Honoring God With Our Substance – Pastor Chris Black

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
The book of Proverbs is about wise living. Written by the inspiration of God and penned by the wisest man to ever live outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “honor” as a verb means to show great respect and admiration for someone or something, to fulfill a promise or agreement, or to accept and pay a bill or a debt. There are different ways we can and should honor God… with our time, with our talents and with our treasure. Here the verse says to honor God with our substance. Substance means our possessions and our living. Does God need our money? No, He doesn’t “need” anything, but we should honor God with our substance because everything we have is directly due to Him.

2 Thessalonians Session 2 – Pastor Chris Black

Last week we went through chapter 1 of 2 Thessalonians. We talked about the differences between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. Paul encourages this church because of the persecution that they are going through and shares with them that the persecutors will suffer the Lord’s vengeance when he comes again.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He Cannot Forget You – Pastor Chris Black

At different times in scripture, the phrase “and God remembered” appears. It does not mean that God had forgotten people or promises, but rather that He began to act on a past promise, covenant or situation. It’s a form of human language used to help us understand God’s actions, and signifies God’s compassion, grace and fulfillment of His word by bringing His attention and purpose to a particular person or situation. It means that something was brought to the forefront of God’s mind, leading to His intervention and care.

2 Thessalonians Session 1 – Pastor Chris Black

Last week we finished up 1st Thessalonians, going through chapter 5. Paul spoke of the day of the Lord and said that it would come like a thief in the night. He told them that they were children of light and of the day meaning that spiritually they knew what was going on and to be looking for the appearing of Christ. He then warns them about going to sleep or being drunk so then that day catches them unaware. He finishes his letter with instructions to help them: rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all things, quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesyings, prove all things and hold fast to that which is good, and abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians Session 3 – Pastor Chris Black

Last time we went through chapters 3 and 4 which included instructions in sanctification. Sanctification is the about living in a manner that pleases God. Paul stated that these commands came from Jesus Christ himself. He touched on three main areas in a Christian’s life – purity, honesty, and charity and he reveals the rapture of the church and it’s order. When Christ appears, the dead in Christ rise first and the living saints are then translated, and we all meet the Lord in the air to never be separated again. We are instructed to comfort one another with this knowledge.

1 Thessalonians Session 2 – Pastor Chris Black

Last week we went through the first two chapters of this first epistle to the Thessalonians. This letter begins much more personally than Galatians or Colossians. Paul recalls his missionary journey there and how they received the gospel. That the preaching came in power, and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance. He wrote of his great love for them and how he had tried to come back to them but was hindered. He also wrote of their behavior among them…how that they went above and beyond to not be a burden to them and to be gentle and nurturing.

Psalm 1 – Pastor Chris Black

The first psalm is one of my very favorites because it speaks in such an illustrative way on the importance of the word of God in a person’s life. The first verse describes the blessing of not being influenced by the lost world. It’s a progression: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly – counsel is advice or instruction given for directing the conduct or judgment of another Don’t get your instructions from the ungodly – because the ungodly are cut off from God and this is how they think

To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples to advance the Kingdom of God