MVCC New Testament Challenge

Today’s passage takes us through chapters 4-6 of the Book of Revelation. Full confession here—I have  never really studied Revelation as an adult. There is a lot of it that I don’t get, but would love to have a better understanding of. However, when I was in junior high, I remember having a brief study on parts of Revelation. (I’m pretty sure this was when the “Left Behind” series was getting popular, so that might have had something to do with it.) Our youth group was given the project of creating a diorama or little scene of what we thought parts of heaven might look like. Always a creative kid, this was totally in my wheelhouse! Yes! I couldn’t wait to do this project! Our leaders gave us a plethora of materials to create our scene but here’s something I realized early on—I could never, ever make something that even closely resembles what heaven is like. It doesn’t matter what earthly materials you give me or skills I acquire. Even the most gifted artist could never replicate...

I waited patiently for the Lord ; he inclined to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 David had called out to God for deliverance and we see here that David had to wait. Such a simple yet profound thing. We live in the world of instant. You have microwave popcorn, instant news on your phone, Amazon's shipping speeds where you can get something the next day...we live in a world of instant and we can expect God to act in the same way. Yet, while God can act instantaneously, there is often waiting involved. It teaches us to trust and lean on Him. Is there something you are waiting on God for? Know He hears you and will answer in His time. Pastor Tony

I don't know about you but I love the doxologies found in scripture.  The Doxology in Jude is found in verses 24-25.  Now to him who is able  to keep you from stumbling and  to present you  blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,   25  to  the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,  be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time  and now and forever. Amen.    Look at the first sentence in particular. "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling..." What a great reminder! God is the one who keeps us from stumbling.  Temptation is not overcome by yourself yet through the power of God. Are you struggling with something in your life? Go to God and ask Him to help keep you from stumbling.  Pastor Tony

Yesterday I recorded a devotional from 1 John 5. https://youtu.be/QXBhYGD37h8 Pastor Tony

Here is a recent devotional that I did on 1 John 3. https://youtu.be/QaSmKven2pM Pastor Tony

All through college I was looking forward to attending law school.  Ultimately, the Lord took me in another direction, but there are some facets about the law profession that have never left me.  I love to see evidence.  I appreciate logical, reasonable, and thorough investigations of facts.  That’s one reason why the first three verses of 1 John are so special to me.   In just three verses the Apostle John amassed nine verbs to indicate   the accounts of Jesus were based on primary sources – the firsthand knowledge of seeing Jesus’ life in actuality.  The life of Jesus reported in the Gospels is not a fairy tale.  Jesus is not merely a legend.  There is nothing mythical about Him.  The stories about Him are not fanciful or made up.  Notice the nine verbs that indicate eyewitness accounts of the veracity of Jesus life on the earth – heard (v. 1), seen (v. 1), looked upon (v. 1), touched (v. 1), made manifest (twice - ...

While 1 Peter deals with troubles from outside the church. The second chapter of 2 Peter deals with false teachers within the church.  I’ve been told the best way to recognize counterfeit money is to intensely study the real thing. A person who does, will then be able to immediately spot the fakes. To be able to recognize false teachers, it’s important for us to immerse ourselves in God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to provide discernment.   Matthew 7:15 tells us, “ 15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Most of you have likely heard the story of the old Cherokee grandfather who was teaching his grandson about life. The grandfather told the boy that there are two wolves, one evil and one good, fighting a battle inside every person. When the boy asked which wolf would win the battle; the grandfather told him it would be whichever wolf a person fed. I was surprised to learn that this ...