BRAVE Church

Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we continued our series entitled The Kingdom Invasion. First, we studied the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and His ministry here on the earth. Next, we looked at His powerful ministry over demons, disease and even death. We then saw how Jesus Christ did not just do ministry Himself, but delegated ministry to His twelve apostles who He instructed to do exactly what He was doing. Most Christians agree to these truths and even celebrate them. This week, however, we studied how Jesus Christ did not just stop with the 12 but appointed 70 others (perhaps 72 in your translation) and sent them out to do exactly what He had sent the 12 to do. This demonstrates that Jesus was not just using the twelve but was also using normal, anonymous saints. The implications of this truth are important for us to understand because Jesus Christ still wants to use His Church to do the exact same things that He did during His earthly ministry. May the truths of this week's message and the application of God's Word grow your joy in Christ as you live on mission for Him. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we studied Matthew 10 and leaned about Jesus Christ's first commissioning of the Twelve and the way in which He taught His apostles. Often, we read the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and falsely think that Jesus is now sending them out on mission for the very first time. However, upon further review we learn that He has been training and sending them all along. This week we studied four ways that He trained His twelve disciples. We learned that He had been asking them to pray to the Lord to send out workers into His field. We saw that He was asking them to pray so that they would be prepared to go. The fields are always ripe unto harvest, but the problem has always been that there are not enough people willing to go. Studying this passage should motivate you to not just learn the Word but to be ready to be sent by the Lord. May this week's message encourage you to stay on mission. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we continued our series, entitled The Kingdom Invasion, by studying three powerful stories in Mark 5. Throughout the text we learned how Jesus Christ has authority and power over demons, disease and even death. As a believer, knowing about the authority and power of Christ helps us as we share the Gospel and as we grow in sanctification. Instead of looking at our problems or earthly solutions, God calls us to focus completely on Him. As circumstances cause you to feel desperate, act in faith and look to Jesus Christ. May this study on the life of Christ be an encouragement to you as you continue to walk with Him. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we started a new series entitled, The Kingdom Invasion. We began this series by looking at Mark Chapter 1 and seeing ten of the reasons why the ministry of Jesus Christ was very unique. These ten words demonstrate that there is no one like our God. As we prepare for Easter, we will continue to not only see how Jesus did ministry but how he invited us to do ministry in the same way as He modeled for us. Throughout the history of the Church, we have sometimes veered off course at times and missed God's best for us. While we can talk about missions, evangelism, and discipleship we sometimes do a better job of talking about it rather than living the life of a disciple. However, we know that "the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). As we continue to journey with Christ may we become more aware of how to minister the way that Jesus Christ is encouraging us to do it. May this week's message open your heart to how Jesus' ministry was accomplished and how we can follow His methodology. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we discussed the purpose for the Tabernacle so that we would understand the heart of God for His people. Often when reading the Old Testament some Christians are confused about the application of the text for today. As we studied the Tabernacle, we learned about all that God wanted to do to demonstrate His holiness and His desire to dwell with His people. Having a proper understanding of the Tabernacle helps believers today to better comprehend God's purposes in our world today. The tabernacle also helps us understand the person and work of Jesus Christ in greater measure. The reality is that God loves us and wants to be present and central in our lives today. May this week's message be a strong encouragement in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we discussed what God calls a man to be and to do. So many men in our culture are confused and have a difficult time understanding what they need to be doing. Regardless of vocation, a man is designed by God to serve God. As we have studied the life of Moses we have seen how he was God's chosen instrument by design and what the Lord was requiring of him. Through a study of his life we learn valuable lessons about calling and how the Lord wants us to respond to Him. This week's message highlighted four activities that men are called to engage if they are going to be the fullness of Jesus Christ. May the teaching of His Word grow and bless you. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we looked at three words that were keys for our spiritual growth in the Lord. Rest, worship, and trust are essential for us in our daily walk with Jesus Christ if we are going to experience God’s best. God spelled out for the nation of Israel these three concepts, which are all repeated throughout the entirety of the Scriptures. For many believers today we don’t know how to rest, don’t prioritize worship, and forget that trust is ongoing. In the message this week we were challenged from God’s Word to make sure that all three of these areas continued to grow. May God use the truths of His Word this week to help you grow in your relationship with Christ. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week we covered quite a bit of ground from Exodus 21:1-23:9. We learned and discovered God's love and justice in His Law. These chapters cover Case Law for the nation of Israel. In other words, God demonstrates how to apply His law using different scenarios that may occur within His covenant community. Although Christ is the fulfillment of the law and these laws do not specifically apply to us today, the understanding of God's heart behind His law for Israel is important for us to understand as believers today. Too often people believe that the Laws of God are not binding and therefore we do not need to be acquainted with them. As we understand the law we learn of God's heart for His people (images bearers), property, possessions, principles, and priorities. Although this may be the only message you ever hear on these chapters, it is important to appreciate and honor God's heart in the giving of the Law. May this message be an encouragement to you as you continue to seek the Lord. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

This week as a church we ended our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It was such a joy to know that so many different people had participated in a variety of ways. Seeking the Lord is such a blessing, but as we know, for every spiritual high there can be an equal spiritual low. The more you desire to see the face of the Lord the more opposition, resistance and temptation you will experience. For these reasons we studied what Jesus experienced after His forty day fast in the wilderness. Although Jesus Christ is God and it would have been impossible for Him to sin, we can learn much about how He handled temptation. As believers, we now have Christ living in us and therefore can allow Christ to live in and through us when we experience temptation. As you study the strategic work of our enemy, it is important to learn when, where and how you are personally most vulnerable for attack. Also, it will help to know what to do when you experience temptation and opposition. Speaking God's Living and Active Word is a cure for all that comes your way. May this week's message be a strong encouragement to you. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub