Ambassador Presbyterian

The Good Shepherd (Psalm 23: The Lord, Our Shepherd)

What does it mean to be able to say that the Lord, the God of the universe, is your shepherd? It is an amazing claim if you think about it. But not nearly as amazing as Jesus’ claim that he himself is the good Shepherd, a claim that unmistakably identifies himself with the sovereign Shepherd of David’s psalm. Only in knowing Jesus, can we know the Lord is our shepherd and know all the blessings that are found in his shepherding care.  We kick off a series of messages based on Psalm 23, today using Psalm 23:1 and John 10:7-18, considering Jesus, the good Shepherd.  

Last Kingdom Standing - Haggai: Revived to Rebuild

God's last message through the prophet Haggai comes to Zerubbabel the governor, as a reminder that though it may not seem the case at the moment, God will bring to naught all the kingdoms of this world until his is the last kingdom standing, and his chosen servant sits on the throne forever.  That promise is sealed in God’s word to Zerubbabel,  and it is fulfilled in the unshakeable hope which is ours in Christ. Here we conclude our series in Haggai, in chapter 2:20-23. 

The Unexpected Blessing - Haggai: Revived to Rebuild

God's people were defiled, unclean and unacceptable; though struck and afflicted they persisted unrepentant; and they saw nothing but fruitless futility - and suddenly God said "But from this day on I will bless you." Come, people of God, and hear from Haggai 2:10-19 how it is that God has blessed His people in Christ, whose touch makes the unclean holy, whose strickenness draws abundance, and who from nothing bears eternal fruit. His body is our temple, and we, being built up into it, are blessed.

 

Greater Glory, Lasting Peace - Haggai: Revived to Rebuild

"Remember the glory days." Those nostalgic words recalling better times in the past, often reveal a sense of disappointment and discontent with the present, as well as a doubtful discouragement that the future will be better. Such was the case as God's people began to rebuild the temple only to realize it was nothing compared to the magnificence of Solomon's temple. But things aren't always what they seem, and God speaks again through his prophet Haggai, to remind his people and us, that a greater glory and a more lasting peace lie ahead for those who trust the presence and power of God at work in and through them. We continue in our series from the book of Haggai, Chapter 2:1-9.  

When the Lord Stirs Things Up - Haggai: Revived to Rebuild

We've heard of great spiritual revivals in history where through the preaching of God's word, the Spirit moves in a mighty way to bring conviction and renewal that leads to changed lives and communities on a large scale.  Such was the case in the prophet Haggai's day where through his word, God stirred up his people to rebuild the temple that had lain in ruins for over a decade.  In Haggai 1:12-15 we take a look at what happens when the Lord stirs things up to bring revival to his church.   

A Convicting Call to Consider: Haggai: Revived to Rebuild

The book of Haggai is about God's grace to revive the cold, complacent hearts of his people to a renewed priority and passion to see the temple rebuilt and God's glory restored among his people. Through the same power of God's word, presence of his Spirit, and promise of his provision, fulfilled in Jesus, God continues to call us out of complacency and to revive our hearts and renew our priority and passion in the work of building up of his spiritual house, the body of Christ, for his glory. Join us as we start a new study in the book of Haggai: Revived to Rebuild. This message: A Convicting Call To Consider from Haggai 1:1-11.

Living in Harmony, Abounding in Hope

Listen to Pastor Harvey's new year's message from Romans 15:1-13. 

Joy to the World!

"Joy, joy, joy" - we hear the word repeated so often throughout this season, and are told that we should be joyful. Do you ever think of Jesus as being "joyful"? Well, he is. In fact, it's for joy - his joy, our joy - that he was born, ministered, suffered, died, and rose again, after all we heard through Mark's gospel: He now reigns in joy! Join us in Hebrews 12:1-2 to ponder how it is Jesus' own joy that makes us joy-full.

Easter at Christmas - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 15:40-16:8)

There is an unexpectedness about Christmas. Even though the Scriptures had spoken in detail about the coming Messiah, the people did not expect him to arrive as a baby born in a stable. Likewise, even though Jesus had told his disciples he would die and rise again, the women were dismayed and afraid when they found the empty tomb. God does not always do what we expect, but he always does what he says, and Jesus' birth and resurrection mark the fulfillment of God's promise to save his people from their sins. In this episode, we celebrate the good news of Easter at Christmas.  

The Light Enters the Darkness - The Gospel According to Mark: Following Jesus (Ch 15:33-47)

John speaks of the incarnation of God's Son, coming into the world as the light shining in the darkness (John 1:5).  Centuries before, Isaiah prophesied that the light of God's glory would penetrate the dark effects of sin that overshadows the world and man's heart (Isaiah 1-20).  Jesus came as the light of God's glory to dispel the darkness of sin, but in order to do so he would have to enter that darkness himself in his death on the cross.  Today we consider the darkness Jesus endured that the light of life might shine in our hearts for eternity.