This weekend, we are examining the seventh and final church in the book of Revelation: Laodicea. Of all the churches, this one is the most well-known, likely because of the language used. The church is called “lukewarm” and Jesus says he will vomit them out of his mouth. What does it mean to be lukewarm and what is the message for us today? The title of this weekend’s message is “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: NAUSEOUS.”
This weekend, we are examining the sixth church in the book of Revelation: Philadelphia. The church was doing many things well but was locked in fear and failed to take opportunities that God presented them. Fear can blind us to God’s plan and prevent us from stepping out in obedience. That was true for the church in Philadelphia; is it true for you as well? The title of this weekend’s message is “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: PARALYZED.”
This weekend, we are examining the fifth church in the book of Revelation: Sardis. At the time of Revelation, Sardis had gone the way of many churches today. They had a positive reputation but, they were spiritually dead. They were warned to wake up or be snuffed out completely. This is the case for many of our churches today. We, like Sardis, need to wake up and return to God! The title of this weekend’s message is “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: DEATH’S DOOR.”
This weekend, we are studying the fourth church listed in Revelation: Thyatira. Thyatira was a serving and loving church, but they tolerated sinful influence. Sometimes it is easier to quietly obey God than to call out and denounce sin. Yet, is this how God has called us to live? We ought to love what God loves and hate what he hates. This weekend’s message is titled “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: BEDRIDDEN.”
This weekend, we are studying the third church listed in Revelation: Pergamum. The church in Pergamum on the surface was holding up against persecution and false teaching. However, twisted and harmful teachings had begun to creep into the church and twist the doctrine. Wrong doctrine is harmful to every area of our lives because it corrupts and distorts what we believe about God. This weekend’s message is titled “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: MUTILATED.”
This weekend, we are studying the second church listed in Revelation: Smyrna. Smyrna was facing tremendous hardship and was in danger of falling to the pressure and fear of persecution. God reminded them of the importance of standing up under that pressure and remaining faithful. We will learn from their example how to stand firm in the face of trials and what the reward is for a life of obedience. This weekend’s message is titled “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: FAINTHEARTED.”
This weekend, we are looking at the church in Ephesus. Jesus brings a serious charge against them: they have lost their first love. They were checking all the right boxes but for all the wrong reasons. The problem for them wasn’t an external behavior but an internal reality. The title of this weekend’s message is “CHURCH-AUTOPSY: HEARTSICK”.
REVEALED by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC Introduction: As many of you know, Nicole and I have been traveling for the past two weeks, filming at biblical sites in Turkey. By the way, just a heads up, there are some wonderful series coming up in the next few weeks and months! Personally, I’ve been studying... Continue Reading →
As we approach Holy Week, I want to begin a series titled “ANASTASIS”. This is the Greek word for resurrection. Many of us have heard the language of the empty tomb or Christ rising from the dead, but what does that mean for us? How does that change our perspective on life and belief? Over the next few weeks, we will dive into this idea of resurrection and how that impacts our understanding of the Christian life. This weekend’s message is titled “ANASTASIS: FOUNDATIONS”.
This weekend, we are focusing on Sarai giving her maidservant, Hagar, to Abram in a mistaken attempt to protect God’s promise. Sarai thought she was helping God but in reality, she had been deceived into thinking God’s plan was in jeopardy. The serpent was again attempting to thwart the arrival of the Man of Promise, but still, God made a way and protected his plan. The title of this weekend’s message is “MAN OF PROMISE: DECEIVED.”
This weekend, we will be looking at a very important interaction between God and Abram. Abram is discouraged and is having difficulty believing in God’s promise to give him a son. In a vision, God reminds Abram that not only will he have a son, but his descendants will outnumber the stars of the sky. Through his lineage, the world will be blessed. The title of this weekend’s message is “HEIR.”
This weekend, we will continue our study of Cain, looking at the events of his life after he murdered Abel. There are many questions and speculations about the nature of Cain’s punishment and how he spent the rest of his days. In this message, we will uncover the truth not only about Cain’s life but also about God, both His justice and mercy. This weekend’s message is titled “WANDERER.”
This weekend, we will be looking at the account of Cain and Abel. This tragic first pair of siblings has raised many questions in people’s minds over the years. There are details from the account that are flagged as examples of the Bible containing errors. Through this message, we will not only learn more about Cain and Abel, but will be able to defend the authenticity of the Bible. This weekend’s message is titled “RIVALRY.”
This weekend, we will lay a foundation for our understanding of brain development as a whole. Much more than just parenting, we as believers should work toward a biblical understanding of how our minds grow and mature. This will help us be better parents, mentors, counselors, and followers of God!
In the weeks leading up to Easter, we will begin new series focused on the cross and what Jesus has accomplished for us. Most believers have a very incomplete understanding of the cross. The concepts of salvation, justification, and atonement, however, are central to our faith. We will gain a better understanding of Christ’s work on the cross through this series titled “JUSTIFICATION.”
CULTIVATING by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC Introduction: As some of you know, we moved to the church parsonage about 22+ years ago; then, 10 years ago, we bought our new home. We instantly fell in love with it, especially the beautiful garden around the front of the house. My favorite were the beautiful rose... Continue Reading →
This weekend, we are continuing our study of creation. On the sixth day, God created the rest of the animal kingdom, from the largest elephant to the smallest insect. Although there are some similarities across creation, God designed every creature uniquely and specifically to fulfill its own function. It reminds us that his plan for the world is perfect. The title of this weekend’s message is “DISTINCT.”
This weekend, we will be looking at the beginnings of the world itself. Having examined the first day, we will turn to how the waters were separated and what that means. The book of Genesis contains in its first few lines the framework for the entire world. As we approach the second day of creation, we will see how God created the space He would later fill with life. This weekend’s message is titled “GROUNDWORK.”
This weekend, we are turning our attention to the beginning of creation. People can offer many different theories and ideas, but how does science’s account of the beginning of creation line up with what God says in His Word? The book of Genesis offers us a very detailed account of how God made the world around us. In understanding more about creation, we understand more about our Creator and His plan for us. The title of this weekend’s message is “GENESIS”.
This weekend, we are examining the canon of Scripture and looking at how the Bible compares to the writings of Buddhism. Buddhists ascribe to many different canons, but there is one biblical canon that believers uphold. Why does this matter? How did the canon come to be accepted? The title of this weekend’s message is “CANON”.