Archive for the ‘gratitude’ Tag
Are You Becoming More Like Mary or Judas?
Audio – Part 1a: 36 min
Audio – Part 1b: 36 min
Audio – Full Message:
Bible Verses: Matthew 26:6-16
The account of Jesus’ anointing at Bethany contrasts the generosity of a woman and the greed of Judas. In their respective responses to Jesus, we see the importance of giving Him priority and honor over everything in our lives. The distinction between these two people serves as an opportunity for us to consider our own hearts in light of the opportunity we have to express our devotion through visible acts of worship.
Theological Theme:
Our heart’s condition is revealed either by our giving or by our greed.
Christ Connection:
Pouring expensive oil on Jesus was not a waste but an act of worship. By allowing Mary to anoint Him, Jesus showed that He is more valuable than anything. This act of devotion foreshadowed Jesus’ death and burial.
“Matthew’s unnamed woman is Jesus’ invitation to all women, and men and children, to come to the table of Christian koinonia… There is no hierarchy of holiness upon entrance, and there is no pedigree and no degree requirement for entrance. The only prerequisite is faith in Jesus. All who have faith in Jesus can come for a meal.” 4 –Sean Douglas O’Donnell
Missional Application:
God calls us to treasure Christ above all wealth and to express our devotion through visible acts of worship.
“Jesus’s teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day…That can only mean one thing. If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.” –Timothy Keller
Photo Compliments: thumbs.dreamstime.com
The Law’s Blessing and Curse
Part 1, 24 mins : “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-02-the-laws-blessing-and-curse-part-a-deuteronomy-10-11-tah-guest-andrews.mp3”
Part 2, 24 mins : “https://trinityandhumanity.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/16-10-02-the-laws-blessing-and-curse-part-b-deuteronomy-10-11-tah-guest-andrews.mp3”
Theological Theme: The law is God the Father’s good gift [holy, just and good], but it cannot save us from the penalty of disobedience.
Christ Connection: Obedience to God-Father, Son and Spirit’s law brings a blessing. Breaking God’s law brings a curse. Jesus is the One who took the curse of our law-breaking humanity in order that we might experience the blessing of His law-keeping humanity, all of Grace!
Missional Application: In response to the awesome works He has accomplished for us Jesus sends us His Holy Spirit, conforming us to Himself as we participate in and reflect His character toward others.
*picture courtesy of knowing-jesus.com
Taste And See That The Lord Is Good!
In this Gospel Message, Pastor Richard Andrews of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the GOOD NEWS of The God Revealed in Jesus Christ with a message entitled “Taste And See That The Lord Is Good!” and asks the question “Are we ready to take that exhortation we find in Psalms 34 and make it something we LIVE BY, LIVE THROUGH and LIVE WITH?”
In this message we learn what trials REALLY represent and hear that:
- Our foolishness does NOT determine God’s actions towards us! There is no circumstance we can go through that is too big or complicated that can change who God is!
- No matter the circumstance, God invites us to open up our mouths and have an experience with him. God invites us to experience HIS presence.
- Our trials help us to taste and see God’s goodness. They make God REAL. The more we TASTE, the more we SEE, the more we TRUST!
Listen and be comforted knowing that God loves us too much not to let us experience HIM, and because of that there WILL be points of pain and trials.
Photo Compliments lizsarno.wordpress.com
Men And Women TOGETHER – Imaging God FOREVER!
In this Gospel Message entitled “Men And Women TOGETHER – Imaging God FOREVER!”, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ who has taken up our humanity in Himself, sharing with us HIS life of union and communion with His Father through the Holy Spirit. He shows through the scriptures that all barriers between men and women and the dividing wall of hostility between all humanity has been destroyed, and our humanity renewed and healed, in Jesus Christ!
Hear in this message:
- That Jesus Christ is the first image of God of man and woman together and is not just an after-thought. As women and men, we were always meant to be conformed to Jesus Christ’s image and what He made of our humanity in Himself. We understand that HE is the Reality, and Adam and Eve (and us!) are only the shadow of Him in this first phase of our humanity!
- That because Jesus is the Image of God, it is best to think of men and women, male and female, as created in the Image of The Image of God!
- That ONLY FEMALE AND MALE TOGETHER show GOD toward creation and how ONLY TOGETHER do we show creation back to God in the fitting response Jesus shares with us. This doesn’t always mean marriage between men and women, but it always means gender partnership and complementing each other!
- The Good News of what IS superior about being female and male, and what is not! Learn how we ARE equal and how we are not! Understand our participation and roles as Kings and Queens of creation!
- About The Great Grace that has been lavished on us as male and female in the person of Jesus Christ , and the Great and Loving Judgment against our broken humanity that compels us to reconsider and take part with Jesus as Life actually is!
You are encouraged to Participate with Christ, and in His shared humility, learning to admit your faults and receiving the forgiveness that leads to ACTUAL & REAL reconciliation and peace between human persons, plus LOTS MORE GOSPEL INSIGHT!
It’s All Good News In Jesus!
In this Gospel Message entitled “It’s All Good News In Jesus”, Pastor Richard Andrews of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore, Proclaims the Good News and shows through John 6: 1-14, that Jesus wants to share with you HIS perspective,which is ALL GOOD NEWS!
Hear in this message that:
- When Jesus encounters you, your life will be flipped inside out because HE IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT!
- When we use our perspective, all we are used to seeing is what is right in front of us, which is all bad news!
- When we understand WHO JESUS IS and who WE ARE IN HIM then we can understand HIS SOVEREIGNTY!
- It is all about God’s GOODNESS. God who is Father, Son and Spirit CARE TO INCLUDE US IN THEIR LIFE!
Will you ENJOY and APPRECIATE HIS SOVEREIGN LOVE?
photo compliments rockharborcf.com
The Trinity And Evangelism!
On this 4th Sunday after the Epiphany in the Christian Calendar (The Season Of the God Revealed in Jesus Christ), Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore proclaims the Good News of Jesus sharing the Good News in Mark 1:14 – 15. It is followed up with a conversation about Evangelism from Dr. Baxter Kruger, William Paul Young (Author of The Shack), and Dr. Mike Feazell of Grace Communion International. The conversation is centered in the Light of the character of God: Father, Son and Spirit Himself and the implications of this discerned.
Specifically:
- We discuss what evangelism is and what it is not.
- We discuss how knowing God as Father, Son and Spirit should affect our approaches to sharing our faith.
- We are reminded that The Father, Son and Spirit IS RELATIONSHIP and His dream and intent IS to draw humanity into His relationship so that it becomes as much ours as it is His!
Listen in and join the conversation!
photo compliments: the-trinity-group.net
Questions And Responses Regarding Baptism And Other Things!
On this 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany in the Christian Calendar (The Season Of the God Revealed in Jesus Christ), Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore proclaims the last message of this series on Jesus and His baptism. Rehearse how God’s baptism in Jesus is the GOOD NEWS that we can identify ourselves with Jesus boldly in our baptism, knowing God is SO GOOD that in Free Grace He has come to meet us in our rebellion, in our rejection and in our ignorance, CLEANSING AND LOVING US and bringing us into His relationship.
Hear in this interactive message the answers to these specific questions and more!:
- Why was God was Baptized?
- Why should we be baptized if Jesus was baptized for us?
- In what ways is baptism performed? Why is sprinkling done in some circles? Why is immersion done in others?
- Who is to be baptized?
- How many times should we be baptized?
- Does one have to be ordained to baptize others?
- Is being “Christened” and “Being baptized” the same thing?
- What if I was baptized in the name of someone other than Jesus or the Father, Son and Spirit? Should I be baptized again?
Listen in on this interesting conversation, and maybe hear YOUR question about baptism answered out of Who Jesus is as the Gospel!
Why In The World Was God Baptized?! Part 2
In this Season of Epiphany in the Christian Calendar, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore continues with this Part 2 message in his GOOD NEWS Series entitled, “Why In The World Was God Baptized?!” and answers with greater clarity the questions:
- Why was God Baptized?
- If Jesus was Baptized as my substitute, then why am I baptized too?
- Do I receive the Holy Spirit only after being baptized?
- Am I saved by baptism?
- Can I be still be saved and receive the Spirit if I choose not to be Baptized?
Listen in and learn – SO THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE and SHARE GOD’S GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS!
Why In The World Was God Baptized?!
Why was Jesus, the PERFECT SON OF GOD IN FLESH, baptized with John’s Baptism of Repentance? How could God in Jesus repent of his own sins when the scriptures clearly say Jesus lived as the God/Man without sin?
In this season of Epiphany in the Christian Calendar, Pastor Timothy Brassell of New Life Fellowship of Baltimore points us to the answers to those questions, and more, in this GOOD NEWS message entitled, “Why In The World Was God Baptized?!” Reading Matthew 3: 13-17, learn that the ONLY WAY to understand baptism is to begin with JESUS CHRIST!
Often-asked questions are asked, and answered, in the Light of God being Baptized in Jesus, like:
- Is baptism primarily about your commitment to God, orrrr…is it possible that it is more about God’s commitment to you?
- Is baptism primarily about you receiving Jesus into your life, orrrr… isn’t possible that it is more about Jesus receiving us into his love, life and relationship with his Father, the Holy Spirit, Humanity and all of creation?
- Is baptism primarily about your own faltering faith and repentance, however good, orrrr…is it primarily about Jesus’ perfect faith and repentance on your behalf and in your place!
And, in the Light of these questions, if Jesus got baptized, Why do WE get Baptized?!
Understand your participation in Christ a little more clearly, especially since scriptures say that it was Jesus’ job (and NOT YOURS!) to FULFILL all righteousness!