This weekend, we will conclude our series by looking back at everything we have learned. The goal of this series was not to divide, but to inspire us to come together across generational lines. We are most effective for God’s kingdom when we stand together, utilizing our individual strengths to glorify God and make him known. This weekend’s message is titled “GENERATIONS: INTERGENERATIONAL.”
Tyranny (Article)
The history of the world shows that in every generation there arises someone who wants to create a global government to gain ultimate power. It began first at the Tower of Babel when people rejected God’s command to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” and decided to come together and build a city and “a tower whose top is in the heavens.” About this time, a man named Nimrod rose in power who was a hunter, not of animals but of men. Some early sources describe him as a dictator who tried to turn people away from God to follow him. God had to come down and scatter humanity so it would not be enslaved.
Sufficient: Resurrection and the Life
This weekend, we are examining Jesus’ statement that he is the “resurrection and the life.” He delivers this statement in the context of the loss of his friend, Lazarus. Jesus reminds those gathered to mourn that he is the answer to the problem of death. Christ himself was not bound by death and his resurrection offers wonderful promises for us as well. Much more than something to talk about at Easter, the concept of resurrection is central to our faith.
Man of Promise by Abidan Shah, PhD
Abraham and Sarah are often depicted as this no-name family moving from Ur to God’s Promised Land. However, they were much more than just wanderers. Abraham, Sarah, and others around them knew something was going on, that God’s plan was in motion. They could see God blessing them and protecting them as they followed His plan in obedience and faith, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus. The title of this weekend’s message is “MAN OF PROMISE.”
Tyranny: Part 2 by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we will continue our study of Babel and how it shaped our history. Different languages and people groups developed because of the people’s rebellion against God. It wasn’t just about the prideful building of a tower. It was important that the people scatter across the earth, and, in rebellion, they refused. What was important about that command to scatter and how does it impact us today? The title of this weekend’s message is “TYRANNY: PART 2.”
Sheepfold by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we are continuing to examine the pictures for evangelism that Jesus gives his listeners. Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd and extends that metaphor to evangelism by talking about bringing sheep into the fold. What are we doing to reach the lost and bring them to our shepherd, Jesus Christ? The title of this weekend’s message is “SHEEPFOLD.”
Harvest by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we are going to expand on this idea of sharing the gospel with others. The Bible compares the world around us to a field ready to harvest. How will the harvest be gathered? How do you know what to harvest? What is the point of the crops that are gathered? We will examine these questions as they relate to our mission as believers and as a church family. The title of this weekend’s message is “HARVEST.”
Great Nation by Abidan Shah, PhD
In fact, recent events should show us that God is still very much guiding and guarding America. It is time for believers to set the example of returning to the truth of God’s Word. This is the bedrock upon which our country was founded and it is the guiding light that will lead us into the future. This weekend, we will be reminded that we do in fact live in a great nation.
Parenting IQ: Identity by Abidan Shah, PhD
This weekend, we will be focusing on adolescence. These years are a time of determining one’s identity and questioning the world around them. We’ll be taking a look at some common questions and misconceptions regarding student ministry and be reminded of the importance of reaching our teens. This weekend’s message is titled “PARENTING IQ: IDENTITY.”
Proclaim by Dr. Abidan Shah
PROCLAIM by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC Introduction: Growing up, we did not have all the Christmas shopping and gift giving as we do in America. At the most, we would get a new set of clothes, a new shirt and a new pair of pants. That’s it. Imagine my shock when I was invited... Continue Reading →
Re-Created by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are diving deeper into God’s creation of humanity. God made us male and female. The world around us is trying to blur the lines of being male and female, pushing the narrative of gender dysphoria and identity. As we learned last week, we must rely on the truth of God’s Word to guide our thinking in this discussion and to recapture God’s original design. The title of this weekend’s message is “RE-CREATED.”
Distinct by Dr. Abidan Shah
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.”
Reflection by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we will be reflecting upon 9/11 and how it has impacted our nation. I was not born in America but chose this as my home. I have seen life in other countries and I am just as convinced today as I was many years ago that God’s hand is upon this nation and that our best days are ahead. I will spend some time this weekend talking about America from my perspective and what makes this country great. This weekend’s message is titled “REFLECTION.”
Groundwork by Dr. Abidan Shah
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.”
Genesis by Dr. Abidan Shah
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”.
Sacred by Dr. Abidan Shah
This weekend, we are continuing our study of the canon of Scripture. There are many religions that either add to the canon of books that the church has traditionally considered inspired or mishandle the ones we do consider to be Scripture. How does understanding the canon of Scripture help us to better see which religions are inaccurate, even if they appear close in their beliefs? The title of this weekend’s message is “SACRED”.
Canon by Dr. Abidan Shah
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”.
Inspiration by Dr. Abidan Shah
Last weekend, we compared the Bible to the Qur’an and looked at how both Islam and Christianity view inspiration and the content of each book. This weekend, we will examine the sacred texts of Hinduism and how they compare to the Bible. The title of this weekend’s message is “INSPIRATION”.
The Age of Paradoxes by Dr. Abidan Shah
In today’s message, we will look at Peter’s usage of a paradox in the reality of both suffering and blessing for his listeners. The Bible is filled with paradoxes that pertain to the Christian life. Graduates and believers in general need to understand how to navigate this new age in which we find ourselves. The title of this weekend’s message is “THE AGE OF PARADOXES.”
Misstep by Dr. Abidan Shah
In our message this weekend, Peter begins to quote Psalm 34, relating David’s words to his listeners. In order to understand Peter’s use of Psalm 34, we must first understand the context of David’s life as he was writing. He made a series of poor decisions that left him to deal with the consequences. The title of this weekend’s message is “MISSTEP”.