Teresa Alzamora Haskett

Teresa Alzamora Haskett

An atheist was seated next to a little girl on an airplane and he turned
to her and said, "Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike
up a conversation with your fellow passenger."

The little girl, who had just started to read her book, replied to the total
stranger, "What would you want to talk about?"

"Oh, I don't know," said the atheist. "How about why there is no God,
or no Heaven or Hell, or no life after death?" as he smiled smugly.

"Okay," she said. "Those could be interesting topics but let me ask
you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same
stuff - grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns
out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?"

The atheist, visibly surprised by the little girl's intelligence,
thinks about it and says, "Hmmm, I have no idea." To which
the little girl replies, "Do you really feel qualified to discuss
God, Heaven and Hell, or life after death, when you don't know shit?"

And then she went back to reading her book.

Jesus, the son of God

                                                

TEXT: MATHEW 4:16-17

INTRODUCTION: ‘Son of God’ is a title emphasizing Jesus Christ deity, his office as Messiah and his pre-eminence as the object of the church’s faith and worship and as the content of its gospel. The New Testament employs a variety of terms in its effort to define the personal identity of Jesus. Strictly speaking, His name simply is Jesus (meaning “Yahweh is salvation”). Recognition of His messiahship quickly led His followers to call Him Christ (Christos is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word Messiah), Christ Jesus, and the more common Jesus Christ. In addition, He also is called: Lord, Son of Man, Son of David; and “I AM”-an apparent echo of the unutterable divine name (Exodus 3:14). All of these titles make exalted claims for the Man from Galilee. For many Christians, though, Son of God is the most familiar term used to identify Jesus. There is power in the confession that Jesus is the “Son of God,” but what does it mean?  

A. What Does “Son of God” Mean in the Bible?

The phrase “Son of God” has different meanings in different contexts in the Bible. The first sense, which most Bible scholars see as its most common meaning in the Gospels, is simply a messianic title – more 0r less equivalent to “Messiah,” “Son of David”, or King of Israel.” (Carefully study Matthew 26:63-64; John 1:47-51; John 11:20-27; and John 20:31). The origin of this term as a messianic title comes from 2Samuel 7 and parallel passages in 1 Chronicles 17 and 22. David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but the Lord promised to raise up a descendant of David who would build an eternal temple and whose throne God would establish forever. God says of this future messianic rule: “I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take away my love from him” (1 Chronicles 17:13).

B. God the Son!

John 1 says the Word of God was eternally with God and is God, and that through God’s Word all things were created, and that this Word was manifested in Jesus Christ, and that we have seen His glory. In verse 18 it adds: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John then used the term “Son” in this sense in several passages.

In John 5:18-26, Jesus says that everyone should “‘honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.’ ”  This passage also affirms that by talking about His relationship with God in this way Jesus was “making himself equal (or identical) with god.” In John 10:30, Jesus says, “‘I and the Father are one.’ ” And in John 14:9, Jesus says, “‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’" TO be continued! Meanwhile, live like Jesus on earth. Maranatha!

Discuss John 14:9

MEMORY VERSE: … Truly, this man was the Son of God (Mark 15:39b).

Church of Eternal Life Jos- Plateau state

Preaching the gospel; elements of gospel

 TEXT:  1 COR. 15:1-22

INTRODUCTION: God gives a very solemn warning in Ezekiel 33:8 and 9. He says “if thou dost not warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” If you profess to be a true Christian today, when was the last time you witnessed to an unsaved person? Have you ever told them what Christ has done for you and what He can likewise do for them? When was the last time you passed out a Gospel tract? It is easy for us to criticize the cultists (who erringly claim to be Christians) who knock on our doors from time to time, but could teach us something about zeal. We’re the ones who should be knocking on doors to tell the unsaved of their need of Christ as their own and personal Saviour.

ELEMENTS OF THE TRUE GOSPEL

When you preach, these are some of the most important message God expects you to communicate…..

A. CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED FOR OUR SINS….

In love God offers His Son as a “propitiation” (sacrifice) for our sins! (1 Jn.4:9-10). This is fundamental to the gospel Paul preached (1 Cor.15:1-3). It was as foretold by the Old Testament scriptures (Isa.53:4-6). Why did Jesus die for our sins? Because we are all sinners! (ROM.3:23) and the wages of sin is death! (Rom.6:23).

B. CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD….

Raising Jesus verifies the justification offered on the cross! (Rom.4:25). This also is fundamental to the gospel Paul preached (1 Cor.15:5-8). It was also proclaimed by Peter in the first gospel sermon (Acts 2:22-32). Christ was seen by many eyewitnesses (1 Cor. 15:5-8).

C. CHRIST IS EXALTED AS KING AND SAVIOR…..

God has made Jesus ruler over the kings of the earth! (Rev.1:5). He is now both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-36). He is head over all things (Eph. 1:20-23). All authorities and powers are now subject to Him (1Peter 3:22).

D. CHIST IS COMING AGAIN…..

His coming will cause many to mourn, while others rejoice (REV. 1:7; 22:20), as promised when He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). Christ is coming to offer both rest and tribulation (2Thess. 1:7-10); rest to those who responded to the call of the gospel (2Thess.2:13-14) and tribulation to those who obeyed not the gospel (2Thess.1:8-9).

YOUR FIRST LOVE…. What Happened?

In Matthew Chapter 10 and verses 32 and 33, Jesus said, “Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me before men, him shall I confess also before My Father, which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven. “Perhaps the reader of these words is a professing Christian who was once noted for their spiritual boldness in witnessing for their professed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but today you are silent. For various reasons, known but to you, God and Devil, you’re no longer a faithful testimony to God’s love, mercy and grace expressed in His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what the Lord said in Revelation 2:4, “Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FIRST LOVE?

Discuss: Why many Christians do not evangelize. What are the practical ways out of this?

MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 9:16.

Church of Eternal Life Jos, Plateau State.

What the bible teaches about the world and the Church Part 1

   TEXT: EPH. 5:1-21

A. CHURCH                                                          

The word “church” is used in the New Testament to refer to the people of God who have obeyed the gospel by immersion into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In the New Testament the word “church” is used primarily to God’s people who have been called out (Greek : ecclesia) of the world. The church is God’s special holy nation of redeemed people whose citizenship is in heaven (Acts 20:28; Ph. 3:20-21; Tit.2:14; 1Pt. 1:18-19; 2:9). The church is made up of those on earth who have submitted to the reign of Jesus from heaven. The church is composed of those in whose hearts Jesus now reigns (Lk.17:20-21). Wherever the will of God is done on earth in the hearts of men as it is done in heaven (Mt.6:10), then the church exists. As a body filled with the Spirit of God (1Cor.6:19), the church is a vibrant community in this world to accomplish the work of God to bring men into eternity through obedience to the gospel.   

B. WORLD

World in the New Testament sometimes means what it means in the Old Testament, namely, this earth, the good natural order that God created. Usually, however, it means mankind as a whole, now fallen into sin and moral disorder and become radically anti-God and evil. Occasionally, the two senses seem to blend, so that statements about the world carry the complex touch of perverse people incurring guilt and shame by their misuse of created things.

C. THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

Christians are sent into the world by their Lord (John 17:18) to witness to it about God’s Christ and his kingdom (Matt. 24:14; cf. Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:6,23) and to serve its needs. But they are to do so without falling victim to its materialism (Matt.6:19-24,32), its unconcern about God and the next life (Luke 12:13-21), and its prideful pursuit of pleasure, profit, and position to the exclusion of everything else (1 John 2:15-17). The world is at present Satan’s kingdom (John 14:30; 2Cor.4:4; 1John 5:19; cf. Luke 4:5-7), and the outlook and mind-set of human societies reflect more of the pride seen in Satan than the humility seen in Christ.

Christians, like Christ, are to emphasize with people’s anxieties and needs in order to serve them and communicate with them effectively. They are to do so, however, on a basis of motivational detachment from this world, through which they are momentarily passing as they travel home to God and in which their single-minded purpose must be to please God (Col. 1:9-12; 1Pet. 2:11)

Discuss: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Also discuss 1 John 2:15-17

MEMORY VERSE: Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you (1 John 2:15 NLT).

Resource by Church of Eternal Life Jos, Plateau state.

IS DECEMBER 25TH REALLY THE BIRTHDATE OF JESUS CHRIST?

The answer is evidently & surprisingly NO. You’re wondering why?

A closer study of the bible will clearly reveal the exact date of Jesus, as we have proofs and bible references, though, some might or might not believe, but the truth remains the same.

Luke chapter 1.
vs. 24: “after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived on the SECOND MONTH of the year, and for FIVE MONTHS she hid herself saying…”
The above bible passage states that Elizabeth got pregnant (conceived) on the second month of the year, which is FEBRUARY. And for five months, she hid the pregnancy; Five months from february is JUNE.

vs. 26: “in the SIXTH MONTH, the angel Gabriel was sent from God…”
This sixth month stated in the passage is still June, in which is the fifth month Elizabeth hid her pregnancy, but God sent an angel to Mary (vs. 27) and revealed to her of Elizabeth’s hidden pregnancy (vs. 36).
The angel also told Mary that she will conceive (vs. 31).
After that, Mary went to stay with Elizabeth (vs 39-40)
vs 56: “and Mary remained with her about THREE MONTHS, and returned to her home”
This states clearly that On the ninth month which when Elizabeth should give birth was October (9 months from February is October)
vs 59-60 states that John was born & circumcised on the 8th of october.
Furthermore bible researches shows that John the baptist was 3 months older than Jesus Christ; (vs. 26: mary returned home because her own pregnancy was due)

Luke chapter 2.
Now 3months later, Mary gave birth (vs. 1-7).
Caesar Augustus made a decree on the first day of a new year, that everyone should enroll in the first world census. Mary and Joseph travelled to bethlehem few days after the decree, and that day happened to be 8th of January, in which was the same day Jesus was born. (vs. 6,7,21), Surprisingly Jesus was born on the 8th of January.

Now, why december 25th as the birth of Jesus?
December 25th was a date fixed by the vatican roman empire as the celebration day of Jesus Christ. But that date, happened to coincide with the date of the death of a wicked king.

The above article clearly states the birthdates of John & Jesus. The bible is not a mere object, its full of mazes and riddles, you have to dig through to find insights.

NOTE: This article wasn't made in terms of criticism, mockery or disorder, it was made to create awareness to anyone who is willing to believe.