Church of the Nazarene

https://www.bible.com/events/49194390 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock What Does God Want from Me? Time Live like the time you have is truly a gift. Today we begin a new 4-part teaching series called “The Talents” Throughout this series we will seek to understand and answer the question:What does God expect of me? We believe whole heartedly that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can be saved. There is absolutely nothing we can ever do to EARN our salvation. But truths such as the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God do not nullify the fact that He has expectations about how we are to live our lives. Our teaching series is based on the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25 known as the parable of the talents. The parable has a surprise ending for one character in the story, and it becomes clear- this is a hard truth. God’s expectations matter. The issue of how we utilize what God has given us isn’t just a nice idea, it’s not extra credit, it’s central to our life as believers. And it has dramatic consequences one way or the other. Matthew 25:14-15 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The "again" of verse 14 is linking this with the parables before, illustrating what the kingdom of God is like. It’s like a man going on a journey, calling his servants or employees together and entrusting his wealth to them. Depending on your translation what is given may be talents, silver, or like the NIV translates here “bags of gold” The original word here is where we get the English word for talents. It was a unit of measure- in this case of money. We don’t know exactly the value of a talent; some scholars estimate the value of one talent being between 400,000-600,000 dollars. The first two servants were given millions, and the third was given over a half million. These were gifts entrusted to his servants. With no further instructions, the man leaves on his journey. Matthew 25:16-18 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Two of the servants take it upon themselves to utilize what they had been given. The 3rd servant takes a different approach. He takes his half million and buries it in the ground for safe keeping. Matthew 25:19-23 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ The first servant has put his master’s money to use and doubled it to 10 talents. The master is well pleased and praises the servant’s efforts. “Well done good and faithful servant- I have many more things in store for you” The second servant steps up, he also has doubled the master’s money. Again, there is increase. Both servants were commended equally for their stewardship of the master’s money. Matthew 25:24-30 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ The third servant is different, and Jesus wants us to see that clearly. What we do with what we are given, always reveals the true condition of our heart. This servants’ actions are motivated by fear- and he tries to shift the blame back onto the master for his actions. This last servant seemingly does less than the least- He could have at

https://www.bible.com/events/49190325 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg A New Wind Allow His Spirit to be the power that you need. As we prepare to journey into another new year, we consider this specific question: What will make the biggest difference for you in the year 2024? Today we will consider what would happen if you asked the Holy Spirit of God to blow through you in a fresh way in 2024. John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” I wonder how many of us consider the work of God's Spirit in our lives? Do we believe it matters? According to Jesus, it is essential, but do we treat it that way? Is it just an 'add on'? Something for the more 'radical' or 'committed' believers? The Holy Spirit has many roles in our lives, but there is one specific role that I want us to consider today. The Spirit is how God imparts power to you in your everyday life. The Spirit gives believers power, power to live the life God calls us to, power to use our gifts to serve and sacrifice for others, and power that is far beyond what we can do in our own strength. Quite simply, too many believers are relying too much on their own power when we have been given this incredible gift: the gift of God's power. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Botton Line: Allow His Spirit to be the power that you need. Verses for Further Study & Reflection: John 14:26 1 Corinthians 6:11 Galatians 5:25 Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Happy New Year! Many of you will participate in the common traditions of attending parties tonight and eating special New Year’s food. Then at 11:59 p.m. more than one billion people from all over the world will tune in to see the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball drop and welcome in 2024 There are some things I already know about the coming year: · If you are in Christ, God will be in your 2024. · You will change. We all will change in the coming year. o The you sitting here this morning will be new in the coming year. But here’s the question: Will that change align with God’s plan for you? “New Year, New You” isn’t just a catchy slogan; it’s an invitation to embrace God’s plan for your life. There are three types of people here today: · The Christian who is walking with Jesus · The person who has fallen away from Christ · And the person who has never accepted Jesus as Lord. God loves you! He has a plan for your life. You can make a difference in this world when you trust in the Lord. As we get ready for the new year, are you willing to be made new? A new beginning means that you are allowing yourself to accept changes; that reflect HIS plan and not yours. GOOD changes. The old self, the old life, has failures that are in the past. The things of the past do not have to define who you are today. I love God’s word as it is filled with truth for you, and you, and you, and for me. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20, He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Wow! More than we might ask or think. That sounds impossible, right? How can that be when we are people who constantly ask, and think about the things that we want? A lot is going to happen this year; some you’ll expect, and some you won’t. God is sovereign. He knows all things, and He has a promise for you and for me, and it’s worth repeating, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 That is a promise for you and for me. PUT YOUR NAME in that scripture. It is a promise for you! God has good plans for you. God desires a brand new you, in a brand-new year. God desires to transform you from the inside out. But it is a choice YOU MUST MAKE. The Bible says, 22 to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Ephesians during his imprisonment in Rome, approximately A.D. 60. It is a letter written to the church at Ephesus, and to all believers today to strengthen the church. Ephesians is a letter of encouragement. The Bible states that there is an old self that people have which needs to be done away with. We are to throw off the old self. And put on the new self. Our old way of life before Jesus living in our heart is completely in the past. Paul uses the metaphor of ‘throwing off the old self’ just like taking off old clothes that should be thrown away. Paul is speaking to the believers. The nature of the old self is sometimes associated in scripture with the term ‘sarx’ or ‘flesh’. Sarx is used to describe the weak, frail, mortal flesh of the sinful nature of the old self. It is a self that is focused on this world as its top priority. Although God is a priority, He is not the top priority. Unfortunately many people who call themselves Christians get wrapped up in the affairs of this world and lose keeping a heavenly focus on Christ. What kind of Christian are you? Are you wrapped up in the affairs of this world OR are you focused on Christ? We are told to put off our former way of life, the old self. The Greek word that the English translations render “put off” is a word that is used for setting aside clothing. We can all agree that in this world clothing matters. We have heard the sayings: · Dress for success · Clothes make the man or clothes make the woman Our clothes make a statement about us. Clothes often reflect your profession, your values, and even your social status. Paul tells us that we have to lay the old self aside because it is corrupted by deceitful desires. Our desires are lying to us. They are telling you that you will be happy if you obey your desires. They are telling you: · If it feels good, do it. · If you could just do what you feel like doing, it would fix everything. I am sure you have heard the saying: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Putting off the old self is not just changing a few things in your life or changing a behavior or two. Putting off these clothes means getting rid of the whole way of how we use to do things. Within the last 3 weeks, Thomas and I have had vehicle pr

https://www.bible.com/events/49187894 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg God With Us - Always He is always with you, so you are never alone. Throughout this Christmas Season we have been seeking to understand the power and meaning of the name given to Jesus in the Christmas Story- Immanuel: God with us. The Christmas story in a word is "Presence". The essence of Christmas is the presence of God with us in Christ. His presence changes everything. This is the amazing promise we find in the story of Christmas. Matthew 1:20-23 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). We need Christmas to be more than just traditions, carols, candlelight, gifts and gatherings. We need Christmas to be about His presence because we've never needed the presence of God more than we do right now. Loneliness is pervasive throughout our society today: -At least a third of Americans say that they feel lonelier than ever before. -20% more people report feeling lonely at Christmas as compared to other times of the year -It impacts every generation, in fact, Gen Z (38%) and millennials (37%) feel the loneliest compared to other generations -many have suggested a disconnected digital world is driving pervasive loneliness. We are “50% human and 50% technology.” We are living in a world that is increasingly disconnected, anxious, and lonely. The arrival of Jesus describes God's presence in Matthew 1. But the final words of Jesus in Matthew 28 also points to the power of presence. Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So the same one who began as Immanuel, 'God with us', now proclaims 'I am with you always.' Bottom Line: He is always with you, so you are never alone. For Further Study & Reflection: Exodus 33:13-16 Deuteronomy 31:6 Joshua 1:5 Psalm 23:4 John 14:16 Hebrews 13:5 Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

https://www.bible.com/events/49186160 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock God With Us - Always Christmas Eve 2023 Throughout this Christmas Season we have been seeking to understand the power and meaning of the name given to Jesus in the Christmas Story- Immanuel: God WITH us. If we wanted to try to boil down the Christmas story into just one word- it would have to be Presence. The essence of Christmas is the presence of God with us in Christ. His presence changes everything. This is the amazing promise we find in the story of Christmas. Matthew 1:18-23 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When the Angel instructs Joseph to name the baby Jesus- The mission of this child becomes clear- "...and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus came not because we needed a celebration, but because we needed a savior. We needed a rescuer from the power of sin and death. Matthew doesn’t leave his audience in suspense either- He makes it clear in telling the Christmas Story-This is Immanuel-This child is God with us. These two names together express the real meaning of the story of Christmas. God is with us- present with his people. His actions are aimed at rescuing his people. This is Christmas, this is the story of Jesus. His presence changes everything. At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus. There is great reason to celebrate and remember this event. But Easter brings us the promise of His permanent presence in the hearts of those who are for Him. This is the promise Matthew concludes his gospel with in Chapter 28. Literally the whole story of Jesus in Matthew is bookended by Presence. After Jesus, that baby in the manger, grew up. He performed miracles. He showed us what it was to love like the Father, serve like the Father. And then he died, a criminal's death on a cross. And after 3 days, he rose again. He conquered death and now, the resurrected Jesus is about to go back to heaven. And before he does, He tells his disciples - his closest followers - something that we need to remember today: Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The promise of Presence God with us at the beginning, God with us Always. The beautiful thing about the Christmas story is that the ultimate gift that lasts forever has your name on it- It’s for you. Will you receive it? Don’t let Christmas rush by this year without that reality taking root deep in your heart. God Himself, is WITH us. And, if you choose, will ALWAYS be. Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

https://www.bible.com/events/49183288 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg God With Us - In the obscurity Christmas proves it: There are no invisible people. Today we continue our Advent series entitled "God with Us". Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can't talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence. One of the most extraordinary things about the Christmas story is how otherwise unremarkable the people and situations of the nativity are. For one of the most extraordinary events in human history the birth of Jesus is surrounded by the ordinary. Long before the arrival of Jesus, the promise of God was of a Savior, but the picture we get is not what you might expect. It's the picture of a Savior who Himself seems insignificant, alone, invisible, and obscure. Micah 5:5 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, So it shouldn't surprise us, that as we learn the details of Jesus' arrival, He arrives in obscurity. Luke 2:1-14 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Obscure town? Check Obscure birthplace? Check Then the most obscure of people – shepherds who were literally obscure out in their fields – are the ones who see the very Glory of God. This is the story of a Savior arriving in the midst of obscurity And the question is: why? Because God knows you. And He knows how often we feel pretty obscure. And if that's you, if it's ever felt like you, God wrote the story of redemption with you in mind. This story is an emphatic declaration in the family of God, there is no such thing as obscure. In reality, you can make the case that it is the “unmajestic” He cares for first. That His eyes fall first on the obscure. The bottom line: Christmas proves it: There are no invisible people. Verses for further study/reflection: Psalm 138:6-8 1 Corinthians 1:27-32 1 Peter 5:5-6 Matthew 21:21 Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

http://bible.com/events/49181108 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg God With Us - In the Uncertainty The question is not can I trust Him. But…will I? Today we continue our Advent series entitled "God with Us". Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can't talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence. The presence of God with us is such a foundational part of Christmas, and this week we focus specifically on how we can experience His presence in seasons of uncertainty. The story of Christmas challenges us to see that living in the will of God does not mean the absence of uncertainty. Living in the will of God often means trusting His plan in the face of great uncertainty. Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Mary chose faith in the face of immense uncertainty. With her answer, Mary literally put her life on the line. Remember she is legally married, betrothed to her husband. To be found pregnant made her guilty of adultery, punishable by death. Her family would likely disown her. Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Can you imagine the uncertainty that crashed onto the shore of Josephs life when Mary came to him with a baby bump and the story of Gabriel? What was he supposed to do? He loved Mary, he loved the Lord, how could this happen? Joseph’s dreams were seemingly shattered by the mayhem of uncertainty. But the promise of Presence in the midst of uncertainty changed everything for Joseph. One of the hardest things in uncertainty is all of the questions that happen in our minds: What's going to happen? What should I do? Am I going to be okay? Are the people I care about going to be okay? What is God doing? What am I missing? Did I make a mistake? And so many more …. Can you relate? We all have questions. In the midst of uncertainty, we all face questions. The ultimate question in the midst of our uncertainty is this: Can God be trusted? Two powerful truths in the midst of uncertainty: 1. God keeps his promises 2. God is with us, even in uncertainty Bottom Line: The question is not can I trust Him, but will I? Verses for further study/reflection: Proverbs 3:5-8 Mark 9:24 Acts 17:24-27 James 1:5-8 Jude 1:22 Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

https://www.bible.com/events/49179748 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock God With Us - In the Uncertainty Living in the will of God often means trusting His plan in the face of great uncertainty. Today we continue our Advent series entitled "God with Us". Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can't talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence. This week we begin by understanding why the presence of God with us is such a foundational part of Christmas, and how we can experience His presence in seasons of uncertainty. The story of Christmas challenges us to see that living in the will of God does not mean the absence of uncertainty. Living in the will of God often means trusting His plan in the face of great uncertainty. Today, Christmas season 2023, will you trust in the one called Immanuel, God with us? The story of Christmas may be the best evidence that we can trust his plan, no matter what. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭38‬‬ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Mary chose faith in the face of immense uncertainty. With her answer, Mary literally put her life on the line. Remember she is legally married, betrothed to her husband- to be found pregnant made her guilty of adultery, punishable by death. Her family would likely dis-own her. She could be shunned, kicked out of the house. Unwelcome at home or at church. And what about Joseph? He certainly got thrust into his own set of uncertainties, didn’t he? Matthew records his wrestling with it all. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭24‬‬ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. Can you imagine the uncertainty that crashed onto the shore of Josephs life when Mary came to him with a baby bump and the story of Gabriel? It had to sound suspect, Joseph knew it wasn’t him. What was he supposed to do? He loved Mary, he loved the Lord, how could this happen? Joseph’s dreams were seemingly shattered by the mayhem of uncertainty. But the promise of Presence in the midst of uncertainty changed everything for Joseph. By all accounts we have, Mary and Joseph were both living for the Lord. They knew is word, they trusted in him, they ordered their lives around following the Lord- but none of that shielded them for facing immense uncertainty. We think it’s easy because we know how it ends, but there had to be times when the uncertainty was terrifying for this young couple. The story of Christmas challenges us to see the truth that living in the will of God does not mean the absence of uncertainty. No, rather in Christ you can be sure, even when everything is swirling around. That’s Immanuel. That’s God with us. That’s the promise for those in Christ today. What would it look like for you today to trust God in your uncertainty today No, we don’t know the future. But we can be sure of one thing: God is

https://www.bible.com/events/49178177 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg God With Us - In the Waiting The most faithful people of the first advent were the ones who didn’t let waiting cloud their hope. Today we kick off our Advent series entitled "God with Us". Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can't talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence. This week we begin by understanding why the presence of God with us is such a foundational part of Christmas, and how we can experience His presence in seasons of waiting. The presence of God himself, the Creator, coming to take up residence with His creation - in His creation Matthew 1:18-23 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Warren Wiersbe “Jesus is His human name; Christ is His official title; and Emmanuel describes who He is—“God with us.” Jesus Christ is God! The Israel of Jesus’ day is really not that much different from the plight of many people in our global society. Every day, people suffer the effects of economic, social, and spiritual oppression to which the gospel of Jesus Christ and its message of salvation bring hope and healing. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. The presence of 'God with us' changes everything. Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. The Intertestamental Period meant 400 years of waiting. Some may have seen the time as so long, they forgot about the promised Messiah and went on with their lives… What about you and I as we wait? Abraham is a powerful example of patience, perseverance while waiting on the Lord. The apostle Paul reminds us in his book to the Romans Romans 4:18-22 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 2 LIES WE OFTEN BELIEVE IN THE WAITING 1. GOD IS NOT WITH US (ABSENT) 2. GOD IS NOT WORKING (ALOOF) HOW WE WAIT MATTERS! IN THE WAITING DO NOT MISS THE LIFE ALTERING REALITY OF CHRISTMAS GOD IS WITH YOU Pastor Adrian Mills “The beauty of Christmas is that Jesus didn’t just show up once, He keeps showing up.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Verses for further study/reflection: Exodus 33:15 Isaiah 40:31 Isaiah 53 Malachi 4:2-3 Luke 1:18-25 2 Peter 3:8-9 Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

https://www.bible.com/events/49176570 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock God With Us - In the Waiting The most faithful people of the first advent were the ones who didn’t let waiting cloud their hope. Today we kick off our Advent series entitled "God with Us". Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can't talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence. This week we begin by understanding why the presence of God with us is such a foundational part of Christmas, and how we can experience His presence in seasons of waiting. Matthew 1:18-23 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). -Matthew wants to make sure that we understand more about what type of Savior this would be, so he points back to the prophecy in the book of Isaiah some 700 years earlier. His name literally means, 'God with us'. -We live on the other side of Christmas, and the other side of the cross and resurrection. Perhaps it’s difficult to imagine the glory in the presence of God – God actually being with us – unless you know what it’s like to be away from His presence, which is the Israelites had experienced for far too long. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. The presence of God with us changes everything. Over the next few weeks, we are going to talk about what it means that God is with us no matter where we find ourselves: -He is with us in the waiting...waiting for answers, for the fulfillment of His promise. -He is with us in our uncertainty, in spite of our doubts and fears. -He is with us in the midst of obscurity, when our present reality seems insignificant or undesirable. -He is with us always, both now and for all eternity. The arrival of Jesus didn’t happen until after there were 400 years of silence. Four centuries of waiting. -If you think about it, the Christmas story is a story of waiting, so it's only fitting that we would begin our series talking about "God with us in the waiting." -Some may have waited so long; they forgot about the promised Messiah and went on with their lives, or perhaps some believed it was a promise that wouldn't come true. -But the people we find in the story of the first Christmas hadn’t forgotten: Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. The people present for the young life of Jesus hadn’t let 400 years cloud their memory – the Magi, Simeon and Anna. Romans 4:18-22 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. How we wait matters. What we do 'in the waiting' matters to God. That's why we see Abraham's name attached to the Christmas story. At the start of Mathew's Gospel, in the lineage of names, begins with Abraham. Through Abraham's obedience, even in the face of waiting, we receive the Presence of God, God with us, Jesus the Messiah. Matthew 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. Two questions for us to consider: 1. What are you waiting for? 2. How are you waiting? Bottom Line: The most faithful people of the first advent were the ones who didn’t let waiting cloud their hope. Verses for further study/reflection: Exodus 33:15 Isaiah 40:31 I

https://www.bible.com/events/49173827 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Minor Prophets - Malachi Famous last words Today we are finishing up our teaching series on the Minor Prophets studying the last recorded words of a prophet named Malachi. The way our bibles are organized, Malachi literally gets the last word before the New Testament. We don’t know a lot about Malachi himself. He was prophesying after the children of Israel got to return from exile in Babylon, somewhere around the 5th century. The Book of Malachi recounts the people’s unfaithfulness through six “disputes” with God. God will call the people out for their sin and rebellion- and they repeatedly deny it. As you read the words of Malachi, it becomes clear that the people could not discern the real condition of their hearts. We focus on the farewell words of the Old Testament. Words that gave way to 400 years of silence from God. In many ways these last words summarize the whole Old Testament, the law of Moses and the prophets. They call people to action through repentance and returning to the Lord. They call on them to remember the words of the prophets, words of warning, words of judgement, and words of hope. This morning we are glancing back to the minor prophets, but with an eye toward the coming advent season. Malachi 3:1-7 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ The Lord points once again to a coming day of judgement for his people. Within this text we see consequences for sin, but we also see a promised effect of God’s coming- That he would purify and cleanse, and that He will restore proper worship and relationship with Himself. God takes sin seriously- the minor prophets have shown us that again and again. But we also see the heart of the Father in calling His people to repent and return to him. God’s heart is not His people’s destruction, but their restoration in relationship with Him. And that brings us to the famous last words of Malachi. Malachi 4:5-6 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Following these words is 400 years of silence. There were no new prophecies, and no recorded words from the Lord- only the command to remember, to wait, and to watch. And many didn’t. Finding our place in the story: 1. Sometimes when we should learn our lesson, we don't. Just like the Israelites who should've learned after experiencing exile, and didn't. They remained unfaithful. Sometimes we learn and, as proven by the people during the time of the Minor Prophet Malachi, sometimes we don’t. 2. You may feel like 'silence' is your reality right now. What would it felt like to receive these promises, delivered through the prophet Malachi, and yet receive nothing else from the Lord? Some of us feel as though God's silence means God's absence. Luke 1:11-17 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make rea

https://www.bible.com/events/49173508 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock Minor Prophets - Malachi Famous last words Today we are finishing up our teaching series on the Minor Prophets studying the last recorded words of a prophet named Malachi. The way our bibles are organized, Malachi literally gets the last word before the New Testament. We don’t know a lot about Malachi himself. He was prophesying after the children of Israel got to return from exile in Babylon, somewhere around the 5th century The Book of Malachi recounts the people’s unfaithfulness through six “disputes” with God. God will call the people out for their sin and rebellion- and they repeatedly deny it or accuse God for it. As you read the words of Malachi, it becomes clear that the people could not discern the real condition of their hearts. We focus on the farewell words of the Old Testament. Words that gave way to 400 years of silence from God. In many ways these last words summarize the whole Old Testament, the law of Moses and the prophets. They call people to action through repentance and returning to the Lord. They call on them to remember the words of the prophets, words of warning, words of judgement, and words of hope. This morning we are glancing back to the minor prophets, but with an eye toward the coming advent season. Malachi 3:1-7 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ The Lord points once again to a coming day of judgement for his people. Within this text we see consequences for sin, but we also see a promised effect of God’s coming- That he would purify and cleanse He will restore proper worship and relationship with himself. God takes sin seriously- the minor prophets have shown us that again and again. But we also see the heart of the Father in calling his people to repent and return to him. God’s heart is not his people’s destruction, but their restoration in relationship with him. And that brings us to the famous last words of Malachi. Malachi 4:4-6 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” The Old Testament closes leaving the people leaning over the banister of time, looking into the future. 400 years of silence, no new prophecies, no recorded words from the Lord- only the command to remember, to wait, and to watch. And many didn’t. If our journey with the Minor Prophets has taught us anything, it is that God takes sin very seriously. God’s anger was displayed, but his heart was always inviting his people to return to him. But they refused. And here we are with Malachi, a nation of rebellious people, refusing to acknowledge God in their lives. And in these famous last words of the Old Testament, it can seem like it’s all over. Like nothing will ever change But then…despite all that had gone before…despite a rebellious and disobedient people. By His great grace, God intervened in a moment of time. The last words of the Old Testament gave way became first cries…. The cries of The Savior The famous last words of Malachi point to the messenger and the manger. Christmas didn’t come because we needed a holiday- it came because we needed a savior. He changed everything for his people, and he can change everything for you. Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online givi

https://www.bible.com/events/49169508 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Minor Prophets - Zephaniah What is God like? Today we continue our series entitled 'Minor Prophets'. We are taking a deep dive into 4 of the minor prophets from the Old Testament scriptures. They are full of redemptive themes that should convict us, equip us, challenge us, and encourage us. The purpose of this series is our desire to gain a new appreciation for the “minor” prophets but also see that God has important things to say to us in 2023 through them, affirming the relevance of every part of the Bible. We want to have a greater understanding of these four minor prophets and what God wants to teach us through them. Today we are looking at Zephaniah Zephaniah was a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah during the time of King Josiah. We don’t know a lot about the Prophet himself. The 3 chapters we have of his work are poetic, prophetic and in many ways, apocalyptic. In short- Zephaniah can be really challenging to work through. But we don’t want the challenge to discourage our pursuit of God through his word. One of the things Zephaniah helps us to see is what God is like- both in how he deals with sin and how he relates to his people. Zephaniah 1:4-6 “I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests— those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the Lord and who also swear by Molek, those who turn back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.” In a very real sense Zephaniah begins painting a familiar picture of a wayward people, with the message that God is about to bring judgement upon them for their actions. The consequences of their sin and rebellion were close at hand. As the prophecies unfold, Chapter 3 completes the picture of just how rebellious God’s people had become. Zephaniah 3:1-2 Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled! She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God. The people of God, to be a signpost to the nations, had become a city of oppressing rebels, marked by sin. They would not obey, they would not receive the Lord’s teaching, they would not trust him, they would not draw near to him. Despite all God had done, hundreds of years trying to persuade his people to follow the way of righteousness- they refused. Finally, God says “enough is enough” Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. If the minor prophets teach us anything about who God is, it is that he takes sin VERY seriously. God would not be good; he would not be Holy if he simply allowed sin to go on forever un-checked. A loving God would not ignore sin and its terrible effects. What we often fail to recognize is that God’s anger is motivated by his love and compassion for his people. God knows full well what sin does, how it destroys our lives, how it breaks relationships not least our relationship with Himself. He knows how sin ruins his good creation. So, when God moves to deal with sin yes, we will see consequences to those actions. Those consequences can be really difficult, painful even. But if that’s all we see, and angry old principal dishing out discipline, we don’t have the full picture. The Lord’s anger, his judgement, his discipline in dealing with sin is motivated by his desire to see his people restored and brought near in relationship. Zephaniah 3:14-17 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Rejoice people of God! God’s anger is not focused on your destruction, but on your restoration. What we see in the prophet of Zephaniah is a Compassionate God, who is angered by sin, but relentless in pursuit of his people. That’s who He is. Will you see God as he really is this Christmas season? He is THE GIFT- and your name is on the palm of his hands- will you receive him? Will you see him as a God who is right there with you in the midst of your story? Will you know him as the mighty warrior who can save you from sin and darkness? Will you believe that no matter how bad you have messed up, God can restore you? Will you imagine God singing over you

This morning we have reached Part 3 of our series on the minor prophets of the Old Testament. We began with Jonah two weeks ago and studied the story of Hosea last week. Zephaniah, was a priest who ministered to Israel at about the same time as the prophet Jeremiah. The first two chapters of Zephaniah speaks on the consequences of sin and rebellion. Warning the people of that day, and warning us, to turn from sin and to turn to God. Chapter 3 closes with an amazing image of redemption and celebration, a message of hope. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you by his love. He will exult over you with loud singing.” Did you get that image? God is singing and rejoicing over His people. God sings and rejoices over YOU! Our Lord, our Father, our Savior is chanting a song over you, over everyone in this sanctuary. During today’s message, please try to imagine the idea and the sound of it: God singing over you. God loves you so much that He breaks into singing over you! That is so important that it is worth repeating. God loves you so much that He breaks into singing over you! That is amazing! God is lavishing us with His love and praise. WOW!!! Today is a message of God’s outrageous love for you. That’s a hard idea for some. You are more likely to think about God correcting you than singing over you. Zephaniah speaks loudly to me that God takes your life, my life, and our relationships with Him seriously. The central theme of the book of Zephaniah is the Day of the Lord. The prophet foresaw the devastating consequences of God’s judgment on sin. It is clear from Scripture that this day will not only be a time when God will pour out His judgement upon the wicked, but it will also include a time of blessing for the Lord’s faithful ones. The Day of the Lord points directly to Jesus. Zephaniah ends with a message of hope through restoration in the Lord. Zephaniah 3:14-17. 14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. 16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” For those that turn to God, He is a loving Father. He is a God of restoration and hope. Today, if you would ask people on the street “What does God think about you?” You would hear many different answers: · There is no God. · God has given up on me! · God is mad at me. · God is mad at me and He should be. · God loves me. · And even many other responses. I doubt that you would hear many say “God is rejoicing and singing over me.” The question today for you is “What do you think God thinks about you?” Do you believe that God is singing over you? (Pause) I pray that after today’s message, you will have a different idea of God. Zephaniah was written in 640-621 BC during a time of almost two generations of Godlessness. Zephaniah boldly spoke God’s judgment against idolatry, unjust killings and, believe it or not, child sacrifice. The people of the day were sinful to the core. Zephaniah cried out for godliness and purity in God’s people. The people of Zephaniah’s day were well established, prosperous, and they no longer cared about God. They had come to trust their own abilities. They were proud of their money, their things and their successes. Their wealth gave them a sense of security that would turn out to be false. It was written during a time that the people rebelled with worship to Baal, Molech and the worship of the heavenly bodies-the sun, moon, and stars. The priests were also guilty of leading the people astray by being involved with pagan practices. Today in 2023, there are false gods, new idols with different names. Think about it this way…whatever a man or woman sets their heart on and trust in the most, becomes their god. Just to name a few, today many worship little ‘g’ gods such as: · Identity. We tend to define ourselves by our social media “likes” · Substances. o There are obvious ones, like hard drugs, but there are less obvious ones that help to numb the pain or provide spice to our boring lives: Such as comfort food, alcohol or nicotine, just to name a few. · Money. There is absolutely nothing wrong with money. We need money. o But for the ‘love of money’ people do crazy things. § Bernie Madoff is an example. Bernie’s love of money, led to one of the biggest financial crimes in modern day. In 2009, Madoff was convicted and sentenced to 150 years in prison for running what was described as the biggest Ponzi scheme in history. · Family/Children. I would be so happy if I could just get a wife, or if I had a h

https://www.bible.com/events/49166092 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Minor Prophets - Hosea God is faithful; Even when we are not. God is faithful; Especially when we are not. Today we continue our series entitled 'Minor Prophets'. We are taking a deep dive into 4 of the minor prophets from the Old Testament scriptures. They are full of redemptive themes that should convict us, equip us, challenge us, and encourage us. The purpose of this series is our desire to gain a new appreciation for the “minor” prophets but also see that God has important things to say to us in 2023 through them, affirming the relevance of every part of the Bible. We want to have a greater understanding of these four minor prophets and what God wants to teach us through them. Today we are looking at Hosea. The story of the nation of Israel had been one ongoing drama of God's faithfulness to a notoriously un-faithful people. In the 8th century BC, God called the Prophet Hosea to enact this very unfaithfulness through a rather strange marriage. Hosea 1:2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” What began as a covenant relationship, a marriage union between God and his people, has become an adulterous affair on the part of Israel. The book of Hosea itself records the many ways God’s people have forsaken their commitment to the Lord. It only makes sense that God would walk away, completely justified in divorcing his people for good. But he doesn’t. The Book of Hosea demonstrates for us the radical faithfulness of God. He doesn’t just forgive His adulterous people, He pursues them. Hosea 11:1-8 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. -God begins to tell the story of Israel’s past. How the Lord protected them, provided for them, and taught them how to be his people. -But the more God moved, the more they turned away from him. They worshipped other god’s, attributing the blessing and provision to them. They gave themselves to other nations for political gain. -Hosea is warning of the impending consequences of their disobedience. Within a few years of this warning the Assyrian empire, a former political alliance of Israel, would destroy their nation, carrying them away from their homeland into captivity. God’s chosen people received the consequence of their actions. Hosea has 14 chapters of evidence of the Israelites going too far, getting it wrong, messing up in every conceivable way and it’s been going on for generations. But the heart of God cries out “How can I give up on you? How can I hand you over to be destroyed?” These people experienced the judgement of God, they had to face the consequences of their actions in being overtaken and exiled by the Assyrian empire. But they also received God’s Mercy. God did not treat them fully as their actions had deserved. Bottom Line: God is faithful; Even when we are not. God is faithful; Especially when we are not. Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

https://www.bible.com/events/49165773 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock Minor Prophets - Hosea God is Faithful Today we continue our series entitled 'Major Minors'. We are taking a deep dive into 4 of the minor prophets from the Old Testament scriptures. They are full of redemptive themes that should convict us, equip us, challenge us, and encourage us. The purpose of this series is our desire to gain a new appreciation for the “minor” prophets but also see that God has important things to say to us in 2023 through these men, affirming the relevance of every part of the Bible. We want to have a greater understanding of these four minor prophets and what God wants to teach us through them. Today we are looking at: Hosea The story of the nation of Israel had been one ongoing drama of God's faithfulness to a notoriously un-faithful people. In the 8th century BC, God called the Prophet Hosea to enact this very unfaithfulness through a rather strange marriage. Hosea 1:2 When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” What began as a covenant relationship, a marriage union between God and his people, has become an adulterous affair on the part of Israel. The book of Hosea itself records the many ways God’s people have forsaken their commitment to the Lord. It only makes sense that God would walk away, completely justified in divorcing his people for good. But he doesn’t. The Book of Hosea demonstrates for us the radical faithfulness of God. He doesn’t just forgive His adulterous people, He pursues them. Hosea teaches us- You cant out-sin the mercy of God. There is no such thing as too far from God Hosea was a prophet in the northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of king Jeroboam II in about the 8th century BC Israel was prospering financially, they had been victorious in battle, they were in a time of peace and political stability, but that’s about where the good news ends- this prosperity only served to disguise the moral corruption that marked the people of God. - They don’t think twice about worshipping other gods, even crediting them with their national success. - It’s the normal thing to engage in the parties and indulgences of other pagan cults. - They were making pacts and alliances with foreign nations rather than trusting God to provide. - Basically, God’s people were cheating on him. The bulk of the text in Hosea is the evidence of God’s charge of unfaithfulness. This unfaithfulness had been going on for years, generations even, and God says “enough”. And that leads us to our teaching text today in Chapter 11. Hosea begins with imagery of the unfaithful wife, but as we enter chapter 11 he takes up the story of a wayward or prodigal son. The imagery is different, but the story is the same. Hosea 11:1-4 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. God begins to tell the story of Israel’s past. How he protected them, provided for them, and taught them how to be his people. But the more God moved, the more they turned away from him. They worshipped other god’s, attributing the blessing and provision to them. They gave themselves to other nations for political gain. God says “You don’t realize, it was ME. It was ME all along who loved you and cared for you and gave you those things. Hosea 11:5-7 “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. Within a few years of this warning the Assyrian empire, a former political alliance of Israel, would destroy their nation, carrying them away from their homeland into captivity. God’s chosen people received the consequence of their actions. Case closed right? They are finally getting what they deserve, they shoulda seen it coming. That’s justice, finally. I mean, who could blame God in up to this point? Generations, hundreds of years of repeat offenses with no real change- They had done too much, gone too far, and stayed too long. It’s seems as if it's over for this prodigal son of a nation. But the story doesnt end there. The story of Hosea challenges us to see that there is no sin beyond the grace of God. We cannot sin so bad, run so far, that God's grace can not bring us back into right relationship with him. Hosea 11:8 “How can I gi

Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg  Minor Prophets - Jonah Jonah was a prophet, but he really never got it... Today we begin our new series entitled 'Major Minors'. We are taking a deep dive into 4 of the minor prophets from the Old Testament scriptures. They are full of redemptive themes that should convict us, equip us, challenge us, and encourage us. The purpose of this series is our desire to gain a new appreciation for the “minor” prophets but also see that God has important things to say to us in 2023 through these men, affirming the relevance of every part of the Bible. We want to have a greater understanding of these four minor prophets and what God wants to teach us through them. Today we are looking at: Jonah Jonah is a story - upside down The prophet of God runs from God Evil kings fall on their knees and repent Swarthy sailors are wise and merciful Animals are made to take a posture of repentance A man survives three days in the belly of a great fish The fish spits him up in exactly the right place Warren Wiersbe “The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart…” Jonah 1:1-3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Jonah 3:1-5 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Repentance begins with BELIEVING God Jonah 3:6-9 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 4:1-4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” Oswald Chambers “Beware of any belief that makes you self–indulgent or self–gratifying; that belief came from the pit of hell itself, regardless of how beautiful it may sound. Your theology must work itself out, exhibiting itself in your most common everyday relationships.” We often judge others by their worst actions and justify ourselves by our best intentions. Jonah 4:10-11 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” What does Jesus say about our enemies? Luke 6:27-28, 31 Luke 6:35-36 Romans 5:8-10 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! GOD RESPONDS TO REPENTANCE Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your par

Minor Prophets - Jonah Jonah was a prophet, but he really never got it... Today we begin our new series entitled 'Major Minors'. We are taking a deep dive into 4 of the minor prophets from the Old Testament scriptures. They are full of redemptive themes that should convict us, equip us, challenge us, and encourage us. The purpose of this series is our desire to gain a new appreciation for the “minor” prophets but also see that God has important things to say to us in 2023 through these men, affirming the relevance of every part of the Bible. We want to have a greater understanding of these four minor prophets and what God wants to teach us through them. Today we are looking at: Jonah Jonah is a story - upside down Jonah 1:1-3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Jonah 3:1-5 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Jonah 3:6-9 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 4:1-4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” Jonah 4:10-11 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others! https://www.cotnaz.org/giving/

Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Building Blocks - Giving Hold all that you have loosely, give all that you have freely. Today we conclude our series entitled 'Building Blocks'. We are answering the question, 'what are the foundations of our faith?' Our first four weeks focused on Prayer, Sabbath, Worship & Community. Today we focus on Giving. Acts 2:44-47 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Generosity is at the very foundation of the New Testament Church. But why? The DNA of God's Spirit at work was a willingness to give generously, sacrificially, obediently. Why? Why does the presence of the Spirit of God immediately turn their hearts toward generosity? Because as people, with a nature bent towards self, we are inherently selfish. We almost always think of me first. As the Spirit of God truly moves in the hearts of believers, not just in the early church, but today, we break free from selfishness and from the chains of being enslaved to money and to stuff. And one way we celebrate that freedom is by giving, by having a freedom to not hold so tightly to our stuff. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. -Our attitudes as we give matters. Having a reluctant attitude or giving out of duty is not the kind of giving God desires. He desires a cheerful giver. -God is able to bless you, but not for your gain, so you can get what you want. But He is able to bless you so you will abound in giving to others. -From God's perspective, wealth is not a reward. It's not intended to be accumulated and hoarded and used to gain more. Anything we have been given comes with the expectation that we give. When we focus on giving, we have all kinds of questions: -How much do I have to give? -How much is enough? -Who should I give to? How often? -Do I have to give money? Can I just give my time? But for the early church, the focus isn't on giving as a requirement or even as an expectation, rather the focus is generosity. " You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11 The real question today isn’t, “Does God want my stuff?” The real question is: “Does God have my heart?” Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. -The Pharisees and teachers of the law were experts at tithing. But Jesus knows that generosity begins in the heart. -The New Testament church wasn't just about giving a tithe, it was about giving all. Hold all that you have loosely, give all that you have freely. Updates on the new Waynesboro campus God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey! Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Building Blocks Part 5 Giving Welcome to our teaching series “Building Blocks”. Throughout this series we have been addressing the foundational practices of the Christian life. Practices that cultivate the life of Christ within us, as well as anchoring us firmly in the Faith. We have taken this journey intentionally, knowing these practices will change us if we engage them in our walk with the Lord. Our final topic in the series is no different-It’s every bit as powerful and transformative. We conclude our Building Blocks series by looking at the foundational practice of GIVING. And, as you’ll see, we’re not just talking about giving our money. When we give, we are practicing obedience and expressing a true understanding of our relationship with God as the provider of all things. Our teaching text today is written to the Church in Corinth before Paul arrives there. A few verses before, Paul has talked about why he is collecting money, he anticipates their gift and as we come to our text today- he is encouraging their generosity. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. When it comes to giving and being generous- The more you plant, the more you will harvest. Before we get carried away with that idea- that’s not WHY we give, it’s what God DOES when we do. Paul continues his teaching on generosity by making sure the church knows- generosity is for everyone. The generosity that Paul is encouraging is not a compulsive response to his preaching or to his personal mission. Generosity, our giving, is to be a heart level decision to see Christ as Lord over our life- including our wallet. Giving is about obedience to the move of God in your heart, its the response of a transformed heart. As Paul is encouraging generosity in the church, he doesn’t miss the opportunity to point out that the way in which we give matters to God Give from the heart, give willingly, and give with gladness. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. What’s Paul’s final encouragement on giving? God moves when you give. When we give we are trusting God, we are obeying him and in that action of giving, God is moving. Transforming our hearts in his likeness AND he blesses us abundantly that in all things we will have what we need. Paul has helped us to see that giving is for everyone, it should come from the heart with gladness, and that God moves when we give. Armed with that truth, we are ready to take this teaching into our every day lives. So, what do some of those action steps look like? Begin by Giving Thanks Here’s the truth: In the economy of God, Giving is always GIVING BACK. None of it really belongs to me anyway. James 1:16-17 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. What God is asking us to give- he gave us in the first place. If our heart posture says that what we have is ours, we worked hard for it, it was my skill and knowledge that did it, I deserve it- we will never truly experience giving as God desires. When we come to recognize that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift- Only then is generosity is possible. Give your treasure If you want to step into generous living- why not take the Lord at his word and begin giving 10% to the local church-make that a priority in the first line of your monthly expenses. In the book of Malachi- God actually invites his people to test him on this We have already seen that when you give God moves in Malachi he says “Try me on this one” Finally, give it all The call to giving doesn’t stop with our money. God’s call to generosity extends to our time, our talents, and our relational touch. What would it look like for you to be generous with your time, talents, or touch? Give thanks, give your treasure, give the rest. WIll you live into the blessing of giving? When you give, God moves. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Vision Sunday "Going beyond our walls is a building block for us. But it's not something we do individually, it's something that's done together." We've entitled today 'Vision Sunday' because across all our campuses, we are celebrating how God has been faithful, and together we are embarking on a new journey. John 17:15-18 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. -Jesus prays 'NOT that you take them out of the world'. -As Jesus prays for his disciples, those that he loves so dearly, He could have prayed that they be removed from this world, but He didn’t. -Jesus' followers are 'not of the world' (verse 15) but they ARE 'sent into the world' (verse 18). -Followers of Jesus are sent on a mission 'into the world.' Our mission: Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ. Today we are excited and expectant, as we officially begin the journey of planting a brand-new Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Why this? -We are seen fruit from multi-campus ministry. It's not always easy. It requires faith. But it's been fruitful! -One of the best ways to reach unchurched people is planting new churches. New churches reach new people, or in our case, new campuses. Why now? -God is working in Waynesboro through the faithfulness and ministry of a life group. Through that group, there has been more and more growth over the past 12 months. -God is providing dynamic and faithful leadership through Walter and Maritza Cruz. -Our church is experiencing growth and momentum. PRAY -Commit to a specific time to pray every day for the next 40 days. Pray for our church and for God to provide. Pray for those who will be impacted in the Waynesboro community and beyond. GIVE -Consider giving financially to support this important new work. All gifts marked 'Waynesboro' will go directly to help us meet our goal. God is already providing! You can give online at cotnaz.org/giving or in person. GO -Examine your heart and consider what part you might play in the launch of this new campus. Some will be called to support in the work prior to launch, while others may feel called to be a part of this new campus. Let us know how you want to get involved at 540-434-1092 or [email protected]. John 17:20-21 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Updates on the new Waynesboro campus The best place to go for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Church of the Nazarene - East Rock Building Blocks Part 4 Community Welcome to our teaching series “Building Blocks”. Building Blocks is focusing on the essential features, the basics, of the Christian life. And it’s not intended just for new believers in our midst, but as an important refresher for even those of you who are veterans of the faith. Today we continue looking at the foundational practice of community. The currents of the world have always been pulling us apart, but now with the advent of social media and on the heels of the pandemic, those forces are amplified. Isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety are all on the rise at historic rates because of the powerful pull into isolation. Here is the truth for us today: We were created for community. Introvert, extrovert, doesn’t really matter. You were created for life together. When we find ourselves swept away into isolation and individualism, we find ourselves far from the heart of God. Our Lord had no vision for believers in isolation. He called for us to be IN COMMUNITY with each other while at the same time impacting the COMMUNITY in which we find ourselves. So, we are community impacting the community. John 17:20-21 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Who is Jesus praying for? YOU and for me, and for generations before us. He is praying for the people who will believe through the message of the first disciples. What’s Jesus prayer for you and for me? That we would be one. He asks the father to move mightily, exert his power and influence in our lives that we would be united together- reflecting Jesus connection with the father. We cannot go through the scriptures and find that community or togetherness is optional. It’s the very heart of the Lord for his people. Independence and  isolation, just won’t ever fit. As the church, we don’t have community because we are all from the same place, or we all like the same things. Our connectedness, our unity is a spiritual reality that comes through Christ. So, if you are in Christ, you are in community. John 17:21-23 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Just a few verses before this, Jesus prayed that his disciples would not be taken out of the world, but that they would be sent into the world- He sent them on mission Here, Jesus prays that our community, our unity, would be a witness to the world of his great love. Think about that, the way that we come together, in unity, living out this mission is how the world will see that Jesus Christ is real and alive and powerful! We are a community together in Christ, and we have a mission to bring hope to our world. We are a community impacting our community. Giving at COTN If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: [email protected] Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Building Blocks - Part 3 Worship- Make worship your lifestyle and you will have life We've discussed the significance of prayer and the sanctity of the Sabbath, and today we embark on a new journey, adding another crucial block to our spiritual foundation-worship. Imagine these building blocks as the very foundation of our spiritual house. John 4:21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. John 4:22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. John 4:23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. John 4:24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The woman is concerned about the "where" But Jesus was much more concerned about the "how!" What is critical is the the "how" Worship in Spirit emphasizes a heart connection with God! - God wants to meet with you Jesus emphasizes the importance of deep, sincere, and authentic connection with God that goes beyond outward appearances and religious rituals. It's about engaging the heart and spirit win a genuine encounter with the divine. The core of your worship isn't what occurs on stage, but what occurs in your heart. "Worship will never get more powerful the more things you add to it, because its power has never flowed from its form. Its power has always flowed from His presence." - Jeremy Riddle, The Reset (Returning to the Heart of Worship and a life o undivided devotion.) Jesus also informs the woman that we are to worship in Truth. Truth is inseparable from God -Without knowing God, we can't understand how or why we worship. - The knowledge of who God is distinguishes true worship. God's truth sets apart believers for Him. Colossians 3:16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Luke 7:36-50 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Expectations of a Host in Jesus's Middle Eastern World: 1. A kiss of welcome 2. Washing the guests' feet with water 3. Olive oil for the guests hands (soap) 4. Esteemed guests would be anointed with special oil (an extra dose of hospitality) [Image] Table: Head toward the wall, leaning on the left, grabbing food with your right, feet toward the wall, Outcasts and sinners sitting against the wall to be fed after the meal was served. https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1697292376734.jpg 1.Worship is Intentional - The woman came prepared to honor and worship Jesus. 2. Worship is worthy of our best, not our leftovers. - The woman gave Jesus her best. -The perfume in the alabaster jar is understood to be equivalent to a year's worth of income. - A woman's hair was her glory.

Church of the Nazarene - East Rock Building Blocks Part 3 Worship Welcome to our teaching series “Building Blocks”. Building Blocks is focusing on the essential features, the basics, of the Christian life. And it’s not intended just for new believers in our midst, but as an important refresher for even those of you who are veterans of the faith. Today we continue looking at the foundational practice of Worship. Worship, running parallel with prayer, is a key element of our ongoing relationship with God. When many of us hear worship, I think all too often our minds zero in to something that only happens between 9:00 and 9:30 for first service (or 10:30 to 11:00 for second) on Sunday morning. And to be sure, that can be part of worship in our lives. But to think of it only in those terms isn’t necessarily biblical. If we only think about worship as something that happens on Sundays at church, we are missing a foundational building block in our Christian life. John 4:19-26 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” Jesus says “True worshippers- those who are getting it right- will worship in spirit and in truth” For the woman at the well, this mean that worship wasn’t limited to location anymore. It wasn’t the subject of debate and fighting- all that was over- something new was right before her. For us today- it means that worship is not only something we do in this building on Sundays- Worship is an expression of hour heart to God for who he is and what he has done. Anywhere, anytime. So true worship is in spirit and truth- that’s what it is, what does it look like? The word worship in our teaching text here means to kiss the hand as a token of reverence; to fall on one’s face before another in reverence and submission. That’s the essence of worship, to express, communicate, show reverence, respect, or submission to another. In this case and in our case it is worship of the Lord. Pastor and Author Louie Giglio gives a good working definition of worship. He says: Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live. Worship- the God oriented expression of our hearts of who God is. Friends, that opens the doors really wide when we start to think about what worship can look like. You can express your love, your gratitude, your praise from your heart anywhere, anytime. There is something about worship that you just have to dive into- You just have to try it on. Here are a few take away’s as you begin the journey in worship. First, The bible is absolutely full of examples of worship. That’s part of worship in truth right? God’s word. Start there. Abraham, Moses, King David, Mary. In a few weeks our nativity scenes in the yard will tell about 3 men who came to worship Jesus. Dive into God’s word to grow your perspective on worship. Second take away about worship: we can do it wrong. Did you notice Jesus called out the Samaritans for this? He said “You all worship what you do not know” The Samaritans could get it wrong, and we can too. I think one way we can get worship wrong is by thinking that we have done it by simply being in the room when others were worshipping. We must engage our own hearts. Another way we can get worship wrong, is by worshping the wrong things. Things like money, material possessions, sports, careers. We can even worship ourselves. God’s first command is that we have no other God’s but him- we don’t want to get worship wrong by worshipping the wrong things. We can get it wrong but the good news is, we can do better! I hope you hear that good news today- you can learn to worship. You can improve in worshipping. We can practice worship, we can grow and get better at it. The beautiful thing is- God is pleased by our practice! Finally, worship can be a lifestyle We have learned how worship is an expression of the heart to God for who he is and what he has done. What if we allowed our every day lives to be part of that expression? Going to work, wrangling the kids, working the garden- what if our lives were one ongoing expression of the spirit life within us? That’s worship as a lifestyle Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, b