Sermon Notes: 05/29 – Everything New #5 – New Heavens & Earth

WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ, a people who are called out of this world to share God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family. In May we began talking about everything New (2 Cor 5:17) that God is doing in our lives by talking about our NEW NAMES as a NEW CREATION in Christ. NEW SONG that God has put in our hearts, a song of Christ. NEW PROMISES that came with the Son of God! In RESPONSE to Christ’s New Promises, We connected with His NEW COMMANDEMENTS last week. Now, we talk about one final new concept.
*GOD KNOWS WE’RE COMING, so He’s making a New Heaven and New Earth. He told us about them to tide us over while we’re here.
SEA SHANTY: Soon may the Wellerman Come – Sugar & Tea & Rum –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGLUSzzuWU
“Soon May the Wellerman Come”, also known as “Wellerman” or “The Wellerman”, is a sea ballad from New Zealand[2][3] from c. 1860–70.[1] The song refers to the “wellermen”, pointing to supply ships[citation needed] owned by the Weller brothers, who were amongst the earliest European settlers of Otago. 
In early 2021, a cover by Scottish singer Nathan Evans became a viral hit on the social media site TikTok,
… There once was a ship that put to sea
The name of the ship was the Billy of Tea
The winds blew up, her bow dipped down
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow (huh)
… Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguing is done
We’ll take our leave and go
 
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Revelation 21:3-5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven
 
“And all these (Old Testament heroes), though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:39-40
 
Ephesians 4:8-10  “When (Jesus) ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended” — what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)” NKJV
 

Isaiah 65:17-18 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “God put eternity in the hearts of men.”

 
Job declared “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
 
“This world is not my HOME, I’m just passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door. And I don’t feel at HOME in this world anymore.”
 
Kyle Idleman says he keeps a list of other things he knows won’t be in heaven. He says in heaven “there’ll be no more cancer. No more divorce. No more rejection or loneliness. No more depression. No more wheelchairs or pacemakers. No more radiation or chemotherapy. No more crosses along the side of the road. No more child abuse. No more rape. No more funeral homes or orphanages or nursing homes. No more treatment centers. No more Pink slips or foreclosures. No more quarantines or face masks and no more social distancing.” And his list went on and on and on. (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-IOS_GK0T-GK1C&v=440295124116318)
 
“Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3
 
Someone noted: “We’re not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We’re in the land of the dying trying to get to the land of the living.” (Larry Moody)
 
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:3
 

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.


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Passing of Betty Marcom

Church family, please keep Cheryl Marcom in your prayers. Her mother passed away yesterday. Cheryl was a wonderful example of “Honoring your mother” as a dedicated caregiver for a long time for her mom, Betty Marcom. Please pray for Cheryl’s peace & comfort in a challenging time.
Pasted from obituary on OaklawnMemorial.com
 
On May 23, 2022, Betty Cooper Marcom, age 92 of Sparta, TN, left her earthly home to be with her heavenly father. Betty was born on June 30, 1929 in Sparta, TN to Samuel Ruben Cooper and Mary Burns Cooper.
Betty was an avid Equestrian who raised many Colts, as well as competed in horseshows with her Tennessee Walking Horses until the age of 80. She also enjoyed traveling with friends.
Betty worked at Federal Land Bank, Farm Bureau, CIT and Fleetguard-Cummins until retirement.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Marcom, sisters, Jessie Mae Cooper, Grace Cooper Milligan and Hattie Jo Randolph.
Survivors include:
Daughter- Cheryl Marcom of Sparta, TN
Son- Lyndon Marcom (Bonnie) of Sparta, TN
Niece- Janet Murden (Mike) of Titusville, FL
Great-Nieces- Cindy Green (Larry) of Manchester, TN and Sabra Willhite of Sparta, TN
Great-Nephews- Nathan Randolph (Julie) of Lebanon, TN and Drew Randolph (Jessica) of Cookeville, TN
Betty requested that there be no funeral services.
Online condolences may be made to the family at oaklawnmemorial.com

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Sermon Notes: 5/22 – Everything New 4 – New Commandment

John 13:34-35

 

INTRO:   A woman once told of her experience as a Church secretary. When she answered the phone she’d say, “Jesus loves you, Sharon speaking.  How may I help you?” But one day she got distracted because she was talking to others in the office. When the phone rang she answered: “Sharon loves you, Jesus speaking. How may I help you?” There was a pause on the line… and then the caller said, “Somehow I thought your voice would sound different.” (Sharon Landers, Reader’s Digest12/98 p.180)
https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-c-sharon-loves-you-jesus-speaking-how-may-i-help-you-quot-paul-andrew-sermon-on-love-one-another-265364

WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ, a people who are called out of this world to share God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family.  In May  we began talking about everything New (2 Cor 5:17) that God is doing in our lives by talking about our NEW NAMES as a NEW CREATION in Christ. NEW SONG that God has put in our hearts, a song of Christ. Today, NEW PROMISES that came with the Son of God!  In RESPONSE to Christ’s New Promises, We desperately need to connect with His NEW COMMANDEMENT 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

ILLUS: Dennis Waitley (1996) reported that although there are approximately 450,000 words in the English language, about 80% of our conversations use only about 400 words. The most common words in the English language are: “I,” “Me,” “My,” and “Mine.” (Dennis Waitley, “Empires of the Mind”)
https://dailysermonillustration.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/illustration_id19066/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/354995.Empires_of_the_Mind

https://www.vagabomb.com/Ever-Wondered-Why-Elevators-Have-Mirrors-Heres-the-Reason/#:~:text=So%2C%20mirrors%20were%20installed%20in,in%20such%20an%20enclosed%20space.

Philippians 2:3 “…in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
 
“husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it” Ephesians 5:28-29

Galatians 5:22. It says “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace…” etc.

LOVE LIFTED ME (Chorus) “Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me. Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me. – A friend of mine named Jeff, a preacher from Indiana wrote this new verse.

(New Verse) A new commandment now I sing, loving as Jesus loves. Loving others is my plea, showing His love above. His great love has lifted me, my love should do the same. Lifting others up to Him, should be my aim.” (Friend – Jeff Strite – Preacher in Indiana at Logansport Church of Christ.

Ephesians 2:1, 3-5 “you were dead in the trespasses and sins… and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved.”

1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Romans 12:10 says “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
 
Matthew 25:35,38,40 it says “to the extent you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”

 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” I Corinthians 13:4-8

 


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Top Golf Signup Sheet

We’re taking a fellowship trip to Top Golf in Nashville on Sunday, May 29th, after our Potluck Congregational Meal. The cost is $20. We have 18 spots available. Please sign your name up if you plan to attend. Contact Topher for any questions.
 

Top Golf Signup Sheet


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Sermon Notes: 5-15 EN2 – Promises Promises

“As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him.” II Corinthians 1:18-20

Numbers 23:19 says “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?  

Hebrews 10:23 tells us “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

  • WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ, a people who are called out of this world to share God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family. Two weeks ago we began talking about everything New that God is doing in our lives by talking about our NEW NAMES as a NEW CREATION in Christ. Last week we talked about the NEW SONG that God has put in our hearts, a song of Christ. Today, we continue talking about the NEW PROMISES that came with the Son of God!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33

 

Hebrews 13:5 declares “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

“I have read Plato and Cicero – sayings that are very wise and beautiful; but I never read in either of them: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’” Augustine of Hippo

The Bible is a book of promises: According to one source “The New Testament has 750 promises, but due to the fact that many of the promises are repeated in different books, there are only 250 separate promised benefits.” (https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/scriptures/new-testament-promises/)

  • Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I WANT TO BE THERE FOR YOU!

“Man can count on no one but himself; he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth.” (Jean-Paul Sartre)

 

 

Before U were thought of or time had begun,

God even stuck U in the name of His Son.

 

And each time U pray, you’ll see it’s true

You can’t spell out JesUs and not include U.

 

You’re a pretty big part of His wonderful name,

For U, He was born; that’s why He came.

 

And His great love for U is the reason He died.

It even takes U to spell crUcified.

 

Isn’t it thrilling and splendidly grand

He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

 

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,

and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

 

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,

He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

 

“Go into the world and tell them it’s true

That I love them all – Just like I love U.”

 

So many great people are spelled with a U,

Don’t they have a right to know JesUs too!

 

It all depends now on what U will do,

He’d like them to know,

But it all starts with U

 

(Poem by Laketa)

 

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:21-26)

            2 Corinthian 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in (Jesus). That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.”

           

ILLUS: BAHAI FAITH – https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/beliefs/god.shtml

 

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In (Jesus) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Acts 2:38-39 “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

LYRICS: Some promises in this world you may think you Deserve, but you still don’t receive them, like the 1978 Hit Promises, Promises – by the Naked Eyes

Never had a doubt in the beginning
Never a doubt
Trusted you true in the beginning
I loved you right through

Arm in arm we laughed like kids
At all the silly things we did

You made me promises, promises
Knowing I’d believe
Promises, promises
You knew you’d never keep

Second time around, I’m still believing
The words that you said
You said you’d always be here
“In love forever” still repeats in my head

You can’t finish what you start
If this is love it breaks my heart

You made me promises, promises
You knew you’d never keep
Promises, promises
Why do I believe?

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son.” – John 3:16

 


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Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

from New Song Writers at Central Church of Christ

Yellow is for tulips,

Blue for Morning Glory.

Mothers are a Beautiful,

Part of God’s Story.

 

Magnolias are white.

Tulips are yellow.

My girls are a delight.

I’m such a lucky fellow.

 

Roses are red.

Roses are pink.

Roses are white.

And moms are just as varied.

 

Moms are pretty

And also have beauty.

They’re also so great

And so understanding.

 

Hydrangeas of teal for the mother that is real.

An iris of white comes ever year

To resemble the beauty of my mother each and every year.

Dogwood blooms forever they will be

Just as the love my mother has for me.

 

Roses are red.

Tulips are Yellow.

My mom is as bright,

As a Sunflower.

 

Pansies are yellow,

Tulips are too,

Our kids love you,

And I do too.

 

Cardinals are red,

So is geranium.

You are an amazing mom,

Always in my cranium.

 

Indigo is purple,

Like flower of a thistle.

When I think of you,

I give a whistle.

 

Daisy’s are white.

Daisy’s are yellow.

I will Per”winkle” at you

So Forget Me Not.

 

Violets are purple.

Daisies are White.

Mom’s pancakes are,

Very fluffy and light.

 

Gladioli are green.

Pansies are yella.

Let’s get this straight;

“Mom” is never a fella.

 

Spiderman may be popular,

Much like chewing gum.

But there is non other,

Like the awesome Spider Mum!

 

Mom is the best.

She put up with my mess.

She was there for me,

And her love always set me free.

 

The most selfless people you’ll meet;

Their compassion will never fleet.

Mother’s hearts made of gold;

You can only hope they will never grow old.

 

Your Rose is White,

My heart is Blue,

My Dearest Mother,

I So Miss You!

 

Mom is sharp like a thistle,

Sweet as a lily,

And according to my behavior,

Always deals fairly.

 

Peonies grow highly,

Irises grow tall.

I don’t think of you lowly,

Let’s have a ball.

 

Iris are purple,

Begonias are yellow,

April is my blessing,

and I’m her fellow.

 

Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

I’m so blessed,

because I’m married to you.

 

Sunflowers are yellow,

Bluebells are blue.

The sun is bright,

just like you.

 

My love for thee doth flow,

Like the color on the all the flowers you sow.

The red roses grow to brighten the day,

That you make brighter with your way.

 

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

Tracy DOES NOT look like,

Cindy Lou Whoo.

 

Daisies can be yellow,

Or they may be white.

You’re the best mom,

We love you with all our might!
 
 
  • Isaiah 66:13: “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.”
  • Isaiah 49:15: “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?”
  • Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
  • Proverbs 31:26: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
  • Proverbs 31:28–29: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'”
  • Proverbs 31:31: “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

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Sermon Notes: Everything New 2 – New Song

Scripture Reading: Psalm 40:1-5
Ephesians 5:19 tells us we should “speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
“(God) put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3) 
 
WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ. Share His Love. Tell His Story. Be His Family. Everything New #2 – Last Week was the promise of a New Name. Now, let’s talk about God’s promise of a NEW SONG!
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new Creation has come. The old is gone, the new is here.”
• Psalm 33:3-4 “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.”
• In Psalm 96:1 David wrote: “Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.”
• Psalm 98:1 declared “Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”
 
ILLUS: Years ago there was a song writer named Philip Bliss. After singing, “Oh, How I Love Jesus,” he said: “Those words are true. Yet I feel guilty for having sung so much about my poor love for Christ and so little about his endless love for me.” So he wrote a NEW SONG with these words: “I am so glad that our Father in heaven, tells of his love in the book he has given; wonderful things in the Bible I see. This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me. (Chorus) I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me. I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves EVEN me.”
http://breadsite.org/hymnstories/jesuslovesevenme.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S04lvaUY2e8
 
In Psalms 40:3 David wrote: “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”
 
 Acts 16:25 we read “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and SINGING hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
 
Luke 1:39-55
That’s exactly what happened with a mother’s song that we have written in the Bible.
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[g] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

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Mothers Day Mission

Mother’s Day Mission for Central Church of Christ

  • Your Mission: This Sunday morning, write a new short rhyme song for a special woman in your life
  • Use this sample pattern: “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Sugar is Sweet, So are You.”
  • Text or email it to Topher by the end of the sermon.
  • Here are some sample flowers and colors you can use in your 4 line rhyming song.

  • White Flowers
    • Petunia
    • Calla Lily
    • Tulip
    • Daisy
    • Hibiscus
    • Daffodil
    • Magnolia
    • Peony
  • Yellow Flowers
    • Marigold
    • Tulips
    • Daisy
    • Daffodil
    • Hibiscus
    • Zinnia
    • Begonia
    • Sunflower
    • Chrysanthemum
    • Pansy
    • Iris
  • Red Flowers
    • Roses
    • Chrysanthemum
    • Marigold
    • Zinnia
    • Poppy
    • Lily
    • Tulip
    • Dahlia
    • Geranium
    • Azalea
    • Hyacinth
  • Purple Flowers
    • Lavender
    • Clematis
    • Iris
    • Catmint
    • Salvia
    • Lily
    • Anemone
    • Wild Indigo
    • Orchid
    • Thistle
  • Blue Flowers
    • Iris
    • Hydrangea
    • Delphinium
    • Periwinkle
    • Forget-Me-Nots
    • Bellflower
    • Morning Glory
    • Himalayan Poppy
    • Bluebells
  • Green Flowers
    • Hellebores
    • Chrysanthemum
    • Zinnia
    • Gladiolus
    • Dianthus
    • Spider Mum
    • Scabiosa
  • Black Flowers
    • Rose
    • Dahlia
    • Pansy
    • Tulip
    • Hollyhock
    • Petunia
    • Dianthus

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Pancakes & Pajamas

Central Reminder: Tomorrow morning at 9am is our 5th year of Pancakes & Pajamas devotional at Central Church of Christ. Toddlers, Preschool, & elementary kids are welcome to wear their favorite cozy PJ’s, & enjoy breakfast, crafts, and a time devoted to God.

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Terrific Trios 3 – Walking Down the Road of Hope

OPEN: DISSAPPOINTMENT – GAS STATION
https://www.facebook.com/deharth/posts/10111028504121257

https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/tennessee-gas-station-owner-undercharges-customers-several-hours/ELEUDSFEOVHSJLN4FA577UTT7M/

WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ, a people called out to show God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family. We’re in our 3rd week of Terrific Trios, where we take a look a three instances where two others were with Jesus in a meaningful way, before, during, and after the death, burial, and resurrection. We’ve taken an in depth look at hope through Jesus’ meeting with Moses & Elijah in the transfiguration.  We’ve been blessed with compassionate forgiveness as we looked at the two thieves on the cross on either side of Jesus.  Now we dive into deep disappointment with some disciples. 

“Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” Luke 24:19-21

“some (of the) women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that (Jesus) was alive.” Luke 24:22-23

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who HOPE in his steadfast love” (Psalm 33:18).
 “For you, O Lord, are my HOPE, my trust…” (Psalm 71:5).

https://www.survivopedia.com/the-newly-updated-rule-of-threes/

“And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE.” Romans 15:4

Hebrews 4:12 – “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to the dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Matthew 6:31-34 What shall we eat? What shall we drink? Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

I Corinthians 15:13-14 & 20  “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

“… they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” Luke 24:28-31a

 

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: Nothing is free in this world.  That’s true.  Everything is paid for by someone.

No one had told him in the last 5 hours… Moreover, a guy in line behind me actually got mad at me. Although another lady was really sweet. … I insisted I pay the difference because he had already taken such a beating this morning.

What I find most frustrating about this is that this man, who came to a country to start a life, where they don’t speak his native language, with the guts to own a small business would get screwed over by people for half of day… There’s no telling how much money he lost today. He was on the verge of tears.

I get it, times are tough and gas is expensive, but NOTHING in this world is free. Someone is ultimately always footing the bill. How many people this morning thought, it’s my lucky day, while this man was getting taken to the cleaners.

It’s not just in this instance, though. Everything gets paid for by someone.

https://www.facebook.com/deharth

Nothing is FREE!

But we have a Redeemer who paid for our hope!

 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.


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