20240128 The Most Important Things Aren’t Things

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Deacon Zell

Jan. 28, 2024

Pastor Matt McFarland

Verses used in this lesson, please follow along.

Matthew 13:44 – 46  “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field, which, when a man hath found, he hideth; and for the joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls,

46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 6:19 – 20 (TLV)  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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20240121 Are You Acting like Who You Are?

Posted on January 27, 2024 by Deacon Zell

January 21, 2024

Pastor Matt McFarland

Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13a  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: 

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Ephesians 1:13b in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24.  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

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20240107 Why We Take Communion

Posted on January 8, 2024 by Deacon Zell

January 7, 2024

Pastor Matt McFarland

Luke 22;19-20 (KJV) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Life = Zoe = all life Natural & Spiritual

Hamartia = to miss the mark

Ephesians 4:25-26 (KJ21) Therefore, putting away lying, let every man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath,

Ephesians 1:7  in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His gra

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 1:7  in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His gra

Romans 10:9-10 (KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 4:25-26  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

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A Minute With Pastor Matt: Positive Reframing

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Deacon Zell

A Minute with Pastor Matt:

Positive Reframing

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A Minute with Pastor Matt: You Are What You Eat.

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Deacon Zell

February 27, 2022

Welcome to a new series: A Minute with Pastor Matt; these are short snippets containing  life lessons, interesting facts and words of encouragement.

Pastor Matt McFarland

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20231224 Advent Week 4 – The Birth

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Deacon Zell

December 24, 2023

Pastor Matt McFarland

Luke 2:9 – 14 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”

Isaiah 66: 2 For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been,” saith the Lord. “But to this man will I look: even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.

Luke 2: 15 – 18 And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  18 And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Matthew 28: 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Matthew 28: 5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear ye not, for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

 John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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20231217 Advent Week 3 – Arrival

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Deacon Zell

December 17, 2023

Pastor Matt McFarland

Advent Week #3 – The Arrival

Isaiah 60: 1 -3  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen       upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people;
  But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 60: 6. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.

Matthew 2: 9 – 12 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Matthew 2: 11  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Ephesians 5: 2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

 

 

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20231210 Advent Week 2 – Preparation

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Deacon Zell

December 10, 2023

Pastor Matt McFarland

Advent Series, week 2

Isaiah 40: 3 – 5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;
5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Luke 1 : 18 (KJ21)  And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”

Matthew 3: 1 – 3  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea  2 and saying, “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’”

John 1:20 – 21  And he confessed and denied not, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 And they asked him, “What then? Art thou Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Art thou that Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

John 1: 25 – 27. And they asked him, and said unto him, “Why dost thou baptize then if thou art not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there standeth One among you whom ye know not.27 He it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe’s strap I am not worthy to  unloose.”

Matthew 3: 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Matthew 3: 14 – 17 But John forbad Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by Thee, and comest Thou to me?” 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, “Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John suffered Him. 16 And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up straightway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him. 17 And lo, a voice came from Heaven, saying, “This Is My Beloved Son, In Whom I Am Well Pleased.”

John 3: 25 – 26  Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.  26 And they came unto John and said unto him, “Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness — behold, the same baptizeth and all men come to Him.”

John 3: 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

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20231203 Advent Week 1 – Hope

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Deacon Zell

December 3, 2023

Pastor Matt McFarland

Advent Series Week 1 of 4 – Hope

Advent = Arrival

John 1: 5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.

Psalms 27: 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Malachi 4: 2a But to you who fear My name. The Sun of Righteousness shall arise

Romans 15: 13  (NLT)  Our hope comes from God. May He fill you with joy and peace because of your trust in Him. May your hope grow stronger by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 5: 14 – 16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Psalms 119: 105. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Hebrews 6: 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

1 Peter 3: 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

 

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20231126 How Do You Live a Blessed Life ?

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Deacon Zell

November 26, 2023

Pastor Matt McFarland

Genesis 5: 1 -2 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him. 2 Male and female created He them, and blessed them and called their name Adam in the day when they were created.

Deuteronomy 28: 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

Proverbs 11: 24 – 25 There is one that scattereth and yet prospereth; and there is another that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall prosper, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Luke 16: 10 -13 He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Luke 6: 38  Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete, therewith it shall be measured to you again.”

 

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