Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had an up-close glimpse of multiple encounters Jesus experienced. Each one leaving us with questions we should ask in our own lives… Don't you just love a bunch of questions this early in the morning!!! First with the Pharasees which should cause us to pause and ponder if there is any truth in us that reveals hypocrisy vs a real trust and faith in Jesus? And then as a result of His encounter with Mary of Magdala – are we able to say I have met him and I am different? Now this morning we are going to add a few more questions? I invite you to write these down and ponder them as we look at our next encounter. Do I truly want to encounter Jesus? Do I want the hope of Jesus in my life? Do I deeply believe Jesus will meet me where I am? Luke 24 beginning in verse 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked.  “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. BUT NOT JESUS! Lets PRAY Dear Jesus, I need you. I know you are my hope. Open my eyes and let me see you! Amen In my early career, I was a nursing home administrator – locally at Life Care Center (that is actually what brought us to the valley) I believe and know fully that God allowed that in my life to grow me in deeper dependence and knowledge of him. That is a whole other message. One of the hardest challenges of that job is staffing (anyone relate) The responsibility to the residents and staff was tremendous – taking me often to the point of desperation. I remember one particular day that my regional director had stopped by and on this visit he had his elementary aged son with him. When they arrived, I had been sitting at my desk praying and seeking the Lords help for how exactly we would meet the need for CNAs that day. As we talked – the little guy offered to pray for me. He prayed for a simple prayer or please provide today. The heart and faith of that young man was the encouragement, an encounter I needed to continue to trust in that moment. Let's look at Jesus encounter with 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus Right before we see our next encounter in Luke, we learn that the stone is rolled away! Jesus has risen and the women who discovered the empty tomb are being hit with doubt and disbelief by the disciples as they share this indescribable news.  28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going    farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.  Jesus shows up and meets us where we are.   Jesus shows up and meets us where we are.  He is worthy of our hope JESUS SHOWS UP UNEXPECTED WAYS PLACES “ALL THAT CRYING I DID THIS MORNING” 2 BAGS OF GROCERIES MATTHEW 25 PHARISEES- JESUS ALWAYS ENCOUNTERED THEM  MARY MAGDALENE- FIRST TO HEAR HIM   ALWAYS EXISTING WITH THE FATHER-  GO BACK TO BEGINNING HOW HE APPROACHES US  SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:6 6. “WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:7 7. THEN THE EYES OF THEM WERE OPENED, AND THEY REALIZED THEY WERE NAKED; SO THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:8 8. THEN THE MAN AND HIS WIFE HEARD THE SOUNDS OF THE LORD GOD AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND THEY HID FROM THE LORD GOD AMONG THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:9 9. BUT THE LORD GOD CALLED TO THE MAN, “WHERE ARE YOU?' The New English Bible describes them as "full of gloom."  THEY WERE NOT EXPECTING HIM-  DISCIPLES WEREN'T- MARY MAGDALENE DIDN'T  2ND TIME SAME DAY- DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM  SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE: JESUS TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR BELIEF WAS MORE IN THEIR HEART THAN IN THEIR HEAD. WE OFTEN THINK THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO BELIEF ARE IN THE HEAD, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY IN THE HEART.   SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:28 28. “AS THEY APPROACHED THE VILLAGE TO WHICH THEY WERE GOING, JESUS CONTINUED ON AS IF HE WERE GOING FARTHER. (APPARENTLY WAST GONNA STAY) SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:29 29. BUT THEY URGED HIM STRONGLY, “STAY WITH US, FOR IT IS NEARLY EVENING; THE DAY IS ALMOST OVER.“ SO HE WENT IN TO STAY WITH THEM. JESUS WON'T FORCE HIMSELF  STAYS WHERE INVITED  WHEN TWO SAINTS ARE TALKING TOGETHER, JESUS IS VERY LIKELY TO COME AND MAKE THE THIRD ONE IN THE COMPANY. TALK OF HIM, AND YOU WILL SOON TALK WITH HIM, “SPURGEON SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:30 30. WHEN HE WAS AT THE TABLE WITH THEM, HE TOOK BREAD AND BROKE IT AND BEGAN TO GIVE IT TO THEM. SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:31 31. THEN THEIR EYES OPENED AND THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, AND HE DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR SIGHT. SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:32 32. THEY ASKED EACH OTHER, “WERE NOT OUR HEARTS BURNING WITHIN US WHILE HE TALKED WITH US ON THE ROAD AND OPENED THE SCRIPTURES TO US?” V 27- AND BEGINNING WITH MOSES AND ALL THE PROPHETS, HE EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT WAS SAID AND IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HIMSELF  IMAGINE THAT CONVERSATION- THAT TEACHING? SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:33 33. THEY GOT UP RETURNED AT ONCE TO JERUSALEM. THERE THEY FOUND THE ELEVEN AND THOSE WITH THEM, ASSEMBLED TOGETHER. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER JESUS- YOU GO   WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER JESUS YOU SHARE  SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:34 34. AND SAYING “IT IS TRUE! THE LORD HAS RISEN AND HAS APPEARED TO SIMON.” SCRIPTURE LUKE 24:35 35. THEN THE TWO TOLD WHAT HAD HAPPENED ON THE WAY, AND HOW JESUS WAS RECOGNIZED BY THEM WHEN HE BROKE THE BREAD.” LEONARD SWEET They recognized him when he broke the bread  Cleopas- companion DIDN'T keep their experience to themselves -told it to the others.  Jesus seems to care well for all people- especially ones who are walking in the wrong direction.  COMMUNION GOOD FRIDAY STARTED AT THE TABLEAT THE TABLE AGAIN  WETHER A MEAL OR COMMUNION?  TODAY WE OFFER TWO WAYS TO ENCOUNTER HIM  ONE THROUGH THESE ELEMENTS-   TWO THROUGH PRAYER  30So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it  is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' “  32Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” 35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.   This food won't keep your body alive. It won't keep your stomach from growling or your throat from being thirsty. This food isn't designed to sustain the body, it's designed to sustain the soul. It's designed to help you be in constant communion with the One who created you, and the One who redeemed you. This food is to nourish the soul. MATTHEW 26:26-28 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. MAYBE YOU JUST WANT TO PRAY TODAY YOU NEED AN ENCOUTNER WITH HIM A FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH HIM- YOU COULD ASK SOMEONE TO COME AND PRAY - OR WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WILL PRAY WITH YOU/FOR YOU

https://www.bible.com/events/49592769 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Encounters Part 3 The Emmaus Road encounter Today we continue in our Easter teaching series called Encounters. We are looking at different stories in the bible where people personally encounter Jesus. Today we are looking at Jesus' encounter with two disciples walking down the Emmaus Road What did this encounter mean for them? What can we learn for our lives today? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭13‬-‭16‬‬ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. In Lukes Gospel, this is the first post-resurrection encounter of Jesus. As they are walking along, the text says they were discussing everything that had happened. The language here indicates this more than a casual discussion- it was one of passion and perhaps even debate. Disillusioned and confused, they start walking away- trying to sort it all out as they go down the road. And that's when Jesus shows up. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭17‬‬ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. The weight they were carrying becomes clear as Jesus invites himself into their conversation. Literally the emotion, the burden of what has just taken place is written all over their face. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭18‬-‭21‬‬ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In the Jewish tradition, 3 days after death was the point of no return- death was final at that point. For these disciples, it was more than Jesus that was dead- their hope of him overthrowing the Roman's and returning the nation of Israel to a place of prominence and freedom was over too. What they had focused on, what they thought was sure to come, what they were excited about- was over. It didn't come, and seemingly never would. Have you ever been there? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭22‬-‭24‬‬ In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭25‬-‭27‬‬ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Jesus continues the conversation with some stiff words- calling out their resistance to believing all that was written about Jesus. It's interesting here- Jesus doesn't go after them for not believing his own teaching, or his own words about his identity and resurrection. He doesn't even rebuke them for not believing the testimony of the women, or the other disciples, or even the empty tomb itself. He calls them out because they have not believed what the word of God, the bible said about him. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭28‬-‭29‬‬ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. Jesus was willing to walk a little while with these disciples as they were walking away. But he stayed with them because they asked. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭24‬:‭30‬-‭32‬‬ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” One encounter is all it took and their hearts were aflame with hope. The scriptures and the stories they couldn't figure out, were now alive and right in front of them. And their hearts were on fire. All of the information, the questions, the thoughts they had about Jesus, came alive in the person of Jesus, right before their eyes. This was the encounter that changed everything for these two disciples. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭13‬‬ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” We know from this encounter story that Jesus is alive. We know that he is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan according to the scriptures. And he is still encountering people who are seeking him in the every day events of life. The question that remains for us is simply this: Will you look for Jesus, right here? Here in the everyday moments and needs of your life? Will you ask, seek, and knock for an encounter with Jesus himself?

ENCOUNTERS WELCOME- HAPPY EASTER- STARTED SERIES SPOTLIGHT ON ENCOUNTERS WITH JESUS STARTING WITH PALM SUNDAY-PASSION WEEK LAST WEEK- JESUS ENTERS A PARADE JESUS -LAST WEEK LAST MOMENTS LAST BREATH PHARISEES – ADDRESSES HYPOCRISY THIS WEEK- SHINE SPOTLIGHT ON MARY MAGDALENE MARY MAGDALENE -BEEN WITH JESUS FOR A WHILE MARY MAGDALENE- HEALED OF 7 DEMONS THERE WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED-SUPORTER OF JESUS PAINTING OF MARY MAGDALENE ARCHEOLOGIST DISCOVERED MANY REMNANTS CHURCH - DUC IN ALTUM (PUT OUT INTO DEEP) ATRIUM DEDICATED TO WOMEN BEAUTIFUL MOSAIC DEDICATED TO MARY MAGD THIS IS THE CHOSENS INTERPRETATION MARY MAGDALENE- MEETS JESUS MARY ENCOUNTERS- THE ENCOUNTERS JESUS HAD WITH PEOPLE STARTING WITH PALM SUNDAY THROUGH PASSION WEEK AND BEYOND WHERE DID WE END ON FRIDAY NIGHT MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY SIT FACING A STONE SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:1 “EARLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE TOMB AND SAW THE STONE HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ENTRANCE. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:2 SO SHE CAME RUNNING TO SIMON PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE, THE ONE JESUS LOVED, AND SAID, “THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LORD OUT OF THE TOMB, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM!” SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:3-4 SO PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE STARTED FOR THE TOMB. BOTH WERE RUNNING, BUT THE OTHER DISCIPLE OUTRAN PETER AND REACHED THE TOMB FIRST. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:5-6 5 HE BENT OVER AND LOOKED IN AT THE STRIPS OF LINEN LYING THERE BUT DID NOT GO IN. THEN SIMON PETER CAME ALONG BEHIND HIM AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE TOMB. HE SAW THE STRIPS AND LINEN LYING THERE, JOHN FASTER- PETER LESS SCADER. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:7-8 7. AS WELL AS THE CLOTH HAD BEEN WRAPPED AROUND JESUS' HEAD. THE CLOTH WAS STILL LYING IN ITS PLACE, SEPARATE FROM THE LINEN. FINALLY THE OTHER DISCIPLE, WHO HAD REACHED THE TOMB FIRST, ALSO WENT INSIDE. HE SAW AND BELIEVED. BELIEVED WHAT? WHY? WHAT DO YOU HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING IN? ANNA BAGENHOLM SKIING ACCIDENT- TRAPPED ICE- PUPILS DIALATED She had no heart beat for 2 hours 35 minutes Bågenholm's spent the following 35 days connected to a JUSTIN SMITH attempted to walk home 2 MILES in Tresckow, PA, wearing hoodie and jeans. Temp-4 DEGREES- passed out snowdrift (12 hours) father, Don Smith, found him the next morning. Justin was rigid, his skin was purple, and he had no pulse or breathing. Paramedics assumed DEAD, sheet placed over him- 1 SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:9-10 9. (THEY STILL DID NOT UNDERSTAND FROM SCRIPTURE THAT JESUS HAD TO RISE FROM THE DEAD) THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE STAYING SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:11-12 11. NOW MARY STOOD OUTSIDE THE TOMB CRYING. AS SHE WEPT, SHE BENT OVER TO LOOK INTO THE TOMB AND SAW TWO ANGELS IN WHITE, SEATED WHERE JESUS' BODY HAD BEEN, ONE AT THE HEAD AND THE OTHER AT THE FOOT. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFIGANCE OF THIS? ON TOP- 2 ANGELS- ONE ON EACH END THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OLD TESTAMENT- THE PRESENCE OF GOD LIVED HERE ARK TRAVELED AT ONE POINT ARK THEN ENDS UP IN THE TEMPLE ONCE A YEAR- THE HIGH PRIEST HOLY OF HOLIES VODDIE BAUCHAUM WHAT WAS HE SAYING? ADMIT YOUR'E A SINNER- IN NEED OF A SAVIOR BELIEVE ON AND IN THE LORD JESUS CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:13 13. THEY ASKED HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?' “THEY HAVE TAKEN MY LORD AWAY,” SHE SAID, “AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM.” VERSE 2 SHE SAID THE LORD-    ITS PERSONAL SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:14 14. AT THIS, SHE TURNED AROUND AND SAW JESUS STANDING THERE, BUT SHE DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS JESUS. SCRIPITURE JOHN 20:15 15. HE ASKED HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING? WHO IS IT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?” THINKING HE WAS THE GARDNER, SHE SAID, “SIR, IF YOU HAVE CARRIED HIM AWAY, TELL ME WHERE YOU HAVE PUT HIM, AND I WILL GET HIM.” HOW DOES SHE NOT KNOW WHO HE IS ? DARK- SHES CRYING SHE HAS ZERO EXPECTATION HE IS ALIVE REMBRANDT PAINTING JESUS GARDNER  Christ not just Redeemer but also the cultivator of souls. Like a gardener tending to his garden, he nurtures each soul, guiding us toward spiritual growth and renewal. In the garden, a place of life, growth and resurrection, Christ's presence illuminates the darkest corners and brings new life from the ashes of desolation. SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:16 16. JESUS SAID TO HER, “MARY.” SHE TUNRED TOWARD HIM AND CRIED OUT IN ARAMAIC, “RABBONI!” (WHICH MEANS “TEACHER”) SERIES IS ENCOUNTERS ENCOUNTERS VARY FOR PEOPLE ENCOUNTER HIM IN PAIN-IN JOY-CREATION IN OTHER PEOPLE FUNERAL HOME ENCOUNTER FIRST YEAR AS A PASTOR (3 LADIES UNDER 50) NICKY BROWN- 46 BRUTAL BATTLE CANCER STANDING LOOKING AT HER BEATEN UP BODY I NEED YOU TO EMBRACE THIS DON'T NEED WORK FOR CHURCH TO ENCOUNTER STATEMENT MARY MAGDALENE CAN BE SEEN AS THE OPPOSITE OF THE PHARISEES, SHE IS KEENLY AWARE OF HER NEED FOR JESUS AND HER DEPENDANCE ON HIM. SCRIPTURE 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3 FOR WHAT I RECEIVED I PASSED ON TO YOU AS FIRST IMPORTANCE; THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, THAT HE WAS BURIED, THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES. SCRIPTURE 1 CORINTHIANS 15:4-5 4 THAT HE WAS BURIED, THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, AND THAT HE APPEARED TO CEPHAS, AND THEN TO THE TWELVE. SCRIPTURE 1 CORINTHIANS 15:6 6 AFTER THAT HE APPEARED TO MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED, OF THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE SAME TIME, MOST OF WHOM ARE STILL LIVING, THOUGH SOME HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. SCRIPTURE I CORINTHIANS 15:7-8 7. THEN HE APPEARED TO JAMES, THEN TO ALL THE APOSTLES, AND LAST OF ALL HE APPEARED TO ME ALSO PAUL THE TERRORIST- IS TESTIFYING THAT HE HAD AN ENOUNTER WITH JESUS. MARY MAGDALENE HAD ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS THE CHOSEN TAKES LIBERTY HERE- THE MESSAGE OF WHAT SHE SAYS DOESN'T THIS IS A REAL PERSON- REAL PROBLEMS EXPLAINS TO NICODEMUS- A PHARISEE WHAT HAPPENED WOULD YOU KNOW HIM IF YOU SAW HIM I WAS ONE WAY- AND NOW I AM COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND THE THING THAT HAPPENED IN BETWEEN-  WAS HIM-   YES I WILL KNOW HIM SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:17 17. JESUS SAID “DO NOT HOLD ON TO ME, FOR I HAVE NOT YET ASCENDED TO THE FATHER. GO INSTEAD TO MY BROTHERS AND TELL THEM, “I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD. “ SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:18 18. MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE DISCIPLES WITH THE NEWS: “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” AND SHE TOLD THEM THAT HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS TO HER.” HAVE YOU SEEN THE LORD- HAVE YOU HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS? TODAY WE END WITH WHERE WE ENDED FRIDAY NIGHT 2 WOMEN- SIT, STARING AT A STONE MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JOSEPH AND SALOME- SAT STARING AT THE TOMB WHERE HE WAS LAID”. ALL HOPE HAS BEEN LOST STONES IN SCRIPTURE REPRESENT MANY THINGS. STONES WERE MARKERS, STONES WERE ALTARS, STONES WERE REMINDERS, AND STONES- THIS STONE WAS A BARRIER. TODAY WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE A STONE- WRITE A WORD OR EVEN A SYMBOL ON IT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU. ALSO INVITED TO PLACE IT- FOOT OF THE CROSS REMINDER-MARKER-MEMORIAL REPRESENTS MY STONE SAYS FREE THE STONE WAS A BARRIER- NOT TO HIM GETTING OUT BUT TO US GETTING IN PRAYER- ADMIT YOU ARE A SINNER (ALL HAVE SINNED) BELIEVE ON AND IN JESUS CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH- YOU WILL BE SAVED LORD TODAY- I ADMIT IM A SINNER IN NEED OF YOU- FORGIVE MY SINS JESUS- COME INTO MY HEART TODAY. FINAL MESSAGE OF EASTER- MARY THOUGHT THEY LOST JESUS WON

https://www.bible.com/events/49589832 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Encounters Part 2- Easter Sunday Mary Magdalene Today we continue in our Easter teaching series called Encounters. We are looking at different stories in the bible where people personally encounter Jesus. Today we are looking at Jesus' encounter with Mary Magdalene on resurrection Sunday morning. What did this encounter mean for Mary? What can we learn from it today? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬ After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. We learn that Jesus had healed Mary from evil spirits and infirmities- It tells us specifically that 7 demons were cast out of her life. And that's all we really know about her background She was once in darkness, living with demonic presence in her life. But an encounter with Jesus was all it took. And her life was changed forever. What about you? ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬‬ Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. The last time Mary saw Jesus. He was dead. It was on the evening of Good Friday after she witnessed Jesus lifeless body being placed in the tomb, with a large stone rolled in front of the entrance. That stone on Friday evening had to feel like the end of her world. Hopeless and heavy. And she carried that same feeling with her on Sunday morning. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭2‬-‭7‬‬ So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Mary's only conclusion at the sight of the stone being rolled away is that someone has taken the body of Jesus out of the tomb. She runs to tell the other disciples. The other disciple who is not named here, is believed to be John, the one writing this gospel. Peter arrives and goes right on in to see for himself. He is taking it all in, trying to process the evidence that's right in front of him. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭8‬-‭13‬‬ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don't know where they have put him.” Mary is still so upset, that she is seemingly unphased by the sight of two angels as she looks in the tomb. As the angels ask about her condition, she can only reply that someone has taken away Jesus. And now comes Mary's encounter – the one that would change her forever…the one that would change the world – change you. If you let it. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭14‬-‭16‬‬ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). This is the encounter. This is the moment that changes everything for Mary. Jesus first shows up in a graveyard to encounter his friend Mary who is confused, broken, and hopeless. That's the God we serve. At the sound of Jesus calling her name, Mary recognizes that it is Jesus. Her heart leaps for joy as she grabs ahold of him. ‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬-‭18‬‬ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' ” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. This encounter with Jesus changed her life. Jesus was alive, validating everything he ever said. Jesus is alive, there is hope, there is the forgiveness of sin and the hope of ternal life. And he's still encountering us today. Do you believe that? Do you really believe that it can be true for you? ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8‬‬ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭17‬‬ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. The question of the resurrection is really the central claim of Christianity. The good news or the gospel of Jesus Christ is that through is life, death and resurrection, we can not only encounter him, but we can find new life in him. Jesus, through his sufferings, and his death on the cross, made the full payment for all sin. The bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus came to deal with the penalty and the power of sin in our lives. And in his resurrection, he validated his teaching, and the victory over sin death and hell. And those who place their faith in him, will one day share in a resurrection like his. And until then, we get to experience his life within us. That's what's at stake today as we consider the stone rolled away this Easter Morning.

WELCOME- START OF PASSION WEEK BEGIN NEW SERIES ENCOUNTERS ENCOUNTERS JESUS HAD THIS SEASON SET THE SCENE- MATTHEW 21 ( ALL 4 WRITERS SAY) 21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away. 10 day of Nisan This was the day they selected the lamb to be sacrificed on the 14th day- the day when Jesus this lamb would ride. He then says to them and us- I will take on the entire sin nature of these dirty people The mud was cleaner than the souls of the people LIMO VEHICLE VLADIMIR PUTIN CAR HELICOPTER FORMER BRITTISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK TRAIN ARORMORED- FOOD SECURE- POWERED KIM JONG UN DONKEY LAST YEAR PASTOR STEPHEN WILLIS DONKEY- THIS CROSS DESGN ON ITS BACK HORSE- A WAR HORSE RODE DONKEY MEANS YOU “COME” IN PEACE WAR HORSE MEANS YOU COME TO … SIZE DIFFERNCES ARE BIG SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:9 9. “REJOICE, O PEOPLE OF ZION! SHOUT IN TRIUMPH, O PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM! SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:9 9. LOOK YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU. HE IS RIGHTEOUS AND VICTORIOUS, YET HE IS HUMBLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY- RIDING ON A DONKEY'S FOAL. SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:10 10. I WILL REMOVE THE BATTLE CHARIOTS FROM ISRAEL AND THE WARHORSES FROM JERUSALEM. SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:10 10. I WILL DESTROY ALL THE WEAPONS USED IN BATTLE, AND YOUR KING WILL BRING PEACE TO THE NATIONS. HOSANA-(SAVE NOW) PALM BRANCHES SCRIPTURE 9:10 10. HIS REALM WILL STRETCH FROM SEA TO SEA AND FROM THE EUPHRATES RIVER TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.” THE VISUAL PICTURE DIFFERENCE JESUS ARRIVES ON A COLT- PEACE-HUMILITY WASN'T THE FIRST KING TO ARRIVE DONKEY- SOLOMON RODE IN TO JERUSALEM SCRIPTURE LUKE 19:41 41. “AS HE APPROACHED JERUSALEM AND SAW THE CITY HE WEPT OVER IT.” WHY- WHY IS HE WEEPING? BECAUSE OF THE PAIN WILL SUFFER? PASSION WEEK FOCUS MATTHEW – 40 %- LAST WEEK OF JESUS LIFE MARK- 60 % LUKE 33 % JOHN- ALMOST 50 % HOW MUCH TIME THIS WEEK IN REFLECTION? BE INTENTIONAL IN REPENTANCE- IN PRAISE SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:13 13. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (1)YOU SHUT THE DOOR OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN PEOPLES FACES. HYPOCRITE DEFINED A PERSON WHO PRETENDS TO HAVE MORAL STANDARDS OR OPINIONS THAT THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE. ACTOR Ain't going to church- church is full of hypocrites- TRUE ON SOME LEVEL I also had some relatives and friends who loved Jesus and they were NOT hypocrites- do you know some real very real THE HYPOCRISY STARTED 6 DAYS BEFORE THIS JUDAS AND JESUS BEING ANOINTED- WOW WHAT A JOKE THIS WAS – JUDAS WHEN YOU HEAR HYPCOCRITE- YOU THINK OF WHAT IT IS OR DO YOU PICTURE A FACE? LANCE ARMSTRONG/HOLLYWOOD NOT PICKING ON LANCE- BUT HE TALKED HOLLYWOOD- EVERYONE GETS UPSET THEM SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:13 13. YOU YOURSELVES DO NOT ENTER, NOR WILL YOU LET THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23 23. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (2) YOU GIVE A TENTH OF YOUR SPICES-MINT, DILL, CUMIN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23 23. BUT YOU HAVE NEGLECTED THE MORE IMPORTANT MATTER OF THE LAW-JUSTICE, MERCY, AND FAITHFULNESS. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23 23. YOU SHOULD HAVE PRACTICED THE LATTER, WITHOUT NEGELCTING THE FORMER. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:24 24. YOU BLIND GUIDES! YOU STRAIN OUT A GNAT BUT SWALLOW A CAMEL.” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:25 25. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (3) CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, BUT INSIDE THEY ARE FULL OF GREED AND SELF-INDULGENCE. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:26 26. BLIND PHARISEE! FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, AND THEN THE OUTSIDE ALSO WILL BE CLEAN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:27 27. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (4) YOU ARE LIKE WHITE WASHED TOMBS, SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:27 27. WHICH LOOK BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE BUT ON THE INSIDE ARE FULL OF BONES OF THE DEAD AND EVERYTHING UNCLEAN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:28 28. IN THE SAME WAY, ON THE OUTSIDE YOU APPEAR TO PEOPLE AS RIGHTEOUS BUT ON THE INSIDE YOU ARE FULL OF HYPOCRISY AND WICKEDNESS. QUOTE FRANCIS CHAN “IF GOD CARED ONLY ABOUT RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES, THEN THE PHARISEES WOULD HAVE BEEN HEROES OF THE FAITH.” QUOTE A.W. TOZER “A PHARISEE IS HARD ON OTHERS AND EASY ON HIMSELF, BUT A SPIRITUAL MAN IS EASY ON OTHERS AND HARD ON HIMSELF.” RECORD PLAYER WHATS THE OPPOSITE OF HYPOCRISY? FIDELITY HIGH- FI ( HIGH FIDELITY) THIS RECORD SOUNDS EXACTY LIKE STUDIO THE CHOSEN RIGHTEOUS ANGER RELIGIOUS MEN WHO KNEW BETTER WHO WAS JESUS REALLY TALKING TO HERE? IN A SENSE HE WAS DONE TALKING TO PHARISEES HE'S INVITING THEM TO KILL HIM QUOTE BRENNAN MANNING “THE GREATEST SINGLE CAUSE OF ATHEISM IN THE WORLD TODAY IS CHRISTIANS WHO ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS WITH THEIR LIPS AND WALK OUT THE DOOR AND DENY HIM WITH THE LIFESTYLE. THAT IS WHAT AN UNBELIEVING WORLD SIMPLY FINDS UNBELIEVABLE OUR PUBLIC LIVES MUST BE AN EXTENSION OF THE WORK HE HAS DONE INWARDLY IN OUR PRIVATE LIVES LENT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO REFLECT TO EXAMINE OURSELVES MIRROR TALK PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE MIRROR NOT ABOUT LOOKING AT WHO ELSE I SEE SEARCH ME OH GOD AND KNOW MY HEART, SEE IF THERE IS ANY OFFENSIVE WAY IN ME. JESUS HUMILITY WAS ON FULL DISPLAY HE WASN'T THE ONLY LEADER WHO EVER ROAD A DONKEY BUT MANY SCHOLARS BELIEVE IT WAS 2 ANIMALS DONKEY AND THEN A FOAL- EVEN SMALLER

https://www.bible.com/events/49585583 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Encounters Part 1 The Pharisee's Today we begin our Easter teaching series called Encounters. Throughout this series we will be looking at encounters that Jesus had with people to see how it changed their lives and what we can learn for our lives today. Our series begins today with Jesus encountering the Pharisee's in Matthew 23. This particular encounter we are looking at today, happens on Tuesday of passion week. Throughout the gospel accounts you will read of different encounters with the Pharisee's and legal experts. The Pharisee's were a group of Jewish religious folks who had completely separated their lives from normal activity to dedicate themselves to the strict observing of the law of Moses. They were the best of the best as far as being religious goes. The Legal experts or scribes (depending on your translation) that are also mentioned here in the text- They were professional religious intellectuals. They were highly trained in the law of Moses, they were often asked to teach and give rulings when there was a dispute. After multiple failed attempts to trap Jesus in his words, Jesus turns his attention to the crowds of people in the temple and addresses them. That's where we pick up in Matthew 23 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭7‬‬ Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi' by others. Jesus reveals that most of what these Pharisee's were doing, was for show, was to impress other people- Jesus says “don't do that” After speaking to the crowds, he then turns his attention directly to the Pharisee's and legal experts and begins to reveal what's really behind all of their religious practices. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬-‭14‬‬ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. The word hypocrite here means to be a play actor, a pretender. A person who does right things for the wrong reasons. A person who says one thing and does another. Jesus calls the Pharisee's and legal experts hypocrites because all of their religious rules and activities actually prevent people from finding God- and they themselves don't even have a relationship with him. They are pretending. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭15‬-‭22‬‬ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. Here Jesus seems to be calling out a convoluted system of swearing oaths- by the temple, by things inside of it- they had a whole system established for how serious something needed to be sworn in. For Jesus, he says let your yes be yes and your no be no. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭24‬‬ “You're hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God's Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons? The Pharisee's were so attune to religious details, they would tithe on their spices and seasonings. That itself wasn't the problem. They were hypocrites because they took tithing to that level of detail, but they failed to look after the major things like justice, peace, and faith. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭25‬-‭28‬‬ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. The Pharisee's and scribes had a beautiful exterior of religious ceremony and piety- but inside it was gross, full of violence and pleasure seeking. What was on the outside, did not match the inside, and that's a brig problem for Jesus. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭29‬-‭32‬‬ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! Today as we read about the encounter with Jesus and Pharisee's we should be careful not to miss the real encounter that matters the most for us today. And that's Jesus encounter with hypocrisy. The real enemy of this passage is not the pharisee's or the legal experts. It's not the Law or the Jewish people. It's the hypocrisy of people claiming the name of God and not living his life. And friends that is an enemy that crosses generations, cultures, and all sorts of experience. Right into my life and yours. This is not about being mad at the Pharisee's, or hypocrites in our world today- it's about taking an honest look in the mirror and asking: Lord, is there hypocrisy in me? The danger of hypocrisy is that it can cause us not to enter the kingdom of heaven.Both to miss the fullness of Christ now, and after we die, that we might miss eternity in heaven. And the other danger of hypocrisy in our life, is that it might cause OTHERS to miss the kingdom of God. Author Brennen Manning says: "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." That's the twin danger of hypocrisy. Today we seek the Lord in dealing with hypocrisy in our life. We ask him to search our hearts, to reveal to us the places of our own hypocrisy, and to lead us to repentance.

How can we live "strong in grace.”? The answer is quite plain and simple: We grow strong in grace when we understand God's unconditional forgiveness of us, then learn to unconditionally forgive others. God calls us to grow strong in giving grace to others — growing in Christlikeness Giving grace to another person is simply to forgive them, unconditionally, just as God forgave us through Christ SO, WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? Forgiveness = Deliberate release of anger, resentment, and other negative feelings toward someone who has wronged you GRUDGE (Merriam-Webster) A persistent, long-lasting feeling of deep-seated resentment, bitterness, or ill will toward someone, often stemming from a past insult, injury, or perceived wrongdoing. It involves holding onto anger rather than letting it go, sometimes leading to a desire for retaliation or a continued refusal to forgive.   Not all negative emotions are the same.   Healthy anger motivates action, sets boundaries, and seeks solutions.   Grudges, however, act as long-lasting emotional weights with negative outcomes.  It negatively impacts your relationship with God. It negatively impacts your other relationships. It affects your health. — mentally and physically It affects your soul Hebrews 12:14-15 (tells us what happens when we fall short of grace): Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Ephesians 4:30-32 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? Oswald Chambers. We trample the blood of the Son of God if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and for the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the atonement which He has worked out for us. It does not matter who or what we are; there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at a door other than the one that Jesus has opened. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy. "The purpose of the cross," someone observed, "is to repair the irreparable.” “If someone says, ‘I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20-21 NKJV).  If our relationship with God is so intricately connected with how we relate to others, it won't be surprising then for us to read what Jesus said  Matthew 6:14-15 (directly after teaching them how to pray ‘Lord's Prayer')  14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.   Matthew 6:12   And forgive us our debts,      as we also have forgiven our debtors.  Imagine that, before we get this warning from Jesus (14-15), Jesus told us to ask God for grace (forgiveness) but only at the same level and frequency as the forgiveness we extend to others.   Whether we admit it or not, we often think we have the right to “punish” others because they have hurt us or offended us. We believe we are justified in withholding forgiveness from them.  Unforgiveness is inherently contradictory to godliness “Often it is the case that we judge others by their worst actions, and we judge ourselves by our best intentions.” Just as we don't deserve God's forgiveness, someone you know may not deserve yours. It doesn't matter  We are still commanded to forgive them because we have been forgiven so much first.  “The devil doesn't care if you go to church or read your Bible as long as you don't apply it to your life.” THE LITMUS TEST FOR GRACE Have you extended the grace of God, the grace of forgiveness, towards the person(s) who has hurt you the most and least deserves it? Forgiveness is an action you must choose, rather than a feeling you must create THE CHOICE IS CLEAR AND IT'S YOURS TODAY Repent of unforgiveness & Release it so you no longer carry that anger/resentment/grudge no matter how justified you feel in doing so.

The Hurdle of Unforgiveness Recap – Pastor Jared has been sharing over the past few weeks about the hurdles to our faith sharing and asking to evaluate us where we are in these potential hurdles and how they are impeding us? Are we attempting to live a saved life without actually giving our life to Jesus, have we fully surrendered and received the gift of sanctification that frees us from a desire to live in the depths of sin, and then he reminded us the destruction that even a little bit of sin will bring to our lives (or our water!). This morning, we will look at another hurdle that often impedes our faith. This hurdle is one that will keep us bound, keep us stuck, cause physical illness, and even paralyze us in hopes to hurt another – the hurdle of unforgiveness. I don't want you to stop listening before we even dive in this morning so I want to speak to those of you in the room that may have suffered deep betrayal, hurt, or abuse – whatever your story – forgiveness is essential BUT is not forgetting, it is not validating a persons poor choices. Forgiveness is not an invitation to more hurt, it is an invitation in Christ for healing. It does not even require reconciliation it is an invitation to our release and restoration. And though it does not require reconciliation with those relationships that need boundaries or are no longer continued at all– I will also remind you that all relationships this side of heaven at some point will require forgiveness – even the best ones. PRAY When I heard we were going to tackle hurdles to our faith – I chuckled as I remembered in middle school being asked by a friend if I would run track with her and be on her hurdle relay team – I think that is what its called. We ran with our batons and passed it as we also ran and jumped over the hurdles. We even went home with a metal from a huge track and field event that we had the opportunity to participate in. Wow! Cant you just see me jumping over hurdles with ease? Me neither, not now. It is only a fond memory, and I can only think of the physical pain that would result if I attempted anything remotely like that now. For me it feels more like a wall than difficulty or an obstacle. Do we feel the same way about forgiving those in our lives that have wronged us. It is more than a hurdle – it's a wall, it feels impossible. You may be thinking to yourself, You don't know what I've been through, what they did, what they said – if I forgive I will give freedom to hurt me again, it will validate their behavior, or they don't deserve it. Forgiveness is a gift … a gift I just can't give them. And for those moments you carry – I am truly sorry. This is a tough message but one with deep hope on the other side. FORGIVENESS is a GIFT that we have all been given the opportunity to receive, and one we CERTAINLY don't deserve. Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed". We have all been given opportunity for forgiveness of our sins through his name - through his wounds. All of us simply by believing, by receiving. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesians 1:7 This is the foundation of our faith – the gift we are given through Christ. He bought our redemption by his blood, his sacrifice allows for the forgiveness of our sin according to the riches of His incredible, indescribable grace. We have (present tense) redemption as we say yes to him and invite him in. If you have not received him as your Savior – that is the most important message of forgiveness that you should hear this morning. He died to provide forgiveness for our sins, to provide redemption when we do not deserve it, when we will never deserve it. That's what makes it the greatest gift. Receiving this gift available to us is foundational to our Christian faith. As we walk out our journey, recipients of this grace, we will be faced with our own decisions to forgive. You may feel the nudge of the holy spirit in you saying okay it's your turn! You know the elbow nudge that parents give their kids when they want them to listen to what the Pastor is saying or want to spur them on to take a step of courage toward what is good? Let's take a look at scripture. Join me in Matthew 18:21-35 – key verses will be on the screen Matthew 18:21-35 New International Version The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a] 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,' he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.' 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,' he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Now, lets flip back a few chapters to Matthew 6 where we find Jesus giving his sermon on the mount – specifically in verse 9 – 13 where he gives us the Lords prayer – every line giving us a direction as to a child Its says 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,[a] but deliver us from the evil one.[b]' And goes on to say: 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. This my friends is a command for those of us in Christ. It is a command and any command he gives – He will equip us and we can trust it is for our good. He does not direct us this way to harm us but to heal us. This command ultimately is for our freedom. What if we say no ? What does it look like to remain in unforgiveness? Take a look at this picture on the screen. This is a picture of Kudzu – this is an ornamental plant intended for shading porches, and later promoted in the 1930s-1950s as a crucial solution for soil erosion control. While now considered a major invasive pest in the U.S., it was initially treated as a beneficial agricultural tool. It is now known as “the vine that ate the south”. I remember as a little girl seeing this along sections of route 11 in the little town I grew up in – always fascinated at how it covered everything. It starts out as this small plant with one intended purpose to shade and protect. and then it becomes a invasive vine that overtakes forests, structures, and all the beauty around it. It overtakes the trees by smothering them, blocking sunlight, and creating excessive weight that breaks branches or uproots them. Unforgiveness is the root of bitterness and just like we see here, it takes over, it festers and it suffocates us both physically, emotionally, and spiritually – we become just like these trees… trapped. HURDLES Physically – this root – it will make us ill. Bitterness settles in as anger and resentment. It causes us to live in constant in a mode of fight or flight. Leading to constant changes in our heart rate, blood pressure, and immune response. These changes increase the effects of depression, heart disease and diabetes. Now not everyone suffering from these illnesses are the result of unforgiveness – but for many it is the very reason. Emotional bondage becomes another trap. We believe we are holding something over another for hurting us – causing them some sort of discomfort, vengeance or harm – when truly we are not at all – the only person we are hurting is ourself. It can cause us to be harsh, sarcastic, condemning – leading to nasty distorted thinking toward others…even toward those it is not intended for. Have you ever heard the quote? "Holding onto anger/unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die” And this bitter root of unforgiveness also effects our spiritual life in a crippling way– hindering our relationship with God – causing us to miss his grace. Holding on to unforgiveness depletes our ability to have peace and joy. We live in a cycle of judgement and condemnation – missing yet again out on the mercy our Savior desire to show us. James 2:12-13 says Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. And ultimately, it will hinder our connection and conversation with Jesus. These effects my friends are soul injuries. So lets revisit our Matthew text… First we saw Peter asking – how many times do I have to forgive my brother or sister if they sin against me? He asks 7x? No – replies the Lord 70 x7. Jesus is correcting Peter here – saying, “STOP! Forgiveness should not be limited by a number. Essentially, he is saying “as many times as it takes”. Limitless forgiveness. He then gave a view of what the kingdom of heaven is like – a king who forgave a servants unfathomable-crippling debt (200,000 years' worth of wages) and then when the servant had a the opportunity to forgive a debt that was 600,000 times less than the debt he was just forgiven- he refused. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,' he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” We are reminded that our Lord us expects us to forgive as he forgives – even when forgiving seems unfathomable. As we saw in the Sermon on the Mount he repeats this command to us, when he teaches us to pray… Lets pray the Lords prayer together using phrases debts and debtors. Right in the middle of the prayer where we are being taught to pray – the importance of forgiveness is reiterated. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Our release, our forgiveness matters. 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 What would it look like today if the only forgiveness and grace you received was the same grace and forgiveness you gave others? You know the old adage, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" … the one we sang on the playground but along the way we discovered it was a lie. We don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt – we just don't want to hold onto the offense so it continues to hurt us more. Forgiven people, forgive people. -Dave Wilson What has a greater impact in our lives, the abundant grace of forgiveness God has given us or the root of unforgiveness living in us. Forgiveness is not a condition of our salvation, but a expectation as a result of the gift we have been given in Him. (REPEAT) If the unwillingness to forgive grips us – it begs us to ask if we fully grasp what he has done for us in Christ. This command is ultimately to our benefit because our Lord wants us to live in freedom, peace, and on a path to healing. He again will be our help through the power of his holy spirit. WE can simply begin by asking him to search our hearts. Lets watch this together. – PRODIGAL SON VIDEO Our Lord does not ask us to forgive to hurt us – he asks us to forgive for our healing and his glory. He says hang out your white sheet, pull up the roots of bitterness – I have more for you. As we sing, lean into him – pressing in trusting him to meet you here. The alters are open as we sing – there will be people in the back to pray with you.

WEEK 3 OF SERIES ON HURLDES   A TEMPORARY OBSTACLE OR DIFFICULTY, A BARRIER A WALL OF FENCE.  NOT A DEAD END WEEK 1 HURDLE- READ FIRE AIM                                              IS IT POSSIBLE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO WEEK 2- WEEK 3.  … STEALTH BOMBER                                              TODAY WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES ON HURDLES SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:15 […]

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

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

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

HURDLE DEFINED   READY     FIRE        AIM PUT YOUR BOAT IN WATER- NO PLUG IN IT HOSE IN YOUR GAS TANK GO PULL AWAY Putting sanctification before salvation (justification)-SPIN WHEELS  SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:22                                         22. THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE. […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49571732 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Hurdles Part 1  Ready. Fire. Aim  We are starting a new 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”.  Over the next few weeks, we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ.  Today we […]

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall […]

Today we are completing our four-week series called Relationships Righted. You can access our messages at COTNAZ.org, WATCH/LISTEN ONLINE. Over the last three weeks we have focused on relationships and focusing on “putting God first in our lives” so that our life is a living testimony to the LORD. Today we are going to focus […]

East Rock Celebration   Meetings with Pastor Jared and Beth and wow, God is doing some amazing things not just on their campus, but in their community because of the faithfulness and obedience of the people at COTN.  So lets take a moment and celebrate them and all that God is doing and moving within the Elkton Community.   Now If only we […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49564669 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Relationships Righted Part 3  The wanderer…  We are continuing our teaching series called Relationships Righted. Over the next few weeks we will seek to apply biblical relationship building skills to a variety of our everyday relationships.  In the Gospel of Matthew, a religious expert approached Jesus and wanted to know what […]

‭Scripture Mark 10‬‬:‭32‬-‭45 32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the […]

Matthew 22:34-38  34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38 This is the […]

 WHAT                       PICTURE OF GIRL CELEBRATING WHY  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 3:13-14   “THEN JESUS CAME FROM GALILEE TO THE JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN. BUT JOHN TRIES TO DETER HIM, SAYING, “I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED BY YOU, AND DO YOU COME TO ME?” MATTHEW 3:15   15. “JESUS REPLIED, “LET IT BE SO NOW; IT […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49559466 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Relationships Righted Part 1  It’s not about you…  Today we are starting a new teaching series called Relationships Righted. Over the next few weeks we will seek to apply biblical relationship building skills to a variety of our everyday relationships.  In the Gospel of Matthew, a religious expert approached Jesus and […]

Today’s message is a conversation about Nehemiah and the story in the Bible about him rebuilding the wall and why this series was chosen to start the year. “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as […]

Winter Retreat: Locals  “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭  “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49551892 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 3  Responding to resistance.  Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.”  To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again.  As we continue in […]

       TEEN WINTER RETREAT NEXT SUNDAY 9AM- 300 TEENS ACROSS STATE •             THEY WILL WORSHIP THEN LEAVE AFTER 9 •             IF YOU ARRIVE AT 10:30 SERVICE-LOTS OF CARS  BAPTISM SERVICE                 •             SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH- ONE SERVICE •             10AM- CELEBRATION •             EVERYONE TOGETHER REBULDING                                       •             SECOND WEEK SERIES ON NEHEMIAH •             LAST WEEK INTRODUCTION ON WHO […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49548305 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 2 Lament, Repent, and Rebuilding Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.” To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To […]

TOP 2026 RESOLUTIONS ARE: · Read for enjoyment, not productivity · LIMIT SCREEN TIME · SLEEP BEFORE YOUR EXHAUSTED · SERVE CONSISTENTLY · INCREASE CLOSENESS TO JESUS · READ THROUGH BIBLE IN YEAR-EXERCISE MORE · DRINK MORE WATER · PRACTICE RADICAL HOSPITALITY · FORGIVE/RECONCILE WITH 1 PERSON MONTHLY · CULTIVATE ONE FRUIT OF THE SPIRT […]

Genesis 25:29-34  “Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good […]

Be Still and Know:  A Call to Obedience in the Chaos I wonder…Does anyone else feel like they are running on empty? The pace of life since November hasn’t been a ‘celebration’—it's been a marathon. Today is about the radical act of trust required to simply say ‘no’ to the work and ‘yes’ to the […]

Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭ “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a […]

Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49544142 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 1 God is still rebuilding! Today are diving into our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.” To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. […]

The GIFTS GET YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ABOUT  NATE BARGATZE VIDEO                                 BUMPER STICKERS EVERYWHERE- IF ITS ON A BUMPER STICKER MUST BE TRUE RIGHT? WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM                                BEEN IN A SERIES FOR 3 WEEKS THE GIFTS SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:1                             SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:2 2 and asked, “Where is the […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49539159 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus The Gifts Part 4 Gold for The King We are continuing our Advent teaching series called “The gifts”. Throughout this series we have studied the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold. On their own these gifts […]

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬“ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him […]

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49532170 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  The Gifts Part 2  Frankincense  We are continuing our Advent teaching series called “The gifts”. Throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.  On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than […]

DRUMMER BOY GIFTS LONG DEDICATED CALENDAR INVESTMENT BY ALL    GIFT-WHATS A WORKING DEFINITION OF GIFT? Gift :a thing given willingly to someone without EXPECTATION OF payment; OR ANYTHING IN RETURN TAJ MAHAL                                                       Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, – 800 MILLION DOLLARS SO I ASK YOU- WHATS THE BEST GIFT YOU EVER GOT? WHY […]

“Jesus was born in a town called Bethlehem, in Judea. King Herod ruled Judea at that time. After Jesus was born, some wise men came to Jerusalem from a country in the east. When they arrived there, they asked people, ‘Where is the baby who has been born as the king of the Jews? We […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49528267 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  The Gifts Part 1  Strange men from a strange land  Today we are starting our advent teaching series called “The gifts”. throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.  On their own these […]

The Prodigal  Son “Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there […]

Matthew 7:24-27  24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But […]

YOUTH RETREAT SLIDE– 59 IN THIS PICTURE  CHRISTMAS INVITE  GO GET COFFE BEFORE OR AFTER  BREAKFAST BEFORE- GRAB LUNCH AFTER                  GENEROSITY     JUST OVER A YEAR AGO- RUTH AND I INTERVIEW HERE  GENEROSITY DEFINITION                                GENEROSITY STATEMENTS     GENEROSITY IS NOT SO THAT JESUS LOVES ME MORE     GENEROSITY IS BECAUSE HE LOVED ME FIRST.   GENEROSITY […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49522098 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Generosity Part 3  God’s generous church  Today we are continuing our teaching series “Generosity”.  We are exploring our generous God's will for his people. This teachign series is not just about giving of our money. It's about a lifestyle of generosity, where we give of ourselves in all areas of our lives.  Today we are […]

““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬ ‭“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I […]

Let us pray:    “Dear God, You are Worthy of it all. God, please help us be people whose cup is filled and overflowing, and we are drinking from the saucer.   Jesus, we welcome You to speak in a powerful way this day. Change our minds, hearts, and souls so that we will be people who are overflowing with […]

THANKSGIVING  GIVING/GENEROSITY IS SPIRITUAL  READING YOUR BIBLE- SPIRITUAL  TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER- SPIRITUAL  SERVING KIDS CITY/MOVEMENT-THAT'S DEF SPIRITUAL   WANNA START WITH PHOTO OF THE DOMROES FAMILY  DOMROES FAMILY PICTURE                                MID SEPTEMBER MISSIONARIES DOMROES VISITED US  SCRIPTURE PROVERBS 11:25                           25. “A GENEROUS PERSON WILL PROSPER; WHOEVER REFRESHES OTHERS WILL BE REFRESHED.”  JOESPH WHIDNEY (LATE 1800'S)  PICTURE PHINEAS […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49515652 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Generosity Part 1  God, the Father of Generosity.  Today we are starting our new teaching series “Generosity”.  Over the next few weeks we will explore our generous God's will for his people. This is journey, this study is not just about giving of our money. It's about a lifestyle of […]

Dependence of God's Strength Last week we finished up our Series on Grace is greater!  Grace – the undeserved mercy and kindness of God – is greater than our than our  Brokenness  Guilt  Wounds  Despair  And our Weakness  That was pastor Kevin's message last week. God's grace is greater than your weakness – That was a new concept […]

The story of God’s faithfulness to Hannah The name Hannah means Grace. “There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called […]