Our Eternal Rest (I Am The New Jerusalem) | Revelation 21:1-22:5
In Revelation 21:1-22:5, God gives all his people a glimpse of the eternal rest we’ll one day know. The images surpass our imaginations and give us hope for the rest we have in Christ forever.
Rest Follows Jesus | Hebrews 4:1-11
Hebrews 4:1-11 challenges us to have true faith in the good news. We’re reminded of the story of the Israelites attempting to enter the promise land of Canaan, but failing to do so because of their disobedient disbelief. Today we’re called to active belief that seeks to honor God with our lives. We can do this because in Christ we have perfect faith and obedience. Persevere in faith and obedience till you enter God’s rest.
Jesus Gives Rest | Mark 2:23-3:6
We all need to know how to rest, and the first temptation is to create a list of rules of what we can and cannot do on our day off, but this has a way of spoiling it. In Mark 2:23-3:6, Jesus challenges the religious leaders of his day who were more interested in rules than the heart. Jesus taught and showed this truth… Sabbath rest is for our good and the good of others.
God Commands Rest | Exodus 20:8-11
In Exodus 20:8-11, God tells the nation of Israel to set apart the seventh day, Saturday, as their Sabbath. It’s to be a day of rest for them and their children. What type of law was the Sabbath (civil, ceremonial, moral) and how does it apply to us? God gives all his people Sabbath rest in order to set us free from slavery to work, sin, and exhaustion. He does this through a day, but ultimately God gives us true…
Easter Sunrise 2016 | 1 Corinthians 15:14-19
For Easter 2016 we gathered at Edward’s Beach in Westford MA to worship Jesus. Anthony gave us a message entitled “If Christ Has Not Been Raised” on 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, which tells us Jesus is ALIVE. Please enjoy this video and download Anthony’s sermon notes (click “Save PDF”).
God Creates Rest | Genesis 2:1-3
Our brand new series How To Rest: Sabbath & Simplicity is meant to encourage us to “do less” and “rest more” in Jesus. In this five-week series, we’ll start with Genesis and go all the way to the book of revelation, learning how God provides us with true and satisfying rest. In Genesis 2:1-3, we see God bless a day and set it aside as holy. This is a gift meant for our good. God invites us to come and find our rest in Him.
The Challenging Tomb | Matthew 28:1-10
The message of Matthew 28:1-10 is a message God entrusted to the most unlikeliest of people, those society looked down upon. This message has the power to test us and shake our beliefs. How will you respond? Will you let God shine through you in your weakness? Those who obey get to meet Jesus, experience him in his fulness, and worship him. Fear not! Jesus is risen. Go and tell!
The Wondrous Cross | Matthew 27:32-56
How do you view the cross? For many people today the cross is simply a charm on a bracelet, but for those who lived 2,000 years ago the cross was a place of utter horror and suffering. It was normally reserved for the worst criminals, yet this is the place where Jesus willingly goes to pay for sin. In Matthew 27:32-56 we see Jesus suffer through the horror of being crucified, so that sinful people, like you and me can…
Dig Down Deep | Matthew 7:24-29
In his conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus challenges his followers and the crowd to put into action what he’s been teaching. To listen and obey is like a wise man who built his house on unshakable rock. But to listen to Jesus’ words and go away unchanged is foolish. It’s like building your house on sand. Your life will not stand, in this life or the next. Dig down deep to Christ our Cornerstone.
The Road Less Traveled | Matthew 7:13-23
In Matthew 7:13-23, Jesus uses three lessons to teach his followers how to distinguish between his true followers and those that pretend or are just going through the motions. He uses the lesson of the broad path and the narrow path in verses 13-14, the lesson of the wolves and fruit trees in verses 15-20, and the lesson of calling on Jesus as Lord, but not really knowing him in verses 21-23. These verses are a challenge to really follow…
Judgmentalism | Matthew 7:1-6
In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus challenges us not to have a judgmental heart-attitude. He warns us not to judge others unfairly but instead to treat others with the grace we’d like God to show you and me. He also calls us to examine ourselves honestly before examining others. Like the disciples, we are all blind to our own sin, but Jesus can take away any blindspot. Jesus also advises us to share the truth thoughtfully. We speak truth graciously, honestly, and thoughtfully because that’s what Jesus…
Courage, Dear Heart | Matthew 6:25-34
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to live in a state of worry or anxiety. It’s a challenge to all of us as we all fear the future at some level. Long before the movie Frozen came on the scene, Jesus told his followers to “let it go.” The anxieties he calls us to let go are personal, future, and relational (F.E.A.R. = False Expectations Appearing Real). But we don’t just want to let our anxieties go and fill that space with another…