Hunger For God

Hunger For God, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 4, Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Deuteronomy 8:2-3

“And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.  3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

- Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Pursuing By Tasting

Pursuing By Tasting, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 3, Psalm 34:1-10

Psalm 34:1-10  

“OF DAVID, WHEN HE CHANGED HIS BEHAVIOR BEFORE ABIMELECH, SO THAT HE DROVE HIM OUT, AND HE WENT AWAY. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.  3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!  4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”

The God Who Pursues Us

The God Who Pursues Us, “Pursuing God” Series – Part 2, Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:11-32

“11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.  12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.  13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'  20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.  25 "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'  28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,  29 but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.  30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'  31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" 

- Luke 15:11-32

Where Are The God-Pursuers?

Where Are The God-Pursuers?, “Pursuing God” Series Part 1, Psalm 14:1-7

Psalm 14:1-7

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF DAVID. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.  2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.  4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?  5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.  6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.  7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”

- Psalm 14:1-7

A Question For The New Year: What Do I Want?

A Question For The New Year: What Do I Want?, A New Year’s Message, Matthew 6:19-21

Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Matthew 6:19-21

The Light Of The World

The Light Of The World, “The Light Has Come” Series Part 4, John 8:12-20

TEXT:

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  13 So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true."  14 Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.  15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.  16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.  17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two men is true.  18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me."  19 They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."  20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.”

- John 8:12-20

The Children Of Light

The Children Of Light, “The Light Has Come” Series Part 3, Ephesians 5:8-14

TEXT:

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,  14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Ephesians 5:8-14

Darkness Or Light

Darkness Or Light, “The Light Has Come” Series Part 2, John 3:16-21

TEXT:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.  20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God."

- John 3:16-21