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Sermon Summary Notes
Ray Crest March 30,2025 Notes
started out by reading 2 Corinthians 5:21 ~ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. We are told we are ambassadors, not that we will be some day, but we are ambassadors now. As an ambassador, you are representing another country, you want to be a good ambassador. An ambassador is an authorized representative or messenger. An ambassador can also be an unofficial representative. We looked at Ephesians 6:20, where Paul tells us he is an ambassador in chains. John the Baptist was an ambassador that went before Jesus. Jesus was an ambassador of another kingdom, see Matthew 4. What are you an ambassador of? Joseph was an ambassador of Egypt, but first to Jehovah, he was representing the God of Israel to all of Egypt. Esther was an ambassador. Daniel was an ambassador, see 2 Kings. We are an ambassador to all the people around us. Ambassadors are appointed by the king, and may speak on his behalf. Jesus is an ambassador of heaven. We are ambassadors of Christ if we call ourselves Christians. Ambassadors do not hide who they represent. We should be announcing and celebrating our ambassadorship. An ambassador is a small embodiment of the kingdom they represent. We should be showing the happiness of the kingdom we represent. Their embassies are protected by their government. We are protected by the church, look at Acts 18:9 – 10. The church is our embassy. They are to protect their citizens when in a foreign land. We want to encourage our people, because they are in a foreign land. Ambassadors are sacrificial and exult the name of their king and not themselves. Ambassadors have access to the funds of their country, and God provides our needs. Ambassadors are to be peacemakers or a peaceful witness. We want the people of this world to find peace with Christ. Ambassadors sometimes have to prepare their citizens to evacuate the foreign land; which is what Moses did. Our time is ending, we need to be preparing people for when they leave this world.
Pastor Dan Waters March 23, 2025 Notes
Led us in a message about Satan. Satan is real, and he is hard to shake. Satan rebelled because of pride, and he wants you to think you can get to heaven by being good. We need to remember that he is a deceiver and he hates us. The gospel is simple, trust in Jesus alone, see 2 Corinthians 11:3. John 10:10 teaches us that Satan came to steal, kill and destroy. Satan tempts us today. How are we doing? Read 2 Timothy 3:1 – 5 and you will see how the world is really doing! He is good at telling half-truths, he loves to lie, and sometimes we tolerate it. Satan deceives us by having us questioning God. “Hath God said?” He uses deception by lying to us, “You will not surely die!” He also tries to get us to substitute ritual for reality, but Amos 5:21 – 23 says that God does not care about our rituals, He wants our hearts. Satan also uses identity theft! Check out Isaiah 14:14 and Ezekiel 28:2. Another tactic Satan uses is deception by appearance, read 2 Corinthians 11:13 – 15. How do we have victory over Satan? Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ~ James 4:7 First we have to resist the devil and then he will flee from us. Ephesians 6:11 – 18 tells us many ways to have victory over Satan; standing, wrestling, putting on the whole armor of God, presenting the gospel, having faith, being in the Word, and praying. Revelation 20:10 assures us that the deception will end! The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. ~ Proverbs 16:18 - 19
Eric Becker March 16 2025 Notes
Talked about love, and the different kinds of love we feel for different people and things and the love Jesus has for us. We do things for people because we love them, not to prove our love. One of the most powerful displays of love in the Bible is found in Matthew 22:39. We read about Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Luke 10:38 – 42 and again in John 11:1 – 44. Lazarus means God has helped. In John 11:35, Jesus wept. What a sign of His love that is! Empathy is feeling what others can feel, and Jesus has empathy for us. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1 – 13. Where would we be without this kind of love? We are called to love unconditionally, and to weep for others. In John 11:35 He wept alongside them. Sympathy is when someone cries for you. Empathy is when someone cries beside you. Fun Fact: John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 and 17 are the second and third shortest verses in the Bible.“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ~ Matthew 22:39