Most of us have been distracted at one point in our life. We forgot our training, the power of those who’ve gone before us, and what we’ve learned. As we move into Hebrews 12:1-3, the author teaches us to remember those who’ve gone before us. He helps to draw our attention back to what is most important. He also exhorts us to throw off the sin that entangles us. Finally we are encouraged to keep our eyes on Jesus. So often we are distracted and fail to think of the great things in God. Listen in as Pastor Neal talks about keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus in a world full of distractions.
Hebrews 11 focuses on living a life of faith when we can’t see the outcome. Faith is growing all around us. The end of Hebrews 11 focuses on growing in our faith when we are faced with suffering. The author makes a unique shift here. It’s an interesting topic to study this because we avoid suffering at all cost. We don’t want to suffer. We like our comfortable lives but God meets us in times of suffering. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on how our faith grows most in suffering from Hebrews 11:32-40.
We continue through the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11:7-31. In this sermon, we are encouraged to live according to God's Word, leaving behind a legacy of faith in the likeness of those who have gone before us. We are reminded that the "Faith Heroes" of Hebrews 11 aren't on some other level than us, but that they too lived everyday lives as we do today. Would we be reminded to know God's Word, and to respond to God's Word by faith in the way we live our lives.
Many people have called Hebrews 11 “The Hall of Faith.” And rightly so, as the chapter outlines the great heroes of the faith that we read about in the Old Testament. The chapter starts out with what most people think of the definition of faith but is really the description of faith. Sometimes we think of what faith is not, instead of acting on our faith and living it out. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on Hebrews 11:1-6 and explains how faith comes from hearing the word of God.
As we wrap up Hebrews 10, we learn the importance of drawing near to God, holding on to hope and finding encouragement in community. Listen in as Pastor Doug Meye teaches us how perseverance is key in knowing Jesus.
Starting from the beginning of the book of Hebrews we’ve learned how Jesus is greater than the prophets, greater than angels, greater than Moses, greater than Joshua, greater than the Aaron, a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, established a new Covenant, and entered the heavenly tabernacle to pay for our sins. That summarizes the first thirteen weeks we spent in the book. Today we look at how Jesus is our perfect sacrifice. Listen in as Blaze McEntee teaches on the holiness of God from Hebrews 10:1-18.
The miraculous story of Jesus’ birth doesn’t end at the stable. That is where it all starts. After Jesus is born His parents now have the immense task of caring for Jesus. They need to protect Him from Herod, figure out where to live, and much more. The first angelic visits were just the beginning! An angel warns Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt and then gives details about when to return to Judea. Listen in as Blaze McEntee teaches from Matthew 2 and describes our need to find joy in worshipping the newborn king this year.
For many people Christmas is about the gifts, the parties, the sweaters, and the holiday food. But what if Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus? Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on Luke 2:1-20. Instead of focusing on the details like the location of Jesus’ birth, the name of Bethlehem, coming in the line of David, and all of the other details, he focused on something different. We will look at the “why” questions that we all ask: “Why was Jesus born in a stable?”, “Why was the message revealed to shepherds?” and “Why did the shepherds tell others?”
What comes to mind when you heard the word obedience? For some people, the first thing that comes to mind is disobedience! This week, in Family Portraits, we are looking at Joseph. Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus. This shows how much God trusted Joseph to care for His only Son. God could have chosen any couple; any mother and father to rear Jesus, but He choose Joseph. The news that Mary was pregnant must have been devastating to Joseph, but he handles it extraordinarily well. Listen in as Pastor Neal Benson teaches on how God leads us best when we obey Him most from Matthew 1:18-25.
Similar to the fun surprises that await during a White Elephant gift exchange, the Christmas Story in the Bible is full of surprises! Listen in as Pastor Doug Colby, from Ventura Missionary Church, shares with us all the unexpected people, events and details that are nothing like we would expect. These details are just one part of what makes the nativity of Jesus one of the most beautiful stories in all of human history.