Grace Messages

This morning, we want to look more closely at the lineage of the seed and the exact location of His birth. Again, we will see that all of this were parts of the larger puzzle of God’s original solution found in Genesis 3:15.

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines “advent” as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. This is definitely reflective of the arrival of Jesus Christ to this earth a little over 2,000 years ago. He is definitely a NOTABLE person who did and accomplished a NOTABLE thing through a NOTABLE event.

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines “advent” as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. This is definitely reflective of the arrival of Jesus Christ to this earth a little over 2,000 years ago. He is definitely a NOTABLE person who did and accomplished a NOTABLE thing through a NOTABLE event.

This morning, we want to look at the topic of Fulfilled Prophecy related to His advent, and how each of the prophecies relating to His birth, life, death, and resurrection were all “filling in” details of the first and original prophecy of Genesis 3:15.

It is easy to be thankful for someone who is walking with the Lord, and growing in grace, but what about someone who is NOT? We are told “in everything give thanks,” but how can you give thanks for a carnal Christian? In today’s Thanksgiving devotional, Paul instructs us as to HOW one can give thanks, even for a carnal Christian. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Last week we considered the biblical principle of Personal Responsibility to Others. This week, we will consider TWO major distractions from God’s primary mission for the Church. The first comes from within Christendom and is a “religious” distraction and the second comes from within our culture at large and is a “secular’ distraction which has to do with how we view others.

“It is what it is” – A phrase used countless times in our society by ourselves and others to express frustration or resignation with a situation that seems overwhelmingly unchangeable. “But it doesn’t have to be” – This phrase recognizes the truth of “life under the sun,” that many times things are outside of our control, BUT we have a secret weapon – an ability to set our mind on things above while we live on earth below. This heavenly perspective, this divine perspective, allows us to respond to life on earth in a way that honors and glorifies God.

Last week we considered the biblical principle of Personal Responsibility and Accountability. This week, we will consider another biblical principle that leads us to a divine perspective - Personal Responsibility to Others. This lesson comes in the form of the story of the Good Samaritan.

“It is what it is” – A phrase used countless times in our society by ourselves and others to express frustration or resignation with a situation that seems overwhelmingly unchangeable. “But it doesn’t have to be” – This phrase recognizes the truth of “life under the sun,” that many times things are outside of our control, BUT we have a secret weapon – an ability to set our mind on things above while we live on earth below. This heavenly perspective, this divine perspective, allows us to respond to life on earth in a way that honors and glorifies God.

“It is what it is” – A phrase used countless times in our society by ourselves and others to express frustration or resignation with a situation that seems overwhelmingly unchangeable. “But it doesn’t have to be” – This phrase recognizes the truth of “life under the sun,” that many times things are outside of our control, BUT we have a secret weapon – an ability to set our mind on things above while we live on earth below. This heavenly perspective, this divine perspective, allows us to respond to life on earth in a way that honors and glorifies God. This week, we will consider one biblical principle that leads us to a divine perspective - Personal Responsibility and Accountability.

Last week (v9-10), Solomon described how painstakingly he put together the words of Ecclesiastes, and this week he is going to give a strong exhortation to his listeners to respond to his words. Although biblically, we know that Solomon was just a human instrument, used by God, to record His words (2 Peter 1:21). The thrust of today’s lesson is that the Word of God is designed to elicit a response! It is this response, or lack of response that direct one’s course in life “under the sun” AND life that follows (i.e., eternity).

Today, we conclude the section that we started last week – death is sure and it is the final act or scene of our lives. But even after that, Solomon says it is vanity! But it is EVEN MORE than this – Solomon is saying “All is vanity” even after his book (Ecclesiastes) reaches its final pages. You would think that by this stage of the book, the tension would be gone and we would only have a happy ending, but “No!” That is NOT “life under the sun.”

Again this week, young people are addressed for ONE FINAL ADMONITION from “grandpa” Solomon. The admonition? REMEMBER your Creator, CONSIDER your Creator in everything you do and start NOW! Young people have a bigger windows of opportunity at this point in their lives than they ever will again. Because of this, there is urgency to make your decisions on earth wisely, before time runs out. Windows of opportunity become smaller as you age, so REMEMBER and CONSIDER God now before old age.

Psalm 1 challenges the way we typically think of the concepts of "success" and "prosperity". It corrects our misunderstandings and enlarges the the possibility of who can experience a "blessed, successful" life.