Encouragement for the Journey of Faith – Joshua 2 – Not Who She Once Was, Rahab
Have you ever been given a fresh start? If you have, then you know what a wonderful freeing feeling it can be! There is a woman we learn of in Joshua 2 named Rahab. She has a less than desirable background, and as a result, she is a woman with a reputation. However, she was a smart woman and did not miss out on the truth that the One True God, The God of the Israelites, was in fact real. He was a powerful and present God unlike the gods of her people. She stepped out in faith and hid two Israelite spies that had come into the land secretly on behalf of Joshua their new leader. As a result of her faith, she went from being a part of a condemned people to being part of the family of God. We would like to encourage you to download the teaching notes and turn in your Bible to Joshua 2 as you prepare to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged in your own journey of faith.WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Aug 8, 2017Encouragement for the Journey of Faith – Joshua 2 – Not Who She Once Was, Rahab
Encouragement for the Journey of Faith – Joshua 2 – Not Who She Once Was, Rahab
Have you ever been given a fresh start? If you have, then you know what a wonderful freeing feeling it can be! There is a woman we learn of in Joshua 2 named Rahab. She has a less than desirable background, and as a result, she is a woman with a reputation. However, she was a smart woman and did not miss out on the truth that the One True God, The God of the Israelites, was in fact real. He was a powerful and present God unlike the gods of her people. She stepped out in faith and hid two Israelite spies that had come into the land secretly on behalf of Joshua their new leader. As a result of her faith, she went from being a part of a condemned people to being part of the family of God. We would like to encourage you to download the teaching notes and turn in your Bible to Joshua 2 as you prepare to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged in your own journey of faith.
- Jul 30, 2017Encouragement for the Journey of Faith – Joshua 1
Encouragement for the Journey of Faith – Joshua 1
Each of us is on some sort of life journey. For some, it is the pursuit of a life goal, a relational accomplishment, or maybe even an academic achievement. The Word of God, The Bible, says that everyone is ultimately on a journey of faith. Some of us have placed our faith in things, people, accomplishments, or maybe even ourselves… but ultimately placing our faith in any of those things will leave us unfulfilled. In the historical story of Joshua and the people of Israel found in the Bible, we find encouragement for the journey of faith that we have all found ourselves on whether we like to admit it or not. We would like to invite you to download the teaching notes and listen to the following message by Pastor Anton on Joshua chapter 1. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged.
- Jul 23, 2017How to Beat the Odds – As a Church – Romans 10:1-17
How to Beat the Odds – As a Church – Romans 10:1-17
In research conducted by the Barna Group back in 2016, it showed that73% of American's claim to be Christians. And roughly the same percentage of people also said that religion was important to them (52% strongly agree + 21% somewhat agree). Yet in America alone somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 churches will close their doors, never to reopen. Those are some staggering odds against the local church in America. So what will it take for the local church to beat the odds? We invite you to download the teaching notes and turn in your Bible to the book of Romans as you prepare to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. You might also consider visiting https://www.focuswesleyan.org/what-we-believe/ to read the affirmation of faith under the "what we believe" section of our website. Pastor Anton will be referring to it several times throughout the message. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged in your walk with the Lord. - Jul 16, 2017How to Beat the Odds – Success – Matthew 16:13-20; 24-26
How to Beat the Odds – Success – Matthew 16:13-20; 24-26If you had to write down your definition of success in your own words, what would you write? Fame? Fortune? Health? Education? Family? Influence? ... What would be your word(s) or phrases to describe what a life of success would look like in your own opinion?In the following message by Pastor Anton, your idea of success and what we in North America commonly strive for might be challenged with what the Word of God says about a life of success. We would like to encourage you to download the teaching notes, and turn in your Bible to Matthew 16 as you prepare to listen to the following message. We trust that you will be challenged and encouraged.
- Jul 2, 2017How to Beat the Odds – Parenting – Ephesians 6:1-4
How to Beat the Odds – Parenting – Ephesians 6:1-4
Have you ever hoped that you could be a better parent for your child or children yet you felt like the odds were stacked against you? Romans 8:31b says this, "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?" If you are looking to beat the odds and become a more godly parent or grandparent, the following message by Pastor Anton has some biblical truths that are highly practical and effective when applied. We would like to encourage you to watch the video, download the teaching notes, before listening to this message. Our hope and prayer is that whether you are a son or daughter, parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, that this message will encourage and challenge you in your walk with the Lord.
- Jun 25, 2017How to Beat the Odds – Parenting – Proverbs 22:6
How to Beat the Odds – Parenting – Proverbs 22:6When we consider how the odds might be stacked against us, one area in particular usually seems to stand out... parenting. Although children don't come with an owner's manual, the Lord gave us His Holy Word to show us how to follow His example as our Heavenly Father. We would like to encourage you to keep your Bible near, download the teaching notes, and listen to the following message by Pastor Anton Folz. Whether you are planning to be a parent one day or you are currently someone's great-grandparent or somewhere in-between, our hope is that this message will encourage and challenge you in your walk with the Lord this week.
- Jun 18, 2017Father’s Day June 18, 2017 – “Set the Tone” Ephesians 5:15-33
Father’s Day June 18, 2017 – “Set the Tone” Ephesians 5:15-33
Have you ever felt as though the odds were stacked against you in some way or another? It might have to do with finance… or with a job/promotion… maybe in the area of physical health or mental health… or maybe you have felt this way when it comes to parenting or marriage. Whatever ways in which you have felt “the odds were stacked against you” you need to understand that if that is something God has commanded and placed in your life to do, then HE is FOR YOU! Romans 8:31b “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” This comes after the author, the Apostle Paul has shared what life is like when you are living in the Spirit of God. Regardless of what obstacle you are facing, and no matter how much the odds are stacked against you, please be reminded that if God is for you, then who can stand against you!
We would like to invite you to down the teaching notes and prepare to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton on the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus, found in Ephesians 5:15-33. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged and challenged as you listen.
- Jun 11, 2017Sharing Christ in a Christless Culture – Acts 17:16-34
Sharing Christ in a Christless Culture – Acts 17:16-34
The setting and background have a tremendous role when telling a story don't they? When telling the greatest story of all, the Good News about Jesus Christ, background and context play a major factor in how someone might understand the Truth concerning Him. As we look at Peter's sermon to the "Jews who were gathering in Jerusalem from all over the known world" found in Acts 2 we need to understand the listeners knew their stuff. They would have had much of the Old Testament memorized, and if nothing else, they would have known about the prophets and some of the major key fathers of the faith. However, if we fast forward 19 years (49 A.D.) to Acts 17 we see Paul speaking to a few groups of thinking men who had little to no understanding of the Bible. As a result, while his message concerning Jesus was the same as Peter's (Acts 2) the method of communicating who Jesus was and is was very different. If you have ever felt intimidated or discouraged about sharing your faith in Jesus with people who do not have any background with the Bible then you are NOT alone! We would like to encourage you to download the teaching notes and listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged and challenged. - Jun 4, 2017Multiply; Multiply, Multiply, Multiply – Acts 5:12-16
Multiply; Multiply, Multiply, Multiply – Acts 5:12-16 Today, June 4, 2017, Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church as it has been called by some. But what does this mean for us as the Church today in 2017? Could it be that Jesus is calling us to have a shift in our thinking, and to adopt a mentality of a "more and more" mindset? When it comes to the Body of Christ, the Church, what does the Lord want to do in our local congregations through us? We would like to invite you to download the teaching notes as you prepare to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be challenged and encouraged in your faith walk.
- May 28, 2017Multiply: All-Aboard – Acts 3:1-10
Multiply: All-Aboard – Acts 3:1-10 In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit comes upon the followers of Jesus, Peter preaches his first recorded sermon, and thousands believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and are baptized. From this comes a community of people who are unified by their common Belief in Jesus as the true Son of God, and they create a community of Belonging. As a group, they Become more and more like their Savior. So what happens next? In Acts 3, we begin to see the church ministering to those around them. We would like to invite you to watch the YouTube video linked to this message and download the teaching notes as you prepare to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged and challenged in your walk with the Lord.