CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Hosea addresses Israel about the way they had been living as if God wasn't a part of their lives. This practical atheism was not only foolish, but illustrated by the same things that describe religious atheism even today.

1. Atheism is when you live as if there is no God.

2. Following your passions is a dead end road.

3. Consequences don't disappear because you can't see them.

The Angel of the Lord, God the Son Himself, directly meets with Israel where they once had dedicated themselves to Him and calls them out on the ways they had been compromising with the nations He told them to drive out of the land. They responded appropriately and were grieved over their own sin. And from that example, we too need to seek out opportunities to meet with the Lord even if it's not always to hear good news.

1. We neglect fellowship and obedience to God only to our own hurt.

2. God has personally involved Himself in the lives of His people from the Garden of Eden.

3. The only aspect of spiritual warfare worth listening to is to draw near to God.

The time of the Judges begins with small compromises with the Canaanites. Though they had a good start trusting God and doing what they were supposed to do, the nations they spared and the decisions they made started a trend that would ruin their lives for the next 400 years.

1. God is the only reason any of us see victory against sin.

2. If you need ministry, minister to others and God will take care of you both.

3. Deal with your sin or your sin will deal with you.

The idea of God loving us and wanting a relationship with us comes from the Old Testament. Despite the picture that is often portrayed of God being a megalomaniacal tyrant looking to stop people's good time, He is the definition of a loving father. A father won't let his kids get away with murder, but will always seek a means of them being restored to him again.

1. God is more interested in our hearts than our routines.

2. God isn't fooled by trying to “buy Him off” with good behavior.

3. God's goal is always our restoration to Him.

The Kingdom of God is often treated as if it only applies to after Christ rules and reigns this world after the Second Coming. The reality is that the Kingdom of God is wherever God is king. That is already true in the hearts of His people and those who believe His promises.

1. The Kingdom of God is where God is King. This begins in our hearts before He establishes it in the world.

2. Citizens of the Kingdom of God are called to share the Word, know Jesus through His Word, and follow His Example.

3. The Focus of the Christian life is Jesus.

Hosea calls Israel out to turning to Assyria for the help God freely offers them. Their discipline will be God letting them see that false god fail them. And His restoration of them will be a perfect example of how repentance should take place in our hearts as well.

1. The first step in recovery is acknowledging you have a problem.

2. The destination of God's discipline is worth the heartache of the process.

3. Your attitude towards God's Word directly reflects your attitude towards God Himself.

The Book of Acts concludes with an open ended summary of Paul's time awaiting trial in Rome. The reason for this isn't because nothing of note happened in Paul's life after this point. The reason is because we too have the opportunity to add our own lives to the Acts of the Holy Spirit in history by abiding in Him the same way these historical figures did and were used powerfully as a result.

1. Christian love is based on commitment more than feelings.

2. There is no greater motivation for Godly living than the expectation of Jesus' return.

3. Every Christian should make a priority of sharing things concerning Jesus and the things that Jesus is concerned about."

God calls Israel out on the real issue between His people and Him. Their idolatry, moral corruption, and neglect of worship were just symptoms of their pride. Until their hearts saw God and themselves properly again, there wasn't anything God could do to save them apart from let them discover just how far their pride would take them.

1. God's love won't let us go or leave us alone.

2. Pride is the foundation of every sin against God.

3. God will deal with our sin before it deals with us.

Paul's witness to the Hebrew community in Rome worked the same way any other opportunity to witness should be. He lived his life in such a way where they couldn't personally use him as an excuse to reject Jesus. He stuck to God's Word in what he had to say. And the results were left between his audience and God.

1. Live your life in such a way where you aren't an obstacle between people hearing what you have to say.

2. People with a relationship with God should have shared interests with Him.

3. Our job is to share the truth in love. God's job is changing hearts and minds.