Unless otherwise noted, the teachings below (2022) are from our Sunday Glendale Fellowship, 10:30am AZ time, currently meeting both in our home and via “phone.” Anyone is welcome to call in at: 339-207-8502 (no pin required), or join via the internet at this link – with the online meeting ID: maverdicchio (Please note, if you use T-Mobile, access via the internet.) This list includes the final teaching from 2021 (12/19/2021 Take Heed). There is a separate tab on the Home page for teachings from 2020, 2021. and 2022.
12/18/2022 The Wise Men From The East (46:30)
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The third event associated with the birth of Christ this time of year is the arrival of the wise men from the East. This morning we considered a number of exciting details about that event. Some of those details clash head on with traditions. We all have free will to believe what we choose to believe. Whatever you believe about the Magi does not affect your salvation. But if we’re sloppy in handling the Scriptures on matters that do not directly affect salvation and all God has given us in the new birth, how can we be sure that we won’t be sloppy when they do? And if we’re going to reach people with the Good News of what Jesus Christ accomplished for all of mankind, then how can we do that by promoting myths and fairy tales? A great question to always ask ourselves is, “Why do I believe what I believe?” Is it because of what someone else said, or, tradition? We can choose to believe what God has said in His Word by rightly understanding the Scriptures.
12/11/2022 Three Events (31:31)
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https://confidenceandjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/12-11-2022-Three-Events.mp3This time of year there you hear a lot about three events in the Bible that are related to the arrival of the savior of the world, our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The second event happened 9 months after the first event, and the third event happened a little over a year after the second event. God’s Word doesn’t have anything to say about Santa Claus, Frosty the snowman, or the little drummer boy. But His Word has some great details about the arrival of His Son, Jesus Christ! This morning we looked at the first two of those three events. Next Sunday we’ll dive into the third event.
12/4/2022 Our Inheritance (32:53)
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Many Christians believe and look forward to the return of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures speak very clearly that he is indeed coming back. We will be gathered together, in the twinkling of an eye, meet him in the clouds, and so shall we ever be with the lord. The Scriptures also speak of our inheritance when that glorious day arrives. Ephesians 1 tells us the spirit we received when we got born again is the earnest, the down payment of our inheritance. I Peter 1 tells us our inheritance is reserved for us in heaven and our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled and fades not away. This morning we looked at some wonderful verses concerning our coming inheritance! At the end of the teaching I played a song by Lisa Tracy called, “It’s Time.”
11/20/2022 Give God Thanks (32:21)
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We are not born grateful. If we were, God wouldn’t have told us in His Word, in many places, to be thankful. God’s Word doesn’t tell us to breathe – it’s automatic. He doesn’t tell us to close our eyes if the wind is blowing dust. It’s automatic. We are not born grateful. That’s why we teach our children to say, “Thank you.” In Psalm 103:2, God’s Word says, “Forget not all His benefits.” It’s good He didn’t say to remember them all! God certainly, without question, deserves our thanks and praise. And He lovingly reminds us over and over in His Word to give Him thanks. And there is also a great side benefit to giving Him thanks.
11/13/2022 He Gave Us His Spirit (38:05)
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Because of a lack of understanding of God’s Word, many Christians are trying to make themselves righteous by their works. They are trying to make it to heaven by their works, they are trying to be accepted by God by their works. Not understanding and believing what God has already done for each one the moment we got born again, how can a person possibly believe and appreciate all the rights, privileges and abilities that God’s Word declares that each one already has as a result of the new birth? Today, in modern Christianity, ignorance about the spirit of God that one receives is not God’s fault – it is clearly revealed in the Scriptures.
11/6/2022 Remember – Remind – Renew (32:20)
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When it comes to hearing a teaching on a topic we’ve already heard before, maybe even more than once, or a section of scripture we are familiar with, rather than saying, “I know that,” perhaps we ought to pay close attention. Could God give us more insight, a better understanding, or an even deeper understanding? Wouldn’t that help us to continue to grow and keep growing? God’s Word tells us to “be strong in the Lord.” Our adversary is highly in favor of us being weak in the Lord – God says, “be strong!” All of God’s Word is profitable for us. The Church Epistles were written specifically to the born again ones. It is the Good News, the Gospel of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. And that section of Scripture is so vital and critical for us. It reveals who we really are, what we have been given, and what we can do. God had Peter write and direct the believers to the epistles God had Paul write. Regardless of the outcome of the election on Tuesday, It doesn’t change God’s Word. You are who God says you are, you have what God’s Word says you have, and you can do what God’s Word says you can do.
10/30/2022 Don’t Be Discouraged (35:44)
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Last week we looked briefly at renewing our minds, which means to put into our minds who we are and what we have as Christians. God exhorts us in His Word to put on the new man, the new person we are as a result of the new birth. The rights, privileges and abilities freely given to us are found all through the Church Epistles. It’s up to each one of us to learn what those are and put them into our minds, day by day. Doing that will aid us greatly in being victorious and not getting discouraged. Jesus Christ gave us another great key in not getting discouraged and not fainting: consistent and persistent prayer. It is not God’s will for His children to be discouraged. The evils from our adversary will always discourage you; God and His Word will always encourage you. (There is a song after the teaching, Thou That Hearest Prayer, by Lisa Tracy)
10/23/2022 Rights, Privileges, and Abilities (27:49)
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The Bible tells us in many places who we are and what God has given to each and every one of us as a result of getting born again. We often, and rightly so, refer to these matters as our rights, privileges and abilities. A born again Christian who wants to be victorious in life should not be unaware of these rights, privileges and abilities. But much more than knowing them, or being able to list them, we ought to remind ourselves and reinforce in our minds what these rights, privileges and abilities mean to us right now, today! This is what the renewed mind is all about: putting into our minds who we are and what we have as a born again one. This takes a little effort and commitment, but it is so valuable for our everyday lives, because the renewed mind is the key to power.
10/16/2022 What Did Jesus Think? (41:40)
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In reading the Gospel records, we can see what Jesus Christ thought about concerning a number of different topics. Obviously, and, most importantly, we see his great respect and reverence for God’s written Word. We can also see what he thought about concerning other matters, like, family, politics, traditions, etc. In Philippians 2:5, God’s Word, speaking to those who are born again, says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” The foundation for Jesus Christ’s thoughts and actions was God’s Word, as he walked as a faithful Son, doing the will of His Father. Jesus Christ said, in John 8:29, “ …I do always those things that please Him.” As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus.
10/9/2022 Very Valuable (33:18)
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There are many places in God’s Word where God shows us the great value and profit to our lives from His Word. Proverbs 4 is one of those places where it says that His words are life to those who find them and health to our flesh! How valuable. All Scripture is profitable! Many Christians see no need to study the Bible. There are some Christians who read very little, if any of God’s Word. Other Christians are satisfied with going to Church every Sunday and just hearing the message. I’m not saying that to be critical. God’s Word says all Scripture is profitable! I truly believe if there is ever going to be the possibility of a true spiritual revival in this country, God’s people need to be equipped. Be strong in the Lord! And if there isn’t, and our country moves further and further away from God’s Word, God’s people better be equipped! Be strong in the Lord!
10/2/2022 God’s Love (33:18)
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God’s love (agape) is a very deliberate choice. It is not an emotional response. There may be emotions involved while operating the love of God, but the love of God is a deliberate choice and is not motivated by emotions. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In I John 4 it says that God is love. That is His very nature. God’s motivation for offering human beings eternal life was love, a deliberate decision. The Bible says that God loved us first. And because He loved us, we can in turn love others. This agape love is a deliberate choice. This agape love is giving; it is giving whether deserved or not, regardless of what the response may or may not be. God so loved the world…
9/25/2022 A New Start (37:02)
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How did the Apostle Paul overcome the guilt, the shame, and the condemnation from the things he did? He persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and wasted it! He had Christians imprisoned, beaten, and killed! How did he arrive at the point of saying in Philippians 3, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.“? We too can forget those things which are behind – our junk. and the junk others have done to us. And we avoid living in discouragement, focusing on the “good ol’ days,” and instead live each new day as a “new start!”
9/18/2022 Milk Or Meat (35:24)
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Job said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” It’s not how long we’ve been a Christian, how many classes we’ve had, etc. The important question is,”Are we continuing to grow in God’s Word?” Do we esteem God’s Words more than our necessary food!? Do we consistently feed on God’s Word? When we read and study, is it the joy and rejoicing of our hearts?
9/11/2022 A Great Lesson (37:21)
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The records God had recorded in His Word are not there for our entertainment. God has them there for us to read, understand, and learn. This morning we read a record from Numbers 13 and 14. The lesson we learn there is very practical for us in our lives. In the Church Epistles there are many promises from God to us. It is no different than God promising the Children of Israel the Promised Land. It is still the same God Who made promises to them Who has in His Word made promises to us. There will always be facts, situations, and challenges, but none of that ever changes God’s promises to you and me. Nothing that happens to us or around us ever changes or negates God’s promises to us. In our world today we hear about inflation, recession, government’s doing this and that. Things we hear and see may be true, but does any of that change what God has promised us? God is still both able and willing to perform His Word for us when we believe! In the midst of the challenges we face, the “giants” we see, the fear, confusion and anxiety that’s being promoted, , we can choose to be like Caleb and Joshua and believe and trust God! It doesn’t mean the facts aren’t true, it means that God’s Word is always true.
Please Note: I have been recouping from surgery and am very much looking forward to teaching again on September 11th.
8/14/2022 Praise The Lord (28:46)
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(Please Note: For the next two weeks (21st & 28th), there will be no teaching posted on the website. I will undergo surgery this Tuesday and will be absent from our Glendale Fellowship. You are, as always, invited to join the meetings live on those dates, at 10:30am AZ time, at 339-207-8502, no pin required. Feel free to forward this email. At the end of this email is information on how you can join us via phone each Sunday.)
As born again believers, we can pray and praise God both with the spirit and with the understanding. When we praise God with our understanding, it takes our focus off our problem – we mentally shift from dwelling on ourselves to dwelling on our loving God and Father – a God of power – a delivering God. That kind of focus increases our trust and confidence in Him. This morning we looked at Psalm 34, a great Psalm of God’s deliverance, God’s protection, and God’s healing. It is very noteworthy that this Psalm begins with, “bless the Lord, ”His praise,” “boast in the Lord,” “magnify the Lord,” and, “exalt His name.”
8/7/2022 Judgment Day (43:38)
According to God’s Word, when the Day of the Lord comes, there will be a resurrection of the just and unjust, and Jesus Christ will do the judging. Those found unacceptable will die a second time. Meanwhile, God’s Word is quite clear on what God has done for us and made us to be, as born again ones, through the completed work of Jesus Christ. Holy and without blame…made us accepted…given us redemption…forgiveness of all sins…reconciled to God…holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight… righteous and sanctified…and more! For the born again ones, for you and me, God’s Word says God gave us the gift of eternal life! It is not temporary life. It is eternal life. God’s Word says that when the Gathering Together comes, we will meet Jesus Christ in the clouds and so shall we ever be with him! But what about the judgments that are coming?
7/31/2022 Who Do You Trust? (35:11)
We are living in uncertain times. This weekend I posted an article entitled, Recession Fears: Who Do You Trust In Difficult Times? Rather than trying to understand definitions of economic terms, or have hope in a politician’s promise, we can choose to believe God’s Word. The Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) God, the great Creator, has solutions you would never even think of. He shows us this many times in the Bible. Why? To give us confidence to believe Him and trust Him. It is so important to remember that when we trust God, whatever we have, it is enough. We may look at our resources, what we are able to do and say, “I don’t have enough.” But with God it is enough if we trust Him, because His ways and His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts. Along these lines, this weekend I also posted a new podcast, entitled, Do You Have Enough?
7/24/2022 They Believed God (30:40)
Hebrews 11 has been called by some as “The Hall of Fame of Believers.” It lists a number of believers by name, and others not specifically named. How inspiring it is for us to go back to the Old Testament and read the records of those wonderful believers! But there is someone in that list that is often overlooked. This morning we considered Moses’ parents. Living in such dark days as they did, they walked with God, receiving revelation from God, and believed it! In our day and time, we stay the course. We have so many examples of great believers we read about in Scripture, including Moses’ parents. And the greatest believer of all – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Look what he endured! We don’t have to go through what he did – just stand, and don’t get weary! What God said in His Word – believe it! Anything else God chooses to reveal to us, by way of revelation, believe it!
7/17/2022 The Rejoicing In Heaven (25:20)
Parables are intended to make one important point. The main point of the three back to back parables Jesus spoke in Luke 15 was the great joy and rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repented.
Before we got born again, we were lost, dead in trespasses and sins, having no hope and without God! But when each one of us got born again, not only was there was not only joy and rejoicing in heaven, but God gave each one of us so much! We received all the rights, privileges and abilities as sons of God! He gave us His spirit, with the ability to operate all nine manifestations. He gave each one of us all spiritual blessings. He forgave us all trespasses. He made us righteous in His eyes, and so much more, including placing each one of us in the Body of Christ. Each one of us is an important and needed member of the Body of Christ. Each one of us is very important to God! God loves each one of us unconditionally and nothing can separate us from His love!
How blessed we are to be able to read His Word in the 7 Church Epistles to see what God has done for each one of us – we were lost, but we are now found, and look what God did for us! We not only can read what God said IS, but we can choose to believe it! And, we can reach out to others with God’s love, because there is always great joy and rejoicing in heaven over one who was lost, but now is found. And all we have received from God is by His grace – we didn’t earn it, we don’t deserve it – it’s all because of God’s Amazing Grace!
7/10/2022 Our Response (31:22)
The proper response to God’s Word, even if it sounds “unreasonable,” is to believe. Someone may give you a bid for a job that sounds unreasonable and you decline. Or you may find the price of an item you want to buy as unreasonable, and choose to not buy it. But the proper response to God’s Word, even if it might sound “unreasonable,” is to believe. It really comes down to accepting God’s Word as true. The proper response to God’s Word, even if it sounds “unreasonable,” is to believe.
7/3/2022 Freedom (29:04)
As we celebrate the 246th anniversary of our country this weekend, we thank God for the freedoms we have in this country we live in, and we keep praying much for our country – perhaps more than ever before. BUT…. We’re ever and always mindful and grateful that the greatest freedom we have is the freedom God gave us through the completed work of Jesus Christ!
6/26/2022 Stay The Course (30:23)
(Some comments after the teaching are included.) So much we hear today promotes fear, discouragement, and for some people, despair. Dwelling on the Good News, God’s Word, gives us peace, comfort, encouragement, and hope! Jesus Christ said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” In Romans 5:1 it says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us the spirit of fear. But of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Nothing that happens in this world will ever change the truth of God’s Word. God is still Who His Word says He is, and His promises are all still true. So, whether it’s good times or turbulent times, we stay the course, we do what we know to do from God’s Word:
We continue to pray, and pray much!
> We do our best to believe and trust God for all the things that we need in our personal lives.
> We go out of our way to be especially good to believers.
> We do our best to love all people.
> We look for open doors to share God’s wonderful Word.
> And we listen to God Who is at work within us.
6/19/2022 The Father’s Business (30:28)
In I John 3, and other places, God’s Word says that we are “sons of God.” Why does it not say, “sons and daughters of God? There may be women who frown when they read “sons,” but when ladies understand why it says sons, as a woman you’re elated! The relationship God set up for those who are born again, for male or female, the relationship is a father-son relationship – and that relationship has to be understood in light of biblical culture. We can’t insert our culture into the Bible. Every born again believer is a son of God, and understanding the culture in Bible times really opens our eyes to see what a great privilege it is to have a father-son relationship with God Almighty. And as sons of God we can choose to be about our Father’s business!
6/12/2022 Be Not afraid – Only Believe (30:30)
When and where we have fear, we really need to remember and believe we are not alone: God is with us, And in difficult situations, that may take some effort; it’s not just saying, “I’m not going to be afraid.” We focus, we dwell on, we put into our minds, over and over, that God Almighty is with us. He is in us by way of His spirit, a spirit of power, and love and a sound mind. We are not alone! We keep reminding ourselves what God has told us in His Word – that He is a very present help in time of need; He is our refuge and our strength; He is there with His rod and staff; He restores our soul, He will quicken our mortal bodies by His spirit that is in us; If God be for us, and God is in us, who or what can be against us! “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.”
6/5/2022 Pentecost – The Beginning (31:28)
In the Old testament and the Gospels certain people had God’s spirit on a temporary basis. But what the twelve received and manifested on the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 was brand new. It was indeed as Peter would later say, “the beginning.” They were the first people to be born again. Jesus Christ in John 3 told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Prior to this Day of Pentecost, God’s Word classified people in two groups, Jews, and Gentiles (all other nations.) But beginning on the Day of Pentecost, a new group began – the Church of God. The twelve were the very first members of the Church of God. They were the very first members of the Body of Christ. On that day began the Administration of the Grace of God and the Administration of the Mystery. What God had waited and planned for ever since Adam finally arrived!
It is very significant and extremely noteworthy that the very first thing those who were born again of God’s Spirit was to speak in tongues. They didn’t first operate any of the other eight manifestations of holy spirit (listed in I Corinthians 12), but rather the very first thing they did when they got born again was to manifest speaking in tongues. And it was the very first time that manifestation of the spirit was ever available and they were the first to do it!
Of course we know from other portions of God’s Word that the manifestation of speaking in tongues is speaking to God, it is for your private prayer life. But on this momentous occasion, God brought a fantastic miracle to pass. Those twelve Galileans were speaking languages they did not know, but the people there, from every nation and language, understood them!
The Church of God began this day when Jesus Christ poured out God’s gift of holy spirit, something Jesus Christ had previously on a number of occasions promised would come.
On this Day of Pentecost, the Body of Christ, the Church of God, which is builded upon Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, began! On this Day of Pentecost, Peter unlocked the Kingdom of God, first to the Jews who were there that day, and about 3,000 believed and received! What A Marvelous Beginning It Was!
5/29/2022 The Mystery (47:19)
The 7 Church Epistles are specifically written to and for the born again ones. That doesn’t mean the rest of the Bible is not needed or not important; all the Bible is needed and important. But the 7 Church Epistles are God’s Word to us, those living in the Administration of the Grace of God, the Administration of the Mystery! And it is in those scriptures great truths are revealed about a secret God kept for a long, long time – The Mystery!
5/22/2022 Acts 10 (34:41)
This morning we read Acts 10 and a small portion of chapter 11. There is a lot of detail in this very important event. Reading it with eyes to see and ears to hear, we can begin to understand why God gave us so much detail. It is the first record of Gentiles, those from another nation other than Israel, receiving salvation and manifesting God’s gift of holy spirit. It took the born again Judeans a long time to accept God’s salvation was open to all people. At the time of Acts 10, in the early Church, there was a lot of discrimination against those from other nations. Some never got over it. It would take the most unlikely person to bust through the walls of discrimination and bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. And God would give that man specific detailed revelation about a secret, the Mystery: “that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
5/8/2022 Born Again (36:18)
This year, Pentecost is June 5. You won’t see it on most calendars. And yet, it was the day God had been planning for since Adam fell. The coming of God’s gift of holy spirit was the last thing Jesus spoke of before he ascended into heaven. Since that time, everyone who gets born again receives God’s gift of holy spirit. There is a lot of lack of knowledge among Christians about God’s Gift of holy spirit. That’s not God’s fault. God’s Word is not vague in teaching us about spiritual things. It is His Word to His children! It’s up to us to get our heads into His Word to see, understand, believe, and take advantage of His wonderful gift to every born again one – the gift of holy spirit we received when we got born again@
5/8/2022 Why? (38:19)
The less Christians know what God has already done for them, what He has given them, who they are now in the sight of God, the less they know and believe that, the more they will try to be good enough, worthy enough, to earn God’s approval. The more you see and understand and believe what God has already done, then you do things out of love and gratitude to God for what He has already done for you. This morning we considered, as a Christian, why we do the things we do? But first, we looked at what God has done.
5/1/2022 Faithful (33:17)
God is faithful, His Word is faithful. We have examples of people in the Bible, mentioned specifically by name, who were faithful. To be faithful is a day by day decision to continue to desire to have ears to hear; to continue to desire to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word; to hold and keep sound doctrine, and not get swayed. One who is faithful chooses to be a doer and not just a hearer, and then, stand faithfully for a lifetime!
4/24/2022 Worshiping God (38:07)
During his earthly ministry Jesus Christ spoke a number of times about the gift of holy spirit. That topic came up more than once at the last supper. There are other places in the Gospels where Jesus Christ spoke about the coming of holy spirit. In fact it was the very last thing he mentioned before he ascended! In John 3, in a one on one discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus Christ shared with him about getting born again of spirit. In Chapter 4, again one on one with the woman at the well, Jesus Christ shared some dynamic truths concerning the coming of holy spirit. On the day of Pentecost, after the twelve received God’s gift of holy spirit, and manifested it by speaking in tongues, Peter stood up and preached. He told the crowd that the promise of the gift of holy spirit was now available! As born again ones, we have eternal life and we also have God’s gift of holy spirit in us! What’s the point of having holy spirit in us and not utilizing it? One of the great benefits of having holy spirit is, as Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4, we can worship God in spirit and in truth!
4/17/2022 The Cornerstone of Christianity (37:20)
Our hope is not founded on a theory, a myth, a fable, or wishful thinking. It is a real, living, and true hope of eternal life that is founded and based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have no hope, this life is all there is; this is it! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity! As you read in the book of Acts you see over and over they preached the resurrection. The seven Church Epistles speak often and clearly about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If something else was the cornerstone of Christianity, wouldn’t it get at least as much attention in the Scriptures as God raising Jesus from the dead? God raised Jesus Christ from the dead! He is risen, and he is coming back!
4/10/2022 Healing And Forgiveness(32:26)
This morning, prior to sharing bread and wine together, we briefly reviewed the great significance of holy communion. Jesus Christ, during what we often refer to as, “The Last Supper,” instituted a very special memorial. He did not institute a ceremony, but rather a way to remember two things he would accomplish for us: healing and forgiveness. Always doing the Father’s will, he instituted this memorial while they were eating. He utilized two very common items in a meal, which indicates that whenever we eat, we can, and we should, stop and remember that by his stripes we were healed, and that by giving his life for us, we have forgiveness of sins. After the teaching, we all partook of bread and wine together. In listening to this teaching, you may very well want to have some bread and wine too, remembering what our wonderful Lord and Savior accomplished for us.
4/3/2022 The Final Hours Part 2 (32:07)
We continued today with more of the final hours on the night Jesus Christ was arrested. Knowing full well what was just around the corner, he lovingly spent time that night with his followers to teach and show them many things. Think about all they experienced that night, the love, the teachings, the example. What a savior! What a master teacher! What great love he exhibited!
3-27-2022 The Final Hours Part 1 (40:18)
In the final hours on the night he was arrested, Jesus Christ spent time with his followers, both at supper and in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was a night of tremendous teaching! Knowing full well what was about to happen to him, our wonderful loving Lord and Savior instituted the memorial we often refer to as “holy communion.” But he also taught them many great truths, including love, service, prayer, believing, persecution, the hope, and of course, the coming of the comforter, holy spirit.
3/20/2022 The Savior (31:56)
Eternal life! Live forever! That was God’s original intention for human beings! But Adam ruined it. God’s plan to restore what Adam lost was to send a savior who would pay the full price and thus make eternal life available – a new spirit life! Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, completed the work God gave him to do. And as a result, God, because of His great love and grace, now makes eternal life available to whosoever believes! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
3/13/2022 How To Believe God (28:16)
As we read the Bible, we can learn a lot about believing God by seeing others believing God. We observe and learn that if we’re going to believe and receive what God said, then we can have no doubts and no fear; we do not hesitate or waver. We also discover that facts, odds or circumstances do not matter. We see that we ought not let our sins from the past interfere with our trusting God today. We do whatever we need to do with our minds to get fully persuaded, fully convinced, regardless of circumstances or facts, having no doubt that what God said, God is able and willing to perform!
3/6/2022 We Have Access (33:12)
It’s very humbling to realize God’s ears are open to our prayers – all of our prayers! We have access to the Father! We’ve been invited to His throne of grace! Whether we take advantage of this great privilege or not is up to each one of us. And as we choose to spend more time in prayer, let’s remember God said that He is at work within us. So, we pray and then listen. As we spend more time in prayer, let’s remember God said He will direct our steps and light our path. So, we pray and then listen, looking for and expecting an answer.
2/28/2022 Your Future (41:39)
There are lots of theories, speculation and guessing about the “end times.” In some circles there has been lots of attention given to the judgments to come. The Bible is clear. There is a time of judgment coming, which Scripture refers to as, “the Lord’s Day” when Jesus Christ will carry out the judging. The big question is when do the judgments recorded in Revelation 20 take place, and does that judgment include every human being, including those who are born again? This morning we took a very brief look in the Scriptures concerning the end times and our future as those who are born again. According to the Bible, we have an absolutely great future to look forward to.
2/20/2022 The Good News (31:23)
In the days when Jesus Christ walked the earth, he was well aware of what was going politically and spiritually. Those were very dark days. But he went about doing something far more important than preaching about the political and religious issues of his day. He went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, bringing deliverance to people. Jesus Christ sent the 12 out to do the same, and they did. He sent the 70 out to do the same, and they did. What about us in our day and time? We too can preach the Gospel. “Gospel” means good news. We hear a lot of bad news these days. But we can choose to speak the good news instead of the bad news. We can speak the Gospel, instead of the gossip.
2/13/2022 Speak Gods Word (34:41)
The more people see the light of God’s Word, their eyes will be opened. Things in their own lives as well as things in the world that are contrary to God’s Word become apparent, because the Light of God’s Word has opened their eyes. The more the light of God’s Word gets to people in our day and time, eyes are opened! The curtain is pulled back. People can begin to believe God’s Word, believe His promises and receive His blessings, make wise decisions according to God’s Word for themselves and their families That’s why it’s so important to focus on God’s Word and not get distracted by the craziness in our culture. Yes we know what’s going on, but we don’t get so immersed in all of it, distracted by the political climate, by the covid climate, by the race climate, by the gender climate, or whatever other climate is going on. We don’t get immersed and sidetracked. We walk with love and speak God’s Word with love, in order to open people’s eyes, and bring them God’s blessings and deliverance.
2/6/2022 Believe The Scriptures (38:21)
(Please note their are comments before the teaching, including an incident regarding George Mueller. And there are some comments following the teaching.)
In Acts 19 we joyfully read that all Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks, and that so mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed! But, we sadly read what happened sometime later, recorded in II Timothy: all Asia had turned away from Paul. As we continue to read and study God’s Word, we are very privileged to gain awesome treasures of Truth. And with that great privilege comes great responsibility. Hold onto it; keep learning and keep growing; stay humble and not critical; and, speak it to others in love. And, we just don’t budge from the Truth we know!
1/30/2022 Love More (31:39
Now More than ever, we need to love one another! The climate of our culture continues to produce a lot of anger, hatred, division, distrust, suspicion, criticism, etc. These are not godly things! These days, more than ever, we all need more love. And those who don’t know God’s Word, they need love too, and they need to see people who are not angry, divisive, depressed, and critical. We can let our light shine and let them see loving people, who have conviction; we are convinced of the truth of God’s Word, and we are not afraid or ashamed to speak it, but, we speak it with love.
1/23/2022 What God Has Done (26:53
We are all born with what the Bible refers to as the “old man” nature. At the moment of the new birth, we received a “new nature.” This is referred to as the “new man.” The Scriptures tell us plainly to put off the old man and put on the new man. This putting off and putting on happens in our thinking. The 7 church epistles reveal to us that “new man;” who we really are in the eyes of God. God says to put off the old man. The more you know who God’s Word says you really are, the easier it is to recognize old man thinking and actions – and those we are to put off! God had the seven Church epistles written so we could not only know, but believe what He has done for us and in us. That’s why we keep our heads in the Book on a regular basis. This morning we looked into God’s Word to see some of what God has already done for us and in us!
1/16/2022 Ephesians Highlights Part 2 (38:47)
The 7 church epistles are full of great truths for the born again ones. God’s desire is for us to understand. And as Paul said in Ephesians, Chapter 3, “whereby when you read you may understand…” So we keep reading and reading, asking God to give us more understanding. This morning we looked at more highlights from the last 3 chapters of Ephesians. It is filled with great truths regarding our walk, our conduct as Christian believers who received all the things spoken of in the first three chapters. I encourage you to read this epistle, and read it often!
1/9/2022 Ephesians Highlights Part 1 (36:55)
The 7 church epistles are full of great truths for the born again ones. God’s desire is for us to understand. And as Paul said in Chapter 3, “whereby when you read you may understand…” So we keep reading and reading, asking God to give us more understanding.
1/2/2022 Guard Your Heart (33:36)
In the last teaching, looking at the parable of the sower and the seed, we read where Jesus said, “Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” When it comes to thoughts about ourselves, we’re not oblivious to the obstacles or challenges we may face, or limitations we may have. We’re not in denial, but we can choose to not focus on those, but rather, think thoughts about who we are in God’s eyes, and what God has done for us; who we really are. In this New Year, we can choose to rewrite the script of our lives – we really can expand our lives in spite of our past, in spite of obstacles we may face and in spite of limitations we may have. Take heed what you are hearing in your mind about yourself – God says you are more than a conqueror!
12/19/2021 Take Heed (30:21)
Jesus Christ spoke numerous times using parables. One such event is recorded in Chapter 4 of Mark’s gospel. After speaking the parable of “the sower,” he said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Obviously those listening heard him speak the parable, but did they have ears to hear? Did they want to understand and believe? The disciples wisely asked Jesus to explain the parable. And after explaining the parable of “the sower,” Jesus Christ said, “Take heed what you hear.” In this coming New Year, let’s take heed to what we are hearing, what we listen to, what we immerse ourselves in. Make the time to hear God’s Words. Make time every day to feed on God’s Word; read it, study it, and keep getting rooted. If we don’t, as the parable of “the sower” so clearly shows, we will be susceptible to the devices of the enemy to take God’s Word out of our hearts by afflictions, persecutions, the cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things. Take heed what you hear!