When Moses came to the Israelites with God's plan to rescue them they immediately worshiped Him. When Moses went to Pharaoh with God's command to "let my people go" Pharaoh flatly refused. Pharaoh was more concerned about what he thought he'd miss and who he thought he was than God's command. Pharaoh's pride nearly destroyed the nation of Egypt, slashed their population and nearly wiped out their military. When God commands something, He's not asking for your approval, He's looking for your acceptance.

How does introduce Himself to someone who has only heard stories about Him? Stories, old stories, legends can get blown out of proportion as time goes on. Moses grew up hearing the stories of the God of the Hebrews from his mother, but being raised in Pharoah's house, Moses had about as much personal knowledge of God as he did Ra the Egyptian sun god or Anubis the god of death. So God takes Moses to school, first period, God: 101.

The Israelites knew of God, but after 200+ years in Egypt they didn't really know God, because they didn't really need God. Life was good. They had space, freedom, health, happiness, everything seemed to be perfect, a blessing from God? But then, things changed, as they always do. The once friendly Egyptians became skeptical of Israel's intentions toward them and eventually Egypt forced Israel into 200+ years of slavery. Every Israelite knew the stories of God, but no one had heard from Him...

When You're Looking For Security

Pastor Corey, his wife Andrea and son Trent all got COVID last week so our good friend Terry Deaver came and filled in. Terry shared a great and timely message from the life of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1-16

Jesus noted that the religious leaders of His day would go 1/2 way around the world to convert someone but He told His own disciples to start at home and then spread out. Too many times followers of Jesus think missionary work is for missionaries. Jesus' disciples make disciples wherever they go, but they start at home, first.

What is a disciple? Is every follower or christian a disciple? How does one become a disciple? At Real Life we define a disciple as someone who is striving to look like Jesus every day. In this series we'll discuss how to be a disciple at work, at home, in your own neighborhood, everyday.

Many christians today are afraid of struggle and immediately ask God to deliver them from whatever they may be facing. But the early followers understood that without struggle there is no strength. So instead of praying for deliverance they prayed for determination to face their struggles and grow. Every time we're delivered from our difficulties we get further away from our destination.

Luke ends Acts 2 with a summary statement of the state of the church after Holy Spirit came upon the 120. In Acts 3 Luke records an example of the "signs and wonders" that the Apostles were suddenly able to perform as Holy Spirit led them. Once again, God's love for those who appear unlovely is overwhelming and life-changing.

The followers of Jesus felt alone and abandoned. They thought Jesus was staging a coup but instead He let Himself be crucified. And even though they had seen Him alive again they did not understand what He said, that His Kingdom was not of this world... but they're about to find out.

One of the biggest challenges we face as followers of Jesus is waiting on God's timing. Like JG Wentworth clients, "we want IT now." Whatever "it" is. But before the Church could be launched Jesus' followers had to be prepared - and they couldn't do it themselves.