Health Quiz - How many here have ever broken a bone? How many here have ever had stitches? 30 or more stitches? How many have cut yourself? Anyone wounded in combat? Talk about a different type of wound… our hidden emotional wounds. What are our hidden wounds? memories, resentments, regrets, worries,…

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort…

Galatians 5:22-23 In one of his meetings, D.L. Moody was explaining to his audience the truth that we cannot bring about spiritual changes in our lives by our own strength. He demonstrated the principal like this: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in…

Nahum is a prophetic book promising the freedom of Israel from Assyrian rule and the total destruction of Nineveh. In the first chapter, Nahum describes God as working in two important ways. The book begins with a repeated description of God as zealous and vengeful. The author emphasizes God's power over water, land, and people (1:4-5). Nahum then questions the wisdom of rebelling against God. (1:6, 9) The entire section culminates in the prophetic promise of the total destruction of the city of Nineveh. (1:12-14) Though the main focus is God's vengeance against Nineveh; it also emphasizes that God is slow to anger (v. 3), a refuge to his people (v. 7), and Good (v. 7). As whole, Nahum defends God's justice emphasizing his goodness and patience along with his demand for vengeance.

Peter challenges believers to respond to evil like Christ responded to evil in his work on the cross. Specifically, we are to return wrongdoing with kindness. (1 Peter 3:9) This kindness God see's and blesses us with eternal and earthly blessings during those struggles. Further, living a Holy life, even when faced with evil, is a witness to those who persecute us.

Where do we start? 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. What do we tend to fear? The unknown…

Anger is the attitude of a Fool 29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. When anger controlls you life gets incredibly hard, so many people suffer because of their anger or the anger of others. Wisdom is the ability to control your anger. Handling…

Intro – A young man was about to leave for Basic Training. He jokingly told his family that he was going to have to learn how to eat, sleep, shave and make his bed all over again. His brother, who was about to get married muttered, “Me too!” Well guess what – something similar happens when we become…

Intro – Luke 6:29 reads, “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.” An Irish boxer who was saved and became an evangelist was setting up his tent when a couple of thugs walked by. They began to mock him, but the boxer/pastor continued his work. One of the thugs took issue, and finally…

Does you heart cry out at injustice? What does God’s word say about that?

Would anyone disagree with me that there are a lot of miserable people in our society today? Depression, Anxiety, Anger issues are prevalent in our culture. Margie’s Story - Margie hung up the phone from her mom and felt sick in the pit of her stomach. She had called her mother to wish her a happy birthday…

What was your response the last time someone hurt you? Perhaps you felt the urge to retaliate. Maybe you took no action, but instead harbored bitterness in your heart. If so, you failed to realize that you do great damage to yourself when you have an unforgiving spirit. Failure to forgive is a devastating…

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith…

Scripture teaches that it is wrong to strike back or to return evil for evil, whether by immediate retaliation or by taking revenge later. Justice must be done, but this must be left in the hands of God, or of the authorities ordained by God.

Introduction of series - Expository Opening story - Entertainment - Alternate History - Articles of Confederation - Impact on Modern World - Bay Area/LA rivalry - Imagine if it was more than a friendly rivalry… Transition to the world that Nahum lived in, because this imaginary world that I described…

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with…

The desire for revenge is a common human experience. But revenge doesn't bring peace. We only find peace when we overcome our own bitterness. And we only truly overcome bitterness when we, firstly, trust God's justice and when we, secondly, show evidence that we've emulated God's forgiveness. Then we overcome evil with good. As usual, this recording starts with our testimonies. The sermon starts at 9:30. After this short sermon we broke into two groups to study the passage more carefully.

Luke 6:27-38

Vengeance. An injured party’s desire for retribution or repayment from those who harmed him or to demonstrate his innocence against false accusations. Vengeance demonstrates God’s righteousness in compensating the wrong with right. (Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) Webster 1828 dictionary…

Gods time is not our time, God is gracious, merciful, and powererful. He is jealous over us.

The Bible indeed teaches “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. In this, Jesus is quoting the Scripture. Seeing that we have established that we have already established in our study on the Sermon on the Mount that what Jesus is demonstrating here is the deficiency of the Pharisees doctrine and…

Love Your Neighbor - Part 3 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Confession of Faith I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through…

Why should we encourage one another? The Word tells us to, and no one likes to be discouraged When you are encouraged you have strength to accomplish When you are encouraged you have hope and vision for tomorrow When you are encouraged you can encourage others How do we encourage another person? By encouraging…

In this sermon, pastor John walks us through how the enemy, Satan, uses the same tactics today that he did in Nehemiah's time to demorlaize, discourage and prevent us from moving forward with God. Nehemiah acknowledged the enemy's attack and responded with prayer and action.