you take I25, nothing else matters…, you didn’t believe me!   The life of a believer does not look like someone who has prayed a prayer, raised their hand, asked Jesus to save them from their sins…, you can do all of that and it just not be a true conversion into Christianity. The life of a believer looks like someone who hears what Jesus says and does it. It’s just as simple as that. I’m not calling for perfection, I’m saying that the one who belongs to Jesus WILL follow Jesus.   You see, that’s when the Holy Spirit comes. The Holy Spirit has no other job than to point us continually to truth. To work in our hearts the work of truth. Changing us from the inside out to look more like Jesus and shine differently than the lostness of this world! If that is not the intention of your heart, the Holy Spirit is out of a job.   So, can you be a Christian without the Holy Spirit? Absolutely not. And the work of the Holy Spirit is to enable and to guide and to teach the believer. I don’t believe more as I grow in the Lord. I know more. Again, believing in God is simply the conclusion of my heart that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and so as He says, I do. That’s believing. Again, not perfection and not without failure but that’s where the sweetness of His love and the intimacy of His grace come in which doesn’t excuse my sin but rather even works to incorporate my failures into my own maturity…   And as I hear more truth, learn more truth, I obey more. It’s not that I believe more. I already believe. The point is that I hear it and I do it. Why? Not to believe but because I do believe. And the power to obey comes from the Holy Spirit. Peter said, “Repent (that is me coming to Christ), and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (because of) for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” I want the gift of the Holy Spirit and that is reserved only for believers and a believer does what the Lord has said… That’s a big point. Don’t miss that. You want the Holy Spirit? You want Him to fill your mind, heart and life and activate your life unto power and purpose? In accordance with the Word of God, set out to trust the Lord. That’s a BIG invitation for the Holy Spirit to work!!   So, folks say, do you have to repent to be saved? Do you have to be baptized to be saved? My internal response is, “Why do you ask?” Why not just simply obey the Word of God? Is there another issue here? Like what? Like belief! The scripture is clear. We are given the Holy Spirit for a purpose and that purpose is not for our personal empowerment or comfort but rather to glorify Jesus Christ. So, if you aren’t going to do that, why would God gift you the Holy Spirit?   I do hope all of that makes sense and illuminates perhaps not the importance of physical baptism but rather the importance of what it means! It means you are making a personal and public profession that you will obey God! That you BELIEVE! 1 Peter 3:21 says, “There is an antitype which now saves us, baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)!” Make sense now? Does baptism save you? YES! The dunking of the flesh in the water? NO! HA! We clear now!? I certainly hope so…   Just a few more thoughts on baptism as we close. Baptism is a personal profession of connection with Jesus. It’s a part of the great commission, its an agreement to the commandment of Jesus and its even a connection to the cross. Jesus said, speaking of the cross, in Luke 12:49-50, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!”   Baptism is something that is fundamentally strange to this world and in so doing we are happily and positively proclaiming, hey…I’m good with that! And certainly, as we encounter the circumstances of life and other people, as you decide to believe Jesus, to this world, that is going to look very strange!   I believe that there is more to baptism then we see with our mortal eyes. And true it is, when you accept God's ways in your life, much more than meets the eye is in store. You may be simply walking by faith but God is working all of the details together to bring you into everlasting and eternal life…and the Bible calls that…sowing in and to the spirit!   Now your spirit is alive and is conscious of God. And everything is different. Everything is made new. Your attitude, your understanding, your vision, your motivations, your purpose…things are suddenly illuminated. You begin to see things for what they really are…and you stop keeping the trash and throwing out the treasure…as your spirit now dominates the flesh. You begin tossing the trash as you fellowship with God in the spirit! None of that has to do with professing that you believe and everything of that has to do with you believing in Jesus!   I don’t know how to end this other than to say that every believer should be baptized. When? As soon as they believe. Is it a physical necessity for salvation? Definitely not. Is it something far more than that, definitely. The question isn’t do I need to be baptized. The question is, are you a believer…?    

Colossians 2 vs 1-10

June 5, 2024 • Pastor Fred Wilcox • Colossians 2:1–10

Colossians 2 vs 1-10 – 06/05/24 I want to start by reiterating something Pastor Matt stated on Sunday and should be stated with frequency by any person who has been given the privilege to teach God’s Word. That is, “Don’t take my word for it”. Don’t rely on any teacher to give you understanding of God’s Word. That job falls solely upon the Holy Spirit. I am wholeheartedly behind Pastor Matt on this one; I am just sharing what the Lord has revealed to me in my own studies. What I’m saying might resonate with you but just because something resonates, doesn’t make me or anyone else an authority, or even right. What I’m saying may not resonate at all or you may completely disagree with me. Good. Either way… good. Whatever your sense from what you hear from the pulpit, it’s perfect opportunity to look it up for yourself. Let the Holy Spirit confirm any conviction or revelation you may think you have received.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you to agreement or confirmation of what you’ve learned or let the Holy Spirit guide you to open a discussion about what you disagree with; that will be educational for both parties. Especially for new teachers. I wouldn’t be here today were it not for loving corrections over the years.    Unlike what we’ve lost completely on the political landscape, debate is a healthy thing. Division in the church does not stem solely from disagreement. A healthy, thriving church is not going to be comprised of a bunch of believers all marching to the same drum.  True fellowship (Greek - koinonia) in the church does require, at least at a base level, being like-minded. This is not the same thing. Regardless of how we feel, if you and I are not in sync with the mind of Christ, fellowship is hindered right out of the gate. It might be a fine line but this is what separates us cults, something I’ve spent a fair amount of my life trying to understand.  Let’s dive in… Paul writes to the church at Colossae.  Col 2:1-3 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   I really love how the Lord ties life and His Word together. You know what I mean? A timely message, different messages from different sources confirming a thought or a previous message takeaway, conversations with a brother that get intertwined, etc.... At a really low point in my life, the Lord brought a need to my attention that started out as the movie, “Robots”, mantra – remember that one? “See a need, fill a need”. When I moved back here in January of ’21, I wasn’t looking to serve anyone with any intent, my heart and my mind were both in a very dark place. I couldn’t have been good company for anyone. But I had learned that Trifon needed a ride to church, most of y’all know of his vision issues, and before I could even check in with my brain, I had volunteered.  Pretty sure it was the Holy Spirit that voluntold me because to this day, Trifon can tell you what I said but I have no memory of even opening my lips.  I share this to say that God knows our needs before we do and I needed not just a friend but one, “who sticks closer than a brother”, as Proverbs 18 tells us. The conversations we have had and how they tied into God’s Word and continue to do so on almost any particular Sunday, Wednesday or Men’s Breakfast services would absolutely blow your mind. We’re both 99% convinced Pastor Matt has my car bugged.  That was the long way around the horn but the point is that our study in 1 John ties not only into what Matt spoke of on Sunday but our last Men’s Breakfast on the topic of dwelling. Now, you might question whether that had any Holy Spirit moments since I was the one who taught at the last Men’s Breakfast BUT I had just started reading Colossians on Saturday as I was prayerfully considering what I should teach on today.  For you ladies and any gents who didn’t make it last month, the title was, “You are Drawn to Where You Dwell”. The premise being, especially for us homebodies, that we are continually drawn to where we live, where we spend our lives.  I’m house/dog sitting for the Gouvas’ this week and I miss my bed. I miss my kitchen, my shower, the big bowl that dwells with my shower. You are truly drawn to where you dwell. And it doesn’t matter at all whether that dwelling is physical, mental or emotional. The same is true of God’s Word. Do you dwell there? If not, go listen to May’s Men’s Breakfast because what I found in Colossians 2 not only supports what I taught, it brings into crystal clear focus why Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I did reference Colossians 2 but I completely missed a key phrase in vs 9 (we’ll get there in a few) by apparently overlooking the importance of the reference itself, which is common when teaching topically.  Phil 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate (DWELL) on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.   Sunday Matt touched on the need to be in the Word for yourself. Folks, we truly need to dwell in God’s Word on our own. You will not gain forward progress in your walk unless you do. Is it an hour? 2? 10 minutes a day? If you really want an answer to that question, you need to take a long, hard, prayerful look at your life and where you are now.  Contrary to popular belief and literature, the answer to life, the universe and everything is NOT 42! Fortunately for us, however, they are all found in His Word. Paul opens with a great conflict he has. This doesn’t mean he is in opposition to or at odds with believers in Colossae or Laodicea. It means he is burdened to provide them with God’s truth and unburden them from the garbage teaching that was becoming prevalent in both Colossae and Laodicea. Things are way worse today in that regard. But really no different – Remember King Solomon tells us that there is truly nothing new under the sun. Paul’s desire for us as believers is to reach the pinnacle of fellowship with Jesus. The result of that relationship is that our hearts are encouraged, we’ll be knit together in love and we’ll gain riches that cannot be measured by worldly means.    Show of hands, who desires the opposite? Again, we’re going to get to verse 9 but look at 3 again – In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Christ dwells in us, but what dwells in Christ?  LOVE #1!!  1 Cor 13: 1-7 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails   Wisdom – you wanna do life different than you ever have – follow JESUS. Don’t just say you believe, believe. Trust Him. Knowledge – you can’t “know” anything substantive without following Jesus. Nor, as we just read, does any of that matter if you don’t love.   Col 2:4-5 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.   I find it amazing how the Lord has used Paul in his travels.  He was not a popular dude. This was the same cat that wanted Christians shot on site. These words coming from Paul are remarkable.  Vs 1-3 are stated so plainly because Paul is a simple guy with a simple purpose. Another thing that differentiates us from a cult. I can understand certain aspects of the draw they have. One thing I can never wrap my head around is the complexities they create to skirt the truth. That’s really what lies do, they complicate the simple. Trust me on this one, I am a liar extraordinaire and my life has been and still is way more complex that it could have been. How’s that for a contradictive statement. Trust me I’m a liar. I hid behind so many lies I truly do not know whether some events are accurate or not so I don’t talk about them. To this day the Lord is sorting out fact from fiction in my life. So, there you have it, one more reason not to take the words I speak at face value. Now that you know I’m a really really good liar, you have no choice but look this up for yourselves.  Col 2:4-5 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. How do we walk in Him? As we have been taught. We just covered it. No excuses. We’re good, drop the mic.  Nope, we still have time left.  Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.   We are called to be in the world but not of it. What does that mean? It means simply this, don’t put the things of the world before Jesus. We have no choice but to live here but we don’t have to dwell here. Our home is in Heaven. But there is a LOT to distract us isn’t there?  Beware Paul says. Here’s the thing, anything less than Jesus level ANYTHING and you’re being cheated. Let that one sink in. Send your emails to mailto:pastormatt@... What are the traditions of men? We don’t have enough time left on earth to cover that one with any detail. What are the principles of the world? I think the world had at least some principles back in Paul’s day but I, with my extremely cynical mind (working on that)… I don’t believe the world has any principles left. Satan has done a masterful job of deceiving the world. The vast majority can’t even see the road their on, let alone see if it’s wide or narrow.  Here it comes!!  Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; What dwells in Christ? Love! Wisdom! Knowledge! But here we see the key, in Him dwells the FULLNESS of the Godhead in human form. We don’t have time for several of the supporting scriptures but here we see that Jesus is God in plain English.  I really hope I don’t take anything from Pastor Matt next Sunday as we likely will finish up 1 John 5 but I found something really cool in a cross reference to vs 18-21.       1 John 5:18-21 18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps 7himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. Whoever (that’s me, that’s you) is born of God does not sin – do we sin? Absolutely. This was a mind blower for me. I have been reborn, yet I still sin. This text is proof of the power of Jesus Christ. When I sin, God still sees me as sinless. What sin? I’ve cast it as far as the East is from the West.  Don’t get too giddy, this is NOT license to sin as some cults will tell you; there’s a caveat, we covered it. Being IN Jesus Christ. You can’t just go about your life as if nothing ever happened and call yourself a disciple of Christ. I mean, you can but you’re deceiving yourself.  Here’s the best part: Col 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. I really wish we had more time to unpack this because we could spend at least another hour. However, I think these closing remarks from Men’s Breakfast are worth repeating.  If you have given your life to Jesus and confessed Him as Lord and Savior, you have a home with Him. He prepared a place for us that cannot be imagined by such finite minds despite the fact we’ve been given some pretty good descriptors. When His Spirit comes to dwell in your heart, you are forever changed. You have become a citizen of Heaven. If you are not homesick by now, I can say fairly confidently that you are not spending nearly enough time with Jesus.  All you gotta do is repent, which is just a churchy word for turn around. Change your direction. He is right there with you.  Jesus is THE way, THE truth and THE life, no one comes to the Father but through Him. And now we know why. There is nothing complex or mysterious about salvation. Believe, and your dwelling changes instantly. No excuses.  

To Lose is to Gain

May 29, 2024 • Pastor Brian Muhlhauser

Message title: "To Lose is to Gain" Verses: John 20:31 John 9:1-2 John 9:3 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 John 9:4-5 John 9:6-7 John 9:8-9 John 9:10-12 John 9:13-14 John 9:15-16 John 9:17 John 9:18-19 John 9:20-23 Matthew 16:24-25 John 9:24 John 9:25 John 9:26-34 Matthew 5:11-12 John 9:35 John 9:36-38 John 9:39-41

A Stone's Throw - God's Forgiveness

May 19, 2024 • Pastor Jacob Mayard

Mother's Day 2024

May 12, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes

Someone once said, “Sooner or later, we all quote our mothers!” True, isn’t it! My mom used to say, “If you fall out of that tree and break your legs, don’t come running to me!” HA! Amen, mom! And moms are slick, sliding things in that make sense but may not be necessarily true…, like this one. “Just tell me the truth, I promise I won’t get mad.” Your mom ever try that one on you? I have a few wooden spoon scars from that trap! HA! Funny stuff that highlights an indiscriminate and undeniable fact that the importance and influence of your mom or you as a mom cannot be overstated.   The Bible has several examples of moms. Examples of wisdom, of regret, of loss and of triumph. The Creator of the idea and mentality and the role and the attributes of mom are put on display by the very character of God throughout the Word. His love. His patience. His unconditional care for us. That God so loved the world that He gave His only son…, just like the mom who loved her son so much, that rather that seeing him destroyed, she gave him into the arms of her enemy… You’ll find that story in 1 Kings 3.   Where did that mom get a heart like that? That she so loved so much that she gave her only son even into the hands of her enemy so that there would be no more loss of life? So that he would be ok… It’s like God Himself was consulted and He said to her, “Well, you know what I would do…” Or perhaps better, perhaps He said, “Well, you know what I will do….”   There is one mother in the Bible that I’d like to focus in on briefly today. One that is almost entirely avoided on our side of the Body of Christ and one that is almost entirely worshipped on another side of the Body of Christ…, both sides do err. Though her persona has been inappropriately and unbiblically elevated and exalted, the Mary, the mother of Jesus was a remarkable woman and mom. Mary was not the divine, serene, angelic or mystical being so often portrayed in medieval artwork. Instead, Mary was in many ways like everyone else. She was a sinner who needed a Savior and anticipated His arrival. Yet she was a very special lady, greatly blessed by God, who endured extraordinary testing and operated in arguably peak form. Just fathom for a moment, this was the mother of Jesus Christ. She was the only person that was at both the birth and the death of Jesus. Being the mother of Jesus Christ was unique, but her being a mother, that attribute was not unique. And her mothering, the kind of woman she was, truly remarkable, good to encourage, inspire and challenge all of us, and especially moms. ·    I think for me the most intriguing attribute of this mom was that she must have been an incredible manager. Incredibly fair in the face of inequality! Raising Jesus in a house full of other children must’ve been intensely difficult to manage in order not to damage the other children! She must have done a fabulous job though because John 7:5 tells us that not even His brothers believed He was the Christ! How did she do it!? She must have been fabulously fair even in the face of great unfairness! ·    Let’s talk about grit. This mom fielded an impossible personal and family scenario! She dealt unimaginably well with God interrupting her story to bring about His! Mary is first introduced in the Bible as “A virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph” (Luke 1:26-27). Mary’s betrothal to Joseph was more than a modern engagement. According to William Barclay, betrothal “was absolutely binding. It lasted for one year. During that year, the couple were known as husband and wife, although they had not the rights of husband and wife. It could not be terminated in any other way than by divorce.” ·    For Mary to be pregnant, while betrothed, and not be her husband’s child would devastate her life… She faced ridicule, social ostracism and scorn from others. One can imagine the gossip and sideways glances she must have endured. And guys, there’s no doubt that her relationship with Joseph struggled and could not have been ever the same even after he accepted what she and Gabriel told him. At one point we read in Matthew 1:18-19 that Joseph had determined to privately divorce her. This lady stayed the course…, awe-inspiring grit, courage, faith and ultimately motherly, loving care for her Son… ·    Let’s talk more about her courage. The courage to face what she was dealing with. Having this Child not of Joseph and yet while betrothed, she could face criminal charges. She had zero assurances, no signs, no promises, no guarantees that Joseph wouldn’t turn on her, and yet she shares the truth with him. She risked shame, abandonment, abuse and possibly even death and yet she faces those risks with courage. ·    Let’s go back to the news to reveal another attribute. In Luke 1:30-33 we read, “Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” ·    Her response to the news revealed her humility. How many of you after hearing that you are highly favored by God and selected by God…, how many of you would have said, “I knew it! Good choice God!” HA! Not Mary. Her response was in essence, “Are you sure!?” AND, check the scriptures, all the follow-up communication from God about all this didn’t come to Mary directly but came to Mary, THROUGH Joseph, and yet we never see in the Bible her upset or put out by that at all. ·    Let’s touch on wisdom. She had built positive, uplifting, supportive relationships that proved to be ride or die in the moment of testing. Her relative Elizabeth is described in Luke 1:6 as “Righteous before God, walking all the commandments.” Elizabeth brought encouragement and support when Mary needed it most, why? Because Mary was wise in selecting Godly people to yoke with. ·    She wasn’t independent. She wasn’t self-sufficient. She probably wouldn’t characterize herself as a strong woman, and she didn’t need or desire any of that. She was far wiser than that. Luke 1:46, “Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior!” Mary had the wisdom to know that she was a person of need and dependance…, something the enemy would like to keep us all numb to so that we isolate and stay in a form of arrested development. ·    Just one more. Mary was, like many moms, entirely remarkable. Savy, managerial, tenacious, strong and steady in the face of adversity of difficulty. Courageous. Humble. Wise. Dependent. How? Where’d it all come from? Final attribute, perhaps the secret to her success. She was a person of personal first but also public worship. Scholar conclude that when she was pregnant with Jesus that she was a very young lady. Probably not even mid-teens, and yet she knew the Word and leaned on the Word in her time of need…, to the point that her greatest time of need became her time of greatest rejoicing. ·    Mary’s song or Mary’s prayer, Luke 1:46-55 captures and quotes Old Testament references no less than 15 distinct times! And somehow Luke records it word-for-word years later? Definitely out loud, definitely shared, definitely public. Mary greeted Gabriel calling herself the maidservant of the Lord and it was her that made herself that servant! The secret to her success. ·    Just like you moms. Just like this mom. So many things to honor you for today and everyday…, and…, one last encouragement as we close…, I’m thankful for all the moms I have that aren’t my mom. You don’t have to be someone’s biological mom to care for them as your child and you don’t have to be someone’s biological child to care for them as your parent. Jesus looked upon Mary and said of John, “Woman, behold your son.” And then turning to John, He added, “Behold your mother.” ·    Savy, managerial, tenacious, strong and steady in the face of adversity of difficulty. Courageous. Humble. Wise. Dependent. A person of great personal faith and worship. Moms highlighted today, but all the things I’d like to even take hold of even for myself!  

Reverence for God

April 10, 2024 • Pastor Brian Muhlhauser

Share the Gospel

April 7, 2024 • Jim Carrick

Easter 2024

March 31, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes • 1 Peter 1:3–5

I cannot comment on the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not an ounce better, than Peter. Peter commenting on the resurrection of Jesus Christ says this in 1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”   The cross of Christ was the payment for the sins of the world, proving the humanity of Jesus as He yielded to death, and yet the resurrection of Christ was the proof of eternal life, proving the deity of Jesus as He set death aside and walked out of His own grave. And now through that, simply by receiving that personally, for yourself, Peter says through that comes the abundant mercy of God, living hope, inheritance incorruptible and undefiled not based on my performance or perfection but based on the performance and perfection of Jesus Christ through the resurrection!   I want to give you two things today. One is silly, quick, but powerfully applicable. The other is I’d like to talk through the authenticity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Really for edification purposes. For education purposes. Not to prove anything… Not to prove the objective fact of the resurrection. I don’t need to prove that. Anyone who would reject Jesus has the burden of disproving the resurrection, which we will see today is a heavy lift. But I was thinking about this, what would I say if someone asked me to prove that Jesus is alive. I wouldn’t crack books or pull from my rolodex of Biblical knowledge (my holy-dex, HA), my simple answer would be, I know Him and He has done something in and with me that nothing, no one, I could have never done for myself. He has given me everlasting and eternal life… So, this is not for proof. Proof is simple. It’s obvious. It’s plentiful. This is to encourage you and bless you as we focus today on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nine things to consider that solidify the authenticity of the resurrection… Things to consider about the resurrection that perhaps you haven’t before but are encouraging… First, the early accounts. The four Gospels, which all detail the resurrection of Jesus, were all written within just a few decades of the event. Most of Paul’s letters were written prior to 60 A.D. Additionally, Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, the appearances of Jesus to individuals and groups; this creed can be traced all the way back to within a few years of the resurrection itself. The sources for Jesus are remarkably early, especially in comparison to sources for other ancient historical figures. For example, consider Alexander the Great, one of the greatest leaders and military minds in ancient history. The earliest sources for Alexander are nearly 300 years after his life; the best sources (Arrian and Plutarch) are even later (400+ years after his life), yet they are readily considered trustworthy. With Jesus, we have sources within 10 years of his life, and a number of other sources within 20-70 years.   Second, eye witness accounts. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, over 500 people saw Jesus alive, in addition to Peter, James, Paul, Mary, and the rest of the disciples. At the time Paul reported these events around 55 A.D., many of the individuals Jesus appeared to were still alive and could be interviewed. In addition to the people who saw Jesus alive after his crucifixion, eyewitness testimony is foundational for the New Testament as a whole, with every book either being written by an eyewitness or by someone under the direction of an eyewitness. One of the greatest examples of this is 2 Peter 1:16, which reads, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” Peter wasn’t just reporting news that he heard, but rather something he saw with his own eyes. Third, chalupas! I mean they are so GOOD God must be the truth! HA! Just kidding! Third, extra-biblical accounts. The events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus are mentioned by numerous individuals (Christians and non-Christians) from outside the New Testament. For example, the crucifixion of Jesus and the disciples experiences with the risen Jesus are referenced by more than ten ancient sources including Tacitus, Josephus, Mara-Bar-Serapion, Lucian, Talmud, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Barnabas, and Justin Martyr).   Fourth, embarrassing details. When dealing with historical events, one piece of evidence that lends credibility to an account’s authenticity is the inclusion of embarrassing details. All four Gospels mention that several women were the first to find the tomb empty, which makes them the primary eyewitnesses. This is significant because in first century Jewish and Roman cultures, the testimony of women was frequently regarded as untrustworthy. If the writers of the Gospels were making up a story that they wanted people to believe, they would have stated that men were the first to find the tomb empty.   Fifth, enemy attestation. Even Jesus’ enemies didn’t deny that the tomb was empty. They had an alternative explanation for how the tomb became empty (the disciples stole Jesus’ body), but they acknowledged that the tomb was empty nonetheless. Enemy attestation is a powerful form of testimony that involves an enemy stating something in favor of the opposing view. Enemies have nothing to gain when they do this. In the case of Jesus, the enemies of Jesus certainly didn’t have anything to gain by reporting that the tomb was empty – but they did so anyway.   Sixth, the empty tomb itself. There are a number of reasons to believe that the tomb was empty one of which involves its location in Jerusalem. The Romans, Jews, and Christians knew where Jesus was buried; the location of his tomb was no secret. When news began spreading in Jerusalem that Jesus had risen from the dead, the Romans and/or Jews could have simply removed the body of Jesus from the tomb and displayed it in order to shatter the “hoax.” However, Jesus’ body was never produced; if it was we would have certainly heard about it from the critics of Christianity.   Seventh, the emergence of the early church. No historian would deny that thousands of people began following the life and teachings of Jesus in the first century shortly after the resurrection. Acts 2:41 which takes place almost immediately after the resurrection reads, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” This number continued to grow rapidly throughout the remainder of the first century as we read in Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” On top of that, there are several extra-biblical accounts to verify the emergence of the early church including Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Trajan, and Suetonius. How can the sudden emergence and numerical explosion of Christianity be explained apart from the resurrection of Jesus?   Eighth, thousands of years of entirely changed lives. Prior to Jesus’ death, and for three days while he was in the grave, the disciples were skeptical and afraid. However, after Jesus’ resurrection, the lives of the disciples were entirely different; all of them were persecuted and many were martyred as a result of their belief in the risen Christ. James (the brother of Jesus) and the apostle Paul experienced radical conversions as well. Like the disciples, James and Paul also subjected themselves to persecution and martyrdom because Jesus had risen from the dead. Skeptics may comment that the transformation of these individuals (the disciples, James, and Paul) is insignificant, since it is normal for people to convert from one set of beliefs to another. However, the cause of these conversions is different. People usually convert to a particular religion because they hear the message of that religion from a secondary source and believe the message. The reason for the transformations of the disciples, James, and Paul is quite different; they are the result of what they actually saw with their own eyes: the risen Jesus. Finally, ninth, impossibly fulfilled prophecy. On numerous occasions throughout his ministry, Jesus predicted that he would die and rise again. In fact, Jesus predicted these events so frequently that his predictions actually became common knowledge. It’s one thing to make a prediction; it’s another thing to predict something that actually happens. Jesus’ fulfilled predictions regarding his own death and resurrection demand that he really is the Son of God and risen Lord.   Ok, pretty cool stuff. Informative, educational, encouraging…, and I’d like to leave you with something quick and simple but hopeful and helpful. Many people say on Easter Week or Holy Week, “A lot can happen in three days.” What’s meant by that is on Friday, Jesus was being destroyed. Literally. He would die on the cross, a criminal’s death, not for His own sins but for the sin of the world. Rejected and suffering…, and…, three days later He would rise again, just like He predicted, never to face death or sin again but resurrecting in triumph over them both. Over the span of three days…, that is a HUGE change…   So, I introduce to you and give you and give even to myself what I am calling “The Three Day Play.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 says, that we are taken advantage of when we are ignorant of Satan’s devices, his playbook…, so here’s a trick play to run against him in your own life. Remember the resurrection. Something is happening, going wrong…, perhaps has been going wrong for years…, for three days, press into the Lord….   I don’t know what that looks like for you. Probably for everyone its going to look differently… But before you panic, react, lose hope, make things a ton worse, remember The Three Day Play…, a lot can happen in three days.   In three days, Jesus changed complete death into everlasting life. Pray hard for three days. Spend time in the word. Call your friends and have all of them pray for you for three days…, seek the Lord with your whole heart and see how much can change in such a short amount of time through honest and humble and ferocious faith…   I look back on the major plays the enemy has ran against me in my past…, and man, if I had run the three-day play, things could have been so vastly different. Even circumstances and consequences that I am still living within today from hardships years ago…   So, God bless you, God strengthen you in the authenticity and hope of the resurrection, and may the Lord lead you through your series of three-day plays going forward. A lot can happen in three days…