The LORD is My Shepherd
A Vision of Heaven
Jesus’ Message to the Church in Philadelphia
Living with Realism and Hope in our Time
Read: Matthew 24:1-14
“The application for us as we face a new year is, “Do not be complacent. Do not take it for granted that you are not being pulled into the current of worldly thinking and worldly living. Think very seriously about your life and values and priorities in the light of biblical teaching.” One of the common themes of the best Christian literature on this subject is that the only Christians who will survive in the current environment are those who go deep – that is those who are serious about their relationship with the Lord...”
Comfort for the New Year (2)
Read: Romans 8:1-17; 28
“God works all things together for our ultimate good. And our ultimate good is not a life of ease and this-worldly comfort. Our ultimate good is being right with God and growth in holiness and godliness. Our ultimate good has to do with growing in the knowledge of God and in faith and love and submission to God. Our ultimate good has to do with learning not to be overly attached to the comforts and pleasures of this life and learning to enjoy the greater and deeper pleasures of loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.”
Comfort for the New Year (1)
“There is something very precious about belonging to Jesus Christ and belonging to God the Father. When we belong to God, we matter to God. Jesus bought us with a price. God the Father chose us to be his treasured possession. He has adopted us into his own family. We are important to God. We are significant to God. We are loved by God. Because we belong to him in these different ways we know that we have value in his sight. And this is something that matters a great deal.”
Joseph’s Wife and Sons
Read: Genesis 41:37-57
Two Realities
Read: Job 42
James 5:7-11
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Read: Mark 6:45-56
Text: Verses 45-52