Church of the Nazarene

‭Scripture Mark 10‬‬:‭32‬-‭45 32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 22:34-38  34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.  In the Old Testament the love relationship between God and Israel is defined by the Hebrew word hesed, which is translated “steadfast love” or “faithful love.”   It is love in the context of a covenant that you have made with another person, and its basic meaning is being true to that covenant. One description of hesed could be “loyal love.”  Today we continue with part two that is all about answering the question  Is Family First?  Are your loves in their proper order?  According to the Ten Commandments, which almost everyone has at least heard of, we are called to honor our parents.  BUT we are to worship only the Lord God.  Pastor Kyle describes what I just referenced about the 10 commandments as a “top button” truth…let me explain  In a hurry - wrong slot - don’t recognize until at the bottom and then realize everything out of line.  He says, “If you get the top button right, then everything else tends to fall into place. If you get it wrong, then everything else is going to be out of alignment…God has ordered our lives in such a way that devotion to him is the top button. If that relationship is in proper order, then you’re going to find that every other relationship, whether family or friend, is going to fall into place in a far more satisfying way. But if you’re wrong on him, you’ll get everything else wrong too.”  What if we were ask to prove that our love and commitment to God is greater than anything or anyone else?  Genesis 22:1-12 - Abraham Tested   Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love —Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”   3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.   5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship  and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.  Luke 9:57-62 - Christ above ALL  57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”   Luke 14:25-27 – Total Commitment to Christ  25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate (Gr. miseō – detest, reject. See Mt 5:43 and Mt 6:24, etc.) father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  Our Lord was not suggesting that believers ignore or abandon their families in order to serve God, but only that they put God’s will above everything else in life.   Our love for God should be so great that our love for family would seem like hatred in comparison.   Certainly it is God’s will that we care for our families and provide for them, but we must not permit even our dearest loved ones to

 WHAT                      77 TIMES NT BAPTISM COMES FROM THE WORD BAPTIZO DIP/DUNK-IMMERSE/DROWN-BLEACHING A RE-DYEING OF A FABRIC WE DO BAPTIZE IN OTHER WAYS ANCIENT DOCUMENT CALLED DIDACHE’ WHICH ALLOWED FOR VARIOUS REASONS DIFF METHODS PHYSICAL OUTWARD EXPRESSION- OF AN INWARD SPIRITUAL WORK SOMETHING INSIDE OH NOT SOMETHING SOMEONE MOVES IN AND YOU HAVE TO OUTWARDLY GIVE TESTIMONY TO THAT. ONE OF 2 SACRAMENTS THE COTN PARTICPATES IN COMMUNION-BAPTISM (WHY- JESUS PARTICIPATED)  PICTURE OF GIRL CELEBRATING NOTICE I USED THE WORD PARTICIPATE SCRIPTURE ALMOST NO UNBAPTIZED CHRISTIANS WHY  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 3:13-14   “THEN JESUS CAME FROM GALILEE TO THE JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN. BUT JOHN TRIES TO DETER HIM, SAYING, “I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED BY YOU, AND DO YOU COME TO ME?” MATTHEW 3:15   15. “JESUS REPLIED, “LET IT BE SO NOW; IT IS PROPER FOR US TO DO THIS TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS.” THEN JOHN CONSENTED.” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 3:16   16. “AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, HE WENT UP OUT OF THE WATER. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING ON HIM.” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 3:17   17. “AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, “THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED.”    1. WE FOLLOW JESUS EXAMPLE    2. WE UNITE WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST    3. WE OBEY THE COMMAND OF JESUS HE DOESN’T SUGGEST IT- SAY PONDER IT- MAYBE GREAT COMMISION- GO MAKE DISCIPLES-BAPTIZE THEM WHO- ANY WHO ARE SAVED                          BIBLE KNOWS ALMOST NO EXAMPLES OF UNBAPTZED BELIEVERS (THIEF ON THE CROSS?) ALMOST LIKE AN OXYMORON  ELEPHANT- ROPE BABY ELEPHANT- ROPE ADULT ELEPHANT- SAME ROPE THEY BELIEVE THAY ARE STILL IN BONDAGE PAUL SAYS “DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF JEWS AND GENTILES SCRIPTURE ROMANS 6:1 “WELL THEN SHOULD WE KEEP ON SINNING SO THAT GOD CAN SHOW US MORE AND MORE OF HIS WONDERFUL GRACE? IF MORE SIN RESULTS IN MORE GRACE- KEEP SINNING SCRIPTURE ROMANS 6:2 OF COURSE NOT! SINCE WE HAVE DIED TO SIN, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN IT? “BY NO MEANS” LET IT NEVER COME TO PASS GRACE IS A LIFELINE NOT A LOOPHOLE. SAVED GRACE THROUGH FAITH PAUL SAYS “ITS NOT JUST A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD-  SCRIPTURE ROMANS 6:3.                               OR HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT WHEN WE WERE JOINED WITH CHRIST JESUS IN BAPTISM, WE JOINED HIM IN HIS DEATH. (THINK ABOUT YOUR BAPTISM) SCRIPTURE ROMANS 6:4 FOR WE DIED AND WERE BURIED WITH CHRIST BY BAPTISM. AND JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORIOUS POWER OF THE FATHER, NOW WE ALSO MAY LIVE NEW LIVES. WHEN – WHEN YOU ARE SAVED MANY OF US ARE COMFORTABLE WITH FORGIVENESS WE HESITATE TO EMBRACE TRANSFORMATION OUR PREVIOUS CONDITION CANNOT HOLD ME ANYMORE MANY OF US AREN’T LIVING AS FREE AS WE ACTUALLY ARE WE ATTEND CHURCH-SMALL GROUP-BIBLE STUDY- STILL LIVE WITH A ROPE AROUND OUR FOOT WE LIKE JESUS- JUST DON’T WANT TO BECOME LIKE HIM JESUS DIDN’T COME TO BRING PARTIAL HEALING HE CAME TO SET US COMPLETELY FREE LANGAUGE HERE IS EXECUTION LANGUAGE PICTURE OF BAPTISM                                   COMMUNITY CELEBRATES TOGETHER POPCORN -BAG LET’S CELEBRATE AS A COMMUNITY WHO ARE SAYING- IM DONE WITH THAT CAPTIVITY WE WERE ALL SINNERS IN NEED OF GRACE

https://www.bible.com/events/49559466 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Relationships Righted Part 1  It's not about you...  Today we are starting a new teaching series called Relationships Righted. Over the next few weeks we will seek to apply biblical relationship building skills to a variety of our everyday relationships.  In the Gospel of Matthew, a religious expert approached Jesus and wanted to know what the most important commandment was, what’s the number one thing we should do.  Jesus Answers in Matthew 22:37 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Jesus answers with two relationships  Love God with your all, and love your neighbor. The most important things according to Jesus, are found in relationship.  Friends, our relationship report card matters, because your relationships matter to the Lord. That’s why we are talking about Relationships Righted.  Stephen Kendrick says “Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves.”  ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭19‬-‭24‬‬  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.  Jesus has been talking about his death. He gives them communion, something so significant, we are still celebrating it today, 2000 years later.  They find out that one of their own is a betrayer, a snake in the grass.  And after this, the disciples get into an argument about who was top dog. At the table of the last supper, they are arguing about who was going to be the greatest.  The reality for most of us is that selfishness, or about me thinking, can easily creep into our relationships.  ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬-‭5‬‬  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  As much as I might imagine Jesus in the facepalm position, I believe this is how he responded to the disciples argument about who was going to be the greatest.  Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, hours before his own death, listening to his best friends argue about who was going to have the best position in his kingdom- Rather than flipping the table and yelling at them, puts on the uniform of a house servant, and washes their feet.  Jesus shows them that relationships righted are based in humility, selflessness, and serving.  ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬‬  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭8‬‬  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!  How do we do relationships right? Engage them with the same mindset as Christ.  Jesus said: As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

Today's message is a conversation about Nehemiah and the story in the Bible about him rebuilding the wall and why this series was chosen to start the year. “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them. The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes. Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall. Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest. Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it. The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region. Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house; and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house. Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel. Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters. Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner; and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.” ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬

Winter Retreat: Locals  “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭  “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”  ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭30‬ ‭  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭  ““You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  ‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭67‬-‭68‬ 

https://www.bible.com/events/49551892 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 3  Responding to resistance.  Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.”  To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again.  As we continue in Nehemiah, we are looking at the middle of the rebuilding story to see the importance of a prayerful and practical response to resistance.  ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬‬  When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”  Whenever you are following the Lord’s plan of rebuilding for your life, you will face resistance.  The first resistance we see here in the middle of Nehemiah’s rebuilding story comes from two enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah. They show up and are harassing the people of God, calling his plans and their abilities into question.  ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭6‬‬  Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.  Nehemiah made the resistance a matter of prayer and he kept on working. He did not allow resistance from enemies to distract him from the work God had called them to do.  In verses 7-8 Sanballat and Tobiah round up some friends to come and stir up trouble, they were planning an attack against Jerusalem. Sandballat and Tobiah from the north, the Arabs from the South, The Ammonites from the east, and Ashdod from the West. Literally resistance was coming from all sides.  ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭12‬‬  But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”  Here in verse 10 we see that resistance to God’s rebuilding can come from things in the past.  The people working on the wall are having to work through the rubble from the old walls that had been torn down years ago.  It also comes from friends and neighbors as they repeat the threats they heard about from the enemy. Rather than being encouragers, they join voices with the enemy, adding their worry to the work.  ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14‬‬  Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”  Nehemiah specifically sends people to work on the weak places, calling them to serve together with their families.  He reminds them that the Lord is great and awesome- he will fight for them. And he calls on the people to remember who they are fighting for.  Whenever you are in a rebuilding season with the Lord, it’s never only about you. You are working for your family and your friends too. Future generations will be impacted by your rebuilding.  ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭16‬‬  So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.  A wall 8’ wide, telephone pole tall, just over 2 miles long, rebuilt in just 52 days. This was nothing short of a miracle.  From the middle to the end, with opposition from all sides, the people of God made it, and you can too.  The big question for us today is s

TEEN WINTER RETREAT NEXT SUNDAY 9AM- 300 TEENS ACROSS STATE •             THEY WILL WORSHIP THEN LEAVE AFTER 9 •             IF YOU ARRIVE AT 10:30 SERVICE-LOTS OF CARS  BAPTISM SERVICE                 •             SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH- ONE SERVICE •             10AM- CELEBRATION •             EVERYONE TOGETHER REBULDING                                       •             SECOND WEEK SERIES ON NEHEMIAH •             LAST WEEK INTRODUCTION ON WHO HE WAS TIMELINE •             FAR LEFT CREATION- THEN THE FALL •             GARDEN – NO PAIN/SORROW/TEARS/WEEDS •             FAR RIGHT- NOW •             MOSES- 1000 YEARS AFTER CREATION •             DAVID- 400 YEARS BEFORE JESUS •             JESUS 2000 YEARS AGO •             NEHEMIAH- REGULAR NORMAL MAN •             LAST NARRATIVE IN SCRIPTURE BEFORE 400 YEARS •             EXILE – JEWS ARE TAKE CAPTIVE BY NEBACHENAZER- DISPLACED MANY •             DESTROYED JERUSALEM-CITY WALLS RUIN 140 YRS •             NEHEMIAH IS BORN IN CAPTIVITY-445 BC •             2.5 MILLION JEWS •             PERSIAN EMPIRE BABYLONIAN (NEBACHANZER) •             KING CYRUS SAYS LET JEWS RETURN JERUSALEM •             WORKING FOR THE NEW KING-ARTEXERSES •             CUPBEARER •             NEHEMIAH IS 1000 MILES FROM JERUSALEM •             HE ASKS HIS BROTHER HOW THINGS ARE? •             NEHEMIAH IS BROKEN-WEEPS/PRAYS •             NOT A CRYBABY JESUS WEPT- DAVID WEPT-PETER •             CHAP 13- BEATS MEN UP/PULLS OUT THEIR HAIR •             ASKS ARTEXES- CAN I GO HELP MY PEOPLE •             WILL YOU FUND MY TRIP-LETTERS SAFE PASSAGE? NEHEMIAH IS PRAYERFUL SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:6                                    6. “THEN THE KING, WITH THE QUEEN SITTING BESIDE HIM, ASKED ME, “HOW LONG WILL OUR JOURNEY TAKE, AND WHEN WILL YOU GET BACK?” IT PLEASED THE KING TO SEND ME; SO I SET A TIME.”  SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:9    9. “SO I WENT TO THE GOVERNORS OF TRANS-EUPHRATES AND GAVE THEM THE KINGS LETTERS. THE KING HAD ALSO SENT ARMY OFFICERS AND CAVALRY WITH ME. SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:10   10. WHEN SANBALLAT THE HORONITE AND TOBIAH THE AMMONITE OFFICIAL HEARD ABOUT THIS, THEY WERE VERY MUCH DISTURBED THAT SOMEONE HAD COME TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE ISRAELITES.”  SANBALLET TOBIAH GESHAM    THESE THREE MEN REPRESENT OUTSIDE OPPOSITION OPPOSITION •             EXTERNAL OPPOSITION- AKA “HATERS” •             NEHEMIAH LEARNS NOBLES INSIDE- ALIGNED DOESN’T REPRIMAND THEM FOR WHAT HAPPENED SCRIPTURE NEHMIAH 2:17                       

https://www.bible.com/events/49548305 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 2 Lament, Repent, and Rebuilding Today are continuing our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.” To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again. Over the next few weeks we will dive deeper into the story of Nehemiah to gain insight and encouragement for our own rebuilding story. When Nehemiah hears that things have fallen apart, he gets busy right away, but it’s not what you migh think. Rather than bricks and mortar, Nehemiah begins the work of rebuilding by slowing down and spending time with the Lord before he ever lifts a brick. He starts rebuilding with prayer, confession, and lament. Nehemiah 1:1-3 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” The people are in great trouble and disgrace. They are ashamed of how it’s going, they are being harassed and heckled by their neighbors. The walls around the city of Jerusalem are still broken down and the wooden gates have been burned. And this news is more than a deadline not being met, or a construction project failing. This news strikes deep in the heart of Nehemiah. Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. When it says he wept- It’s expressive of regret, disappointment, or bitterness. It’s ugly crying, ugly emotions, all expressed in the presence of the Lord. It says he mourned- That is to show physical and emotional sorrow or regret. It has the idea of lament which is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow. He didn’t try to bottle it up inside, didn’t pretend he was tough and fine. He was honest with himself and the Lord about how he felt. He fasted- He intentionally skipped eating so he could focus on prayer. This critical work of rebuilding went on for 4 months. Nehemiah 1:5-7 Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. As Nehemiah begins to put more articulate words to his mourning and grieving, he begins with worship. He moves from worship to confession and repentance. Biblical confession is openly acknowledging the truth, admitting our sin and wrong, and ultimately seeing it through God’s perspective. It’s to agree with Him. Nehemiah 1:8-11 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king. As Nehemiah confesses sin, he turns and appeals to the nature and character of God as the great rebuilder of his people. He is calling back on the promises that he made to Moses, generations ago. Nehemiah understands that God is a rebuilding God, and he is faithful. So Nehemiah’s prayers arent focused on his plans and what he wants- he is praying God’s promises. He has surrendered his desires and his plans for rebuilding to the Lord. During this phase of rebuilding, Nehemiah did the important work of aligning his heart with the Lord. He challenges us to consider our response when things have fallen apart. Will we rush into the rebuilding with our tools in hand, or will we turn to the the Lord for his rebuilding within us first? This is the legacy of Nehemiah... Lament, Repent, Rebuild.

TOP 2026 RESOLUTIONS ARE: · Read for enjoyment, not productivity · LIMIT SCREEN TIME · SLEEP BEFORE YOUR EXHAUSTED · SERVE CONSISTENTLY · INCREASE CLOSENESS TO JESUS · READ THROUGH BIBLE IN YEAR-EXERCISE MORE · DRINK MORE WATER · PRACTICE RADICAL HOSPITALITY · FORGIVE/RECONCILE WITH 1 PERSON MONTHLY · CULTIVATE ONE FRUIT OF THE SPIRT 2 CHRONICLES 36 15 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:1 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE WORD OF THE LORD SPOKEN BY JEREMIAH.  SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:1 1. THE LORD MOVED THE HEART OF CYRUS THE KING OF PERSIA TO MAKE A PROCLOMATION THROUGHOUT HIS REALM AND ALSO TO PUT IN WRITING. SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:2 2. “THIS IS WHAT CYRUS KING OF PERSIA SAYS: “THE LORD, THE GOD OF HEAVEN, HAS GIVEN ME ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH AND HE HAS APPOINTED ME TO BUILD A TEMPLE FOR HIM AT JERUSALEM IN JUDAH. (God behind the rebuilding of the Temple) SCRIPTURE EZRA 1:3 3. ANY OF HIS PEOPLE AMONG YOU MAY GO UP TO JERUSALEM IN JUDAH AND BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, THE GOD WHO IS IN JERUSALEM, AND MAY THEIR GOD BE WITH THEM. TIMELINE TO SHOW NEHEMIAH · CREATION- FALL · ABRAHAM · NOW · JESUS · MOSES-1000 YEARS AFTER-400 YEARS BEFORE JESUS TIMELINE CONTINUED · DAVID- MAYBE ISRAELS GREATEST KING · EXILE- 70 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY (2 % RETURN)  TIMELINE NEHEMIAH- 140 YEARS AFTER DESTRUCTON TEMPLE DESTROYED- BUILT-SOLOMON-DAVID PLAN. CHURCH BEGINS- ACTS REFORMATION – LUTHER 1517 1. In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:3 4. ‘THEY SAID TO ME, “THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE EXILE AND ARE BACK IN THE PROVINCE ARE IN GREAT TROUBLE AND DISGRACE. THE WALL OF JERUSALEM IS BROKEN DOWN, AND ITS GATES HAVE BEEN BURNED WITH FIRE.” SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:4 5. WHEN I HEARD THESE THINGS, I SAT DOWN AND WEPT. FOR SOME DAYS I MOURNED AND FASTED AND PRAYED BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN. · NEHEMIAH GETS THE NEWS PRAYS FOR 4 MONTHS WHAT HAVE YOU PRAYED FOR – FOR 4 MONTHS? SOME HAVE PRAYED LONGER THAN THAT FOR … NEHEMIAH: MEANS GOD HAS COMFORTED-40/50 YRS OLD HE IS NOT A KING- HES NOT A PRIEST- HE’S CUPBEARER NOT A CONTRACTOR REGULAR MAN-HEART RESPONDS PICTURE OF PHILADELPHIA · SOME OF YOU HAVE LIVED IN A PLACE YOU LOVE · SOME OF YOU ARE IN SOME WAY TIED TO A PLACE · SOME YOU LOVE IT HERE- YOU WOULD NEVER · NEHEMIAH IS WORN OUT OVER JERUSALEM · MANY TIMES-MAKES NO SENSE- I WANNA GO BACK · NEHEMIAH IS HOMESICK FOR JERUSALEM · HES NEVER BEEN THERE  SCRIPTURE PSALM 137:5 6. “IF I FORGET YOU O JERUSALEM, LET MY RIGHT HAND FORGET HOW TO PLAY THE HARP  SCRIPTURE PSALM 137:6 7. MAY MY TONGUE STICK TO THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH IF I FAIL TO REMEMBER YOU, IF I DON’T MAKE JERUSALEM MY GREATEST JOY.  PICTURE TWIN TOWERS · RUINS- A SECTION OF CITY IS IN RUBBLE · REPAIR  PICTURE ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER · REPAIRED- REBUILT- BROUGHT HOPE · BECAME A PLACE OF HEALING  SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:5 5. THEN I SAID-LORD, GOD OF HEAVEN, THE GREAT AND AWESOME GOD, WHO KEEPS THE COVENANT OF LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. (NOTICE HOW HE PRAYS)  SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:6 6. LET YOUR EAR BE ATTENTIVE AND YOUR EYES OPEN TO HEAR THE PRAYER YOUR SERVANT IS PRAYING.  SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:6 6. BEFORE YOU DAY AND NIGHT FOR YOUR SERVANTS, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. I CONFESS THE SINS WE ISRAELITES INCLUDING MYSELF AND MY FATHERS FAMLY HAVE COMMITTED AGAINST YOU.  SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 1:7 8. WE HAVE ACTED WICKED TOWARD YOU. WE HAVE NOT OBEYED THE COMMANDS, DECREES AND LAWS YOU GAVE YOUR SERVANT MOSES. · HE INCLUDES HIMSELF IN PRAYER OF CONFESSION “DISCIPLES PRAYER- FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES” IF THE THING YOU ARE FEELING COMPELLED TO REPAIR OR REBUILD CAN BE DONE WITHOUT PRAYER- PAUSE  MAP OF RETURN TO ZION SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:2 2. “SO THE KING ASKED ME, “WHY DOES YOUR FACE LOOK SO BAD WHEN YOU ARE NOT ILL? THIS CAN BE NOTHING BUT SADNESS OF HEART.” I WAS VERY MUCH AFRAID · PART OF THE ROLE WAS BE AN ENCOURAGER · NEVER HAVE FROWN/DOWNCAST PRESENCE KING SCRIPTURE NEHEMIAH 2:3 3. BUT I SAID TO THE KING, “MAY THE KING LIVE FOREVER! WHY SHOULD MY FACE NOT LOOK SAD WHEN THE CITY WHERE MY ANCE

Genesis 25:29-34  “Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.”  ‭‭  Who in their right mind would trade their birth right for a bowl of stew?  Your appetite’s always scream now never later.  Our appetite’s say to trade the ultimate good for the immediate gratification of the moment.  It’s time to obey God, not your appetites.  Delayed obedience usually forfeits God ‘s best. James 1:13-16  “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.” 

Be Still and Know:  A Call to Obedience in the Chaos I wonder…Does anyone else feel like they are running on empty? The pace of life since November hasn't been a 'celebration'—it’s been a marathon. Today is about the radical act of trust required to simply say 'no' to the work and 'yes' to the rest. If you feel weary or like you are simply stretched so thin that you’ve lost your sense of peace, this message is for you. But I want you to know: this message is also for me. Together we are going to examine a message of holiness to honor the Sabbath—not as a burden, but as a radical act of trust. May we learn together to trust and obey God. Before we go any further, let us go to the Lord in prayer. Let’s pray:  “Heavenly Father, we invite Your Holy Spirit into this room. We confess that the noise of the world often drowns out Your voice. Quiet our hearts now. Help us to set aside our to-do lists and our anxieties so we can truly hear Your invitation to rest. Teach us what it means to trust You with our time and our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” God’s profound invitation:  Our world today moves at a breakneck speed. It is a whirlwind of noise, activity, and incessant demands on our time and attention. We live in an "always-on" culture that measures our worth by our productivity and our "hustle." In the midst of this chaos, God offers a profound invitation in Psalm 46:10: "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" This is more than a suggestion; it is a divine command. It is a posture of the heart—a deliberate choice to cease our striving and our trying to control every outcome. It is an invitation to shift our focus from our own limited strength to the limitless power and sovereignty of the Almighty God. God’s guidance. To understand how to do this, we look to the heart of God’s guidance for us in Exodus 20:8-10: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God..." This past Thanksgiving, my husband Thomas and I were at Virginia Beach. For years, it has been our practice to begin our day in quietness with the Lord—reading our Bible and praying. I recall one morning where Thomas sat on the hotel balcony, reading his Bible and praying, facing the vast ocean with its rhythmic waves in the distance. The scene beautifully illustrated putting God first amidst life's powerful 'waves. Inside, I was in our hotel room with my prayer journal, my Bible, and a warm cup of coffee. As I sat there, I looked out over the ocean and thought about the Call to balance and wholeness. I sat there contemplating: "What gift will I give to the Father this year?" God reminded me that running hard for six days is only achievable when we honor His plan for Sabbath rest. That quiet moment—choosing devotion over immediate productivity—is a meaningful offering and a lifestyle that I currently live on an almost daily basis. Yet, I could feel an inner yearning. God was doing a new thing in me. My heart's desire was to abide (to stay and remain) with God and move to the next level of obedience, allowing Him to fine-tune me into the woman of God He desires me to be. That quiet moment—choosing devotion over immediate productivity—is a meaningful offering, and it is a rhythm I have sought to live out daily. Yet, I could feel an inner yearning. God was doing a new thing in me. My heart's desire was to abide—to stay and remain—with God, and to move to the next level of obedience. I felt Him calling me to allow Him to fine-tune me into the woman of God He desires me to be. I am practicing God's sovereignty through this daily quiet time, but I realized His call was for something even deeper..." It wasn't a suggestion to "relax"—it was a call to a radical act of faith. It was an invitation to move from the theory of God’s sovereignty into the practice of it. What the Holy Spirit whispered to me in that stillness was a reminder that our horizontal rest (how we relate to our work and our families) is entirely dependent on our vertical alignment (how we relate to God). You see, we cannot truly rest until we settle the question of who is in charge. Before we look at the Law, we have to look at Creation. The biblical support for Sabbath and rest is first found in Genesis. We see in Genesis 2:2-3: "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Consider this: Man was created on the 6th day. This means man’s very first full day of existence was not a day of "hustle" or "work"—it was a day of rest with his Creator. God didn't rest because He was tired; He rested to set a rhythm for us. He expects for us to practice a Sabbath day of rest because it is how we were designed to function. When we

Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭ “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.”

Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”

https://www.bible.com/events/49544142 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah Part 1 God is still rebuilding! Today are diving into our first teaching series for the new year called “Rebuilding: The Legacy of Nehemiah.” To rebuild can mean to make extensive repairs, or to restore something back to a previous state. To simply build again. Over the next few weeks we will dive deeper into the story of Nehemiah to gain insight and encouragement for our own rebuilding story. Today we are looking at the big storyline of scripture to see that the Lord has been on one long rebuilding project with us and he's not finished yet. From cover to cover, the bible is telling one unified story of God and his people. In many ways, it’s one story of rebuilding. The story of Ezra and Nehemiah are one part of a much larger story of God continuing to work in the lives of his people to rebuild and restore them into relationship with himself. Ezra 1:1-5 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ ” Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. The Lord moves the heart of the King of Persia to allow the people of God to begin returning to their home to rebuild the temple, the central place of their identity and worship As the people of God begin to head towards home, God moved the hearts of their neighbors to give them gifts of gold and silver, and provision for the journey home. Behind all of this you sense the movement of God in rebuilding. Even though it was the people’s disobedience that led them into exile in the first place, God, in his great mercy, is there, working to rebuild, like he always does. As the rebuilding story continues, Nehemiah will come to Jerusalem to begin work on the city walls. The Lord wasn’t just re-establishing worship, he was rebuilding their lives. The good news of great hope for us today, is that God's not finished rebuilding yet! That means we have a choice as we think about our own rebuilding. Are we going to keep trying to put the pieces back together ourselves? Or, are we going to surrender our pieces and our rebuilding to the Lord and wait in faithful anticipation for what he can do? Friends, God’s not done, and you don’t have to be either. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The GIFTS WELCOME- GLAD YOU ARE HERE. ONLINE CHRISTMAS WEEK- GREAT INCREDIBLE WEEK ALSO A PAINFUL AND HARD WEEK FOR MANY GET YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ABOUT BIRTH OF JESUS- ANGEL SHOWS UP A HEAVENLY GIFT- WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?  NATE BARGATZE VIDEO                                 AN ALMIGHTY BEING WHO SITS ATOP THE WORLD SANTA – JESUS 90- 10 SANTA GATHER FOR 1 HOUR BUMPER STICKERS EVERYWHERE- IF ITS ON A BUMPER STICKER MUST BE TRUE RIGHT? WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM                                IS THIS TRUE? BEEN IN A SERIES FOR 3 WEEKS THE GIFTS WE LOOKING AT THE 3 GIFTS WISEMEN BROUGHT BELIEVE THEY BROUGHT MANY THINGS MATTHEW SPECIFICALY MENTIONS 3 GIFTS SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:1                            After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:2 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:3    3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.                             (AGITATED) SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:4    4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:5    5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: MATTHEW 2:6    6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:6    for out of you will come a ruler     who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (DIFF LEADER) SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:7    7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:8 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:8As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:9    9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, SCRIPTURE MATHEW 2:9    and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:10    10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:11   11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:11   11. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:12                          12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. THERE ARE 2 KINGS IN THIS STORY WE DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT KINGS NOT OUR CUSTOM- LANGUAGE/PRACTICE LETS LOOK AT SOME FAMOUS KINGS MATTHEW NEVER AGAIN LISTS KING ATTACHED TO HEROD MENTIONS HEROD MORE BUNCH- NEVER AGAIN MATTHEW WANT JEWS TO KNOW REAL KING HERE PICTURE LION  KING                                             AUTHOR PICTURE- STEPHEN KING- SCARY PICTURE MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP-= MUSIC THAT IS  PICTURE DR. KING DR MARTIN LUTHER KING  PICTURE LEBRON JAMES- NICKNAMED THE KING FRANKINCENSE-BOSWALIA TREE- USED TEMPLE JESUS HIGH PRIEST- OUR GO BETWEEN MYRHH-ALSO USED IN TEMPLE-EMBALMING OIL JESUS WOULD DIE FOR OUR SINS GOLD-A GIFT BROUGHT TO KINGS  GOLD CHART                                                   James W. Marshall while building a sawmill for John SUTTER JANUARY 24, 1848- GOLD FOUND  CALIFORNIA- OLD RU

https://www.bible.com/events/49539159 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus The Gifts Part 4 Gold for The King We are continuing our Advent teaching series called “The gifts”. Throughout this series we have studied the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold. On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell. These are The Gifts. Today, we are going to look at the gift of Gold. Just one ounce of gold would cost you about $4500 Throughout the bible and in ancient times gold is often the gift given to kings. When the Magi placed gold before Jesus, they essentially declared: “Jesus is King”. As we read the story of the Magi in Matthew Chapter 2, Matthew has made it a point to tell us the story of two kings. King Herod and King Jesus. Matthew is telling the story of two kings, and he sets them in contrast for us to see. King Herod, a worldly king, embodying a life ruled by desire. And King Jesus. The king who has come to lay down his life for his friends, for you and for me. There is really only one question facing you in this morning’s message: who’s your king? Matthew 2:1-3 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. The Magi came looking for a ruler, a leader and commander. The person in charge and calling the shots. They came to worship the King. And at first, all of that might seem just fine to us. But there was just one problem… There was already a king of the Jews, and there can only be ONE king. Matthew introduces us to King Herod. He is known to most as Herod the Great. He was King of the Jews, or so he thought. He came to power in the region of Jerusalem around the year 37 BC. You could say he was a talented politician, even as a person of Jewish decent, he knew how to win favor with the Roman Government. But for all the things he accomplished, he is perhaps remembered most for his rabid jealousy and savage tyranny. Herod would stop at nothing to eliminate any threat to his own power. So, it’s easy to imagine then why King Herod was disturbed or troubled at the news of the Magi when they were asking about a NEW King. He was disturbed because he thought HE was the king of the Jews. This bloodthirsty king was troubled and ready to attack any threat to his own rule. Matthew 2:4-6 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” This prophecy from the Old Testament, not only gives us where the new king would be born, it tells us what he will be like. It says, “a ruler”, that’s the same idea as king, a ruler who will SHEPHERD my people. This is King Jesus. A King who came to serve and not to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many. Two kings set in stark contrast before us, as the story continues. Matthew 2:7-11 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These wise men, they used to give kings advise, they were the ones the kings came to when they needed help, when they couldn’t figure something out. In some ancient cultures, the Wise Men would be the ones who chose and installed the king. These guys knew kings. And when they encounter Jesus, they know that he is not just a king, he is THE KING. And when they bow down to the ground and offer him gifts, they answered our question for this text this morning: Who is your King? Matthew has crafted this contrast of two kings, in such a way as to ask you and i to consider that very question: Who is your king? The truth for us today is that we are being ruled by something. Right now, there is something at the very core of who you are, that is calling the shots. And there really are only two choices. Eit

“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.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬“ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 NRSV 5 Ancient Uses of Myrrh 1. Beauty treatment 2. Perfume 3. Analgesic 4. Antiseptic 5. Embalming “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,” Hebrews 10:19 NRSV “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity, and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases, yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with affliction. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out himself to death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:1-12 NRSV “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship.” Romans 12:1 NRSV

https://www.bible.com/events/49532170 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  The Gifts Part 2  Frankincense  We are continuing our Advent teaching series called “The gifts”. Throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.  On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. That story is what we aim to unpack over the next few weeks.  Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell.  These are The Gifts.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬‬  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  After Jesus is born, strange men from the East enter the story. The bible calls them Magi and we do not know much about them.  They were likely key figures in the eastern culture who prided themselves in being in the know about worldly wisdom and philosophy. They seem to have knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, so many scholars believe they came from Babylon where there were still populations of Jewish people living.  They have seen a star in the sky and they have concluded it must mean the King of the Jews has been born.  They begin to make what could have been a 1000-mile, camel back journey to Jerusalem to worship him. Likely this was a whole entourage- they brought 3 gifts, but it was almost certainly more than 3 of them traveling that distance.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬‬  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  They bowed down, and worshipped Jesus. And when the text says they bowed down and worshiped. They didn’t just turn on K-love radio and sing along. These men of wealth, prestige, and power, got down on their knees, placed their forehead to the ground, in complete humility and reverence before Jesus.  After the wise men worship Jesus, the bible says they opened up their treasures and presented gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Today we are going to unpack the story, or the significance of the gift of Frankincense.  Frankincense is a sap or resin that comes from trees in the Boswellia family. Found often in the regions of Africa and Arabia.  To harvest Frankincense, these Boswellia trees are scratched or punctured so that they will emit sap. The sap from these wounds is allowed to dry and harden where it will be turned into powder or processed into an oil.  Dried frankincense is used in worship services today around the world.  Frankincense also boasts health benefits. Thought to reduce inflammation, help with arthritis, and even respiratory symptoms. Already, this helps us understand a little bit more why this gift might have been chosen for Jesus.  But the story gets even clearer when we consider frankincense in biblical times.  Frankincense shows up all the way back in the Old Testament book of Exodus 30:34-35 "Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred."  The Lord actually instructed Moses, the leader of Israel at the time, to make this special blend to be used in the temple, in worship to the Lord. The aroma and the smoke were to be reminders to the people of their prayers ascending to heaven.  To Mary and Joseph, I would imagine, this was a lavish expression of generosity from the wise men. Frankincense was VERY expensive back then.  But when this gift is presented to Jesus, it comes alive with symbolism and meaning. This incense is now laid before the one that the bible calls our great high priest.  If you look at the Latin word for priest, it is literally translated “Bridge builder” That’s who Jesus is. The one who has come to build a bridge between a holy and righteous God, and human beings, lost and broken in sin.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬‬  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, be

DRUMMER BOY 2008 ECONOMY TOOK A DOWN TURN- FORMER PK PURCHASE THEM- GIVE MONEY TIED OUR CHURCH SINCE THEN WE BEEN RECEIVING OFFERING NEXT WEEK-WILL RECEIVE IT ACROSS CAMPUSES GIFTS LONG DEDICATED CALENDAR INVESTMENT BY ALL WE ARE IN WEEK 2 OF A SERIES ON GIFTS LAST WEEK PASTOR KERRY WISEMEN ASTROLOGERS/MAGI-PICKED KINGS SHOW UP PROB 18 MONTHS AFTER/2 YEARS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE THAN 3 MILITARY PRESENCE- TRAVELED WITH LOOT    GIFT-WHATS A WORKING DEFINITION OF GIFT? Gift :a thing given willingly to someone without EXPECTATION OF payment; OR ANYTHING IN RETURN ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST EXPENSIVE GIFTS TAJ MAHAL                                                       Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, - 800 MILLION DOLLARS SO I ASK YOU- WHATS THE BEST GIFT YOU EVER GOT? WHY WAS IT A GREAT GIFT? ATARI GAMING SYSTEM                                    WHEN I WAS A KID EARLY 1980’S    NOLAN BUSHNELL INVENTS FIRST HOME GAME SYSTEM    THIS WAS THE GIFT OF ALL GIFTS AT TIME/ 199.00    FRIEND GOT THIS- COULDN’T WAIT TO GO PLAY REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A KID- EXCITED?  KIDS GETTING GIFTS WONDER IF JESUS WAS 2- HOW EXCITED WOULD BE? YES YES YES -FRANKINCENSE A THING GIVEN WITHOUT EXPECATION OF ANYTHING IN RETURN  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 1000 MILES THEY CAME- ROBBERS/TERRAIN/HEAT HARRISONBURG TO MIAMI- CAMELS AND HORSES (95) CHICAGO ONLY 700 MILES- DALLAS TEXAS IS 1100 MILES OMAHA NEBRASKA-1100 MILES SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:2    2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” skilled in astrology, medicine, and divination, not necessarily evil sorcerers. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:3    3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.    WORD HERE IS AGITATED- LIKE IN A WASHER HIS COUNTRY JUDAH IS BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN ROME (ALL LEFT- AND PARTHEAN EMPIRE)  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:4                                 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:5    5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:6    6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:6    for out of you will come a ruler     who will shepherd my people Israel.’” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:7    7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.   SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:8    8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:8    As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:9    9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:10    10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:11   11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.   SCRIPTURE MATHEW 2:11   Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.   SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 2:12   12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. HERODS TEMPLE PICTURE MASSIVE 35 ACRE STRUCTURE HEROD WANTED THIS TEMPLE TO OVERWHELM 18,000 WORKERS/1000 PRIESTS/16 FOOT THICK WALLS WALLS 150 FEET- HOLY OF HOLIES HIGHER ALL 3 GIFTS WERE IN THIS TEMPLE TEMPLE DIAGRAM RIGHT OUTSIDE HOLY OF HOLIES 2 TIMES A DAY- TEMPLE STUNK- 2 SACRIFICES DAILY SWEET SMELLING AROMA- RISING NO SEATS IN THE TEMPLE PRIESTS DIDN’T SIT DOWN THERE IS A GIFT BROUGHT- THIS GIFT- FOR PRIEST BOSWALIA TREE           &nbsp

“Jesus was born in a town called Bethlehem, in Judea. King Herod ruled Judea at that time. After Jesus was born, some wise men came to Jerusalem from a country in the east. When they arrived there, they asked people, ‘Where is the baby who has been born as the king of the Jews? We saw his special star when it first appeared in the sky. So now we have come here to worship him.’ When King Herod heard what the men said, he was very upset. All the people in Jerusalem were afraid too. Then Herod asked all the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law to meet with him. He asked them, ‘Where will God's Messiah be born?’ They replied, ‘The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem in Judea. This is what the prophet wrote about it: “People who live in Bethlehem, your town is a very important town in Judea. A person born in your town will become a ruler of my people, Israel. He will lead my people like a shepherd who leads his sheep.” ’ Then Herod secretly told the wise men to come to meet with him. They told him the time that the star had appeared. Herod sent the men to Bethlehem. He said to them, ‘Go and look everywhere for this child. When you find him, come back here and tell me where he is. Then I can go and worship him too.’ After the men had heard the king, they left to go to Bethlehem. They could see the same star that they had seen before. They were very happy when they saw the star. It moved along in front of them. Then it stopped above the place where the child was staying. The men went into the house and they saw the child. He was with Mary, his mother. They went down on their knees in front of the child and they worshipped him. Then they opened their bags. They took out valuable gifts and they gave them to the child. The gifts were gold, incense called frankincense, and also myrrh. After that, God said to them in a dream, ‘Do not go back to see Herod again.’ So the men travelled on a different road to return to their own country.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭EASY‬‬

https://www.bible.com/events/49528267 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  The Gifts Part 1  Strange men in a strange land Today we are starting our advent teaching series called “The gifts”. throughout this series we will study the story of the Magi and the gifts that they presented to Jesus. Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold.  On their own these gifts were very valuable, but more than their value, they tell us a story about who Jesus is. That story is what we aim to unpack over the next few weeks.  Why did these men bring a small child yellow rocks, perfume, and spices What did they mean? What can we learn from the story they tell.  These are The Gifts.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬‬  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  After Jesus is born, strange men from the East enter the story. The bible calls them Magi and we do not know much about them.  They were likely key figures in the eastern culture who prided themselves in being in the know about worldly wisdom and philosophy. They seem to have knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, so many scholars believe they came from Babylon where there were still populations of Jewish people living.  They have seen a star in the sky and they have concluded it must mean the King of the Jews has been born.  They begin to make what could have been a 1000-mile, camel back journey to Jerusalem to worship him. Likely this was a whole entourage- they brought 3 gifts, but it was almost certainly more than 3 of them traveling that distance.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭8‬‬  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”  The name “King Herod” would send a chill down the spine of the original audience. Something perhaps even worse than we might even feel at the name Osama Bin-Laden or Adolf Hitler.  Herod was ruthless when it came to defending his power and position in government.  Scheming behind the scenes, Herod tells the magi to report back to him under the false guise that he too wants to worship this newborn king. With these final nefarious instructions, the magi depart.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬‬  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  The NIV gives us a bland translation. The Greek literally says “they rejoiced with a great joy, exceedingly.”  After a 1000 miles journey, only 6 miles to go to Bethlehem...  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬‬  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  They worshipped him and then they got up and presented their gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and Myrrh. These gifts represented the very best, the finest goods, fit for a king.  And they are gifts that point beyond themselves to a tell us a story about who Jesus is.  Over the next few weeks we will explore each one of these gifts that were presented to Jesus.  Matthew only spent 8 verses telling us about the birth of Jesus, but has given us 12 verses talking about the Magi, preserving the details of who they were and what they gave.  Today we started with the Magi, because they, in their own way, tell us a story too. They tell us a story of outsiders and strangers who had such a large vision of Jesus, they were willing to do whatever it took to find him. And when they did, they fell down and worshipped him.  They not only tell us a story, they give us an example of how we too are to approach Jesus.  In complete humility and surrender, they lay all of their prestige, all of their sense of self, all of that aside, they bow down, forehead to the gr

The Prodigal Son “Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭11‬-‭20‬ ‭