Easter Sunday – (Matthew 26:36-39) EMPTY From Death to Life
Have you ever experienced pain or confusion? Did it last more than a few hours? Did you ever come through that pain and confusion with a greater sense of understanding and peace? If we were to examine the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Jesus' and His disciples the very first Easter, we would find that there is a model that we could follow to help us through painful and confusing times in our own lives. We would like to invite you to download the teaching notes and listen to the following message shared by Pastor Anton on Easter Sunday 2017. We hope and trust that you will be challenged to take your next spiritual step and that you will also be encouraged.
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Apr 16, 2017Easter Sunday – (Matthew 26:36-39) EMPTY From Death to Life
Easter Sunday – (Matthew 26:36-39) EMPTY From Death to Life Have you ever experienced pain or confusion? Did it last more than a few hours? Did you ever come through that pain and confusion with a greater sense of understanding and peace? If we were to examine the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Jesus' and His disciples the very first Easter, we would find that there is a model that we could follow to help us through painful and confusing times in our own lives. We would like to invite you to download the teaching notes and listen to the following message shared by Pastor Anton on Easter Sunday 2017. We hope and trust that you will be challenged to take your next spiritual step and that you will also be encouraged.
- Apr 9, 2017Palm Sunday – Mark 11:1-11 – The Kingship of Jesus
Palm Sunday – Mark 11:1-11 – The Kingship of Jesus
Have you ever thought about what the first Palm Sunday must have been like? What the Disciples must have been thinking and feeling when Jesus told them that He was going to be riding into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey? What must have been racing through their minds as the people gathered there in Jerusalem for Passover began shouting "Hosanna!" as they entered? The first Palm Sunday was very different from what Jesus had done in the past when He and His Disciples entered Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. This time Jesus the Christ was establishing His kingship. Not the coming King that many may have been hoping for, but instead the King that everyone throughout all of time desperately needed! We would like to invite you to turn in your Bible to Mark 11 and download the teaching notes as Pastor Anton teaches about that first Plam Sunday, the Kingship of Jesus. - Apr 2, 2017Lent – The Church in Thyatira – Revelation 2:18-29 – Tolerating Sin will not be tolerated!
Lent – The Church in Thyatira – Revelation 2:18-29 – Tolerating Sin will not be tolerated!
Thyatira was known to be a "working man's city" according to history experts. In comparison to some of the previously addressed church congregations, it would have been smaller in size. It also did not have a specific idol or false god that the people of Thyatira would have worshiped.Interesting enough, although it was the smallest of the cities that Jesus specifically addressed in Revelation 2 and 3, it receives the longest letter. It would seem the congregation was doing many things very well, but there was a major complaint that Jesus had against the church. They were tolerating a woman who made a practice of sinning and leading others to sin to remain in the church. This was a major offense in the eyes of Jesus. We would like to encourage you to turn in your own Bible to Revelation 2:18, and download the teaching notes as to listen to the following message by Pastor Anton. We hope that this teaching will encourage you in your walk with the Lord! - Mar 26, 2017Lent – The Church in Pergamum – City of Satan – Revelation 2:12-17
Lent – The Church in Pergamum – City of Satan – Revelation 2:12-17 Did you ever hear the phrase "I know where you live" growing up? In most situations that would be a threat, but in the context of the words of Jesus to the church located in the wealthy and influential city of Pergamum, it was actually an encouragement. Pergamum was known as one of the greatest cultural centers of the Hellenistic era. The city had a beautiful fountain, theater, pool, medical building, a massive library, and several temples. Idol and emperor worship were the norm, and tolerance of worshipping several false gods and deceased emperors was expected among the people. Jesus sends a strong warning to the church congregation located in Pergamum because of the sin among God's people that some were tolerating. There were even some within the church seemed to be teaching that certain sins were acceptable for believers to commit. However, this was not and is not acceptable to God!We would like to invite you to download the teaching notes and open your own Bible to Revelation 2:12-17 as you prepare to listen to this message by Pastor Anton. Our hope and prayers are that you will be encouraged and challenged in your walk with the Lord through this teaching.
- Mar 19, 2017Lent – The Cost to Bear His Name – Revelation 2:8-11
Lent – The Cost to Bear His Name – Revelation 2:8-11What has following Jesus ever cost you or your family? Has it cost you anything at all? The Church congregation in the city of Smyrna knew what it would cost them to follow Jesus. For some, it meant they lost everything... their homes, businesses, family members, etc. For other's in Smyrna it would be that they would be tortured for their faith. And yet for others it would mean dying for their faith in Jesus. Fast forward to 2017, and there remains intense hostility towards Christians many countries around the world. This is truly something foreign to most of us in the United States of America. We would like to invite you to watch the 5 minute YouTube video linked to this message, download the teaching notes, and open your Bible as you prepare to list to Pastor Anton's message about Christ's words to the church in Smyrna. We hope and trust that you will be challenged and encouraged in your walk with Jesus.*The video testimony "Hannelie" can also be found by visiting https://www.icommittopray.com/ which is a ministry arm of the https://www.persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs.
- Mar 12, 2017LENT – Rekindling Love – Revelation 2:1-7
LENT – Rekindling Love – Revelation 2:1-7
When did you love Jesus the most? It might seem like a strange question, but when you reflect on Revelation 2:1-7, you realize that it is an essential question to ask. During the season of Lent, we are given a special opportunity to cut out clutter or distractions from our daily routine, and fill that time with reflection on God and our relationship with Him. In this message, Pastor Anton will instruct through Revelation 2:1-7. We would like to invite you to turn in your own Bible to the passage, and download the teaching notes as you listen to this teaching given at FOCUS Wesleyan Church on Sunday March 12, 2017. We hope and pray that you will be encouraged and challenged to grow in your walk with Him. - Mar 5, 2017God’s Appraisal of Me – Psalm 139 – March 5, 2017
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! - 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!