14
Jun '22

June 14, 2022

Posted on Jun 14, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

14
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,

Jesus has just finished a string of healings in Matthew 8 along with calming a storm. He is finally asked to leave after casting demons out of a man into a herd of pigs. He gets in a boat to head back home. Perhaps the disciples are thinking about a little R and R, maybe get some quick fishing in but Jesus immediately stirs the pot again. Let’s look at what happens right after he gets out of the boat.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

Jesus could have healed this man any number of ways. He could have touched him, told him to pick up his mat and walk, or even simply stated that he was healed. He makes a point of saying that his sins are forgiven. Sometimes He does this to stir the pot but this time He has a particular reason which He states in verse 6. He wants everyone to know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins. Jesus is in the forgiveness and grace business. He is not simply trying to make things right now but for all eternity. It’s the business He calls us to as well when He commands us to share the gospel. From fishermen to fishers of men. Jesus has called us to join in the family business and share His love and grace with the world.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave


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14
Jun '22

June 13, 2022

Posted on Jun 14, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

14
Jun '22

Hello Advent Family,

Jesus did much of His ministry right around the Sea of Galilee. Several of His disciples were fisherman and they traveled often by boat. I will be on a boat for the next two days on a fishing trip with my dad and some other friends. I thought I’d choose a couple of “boat related” stories from Matthew 8 and 9 as devotional thoughts for the next two days. Hopefully on Wednesday I will come bearing tales of giant fish that were caught. Let’s look at one story in Matthew 8 together today.

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I have always loved the fact that as the disciples are panicking Jesus is sleeping. They are the ones who were fishermen and should be used to the storms the would brew up suddenly on the Sea of Galilee. To Jesus it is just another storm that He can easily calm while the disciples are focused on the waves and think they are going to drown. How often do life’s storms hit us that way. We get stuck focusing on the wind, the rains, and the waves of the storms that life throws at us instead of focusing on the One who can calm the storm. The next time you feel a storm brewing in your life try and switch your focus from the storm to Jesus. I think you just may find that things will go a lot better.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Advent Family,

Jesus did much of His ministry right around the Sea of Galilee. Several of His disciples were fisherman and they traveled often by boat. I will be on a boat for the next two days on a fishing trip with my dad and some other friends. I thought I’d choose a couple of “boat related” stories from Matthew 8 and 9 as devotional thoughts for the next two days. Hopefully on Wednesday I will come bearing tales of giant fish that were caught. Let’s look at one story in Matthew 8 together today.

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I have always loved the fact that as the disciples are panicking Jesus is sleeping. They are the ones who were fishermen and should be used to the storms the would brew up suddenly on the Sea of Galilee. To Jesus it is just another storm that He can easily calm while the disciples are focused on the waves and think they are going to drown. How often do life’s storms hit us that way. We get stuck focusing on the wind, the rains, and the waves of the storms that life throws at us instead of focusing on the One who can calm the storm. The next time you feel a storm brewing in your life try and switch your focus from the storm to Jesus. I think you just may find that things will go a lot better.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave


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10
Jun '22

June 10, 2022

Posted on Jun 10, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

10
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
 
Matthew 8 is filled with many stories of Jesus healing others. From a Leper to Peter’s mother in law to demon possessed men. One story that I have always appreciated is the healing of the Centurion’s servant. There are several things from the story that stand out to me. Let’s look at it together today.
 
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
 
The faith of the Centurion is something that impresses Jesus. I have also always been impressed that He came himself to see about his servant getting healed. That is not a normal thing for a man with his authority to have done during this period of time. He could have sent another servant or a soldier under his command. Yet, he goes himself perhaps because he wants to see and meet Jesus but certainly it demonstrates care for his servant. Most servants were treated more like property especially by those in power but the Centurion goes out of his way to try and get healing and relief for him. He then demonstrates that incredible faith believing that Jesus can heal with a simple word. We can learn both from the Centurion’s care and his faith. May we be a people who demonstrate love to all we come in contact with and may we also be a people who have the faith that can move mountains.
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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09
Jun '22

June 9, 2022

Posted on Jun 9, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

09
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
 
Matthew 7 is the conclusion of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It ends with the following verses. Let’s look at them together today.
 
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
 
Foundation is so important. Buildings that have a solid foundation stand the test of time. They stand up to storms and natural disasters much better than a building without a solid foundation would. They tend to crumble under stress. Jesus is reminding us that the very same is true in our spiritual lives. His sermon on the mount is a solid foundation of how to live life. When we hold to His teachings and love the way He did our life seems to stand up better to the storms that we all will inevitably face. We won’t always get it right but building on the right foundation is a great start.
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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08
Jun '22

June 8, 2022

Posted on Jun 8, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

08
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
 
I love to hear the story of one hit wonders. They often have incredible musical talent and are even very successful in their own niche. It is just one of their songs that happens to go big broadly and they become famous. Some musicians have even bemoaned this fame that they receive (although I have never heard one complain about the money). One such incredibly talented musician is Bobby McFerrin. While he has had a wildly successful career most of us only know him for “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” That song was number one for quite some time on the pop charts in 1988 and won song of the year on just about every awards show possible. If only worry were that simple to deal with right? The Bible talks a lot about worry as well. Let’s look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 together today.
 
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
 
The one thing that does seem to often help people with worry is knowing that there is someone with you to help you walk through times of worry. The words of Jesus are meant to remind us that He is always with us. No matter what we walk through Jesus is with us every step of the way and He wants to take care of us. Knowing that truth often doesn’t stop worry completely but the more we rest in the truth the more we can begin to deal with worry in our lives. Knowing that our omnipotent creator who loves us desperately and is with us always cares about our struggles certainly helps! I pray that we would all learn to rest more and more in that truth and don’t worry be happy!
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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07
Jun '22

June 7, 2022

Posted on Jun 7, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

07
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
Matthew 5 is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. It is full of lots of great teachings that we could spend time dissecting. Today I want to talk about what it doesn’t include. Let’s look at that together. 
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
I have often heard people say things to the effect of, “Jesus ended the law we are now under grace.” The truth is that we truly are covered by grace and that certainly is amazing. Yet, Jesus, himself tells us that He is not getting rid of the law. In fact He, if anything, goes on to raise the standards. Why does He do this? I believe that He does it for two reasons. He doesn’t want us to focus on the laws themselves but rather our hearts. That is why He says that not only should we not murder but don not get angry with people or call them names. The other thing this does is to clearly show us our need for a Savior. Chapter 5 of Matthew concludes with be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. That standard is unattainable so I am left with giving up and not trying or turning to Jesus for help. That is the absolute beauty of the gospel. Jesus calls us all to live loves of love to God and others yet when we inevitably fall short He does for us what we can’t do for ourselves. His love and grace truly are amazing but we need to continue to strive to live the lives that Jesus calls us to. Not because we can earn favor with God that way but simply because our God who loves us asks us to.
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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06
Jun '22

June 6, 2022

Posted on Jun 6, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

06
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
 
Matthew 4 is the passage where Jesus is tempted by Satan in a variety of ways. His pride, loyalty to God and even hunger are tested. He provides and answer to the temptation by quoting scripture. Honestly I probably would have failed at bread. By around 11:30 every day I am ready for lunch (sometimes earlier). If it stretches much longer than that I get hangry. This passage is a great reminder of several things. How to respond to temptation. The fact that Jesus knows and understands the things we walk through in daily life including temptation. It also shows us that we can stand up to temptation even when we are weak, tired, hungry, and spent. Let’s look at the passage together today.
 
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
 
I have always found it fascinating that at one point Satan actually uses scripture to try and tempt Jesus. In our effort to live lives that look like Jesus we should strive to always be prepared to face temptations. I have often experienced them worst at times when things are going really well or when I am at the end of my rope but that can happen any time incur lives. Be prepared by learning scripture in our “typical” areas of struggle. By having good accountability in your life and by going to Jesus in prayer. He understands our struggle and is there with us to provide help.
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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03
Jun '22

June 3, 2022

Posted on Jun 3, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

03
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
 
How can you not be intrigued by John the Baptist. He was a larger than life character, attacking the religious leaders and preaching a new way to repent and live. If you are a Seinfeld fan I picture Kramer as a modern day John the Baptist. He almost seems crazy but you can’t help but listen to what he is saying. Let’s look together today at when John is introduced to us in Matthew 3.
 
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
 
John’s role is to prepare the way for Jesus. As much as Jesus was an agent of change he also was probably a little easier for people to take than John. John was dressed different, ate weird things, and all in all was just different.  Some were drawn to him and others kept their distance. The most important thing was his message. Someone is coming. Someone who will change everything. He will reconcile you to God and make everything right. We need to all take a cue from John, not in how to dress or eat but in pointing others to Jesus. The one who can make everything right in our lives and the world.
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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02
Jun '22

June 2, 2022

Posted on Jun 2, 2022 CATEGORIES: General

02
Jun '22
Hello Advent Family,
 
I have always loved the story of the Magi. Here are people who are not Jewish but are familiar with Jewish scripture and travel an incredible distance to come and worship the child, Jesus. According to legend it was a 12 day journey but many scholars estimate that it could have been much longer perhaps even a month or so. Let’s look at the story from Matthew 2 together today.
 
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
 
The lengths they went to to see and experience Jesus are incredible. It begs the question for us today. What lengths do we go to to experience Jesus? With the ease of information today you can access sermons, podcasts, worship music, Bible study resources, nearly endless information to build our faith. Perhaps this ease has hurt our faith in ways. The fact that Jesus is always at our fingertips makes us not really have to pursue Him. Pursuing Jesus is so important in our faith journey though. We are told to seek Him like a treasure. We are told to meditate on His word and pray without ceasing. We live in a culture that values comfort and convenience but the Bible reminds us that this is not our home. We are aliens and strangers, temporarily here to share God’s grace and love with the world. Perhaps like the Magi, we need to make ourselves uncomfortable and go out of our way to pursue Jesus. I know that the treasure we find when we do will be well worth it. 
 
In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

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June 1, 2022

Posted on Jun 1, 2022 CATEGORIES: Devotions, Prayers

Hello Advent Family,

I don’t know about you but I have read through the Bible many times and I always have a tendency to skip or at least rush through the genealogies and lists found there. I mentioned this to a seminary professor who challenged me to write a paper on the genealogy found in Matthew. I won’t share the paper it was a mostly academic project but it did change my perspective on genealogies in the Bible. They are there for a reason. I used to simply overlook the one found at the beginning of Matthew as an effort to connect with his largely Jewish audience but there is more to it. Let’s look at it together today.

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, 7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, 15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

All of these names and so many more were involved in ultimately bringing about the birth of the Messiah. Some followed God well, others not so well. We have Kings and prostitutes, some who were great leaders others who were the least of their own families. In God’s ultimate plan to redeem us He used them all. Many of these people most of us have never heard of before. To me that is incredibly encouraging. That means even if we think we are in significant God can and will use us for great things and for an amazing purpose. When we seek Him and listen He will guide and direct us to paths that will yield amazing results. None of us have a Messiah coming as a great great grand kid but God wants to use all of us to change lives for eternity if we are simply willing. I pray that He will use each and every one of us to share His great love with the world.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave


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