The Open Word (Audio)

The gift of Grace is offered to ALL. In today’s study, Pastor David will teach that God’s grace goes far beyond our salvation. We will explore the story of the 10 lepers. Even though 9 of them never came back to thank Jesus, and some of them were not even Jews, Jesus healed them ANYWAY! That’s GRACE! The Bible says God sends the rain over the just and the unjust. The grace of God is being poured out on us continually, and yes, even on the lost!

Today, Pastor David will teach about Jesus’ encounter with the 10 lepers, and their desperate call for mercy. Leprosy truly is a terrible disease that affects not only the person’s body, but also impacts tremendously their social life. In that challenging situation, we see their urgency for Jesus to take care of their immediate need. However, Jesus wants to bless them FULLY. And since they didn’t come back to thank Him (after they got what they wanted), the only one who returned to Jesus was completely restored.

The gift of Grace is offered to ALL. In today’s study, Pastor David will teach that God’s grace goes far beyond our salvation. We will explore the story of the 10 lepers. Even though 9 of them never came back to thank Jesus, and some of them were not even Jews, Jesus healed them ANYWAY! That’s GRACE! The Bible says God sends the rain over the just and the unjust. The grace of God is being poured out on us continually, and yes, even on the lost!

As Christians, we are expected to FORGIVE! However, forgiving can be really hard… Today, Pastor David will share that exercising forgiveness doesn’t require great FAITH; it requires faithful OBEDIENCE. Releasing forgiveness will allow you to walk in FREEDOM. We forgive even if the other person doesn’t ask for forgiveness… and even if they keep making the same mistake. Forgiveness actually has nothing to do with the other person; it is all about YOU. We forgive as Jesus forgives us!

How can we come with humility and love to somebody who has offended us? Offenses happen, but Pastor David will teach us Jesus’ heart for reconciliation and forgiveness. Weather we like it or not, we will be offended throughout our life (and we will offend people, too!) So it’s crucial that we practice the biblical way of resolving these issues. As believers, we are called to RESTORE relationships. Pastor David will ask important questions and teach us ways to work toward reconciliation.

We all have been offended at some point, by someone. We probably also have offended people… weather intentionally or not… The fact is: offenses happen. Even within the church. The question is: how do you deal with those who have offended you? The theme of forgiveness is one of the most spoken of throughout the Bible. Today, Pastor David will teach what Jesus Himself had to say about offenses and forgiveness. He cared SO deeply about this issue and spoke very passionately in favor of those who have been offended.

If you followed the money in your life, would you find yourself as a faithful steward, or an unjust steward? Where our money goes speaks highly of our heart, and even of our character. In today’s message, we will learn one of Jesus’ parables about an unjust steward. Pastor David will teach the importance of how we handle God’s resources that He gives us. Are we wasteful..? Are we overly focused on ourselves..? In sight of the stewardship of our lives, would God trust us with more..?

There is nothing that we own that didn’t come from God. As we study Jesus’ parable about the unjust steward, Pastor David will teach valuable principals we can learn in this story. During our lifetime, we are managers of God’s resources and His blessings to us here on Earth. It is our responsibility. How have we managed what God has given us? Our finances, our talents, our time, our job, our hobbies, our health, our family… How can we worship Him and honor Him in all of it?

Our God is a God of reconciliation! Pastor David will teach the parable of The Prodigal Son, and God’s heart to redeem us. The prodigal son left his father to live a life of sin – and was quickly suffering the consequences of that poor choice. However, when the son comes back home, the father RUNS to him and restores him into the family! That’s God’s heart! He moves in grace, compassion and mercy, rather than in judgment! That was a difficult lesson for the Pharisees to learn – as they acted just like the legalistic older son.

Whenever we think that somebody is not worthy of God’s grace, we are acting just like the Pharisees! In today’s study, Pastor David will teach us that the Lord NEVER feels that way about a person! Jesus taught the parables of The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin to make the point about His heart for the lost! God will put ALL His effort to rescue every single one of us! He was trying to convey to the Pharisees that not only He rejoices in rescuing the “one sheep”, but His friends should also rejoice with Him!