• LAST WEEK STARTED A SERIES EVERY DAY FAITH
• DAILY TOOLS TO HELP US IN OUR FAITH JOURNEY
• TWO WEEKS AGO EASTER- NOW WHAT?
• LAST WEEK WE CELEBRATED BAPTISM
• FIRST SERVICE OPENED SERIES TOOL BOX
• SCREW DRIVER AND HAMMER- MOST POPULAR

I ASKED THE QUESTION: ARE YOU TIRED OF PRAYING THE SAME BORING- LAME- POWERLESS PRAYERS?

GOD BLESS MY FOOD- WATCH OVER US AS WE TRAVEL

WE KNOW PRAYER IS IMPORTANT- JESUS MODELED IT

• JESUS GAVE US WORDS TO PRAY
• ONLY THING DISCIPLES ASKED HIM TO TEACH THEM
• EARLY CHURCH STARTED BECAUSE PEOPLE PRAYED
• MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED HOUSE OF PRAYER
• NOT WORSHIP/FELLOWSHIP/PREACHING
• JESUS PRAYS FOR PETER- HE PRAYS FOR YOU

SLIDE 5: BIBLE STATISTICS UNITED STATES

• 50 BIBLES SOLD EVERY MINUTE
• 72,000 SOLD DAILY
• 26 MILLION SOLD EACH YEAR

JUST IN OUR COUNTRY.

GIDEONS ALONE HAVE DISTRIBUTED 1.6 BILLION COPIES OF GODS WORDS IN MORE THAN 190 COUNTRIES (100 YRS)

SLIDE 6: SCRIPTURE 2 TIMOTHY 3:14

  14. BUT AS FOR YOU, CONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND HAVE BECOME CONVINCED OF, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THOSE FROM WHO YOU LEARNED IT,

SLIDE 7: SCRIPTURE 2 TIMOTHY 3:15

  15. AND HOW FROM INFANCY YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

SLIDE 8: SCRIPTURE 2 TIMOTHY 3:16

  16. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING AND TRAINIG IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

SO WHY DON’T PEOPLE READ THEIR BIBLE MORE?

1.IT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE

2. ITS TOO HARD   3. WE ARE UNDISCIPLINED

4. WE THINK ITS STALE   5. LACK TIME

6. WHERE TO START ?    7. LACK MOTIVATION

THE CENTER FOR BIBLE ENGAGEMENT

STATUTES.   COMMANDS.  LAWS.   WORDS.    PRECEPTS

INSTRUCTIONS. 

FINDINGS

• FEELING LONLEY DROPS 30%
• ANGER ISSUES DROP 32 %
• BITTERNESS IN RELATIONSHIPS DROPS 40%

• ALCOHOLISM DROPS 57 %
• SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE DROPS 68 %
• FEELING SPIRITUALLY STAGNANT DROPS 60%

• 40 % MORE LIKLEY TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
• 59 % LESS LIKELY TO VIEW PORN
• 38 % LESS LIKELY TO STRUGGLE W/ LONELINESS

• SHARING YOUR FAITH JUMPS 200 %
• DISCIPLING OTHERS JUMPS 230 %

Job said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12). Is the Bible this important to you?

DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

THIS IS HOW SERIOUS THE HEBREWS ARE

 DEVOUT HEBREW

• TOOK LITERALLY BIND ON THE ARM
• BIND ON THE FOREHEAD

PUT THEM ON THE DOOR FRAME

• MEZUZAH

 JANETTE AND BRIAN

• WRITING SCRIPTURE ON THE FRAME OF HOUSE
• PEOPLE JOINED THEM WRITING GODS WORD ALL OVER THE HOUSE

MATTHEW 22:29

  29. “JESUS REPLIED, YOUR MISTAKE IS THAT YOU DON’T KNOW THE SCRIPTURES AND YOU DON’T KNOW THE POWER OF GOD.”

• JESUS IS RESPONDING TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS
• THEY ARE TESTING HIM ON SCRIPTURE

MATTHEW 4:1

1. THEN JESUS WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. AFTER FASTING FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS, HE WAS HUNGRY.

WHEN IS THE LAST MEAL YOU ATE?

 MATTHEW 4:3-4

THE TEMPTER CAME TO HIM AND SAID, “IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, TELL THESE STONES TO BECOME BREAD. JESUS ANSWERED, “IT IS WRITTEN; MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.”

IMAGE OF A DOOR

• PERHAPS YOU HAVE A DOOR LIKE THIS ?
• SPECIFIC FRAMES CREATED TO SEND A MESSAGE.

• CROSS IS AT THE TOP
• THE OPEN BIBLE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR

 CAPITOL ONE GUYS COMMERCIAL

 ATOMIC HABITS BOOK

• BOOK WRITTEN BY A FORMER BASEBALL PLAYER
• HARD LOOK AT TINY HABITS THAT CHANGE
• THEY MAKE HUGE IMPACT ON OUR LIVES
• BUSINESS OWNER/LEADER TROUBLED $
• DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING

• THERE IS SO MUCH NOISE- VYING FOR OUR EARS
• CAN WE QUOTE IT- USE IT-MEDITATE ON IT

MATTHEW 6:33

   33. “SEEK THE KINMGDOM OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED.” (NOT WANT)

TOOLS:

PRAYER– PRAYER JOURNALS

BIBLE STUDY NOT JUST RANDOM READ

• APPS
• BIBLES HERE TODAY

PSALM 119

“YOUR WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH”

WHEN I FEEL AFRAID

THINK I’VE LOST MY WAY

STILL YOURE THERE RIGHT BESIDE ME

AND NOTHING WILL I FEAR

AS LONG AS YOU ARE NEAR

PLEASE BE NEAR ME TO THE END

• What does it look like for someone to study the Scriptures, literally every day?
• How do you personally incorporate the Scriptures into your life each day? How are you teaching your children to do the same?
• Talk about the various tools you use to read and understand Scripture.
• Talk about what you do when you come to a text that isn’t clear.
• How much time in bible study each day is “enough”?

https://www.bible.com/events/49429822

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus

Everyday Faith Part 2

Study every day.

Everyday Faith

Our goal over the next few weeks will be to understand and grow in the practices that help us live out our faith.

Just like we brush our teeth, comb our hair, we change our clothes, we take a shower. Our faith life has those same daily things we need to be doing to be healthy and growing to be like Jesus.

Things like reading the bible, serving, fellowship and community, and humility. Each week we are going to focus on one of those daily practices for our faith life.

Today we are going to look at the everyday faith practice of studying the bible everyday. The bible is God’s inspired word, through the hands of human authors.

It reveals to us who he his, his nature, his character, and his plan of redemption throughout history.

1 Timothy 3:16-17 Says “All Scripture is God-breathed (Gr. theh-o’-pneu-stos – some translations read “inspired by God” but the precise meaning is breathed out by God) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As you flip through the New Testament looking at Jesus’ life, it wont take you long to see that he quotes scripture, a lot.

It’s estimated that over 300 times Jesus directly quotes or alludes to the Old Testament scriptures.

Matthew 22:37-39

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 yourself.’

Now, for us that may sound familiar and we just read it as scripture. And it is. But what’s interesting here is that Jesus pulls these two separate commands from two different books of the bible. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18.

Jesus passes this test, and in doing so reveals to us that He knew the scriptures by heart. They come out all over the place in his life.

Another interesting thing you will see looking at the life of Jesus is that He saw himself within the story of the bible.

Luke 4:18-21

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Not only does Jesus know the scriptures, he sees his very life as integrally connected and involved in the story they are telling.

The scriptures tell of God’s redemptive plan, his plan of salvation, and it’s this story that set’s the course for Jesus’ life. It defined his identity, it set his purpose. Jesus understood he was a part of the story that the Old Testament word of God had been telling.

So, Jesus knew the word, he saw himself in it, and it was his weapon in warfare.

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

When the devil came around to wage war against Jesus, to temp him into giving up, to taking matters into his own hands, Jesus uses the word of God as his weapon and his defense.

Jesus himself used scripture to win the battles of his life, and he will use it to win battles in your life today.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

So, drawing from the life of Jesus, what are some practical steps we can take to bring God’s word into our everyday faith?

This first step will sound too simple, but it’s absolutely critical: We have to make time to read it.

In study after study, the number one reason why people didn’t read their bible, is that they didn’t have time. Friends, make the time to read the bible.

Start small, start by setting aside 5 minutes a day to read. If you already have a set time, extend it by 5 minutes.

Start with something that is realistic and doable for where you are right now, and do it.

You will never regret the time you invest in reading the bible.

Next, use the tools that are available to you.

In our digital age, there are tons of ways you can engage with the bible.

You can download the Bible App on your phone

Through this app, you can also listen to the bible.

Another great tool is a study bible like a “Life Application study bible”

Another great tool to help, is a friend.

Having someone to read with you is great for accountability and it’s someone you can process with.

Make time, use tools available, and start small.

If you aren’t sure where to start, pick a small book of the bible like the book of James and read that.

James is the half-brother of Jesus and his book is SUPER practical for living out our faith. Read the whole thing through, then study it chapter by chapter.

Remember, bible reading is not about how many pages or chapters you can get done- it’s about really connecting with what is written.

Read slow. Think about what it’s saying. Pray about it.

If you would rather start reading something that Jesus said, go and read Matthew 5-6-7, that’s a sermon that Jesus preached.

Finally, ask the Lord to help you.

It’s ok to ask the Lord to give you the desire to read the bible. “Lord, give me a hunger to read the bible”

Ask him to teach you what it means “Lord, you inspired these writers to record these words, will you inspire me to know what they mean”

Ask him to apply what you read to your life- “Lord, how do I need to live differently because of what I just read?”

 EVERYDAY FAITH

• COMING OUT OF EASTER-
• TOOL BOXES HAVE MANY USES
• WHAT ARE TOOLS THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS NEED

ROMANS 12:12

  “REJOICE IN OUR CONFIDENT HOPE,, BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE, AND KEEP ON PRAYING.

QUOTE

  “MOST PEOPLE USE PRAYER AS THEIR SPARE TIRE INSTEAD OF THEIR STEERING WHEEL.” CORRIE TEN BOO

LUKE 11:1

1. ONCE JESUS WAS IN CERTAIN PLACE PRAYING. AS HE FINISHED, ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM AND SAID, “LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY, JUST AS JOHN TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.”

LUKE 11:2

² JESUS said “THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY; “FATHER, MAY YOUR NAME BE KEPT HOLY. MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME SOON.

LUKE 11:3-4

   GIVE US EACH DAY THE FOOD WE NEED, AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US. AND DON’T LET US YIELD TO TEMPTATION.

LUKE 11:9

   “AND SO I TELL YOU, KEEP ON ASKING, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT YOU ASK FOR. KEEP ON SEEKING, AND YOU WILL FIND. KEEP ON KNOCKING, AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO YOU.

LUKE 11:10

  10. FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS, RECEIVES. EVERYONE WHO SEEKS, FIND. AND TO EVERYONE WHO KNOCKS, THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED.

LUKE 11:11-12

  “YOU FATHERS- IF YOUR CHILDREN AS FOR A FISH, DO YOU GIVE THEM A SNAKE INSTEAD? 12. OR IF THEY ASK FOR AN EGG, DO YOU GIVE THEM A SCORPION? OF COURSE NOW!

LUKE 11:13

  13. SOP IF YOU SINFUL PEOPLE KNOW HOW MUCH TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE YOU THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM.

• HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE I’M PRAYING BUT MY PRAYERS ARE JUST HITTING THE CEILING?

NATHANIEL

• I SEE YOU
• I HEAR YOU

BORN 1819- JOSEPH SCRIVEN

1842– ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED – FIANCE’ DROWNED

1855– MOM BECOMES TERRIBLY ILL

• WRITES HER A POEM

1860 FIANCE’ GETS PNEUMONIA DIES

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

ALL OUR SINS AND GRIEFS TO BEAR

WHAT A PRIVALEGE TO CARRY

EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER

O WHAT PEACE WE OFTEN FORFEIT

OH WHAT NEEDLESS PAIN WE BEAR

ALL BECAUSE WE DO NOT CARRY

EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER.

HAVE WE TRIALS OR TEMPTATIONS

IS THERE TROUBLE ANYWHERE

WE SHOULD NEVER BE DISCOUIRAGED

TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER

CAN WE FIND A FRIEND SO FAITHFUL

WHO WILL ALL OUR SORROWS SHARE

JESUS KNOWS OUR EVERY WEAKNESS

TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

https://www.bible.com/events/49426341

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus

Everyday Faith Part 1

Prayer

Everyday Faith

Over the next few weeks we are going to look into critical, every day tools or practices that go into building our faith and growing our relationship with the Lord

Our series begins with prayer. Our relational lifeline to the Lord.

As we seek to learn about everyday faith, it’s important to know right from the beginning that Jesus is our model for life and faith.

As you look at Jesus’ life in the New Testament, you will see that Jesus prays a lot.

Perhaps our first lesson in prayer would be that if Jesus, the son of God, prayed, so should we.

But moving beyond that, what do we see?

John 11:41-42

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Lazarus is 4-days dead at this point, but Jesus is about to raise him to life. But before he does, he stops and prays. And his prayer is to his Father.

If you think about this idea, father is a relational term. It’s a relationship of trust and dependance, of safety and joy.

I know today that not everyone’s relationship to their earthy father may be a positive one- but think about your best and closest friend.

You can be honest with them with how you are feeling. You can tell them what you are thinking or processing, without fear of judgement. It’s a safe space. It’s a comfortable place.

Friends, that’s how we see Jesus engage prayer, and that’s how we too are invited to approach talking to our heavenly father.

What we see is that prayer is an opportunity in relationship, not an obligation of religion.

Another thing that jumps out to me about how Jesus prayed is that he prayed about the practical things of his life.

When Jesus needed wisdom and guidance on who would be his 12 disciples, he prayed. Before Jesus broke the bread to feed the 5000 people- he prayed and gave thanks. In John 17, Jesus knows that his disciples are about to be shaken to the core by his crucifixion, so he prays for them.

You get the picture that prayer flowed from the everyday life of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Mark 1:32-35

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Jesus prayed. After the day he had, nobody would have blamed Jesus for hitting the snooze button a few times before rolling over to ask Peter what was for breakfast.

But Jesus doesn’t do that. He gets up early, gets dressed, slips out of the house, and goes to pray alone.

Jesus prioritized prayer.

Luke 11:1-4

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ”

In this text, Jesus has just been praying as he often did. As soon as he finishes praying, one of his disciples comes up to ask him about prayer “Lord, teach us to pray…”

This follower of Jesus has seen the power and impact of prayer in Jesus’ life and now, he wants to know how to do it. Friends, this is us today.

We have seen the prayer life of Jesus, we want to be more like him, to build prayer into our everyday routines.

When Jesus’ disciples asked him how to pray, he gave them what many people call “The Lord’s prayer”

To be sure, just like any relationship, there are times in prayer when we are listening and NOT speaking. But when Jesus disciples asked, he gave them words to speak.

This prayer embodies Jesus’ outlook on prayer. It is personal and relational, addressing God as “Our father”. It invites the Lord’s rule and power to come. “Thy kingdom come”. We surrender our desires and plans over to his “They will be done”

This prayer is super practical, both physically and spiritually.

Our goal over the next few weeks will be to understand and grow in the practices that help us live out our faith.

Just like we brush our teeth, comb our hair, we change our clothes, we take a shower. Our faith life has those same daily things we need to be doing to be healthy and growing to be like Jesus.

Things like reading the bible, serving, fellowship and community, and humility. Each week we are going to focus on one of those daily practices for our faith life.

This week we intentionally started with prayer because it’s really our lifeline connection to the Lord.

Will you take a step in your everyday faith to pray like Jesus today?

ENCOUNTER THE CROSS

JULY 15^TH 2005-RUTH/I  HOSPITAL WT NJ

SHE WAS IN LABOR- SHED BEEN ON BED REST FOR 2 MONTHS- THIS WAS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED-

ANXIOUS- WORSHIP MUSIC PLAYING

RUTHS DR CAME LOOKS GOOD-I HAVE A FAVOR- YOU MIND IF TEAM OF DRS COME (10-12) WHITE COATS

LABOR UNDERWAY-JASMINE ELIZABETH GRIFFIN BORN

LIFE FROM LIFE AND DR’S WEPT

THIS WEEK END OUR SERIES WITH DEATH TO LIFE

WEEK 1: THE SHADOW THE CROSS CASTS

WEEK 2: THE FORGIVENESS THE CROSS OFFERS

A REBEL

WEEK 3: THE ROAD TO THE CROSS

TODAY: THE POWER OF THE CROSS

IMAGES/LOGOS THAT HAVE STOOD OVER TIME

 STARBUCKS

• Designer Terry Heckler, who created the original logo, was drawn to the siren’s association with the sea and the captivating nature of coffee.

FEDEX LOGO

• COMPANY STARTED IN 1971 (WILD HOW/WHY)
• 1973 FIRST LOGO
• Fred Smith picked the word “Federal” in the name is to bag the Federal Reserve Bank as a customer.
• 1994 GOT A REFRESH BY LINDON LEADER
• WANTED TO REMOVE THE DEAD SPACE- POINT PEOPLE TO THEIR PURPOSEFUL MEANING

  AMAZON 

• THE NEW MOST FAMOUS
• DESIGNED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE 1995
• MAJOR DESIGN SEEN HERE 2000
• JUST UPDATED IN 2024 COLOR CHANGE
• DELIVERS A SMILE- WHEN THEY ARRIVE
• AND THE ARCH IS FROM A TO Z- EVERYTHING

CHRIST THE REDEEMER– LATE 1800’S

• WHAT ABOUT THIS SYMBOL
• WHERE HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
• IS THERE SOMETHING SUBLIMINAL IN IT?
• DOES CARRY A POTENT MESSAGE? 2300 FEET

TODAY- THE POWER OF THE CROSS

• What did Easter mean to you growing up? What are your memories of it?

EASTER BASKETS- HUNTS- DRESSING UP

SUNRISE SERVICE- COLD- FOOD WAS GREAT

   FIRST TIME IT HIT ME-

CALVARY COVERS IT ALL

MY PAST WITH ITS SIN AND STAIN

MY GUILT AND DESPAIR

JESUS TOOK ON HIM THERE

AND CALVARY COVERS IT ALL

HOW BLESSED THE THOUGHT

THAT MY SOUL BY HIM BOUGHT

SHALL BE HIS IN THE GLORY ON HIGH

WHERE WITH GLADNESS AND SONG

ILL BE ONE OF THE THRONG

AND CALVARY COVERS IT ALL

   THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST 2004-QUIET

LUKE 23

   ⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.   

OUTSIDE HOLY OF HOLIES

• 60 FEET TALL
• 30 FEET WIDE
• 4 INCHES THICK

 SCRIPTURE LUKE 23:46

  ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.  ⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

LUKE 23:48

   ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

• WHEN THE ARMY OFFICER SAW WHAT HAPPENED, HE PRAISED GOD AND SAID- CERTAINLY THIS MAN WAS INNOCENT. GW
•  ⁵⁴ When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Sonof God!” ESV
• ROMAN CENTURION- 1 OF HIGHEST RANKING
• HE’S BEEN TRAINED TO DO THIS JOB
• LED NOT JUST SEEN MANY CRUCIFIXIONS
• COMPLETELY UNAFFECTED BY THIS
• STANDS IN FACT IN OPPOSITION OF JESUS

This Roman centurion has the distinction of having the first words recorded in Scripture following Christ’s death. Immediately after Christ breathed His last, “he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’”

ROMES MOST IMPRESSIVE OFFICER- THE CENTURION

•  THE POWER OF THE CROSS IS THIS:
• A CENTURION CONFESSES JESUS AND BELIEVES

1. A REBEL
2. ROMAN CENTURION

__________________________________________________________

DO YOU BELIEVE? WHY OR WHY NOT?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

VERY FEW BELIEVED INITIALLY- AND MANY RAN

SIGHTINGS OF JESUS AFTER THIS-POST RESURRECTION

1. MARY MAGDALENE (JOHN 20)

2. WOMEN COMING FROM TOMB (MATTEW 28)

3. PETER (LUKE 24)

4. ROAD TO EMMAUS- 2 PEOPLE (JOHN 20)

5. DISCIPLES MINUS THOMAS (JOHN 20)

6. DISCIPLES WEEK LATER W/THOMAS (JOHN 20)

7. SEA OF TIBERIAS SEVEN DISCIPLES (JOHN 21)

8. ELEVEN ON A MOUNTAIN GALILEE (MATT 28)

9. GALILEE MORE THAN 500 (I CORINTHIANS 5)

RINALDO

• CHRISTIANO RINALDO- ARGUABLY MOST FAMOUS
• SOCCER PLAYER- KNOWN WORLD WIDE
• I SAW HIM AT JMU GAME
• I SAW HIM ATLANTIC UNION BANK ARENA
• YEAH WELL I SAW HIM- HAD ON DUKES HATE

 SANDRA BULLOCK

• MOST FAMOUS PERSON FROM VIRGINIA SANDRA B
• SAW HER AT COSTCO- AISLE 4- FREE SAMPLE
• IF MULTIPLE PEOPLE STARTED TELLING ME-
• YEAH KEVIN WE SAW HER- YOU HEARD RIGHT?

• WHAT IF I HAD PUT UP PICTURES OF SUPERMAN

AVENGERS? WEREWOLF? LOCHNESS MONSTER

HERCULES?  MANY BELIEVE IN THOSE

BELIEVE

• DO YOU BELIEVE? WHY?
• HOW MANY OTHERS BELIEVE?

 JOHN 20:3-5

   3. “SO PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE STARTED FOR THE TOMB. BOTH WERE RUNNING, BUT THE OTHER DISCIPLE OUTRAN PETER AND REACHED THE TOMB FIRST. HE BENT OVER AND LOOKED IN AT THE STRIPS OF LINEN LYING THERE BUT DID NOT GO IN.

JOHN 20: 6-7

   6. THEN SIMON PETER CAME ALONG BEHIND HIM AND WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE TOMB. HE SAW THE STRIPS OF LINEN LYING THERE, AS WELL AS THE CLOTH THAT HAD BEEN WRAPPED AROUND JESUS’ HEAD. THE CLOTH WAS STILL LYING IN ITS PLACE, SEPARATE FROM THE LINEN.

 JOHN 20:8

   8. FINALLY THE OTHER DISCIPLE, WHO HAD REACHED THE TOMB FIRST, ALSO WENT INSIDE.

                      HE SAW AND BELIEVED

• HOW ABOUT US? DO YOU BELIEVE?
• DEATH TO LIFE- JOHN SAW NOTHING
• JOHN BELIEVED

 JOHN 20:25

  25. “SO THE OTHER DISCIPLES TOLD HIM, “WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” BUT HE SAID TO THEM, “UNLESS I SEE THE NAIL MARKS IN HIS HANDS AND PUT MY FINGER WHERE THE NAILS WERE, AND PUT MY HAND INTO HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE.

JOHN 20:26

  26. A WEEK LATER HIS DISCIPLES WERE IN THE HOUSE AGAIN, AND THOMAS WAS WITH THEM. THOUGH THE DOORS WERE LOCKED, JESUS CAME AND STOOD AMONG THEM AND SAID, “PEACE BE WITH YOU!”

SLIDE 21: SCRIPTURE JOHN 20:27-28

  27. THEN HE SAID TO THOMAS, “PUT YOUR FINGER HERE; SEE MY HANDS. REACH OUT YOUR HAND AND PUT IT IN MY SIDE. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE.” THOMAS SAID TO HIM, “MY LORD AND MY GOD”

JOHN 20:29

  29. THEN JESUS TOLD HIM, “BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU HAVE BELIEVED; BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE BELIEVED.”

100 TIMES JOHN USES THIS WORD IN HIS BOOK

• SYMBOL OR TORTURE AND DEATH
• CRUELTY AND PUNISHMENT- BRINGS LIFE
• BRINGS HEALING- BRINGS HOPE
• WAS ANOTHER MAN WHO ENOUNTERED THE CROSS
• HIS NAME WAS FRANK
• 911- HOPRRIFIC TRAGEDY- BRUTALITY-TERRORISM
• THE POWER OF THE CROSS

VIDEO 911

• OUR FAITH WAS CRUSHED
• FRANK FOUIND HOPE
• A REBEL
• ROMAN CENTURION
• REGULAR GUY

 2.5 BILLION

CHRIST SO MANY PEOPLE

BELIEVE

   THERE ARE MUTLIPLE PEOPLE SAVED AT THE CROSS

   1 CUSSED HIM OUT AND NEVER RELENTED/REPENTED

1 CUSSED HIM OUT- JESUS SPEAKS- AND HE SPEAKS TO JESUS INSTEAD OF YELLING INSULTS AT HIM

• MANY RUN AWAY. MANY MOCK AND YELL

MANY WATCH IN JUBILATION MANY WATCH IN HORROR

ONE MAN MAYBE THE MOST UNLIKELY OF ALL PEOPLE THERE- STANDS IN OPPOSITION TO JESUS

HAD NO DOUBT SEEN THIS AND LED THIS MANY MANY TIMES- ITS PART OF WHY HES HERE- LEAD THIS

It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills-  IT cost Him crucifixion.”
C. S. Lewis