Pastor Mary Haley

Quest for Hope

The Scapegoat 2-19-16

Hebrews 9:11-14

Yesterday, our focus was on surrendering our weakness for Mercy’s Kiss—the power of Christ to conquer sin.  Today, in our quest for hope, we will look at two covenant systems referred to in the bible: the old and the new and what makes them different.  The old system involved outward cleansing ceremonies through the spilling of animal blood where only a priest could enter; it never brought a cleansing to the people’s conscience.  The new system provides a personal Savior—the sacrificial Lamb and the Scapegoat—who enters and does a complete cleansing of the inner person.  Someone say, “This is Grace!”

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Quest for Hope

Mercy’s Kiss 2-18-16

Hebrews 4:14-16

Last night we enjoyed a great discussion with our lesson about the work of grace in salvation and our eternal hope in receiving, living, and serving in Christ’s power.  We must not allow unbelief to have any place in our hearts.  Today, we are going to reap a harvest by learning to reach for Mercy’s Kiss.

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Quest for Hope

Faithful in Belief 2-17-16 Conclusion

Hebrews 3:7-15

Our scripture passage guides us to wisely search our hearts (cardio is the center of one’s being) every day; we are to search for evil or unbelief hiding within us. If Jesus defeated sin and death, how does evil remain an issue for the believer?  Evil exists in our world and we will always experience temptation.  Fear comes to rob us of our trust in God. 

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Quest for Hope

Faithful in Belief 2-17-16 Intro

Hebrews 3:7-15

Yesterday, we were filled with gratitude as we read about how Jesus defeated death by offering himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sin.  The cross is really a symbol of love; the love of God for all humanity.  God is determined to make a way to have a relationship with His creation.  We simply need to accept His terms; the cross.  In our quest for hope this morning, we are going to look at some wisdom from the book of Hebrews on how to stay strong and faithful in our belief in the work of Christ. Jesus said, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:29).  If we do so, we can enter into God’s rest, because human effort accomplishes nothing eternal (John 6:63).

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Quest for Hope

Defeating Death 2-16-16

Hebrews 2:14-18

Yesterday, we read about how Jesus rescues us from our weaknesses (inclination to sin against God) for the purpose of restoration.  In our quest for hope this morning, we are going to look at how Jesus defeated death.  Death can be a frightening thing to even think about let alone imminently face. Jesus understands our fear.

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Quest for Hope

Jesus Rescues 2-15-16

Psalm 80:3-7

Adam and Eve stepped into rebellion against God; this rebellion set humanity on the wrong side of God’s love.  Yet, God continues to ask for our devotion; we all get to respond to His offer for relationship.  The most beautiful part about the love of God is, even though humanity fails at responding obediently to His love, He still makes a way to come back and rescue us.  No greater love!

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Quest for Hope

What Do You Want? 2-13-16

John 1:35-42

Yesterday, we revisited why John called Jesus the Lamb of God. In our passage this morning, John the Baptist—the one calling for humanity to turn back to God—is walking with two of his disciples and they leave him to follow Jesus.  One of the disciples is Andrew.  He leaves to get his brother, Simon, and announces to him, “We’ve found him!  We have found the Christ!”  Andrew and Simon catch up to Jesus and both begin to follow him; something within them is excited because their Teacher of Truth has arrived.  When Jesus realizes he is being followed; he turns to these men and says, “What do you want?  

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Quest for Hope

Jesus the Lamb 2-12-16

John 1:29-34

Yesterday, we took an honest look at our hearts; we realized because of sin/selfishness we needed a heart for Jesus who is the Living Expression of selfless Love.  How do we become a living expression of God’s love when clearly our lives tend toward sin/selfishness?  How do we hold onto our Hope when we recognize this reality?  In our passage this morning, John the Baptist points to Jesus in the crowd and says, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Why did John call Jesus the Lamb of God?

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Quest for Hope

A Heart for Jesus 2-11-16

John 1:14-17

Lent is a time for honest reflection.  It is a time to be reminded of humanity’s ongoing sin against God’s selfless love; humans prefer selfishness and this choice separates us from the divine presence.  God is pure love and cannot occupy the same space as selfishness; He is Light and in Him is no darkness.  Each of us enters the world born with selfish and self-exalting inclinations and because of Grace, we are now invited into the redemptive process as children of God—children learning the ways of holy love.  Because of Jesus we can know the truth of our original identity—created in the image of God—receive the forgiving mercy of God, and grow in the power of Grace (God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense).  Do you long for truth about yourself wrapped in tender mercy?  

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