Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene.

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 […]

GRACE IS GREATER SCRIPTURE HEBREWS 12:14   14. “MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVERYONE AND TO BE HOLY; WITHOUT HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.” SCRIPTURE HEBREWS 12:15   15. SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE MISSES THE GRACE OF GOD AND THAT NO BITTER ROOT GROWS UP TO CAUSE TROUBLE […]

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Grace is Greater Part 7  Grace is greater than weakness.  Today, we are concluding our Teaching series “Grace is Greater”  This series keys off a book by the same title, and it is written by Pastor and author Kyle Idleman.  Throughout this series, we want to be […]

Grace is Greater   One of my favorite places to visit is   also one of the most unnerving places.   I love taking trips and tours through   caverns. Has anyone else done that?   Toured a cavern? There's one   particular cavern in Pennsylvania that   I've visited several times, both with   […]

https://www.bible.com/events/49505375 Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus  Grace is Greater Part 6  Grace is greater than despair.  Today, we are continuing our Teaching series called “Grace is Greater”  This series keys off a book by the same title, and it is written by Pastor and author Kyle Idleman.  Throughout this series, we want […]

BAPTISM RECAP VIDEO  14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one MISSES the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  PREVIOUS WEEKS  WHEN GRACE MOVES IN- GUILT MOVES OUT   WOODY HAYES PICTURE                                            […]

Grace is Greater: Wounds