Mountain Top Living for the Valleys of Life

Transfiguration:

“Mountain Top Living for the Valleys of Life”

All of us have struggles in life. All of us go through some dark valleys. Life is full of them. Jesus Himself faced some dark valleys. In fact he was about to face the biggest valley of His life – the cross! But before the crushing cross came a mountain top experience with the Father. What took place as recorded by Matthew at 17:1-13 is called “The Transfiguration of Jesus.” The word translated “transfigured” gives us our English word “metamorphosis.” A metamorphosis is a change on the outside that comes from the inside. The word is related to the word “transform.”

On the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus received an encouraging visit from some Old Testament saints and the Father’s encouragement and confirmation to fulfill His mission on the cross. It is the mountain top experiences with God and other believers that make walking through the valleys of life more than tolerable, but actually joyful! This Sunday, March 13^th we will explore Jesus’ transfiguration and what that means for us in our daily lives. You can find this Sunday’s text below. The mountain top times with our heavenly Father and with God’s people do give us fresh perspective on who we are (identity), where we are (status), and what we are doing (activity).

We invite you to worship with us this Sunday at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcomed! Come prepared to Glorify God and be transformed by the risen Christ. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. CBC is located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, just one mile east of the Veteran’s Expressway.

Look forward this Sunday to transformative worship in God’s presence and with God’s people!

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

             

Matthew 17:1-13, New International Version (NIV)

The Transfiguration
¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

 

 

 

 

 

"Who Is Jesus?"

The Question for the Ages: “Who Is Jesus?”

Just who is Jesus? Who did he claim to be? What did others say about him? What was he really like? It’s the question for the ages, “Who is Jesus?” People today still have varying opinions about Jesus. Some say that Jesus was a prophet or a teacher, or a good man, or a healer, or a wise man. But you might be surprised to know that Jesus never claimed to be any of these, but he did make some astounding claims that can only be chalked up to being God! Even we who make up part of the 2.2 billion Christ followers on earth have varying ideas of who Jesus is, some true but incomplete, others more informed by our culture.

As a part of our sermon series, “The Jesus I Never Knew,” this Sunday, March 6^th at Carrollwood Baptist Church we will explore the question for the ages that Jesus presented to His disciples in Matthew 16:13-19. If you do not have a church home, you are invited to join us at CBC where all are welcomed! Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and we are conveniently located at 5395 Ehrlich Road just a mile east of the Veterans Expressway. For more information, check us out at carrollwoodbaptist.org The Scripture passage for this Sunday is shown below.

Look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we worship the living Lord!

 

Pastor Joe

Matthew 16:13-28, New International Version (NIV)

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 

 

 

Jesus Mission & Method ("The Jesus I Never Knew")

“The Jesus I Never Knew:  
His Mission and Method”

Luke 15:1-10

What happens after you search diligently for something that is valuable to you and you find it? You rejoice and you share your good fortune. “I found it!” (“Eureka!”). Undoubtedly, the shepherd and the woman in these stories would have cried out “Eureka!” when they found their lost valuable possessions.

In verses 7 Jesus moves from the realm of sheep and coins to the real message, people, people who are lost, people who are like wayward sheep without a shepherd, people who perhaps are like coins which have fallen off the dresser and rolled away in a dark corner somewhere, lost and forgotten, but not lost or forgotten by God. “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (15:7).  

This parable does not mean that heaven is not happy at the state of the righteous on earth. However, there has already been a day of rejoicing for the “found,” they are safe in the kingdom. But what about the many who have never had that day yet? What about the ever-wandering fearful sheep destined for death in the wilderness? What about the ever-lost and forgotten coin destined to remain hidden and forgotten? Jesus wants us to know these too are precious and valuable and worth looking for. God himself is not satisfied with seeing even one person being lost. God is relentless in His pursuit of the lost and He longs to see them found. And this is what makes heaven shout!

This Sunday, February 28^th at Carrollwood Baptist Church, we will continue in our series of sermons, “The Jesus I Never Knew.” In this series, we are exploring the pivotal events and emphases in the life of Christ, taking a closer look at the Jesus we thought we knew. This Sunday we are looking at Jesus’ Mission & Method. This Sunday’s Scripture passage is shown below. All are welcomed to join us at CBC! Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and we are conveniently located one mile east of the Veterans Expressway at 5395 Ehrlich Road. For more information, check us out online at carrollwoodbaptist.org.

Looking forward to celebrating Jesus this Sunday!

Pastor Joe

Luke 15:1-10, New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Sunday, February 14, 2016 Message, The Tempation of Christ

“Facing Life’s Tests”

Are you facing a difficult test in life? Are you going through a barren desert experience? A time where you’re not sure what God is trying to accomplish in your life? How do you respond to the tests of life? Do tests cause you to hold on to God a little tighter by faith? Or do they cause you to flee in fear?

 After Jesus’ baptism came the battle! He faced a severe time of testing in the wilderness by the Devil himself. But Jesus passed the test and defeated each of the Devil’s temptations with the Word of God. Times of testing come to all of us. And in life’s tests, we too can expect to face temptations just as Jesus did. However, we can also face life’s tests with confidence when we respond to temptations as Jesus modeled for us in Matthew 4:1-11.

 This Sunday, February 14^th at Carrollwood Baptist Church, we will explore how Jesus defeated the Devil’s temptations and how we can face life’s times of testing with confidence in Christ. All are welcomed to join us at CBC as we continue our series, “The Jesus I Never Knew.” In this series, we are exploring the pivotal events in the life of Christ, taking a closer look at the Jesus we thought we knew.

 Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and we are conveniently located one mile east of the Veterans Expressway at 5395 Ehrlich Road. For more information, check us out online at carrollwoodbaptist.org. This Sunday's Scripture passage is shown below.

 Looking forward to celebrating Jesus this Sunday!

Pastor Joe

 Matthew 4:1-11New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
¹ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a] by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

 ⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”

 ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

 “‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’^[c]”

 ⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d]”

 ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e]”

 ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 Footnotes:

a.       Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.

2. Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
3. Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
4. Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
5. Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13

 

"The Jesus I Never Knew" (New Sermon Series Begins Sunday)

The Jesus I Never Knew

If you ask the question, “Who is Jesus?” and “What is He like?” you might be surprised at the varied responses you receive. Some would say that Jesus was a good man, a moral teacher, a prophet, the Savior, or God Himself! Some people picture Jesus as the meek and mild figure of children’s stories, sort of a Mister Rogers figure carrying a lamb. Others see him as a stern and serious figure angrily denouncing the religious leaders and turning over tables in the temple as in movie, “The Gospel According to St. Matthew” (1964). Still others view Jesus as a blond and unblinking blue-eyed thin young man with the John Lennon hair and a British accent, Robert Powell who played Jesus in “Jesus of Nazareth” (1977).

 Is our view and picture of Jesus complete? Or could there be more to Jesus than the one we thought we knew?  Of course, the best way to get an accurate and full portrait of Jesus is from the Gospel accounts in our Bible. Beginning this Sunday, February 7^th at Carrollwood Baptist Church, we will begin to look at some pivotal points in Jesus’ life that will help “flesh out” a fuller picture of who Jesus was and still is. We may think we know Jesus but we may be surprised at “The Jesus we thought we knew.” When we dig deeper into the portrait we have of Jesus in the Gospels, we will discover a richer and fuller picture of the living Jesus that saves, satisfies, and is worthy of our worship and service. My hope is that through this study believers will have a greater appreciation for the living Lord they worship and serve and that people searching for answers to life’s questions will see God’s grace and truth at work in the life of Jesus. Invite someone to worship with us during this important season of reflection leading up to Easter Resurrection Sunday.

 

Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and we are conveniently located one mile east of the Veterans Expressway at 5395 Ehrlich Road. For more information, check us out online at carrollwoodbaptist.org. This Sunday's Scripture passage dealing with the Baptism of Jesus is shown below.

Looking forward to celebrating Jesus this Sunday!

 

Pastor Joe

 

 

Matthew 3:13-17New International Version (NIV)

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. ¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Night "Studies in Acts" begins Tonight! (2/3/16)

"What's Your Story?" (Sunday's Message)

“What’s Your Story?”

18 “As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” Mark 5:18-20, NIV

What’s your story? God can rewrite the ending to your story. He can begin a new chapter in your story today. The man we are told about in Mark chapter five was living a story that was ending badly. But he met Jesus who specializes in rewriting bad endings. Jesus saved the possessed and self-destructive man and now the changed man wants to follow Jesus. Jesus tells him “the best way that you can follow me is by going back to your home and telling them what the Lord has done for you.” “You tell them I have had compassion on you and it is I who has changed you. Tell them your new story!”

What’s your story? Everyone has one. And every Christian has a personal story of how they came to know Jesus and what He has done for them. The details of our stories will be different, but all Christians will have at least three things in common. This common ground that we share in our stories can be illustrated in the “life story” of the Apostle Paul in Acts 22:3-5.

1. There was a time in your life when you were not a Christian (22:3-5).

2. But you met Jesus and made a personal commitment to Him (22:6-13).

3. And now because of Christ your life has changed (22:14-16).

Everyone has a story and your story is powerful. This Sunday, January 31^st in worship we will celebrate the observance of the Lord’s Supper and I will be sharing about the power of your personal story to impact the lives of others. Because of “His” story (the cross and the resurrection), we have a new story, a powerful story of God’s grace and mercy to share with our world.

You are invited to join us at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcomed. This Sunday could be a life-changing experience for you. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and we are conveniently located one mile east of the Veterans Expressway at 5395 Ehrlich Road. For more information, check us out online at carrollwoodbaptist.org.

Looking forward to celebrating “His” story this Sunday!

Pastor Joe