April 13, 2025 - Even the Stones Will Cry Out

 As Jesus prepared for His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, He stopped to have dinner with some friends.  It takes many different kinds of people to make up the body of Christ, the Church.  We see examples of some of those in His followers at that supper.  Which kind do you most identify with? 

 God made a promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.  Hundreds of years later God delivered Abraham's descendants, the Israelites, from enslavement in Egypt and brought them into the desert.  Watch this morning as Pastor Josh discusses how our own spiritual journey mirrors the journey of the Israelites in the desert.  

 Our turning around from the path of destruction and accepting Jesus' help to get on the path to righteousness is just the first steps of a spiritual journey into adulthood as Children of God. As we walk this path, if we truly have the Spirit of God within us, we will show His love to those around us.  Are you sharing the love of God with those around you? 

 Abraham believed God and God judged him righteous because of it.  If you will believe in Jesus Christ, then your faith will be counted unto you as righteousness as well.  Faith isn't always easy, though.  Sometimes we pray, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." Thankfully, we worship and serve a God that meets us where we are.  Join us as Pastor Josh shows how God has had one plan for humanity from the very beginning. 

 Jesus spent forty days in the desert facing the temptations of the enemy.  Why did the Father not only allow that to happen but drive Jesus to it by the Spirit?  How does this relate to Lent and the forty days leading up to Easter each year?  Watch to learn the answers to these questions and many more! 

 God says the whole world belongs to Him.  Watch and listen as Pastor Josh explains how Jesus reclaimed the whole world through His transfiguration atop Mount Hermon, the very seat of the pagan gods! 

 Jesus commands us to love our enemies and treat others the way we want to be treated.  These words are well known, almost a part of our vernacular in modern western society; so much so that they've lost some of their weight.  Jesus wasn't just teaching kids on the playground how to get along, He was making a call to arms against the forces of oppression and darkness in this world! 

 Jesus is the Great Physician. Praise God He is still in the business of healing us physically and spiritually!

 We wrap up the sermon series on the Beatitudes by looking at some of your questions and comments.  Amy Justice closes the meditation by sharing what God has revealed to her through this meditation.

We wrap up our sermon series on the Beatitudes this week by looking at the final group of who Jesus says is blessed, the persecuted.  What does it mean to be persecuted in our modern setting?  Is persecution really an expected part of the Christian experience?  Why does Jesus say this beatitude twice? Come and listen as we explore these questions and more. 

 This week we learn about the Agents of Change.  Jesus hasn't saved us so that we will remain as we were.  He has showered us with grace and blessing so that we may in turn share that grace and blessing with those around us.  Listen as we discover more about the path to the treasure, the Kingdom of Heaven. 

 We continue our sermon series on the Beatitudes this week by looking at the first group, the Oppressed.  What does it mean to be Poor in Spirit?  Does God reject the wealthy?  Is there time to change the road you're on?  Listen for answers as we meditate on the words of Jesus. 

In the first sermon of 2025 we begin a new series where we meditate on the Beatitudes.  These are the first words of the sermon that we have in Holy Scripture of Jesus so they must be pretty important!  This week we are looking at the clues in scripture that will help us to interpret Jesus' words in the coming weeks.