CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Luke follows up immediately where the Gospel of Luke left off. Jesus ascends into Heaven with the promise of the Holy Spirit to equip them for everything He's called them to do until His return. We are given that same calling and equipment today.

1. Jesus Resurrection is a historical fact every Christian should be informed of and ready to defend.
2. The work God is doing in our lives should be daily example of repentance, restoration, and celebration.
3. Every Christian should live in light of the fact that Jesus promised to return at any time.

In a perfect world, we will see perfect government and a perfect environment. The people who will enjoy it will be the same kind of people enjoying the reason it became that way. Our relationship with God today is preparation for how much more we will enjoy Him and the things He has for us to do into eternity. The only thing standing in the way of fully appreciating those promises are the lies, distortions, and distractions offered by the enemy. Our response to his one and only threat is through His Word where those promises can be found.

1. The only influence the enemy has over us is false doctrine.
2. Knowing the promises of God only give us more to look forward to.
3. This life is preparation for our eternal calling as kings and priests representing God to His Creation.

Jesus has physically ascended into Heaven in the presence of His disciples. Before doing so, He provided them the same blessing explained in the Old Testament as belonging to everyone who belongs to God and trusts His promises. In knowing what those promises are, we also benefit from the blessing that accompanies them. The most significant of which was His promise to return to the exact place He departed from us.

1. Jesus wants to invest blessings as He's defined them into your life.
2. Jesus wants to invest His promises as He's given them to our lives.
3. Jesus wants to invest His love into our lives so it can be shared with those who don't know it.

The second coming of Christ is a perfect exercise in Biblical interpretation. Nothing happens or is described without a direct reference to previous scripture. It is through a complete understanding of God's Word that we come to a proper understanding of who Jesus is, what He's promised, and how we live in light of those realities.

1. Jesus is identified by claims made about God and the Messiah in the Old and New Testaments.
2. The angel's announcement of the Battle of Armageddon is an intentional quotation of the Old Testament.
3. Our hope in God is formed and informed by His Word.

Jesus' post-resurrection appearances were done intentionally to demonstrate several things. First, the historical reality of Jesus' resurrection. Second, the kind of bodies we can expect when we are resurrected. And third, who enables us to live the Christian life to begin with.

1. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the reason we trust His word above any other religious worldview.
2. The Bible is our source of information about what God claimed and how He verified it.
3. The Holy Spirit is who enables us to effectively relate and receive God's Word.

1. The Setting of Ultimate Blessing - (1-8)
-The condemnation - (1-3) - Psalm 50:16-23 (Justice delayed isn't justice denied/Silence doesn't = approval)
2. The choir - (4-7a) - Hallelujah returns (Psalm 96)
- The contrast - (7b) In contrast to religion gone to seed (Mystery Babylon) - Relationship in purest form - The bride is ready
3. The Significance of Ultimate Blessing - (9)
- Blessing declared - 7 beatitudes in the book of Revelation
- Blessing defined - All 9 payoffs in Matthew 5:3-12 will be realized
- Blessing directed - "The marriage supper of the Lamb" - God loves a party - (Isaiah 25:4-8) Greatest blessing - (Luke 12:35-38)
4. The Savior and Ultimate Blessing - (10)
- The prostration - (10a) - Who could blame John?
- The problem - (10b) Fundamental error - focusing on the messenger, or even the message, but forgetting the 5. Messiah (I Corinthians 3:1-7)
6. The Priority - (10c) 'Worship God" - Jesus and the Father worshipped in Revelation 5:13 - Jesus explains this - (John 5:16-23)

"God cannot give us a happiness apart from Himself, because there is no such thing. It does not exist." - C.S. Lewis

On the road to Emmaus, the disciple's experience with the resurrected Lord shows us what a real word from God looks like. It will always line up with what He's already spoken. It will always reflect the character of God revealed in scripture. And it will come in His timing.

1. A real Word from God will always line up with what He's already spoken.
2. A real Word from God will always emphasize grace.
3. A real Word from God will come as needed.

Peter Martin teaches from Genesis and shares some insights as it pertains to men's at the CCF men's breakfast.

The Church is reintroduced in contrast to Mystery Babylon. Where one was a prostitute, the other is a bride. As Heaven is rejoicing over God's justice and answer to prayer, it is also celebrating with the Lamb over the work He's done through His bride and everything that makes her beautiful.

1. The Judge of all the earth will do what is right.
2. Heaven acknowledges who God is and what He's done as right given all the information.
3. The World System of Babylon is a prostitute, while Heaven's System of the Church is a bride.

The Road to Emmaus gives us a perfect example of spiritual blindness and self-deception in action. The disciples literally had Jesus walking next to them yet didn't recognize Him. The reason for this is the same reason we make the same mistake today. We aren't looking for Him, we aren't where He said we'd find Him, and we are rejecting His Word in favor of our speculations. If we want to hear from God, first recognize what He's spoken and promised.

1. Isolation from God's people prevents us from seeing God work in our lives.
2. Separation from God's word prevents us from hearing God speak to our lives.
3. Doubt puts us in a place where we aren't looking for Jesus even when He's right in front of us.