MESSAGE: ” Why is the atonement enough? “

Scripture Text:  Hebrews 1:2-3 

Introduction: 

Allow me to begin with a parable of 4 candles:

The first candle represents peace, but the world was not willing to keep that peace so it has been extinguished. 

The second candle represents Faith: But the world does not want Faith, It wants to figure life out on its own, so It has been extinguished. 

The third candle represents Love: But because of the selfishness of the world, People push away others, and are focused only on themselves, and therefore it is also extinguished.  

The fourth candle represents hope: without love, Faith, and Peace there is no hope, and as a result that candle also is also extinguished. 

The problem is that without hope there is not  a reason to go forward.  Without hope, we lose perspective. 

It leaves us with a haunting question Where does our hope come from. 

Jeremiah 17:13 says,   O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and

they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Jeremiah 18:12 continues,  And they said, There … READ MORE

Scripture Text: I Samuel 17

Introduction: The last time we were together we explored the issue of fear, and how God uses that fear as a test to help us understand how important it is for us to trust Him. God longs for us to simply accept the gifts from His hand. He has a more wonderful and fulfilling life for us, but fear cuts us off from accepting the things He has for us. I often counsel those who are feeling God’s tug at their hearts. He has something special for them to do, and they can look forward to blessings in abundance if they will only be obedient and trusting. People want to accept the call of God in their lives, but fear holds them back, always some new fear, “What if I am making the wrong decision?” “What if this is not the right partner for me?” “What if my business venture fails?” “What if I get homesick on the mission field?” What if. . . what if . . . What if? Somehow they can’t hold to a simple assurance of God’s trustworthy and loving nature. It doesn’t seem to register that He never calls His … READ MORE

Fighting your fear Where Faith and Fear meet. (part one) Scripture Text: Numbers 13:1-3, 1 ¶ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel. …..

21 ¶ So they went up and spied out the land ….

25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26 ¶ Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the … READ MORE