On this Resurrection Sunday, Brother Richard Ledgister ponders the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead in the light of several of the Lord’s claims about Himself in the gospels. When Jesus was raised from the dead, all the powerful claims about Himself were confirmed and established by God the Father. Before the message, Ken and Carolyn Huebner shared the stirring song, “Hallelujah, Jesus Christ Is Risen.”
During a visit to South Florida, Sean Bristol shared a message from 1 Corinthians 13 — the “love chapter.” Inspired by the love the Lord Jesus has shown us, we are called to show sacrificial, other-directed love to those around us, both to our brethren in the Assembly and to the neighbors we come into contact with day by day.
The story told by the Lord Jesus in Luke 15 of the loving father with two sons holds several lessons for us as we learn to walk in a way pleasing to our Heavenly Father. During his visit to South Florida, Brother Ruell Clarke shared from this story during our monthly Open Sunday School.
The prophet Haggai warned his Israelite hearers of the dangers of putting anything above the Lord as priority in our life. As pointed out in this message, even good things can become idols when they are mistaken for the primary thing. May we “consider our ways” carefully to discern whether anything or anyone else in our life is taking God’s place as preeminent.
In John 3, we see three “musts”: the “must” of the sinner, “You must be born again”; the “must of the Savior, “so must the Son of Man be lifted up”; and the “must” of the servant, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” In this message, Brother Richard Ledgister focuses on the “must” of the sinner as he draws several parallels and differences between our physical birth and our spiritual birth.
As we anticipate our time of prayer and fasting this weekend, Brother Viv John offers this encouraging message about the need we have for revival in our lives, our homes, and our churches. God can truly bring new life to seemingly hopeless situations.
As we see the Lord encourage His closest followers in John 14 to have no fear in the face of their many challenges, we who are in Christ can similarly take courage when we face decisions about the future. The example of Joshua’s charge in Joshua 1:9 can inspire us to boldly trust the Lord in the midst of fearful circumstances.
During a visit to South Florida, Brother John Pickering shared an encouraging message from John 5 for our monthly family fellowship hour, challenging us all—young and old alike—to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. Before the message, Brother Laurel Smalling sung a convicting song about taking the Lord’s name in vain.
What comfort we find when we remember that the Lord is with us in the midst of the trials we pass through. Though we pass through the water or the fire, we will not be consumed. Anyone who is struggling or longing for comfort can find it in God, as seen in this message and song.
Two messages were given on the Lord’s Day that mutually reinforced each other: the first walks us through the Samaritan’s godly response of mercy to his neighbor in need (Luke 10), while the second emphasized the theme throughout Scripture that the Lord desires our merciful obedience and love above any sacrifice we might bring. As Keith Green put it years ago, “To obey is better than sacrifice / I want hearts of fire, not your prayers of ice.”
The troubling relationships portrayed in the first chapter of 1 Samuel among Hannah, her husband, and his other wife Peninnah can show us the harm that comes when we are insensitive to our brothers’ and sisters’ sorrow. It is truly comforting to know that the Lord is always near to the brokenhearted.
The story of Mephibosheth reveals a lot about how amazing the grace of God. This message is from the first of our First-Sunday Family Hours, in which we hope to keep everyone together during the Sunday School hour. So enjoy the lively participation from our Sunday School children!
While visiting South Florida from his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brother Joe Deviny shared this challenging message on what it means to say that all believers are a part of a “holy priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:5).
Sometimes we forget to give God thanks even for the blessings in our lives. But how much more challenging it is to thank God in the midst of our most trying circumstances! These two messages share several scriptural calls to God-honoring gratitude as well as discussing some obstacles we might have to giving thanks.
As we enter the new year, Brother Viv John encourages us to feed on the Lamb and on the Bread by considering the Passover feast and the Lord’s feeding of the 5000 as a challenge to find all our sustenance in Christ.
The first person and the last person to touch the body of Christ were both named Joseph. As we consider the sacrificial generosity of both of these men, along with their namesake from the book of Genesis, we can be more inspired to seek opportunities to give up our own comfort, reputation, and positions of blessing, bearing shame for the sake of the other. In this way, we become more like the Lord Jesus, a true Son of Joseph.
Examining the story of Joseph’s brothers, we can see that envy is a powerful, secret enemy to the believer. Though we may not see its effects for a long time, when it crops up envy can have damaging results for our relationships. Two of our local brothers share on the power of envy to limit a believer’s ability to fulfill his or her God-given vision.
As we pass through this advent season, the anointing of a young King David by the older, experienced Samuel offers several lessons for our encouragement. After considering connections to Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy of the Branch springing from Jesse’s stump, this message presents three lessons for older hearers followed by three further thoughts for younger ones.
Brother Colbert Martin shared reflections from the Gospel of John on the love of the Lord Jesus and His teachings on eternal life and worship that is truly offered in spirit and in truth.
Psalm 19 presents a beautiful poem in praise of the Word of God in its searching quality. Just as the sun pierces through the shadows to illuminate all parts of the globe, the Word is indiscriminate in its penetrating power … if we will only submit to it.