God’s Appraisal of Me – Psalm 139 – March 5, 2017
Have you ever had the opportunity to buy a house? If so, somewhere along the timeline of things you should have had an appraisal done on the house and property before "signing on the dotted line." When buying a home, you would want the most thorough investigation completed so as to root out as many possible surprises as possible before taking possession of the home. When it comes to our spiritual growth in the Lord, we are instructed by the Palmist David to ask God to perform the appraisal of our spiritual well-being. In Psalm 139:23-24 we have a beautiful confession of David to the Lord. He is asking the One true God who has all knowledge, who is everywhere, and who has all power and authority to search him throughout. And then, with the help and power of the Lord, to be able to lead him toward taking his next spiritual step growing closer to the Lord.
During this season of Lent, be intentional about removing distractions from your life, and fill at least a portion of that empty time with reflection on who God is. As you prepare for this message, we would like to invite you to turn in your own Bible to Psalm 139, and also to download the teaching notes attached with this message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged in your walk with Him!
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- Mar 5, 2017God’s Appraisal of Me – Psalm 139 – March 5, 2017
God’s Appraisal of Me – Psalm 139 – March 5, 2017Have you ever had the opportunity to buy a house? If so, somewhere along the timeline of things you should have had an appraisal done on the house and property before "signing on the dotted line." When buying a home, you would want the most thorough investigation completed so as to root out as many possible surprises as possible before taking possession of the home. When it comes to our spiritual growth in the Lord, we are instructed by the Palmist David to ask God to perform the appraisal of our spiritual well-being. In Psalm 139:23-24 we have a beautiful confession of David to the Lord. He is asking the One true God who has all knowledge, who is everywhere, and who has all power and authority to search him throughout. And then, with the help and power of the Lord, to be able to lead him toward taking his next spiritual step growing closer to the Lord.During this season of Lent, be intentional about removing distractions from your life, and fill at least a portion of that empty time with reflection on who God is. As you prepare for this message, we would like to invite you to turn in your own Bible to Psalm 139, and also to download the teaching notes attached with this message by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged in your walk with Him!
- Feb 26, 2017Fast and Pray – Matthew 4:1-11 – Beginning Lent 2017
Fast and Pray – Matthew 4:1-11 – Beginning Lent 2017
What has been your tradition preparing for Easter? The Church has observed Lent, the six-week period of time leading up to Easter Resurrection Sunday, with fasting and some form of penance. This begins Ash Wednesday (March 1, 2017) and ends Holy Saturday (April 15, 2017 this year. Sundays are not included due to the fact that all Sundays are memorials to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This gives us a total of 40 days of preparation leading up to Easter. But rather than simply shrugging off the idea of abstaining from something during this lenten season because it is a stale tradition... consider for a moment what the Lord might desire to do with this time in your walk with Him. But cutting out the distractions of a certain type of media, leisure activity, or even cutting out a certain type of food, we create space for God's voice to become louder in our heart and life. We would like to encourage you to get the very most out of this teaching by Pastor Anton by downloading the teaching notes and turning in your Bible to Matthew 4. We hope that you will be encouraged to make this time of preparation before Easter the best you have ever experienced yet! - Feb 19, 2017Defeated Giants – 1 Samuel 17:50-18:16 – Feb. 19 2017
Defeated Giants – 1 Samuel 17:50-18:16 – Feb. 19 2017
How you and I handle winning will make a difference in the long run. When we look at the lives of David and King Saul, we begin to realize that these men may have had similarities, but they ended up with very different results in the long run. David was known as a man that the Lord was with and a "man after God's own heart." Fallen as he was, he was known by such a profound title in the Holy Scriptures. On the other hand, Saul chose his own path (an example of this is clearly seen in 1 Samuel 15). Although Saul was chosen by the Lord and anointed by Samuel (the same prophet that later anointed David as the next king over Israel) he chose his own path which led to devastating consequences. When we face and defeat giants in our lives, there are going to be several things that will come against us immediately. How we handle the victory, and who we surround ourselves with will matter.We would like to invite you to turn in your Bible to 1 Samuel 17:50, and to download the teaching notes with this message. We hope that you will be encouraged and challenged to deepen your walk with God through this teaching by Pastor Anton. - Feb 15, 2017Conquering Goliath – 1 Samuel 17:32-51
Conquering Goliath – 1 Samuel 17:32-51What is your first reaction to difficulty? Do you run and hide to gain a better understanding of what you are about to face? Do you take the difficulty head-on whatever may come? Do you try and avoid the difficulty by going a different route? What is your first reaction to difficulty?We would like to invite you to turn in your Bible to 1 Samuel 17:32-51 and to also download the teaching notes before listening to this message by Pastor Anton. As David met and defeated the Philistine giant Goliath, he was met with critics who questioned his intentions and methods. Yet all the while David kept his focus on the Lord giving him and the Israelites victory over the Philistines. David's goal was for God to receive the glory and honor, and for the pagan people gathered to know that the God of Israel was the one and only true God. Through his bravery and focus on God receiving the glory, all of Israel would know that the Lord heard their cries of distress, and that He would rescue them by His hand alone.
- Feb 5, 2017Facing Goliath – 1 Samuel 17
Facing Goliath – 1 Samuel 17
What do you perceive to be your greatest area of weakness? Would it be a financial issue, a health concern, a relationship problem, an issue at work or finding a job? Whatever your weakness, hold that thought in the back of your mind while you open up the Word of God to 1 Samuel 17, and listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We invite you to also download the teaching notes along with this week's study, as they may be helpful to you. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth in response to him asking the Lord three times to remove a major weakness in his own life;2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.We hope and trust that you will be encouraged by this message and challenged to take your next spiritual step this week.
- Jan 22, 2017Conquering Giants – Numbers 13 – Jan. 22, 2017
Conquering Giants – Numbers 13 – Jan. 22, 2017What is the greatest "giant" that you are facing right now? Is is debt, a broken relationship, boss at work, marriage problems, a tough class this semester, what is your "Giant"? The reality of Numbers 13 is that there were "giant people" living in the land that God had promised to the Israelites. They were fresh out of Egypt, estimated two million people strong, but a large number of those were women, children, and elderly. How were the Israelites going to take on giants who occupied massive walled cities without proper siege equipment? We invite you to turn in your own bible to Numbers 13, download the teaching notes, and follow along with the audio teaching by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that this teaching will inspire you to take on the "giants" in your life with courage and strength that comes from the Lord alone!
- Jan 15, 2017Trader – Ephesians 3:1-11 – Jan. 15, 2017
Trader – Ephesians 3:1-11 – Jan. 15, 2017
When you think of the term "trader" what comes to your mind? When you think of making a "trade" with someone, what sort of mental picture begins to formulate in your mind? Although it may not seem like it, we make any number of trades every single day. Some benefit us, some benefit others, and some don't seem to benefit anyone at all.We would like to encourage you to take a couple of minutes to watch the YouTube video linked to this teaching. It was created by RightNow Media. It will set the tone and help orient your thinking as you download the teaching notes, and open your own Bible to Ephesians 3. Pastor Anton teaches on the five things that the Apostle Paul traded for and explains why the trade he received in return was MORE than WORTH IT! The Word of God challenges us to Trade in our "American Dream" for something of infinitely greater value. - Jan 8, 2017Your Work Matters – Colossians 3:22-4:1 – January 8 2017
- Jan 1, 2017#Hashtags – New Years Day, 2017 – 2 Corinthians 5:15-21
#Hashtags – New Years Day, 2017 – 2 Corinthians 5:15-21
Have you ever considered the #Hashtags or labels that you carry around with you? #Hashtags are identifying mark commonly used with social media to connect people, events, or common things together. They might have been something that someone like a parent, teacher, friend, bully, or coach gave you. Or it might be one that you have given yourself. Regardless of where it came from, what #Hashtags do you carry with you? The reality is that #Hashtags are powerful! They have the power to cause us to think and act in ways we never thought possible. However the real question is this, who or what has the right to #hashtag you? We would like to invite you to download the teaching notes and follow along with the sermon by Pastor Anton. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged as he teaches on who has the right and authority to #hashtag us, and which #hashtags are actually true for us and our lives.*This message was adapted from a teaching done at NewSpring Church - Dec 25, 2016Christmas Sunday – December 25, 2016 – Matthew 2:1-12
Christmas Sunday – December 25, 2016 – Matthew 2:1-12
What are your first memories of seeing a Nativity? Maybe it was one at the local church where you and your family attended. Maybe it was one in your own home, or at the house of a friend growing up... regardless of when you first saw a nativity, when you look at it now with a careful eye, there should be at least three (or more) characters that don't seem to fit the profile of Mary, Joseph, and the local Shepherds... I am talking about the Magi or the wise men as we have come to known them by. They are mysterious men from the East who came to locate, worship, and honor with gifts the new-born King of the Jews. The gifts they brought are meaningful and valuable, not your common white-elephant gift or regifting of something that was less than desirable. We would like to invite you to open your own Bible to Matthew 2:1-12, and download the teaching notes as you listen to this Christmas morning sermon by Pastor Anton Folz. We hope and trust that you will be encouraged!Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years from the FOCUS family to Yours!