Dec 23, 2008
Dec 14, 2008
THE GIFT OF ANSWERED PRAYER
The Message Brother Ken Wilson brought to The Orchard Church on December 14, 2008
Luke 1:56-80
Lk 1:56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
Lk 1:57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
Lk 1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
Lk 1:59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
Lk 1:60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
Lk 1:61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
Lk 1:62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
Lk 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
Lk 1:64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.
Lk 1:65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
Lk 1:66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah’s Song
Lk 1:67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Lk 1:68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
Lk 1:69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
Lk 1:70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
Lk 1:71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
Lk 1:72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
Lk 1:73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
Lk 1:74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
Lk 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Lk 1:76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
Lk 1:77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
Lk 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
Lk 1:79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Lk 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Dec 7, 2008
THE GIFT OF BEING IN GOD'S PRESENCE
The message Brother Ken Wilson delivered on December 7, 2008.
MAIN SCRIPTURE LUKE 1:39-56
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord a should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Nov 30, 2008
The Gift of Being Chosen
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
SERMON 11-02-2008
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Oct 26, 2008
FORGIVENESS
Scripture Reference Matthew 18:21-25
MESSAGE OUTLINE
Ten Observations:
1. Peter wants to know how high to count; Jesus doesn't like it when we keep score.
2. Forgiveness means, "to set aside your anger".
3. A talent = 15 year's wages
4. A denarius = 1 day's wages
5. The servant owed an outrageous amount to his master (15 year's wages times 10,000 = 150,000 years worth of debt)
6. No one borrows 150,000 year's worth of pay. This servant must have been an embezzler.
7. The King is willing to forgive an inconceivably large debt.
8. The King is much more angry about the servant's lack of forgiveness for a fellow servant that about his sin against the King.
9. How we treat others matters to God more than how we treat him.
10. Those who have been forgiven must forgive.
so, WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE? Let me give you four reasons.
1. SATAN
2. ME
3. YOU ARE NOT PERFECT.
4. CHRIST FORGAVE YOU.
Then, HOW DO I FORGIVE?
Make a DECISION to forgive.
Say the WORDS - at least to yourself.
When you forgive, FORGIVE.
Forgive COMPLETELY.
Forgive REPEATEDLY.
Forgiving doesn't mean FORGETTING.
Forgiving doesn't mean TRUSTING.
Here's an important distinction:
FORGIVENESS MUST BE GRANTED, IT CANT BE EARNED.
TRUST CAN'T BE GRANTED, IT MUST BE EARNED.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Oct 19, 2008
BREAKING FREE
MAIN SCRIPTURE USED AND REFERENCE 1 CORINTHIANS 10:11-13
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; m he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. n But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
MESSAGE OUTLINE
OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE IS TEMPTATION
THREE FACT ABOUT TEMPTATION
1. Every temptation you face HAS BEEN faced by others
2. You have never been tempted by something you did not have the POWER to resist.
3. God PROVIDES a way out of every temptation.
The bible says there are only three kinds of parasites--three kinds of temptations in this world.
Everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the father but from the world. - 1John 2:16
There are only three kinds of temptations:
1. The CRAVINGS of our bodies (materialism or sensualism)
2. The LUST of our eyes (greed)
3. The PRIDE of our hearts
How to break free from temptations:
1. Pray that the Lord will keep you from TEMPTATION.
2. Make a COVENANT with yourself.
3. LOOK for a way out.
4. DIVERT your thoughts.
5. REMOVE yourself.
6. Evaluate when you FALL DOWN.
7. Ask FORGIVENESS, resolve to do better, and START again.
1John 1:9 says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Here is your Love Dare Challenge for the week:
IS THERE A PARASITE FROM WHICH YOU NEED TO BREAK FREE?
Oct 12, 2008
LOVE FOR A LIFETIME
MAIN SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
MATTHEW 19:3-6
Mt 19:3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
Mt 19:4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
Mt 19:5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’
Mt 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
LOVE FOR A LIFETIME
1. Romance Stage
2. Reality Stage
3. Resentment Stage
4. Rebuilding Stage
There are three skills needed to play the
marriage game. Those 3 are............
REMEMBERING THAT WE ARE DIFFERENT AND
ACTING ACCORDINGLY
A. Men talk in generalities, women
talk in specifics.
B. Men are in touch with their thoughts first.
Women are in touch with their feelings first.
C. Men and women have very different ideas on
how an evening should be spent.
D. Men and women appreciate sex from different
perspectives.
ASKING AND GRANTING FORGIVENESS
DECEIDING TO LOVE AND KEEP ON LOVING
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Oct 4, 2008
HE FIRST LOVED US
Brother Ken's second message in the series
"FIREPROOF YOUR RELATIONSHIPS".
MAIN SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
1JOHN 4:7-12
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes
from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God
and knows God.
8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because
God is love.
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent
his one and only Son into the world that we might
live through him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved
us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to
love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
OUTLINE
Let me show you FIVE PRINCIPLES OF RELATIONSHIPS from what John, the wise and loving old man, has said to us here.
1. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE PROFOUND EXPERIENCES, THEY WANT
TO SHARE THEM.
2. AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD'S LOVE IS A PROFOUND
EXPERIENCE.
3. THOSE WHO LIVE CLOSE TO GOD FIND THAT THEIR LOVE
FOR OTHERS IS ALWAYS INCREASING.
4. LOVE ELIMINATES FEAR.
5. WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.
Let me give you two Love Dare Challenges.
The first is, receive God's love if you've never done so before.
The second Love Dare Challenge is a three-part-er, one part will fit
who you are.
HUSBANDS:
EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE
WAY TO LOVE YOUR WIFE, AND THEN DO IT.
WIVES:
EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE
WAY TO LOVE YOUR HUSBANDS, AND THEN DO IT.
SINGLES:
MAKE A LIST (RIGHT NOW) OF 6 FAMILY MEMBERS,
FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS AND ASSIGN A DAY TO EACH OF
THEM. THEN, EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO
SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE THE PERSON OF THE DAY,
THEN DO IT.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Sep 28, 2008
"He Said / She Said"
Fireproof your Relationships
Brother Ken Wilson's Message delivered on September 27, 2008.
*****There is a 3 minute 10 second dead spot at the start of the message*****
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Ephesians 5:21-33
Eph 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Eph 5:24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Eph 5:26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Eph 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Eph 5:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Eph 5:29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—
Eph 5:30 for we are members of his body.
Eph 5:31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Eph 5:32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
OUTLINE
There are three principles here that, if you practice them, will come pretty close to fireproofing your marriage.
1. Marriage works best when both husband and wife give up their ____________ for the sake of the other.
2. Marriage works best when we understand the there are _____________________and
____________________ each other accordingly.
A. MEN NEED RESPECT
B. WOMEN NEED LOVE
3. Marriage works best when you ________________________ and ____________________
that something is taking place. You are living out a preview of your relationship to Jesus in Heaven.
THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE #1
WIVES: WHAT MAKES YOUR HUSBAND FEEL RESPECTED BY YOU? AND THEREFORE, WHAT WOULD Y0U LIKE TO DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE HIM FEEL RESPECTED BY YOU?
HUSBANDS: WHAT MAKES YOUR WIFE FEEL LOVED? AND THEREFORE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE HER FEEL LOVED BY YOU?
SINGLES: IN YOUR WORK, SCHOOL, OR HOME ENVIRONMENT, WHOSE LIFE WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD VALUE TO BY GIVING THEM GREATER LOVE OR RESPECT? WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Sep 21, 2008
MESSAGE ON HUSBANDS & WIVES
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Aug 7, 2008
Prayer
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Jul 21, 2008
Thank you for your patience
May 25, 2008
Grandparenting For Christ
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
(2 Timothy 1:5)
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
May 10, 2008
A Message From God's Word on Parenting
MAIN SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Pr 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Other Scripture References
Dt 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Dt 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Dt 11:20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
Dt 11:21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
Dt 11:22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him—
Ge 25:28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game,loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
2Ti 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
May 5, 2008
Couples
This message was delivered to The Orchard Church on May 3, 2008.
Scripture references include:
Genesis 2:7
the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being
Genesis 2:18-23
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Ge 2:19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
Ge 2:20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
Ge 2:21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh.
Ge 2:22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Ge 2:23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
Ge 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Ge 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Apr 28, 2008
The Ends of the Earth
This is the "Ends of the Earth" message for the Acts 1:8 mission month series.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
THERE ARE A FEW HOLES IN THIS AUDIO DUE TO PORTIONS OF THE DIOLOG TAKING PLACE WITHOUT MICROPHONES.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Apr 20, 2008
Message From God's Word
Scripture Reference
John 9:1-5
Jn 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
Jn 9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jn 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
Jn 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Jn 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Apr 12, 2008
"The World Impact of the Judean Church"
The Scripture References are from Acts, chapters 8 - 11
The Church Persecuted and Scattered
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Ac 8:2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
Ac 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Philip in Samaria
Ac 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
Ac 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.
Ac 8:6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.
Ac 8:7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.
Ac 8:8 So there was great joy in that city.
Philip and the Ethiopian
Ac 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
Ac 8:27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
Ac 8:28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.
Ac 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Ac 8:30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
Ac 8:31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Ac 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Ac 8:33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
Ac 8:34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”
Ac 8:35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Ac 8:36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”
Ac 8:38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Ac 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
Ac 8:40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
Saul’s Conversion
9:1-19 pp—Ac 22:3-16; 26:9-18
Ac 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
Ac 9:2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
Ac 9:3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
Ac 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Ac 9:5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Ac 9:6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Ac 9:7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
Ac 9:8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Ac 9:9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
Ac 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,“Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
Ac 9:11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
Ac 9:12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Ac 9:13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
Ac 9:14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Ac 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Ac 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Ac 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Ac 9:18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
Ac 9:19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
Ac 9:20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
Ac 9:21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
Ac 9:22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Cornelius Calls for Peter
Ac 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
Ac 10:2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
Ac 10:3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Ac 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
Ac 10:5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Ac 10:6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Ac 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.
Ac 10:8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
10:9-32 Ref—Ac 11:5-14
Ac 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
Ac 10:10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
Ac 10:11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
Ac 10:12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
Ac 10:13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
Ac 10:14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
Ac 10:15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Ac 10:16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Ac 10:17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.
Ac 10:18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
Ac 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.
Ac 10:20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
Ac 10:21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
Ac 10:22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
Ac 10:23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.
Ac 10:24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Ac 10:25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
Ac 10:26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
Ac 10:27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
Ac 10:28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
Ac 10:29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
Ac 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me
Ac 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
Ac 10:32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
Ac 10:33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Ac 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
Ac 10:35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
Ac 10:36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Ac 10:37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
Ac 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Ac 10:39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,
Ac 10:40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
Ac 10:41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Ac 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
Ac 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Ac 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
Ac 10:45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
Ac 10:46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,
Ac 10:47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
Ac 10:48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
The Church in Antioch
Ac 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.
Ac 11:20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.
Ac 11:21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Ac 11:22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Ac 11:23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Ac 11:24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Ac 11:25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
Ac 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Apr 6, 2008
April 6--TRACKING THE JERUSALEM BELIEVERS
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
(Acts 1:8)
This week we looked at our Jerusalem
The videos that were included with this service:
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Mar 29, 2008
You're Gonna Miss This
The Parable of the Lost Son
Luke 15:11-32
Lk 15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. a
Lk 15:12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ b So he divided his property c between them.
Lk 15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth d in wild living.
Lk 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
Lk 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. e
Lk 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Lk 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Lk 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned f against heaven and against you.
Lk 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
Lk 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. g
Lk 15:21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. h I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 63 ’
Lk 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe i and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger j and sandals on his feet.
Lk 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
Lk 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; k he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. l
Lk 15:25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
Lk 15:26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
Lk 15:27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
Lk 15:28 “The older brother became angry m and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
Lk 15:29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Lk 15:30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property n with prostitutes o comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
Lk 15:31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Lk 15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Mar 22, 2008
The Complete Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Mar 6, 2008
This Week's Devotions
March 3
Jesus said, "let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them."
Matthew 19:14
I once read an article that said children spell love T-I-M-E. As I pondered
that statement, I had to agree. Take advantage of each and every opportunity
to do things together, going hiking, going fishing, doing crafts, reading
stories, baking cookies, playing board games...Don't just say you love your
children--show them! Spend some time together.
March 4
Be joyful always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
You may remember thinking, "I can't do this one more day! God must not have
known what He was doing when He made me a parent." But, you know what? He
did know. He has equipped you with everything you need to be a good parent.
And He is more than happy to help you through when you feel your weakest. No
matter what--God loves you and believes in you.
March 5
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah
29:11
Father, help me to fan the dreams You've placed within my children. Amen.
March 6
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life. Proverbs 10:17
God's time-out chair isn't a place where He puts you to punish you; rather,
you put yourself there when you disobey Him. It's a place where the
blessings of God no longer flow. But the best thing about God's time-out
chair is that you can get up at any time. All you have to do is repent and
move on..
March 7
"Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring
understanding?"
Job 12:12
Father, as a sweet elderly man from our church once told me, these are the
best years of my life. Help me to treasure each moment with my children.
Amen.
March 8
Let the wise listen and add to their learning. Proverbs 1:5
Are you a good listener? Do you really give your kids your full attention
when they are talking to you? Do you nod your head and smile, letting them
know that you're truly into what they are saying? If we fail to listen to
them now, we'll be sorry later when they no longer choose to tell us things.
Open up your ears and your heart and listen to your children!
March 9
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power to the weak. Isaiah
40:29
We are all busy people. That's just a fact of life. But if we allow
ourselves to become too busy, we'll miss out on quality time with our
families. We'll be running around so much that we won't know if we're coming
or going. Even good things can be bad if they take us away from our
families.
Daily devotions brought to you by Joanie Garborg 2006 by Barbour Publishing,
Inc.
Mar 2, 2008
THE KING OF THE KINGDOM
This is Brother Ken's eighth message in the series "Experiencing God Together".
Scripture Reference: Revelation 19:11 - 16
Rev 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
Rev 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
Rev 19:14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
Rev 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Feb 23, 2008
THE ORCHARD: A WORLD MISSION STRATEGY CENTER
This is Brother Ken's seventh message in the series Experiencing God Together.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Ephesians 3:20-21
Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Eph 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Feb 16, 2008
"THE SPIRT EMPOWERED CHURCH"
"THE SPIRT EMPOWERED CHURCH"
This is Brother Ken's sixth message in the series "EXPERIENCING GOD TOGETHER"
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 1: 4 - 8
Ac 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Ac 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Ac 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Ac 1:7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
Ac 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Feb 9, 2008
CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF HIS CHURCH
This is the fifth message in the series "EXPERIENCING GOD TOGETHER"
SCRIPTURE TEXT - ephesians 4:15-16
Eph 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Feb 4, 2008
This is the fourth message in the series "EXPERIENCING LIFE TOGETHER"
SCRIPTURE TEXT - ROMANS 8:1-4
Ro 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Ro 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Ro 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
Ro 8:4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Jan 26, 2008
EXPERIENCING GOD TOGETHER III
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Jan 24, 2008
Seven Realities of Experiencing God
Exodus 3
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (2) And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. (3) And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned." (4) When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (5) Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (6) And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (7) Then the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, (8) and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (9) And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. (10) Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." (11) But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (12) He said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." (13) Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" (14) God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (15) God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (16) Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, (17) and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey."' (18) And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' (19) But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. (20) So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. (21) And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, (22) but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians."
:
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
Jan 14, 2008
BEING THE CHURCH
Title: BEING THE CHURCH
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(Acts 2:46-47)
Listen online here:
Jan 7, 2008
Experiencing God Together
Jan 6, 2008
Go For It!!
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Philippians 3:12-16
If you have not subscribed to this podcast, listen online here
We meet at the Traverse City Christian School (753 Emerson Rd. Traverse City, MI) Sundays at 10 AM.
Contact the blog at orchardblog@gmail.com
Church website: www.OrchardChurchHome.com
How to Subscribe to the Podcast
For Downloading:
To download an individual message, right click on the title link and choose either "save link as" or "save target as". Choose where you want to save the MP3 file and click save.
For Subscribing, Click Here:
The feed for the podcast is:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/OrchardChurch.xml