20240218 Your Associations Guide Your Future

Feb. 18, 2024

Pastor Matt McFarland

John 20:19 (KJ21) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in their midst and said unto them, “Peace be unto you.”

Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, “which,” saith He, “ye have heard from Me;

for John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Hebrews 10:24-25  and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the Day approaching.

Proverbs 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

 

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20240204 Are You Giving GOD a Chance to Speak?

Feb. 4, 2024

Pastor Matt McFarland

1 Samuel 3:1-10 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim so that he could not see, and ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was, and Samuel was lying down to sleep,that the Lord called Samuel; and he answered, “Here am I.” And he ran unto Eli and said, “Here am I, for thou called me.” And he said, “I called not; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called yet again, “Samuel.” And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here am I, for thou didst call me.” And he answered, “I called not, my son; lie down again.”Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here am I, for thou didst call me.” And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He call thee, that thou shalt say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came and stood, and called as at other times, “Samuel, Samuel.” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Thy servant heareth.”

John 1:43-51 The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and found Philip and said unto him, “Follow Me.”44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said unto him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

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20240128 The Most Important Things Aren’t Things

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?

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

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:

1Which 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

A Minute with Pastor Matt:

Positive Reframing

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

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

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. 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

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.
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.
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 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

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.
Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;
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  and saying, “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

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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