Be Strong in the Grace

Can you imagine what the leper of the end of Mark 1 must have felt when Jesus cleansed him of this horrible, deadly disease? I get pretty excited about getting over a cold, but this former leper's whole life had changed. What unmatchable joy! Yet, Jesus gave some unusual instruction, at least seemingly unusual to us, to tell no one of the experience. I don't know that I could contain such an experience, and the former leper struggled with that also. He told everyone! Can you blame him? Jesus' instructions does perhaps at first glance seem contrary to His purpose, but it is always right to obey God. What we can learn from this passage is that God's truth is always more important than experience.

Today's episode comes from Mark chapters 1 and 2.

This episode kicks off a new series that will connect with a challenge for the Calvary Baptist Church family and all of our friends who might like to join with us. We are challenged to read and study the Bible together following a specific plan. To finish the year, we are challenging ourselves to read the entire New Testament in 11 weeks. The plan follows a five-day-a-week schedule, as explained in this episode. Each episode in this series will be from the reading of that particular day, or a day close to it. Today's introduction highlights Jesus' preaching in Mark 1. The disciples were astonished at the doctrine of Jesus, as He taught with authority, unlike the scribes. There is much teaching about the Bible today, but it lacks the authority from God's Word. We need to be under the true and powerful teachings of Jesus directly from His Word. I hope I can help you with that.
This week's Bible Reading Schedule:

Day 1: Mark 1-2; Acts 1-3
Day 2: Mark 3-4; Acts 4-6
Day 3: Mark 5-6; Acts 7-9
Day 4: Mark 7-8; Acts 10-12
Day 5: Mark 9-10; Acts 13-15

This is the audio from the Wednesday Evening Service on June 04, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, www.calvarybaptistnorfolk.org. Due to renovations in the auditorium, we will not be able to live stream some services. They instead will be posted here.

In this episode, we will look at the power of God's Word in regards to the proper posture of our hearts to God's Word and, in turn, what God's Word will do for your heart. We open in discussion that though some harm us "without cause," there is nothing God ever does without a purpose. God can use the evil others intend for good. They may have no good purpose, but God's purpose is always good.

On Wednesday nights, we have been studying Psalm 119 together to learn of the power of God's Word, the Bible. Each service covers one of the eight verse sections that are separated under the label of the various Hebrew letters. This week's study cover the section Schin. 

This is the audio from the Wednesday Evening Service on May 28, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, www.calvarybaptistnorfolk.org. Due to renovations in the auditorium, we will not be able to live stream some services. They instead will be posted here.

In this episode, we will look at the power of God's Word to teach us of our wonderful God Who considers our affliction, Who consoles us with His great tender mercies, and Who conserves us in the face of transgression.

On Wednesday nights, we have been studying Psalm 119 together to learn of the power of God's Word, the Bible. Each service covers one of the eight verse sections that are separated under the label of the various Hebrew letters. 

This is the audio from the Wednesday Evening Service on May 21, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, www.calvarybaptistnorfolk.org. Due to renovations in the auditorium, we will not be able to live stream some services. They instead will be posted here.

In this episode, we will look at the power of God's Word in regards to seeking the Lord with your whole heart. We have what we need from the Bible to cry after God with our whole heart if we will seek Him constantly, chiefly, and consistently.

On Wednesday nights, we have been studying Psalm 119 together to learn of the power of God's Word, the Bible. Each service covers one of the eight verse sections that are separated under the label of the various Hebrew letters. This week's study cover the section Koph. 

This is the audio from the Wednesday Evening Service on May 14, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, www.calvarybaptistnorfolk.org. Due to renovations in the auditorium, we will not be able to live stream some services. They instead will be posted here.

On Wednesday nights, we have been studying Psalm 119 together to learn of the power of God's Word, the Bible. Each service covers one of the eight verse sections that are separated under the label of the various Hebrew letters. This week's study cover the section Tzaddi. 

As many as received him, to them gave he power! For those who believe on Jesus, trusting Him for salvation, God has given that person the power to be the son or daughter of God! What a great privilege to be accepted so lovingly into God’s family, and then to be given the opportunity to be a witness of the Light that is Jesus to a world in darkness. John the Baptist was sent from God to be a witness of the coming Jesus, and Christians today are sent out by God to be a witness of the return of Jesus and the current work of Jesus. Let’s be about our Father’s business.

John 1:6-13

6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12. 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.

Jesus is the glorious Word that was in the beginning. Colossians 1:17 says of Jesus that “he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” What a proclamation of the divinity of Jesus Christ! As we begin a new study out of the book of John, let’s not just try to gain facts about Jesus or the Bible, but let’s know Jesus more. Our goal as Christians should be that we are conformed into the image of our Savior, so that we will represent Him well to the world around us.

John 1:1-5
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

I am so thankful that I can have complete confidence in Jesus. If I ask anything according to His will not only will He hear me, but also He will provide. Do you have the kind of confidence in your God? Do you have the kind of confidence that says if I ask according to God’s desire then I already have what I’m asking for, that it is as good as done? You can! These things are written so you can know for sure.

1 John 5:13-15

13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The strength of a Christian lies in the full assurance of eternal life by salvation through Jesus Christ. This is the hope of our salvation, something that is not just a wish or desire but a full assurance in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and something eternally held in the strong hand of our Heavenly Father. Not everyone has this confidence and assurance, but whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord can. These things have been written for believers to know that we have eternal life. With this knowledge, we have nothing to fear because we know that God is with us.

1 John 5:7-13

7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

9. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.