House of Prayer Church - Blairsville GA

Advent is a time for sharing, but sharing of what exactly? Gifts? Coats? Warm blankets for the needy? Yes, certainly all of those things, but Simeon reminds us that it is also a time to share "salvation, which you prepared in sight of the nations, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." There is this sacred gift that never tarnishes, never requires batteries, never becomes obsolete, and always, ALWAYS meets the needs of all mankind that you and I are invited to share--Jesus Christ and His salvation! Join us for our final Week 4 as we dig into the gift of sharing our Marvelous Savior!

Christmas is a time of anticipation, a time for greetings, gatherings, and gifts to be shared with family and friends. It is an exciting time of year. But it is more than that. Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, who came to earth to redeem us. The gift of Jesus is the gift of joy. Joy in Jesus sustains us through all circumstances. Experience the joy of Christ this Christmas season. Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Advent tells the tale of an unwed teenage mom who was informed her life would drastically change starting with an unexpected pregnancy. Her response was , "I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said." Are you and I willing to follow Jesus' plan with this level of trust and surrender? It is a marvel that Jesus came to earth with this level of personal surrender. Week 3 invites us to full surrender of our own plans and to follow Jesus in His ultimate plan of redemption. Jump in with us!

The Christmas season is a time of anticipation, a time for greetings, gatherings, and gifts to be shared with family and friends. It is a hopeful time of year.

This Christmas season, let's turn our eyes towards Jesus, the true giver of hope. He is the reason for the season. He is the one who brings us hope. He is the one who makes all things new.

This Christmas season, let's turn our eyes toward Jesus, the true giver of hope!

Luke 1:37 records the angel's to Mary, "Nothing shall be impossible with God." Do you and I believe that fully? Advent is an invitation to live out of a full persuasion that God is everything He claims to be. That kind of belief changes everything and is a result of taking time to marvel at who our Messiah truly claims to be. Dive into Week 2 with us as we look at what it means to truly believe nothing is impossible with our Savior!

This Advent season, join us as we marvel at our Messiah. More than a babe swaddled and set in a manger, this Messiah met the needs of the multitudes, the greatest need of which was salvation for all mankind. As we look closely, we see He took time for stillness amidst storms and instead of constant running, He rested. Rest! Ahh, is that not the kind of Messiah we want to mirror this season?

Tune in each week, and marvel with us.

Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. This is a call to have the mind of Christ. It is a call to say no to self and experience true life in Christ. Denying ourselves means saying no to our selfish desires and ambitions and saying yes to God's will for our lives. It means trusting God to provide for our needs and to give us the strength to carry our cross. When we deny ourselves, we are saying that we trust God more than ourselves.

Taking up our cross means following Jesus's example of humility, obedience, and service. It means being willing to suffer for the sake of others and to give up our own desires and ambitions for the sake of God's kingdom. When we take up our cross, we are saying that we are willing to follow Jesus no matter what the cost.

Following Jesus means walking in his footsteps and living according to his teachings. It means obeying his commandments and living in love and service to others. When we follow Jesus, we are saying that we trust him to lead us to eternal life.

Main Scripture Passage: Mark 8:27-38

Pastor Jeff shares a message centered on the question, "Who is Jesus?" He emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus not only as a historical figure but as the Messiah and Son of God. Through scripture, he illustrates how both the disciples and the Pharisees struggled to fully grasp Jesus' identity, drawing parallels to our own understanding today.

Ultimately, Pastor Jeff stresses the significance of believing in Jesus for salvation, urging listeners to recognize Him as their Savior and the key to eternal life.

Pastor Jeff discusses Jesus' ministry in Gentile regions as highlighted in Mark 7, emphasizing the persistent faith of a Syrophoenician woman who begs Jesus to heal her daughter. He reflects on the attitude of Jesus towards people, noting how compassion drives him to heal individuals, encouraging listeners to see others through Jesus' perspective.

Pastor Jeff urges us to take opportunities to love and serve those around them, just as Jesus did, and to be persistent in prayer. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to loving not only friends and church members but also the wider community, embodying the compassion of Christ.

In this sermon, Pastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of aligning our hearts with God's truth rather than following the popular notion of "following your heart." He underscores that true defilement comes from within, as expressed by Jesus in Mark 7, where the heart is the core source of sin, not external influences. By referencing Scripture, he highlights the need to be guided by God's Word, maintain vigilance against worldly temptations, and walk in love as Christ did. Ultimately, he calls on listeners to acknowledge their need for Christ's righteousness and daily strive to embody His teachings.

Main Scripture Passage: Mark 7:9-23