The word "strangers" in the Scriptures are referenced often. This morning, James Widgeon leads us on a quest to studying some references in verses that discuss the term "strangers", focused on the meaning of the word and expression.

GMSA Missionary Tom Gibbons gives an update on the church planting and camp development ministry. Tonight's message focused on how God is progressing His ministry in GMSA. We are reminded on how believers are in the protection and mercy of Christ Jesus. "Nothing can separate us from the love of God".

Our Scripture reading was found in Isaiah 53:1-12.

Jesus taught in 6:5-8 that God rejects the prayer of hypocrites because what they really want is the recognition of others. They are not truly interested in the honor of God. They appear outwardly religious but are not truly so. Jesus also taught that God rejects the prayer of heathen (pagans, idolators) because they believe self-effort in repeated religious ritual will earn them notice before God (or “the gods”). Both are self-centered approaches to prayer. Instead, our prayer must be focused upon and centered upon God Himself. We learned from 6:5-8 that we must work hard to eliminate pride, empty repetition, worldliness, and a low view of God from our prayer lives. Now in 6:9-13, Jesus gives us a model prayer that shows the way. He says “You, therefore, pray like this…” There is a clear contrast here. Jesus has told us, to not be like the hypocrites, and to not be like the heathen: instead, YOU are to be different. The model prayer shows us that our prayers must: 1. Revere God. 2. Focus on God’s priorities. 3. Seek God for physical provision. 4. Ask God for spiritual provision. 5. Recognize God is king over all. If our prayers do this, and we pray genuinely, that this means that we do these things and are marked by these values.

Our Scripture reading was found in Isaiah 52:1-15.

In previous studies we have put a lot of emphasis and focus on Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, and the judgement that God pronounced against them. We talked about the judgement coming because God who is sovereign had decided that it was time to vindicate His righteousness by orchestrating fatal judgement against the Assyrians. In this message, we will focus on how God is slow to anger and how He was going to display His power through righteous judgement on the people of Assyria.

In this message we study the three prayer requests that are made by the Lord in His high priestly prayer. These prayer requests include 1) Christ praying for Himself 2) Christ praying for the disciples and the church, that they would be protected and be joyful 3) Christ prays for the future believers that they will believe in Him.

In this message pastoral intern Jansen Lorch continues his study, where we see the Lord is pleased when we listen to wise council. Encouraged by Ruth's days in Boaz's field, Naomi instructed Ruth in the way she should go to insure a brighter future. Ruth carefully followed Naomi's directions to solicit redemption by Boaz, while the Lord had prepared Boaz to redeem Ruth. Only one potential obstacle remained, a relative nearer than Boaz.

Our Scripture reading was found in Isaiah 51:1-23.

God has decided how all things will be since the foundation of the world.

Our Scripture reading was found in Isaiah 50:1-11.

In this message James Widgeon continues his study in the book of Nahum, wrapping up the last verses of the book. We covered that Nineveh would severely see God's wrath and that this country would become utterly defenseless to His righteous judgement. Nineveh's defenses would crumble easily. The future of this city was certain to be judge by God and would never recover. The udder destruction of this city brought happiness and mirth among the nations because Assyria had devastated the nations with her atrocities and cruelties.

Christ shows how the Pharisees' righteousness was deficient by exposing their hypocrisy in the matters of "charitable deeds", "prayer", and "fasting". All of these acts are supposed to be worship rendered to God, never displayed of self-righteousness to gain the admiration of others. Christians are to perform works, pray, and fast without the intent of public admiration, but rather to honor God and to bring glory to His name.

If properly keeping the Law before Christ’s death meant this kind of

Our Scripture reading was found in Isaiah 49:1-26.