Ruth 1 PURPOSE: " a gratifying reminder that even in the darkest times God is at work in the hearts of His faithful remnant."

TRAGEDY

A.  1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel,

    The opening verse of the book reminds us of the leadership vacuum in Israel during the Judges Period.

The closing verse reveals God's provision of the greatest leader that Israel had since that time.

Therefore the book seems concerned with showing how God provided for His people, especially for their leadership need.

The Foundation of the Church

The Foundation of the Church (FCC)/       Your life’s foundation

Acts 1:1-11  (New Living Translation)

Jesus’ Life & Teachings/                                                      Jesus is my Teacher

1 In my first book I told you,

Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach

2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

Resurrection/                                                          Jesus is my resurrection

3 During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit/                                                      I have the Holy Spirit

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.

5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Kingdom of God                          I live in another Kingdom      

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

Power & Mission                                 I have God’s power to fulfill my mission

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The coming King                                                     My King is coming again

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

What should I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 10

INTRO:

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a very well known story & Some literary critics consider it the greatest story ever told.

The parable of the Good Samaritan came about as an answer to a question that was asked by a Lawyer.

 Jewish scribes would have great interest in such questions, not only for personal reasons but because they were interested in interpreting the law for the community.

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 

The Faith That Amazes The Savior

Thanks to Brian Bell,  Steven J. Cole & Bob Deffinbaugh  whose sermons I gleaned this message from.

Read: Luke 7: 1-10

How is your faith/ trust in God?

Wavering or getting stronger?

The text was a reminder for me as I revisited it as I am going through challenges in my job/ church, family condition both here & the Philippines.

I am sure you have your own challenges too in your work, family etc. 

The centurion’s faith is both significant and relevant to us.                                                                                        

Our Lord made a point of commending his faith.

Few things are more needed in our individual lives and the church than a vital, growing faith. 

The centurion’s faith serves both as a stimulus and as a model for Christians of all ages. 

Let’s see how the Centurion’s trust in God grew to an Amazing Faith and may we learn from him.

God’s faithful love toward His unfaithful people

Sources taken from: Brian Bell, Ron Daniel, David Guzik's &  Ray C. Stedman

Hosea 1
1 The LORD gave this message to Hosea son of Beeri during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel. 
2 When the LORD first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the LORD and worshiping other gods.”

3 So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son.
4 And the LORD said, “Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel.5 In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence.
I will break its military power in the Jezreel Valley.”

6 Soon Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to Hosea, “Name your daughter Lo-ruhamah—‘Not loved’—for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.
7 But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies—not with weapons and armies or horses and charioteers, but by my power as the LORD their God.”

8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son.
9 And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.

10 “Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore—too many to count! Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’
11 Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together. They will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together. What a day that will be—the day of Jezreel—when God will again plant his people in his land.
2:1 “In that day you will call your brothers Ammi—‘My people.’ And you will call your sisters Ruhamah—‘The ones I love.’

God’s promise on pouring on the Holy Spirit on you & me

Joel 2    God’s promise on pouring on the Holy Spirit on you & me

16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.

21 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’

Following the Leadership of Jesus

Luke 6:46-49

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 

47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 

48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. 

When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.
49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. 

When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.      

        

God of 2nd Chance to the Believer & Unbelievers

Read Jonah 3:1-10

1. God the Giver of 2nd chance v.1
2. The recipients
• Jonah
• Ninevites vv.2-3
3. The Medium
• The Gospel
• The HS
• Jonah v.4
4. The Results
• salvation v.5
• Change life vv.6-9
• Glory to God v.10

When pressed, press on!

Read text: Haggai 2:1-9

After returning from exile in Babylon, the Jews commenced rebuilding the temple, then ceased the work not long thereafter, largely because of opposition from the Samaritans. 

Sixteen years later God raised up Haggai to call the people back to the task at hand.

Upon his prodding, they began the work in September of 520 B.C. 

Barely a month had passed and the initial enthusiasm had waned once again. 

This time they were overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the project and by the memories of how great Solomon’s temple had been. 

By comparison their efforts seemed embarrassingly small. Why bother to rebuild when you end up building a shanty on the ruins of the former temple. 

Haggai now speaks to the willing but discouraged workers. 

The enemy try to stop us whether the work of God in the church or in our own personal lives.

Folsom Community Church

Our Church's Purpose:

To CONNECT: We were formed for God’s family
To GROW: We were created to become like Christ
To SERVE: We were shaped for serving God
To SHARE: We were made for a mission
To WORSHIP: We were planned for God's pleasure


Our Church's Mission:

To know Christ, grow in Him, and make Him Known. See Matthew 28:18-20