God's Design for Community Part 2

Children belong to the Lord. He gifts them to us as parents and empowers us to raise them, discipline them, and bless them, so that they experience, meaning, purpose, and life abundant! Our children belong to us, their parents. They do not belong to the church, the community, the schools, the state, or the nation. The church exists in part to empower and support parents. We are called to help protect parent’s rights to have and raise their children. As a church we will do this by the grace and wisdom of God who is Father of us all!

Biblical fatherhood is under attack and greatly diminished today. It has been undermined, demeaned, and deconstructed by those who want to rid themselves of God’s ways. However, we shall not be moved. We will stand our ground, celebrate, protect, and pass this essential institution of Biblical fatherhood on to the next generation. To all our fathers we say with resounding joy, utmost respect, honor, and with our deepest gratitude, Happy Father’s Day!

We have all hear the saying, "United we stand, divided we fall". It a saying that propels us to fulfill our calling and destiny together. If we as believers are going to rise, do the work of Messiah, and overcome evil, we must rediscover the principle of unity, how it operates, and how to safeguard it. This begins at the local level, in each congregation. Join us as we explore and apply the power of unity!

We are made to be in relationship with one another. As John Donne so powerfully stated, “No man is an island”! The serpent wants to alienate and isolate us knowing that in separation we will be diminished, deluded, and utterly lost. Jesus came to liberate us from the pain and chaos of alienation from God and each other. He gave us the Holy Spirit to connect us with God and each other. Through this we find we find redemption, community, meaning purpose and fulfillment. Join us as we explore our need for community. In part two of this teaching, we will focus on four building blocks for community.

We are made to be in relationship with one another. As John Donne so powerfully stated, “No man is an island”! The serpent wants to alienate and isolate us knowing that in separation we will be diminished, deluded, and utterly lost. Jesus came to liberate us from the pain and chaos of alienation from God and each other. He gave us the Holy Spirit to connect us with God and each other. Through this we find we find redemption, community, meaning purpose and fulfillment. Join us as we explore our need for community.

The Holy Spirit is God’s supernatural gift to everyone who believes in Jesus and makes Him their Lord and Savior. As believers, the Holy Spirit causes us to be born again and empowers us to live life in freedom and glory. It also gives enables us with supernatural gifts in order to carry on the mission and vision of Jesus for this alienated and lost world that we live in. There is nothing more thrilling than this Spirit filled life in Jesus! May we turn from our sins, believe in Jesus, be filled with the Holy Spirit and do the works that He did. This is our heritage and our legacy! Holy Spirit, you are welcome in our lives!

Motherhood is universally understood by all human beings, in all cultures, in all places, and in every generation from time immemorial. Today we will look a one of the mothers mentioned in the Scriptures. Like all mothers, she is faced with many challenges and yet overcomes them by her faith in God. She is one of many mothers in the Bible who are presented as role models for all woman who become mothers. To all our mothers we say with resounding joy, utmost respect, honor, and with our deepest gratitude, Happy Mother’s Day! You are loved, cherished, and indispensable to our community.

Everyone agrees that Pentecost marks the birth of the Church. However, few recognize that it was the first Pentecost at Sinai where its was birthed (acts 7:37-38). In addition to this first Pentecost, the second one ushered in the age of the outpoured Spirit. Thanks to Jesus, we (Jewish and Gentile believers) not only have the Torah written on our hearts, we have the fullness of the Spirit residing in us to empower us to fulfill the law in our lives! What an amazing holy day this is. Jesus , thank you for the Law and the Spirit!

When the prophet John saw Jesus he exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Who would have guessed that the Lamb that would be slain, would not only rise again, but would become King of kings and Lord of lords? The world who mocked Him, tortured Him, and crucified Him, would now answer to Him for what it did. But for those who would repent, humble themselves, and ask Him for forgiveness, to them He would bless, forgive, and redeem. Those whom He saved would be exalted as His children and join Him in ruling and reigning over creation. This is the story and glory of Passover and where it ultimately leads to.

In the month of spring when life emerges everywhere, God ordained that this would be the beginning of the year for His people. It is marked by an eight day celebration known as the week of Passover! It memorializes Jesus as savior, redeemer, and deliverer of Israel as well as all others who embrace Him as their Lord and Savior! This holy week is filled with joy, festivity, fellowship, and rest. Jesus is the reason for the season! It is all about Him, His people, and His redemption. Join us as we explore Jesus as the fulfillment of Passover.