20230108 Be The Salt, Be The Light

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Deacon Zell

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Video coming soon.

Pastor Matt McFarland

Matthew 5:13 – 16  13 “Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Love

Give

Forgive

Be Kind, Be Compassionate

Mark 2:16 – 17  16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with publicans and sinners, they said unto His disciples, “How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard it, He said unto them, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 13:3 – 8  3 And He spoke many things unto them in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went forth to sow.

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside; and the fowls came and devoured them up.

5 Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth.

6 And when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up and choked them.

8 But others fell into good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

2 Corinthian 5:17  17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Philippians 1:6 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:2 2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Ephesians 4:22, 24 22 that ye put off, concerning your former manner of living, the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

 

 

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20221023 Are You A Follower?

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Deacon Zell

Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022

Video Coming soon

Pastor Matt McFarland

Acts 2:41 (CED) 41 Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day.

Matthew 28:19 – 20 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”

John 13:35. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”

Luke 14:26 26 “Whoever comes to me and doesn’t hate father and mother, spouse and children, and brothers and sisters—yes, even one’s own life—cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:24 – 25. 24 “Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, and slaves aren’t greater than their master. 25 It’s enough for disciples to be like their teacher and slaves like their master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, it’s certain that they will call the members of his household by even worse names.

Luke 14:27. 27 Whoever doesn’t carry their own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

2 Corinthians 5:17. 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!

 

 

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20220918 Sunday School for Adults: The Real Story of Job

Posted on September 18, 2022 by Deacon Zell

September 18, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Job 1:1-5 (KJ21)  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred sheasses, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East. 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, that when the days of their feasting were ended, Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus did Job continually.

Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the Lord and said:  2 “I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from Thee. 3 ‘Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore have I uttered what I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 ‘Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will question thee, and declare thou unto Me.’ 5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

The Real Story of Job isn’t about what happened “to” Job, but what happened “in” Job.

Job’s Miserable Comforters

1st friend: Hippyish – Blames Job Sin.

2nd friend: More Religious – Blames Job Sin, calls him evil, says Job’s kids sin killed them.

3rd friend: Every this is either Black/white, All or nothing thinking.

4th friend who arrives later: Elihu, younger guy who speaks to Job.

Job 33:14-18 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.  15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, 16 then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 that He may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

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20220911 What GOD Has Revealed

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Deacon Zell

September 11, 2022

Bishop Bill McFarland

Deuteronomy 29:29 (KJV) The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Proverbs 22:17-21 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:13-14  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 1:18-19 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Ephesians 2:6-10 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Luke 13:10-16  10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Psalms 138 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Acts 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

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20220828 Sunday School for Adults – Fiery Furnace

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Deacon Zell

August 28, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Daniel 3:14 (KJ21) Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that ye do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

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20220821 Sunday School for Adults – Gideon

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Deacon Zell

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Judges 6:11-12 (KJ21)  And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite; and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine press to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said unto him, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.”

Judges 6:30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, “Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath cast down the altar of Baal and because he hath cut down the Asherah pole that was by it.”

Judges 7:3 Now therefore go, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from Mount Gilead.’” And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand, and there remained ten thousand.

Judges 7:20-21 And the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow therewith, and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”

21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp, and all the host ran and cried and fled.

Judges 8:22-23  Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, “Rule thou over us, both thou and thy son and thy son’s son also; for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.”

23 And Gideon said unto them, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.”

 

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20220814 Sunday School for Adults – Are You Dealing with a Jericho?

Posted on August 15, 2022 by Deacon Zell

August 14, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Hebrews 11:30 (KJV) By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

Joshua 6:1-20 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the  seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord. 7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.  8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.

9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. 17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Joshua 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

Joshua 6:15-16 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

Joshua 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

What God gave them required their obedience to receive.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Proverbs 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

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20220731 Sunday School for Adults – Tower of Babel

Posted on July 31, 2022 by Deacon Zell

July 31, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Genesis 11:1-9 (MSG). At one time, the whole Earth spoke the same language. It so happened that as they moved out of the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled down.

3 They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks and fire them well.” They used brick for stone and tar for mortar.

4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower that reaches Heaven. Let’s make ourselves famous so we won’t be scattered here and there across the Earth.”

5 God came down to look over the city and the tower those people had built.

6-9 God took one look and said, “One people, one language; why, this is only a first step. No telling what they’ll come up with next—they’ll stop at nothing! Come, we’ll go down and garble their speech so they won’t understand each other.” Then God scattered them from there all over the world. And they had to quit building the city. That’s how it came to be called Babel, because there God turned their language into “babble.” From there God scattered them all over the world.

Story about self-centered instead of God-centered

Psalm 127:1 (KJ21) Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 Genesis 11:7-8 Come, let Us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off building the city.

Are your plans self-centered or God-centered?

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing.

Genesis 11:6 And the Lord said, “Behold, the people are one and they have all one language, and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be withheld from them which they have imagined to do.

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

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20220724 Sunday School for Adults: Who is Your Goliath ?

Posted on July 24, 2022 by Deacon Zell

July 24, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (between 9 foot and 11 foot 4 inches) whose shield weighted 125 lbs!

1 Samuel 17:9-10 (KJ21) If he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man, that we may fight together!”

1 Samuel 17:45-47 Then said David to the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand. And I will smite thee and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’S, and He will give you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

1 Samuel 17:51 Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

Focus on GOD! You need to think about God 4 times more than your problem.

1 Samuel 17:33-37 And Saul said to David, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34 And David said unto Saul, “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock; 35 and I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” 37 David said moreover, “The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said unto David, “Go, and the Lord be with thee.”

2 Samuel 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Identify your problems verbally and tell God !

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20220717 Sunday School for Adults Series – Daniel & the Lion’s Den

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Deacon Zell

July 17, 2022

Pastor Matt McFarland

Daniel 6:5 (KJ21)  Then said these men, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he did formerly.

Daniel 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.”

Daniel 6:20 – 22. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel; and the king spoke and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, “O king, live for ever!

22 My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me, inasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”

Daniel 6:26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and steadfast for ever, and His Kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be even unto the end.

 

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