Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 21, 2008
First of all, in the first century and probably two hundred years or so before, there were many groups who claimed that the Messiah had come. They all had a charismatic leader that usually called people to a revolution to overthrow the Romans. But this is what happened every single time. Rome came
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 21, 2008
One day a dispute arose when some Grecian Jews (those Jews who lived adopting some of the culture around them while still trying to be faithful) saw that Hebraic Jewish widows seemed to be getting favorable treatment. Now we lived in this community together. Lots of variety and often diverse
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 4, 2008
HAVE YOU SEEN THE CHURCH?
These early Church of God people also used another phrase, "I saw the church." They might ask, "Have you seen the church?"
Now a lot of you know that I didn't grow up "going to church." And I certainly didn't grow up attending a Church of God congregation. So when I
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 4, 2008
A guest preacher was speaking about “seeing Jesus in others” when God used Meghan as a living illustration of someone who had surrendered everything to Jesus as part of her community of faith.
During the worship set, Meghan spontaneously went to the front of the church and began dancing…wildly.
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 11, 2008
Here’s a fact: over 15 million children have been orphaned worldwide because of AIDS. 15 million children. Think about that number. Close you eyes and just try to imagine what that would look like.
I remember the audacity and ignorance of a well-known Evangelical who boldly declared that AIDS was
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 11, 2008
I want to show you a video. This video pokes fun at us. It exaggerates what really is a serious concern. It exaggerates so that maybe we might laugh at ourselves while we decide to do better.
[Show
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 11, 2008
Listen for what God may be saying to you about this. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”
To help you pray and listen. I have a prayer station set up. Take a
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 18, 2008
I recently heard a woman talk about how her spiritual mentor gave her explicit instructions to make amends. She didn’t want to do it. Apparently she blew up at a bank teller and was rude and nasty even though it wasn’t the teller’s fault. This woman didn’t want to apologize even though she knew
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 18, 2008
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Give It to Get It
I have the opportunity to hang out with alcoholics and addicts that are working on recovery. And it is truly amazing to see how they often serve one another. You see for those in recovery serving those who are still suffering in terms of sharing the greatest thing that they have,
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 18, 2008
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Take the Lord's Table to Others
And just as we experience the presence of the Lord, I believe with every part of my being and more that we are to take this presence to share with those around us. We are to take the Lord's Table to other people.
So as I talk about taking the Lord's Table to
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 25, 2008
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Kids are say some of the greatest things. One child complained to his grandpa, "I don't get it. Every time mom says that she can't take anymore and is worn
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 25, 2008
It’s frustrating because we often don’t know what to do. It’s almost like the rule are constantly changing. Anybody remember the comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes? It was about a kid and how in his imagination his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, comes to life and they have great fun together. One of their
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 4, 2008
The Labor of Love is Not a Duty
It is not something we have to do. It is not even something we ought to do. Loving God as we worship can never be done because we know we ought to do it. Now sometimes we need to fake it until we make it. Sometimes we need to do it even if we don't feel like it.
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 4, 2008
I always tell couples that I marry about the 50/50 principle of marriage. True or false. Marriage is a 50/50 proposition. Each partner brings their half to make a whole. It’s false of course. It is 100/100. In relationships, two halves don’t make a whole. We joke about our better half. But in
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2008
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Being completely set apart for God’s use and being a holistic community means able to define who God is calling us to be both individually and corporately. We may need to say “no” to some good things in order to become what we need to be to reach who God wants us to reach. I believe these seven
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2008
There is a scene in The Dark Knight (available from wingclips.com) where Bruce Wayne and Alfred discuss Batman's previous nights escapades. Batman had gotten beat up a little. Alfred
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2008
A woman went into the doctor’s office for a condition that had been going on for 7 days. She was assigned to the new doctor in the office. At exactly 7 minutes after he went in to see her, she came running out of the room and screaming as she ran down the hall. The senior doctor in the office heard
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 15, 2008
Object Talk: On Fire for God
[We had a display made of wooden stick matches; they pictured a fairly elaborate cross. People would take a matchstick with them and pray if they desired.]
I want to give you something. It is a symbol to remind you to give God control of the spiritual area of your
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 15, 2008
Ever hear this phrase? There is some truth there. In this perspective, religion is seen as something negative and even detrimental at times to one’s spiritual walk. Common conceptions here might include the idea that I really don’t need a religion or a church or a faith community as long as I still
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