Church of the Nazarene

http://bible.com/events/49331073 Church of the Nazarene, Harrisonburg Campus Joshua Part 5 - Harrisonburg Campus After Jericho... Review of the series: WEEK 1: Be Strong & Courageous WEEK 2: Rahab Hides the Men of Israel WEEK 3: The 12 Stones - Remembering God's Faithfulness WEEK 4: God's Victory at Jericho TODAY: Consequences of Sin Breakdown of the Book of Joshua CHAPTERS 1-6: Entering the Promised Land CHAPTERS 7-12: Conquering the Promised Land CHAPTERS 13-22: Settling the Promised Land Consider: What was the next thing that happened after the tremendous victory at Jericho? [Image] https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1728656548011.jpg Joshua 6:16-19 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.” Joshua 7:1-5 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. Joshua 7:15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’ ” Two "Why" Questions: 1) Why did the Israelites crush Jericho but lose to a lesser opponent in Ai? After all, they had just celebrated a dramatic victory over mighty Jericho. Ai was the underdog. Yet they scattered God's people. Joshua 7:10-12 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. Joshua 7:20-23 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord. Second "Why" Question: 2) Why was the response to Achan's sin so extreme? The death penalty for theft? That doesn't seem "fair." Without understanding God's Holy Justice, we can never truly grasp, appreciate or enter into His Grace. Today, we get to hear about Israel's loss and Achan's death from the shadow of the cross, where the Holy and terrible Justice of God was fulfilled on your behalf. In fact, it is a great gift to be shown the deadly underside of disobedience while there is still time. To get a clear picture of the darkness of sin is something to be grateful for. To get a clear picture of Holy God and an opportunity for repentance in His mercy, in the Name and for the cause of Christ. Joshua 8:1-2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”

Joshua 7: The Enemy Within - Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.- Joshua is found in the OT of God’s Word • Being “old” does not mean it is not relevant, on the contrary this book is alive and well exhorting us in all things pertaining to life and godliness.- Joshua 6:17-19 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”- Donald Campbell God’s people are never more vulnerable, never in greater danger, than right after they have won a great victory. Joshua 7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[a]; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.- One commentator wrote in regards to the reciting of his lineage A warning is hereby administered to parents, to give the most diligent heed in training their offspring in the fear of God, lest they be a reproach to their memories when they themselves are no more. 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 1 East Rock 10/13/24 3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?” 10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.- Warren Wiersbe “If God says something is wrong, then it’s wrong; and that’s the end of the debate.” 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them. 14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. 15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs 2 East Rock 10/13/24 to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”- Numbers 32:23 23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out… (ministers in spotlight) 16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen. 19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned aga

https://www.bible.com/events/49327728 Church of the Nazarene- East Rock Campus Joshua- Part 4 East Rock Joshua Part 4 - "Walls and Worship" Joshua: Part 4 "Walls and Worship" Joshua 5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 6:1-27 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.” When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there. Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.” When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.” So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. Obedience is the way to our Promised Land. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your hea

https://www.bible.com/events/49323506 Church of the Nazarene: Harrisonburg Campus Joshua Part 3 Joshua 3 & 4 Joshua 3:1-3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. [Image] OCTOBER 16, 1995 & OCTOBER 4, 1997 STAND IN THE GAP PROB ONLY A 1/3 OF THE NUMBER CROSSING https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727297362806.jpg Joshua 3:3-4 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.” [Image] Tent Containing the Ark of the Covenant https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727297940319.jpg [Image] Ark of the Covenant https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727297396868.jpg Joshua 3:5-7 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Joshua 3:13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” Joshua 3:15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, Joshua 3:16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. Crossing the Jordan Geography The Geography Behind Joshua Crossing the Jordan River Joshua 4:1-3 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” Joshua 4:4-5 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, Joshua 4:6-7 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” [Image] FAMOUS MONUMENTS LEFT BEHIND- Eiffel Tower https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727297631749.jpg [Image] Statue of Liberty https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727297644001.jpg [Image] Rocky Statue: MAKE STATUES AN IMAGES OUT OF FAKE THINGS. HOW ABOUT SOMETHING REAL? https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727297650645.jpg [Image] Which chair are you sitting on? https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1727298062072.jpg Chair #1-YOU DON’T BELIEVE ANY OF IT Chair #2- YOU BELIEVE IT- YOU SUPPORT- YOU SHOW UP Chair #3- YOU ARE SOLD OUT- THIS IS YOUR ENTIRE LIFE

https://www.bible.com/events/49324828 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus Joshua: Part 3 East Rock Joshua: Part 3 "The Crossing" Today we are continuing our teaching series in the book of Joshua. Our goal in this series is not just to brush up on ancient history, but to join the generations of God’s people who have looked back to see the faithfulness of God. Our teaching text today explores the story of the children of Israel entering the promised land, crossing the Jordan River on dry ground. Joshua 3:1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. Last week we studied the account of Rahab and the two Israelite spies. The spies returned with the report that indeed God was moving ahead of them. Joshua doesn’t waste any time. They break camp and move to the banks of the Jordan River, just opposite of the city of Jericho. As we go through this story, remember, many scholars estimate this could be as many as two million people. Joshua 3:2-5 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.” Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” The officers tell the people that they need to follow the Ark of the Covenant. The ark came into the story back in exodus, when God gave Moses instructions on how to build it. It was a physical representation of God’s presence. That’s significant because what the people are told is that they are to keep their eyes on the Lord, they don’t know the way ahead.They will know which way to go by looking to the Lord. Even though they were to watch it, they were to keep their distance of about 1000 yards. This speaks of the holiness of God and the honor they were to show him, as well as logistically, for that many people to see, they would have to keep their distance. Joshua tells them- Consecrate yourselves, for the Lord will do amazing things- God didn’t need the people to do anything for the miracle, but he did require their obedience. Consecrate yourselves carries the idea of setting yourself apart from distractions. Be dressed, clean, and ready to go. Get rid of anything that would distract you from seeing what God is about to do. We begin to see that God is not as concerned with the logistics or the miracle as he is the spiritual significance for the people. Joshua 3:6-17 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ” Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. Following the Lord’s instructions, the priests take up the ark of the covenant, representing God’s presence, and they take off towards the water. The priests continue on out to the middle of the riverbed. It’s backed up some 20 miles now. God moved mightily on behalf of his people to fulfill his promise to them. A promise hundreds of years in the making, came true in this moment because of the power and grace of God going

Joshua 2 : Faith’s Conduct - Hebrews 10:36-39 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. • I ask you to do 2 things today:- Recognize - Respond MESSAGE Joshua 2 (entire chapter) Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.- Why did they go to a prostitutes house?- Rahab: brief bio • Immoral Canaanite woman • Lives in a pagan culture that is fanatically devoted to everything God hates—it is absolutely wicked. • She has profited from the evil that permeated her society- Rahab is the first person scripture introduces to us, and by name, in the Promised Land…remarkable isn’t it =) 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 1 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) True biblical faith can’t be hidden, it but be concerned with action 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.- (SLIDE) Thomas Carlyle “Conviction, were it never so excellent, is worthless until it converts itself into conduct.” 12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness (hesed) to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside 2 your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. • REAL BIBLICAL FAITH WILL ALWAYS DO SOMETHING- Putting herself at risk, Rahab rejected her past identity as a Canaanite and wanted to be identified with the people of God, with Israel. 22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”- Faith’s Conduct Recognizes Responds - RECOGNIZE WE ALL WERE RAHAB Rahab’s Faith God’s Faithfulness - Spoken Gospel “If a pros

https://www.bible.com/events/49321674 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus Joshua: Part 2 East Rock Joshua: Part 2 Rahab "God is Faithful" Today we are continuing our teaching series in the book of Joshua. Our goal in this series is not just to brush up on ancient history, but to join the generations of God’s people who have looked back to see the faithfulness of God. Our teaching text today is about an unlikely hero, with an even more unlikely faith. Joshua 2:1-3 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” Following God’s command to Joshua and the people of Israel to be strong and courageous, these verses record some of the first actions steps. Stepping out in faith still required a plan, so Joshua sends out two spies to have a look at Jericho, a heavily fortified city across the Jordan River, about 15 miles away. A bit of irony appears in that these spies failed miserably in staying hidden. Immediately the news makes it to the King who dispatches men to capture these Israelite spies. It would seem like this first step into the promised land was as step on the wrong foot for the Israelites. Joshua 2:4-7 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. As the King’s posse arrives to detain the 2 spies, Rahab steps in. She’s quick on her feet, she knows how to deal with men at her door. The unlikely hero re-directs the Kings men to pursue them out of the city gate. With her quick thinking and convincing words, the kings men don’t even bother searching her house. They take off for the city gate, thinking they are in hot pursuit of the jewish spies. The original audience reading this account would have been in stitches laughing at the comedy of errors and irony portrayed in this story on the part of the Canaanites. But for all of the irony, the danger for Rahab cannot be missed. Lying to the kings officers could have gotten her killed without question. She took literally took her life into her own hands. But why? Why would a Canaanite prostitute risk her lives for two Israelite men who showed up on her doorstep? Joshua 2:8-11 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. With the city gate closed, Rahab has the upper hand over the Israelite spies, they are literally at her mercy. But what comes next is not a bargain for profit or some other benefit- it’s a profession of faith in the first degree. Rahab not only believed these truths about God, she took action, risking her very life. She wasn’t just trying to save herself or her family from the impending invasion. No, she was responding to what she believed about the God of Israel. Her faith leaped into action in these moments. In the book of James, Rahab’s faith is celebrated right beside the faith of Abraham. James 2:25 says 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? This unlikely hero, had a heroic and historic faith. Joshua 2:12-14 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” The Hebrew word that Rahab uses for kindness here is hesed. And it’s way more than ju

http://bible.com/events/49317557 Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg Campus Joshua: Part 1 Harrisonburg Joshua ENTERING THE LAND- CHAPTERS 1-6 CONQUERING THE LAND- CHAPTERS 7-12 DIVIDING AND SETTLING THE LAND- CHAPTERS 13-22 Joshua 1:1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:16-18 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” - Promise - Presence - Power

https://www.bible.com/events/49318005 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus Joshua: Part 1 East Rock Joshua: Part 1 Today we are beginning a new teaching series in the book of Joshua. Our goal in this series is not just to brush up on ancient history, but to join the generations of God’s people who have looked back to see the faithfulness of God. Our series begins at a watershed moment in the story of God’s people. Joshua 1:1-2 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. In these opening verses, the book of Joshua is linked to the entire story of God’s people that has led up to this watershed moment. The book of Joshua is a continuation of the story of God and his people. Beginning all the way back in Genesis 12 and Abraham, God had promised Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the starts in the sky and that his people would have their own land, it would be a land given to them by God himself. A promise hundreds of years in the making was about to be realized, and Joshua was God’s chosen man to lead his people. Joshua 1:3-5 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. God had given the people the land, now it was time for them to step out in faith and live into that promise. This promise was not without its challenges. Flooded rivers and fortified cities. Real giants in the way, hard battles to be fought, this new life would require faith to triumph over fear. It was not going to be easy Joshua was being called to lead his people into battle, into seemingly impossible situations. Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. The promise of God’s presence comes before the command to be strong and courageous. This wasn’t about Joshua being a super warrior- this was about what God was about to do- he needed Joshua to have faith. It’s as if God says: “Joshua, I am with you, I am your strength. Be strong, because I am here, you are going to do this, be bold because we are going to do this together.” Joshua was God’s chosen leader, but it was God’s strength that would ultimately bring about victory for his people. Joshua 1:7-9 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” First Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous in God’s presence. Now, he is to be strong and very courageous through obedience to God’s word. They key to life in God’s promised land, was living God’s way. Joshua was to be strong and courageous in obedience to God’s word. What we see in the story of Joshua is the people of God encountering real obstacles to living out their faith. And in the face of all those things, we see the power of God’s presence and his continued faithfulness to his people. And Friends, that links the story of Joshua to our story today. We were brought from the wonderings of our life in sin, to the promise of His spirit birthed within us by one greater than Joshua- Jesus Christ himself. Now, we have a life to live in Christ, and it’s not easy. Sure, we don’t have literal flooded rivers to cross of fortified cities to conquer. But we do have real struggles- Health challenges, financial pains, relational brokenness. We have things in our lives that seem impossible. Real situations that we have to choose faith over fear. Real life circumstances that are beyond anything we can do alone. That’s our story, and that’s the story of Joshua. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

· WELCOME · THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY · PRAYER · PURCAHSE OF A NEW VAN (PASTOR JOE AND DARYL) · TODAY IS CELEBRATION SUNDAY · IT’S THE MOST EXCITING DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH · CHRISTMAS/EASTER- BAPTISM SUNDAY · IM GOING TO EXPLAIN WHY IN A MINUTE · SHOW YOU A MAN-HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED · HE CAN’T HOLD IT IN-WHATS HAPPENED INSIDE  VIDEO · PRISONER PHYSICALLY-BUT NOT SPIRITUALLY WHAT · WHAT IS BAPTISM? · ITS ONE OF 2 SACRAMENTS WE RECOGNIZE · COMMUNION/BAPTISM (JESUS PARTICIPATED) · GREEK WORD IS BAPTIZO-TO IMMERSE · ITS AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INNER WORK · MY WEDDING RING IS AN OUTWARD SYMBOL · BAPTISM IS AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION · WE ARE BURRIED WITH HIM SYMBOLICALLY WATERY GRAVE · RAISED TO LIFE WITH HIM · BAPTISM DOESN’T SAVE YOU (HBURG WATER) · BAPTISM DOESN’T FORGIVE YOUR SINS · IT IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH YOU BEEN SAVED Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant.  WHY · BECAUSE JESUS COMMANDED IT/DEMONSTRATED · JESUS PUBLIC MINISTRY STARTS RIGHT HERE  MATTHEW 3:13-14 13. THEN JESUS CAME FROM GALILEE TO THE JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN. BUT JOHN TRIED TO DETER HIM, SAYING, “I NEED TO BE BAPTIZED BY YOU, AND DO YOU COME TO ME?”  MATTHEW 3:15  JESUS REPLIED, “LET IT BE SO NOW, IT IS PROPER FOR US TO DO THIS TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, “THEN JOHN CONSENTED”   MATTHEW 3:16-17  AS SOON AS JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, HE WENT UP OUT OF THE WATER. AT THAT MOMENT HEAVEN WAS OPENED, HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING ON HIM. AND A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, “THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE, WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED.” · MINISTRY BEGINS · THE FATHER-THE SON-AND THE HLY SPIRIT MEET WHO · ANY WHO GETS SAVED · YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS · YOU ASK CHRIST TO TAKE OVER YOUR HEART · NICODEMUS- YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. FIRST SERVICE- I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SCOTT MILLER YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN SCOTT-DRUMMER · I WANT SCOTT TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT HIS BEING BAPTIZED WHEN HE WAS YOUNG- · TAKE US THROUGH THAT. · AT SOME POINT LATER- YOU FELT PROMPTED TO GET BAPTIZED AGAIN? WALK US THROUGH THAT. · YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO DO IT- BUT YOU FELT MOVED TO DO SO. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF BAPTISM CHANGED? IM HERE TODAY HEARING YOU- “WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE PERSON SITTING HERE CONSIDERING BAPTISM FOR THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME- WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STEP FOR THEIR FAITH JOURNEY?” · FEW WEEKS AGO AT OUR EAST ROCK CAMPUS · SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUTDOOR/RIVER BAPTISM · FLOOD- WATER A BIT MUDDY AND FAST PICTURE OF MARY LIZ · DANCE INSTRUCTOR · WELL KNOWN IN THE ELKTON AREA · PASTOR TERRY TALKING TO HER  PICTURE OF MARY LIZ HANDS UP · PASTOR TERRY GETTING READY TO BAPTIZE · MARY LIZ IS MORE THAN READY  PICTURE MARY LIZ · PASTOR JARED AND PASTOR TERRY · ASKED PERMISSION TO SHOW THIS GLOW WHEN · WHEN YOU GET SAVED- YOU GET BAPTIZED · WHEN YOU TAKE A CLASS? · WHEN YOU JOIN THE CHURCH? · AFTER YOU ENROL IN WHAT??? · NOT SAYING WE DON’T REVERANCE BAPTISM · BUT YOU GET SAVED- YOU GET BAPTIZED  I PETER 3:18-19 18. FOR CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED ONCE FOR SINS, THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, TO BRING YOU TO GOD. HE WA PUT TO DEATH IN THE BODY BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT. AFETR BEING MADE ALIVE, HE WENT AND MADE PROCLOMATION TO THE IMPRISONED SPIRITS 1 PETER 3:20 20. TO THOSE WHO WERE DISOBEDIENT LONG AGO WHEN GOD WAITED PATIENTLY IN THE DAYS OF NOAH WHILE THE ARK WAS BEING BUILT. IN IT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE- EIGHT IN ALL WERE SAVED THROUGH WATER.  I PETER 3:21-22 AND THIS WATER SYMBOLIZES BAPTISM THAT NOW SAVES YOU ALSO-NOT THE REMOVAL OF DIRT FROM THE BODY BUT THE PLEDGE OF A CLEAR CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD. IT SAVES YOU BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAS GONE INTO HEAVEN AND IS AT GODS RIGHT HAND- WITH ANGELS, AUTHORITIES AND POWERS IN SUBMISSION TO HIM.” · MYSTERY IN SCRIPTURE ABOUT WATER · WATER DOESN’T SAVE YOU · SYMBOLIC PASSING OF DEATH TO LIFE · STUDY THAT IN A FEW WEEKS IN JOSHUA JUST LAST WEEK- WE HAD A TEEN- WANTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR TO BE BAPTIZED SO LAST WEEK-IN THE RIVER  PICTURE · PASTOR CHRIS- BAPTIZING ELI KOHL · CELEBRATE THIS ALREADY HAPPENED · LATE 70’S AND EARLY 80S- WILD MAN · BECAME FAMOUS BECAUSE OF JUMPING THINGS · HE LIVED A HARD PARTY LIFE · SAID LIVED BETTER THAN KINGS AND PRESIDENTS  EVIL KNIEVEL · HE WAS ADDICTED TO DRUGS/ALCOHOL · BEEN IN MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN · WASN’T AN ATHEIST-BUT ALWAYS REJECTED GOD · HE BROKE OVER 400 BONES · JUMPED CARS/BUSES/CANYONS/SNAKES/SHARKS  PICTURE JUMPING ON MOTORCYCLE · HE STARTED WATCHING A PREACHER ON TV · ONE NIGHT MOTEL ROOM IN FLORIDA · JESUS GOT A HOLD OF EVIL KNIEVELS HEART · HE CONTACTED THE PREACHER- SAID YOU PROB DON’T KNOW ME · PREACHER LISTNENED- PREACHER WAS MOVED · DECIDED HE WOULD SUNDAY SHARE TESTIMONY · OVER 200 PEOPLE CAME TO BE BAPTIZED · OVER THE NEXT 4 WEEKS OVER 1000 BAPTIZED  ACTS 2:37-38 “WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD THIS, THEY WERE they were cut to the he

Over the last several weeks we have been focusing on the stories of Jesus’ compassionate attentiveness to ‘the one’.    Are you willing to follow Jesus in His steps, to take on Jesus’ missional strategy, to go for ‘the one’ He has put in your life?  Jesus was intentional to have a relationship with ‘the one’.  Definitely pray for the person, and begin to listen to the Holy Spirit to give you His guidance and to provide you opportunities to have conversations with ‘your one’.   I have a personal story, about a young woman that I have known since 2019.  Our first conversation was through a glass.  She is with us today.    I asked her permission to share, and she said “Pastor Terry, it’s okay. I want people to know how you were there for me to point me to Jesus.”      I met Amy when she was in Hotel Middle River; and for those of you who do not know, I call the local Middle River Jail the Hotel Middle River.      I visit individuals one-on-one at Middle River.    When visiting the ladies, they quickly learn that I am on a pursuit to point all people to Jesus.  Each one of the ladies know that they are “my one”.    I faithfully journeyed with Amy from Middle River and then to various prisons.    While in Middle River, Amy found a “Building Your Faith” book that was left behind by another lady who had moved to another Correctional Facility, and it had my name, the church of the Nazarene address, and my phone number written in the front of the book.  The ladies, are not allowed to take personal possessions to their next location.    Amy said as soon as she saw the contact information, she wrote me a letter.  Within a month, she said the officer on duty called to say “You have a Pastor visitor”, and Amy thought it was her pastor from her home church.  Amy said her most vivid memory was the first day that she met me, I was smiling at her through the glass and talking to her on the phone, and saying “Jesus loves you!”  It was during COVID, and she had already served two years, and everything was shut down for family or friends to visit.  Amy said she was depressed, and stressed out.  She said that being locked up that time around was really hard for her, and it was very different.    She is now living a new life, the old self is gone, and she is filled with the hope of Jesus.       When I visited Amy one-on-one:  We talked. We prayed together. Sometimes she would cry. I would share a short message. And, I always told Amy that Jesus loved her, and that He would never leave her. My heart was burdened for Amy to come to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior.  During our visits, I watched her grow spiritually. I remember when she prayed and asked Jesus to forgive her and come live in her heart.  Since that day, I have witnessed Amy continuing to grow in her faith and to have a thirst to know Him more and to love Him more.  She has left the old self behind.     Amy arrived in Harrisonburg in January 2023. She started to East Rock with me the first Sunday she was in Harrisonburg, and she has been with us ever since.    Amy attends Celebrate Recovery at our Harrisonburg Campus, and she recently completed her Step Study so she is ready to be a Celebrate Recovery leader.    Amy has a job, and she attends AA meetings regularly.  She is serving on a ministry team which are advocates for the ‘Homeless, Lower Income, and People who are in Need’.    Amy is growing in her faith, and she desires to share her story so that all will know that nothing is impossible with Jesus.  She wants people to know what Christ has done for her.  Amy is now enjoying a relationship with her mom, and her two sons.     Amy knows there will still be difficult days ahead, but the thought of living her life for Christ spurs her onward.    Who is your one? (Pause)  Our hope is that we have stirred in your heart the awareness that Jesus is for ‘the one’, and He uses you and me, to reach the world, one person at a time.  In the back, on the high top tables are the ‘for one’ cards.  If you have not picked up a card, please do so today, and be certain to write ‘your one’s name’ on the card.    Put your card where you will see it, to help you remember to pray for ‘your one’, and to ask Jesus to give you opportunities to spend time with ‘your one’ and for you to share Jesus with them.   We are going to look at one more story from the life of Jesus where he pursued ‘the one’. In His pursuit of this one, Jesus crossed all sorts of social and cultural boundaries.  Last week Pastor Jared taught about Nicodemus, a well-known teacher and le

http://bible.com/events/49311510 Church of The Nazarene Harrisonburg Campus For One: Part 4 Harrisonburg Part 4- Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-2 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” WHATS A PHARISEE? WHO IS NICODEMUS? (RULER/POWERFUL/WEALTHY) NICODEMUS MEANS “VICTORIOUS PEOPLE” John 3:3-11 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 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.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. John 3:14-15 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” [Image] https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1725145251251.jpg [Image] https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1725145357981.jpg [Image] https://imageproxy.youversionapi.com/640x640/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mushroom-event-images-prod/97377202-1725145457037.jpg John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Isaiah 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. Jesus & Nicodemus (The Chosen)

https://www.bible.com/events/49311109 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock For One Part 4 East Rock You must be born again... Welcome to our teaching series called “For One”. Throughout this teaching series we are seeking to know and understand the power of Jesus’ one at a time pursuit of people. We believe that Jesus came to save the whole word, and that through his life, death, and resurrection, he has made the pathway to salvation and eternal life open to us. Jesus is for everyone. During his earthly ministry, many times we see Jesus fulfilling this worldwide redemption mission, one person at a time. Jesus is for one. So, what would it look like for you and I to adopt that same model for our lives? So many times, our focus is on our country or our community, and that’s not a bad thing. But what would it look like for us to be for one, like Jesus was? That’s what Jesus did, and it transformed the lives of many people in the gospels. Today as we continue in part 4 our teaching series, we are going to look at the story of Nicodemus. One of the most well known one-on-one conversations in the bible. John 3:1-2 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” We are introduced to Nicodemus as a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. The Pharisee’s were an elite group of people who had sworn to uphold all of the law and the extra oral traditions that went with it. They separated themselves from most normal life so they could be perfectly in line with every letter of the law. The Jewish Ruling Council was also known as the Sanhedrin. This was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jewish people. It was like the supreme court of the Jews. And Nicodemus is there. He is a portrait of the best of the best in the Jewish mind, and he is coming to ask Jesus some questions. John 3:3-4 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” "Like for real, how is someone supposed to be born a second time as an adult?" That’s basically Nicodemus’s question back to Jesus. One of the most prestigious religious leaders in all of Israel isn’t getting it. But Jesus is clear- VERY truly I tell you- he adds extra emphasis- No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. What Jesus is pointing to is an altogether different kind of birth, not from our mothers, but from above, the spiritual realm This idea of again can literally mean a second time, or it can also mean from above. Here it seems to be referring to both. To see the kingdom of God, something new and from another source, must be born, must come alive inside of us. 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.” Much scholarly debate exists trying to tease out what exactly water and spirit means, but there is a clear reference in the Old Testament that seems like the clearest connection. Ezekiel 36:25-27 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. God was describing what the new work of Messiah would be like. It would be a washing a cleansing from sin. He would put a new spirit within his people, and they would be made new, having a new heart. With all this NEW, it’s like being born all over again. Completely different. Fast forward to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus says, if you don’t have that cleansing from sin and spiritual birth from the Lord- you aren’t going to be in the kingdom of God. You won’t see it or participate in it. John 3:9-15 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in

Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg For One - Part 3 Are you paying attention? This morning's speaker is Brian Charette, who is a lay person who occasionally teaches for us. Brian and his wife Pam have been a part of our church for many years. Pam is a member of the Church Board. Our beautiful, God-designed brains are fearfully and wonderfully made. One of your brain's greatest giftings is the ability to filter out and/or ignore information and stimuli. It's also one of your brain's greatest challenges when it comes to the theme of this series...For ONE. This story in focus this morning appears in all of the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark an Luke. We'll focus on the version in Mark but include the other two versions below. Mark 5:21-30 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” Mark 5:31-34 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Two medical students from Nigeria – Serekara Christian and Daniel Koate -published a paper in 2017 in the Nigerian Biomedical Science Journal. Their goal was to diagnose the woman in the story. They wrote: The woman with the issue of blood as reported in the Holy Bible suffered in her condition for 12 years before she was healed by Jesus Christ. This review aims at underpinning the condition to hematology, identifying the probable causes and its diagnosis. Based on the signs and symptoms associated with her condition, menorrhagia, a condition characterized with prolonged menstrual bleeding is the probable clinical condition she suffered. A low level of von Willebrand factor, other clotting factors and disorders in platelet functions can all be implicated in menorrhagia. Under Mosaic laws a woman with an issue of blood was considered unclean and was “put apart” for 7 days. During this time anything she lay on or sat on was considered “unclean” meaning that if anyone touched one of those things he would have to wash his clothes and bathe in water to become clean again. The Mosaic law also specified that if a woman had an issue of blood that lasted longer than 7 days that all the days of her issue were considered unclean, and she must be treated as such. This means that this woman had probably been unclean for 12 years and that she had to live “put apart” from others for all that time. Sometimes, we are called to pursue the ONE - searching as did the woman with the lost coin and shepherd with the lost sheep. But sometimes, the ONE will pursue us, like the woman with the issue of blood or the prodigal son. The question is, when the latter occurs, will we be paying attention? Pastor Kevin's first teaching series - "For One" is based on the lost and found stories of Luke 15, which follow. Luke 15:1-32 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the

Church of the Nazarene - East Rock For One Part 3 East Rock Jesus sees the one seeking Him... Welcome to our teaching series called “For One”. Throughout this teaching series we are seeking to know and understand the power of Jesus’ one at a time pursuit of people. We believe that Jesus came to save the whole word, and that through his life, death, and resurrection, he has made the pathway to salvation and eternal life open to us. Jesus is for everyone. During his earthly ministry, many times we see Jesus fulfilling this worldwide redemption mission, one person at a time. Jesus is for one. So, what would it look like for you and I to adopt that same model for our lives? So many times, our focus is on our country or our community, and that’s not a bad thing. But what would it look like for us to be for one, like Jesus was? That’s what Jesus did, and it transformed the lives of many people in the gospels. Today as we continue in part 3 our teaching series, we are going to look at two people that really stood out from the crowd. Luke 8:40-42 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. The first one to stand out from the crowd is a man named Jairus. He’s a local synagogue leader. He was likely in charge of ordering worship and the business of the church. He would have been a man of reputation, of status, and means. But Jairus doesn’t stand out because of any of those things- He stands out because he has fallen at the feet of Jesus. For a man of his status, this was a humbling scene, but he didn’t care- His daughter was dying, and he had faith that Jesus could do something about it. As the crowd moves, they press in on Jesus. So close they bump and stumble together. Then, someone else emerges from the crowd. Luke 8:43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She shouldn’t have been there. She shouldn’t have been in the crowd, in contact with other people. An issue of bleeding made you unclean according to the law of Moses. Anything you touched would bear the same stigma and penalty as you did. Anyone who touched you, brought this on themselves. This woman had been cut off from virtually all contact and community because of her health condition. She had tried everything to be made well. Marks gospel records she spent all she had on doctors and treatments, but nothing worked. It seemed that nothing and no one could help her. But she had heard about this Jesus. He could heal the blind, make the leaper clean. Surely, he could help her. If she could only touch the corner of his garment- that would be enough. That would do it, she had faith. And that’s what made her stand out from the crowd. Luke 8:44-48 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” She was the one. The one seeking Jesus in faith. She believed that a personal encounter with him could bring healing, if she could only touch him. All those other people crowded around Jesus. They wanted to be near, maybe hear a teaching, see a miracle. They even bumped into Jesus, they touched him, he felt it. He probably even smelled them they were so close. Nothing happened to them Something was different about her touch. She was seeking. It was a reach out in faith to Jesus as the one who could save her. It was personal. And it changed everything. This beautiful scene of peaceful commissioning is seemingly cut short. Luke 8:49-53 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. The people bringing this news think that all hope his gone. No need to bother Jesus anymore, she’s gone. They didn’t have faith that he could do anything else. People in the first century knew how to properly identify when someone was deceased. Jesus

THINGS WE LOSE  KEYS PHONE REMOTE WALLET GLASSES (DO YOU ALL ORDER THESE IN BULK LIKE US?) WHICH ONE IS MOST STRESSFUL TO YOU?  AVERAGE TIME  WE SPEND 5:20 SECONDS SEARCHING FOR EACH ITEM THINGS WE SPEND MORE TIME ON?   KEYS UMBRELLA PASSPORT WALLET ID (WHICH SHOULD PROBABLY BE IN YOUR WALLAT) NO 1 MOST LOST ITEM  US- REMOTE UK-KEYS SUNDAY   TOP DAY TO LOSE YOUR PHONE IMPORTANT DATE IN HISTORY  NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SLIDE 10: 8 BILLION  PLANET EARTH BROKE THE 8 BILLION POPULATION THINK ABOUT THAT STAGGERING NUMBER MORE PEOPLE ALIVE ON THE PLANET THAN EVER SCRIPTURE MARK 5:1-2  They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. IMPURE SPIRIT-TROUBLE CAME FROM THE TOMBS (UNCLEAN- CAN’T DEAL) SCRIPTURE MARK 5:3-4     3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.  SCRIPTURE MARK 5:5-6     5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.   HULK  I DON’T KNOW WHAT/WHO ELSE TO IMAGINE LOOKED LIKE THIS PROBABLY? SCRIPTURE MARK 5:7-8     7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”  SCRIPTURE MARK 5:9-10  9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.  JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES CROSS LAKE JESUS LEAVES THIS AREA LANDS OVER HERE. DECAPOLIS MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES VIDEO BOY FISHING  EXCITEMENT IN THE BOY EXCITEMENT IN THE FAMILY AROUND HIM COMMUNITY IS CRUCIAL IN KINGDOM DAD SAYS “I CAN WANNA HELP YOU” SCRIPTURE LUKE 15:4     4. “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?   WHO IS JESUS TALKING TO HERE? JESUS IS TALKING TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS NONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE SHEEP THEY LOOKED DOWN ON SHEPHERDS JESUS IS SAYING TO THEM-YOU MISSED IT YOU ARE THE LEADERS/YOU ARE THE SHEPHERDS LAST WEEK THE MAIN QUESTION WAS THIS: WHO IS YOUR ONE?      THIS WEEKS QUESTION IS DIFFERENT.   SCRIPTURE MARK 3:9     9. “BECAUSE OF THE CROWD HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO HAVE A SMALL BOAT READY FOR HIM, TO KEEP THE PEOPLE FROM CROWDING HIM.”  SCRIPTURE MARK 3:20    20. “THEN JESUS ENTERED A HOUSE, AND AGAIN A CROWD GATHERED, SO THAT HE AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO EAT.”  JMU FOOTBALL CELEBRATION  EVERYBODY LOVES A CROWD (MOST EVERYONE) OH WE LOVE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE (PACKED) ENERGY-EXCITEMENT PACKED ARENA FOR A PHILLIES GAME CROWDS GATHER- DISCIPLES FOLLOW JESUS IS SAYING TO HIS GUYS YOU WILLING TO LEAVE THE CROWDS? YOU WILLING TO WALK AWAY FROM THE YOU WILLING TO LET GO SO WE CAN LET’S GO? THE REAL QUESTION THIS WEEK IS DIFFERENT-   LAST WEEK WAS DO YOU HAVE A ONE?   THIS WEEK IT’S- WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GO THROUGH TO GET TO YOUR ONE?   JESUS IS IMMERSED/SWAMPED BY CROWDS DISCIPLES ARE IN IT JESUS “HEY GUYS GET A BOAT- WE GOING TO OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE.” HUH? MUST BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING BIGGER CROWDS SCRIPTURE MARK 4:35-36  34. “THAT DAY WHEN EVENING CAME, HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.” LEAVING THE CROWD BEHIND, THEY TOOK HIM ALONG, JUST AS HE WAS, IN THE BOAT. THERE WERE ALSO OTHER BOATS WITH HIM.” 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him  SCRIPTURE MARK 8:1-2  During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. THIS IS JESUS 3RD TRIP TO THE DECAPOLIS HE LANDED TO MEET 1 IN CHAPTER 7 THERE IS A SMALL GATHERING IN CHAPTER 8- WHATS THE HEADING? 4000 NOT INCLUDING WOMEN/CHILDREN COULD BE AS MANY AS 7-10 THOUSAND?  SCRIPTURE MARK 5:19   

https://www.bible.com/events/49304128 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock For One -Part 2 East Rock There is no such thing as too far gone... Last week we began a new 4-part teaching series called “For One”. Throughout this teaching series we are seeking to know and understand the power of Jesus’ one at a time pursuit of people. We believe that Jesus came to save the whole word, and that through his life, death, and resurrection, he has made the pathway to salvation and eternal life open to us. Jesus is for everyone. During his earthly ministry, many times we see Jesus fulfilling this worldwide redemption mission, one person at a time. Jesus is for one. So, what would it look like for you and I to adopt that same model for our lives? So many times, our focus is on our country or our community, and that’s not a bad thing. But what would it look like for us to be for one, like Jesus was? That’s what Jesus did, and it transformed the lives of many people in the gospels. Even the ones who seemed too far gone. Luke 8:26-27 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. Our teaching text begins with a note about some travel plans that establish the location for the story. Earlier in this voyage at sea, Jesus and his disciples had encountered a great storm. Just before our text in chapter 8, we find the miracle of Jesus calming the wind and the waves with only a word. The disciples are in such a fierce storm they are afraid for their lives. They grab Jesus and beg that he would do something. Jesus speaks and immediately the sea and storm were calm, and the disciples wonder among themselves, “Who is this guy that can even control the wind and the waves?” Our text at verse 26 continues that same trip, with an arrival on shore. There Jesus receives a shocking welcome from a demon possessed man. For a long time, this man had lived in the graveyard naked, making his home among the graves. The gospel of Mark records that this man was heard screaming out day and night. Luke 8:28-29 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. All other attempts had failed at restraining this man had failed. The evil spirits that had possessed him had such control and power over him that he was able to break free from chains. Yet, at the very presence of Jesus, these evil spirits know they are outmatched, they are done. What this passage illustrates is the immense power of Jesus over the most seemingly uncontrollable forces in this man’s life. Luke 8:30-33 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. Much study and attention has gone into the details of this demonic oppression. How many demons? How did this happen? What does it mean today? And to be sure, there is a time a place for those questions. But what I want us to focus on today is the ultimate power and authority of Jesus over every single evil spirit. The demons were so sure of their immanent judgement and destruction, they are literally begging Jesus over and over, not to cast them back to the Abyss. Commentator Darrel Bock says: “Jesus may have been outnumbered, but he was certainly not outmatched.” Luke 8:34-37 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. When the people of the town came out to see this crazy story about the demon possessed man, what they found was a brand-new man, redeemed and restored, sitting at the feet of Jesus. The word at the end of verse 36 that says “had been cured”. In the original language that literally means “saved” or to be made whole. He wasn’t cured from a disease- He was rescued and re-made

· COTN WILL YOU COME FIND ME IF IM DROWNING? · WILL COME RESCUE ME? · KEVIN COSTNER- RIGHT AT THE END/GRADUATION · MEN/WOMEN- BEEN TRAINED TO PUT THEIR LIVES IN PERIL · TO GO AFTER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS TO RESCUE LOST INDIVIDUALS. · NOT ALL LOST INDIVIDUALS DID IT ON PURPOSE · THIS WEEK WE BEGIN A SERIES CALLED FOR ONE · IF YOU LEAVE TODAY AND YOU MISS THE POINT · 1912 HOPE DIAMOND PURCHASED FOR 180,000 · 1949 HARRY WINSTON PURCHASES IT · 1958 HE DONATES IT TO THE SMITHSONIAN · 45.5 CARROTS- PURE BLUE DIAMOND · SENDS IT IN REGULARD MAIL- BROWN PACKAGE · 145.29 SEND IT/2.44 WAS THE POSTAGE PART AND IT WAS INSURED FOR 1 MILLION DOLLARS. · ESTIMATED WORTH TODAY IS 350 MILLION “MAIL CARRIER SAID I JUST DIDN’T WANNA LOSE IT” IT WAS A PRIVALEGE TO CARRY SOMETHING SO VALUABLE. WE’VE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH SOMETHING GREATER THE EXTRAORDINARY HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THE ORDINARY. TODAY I WANT TO TALK TO YOU UNTIL ONE WE WILL LAND IN LUKE 15- BUT START IS LUKE 14 YOU HAVE TO GET THE CONTEXT AND SETTING BEFORE WE GET TO LUKE 15. · LOST OPPORTUNITY · LOST PRIORITY · LOST SHEEP · LOST COIN · LOST SON 4 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. 5. “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say. 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room. · LOST OPPORTUNITY · LOST PRIORITY · LOST SHEEP · LOST COIN · LOST SON 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. Luke 15:2 2.But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” LUKE 15:3-4 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? LUKE 15:5-6 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  LUKE 15:7 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (MORE) SLIDE 10: PICTURE OF SHEPHERD AND SHEEP · SHEEP WONDER (THOUGH THIS SAYS LOST) · SHEEP GET INJURED · SHEEP NEED LED/FED AND RESCUED · RELATIONSHP MATTERS HERE-TRUST · SHEEP WEIGHS 70 LBS · BOND TO CARRY LIKE THIS  LUKE 15:8 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  LUKE 15:9 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ LUKE 15:10 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. FOR ONE BUT THE ONE WENT FROM 1 OUT OF 100 SHEEP-VALUABLE-YES 1 OUT OF 10 COINS- MORE VALUABLE 1 OUT OF 2 SONS- MOST VALUABLE · MIDDLE EASTERN CULTURE HEAD BAND · RING FINGER · PEOPLE WOULD SEE HER HEAD BAND AND KNOW · SHE LOVES ANOTHER · SHE BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE · THIS BEING MISSING COULD SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE REPEATED WORDS IN LUKE 15 IN THESE 2 PARABLES UNTIL. ONE REJOICE MATTHEW 28:16 16. THEN THE ELEVEN DISCIPOLES WENT TO GALILEE, TO THE MOUNTAIN WHERE JESUS HAD TOL

https://www.bible.com/events/49300460 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock For One -Part 1 East Rock Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? John 5:1-9 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, Have you ever noticed Jesus’ focus on just one person in this story? Think about it, the teaching text says that there were a “great number” gathered around this pool. But we have no record of Jesus engaging with any of the other people here, performing any other miracles, or teaching any other lessons. We see Jesus preaching to crowds, feeding thousands in other places, but this story is about a one-on-one encounter that changed everything for this man. I want to welcome you to our new teaching series called For One. Throughout this series we will seek to know and understand the power of the Lord’s one at a time pursuit of people. Our goal is not only that we would know the stories, but that we would adopt Jesus’ one at a time approach in our lives. Often our focus is on the many. Our nation, our community, our family, and to be sure, that is a good thing. But the goal of this series is that together we will ask the Lord to give us just ONE person that we would pray specifically for. And not just pray for them, but that we would literally interrupt out days, our plans, yes, our lives to see them come to know Christ. That’s what Jesus did, and we want to join him. We want to be for one, because in the kingdom of God, one is worth it all. Luke 15:1-2 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” As more and more of “those people” are coming to hear Jesus, the local religious folks begin to voice their disapproval. They don’t think a prophet or a teacher like Jesus should be keeping company with notorious sinners. God’s prevenient grace was at work drawing people in and not everyone was excited about that. The religious leaders thought he should keep his distance from those people, he certainly shouldn’t be sharing meals with them. But what becomes clear is that they don’t know God’s heart for his poeple. Luke 15:3-6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ Rather than a direct rebuke for their self-righteous murmurings, Jesus tells a story to help the religious leaders understand His heart for the one. The story begins with a man who owns 100 sheep. One of these sheep wonders away, getting lost from the rest flock. Now from a practical standpoint, this is no big deal. 99% the sheep are still right there, doing fine. But this ONE lost sheep causes the man to take action. The only explanation for this reckless accounting is that the man LOVES his sheep. We arent told what the search involves, but we are told how long it takes. Don’t miss that key word of determination in the search: "The man looked for it UNTIL it was found." This wasn’t a quick look over the ridge, a convenient whistle here and there- whatever it took, however long it lasted, he searched until the sheep was found. When he finally finds this sheep the shepherd puts the wondering sheep on his shoulders and carries it back to the flock. When he arrives back home, he calls his friends and neighbors to help him celebrate the safe return of this one sheep. The man literally throws a party to celebrate. All for one sheep who wondered away. While this makes a compelling and heartwarming farming story, that wasn’t the point. Remember, Jesus is telling this story to make a point. Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. The tax collectors and the sinners that the religious folks were looking down on, who were murmuring about- they wer

http://bible.com/events/49297097 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg The Light & Sword: The Truth of the Bible - Harrisonburg Today's speaker is Brian Charette. After a long career at James Madison University, Brian has been on our church staff helping with the transition between lead pastors. He'll retire in September. He and his family are long-time members of our church. His wife Pam serves on the church board. He does fill-in preaching for us on an occasional basis. What do you believe about the Bible? How does that belief impact you? 2 Timothy 3:10-16 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, Psalms 119:103-105 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Pastor Billy - August 4, 2024 "My great concern for you today and for the church today and for our world and the culture in which we’re living comes from the shocking reality that according to the Barna Research Group, as of 2023, 68% of Americans identified as Christians. And if the data stopped there, that might be encouraging. But of those 68% only 6% hold a biblical worldview. Therein lies my concern." Many Evangelical Christians have accelerated the drift away from commitment to the Bible. > 82% only read their Bibles on Sunday at church. > For a person to consider themselves a "frequent" user of the Bible, they would need to read the Bible just 4 times per year. > 22% believe the Bible is inspired by God. Those scholars who argue in defense of the Bible tend to use one or more of three descriptive words: Inspired – that the Bible is the word of God and the words of God Infallible – that it declares truth consistently, Genesis to Revelation Inerrant – That there are no errors in truth, no deceit, no lies, no mistakes or contradictions that impact meaning. (Which is particularly true in the manuscripts in the originally languages.) Harold Lindsell The Battle for the Bible The very nature of inspiration renders the Bible infallible, which means that it cannot deceive us. It is inerrant in that it is not false, mistaken, or defective. Inspiration extends to all parts of the written Word of God, and it includes the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit even in the selection of the words of Scripture. Moreover, the Bible was written by human and divine agencies; that is, it was the product of God and chosen men. The authors of scripture retained their own styles of writing and the Holy Spirit, operating within this human context, so superintended the writing of the Word of God that the end product was God's. Just as Jesus had a human and a divine nature, one of which was truly human and the other truly divine, so the written word of God is a product that bears the marks of what is truly human and truly divine. Matthew 4:1-4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” From the Introduction to the Gideon Bible This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, t

https://www.bible.com/events/49297693 Church of the Nazarene - East Rock Christ Above All: Hebrews Part 9 - East Rock The heartbeat of the Book of Hebrews is the ultimate supremacy of Christ over all. Today we are concluding our summer teaching series in the book of Hebrews called “Christ Above All”. Hebrews was written to a persecuted group of Christians in or around the city of Rome, and under the pressure of the moment, they were tempted to return to their Jewish roots to escape the persecution that came with the name of Jesus. But as we find in the letter itself, the author has gone to great lengths to show these weary Christians that Christ is better than anything else they can turn to- they shouldn’t give up on him. The message from the writer of Hebrews is loud and clear: “There’s no life in the old way of doing things. The only source of salvation is Christ alone. He is above all.” As chapter 13 brings the letter to a finish, the author applies the truth of Christ above all to the every day aspects of life for his readers. Hebrews 13:1-3 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. The first commands of Hebrews 13 is right in line with what Jesus said in some of his farewell words: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” In just three short verses, we have been commanded to love those we know, to show hospitality to those we don’t, and to remember those who would be easy to forget. What we believe about Jesus should show up in how we love those around us. This is quite the farewell, and he’s just getting started. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. The covenant relationship between one man and one woman, as God has prescribed in his word, should be honored by all. The word honor here has the idea of respect, cherish, something of value. “The marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” The term “marriage bed” here is an idiom for the sexual relationship- and that is to be kept pure, as God has designed. God’s judgement is assured to all those who would violate their marriage vows, or by any who would engage in sexual activity outside of marriage. God has designed the covenant of marriage to be the sacred and holy space where our sexual desires are expressed and enjoyed together. So, our sexuality is not a matter of preference, or pleasure, but of God’s design. As if this farewell address wasn’t feeling awkward enough at this point, the author continues on into another touchy subject… Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” The author is encouraging his people to keep a proper perspective on money. Not to give themselves over to the pursuit of wealth at the expense of their focus on Christ. Quoting from Deuteronomy and the Psalms the author calls the people of God to focus on the promises of God and his gracious provision in our lives. With the Lord as our helper, we do not need to fear. This is the source of true contentment. Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Much like the Hall of Faith from Chapter 11, the author again encourages his audience to remember the faithfulness of the leaders who shared the gospel message with them. To consider not only their message but their life, allowing both to be a model for their own. That Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever is a reminder that the same Jesus that was preached to them then, is the same Jesus with them now. Their circumstances may have changed, but Jesus has not. Verses 9 through 14 contain a warning that they would not fall victim to false teachings, especially those that were appealing to their Jewish roots, and that they would live with a resolute focus on the eternal reality of God’s kingdom through Christ. Just as Christ suffered reproach at the hands of the Jewish leaders, so would they. Living a life that declares Christ above all, will draw persecution and pressure. As we continue in verse 15 the author moves to give farewell guidance about worship and sacrifice offered to God. Hebrews 13:15-19 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Have confidence in

https://www.bible.com/events/49295234 But, What is a Christian? - Harrisonburg Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! There is a lot of confusion today in our culture on what a Christian really is. Statistics tell the shocking truth of where we find ourselves. Will we step back and examine the word of God as our authority to see if indeed we pass the test? Are you a Christian by cultural definition or according to God's word and work? Charles Spurgeon “Discernment is not the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.” Disciple vs. Christian (Andrew Stroud) The name “Christian,” meaning “belonging to Christ,” appears to have been invented by those outside of the church. It was most likely meant as a derogatory term by the way it was used in the NT. If you’re not actively learning from Jesus or living for him, you can still call yourself a Christian and most people won’t bat an eye. But calling yourself a disciple changes things. It gives you something bigger than yourself to live into. By definition a disciple is someone who is actively learning and living as a follower of someone else, or of some set of teachings. By calling yourself a disciple of Jesus you are declaring that you’re living for him. And that’s powerful! John 10:3-5, 14-16, 27 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Robert Bortins CEO Classical Conversations 1/2/24 A shocking statistic from Barna’s research shows that the majority of Americans consider themselves to be Christians (68%), but only 6% of them have a biblical worldview. This data clearly shows that although many people identify as Christians, most have no idea what it means to actually be a Christian. These people could be referred to as cultural Christians, which are individuals that claim to be Christian but instead are shaped and molded by the world rather than by God’s holy Word. As a result, America’s spiritual health has been cursed by cultural Christianity Calling ourselves Christians but chasing after the world (cultural Christianity) won’t get anyone through the narrow door, because in the end chasing after the world is a wide pathway that leads to eternal destruction. As Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Matthew 7:13-14, 21 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” Be with Jesus Become like Jesus Do what Jesus did John Mark Comer “The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who…are identified as “Christians” will become disciples—students, apprentices, practitioners—of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of Heaven into every corner of human existence.” John 3:3-5 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity The Christian way is different:harder and easier. Christ says ‘ Give me All. I don’t want so much if your time and so much of your money and so much of your work. I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have t

Who Is Jesus: The Last Adam  Today, we are exploring the name attributed to Jesus, The Last Adam. Starting in Genesis, we will learn how Jesus fulfilled and completed what Adam was intended to do. We will see the parallels between Adam and Jesus in that they both had God for their Father, and both had the Spirit of God empowering them, but Adam failed to live faithful to what God commanded, and Jesus lived in complete obedience to God and competed the mission.  In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for Breath, Spirit, and Wind is the single word, “ruach”. All through the Old Testament, we see how God breathed “ruach” into Adam and others who he wanted to use for a special purpose.   God Breathed Life into Adam  “Then the Lord God formed a man (Literally, Adam) from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Gen. 2:7  When Adam and Eve sinned, they really did die. The Spirit that God put in them was removed. Throughout the Old Testament, we find multiple examples of how God did give his Spirit to certain individuals to empower them for a certain task or purpose. The most prominent examples are Joseph, Joshua, Samson, Saul, and David.  Sin and the Spirit (breath) of God cannot reside in the same place.  The Prophets prophesied that a Messiah would come to redeem Israel. They assumed that the Messiah would restore the Nation of Israel, but God’s plan was much bigger. He was actually restoring, through Jesus, for all humanity, what was lost in Eden.  “I will pour out my spirit (ruach) on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants, in those days, I will pour out my spirit (ruach).” Joel 2:28  The Spirit “ruach” would rest on the promised Messiah  “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit (ruach) of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit (ruach) of wisdom and of understanding,  The Spirit (ruach) of counsel and of might, the Spirit (ruach) of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:1-2.  In the New Testament, which was written in Greek, the word for Breath, Spirit, and Wind is the single word, “pneuma”.  The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus  “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit (pneuma) descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit (pneuma), left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit (pneuma) into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1  The Garden of Eden and the Baptism/Temptation of Jesus are parallel stories  But where Adam failed, Jesus did not fail.   Adam and Eve were filled with the Spirit of God, but they failed to resist the Temptation to Sin.  Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God, and he did not sin.  Satan triumphed over Adam in the Garden.  But Jesus triumphed over Satan in the Wilderness and would ultimately triumph over death and hell as well.  This is the beginning of the end of Satan’s power over people.  Jesus explains what being filled with the Spirit is all about to Nicodemus  “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”  Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit (pneuma). Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit (pneuma) gives birth to spirit (pneuma). You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind (pneuma) 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 (pneuma).” John 3:4-8  WHAT IS THE NEW BIRTH – IT IS THE RESTORATION OF THE BREATH OF GOD THAT WAS FIRST GIVEN IN CREATION, BUT LOST IN THE FALL.  Jesus breathes on his disciples after his resurrection  “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit (pneuma).” John 20:19-22  The Spirit of God is restored to his people  “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled t

https://www.bible.com/events/49291217 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Christ Above All: A Study in Hebrews Part 8 Hebrews 12:4-8 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Hebrews 12:4-8 In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off big-time, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. Many would agree that one of the most difficult parts of parenting is disciplining your children. As I read the scripture in Chapter 12, I realize that the writer of Hebrews is pulling out some of the very same phrases that we use as parents when talking about God's discipline. 1. "I'm doing this because I love you!" Disciple is in the word discipline. Discipleship means discipline. Without discipline, we can't be disciples. God is a disciplinarian, and the discipline that He provides is because He has a person al relationship with us. He loves us! God's discipline comes from a place of protection and love, not condemnation. Proverbs 3:11-12 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. 2. "Rules are there or a reason, and this is for your own good." Boundaries and rules from the Lord are not designed to suck all fun out of life, they're to protect us and keep us holy. Hebrews 12:18-19 You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. 3. I'm not asking you to like it. I am asking you to obey. One day you will understand. -The word trained in the greek means vigorous exercise. Hebrews 12:11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. The late Tom Landry, Former coach of the Dallas Cowboys said this, "The job of a coach is to make players do what they don'y want to do in order to achieve what they've always wanted to be." An athlete must strive to improve their abilities. The understand that the suffering is temporary compared to the gain and reward they receive afterwards. Likewise, our spiritual lives can flourish when we recognize challenges as signs of God's guidance and discipline. No Pain, No Gain! "The fact that He doesn't allow us to stray away from Him is love in action. He doesn't ignore us, He comes after us to keep us right in His sight." - Pastor Kerry WIllis Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. We can react to discipline in 3 ways. Resist It Accept it Grudgingly Embrace it willingly ( 5 Truths about God’s Discipline, Rick Ezell) "When God disciples us, He isn't getting back at us. He is drawing us back to Him." (Rick Ezell) God's chastening is not His rejection, It's proof of His great love for us. 4. "It hurts me more than it hurts you!" How can we possi

Church of the Nazarene - East Rock https://www.bible.com/events/49291217 Christ Above All: Hebrews Part 8 - East Rock The heartbeat of the Book of Hebrews is the ultimate supremacy of Christ over all. Today we are continuing our summer teaching series in the book of Hebrews called “Christ Above All”. Hebrews was written to a persecuted group of Christians in or around the city of Rome, and under the pressure of the moment, they were tempted to return to their Jewish roots to escape the persecution that came with the name of Jesus. But as we find in the letter itself, the author has gone to great lengths to show these weary Christians that Christ is better than anything else they can turn to- they shouldn’t give up on him. The message from the writer of Hebrews is loud and clear: “There’s no life in the old way of doing things. The only source of salvation is Christ alone. He is above all.” As chapter 12 begins the pastoral heart of the author shines through in encouragement and exhortation. Hebrews 12:5-6 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” When we hear about discipline, our mind fills with memories, and it can make it more challenging for us to receive the good news of God’s discipline. We need to be aware that we are coming with “pre-loaded” thoughts and feelings about it In the face of real challenge and difficulty the author is inviting us to see things differently, through the lens of what God can do through difficult seasons. To see the trials and tribulations of life as opportunities for God’s grace to transform us into the image of Christ Jesus, to grow us in holiness. Hebrews 12:4-6 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” “The Lord disciplines the one he loves” To help unpack this text, we need to do some quick word study work because in this verse there are two different Greek words that are translated as discipline. The first word translated discipline sounds like "pie-die-ah" in the Greek. This has in view the whole training and education of children. Cultivating and shaping their mind and morals. It includes commands, admonitions, and punishments to accomplish this development. In our vernacular, I would say it’s akin to “upbrining” The second word translated discipline sounds lik “pie-doo-oh”. It carries the idea of chastisement or punishment in order to shape the character of others. It’s the more specific action taken within the greater framework of a good upbringing. The author has established his dialogue about discipline within the context of relationship with God. We are God’s children and as God’s kids we should expect his training and discipline, His active involvement in our upbringing. The author quickly moves to apply this truth to their current situation. Hebrews 12:7-8 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. The author is challenging his audience to see their suffering, the challenges and pain they are experiencing through a different perspective. Rather than something to run from, to avoid at all costs, or even to despise. They are called to see those things as opportunities for God to grow them, as God’s discipline. That’s how the heavenly Father grows and matures his children. The author doesn’t say God CAUSES these things, God does not author evil. But, in his sovereignty, he does allow it, and what the author wants us to see is that God will use these things for our growth and our good, if we will submit to him. And it’s this discipline, this up brining by God that is the proof that we are in fact children of God. So often we think we are facing challenges because God is mad at us, or that he has forgotten us. But we are called to remember that God can use these things to grow and mature us. Hebrews 12:9-11 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been