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Showing posts from August, 2017

Names of God: Yahweh Shammah

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Shammah Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Shammah means is there. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.” (Ezekiel 48:35) What it reminds me?  No matter whether you are facing good times or bad times, joy or suffering, we have a God who is there.  He walks with us always.  He is not distant, but He is near.  What a comfort to remember God is there beside us each and every day.

Hide N Seek Registration and Parent Meeting Tonight

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Do you have kids 4 years old through 4th grade?  Are you looking for a children's midweek program that includes snack, games, Bible lesson, Bible memory, and more?  Then Hide N Seek might be for you! Join us tonight at 610 W. Randall in Hesston for our Hide N Seek Registration and Parent Meeting.  Schedule is as follows: 6:30--Free meal provided by the church 7:00--Introduction of staff, kids visit classes, and parent's meeting 7:30--Evening ends

Verse of the Week

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. Shout for joy to the Lord , all the earth. 2       Worship the Lord with gladness;      come before him with joyful songs. 3  Know that the Lord is God.      It is he who made us, and we are his;      we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving      and his courts with praise;      give thanks to him and praise his name. 5  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;      his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100)

Tweets and more tweets

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  We aren't defined by what we do for a living or with our day. We are defined by what Christ has done for us. @TheJesslou  The Gospel is karma's worst nightmare: we get the exact opposite of what we deserve. @birdchadlouis God loves you NOT to the degree that you are LIKE Christ, but to the degree that you are IN Christ. And that's 100% - Rankin Wilbourne via @scottsauls Grace is a pool where elephants can swim and children can play. Grace isn't just a doctrine; it's a 24–7 context for living. @DrSteveWBrown the point of scripture isn't to instill more confidence in ourselves, but to strengthen our confidence in Christ & His finished work for us @RelevantChris My preaching aim? To exalt Christ so much & hold out his g

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  In Christ Alone by Anthem Lights

You Are An Ambassador

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Friday Discipleship

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If you are regular reader of the blog, on Fridays I have shared new books, favorite books, and most recently kid books.  Now, I am going to share discipleship resources that I would recommend each Friday.  The book below I will be using during our Adult Go Deeper Hour.  It is one of the best books on the subject of union with Christ.  I am excited to use this resource in discipleship this Fall.

What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-21)

Names of God: Yahweh Tsidqenuw

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Tsidqenuw   Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Tsidqenuw means righteousness. 5  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord , when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:5-6) 16  In

Verse of the Week

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2       He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3       He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness      for his name's sake. 4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,      I will fear no evil, for you are with me;      your rod and your staff,      they comfort me. 5  You prepare a table before me      in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;      my cup overflows. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me      all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord      forever.

Tweets and more tweets

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter.  Do isn't any less legalistic than don't.Dos/don'ts accomplish nothing resembling Christianity if detached from done of gospel @jaredcwilson Biblically speaking, the power of our obedience & the source of our holiness is not our efforts but the finished work of Jesus @jaredcwilson As long as we think "I'm not that bad", grace will never seem that good. @KyleIdleman Discipleship has to be about every area of life. Discipleship has to be about every moment of life. @trevorlee "The pivotal question is, do you really know how much Jesus loves you?" Jack Miller via @ScottyWardSmith The theology of the Word of God, properly understood, never just defines who God is. It redefines who you are as His children. @PaulTrip

Gospel Playlist

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This is a regular feature now that replaced "Playing on the Radio." I will be sharing songs from my "Gospel Playlist" on my phone. The gospel is good news.  It reminds us what Christ has DONE for us.  As I share, I hope it will be an encouragement to you today.  Song today is:  I Will Look Up by Elevation Worship

You Are Alive

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)

Friday Discipleship

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If you are regular reader of the blog, on Fridays I have shared new books, favorite books, and most recently kid books.  Now, I am going to share discipleship resources that I would recommend each Friday. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Today is my mom's birthday.  If you are in Yates Center, make sure to stop by and say "Happy Birthday" to her.  I am thankful for all she has done for me over the years.  She is the greatest.  Happy Birthday, Mom!

What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

For 2017, the phrase I am focusing on is "in Christ."  Each week, I will post 1 verse that includes the phrase "in Christ". I look forward to growing in understanding of what it means to be "in Christ." 6  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9  and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10  so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord

Names of God: Yahweh Shalom

We often forget.  We see throughout history the Israelites and the church forgetting. We need to be reminded often of who God is in Scripture, church history and in our lives and churches. The names of God are important because these names are not just what God does, it is who He is.  I hope this will encourage you as you are reminded of how good, great, and awesome our God is. Yahweh Shalom Yahweh is the Hebrew Name for God. It is "I AM". It is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament.  It was such a holy name that the Jews would not even say it.  Shalom means peace. 24  Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. (Judges 6:24) What it reminds me?  When I am anxious and fearful, God offers peace. When life is spinning out of control, God is still on the throne and is all-powerful.  In our busyness and chaos, God can give us peace as we get our eyes up on Him and off our circumstances.  great, and awesome our God is.

Verse of the Week

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. O Lord , our Lord,      how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2       Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,      to still the enemy and the avenger. 3  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,      the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4  what is man that you are mindful of him,      and the son of man that you care for him? 5  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings      and crowned him with glory and honor. 6  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;      you have put all things under his feet, 7  all sheep and oxen,      and also the beasts of the field, 8  the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the s

Sermon Notes: Big K Kingdom based on Matthew 13:31-33;44-46

Introduction In these parables (earthly story with a heavenly meaning), what does Jesus want us to understand about His kingdom?   Let’s read these parables- Read Matthew 13: 31-33; 44-46 Notice how the parables begin. Kingdom of heaven is like… ·          Jesus does not define the kingdom of God; He describes it only through parables. [1] As I titled this message, Big K Kingdom, I wanted us to see there is a difference between a little k kingdom and Big K Kingdom.   When I volunteered in Iola at a youth center, I used to remind everyone that I am not just about growing my little k kingdom (Iola FCC).   You could replace Iola with HMBC. But my desire is to see God’s Big K Kingdom expanded which means I am excited when people are saved and discipled whether they attend HMBC or Hesston Methodist or Hesston Mennonite, etc. It’s not about building little k kingdoms, but God getting the glory for Big K Kingdoms being built. What is the kingdom? ·          The Political