Family Bible Church weekly message

* Jesus had just announced in Nazareth, his hometown, that He was the Messiah. But, the people there rejected Him. * Hence, Jesus transitions His base of operations to another location - Capernaum. * As we saw in His time in Nazareth, it was His custom to go to the Synagogue on Sabbath, and to teach. That is where we find Him, as we consider the beginning of His ministry in Capernaum. * In Luke's presentation of Jesus' Messianic ministry, he is going to reveal one of it's most important aspects immediately ... His authority. In this short passage that we are going to consider today, we see the reaction of those in Capernaum as they witness the authority of Jesus in a variety of manners.

* Our teaching time this morning was split into two parts, with our foundation being the symbolism behind one aspect of the Passover Seder meal that Jesus celebrated with His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion, namely the 3rd and 4th cups of wine. Jesus drank that 3rd cup with His disciples then, but refrained from drinking the 4th cup, promising to do it in the future with all who have followed Him through the ages as Savior and Redeemer. The drinking of that 4th cup to also be done during a very special meal, namely the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. * So, two cups and two suppers, both hosted by King Jesus, the lamb of God that has taken away the sins of the world.

* Up unto this point in our study of the Gospel according to Luke, we have been considering the Preparation of Christ's Ministry. We have considered birth and ministry of the Forerunner of the Messiah, and we have considered the birth, immersion, genealogy, and temptation of the Messiah. * Today, we come to the point where Jesus publicly declares His Messianic Role to those with whom He had grown up.

* In our study of the Gospel account of Luke, we have considered Luke's description of the miraculous nature of both John's and Jesus' conception and birth, and the significance of John's ministry to the authentication of the Messianic claim of Jesus. * Today, in our study of the Gospel account of Luke, we will be considering the final section of Luke's foundation of Jesus' Messianic ministry - His Baptism, Genealogy, and Temptation.

* We have been studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke. * In the first message, we discussed Luke's purpose in writing this Gospel account - "That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed." * We then considered "Where" Luke chose to begin this account ... at the angelic proclamation to Zacharias regarding the birth of John. Luke believed that it was critical for the believer to understand the miraculous nature of John's birth and ministry. Indeed, later when Jesus was questioned by the Scribes regarding His authority, He would point them back to the ministry and testimony of John. * Today, we consider the Preparatory Ministry of John as the Forerunner of the Messiah.

* Four weeks ago, in our last message from the book of Luke, we saw the prophetic announcements of Simeon and Anna regarding he redemptive work of Christ. These announcements occurred 40 days after the birth of Jesus while Joseph and Mary were going to the Temple to present an offering for her purification according Levitical Law. * Today's passage carries us up to when Jesus was twelve years old. * As we consider the passage today, the major question that I am forced to ask myself is: "Where would I be found if others were looking for me?" * Today, we consider the importance, and priority, of the Word of God in our lives. * This message was presented on March 31, 2024 by Bob Corbin.

* As we approach our spring week of Prayer and Fasting, I felt compelled of the Lord to spend two weeks focusing on the importance of prayer in the life of the saints. Though prayer is one of the most critical aspects of the life of the believer and the church, it seems to take the least priority in the lives of many believers and churches. * Last week, we focused upon The Posture of Prayer. Though we are adopted by God and afforded the privilege of calling Him: "Abba," yet, He is still the Holy God who is the Creator, Sustainer, and Judge of the Universe - and of all mankind. Hence, though I may boldly enter into His presence because of the blood of Jesus, I must always remember: He is the Potter and I am the clay. There must be an attitude (or posture) of humbleness, and not arrogance or pride as I come before His throne. In the Scriptures, this attitude is conjoined with a physical posture of kneeling before Him. In fact, this posture is embedded into the Hebrew word (shakhah) and Greek word (prosku

* Our spring week of Prayer and Fasting is Monday-Friday, March 25-29. * Prayer is one of the most critical aspects of the life of the believer and, hence, the life of the church. Yet, it seems to take the least priority in the lives of many believers and churches. * This week, I was burdened by the Lord to teach two messages regarding the important impact of prayer. Hence, Lord willing, over the next two weeks we will be considering The Posture of Prayer and The Warfare of Prayer. * By definition, "Prayer" is "A reverent petition made to God, a god, or another object of worship. ... An act of communion with God, a god, or another object of worship." Communion is defined as: "The act or an instance of sharing, as of thoughts or feelings. Religious or spiritual fellowship." * The Bible is filled with many "balances" for our Christian walk (e.g. predestination v. free will; the perseverance of the saints v. the preservation of the saints). My definition of prayer reflects another of those balances; prayer

* Dan Nave is the Executive Director of Southeast Church Extension whose mission is to help struggling churches get healthy and healthy churches reproduce. Dan provided an expositor message from a prayer of the Apostle Paul for the church of Ephesus. * Paul shared an emphatic prayer on behalf of the church of Ephesus. He prayed that Christ would be able to be at home in their lives and that they would be able to comprehend the incomprehensible: the love of Christ! He closes his prayer with a doxology of praise to the God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think! * This message was presented on March 10, 2024 by Dan Nave.

* Last week, we considered the third Angelic Announcement, recorded in the book of Luke, regarding the Messianic nature of He who was born: Jesus of Nazareth! God was doing a work, through ordinary people, that marveled all of those who witnessed the rippling effects of these proclamations. The message was magnified through those who were at birth and naming of John, and those who heard the testimony of the shepherds. * Today, we transition to the next phase of God's proclamation of Jesus' Messianic claim - the prophetic announcements of Simeon and Anna. These occur during the process of Joseph and Mary fulfilling the Law regarding Jesus' birth. Leviticus 12:2-6 gives us the details of the Law regarding a woman giving birth to a son. The child was to be circumcised on the eighth day and then the woman was to present an offering for her purification on the 40th day. Hence, our passage today is 40 days after the birth of Jesus. * This message was presented on March 3, 2024 by Bob Corbin.

* This is the seventh message in our series on the book of Luke. Up until this point, we have been considering what many would consider preliminary information, but that which Luke determined to be integral to the redemptive purpose of Christ. The ministry of John - preparing the way of YHWH - was one of the chief validations of the Messianic claim of Jesus of the Nazareth (cf. Matthew 21:23-27) * Last week, we considered the numerous prophecies declaring how Christ would come - born of a virgin; born of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David; born in Bethlehem; taken to Egypt; and raised in Nazareth. We considered how He would be preceded by a forerunner and that He would proclaim liberty to captives and heal the blind. We considered as well how it was prophesied that He would be crucified - that His hands and feet would be pierced, that His side would be pierced and that His bones would not be broken. We saw that it was prophesied that He would be betrayed by a friend and that it would

* We have spent the first five weeks of our study of Luke's account of the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ, examining the preliminary events leading up to His life and ministry! We have seen how God sent Gabriel to both Zacharias and Mary declaring that God was going to bless them and use them in fulfilling His redemptive plan. * Last week, we considered the birth and naming of John. In that message, we considered the importance of John's miraculous birth as a sign, and testimony, to validate Jesus' as the coming Messiah. * However, apart from John's miraculous birth, there were many prophecies which would be fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus which substantially validate His claim as the Messiah. * Today, as we begin to consider chapter 2 of Luke's account, it begins with the phrase, "And it came to pass in those days ..." From the world's perspective things just seem to happen. However, from a theocentric understanding, we understand that God is, and has been, orchestr

* In Luke chapter 1 we have seen that Zacharias and Mary each were visited by the angel Gabriel with the message that God was going to bless them and use them in fulfilling His redemptive plan. Zacharias responded with doubt and wanted a sign to validate the message. Gabriel told him that he because he doubted, he would be mute until John was born. Mary, on the hand, received the message with fear and submitted willingly to God's desire in her life. * Two weeks ago we began to consider the events surrounding the birth of John by considering The Visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Another miracle occurred when the two women with miraculous pregnancies met! The approximately sixth month old "fetus" in Elizabeth's womb leapt for joy at presence of the less-than-a-month old fetus in Mary's womb! Elizabeth additionally recognized Mary as "The mother of my Lord!" As a result, Mary praised the mighty, holy and merciful God for scattering the proud, filling the hungry, and remembering His mercy (khesed) t

* As you know, we began an in-depth study of "The Gospel According to Luke" on December 31, and spent 3 of the 4 Sundays in January in chapter 1, taking a 1 week break for the visit by one of the missionaries we support. And while we originally planned to finish up chapter 1 this week, some unforeseen circumstances have created a need for us to take a 1-week detour into the fourth gospel, "The Gospel According to John". * Perhaps like no other time in history, this world increasingly encourages people to promote and serve themselves, especially here in the United States. But Jesus calls His followers to die to themselves by living lives of selfless servanthood. And when we do that effectively, we can have a major impact on the world because it builds unity in the body of Christ and helps draw non-believers to Jesus. * So this morning, we will be considering some secrets of selfless servanthood by looking at an event in John 13 that launched the final 18 hours or so of Jesus's earthly ministry immediately p

* As we have begun our study of Luke's orderly account of the life and ministry of Christ, we have seen the contrasting reception of Zacharias and Mary to wonderful prophetic messages of Gabriel. * Today, we see those prophetic messages begin to converge with the events surrounding the birth of John. * This message was presented on January 28, 2024 by Bob Corbin.

* Three weeks ago we began studying "The Gospel According to Luke." Luke's desire was to present an orderly account of the ministry of Jesus the Christ in order that those who heard could be assured of the verity of the testimony they had heard. * Two weeks ago, we saw that Luke began his orderly account with the Angelic Announcement to Zacharias regarding the birth of John. John needed a "sign" to truly believe the message that Gabriel was proclaiming to him. Therefore, Gabriel declared that John would be mute for the next nine months, until the birth of his son. * Today, we transition to another Angelic Announcement by Gabriel, this time to Mary. * This message was presented on January 21, 2024 by Bob Corbin.

* Last week we began studying "The Gospel According to Luke." Luke's desire was to present an orderly account of the ministry of Jesus the Christ in order that those who heard could be assured of the verity of the testimony they had heard. * Today, the goal is to examine the beginning of that orderly account. Luke, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, determined that the Good News of Jesus Christ coming into the world actually begins with the Angelic Announcement to Zacharias regarding the birth of John. * First, we consider the human vessels who God chose to use for this special privilege. Then, we consider Zacharias' interaction with Gabriel. * This message was presented on January 7, 2024 by Bob Corbin.

* Today, we begin a new series - a study of the Gospel According to Luke. * It has been well stated each of the Gospels seem to present Christ from a different "angle." Traditionally, most commentators declare that Matthew presents Jesus as "The Promised Messiah," Mark presents Him as "The Suffering Servant," Luke presents Him as "The Son of Man," and John presents Him as "The Son of God." * There were reasons why each of the writers wrote their gospel accounts. As we have considered each of these gospel accounts we have seen that indeed Matthew was a Jewish man writing to a Jewish audience about a Jewish Messiah. His focus was upon proving that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah by declaring the authenticity of His Messianic claim - through His genealogy, His miracles and signs, His teaching, and His resurrection. Mark, I believe, was writing Peter's account of the life of Christ after he was brought to Rome at the request of Paul. John declares that he was writing in order that those reading would "beli

* We have been considering the prophetic declaration of YHWH through Isaiah, regarding the coming of a man child - who would be called: Wonderful Counselor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace. Each of these names are direct references back to YHWH Himself. As He revealed elsewhere, YHWH was declaring that He would manifest Himself on the earth by becoming incarnate - taking on human flesh - and being born. * This prophecy in Isaiah 9 is part of a larger section which begins in chapter 7. YHWH declares His faithfulness to the tribe of Judah ... He would not allow Syria and Israel to gain victory over Judah. To reveal His faithfulness to King Ahaz, He told Ahaz to ask for a sign ... to which Ahaz self-righteously declares, "I will not ask, nor test YHWH." * YHWH declares that He, Himself, would then give a sign To The House of David - not to Ahaz! “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel.” (Is

* Happy Christmas Eve! If you've been with us either in person or via Zoom (or keeping up by listening to the messages on the various platforms where they are posted online), you know that we've been taking a deep dive into Isaiah 9:6 this month, with a focus on the four titles for Yahweh given in that verse ... Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And because Jesus is Yahweh (God in the flesh), these titles also find fulfilment in His two advents - the one we celebrate at Christmas (Feast of the Incarnation) and the one we are confidently waiting for. * As a quick review, Steve started us out 3 weeks ago by sharing the many ways that Yahweh is our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR. Among many other things, this title speaks to God's omnipotence and that His counsel is good and perfect and therefore worthy of our continual pursuit. * Then David focused our attention on the title MIGHTY GOD two weeks ago. He shared 3 key examples of God's might being displayed for His people, the greates