Feb 2010
Pastor Rick Hudgens | Liar, Lunatic or Lord?
Sunday/Feb/2010 18:37
The 40 days of Lent are a time to remember and reflect
on Jesus’ journey to the cross. During Lent, many
of us set aside time for prayer and devotion, or give
up pleasures and conveniences, in order to draw nearer
to Christ's sufferings. This practice helps prepare our
hearts for the joy of Resurrection Sunday.
This
year, Lent began on February 17 and culminates on
Easter Sunday on April 4. We are going to take the
next four weeks to examine the great truths about
Jesus and the final days of his earthly ministry
from Luke Chapter 9. These 62 verses describe the
final phase of Jesus’ ministry when he sent
the disciples out in ministry. This is the final
tour of Galilee by Jesus and his disciples.
In his commentary on Luke chapter nine, Warren Wiersbe writes: Jesus is about to embark on His final “campaign” in Galilee before going to Jerusalem to die (v. 51). The background of this chapter is Matthew 9:35–38: His compassion for the multitudes and the desperate need for workers. How did Jesus respond to this challenge? He sent the apostles out to minister and prepared them in private for the ministry they would have after His return to glory. The Twelve still had a long way to go before they could assume places of leadership and service, but Jesus was patient with them, just as He is patient with us.
I believe in these verses that we will study over the next four weeks will share with us great truths about who Jesus is. Jesus... He claimed to be many things. He was called many things: Prophet; Teacher; Blasphemer; Friend of sinners; Son of Man; Son of David; Son of God. He said He was God. The way we see it, there are only three possibilities. He was a liar. He was a lunatic. Or He is Lord.
Listen
In his commentary on Luke chapter nine, Warren Wiersbe writes: Jesus is about to embark on His final “campaign” in Galilee before going to Jerusalem to die (v. 51). The background of this chapter is Matthew 9:35–38: His compassion for the multitudes and the desperate need for workers. How did Jesus respond to this challenge? He sent the apostles out to minister and prepared them in private for the ministry they would have after His return to glory. The Twelve still had a long way to go before they could assume places of leadership and service, but Jesus was patient with them, just as He is patient with us.
I believe in these verses that we will study over the next four weeks will share with us great truths about who Jesus is. Jesus... He claimed to be many things. He was called many things: Prophet; Teacher; Blasphemer; Friend of sinners; Son of Man; Son of David; Son of God. He said He was God. The way we see it, there are only three possibilities. He was a liar. He was a lunatic. Or He is Lord.
Listen
Pastor Rick Hudgens | Big Enough to Bless Me
Sunday/Feb/2010 14:33
How big is your God? Do you believe He is able to meet
your deepest needs? Help you overcome your past?
Strengthen you to face today’s challenges?
Unfortunately, for too many of us, our God is too
small. The goal of this series is to help you
rediscover the God of the Bible. Learn what the Bible
has to say about the character of God and fall in love
with the One who reigns supreme over heaven and earth.
Have you noticed that the word blessing is slowly going away from our modern vocabulary and has kind of gone out of favor for
a more secular word— luck? You can still hear it occasionally in certain context like when someone sneezes, or after someone has done a good deed, but it is often little more than a kind farewell. Some greeting card messages about having a "blessed Christmas" or "blessed birthday", echo with a nostalgic ring to them. Even today's believers who regard the word as having any real meaning to it rarely use it except on a special occasion.
Today Pastor Rick shares a simple message about the blessings of God. God is blessed by your tithe as an expression of your love and obedience to Him. The tithe is God’s property that we are required to return to Him; however an “offering” is that which we give voluntarily out of our own property after the tithe has been given. As we give our tithes, and give offerings above our tithe to God, He will continue to bless us and multiply our return as we worship in obedience to His commands.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should give what they have decided in their heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV
Listen
Have you noticed that the word blessing is slowly going away from our modern vocabulary and has kind of gone out of favor for
a more secular word— luck? You can still hear it occasionally in certain context like when someone sneezes, or after someone has done a good deed, but it is often little more than a kind farewell. Some greeting card messages about having a "blessed Christmas" or "blessed birthday", echo with a nostalgic ring to them. Even today's believers who regard the word as having any real meaning to it rarely use it except on a special occasion.
Today Pastor Rick shares a simple message about the blessings of God. God is blessed by your tithe as an expression of your love and obedience to Him. The tithe is God’s property that we are required to return to Him; however an “offering” is that which we give voluntarily out of our own property after the tithe has been given. As we give our tithes, and give offerings above our tithe to God, He will continue to bless us and multiply our return as we worship in obedience to His commands.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should give what they have decided in their heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV
Listen