CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Miracles are a controversial subject in some circles. However, God's highest priority isn't in entertaining us. It's redeeming us from Hell itself. If you need a miracle beyond that, you'll get one. However, the example of the early church shows that any temporary miracles will only exist to accompany and verify eternal ones.

1. God will work externally through lives that are first stable through Him internally.

2. Every Christian's goal should be to model themselves after Jesus.

3. People should know Jesus better through the example He sets through us.

Ezekiel is told by God to use an illustration that is used often to describe Israel in the Old and New Testaments. Israel was a vine no longer bearing fruit and serving no purpose apart from kindling. How do we avoid ending up in this state ourselves? Bear the fruit scripture tells us are the natural result of an abiding relationship with Jesus. If you aren’t seeing that fruit, ask.

1. If a prophetic theme hasn’t been explained before, it’s about to be. If it has been explained before, it won’t be.

2. If the plain sense of scripture makes sense, seek no other sense lest you believe in nonsense.

3. Security of Salvation belongs to those who abide in a relationship with Jesus.

An effective and growing church has three things at work in the lives of its members. They are building one another up in the knowledge of God through His Word. They are living in light of the fear of the Lord. And they are comforting one another through the Holy Spirit.

1. The best time to build up your knowledge of God is before it's all you have to fall back on.

2. The fear of the Lord is an honest perspective of yourself and God.

3. The grace of God is an honest perspective of your relationship with God.

Ezekiel was living in a time where the people who rejected God seemed to be working the system in their favor and leaving the people trying to follow God left wondering how long these things would be allowed to happen. God’s promises were still as true, and He remembered who still belonged to Him. The key is to be the person not making excuses, but waiting on the promises of God.

1. An Idol is anything we use to replace or reduce God’s role and influence in our hearts.

2. Prayer is talking to God. Don’t forget who you’re talking to as that’s taking place.

3. He who rejoices last rejoices best in the grand scheme of things.

The Apostle Paul was once Saul of Tarsus. The transition from one man to the other wasn't an easy or immediate process. However, like all new believers, he did what we should always be doing. He pursued a personal relationship with Jesus. He received comfort from the Holy Spirit. And He then sought being built up in the knowledge of God.

1. Share Jesus with people like you would any other good thing in your life.

2. Without a personal relationship with Jesus, Christian education is only useful for trivia.

3. A growing church starts rooted in God's Word, comforted by the Spirit, and living in the fear of the Lord.

Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to the Apostles were as deliberate as they were effective. He answers their despair, their doubts, and restores them from their departures from Him. Through the Holy Spirit, He offers the same to us all today.

1. Jesus answers our despair with His presence.

2. Jesus answers our doubts with His Word.

3. Jesus answers our sin with His Restoration.

The celebration of Good Friday is one of fulfilled prophecy. With an understanding of the Passover in ancient Israel, the significance of everything Jesus accomplished is brought to light.

1. God's Word has left nothing to guesswork regarding who He is and what He has done to prove it.

2. God has personally seen through your redemption.

3. God loves you.

As Saul the Pharisee becomes Paul the Apostle, a man named Ananias serves God's purposes in meeting him at the point of conversion. We aren't told much about Ananias in scripture. However, his example and attitude is the same demonstrated by everyone who was used by God in powerful ways. He wasn't qualified, He wasn't even reputable. He was simply available.

1. God uses the available more often than the qualified.

2. God blesses a life that walks with Him one day at a time.

3. God enables us to live the way He wants us to.