This Sunday, May 3rd Hebron is celebrating our annual "Home Coming." Plan on joining us for this special day of worship and fellowship.
Sunday's Sermon Text: Psalm 23 (NIV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides 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 love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
1 John 3:1-7, Sermon Text for Sunday, April 19, 2009
March and April have been quite hectic. My preaching schedule should be a little more normal now that our Capital Fund Campaign is completed. The dramatic monologues that I preached during the Easter season were challenging but also a blessing. This week I am picking up the lectionary epistle selection for the week, 1 John 3:1-7. Here is a tremendous passage that communicates the love of the Father and the reality that we are now God's children. Believers are works in progress; nevertheless, when Christ appears we will be like Him. This hope motivates us to live pure lives that are evidencing victory over sin.
I hope that you plan on joining us Sunday for Bible study and worship. Invite someone to worship or better yet, bring them with you. Let's be sure to let people know about the love of the Father and the good things that God is doing through His people at Hebron.
1 John 3:1-7 (NIV)
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
For His Glory!
I hope that you plan on joining us Sunday for Bible study and worship. Invite someone to worship or better yet, bring them with you. Let's be sure to let people know about the love of the Father and the good things that God is doing through His people at Hebron.
1 John 3:1-7 (NIV)
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
For His Glory!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Welcoming Jesus, Palm Sunday First-Person Sermon
Scripture Background: Matthew 20:20-28; 21:1-11
Today’s first-person sermon (dramatic monologue) seeks to vividly retell the biblical story from the vantage point of John, the Apostle. John and his brother James earned the anger of their fellow disciples by asking if they could sit on Jesus’ right and left hands in glory. Jesus used this occasion to teach on the meaning and importance of serving others (Matt. 20:20-28). Greatness in the kingdom comes through serving, not being served. Jesus Himself modeled the life of a servant in life and in death by offering His life as a sacrifice for sins.
Afterward, Jesus sent two of His disciples (John included) to prepare the way for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11). Jesus’ public and triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a colt occurred on what is called Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of the Passion week, the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
John, the Apostle
Along with his brother James, John was called by Jesus to be one of the twelve (Matt. 4:21-22) while they were fishing. John, the son of Zebedee (his mother was probably Salome) along with his brother James received from Jesus the nickname “Boanerges,” meaning “Sons of Thunder (Mk. 3:17). Their nickname was fitting. On one occasion, James and John requested that the unresponsive Samaritan village be destroyed by fire called down from heaven (Lk. 9:51-54)!
Everything in Scripture suggests that John, “the beloved disciple” (Jn. 13:23) was very close to Jesus. His prominence among the Twelve is indicated by his presence, along with James and Peter, at the raising of Jairus’s daughter by Jesus (Mk. 5:37), at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:1), and with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37). Along with Peter, John was entrusted by Jesus with preparations for the Passover supper (Lk, 22:8).
Five New Testament writings are attributed to John, the Apostle (Gospel of John; 1, 2, 3 John; and Revelation). Tradition states that John moved to Asia Minor, and that from there he was banished to the Island of Patmos (during Domitian’s reign, A. D. 81-96). Later, he returned to Ephesus, where he died some time after Trajan became emperor in A. D. 98.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Today’s first-person sermon (dramatic monologue) seeks to vividly retell the biblical story from the vantage point of John, the Apostle. John and his brother James earned the anger of their fellow disciples by asking if they could sit on Jesus’ right and left hands in glory. Jesus used this occasion to teach on the meaning and importance of serving others (Matt. 20:20-28). Greatness in the kingdom comes through serving, not being served. Jesus Himself modeled the life of a servant in life and in death by offering His life as a sacrifice for sins.
Afterward, Jesus sent two of His disciples (John included) to prepare the way for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11). Jesus’ public and triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a colt occurred on what is called Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of the Passion week, the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
John, the Apostle
Along with his brother James, John was called by Jesus to be one of the twelve (Matt. 4:21-22) while they were fishing. John, the son of Zebedee (his mother was probably Salome) along with his brother James received from Jesus the nickname “Boanerges,” meaning “Sons of Thunder (Mk. 3:17). Their nickname was fitting. On one occasion, James and John requested that the unresponsive Samaritan village be destroyed by fire called down from heaven (Lk. 9:51-54)!
Everything in Scripture suggests that John, “the beloved disciple” (Jn. 13:23) was very close to Jesus. His prominence among the Twelve is indicated by his presence, along with James and Peter, at the raising of Jairus’s daughter by Jesus (Mk. 5:37), at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:1), and with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37). Along with Peter, John was entrusted by Jesus with preparations for the Passover supper (Lk, 22:8).
Five New Testament writings are attributed to John, the Apostle (Gospel of John; 1, 2, 3 John; and Revelation). Tradition states that John moved to Asia Minor, and that from there he was banished to the Island of Patmos (during Domitian’s reign, A. D. 81-96). Later, he returned to Ephesus, where he died some time after Trajan became emperor in A. D. 98.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
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