Disciples, Water Baptism, and the Local Church
Disciples are those who have personally responded to Christ in repentance and faith, obey His command to be baptized, and are vital members of a local church.
Acts 2:36-47
History and the Word of the Sovereign God
Daniel was given a vision of two future kingdoms and an evil ruler who will desecrate God’s Temple and persecute God’s people, but he saw God intervene to destroy the persecutor and deliver His people, for the Sovereign God rules over the kingdoms of mankind.
Daniel 8:1-27
The Beasts, the Little Horn, and the People of God
Daniel has a vision of four great beasts and a little horn that oppress God’s people, but the Son of Man has established the eternal kingdom of God which grows throughout history and will be given to God’s covenant people.
Daniel 7:15-28
The Beasts and the Son of Man
Daniel has a vision of four kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome), which in their rebellion to God are beastly forces who oppress God’s people. However, he also sees the Son of Man who established the eternal kingdom of God that will grow throughout history and defeat all rebellion against God.
Daniel 7:1-14
Ancient Present Future Faith
God’s people must have a faith that is rooted in the truths He has revealed in the ancient past, is experienced in a life of present trust and obedience, and that labors to build for the generations to come.
Psalm 78:1-7
Thriving In the Land of Our Exile
To thrive in our exile, we must labor to see others experience shalom, remember that our God is the Living, Eternal God, that the kingdoms of this world pass away but that God’s Kingdom endures forever, and that God rescues and saves His people into His kingdom.
Daniel 6:25-28
New Boss, Same As the Old Boss
Daniel still faced persecution under the new kingdom, reminding us that God’s people must always live by trust in God rather than man in the land of our exile.
Daniel 6
The Handwriting On the Wall
God brought mighty Babylon and her arrogant king to a swift end as He had promised, and this is a warning to all who arrogantly trust in themselves rather than Christ.
Daniel 5
The Samaritan Woman
Jesus pursues us, meets our deepest need, and offers new life in His Spirit as a free gift regardless of our condition.
John 4:4-26
Born By Grace
Rebirth is radical spiritual transformation and a free gift from the Father, by the Son, through the
Spirit.John 3:1-15
Humbling the Proud
God is Sovereign over the world, both nations and individuals, and is able to humble the proud and exalt the humble.
Daniel 4 (Daniel 4:1-3, 34-37)
Standing Strong In Fiery Trials
To stand strong in the fiery trials of exile, God’s people must walk by faith – displaying humble confidence in God, trusting in His Sovereign Power, and obeying God and His Word regardless of the consequences.
Daniel 3 (Daniel 3:16-18)
Lee & Carol Short – Visiting Missionary
On Sunday, July 18, 2021, founders of Life Savers Ministries International and Vida Internacional, Lee and Carol will be speaking about their work on the mission field in Mexico where they are ministering to marginal children and their families in the Bahia de Banderas area.
The God of Wisdom and Power
God is the source of wisdom and power, His kingdom is everlasting, and He will give wisdom and power to His exile people as they walk with Him.
Daniel 2
Remember the Mission
Every miracle Jesus did, every parable Jesus told, and everything he said or did was to reveal God’s mission for his people. The people benefited, but the point was advancing the mission.
Mark 2:1-12 (CSB)
Standing Strong In Exile
To stand strong in our land of exile we must remember our true identity as God’s people, trust in His Sovereignty, and walk with wisdom and humility as we are in the world but not of it.
Daniel 1
Strangers In A Strange Land
To stand strong in trying times, we must know that God is Sovereign and faithful, even in the land of our exile.
Daniel 1:1-2
Purity in an Impure Age
The world is constantly working to press us into its mold. Jesus promises the blessing of seeing God if, in humility, we allow Him to purify our hearts through single-mindedly focusing on Him.
Matthew 5:8 ESV
You Belong
When a person is in Christ they are admitted into the body of Christ, a world wide community of faith. The next and most important step is to become a member of a local body!
1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 Peter 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:2
Series Outline for The Way
Psalm 1 and 2, which together are an introduction to the whole book of Psalms, teach that God’s people will embrace His teaching and rule and thus walk in the way of blessing and life, while those who reject God’s instruction and rule will walk in the way of destruction and death.
The Way – Trusting In God’s Sovereignty
To walk in God’s Way while surrounded by those who reject it, God’s people must learn to trust in His Sovereignty, knowing He rules all things and will fulfill His Word.
Psalm 1 – 2
The Way – Walking By the Spirit
The Spirit enables us to walk in the way of righteousness, enabling us to overcome the flesh in a way the law never could, so that we can become more like Christ.
Galatians 5:16-26
The Way – Embracing God’s Rule
Those who walk in God’s Way must embrace His Kingship, submitting to His wise, loving rule in every area of life.
Psalm 2
The Way – Meditating on God’s Instruction
Those who walk the way of Jesus Christ embrace God’s Instruction, meditating on His Word day and night so they understand and obey it, knowing this is for their own good.
Psalm 1
The Power of Praise
John’s vision of a heavenly picture of praise is the model we must emulate in order to see the Power of Praise in our lives.
Revelation 4:6-11 (ESV)