A church in Toledo, Oregon learning to embrace the gospel in all of life.
First Baptist Church of Toledo
Christ will examine if we are fruitful, perhaps even at a time we don't expect, and we are responsible for what we show Him.
God cares about how He's worshipped and we must reform our practices to make sure they're in line with His.
God is who He is regardless of who we think He is.
Jesus grants mercy to those who are pushed into the sidelines of society, the greatest going to the least.
In Christ's kingdom, greatness is not measured in power, position, or prestige. It is measured in humility and servanthood.
God has the right to reward as He pleases, and Christians must rejoice that the Lord is not just fair, but generous.
Righteousness is not earned but received. Those who receive Christ's righteousness will be gifted with eternal rewards in the restored heaven and earth.
1. Are we seeking to please God or ourselves? 2. Rites and rituals are meaningless before God if there is no relationship with God!
As we consider this event in Jesus' ministry we are not only going to see just how important children are to Jesus, but we are also going to learn how much we "grown ups" can learn from how children respond to Jesus.
Divorce is not in God's good design, but neither is sin committed in marriage.
God was made manifest in the Creation He made in order to redeem it from the sin that man had wrought.
Being forgiven so great a debt as our sin, it is unthinkable that a Christian would be unwilling to forgive wrongs done to them.
Confrontation about sin is necessary in Christian community, and the hope is always for repentance and restoration.
When a Christian stumbles and wanders, other Christians are not called to despise that person, but seek to restore them.
To be truly great in God's kingdom means being dependent and trusting of God in every circumstance.
Jesus did not want to be an offense to others and was willing to set aside His rights as Son of God.
Disciples of Jesus overcome insurmountable obstacles to advance the Kingdom by faith.
Following Jesus means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and losing our lives so we might save our lives.
Christians are to be humbly submitting to God's plans, not trying to counsel Him.
Christians need to confess that Jesus is the promised Savior and the Son of God, and on that rock of confession does Jesus build His church.
Christians need to be on the lookout for false teaching. It may look good, but it spreads and ferments faith.
Jesus has the same compassion on Gentiles as He does Jews.
Nobody is beyond the redeeming grace of God through faith alone.
Traditions need to be examined by God's Word, and those who teach tradition as God's command do not worship God.
Christians should keep their eyes on Jesus no matter what is happening around them.
Jesus miraculously feeds more than 5,000 people because the Apostles were willing to give up their meal for Jesus' mission.
News of Jesus's works reaches Herod, and news of Herod's works reaches Jesus. Herod responds in shame, and Jesus responds in compassion.
The Nazarenes reject Jesus' divinity because they were too self-assured of what they knew about Him.
Jesus' disciples are to understand and treasure the truths of His parables about His kingdom.
Jesus gives parables depicting worshipful abandon of earthly treasure for the purpose of gaining true, eternal treasure.
Christians are to persevere in a wicked world knowing that the Lord will harvest the wheat and burn the weeds.
Jesus begins teaching in parables, starting with a parable about sowers and soils, teaching us that as we sow the seed of the gospel, we won't know how it will be received.
Those who Jesus considers His family are those who do the will of God.
Evil and idolatrous people demand God to do what they want.
Jesus uses the careless words of the Pharisees to show them their condemnation is just.
Christ is falsely accused and responds with a reminder of the necessity of unity.
Jesus is shown to be the servant God intended to bring about salvation and restoration to the whole world.
Jesus is tested by the Pharisees on whether or not it's allowable to be do good on the Sabbath.
The Pharisees tried to condemn Jesus and His Disciples, but their misunderstanding of the Sabbath was a symptom of a greater problem.
Jesus compassionately celebrates those who come to Him.
Jesus condemns those who hear and see God's words and works, yet remain unaffected.
Jesus encourages and celebrates His weak, yet faithful servants.
Jesus encourages His Apostles that they will be received in His name, and that those who receive them will be rewarded.
Jesus eradicates a misunderstanding of His coming and sets the record straight about how devoted His followers are to be.
Disciples of Christ are not to be afraid of their persecutors.
While promising real, deadly persecution to His Apostles, Jesus also provides some promises.
Jesus gives specific commands to His disciples of what they are to say, what they are to do, and what their mentality should be as they go out.
Jesus gives His Apostles specific orders and grants them some of His authority proving the distinctiveness of His ministry.
Jesus' motivation for His ministry was compassion. It should be that same compassion that drives us into the field ripe for harvest.
Time with Jesus will produce one of two results: Either He will be marveled at, or He will be blasphemed.
Jesus is declared to be the Messiah by two suffering men who follow Him, are healed by Him, yet still disobey Him.