The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

Nehemiah 4:15-16 The theme for CLC in 2012

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

Dave Hall

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

The Letter to the Colossians verse by verse.

We dive into the purpose of spiritual pruning.

We dive into the purpose of spiritual pruning.

Special Guest: Rev. David Hall

Guest speaker: Jeff Wong

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Bible is filled with references to "the Eternal Life Cycle" of spiritual growth and maturing in our walk with Jesus. The eternal life cycle of spiritual growth begins with being born again and ends when we graduate to heaven. The references to the eternal life cycle are especially prevalent in the NT where Jesus speaks of trees, plants, wheat, seeds and the like. Paul and the apostles continue the theme with images of physical growth from childhood to adulthood.

The Cross & the Resurrection is a 3 part series leading up to Easter based on Ephesians 2:1-13

The Cross & the Resurrection is a 3 part series leading up to Easter based on Ephesians 2:1-13

In Luke 5 Jesus told Peter to let down his nets to fish. Peter’s initial response reminded me that when we follow Jesus we have an uneasy mixture of faith and doubt that we struggle with.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

Sorry about the audio on this. It's a little fuzzy for some reason.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

One Verse Wonders - Zephaniah 3:17

NKJV – Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Why I chose this verse: This verse is a very inspirational verse and because of the worship chorus that comes from it.

Big Idea: God is with us and is our help at all times.

a. In your midst: midst-among, inner part, or middle. Comes from a root word that means to draw near, enter into, approach.

b. The Mighty One will Save: mighty-strong. Comes from a root word that means prevail. Save- to deliver or give victory. The Greek equivalent is Hosanna. Hebrew = Yashaw; Greek = Hosanna, Hebrew = Yashawnah

c. Rejoice over you with gladness: rejoice-exult, display joy. Gladness-joy, mirth, to make glad.

d. Quiet you with His love: quiet-to keep quiet, to make silent, to be silent. Love- to have an attraction to something, God’s love for His people.

e. Rejoice over you with singing: rejoice-to be glad, exult. Singing- ringing cry, supplication, proclamation, and joy. Comes from a root word that means overcome, to sing out, ringing cry, rejoicing.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

One Verse Wonders - Habakkuk 2:14

NKJV – Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

Why I chose this verse: This verse is a prophecy of the spread of the gospel around the world, and it is also the most well known verse in Habakkuk because of the worship chorus that comes from it.

Big Idea: Even though it looks like evil is winning the day in the end the knowledge of God will overcome.

a. For the earth: earth-the planet earth, a region or country. The people who inhabit these places.

b. Will be filled: filled-to be filled, satisfied, or accomplished

c. With the knowledge: knowledge-to know, recognize, admit, acknowledge, perceive, to learn.

d. Of the glory of the LORD: glory-honor, abundance, splendor, riches, reputation. Comes from the root word that means heavy, weighty, or honorable.

e. As the waters: waters-water course, flood, refreshment.

f. Cover the sea: cover-cover, clothe, conceal, spread over, overwhelm. Sea-can mean any sea, or a specific sea or large river. It comes from a root word that means to roar. Could also mean westward.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

One Verse Wonders - Jonah 3:10

NKJV – Jonah 3:10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

NIV - Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Why I chose this verse: This verse shows us that God’s mercy extends beyond the borders of Israel and Judah. He is merciful to all who humble themselves. But this verse also raises an interesting question “Does God change His mind?”

Big Idea: God is merciful to all who humble themselves.

a. Then God saw their works: God-Elohim, the plural ‘generic’ name for God, significant because Jonah is preaching to ‘pagans’ who wouldn’t know the Yahweh of the Hebrews but they would have a concept of God in general. Works-deeds, activities comes from a root word that means to fashion, accomplish, or make something.

b. They turned from their evil way: turned-to turn back to something or to turn away from something. Evil way-bad, evil, sad, hurtful way of life.

c. God relented from the disaster: Relented-to be sorry, have compassion, moved by pity. Disaster-same Hebrew word used for evil. Not that God’s ways are in themselves evil or bad, but that those who would incur His judgment and wrath would feel that way, bad as in miserable.

d. He said He would bring upon them: He said-to speak or promise. Would bring upon them-to fashion, make, or accomplish; same as the root word for works.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

Obadiah 1:17 But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

Why I chose this verse: I had to choose something from this book and this verse was the one primarily because of it’s prophecy of the coming Messiah and the relation of the house of Jacob to the nation of Edom (Esau). Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a pot of red (edom) lentil stew. Later Jacob claimed the blessing (which Esau had sold to him) through trickery and deception. Even though they had reconciled it’s clear in scripture that some bitterness and resentment remain among the offspring of Jacob and Esau.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus

Amos 9:11 "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;

Why I chose this verse: This verse shows the response of God when His people repent and return to Him.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus

Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

Why I chose this verse: This verse shows the response of God when His people repent and return to Him.

Hosea 6:1 “Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.”

Why I chose this verse: This is a great example of God’s love or His people and it shows that God will not forsake us forever!

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

The Core is a series of messages about our Common Motivations as followers of Jesus.

Erik Wright shares about his call to mission in SE Portland

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them"

Why I chose this verse: It’s a positive statement that reflects the core theme of the book of Ecclesiastes

Big Idea: Don’t wait for things to get better before you turn to the Lord.

Jesus calls us into relationship with one another so that together, with His grace and strength, we hold each other up. We all have heavy burdens that we bear and sometimes those burdens are heavier than at other times and we need each other to help bear our burdens.

Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Why I chose this verse: This verse is the source of some of the teachings of Jesus, specifically the teaching of the blessings of abiding, I go to prepare a place for you, and do not worry.

Big Idea: Our security is assured when we abide in the Lord.

The phrase ‘love one another’ is used 13 times in the New Testament. Jesus said it five times and the phrase is used in the books of the apostle John 10 times. It’s no wonder he is called the beloved disciple. This idea of loving each other is a big deal and if we take a look at what Jesus said about it we’ll see why.

Job 19:25 For I know [that] my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 

Why I chose this verse: In this verse Job declares an amazing degree of faith and as it turns out a messianic prophecy.

Big Idea: Job declares that the ultimate judgment and vindication of his life is in the hands of his Redeemer.

The New Testament never uses the word ‘church’ to describe a building. It always describes a group of people. This morning we’re going to look a little deeper into what the church is.

Esther 4:14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?

Why I chose this verse: This verse reveals the divine hand of God working behind the scenes to bring about deliverance for the people of God and it captures the theme of the book of Esther.

Big Idea: God was actively at work behind the scenes to bring Esther to a place of influence to defeat the enemy’s plan and turn it to good for His people.

In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 the Apostle Paul jumps right in the middle of a mess and takes the church to task. He reminds them that coming to communion with Jesus means that they will have to be in community with others and who they would be in community with wasn’t their choice but choice of the One who called them, Jesus.

Nehemiah 2:17 Then I said to them, "You see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lies] waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach."

Why I chose this verse: This verse summarizes the entire book of Nehemiah. There is a point when God allows His people to see where they really are and gives them an opportunity to take corrective action. God helps His people to accomplish His will when they respond to His call.

Jesus is the God who wants to dwell with His people. He wants to live in communion with us and in Luke 19:1-10 we see that Jesus desires to dwell with people who others might consider undesirable.

Ezra 9:9 "For we [were] slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Why I chose this verse: This verse shows us the depths of God’s mercy toward His people.

Big Idea: God is faithful to keep His promises and preserve His people.

The Core: Our Common Motivations. They are the reason we do what we do. Are we determined enough for communion with Jesus to plow through our fear of rejection, the social stigma, and the awkward stares of other people? Is the joy of His presence worth the risk to our reputation? Maybe we should honestly look at ourselves like this woman did and see that our reputation really isn’t all that good in the first place. If we’ll set aside all of our fears and reservations we’ll probably discover what this woman did, Jesus responds to a determined heart.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Why I chose this verse: I think this verse captures and distills into a few short phrases the things that God is looking for in His people. I also find the promises contained in this verse to be timeless.

Big Idea: God promises to hear His people and heal their land in response to their humble repentance.

Jesus desires communion with us more than we do. The thing that is amazing is that even though we're are all messed up He still has a desire to have communion with us.

1 Chronicles 17:14 "And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever."’"

Why I chose this verse:This verse is a good example of what I call a ‘double ring’ prophecy.It was a prophetic statement about an even that was near but also something that was to come later as an ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy.

The Core: Our Common Motivations.
Climb Higher = Our communion with Jesus
Go Farther = Our commission by Jesus to share the kingdom
Be One = Our community in Jesus with our church family

Ernie Salinas shares about "The God of the Impossible."

The Five Pillars of the Christian Life

David shares the truths of the Scriptures and their impact on our life.

Shinji Mae shares about Jacob and letting go of being control freaks!

Daren Lindley sharing from Matthew 15:22-28

Hezekiah had done everything right but now faces a ruthless enemy and the fight of his life. It might have been tempting for Hezekiah to think that God had abandoned him or that he had messed up somehow, but that wasn’t the case at all. Hezekiah faced this enemy even though he had done what was right.

It seems like the scariest tests come when we’re serving God and seeing huge changes in our life. When those tests come we can get confused and start to question whether or not we’re on the right track. Part of that lies in the false teaching we’ve heard over the years that if you’re serving God He’ll make take care of all your problems and you won’t suffer or be in need. I wish whoever said that stuff would actually read the Bible. 

Hezekiah was in a real difficult spot and he needed courage in order to stand up to this invading army. So how did he, and how do we, find the courage stand up when we feel like backing down?

1 Kings 8:23 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep [Your] covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.

This verse is part of a longer prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. God had promised David that it would be built but He had forbidden David to build it instead God selected Solomon to do it. This verse reveals the truth that the God of the Hebrews is unique among the other gods and is the one true God. God is truly unique and His covenant reveals a special quality about Him.

The prophet Elijah appears suddenly, almost out no where, in 1 Kings 17. The only things we know of his origins are that he was a Tishbite from Gilead. There’s no introduction at all and the first thing we read is that he’s telling Ahab, the king of Israel  that God is sending a drought and it won’t end until Elijah says so. Looking at this man of God you’d be surprised to think that he was afraid of anything. But even after all of this the next thing we see is that Elijah is afraid, running for his life and wanting to give up and die. 

It seems to me that we can be a lot like that too. If it can happen to a guy like Elijah it can happen to anyone. After all of the things God does in our life, the amazing power that He gives us and the promises He keeps we still can fond ourselves rolled up in fetal position, complaining that no one cares and life isn’t fair. There are times on our walk with Jesus that the climb seems to steep the terrain too rugged and the way to narrow and we just want to quit trying and give up. The question is: “How do we turn it around? How do we find the courage to get back up and get going? How do we stand up when we feel like backing down?

Gideon was one of those who had heard the promise of coming deliverer and imagine his surprise when he found out it was him! When God called him he was threshing wheat in a winepress because he was afraid that he'd attract the attention of the enemy.

That's how people often live their lives. They're so shell shocked from the attacks of the enemy that they start to give into the fear by trying to avoid attracting the attention of the enemy. In fact in some ways we might be tempted to back down and give in just so he’ll hopefully leave us alone. Living to avoid attracting our enemy’s attention is not God's plan for us.

This is a short introduction to the series "Profiles In Courage: Standing Up When You Feel Like Backing Down."

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

This verse also shadows the difference between Saul and David. The Bible describes Saul as being head and shoulders above the other people around him. He looked like a king but his heart was far from God. This time God chooses a man who didn’t look like a king but had the right heart for the job.

This verse reveals the truth that God’s ways are not man's ways. God sees people and things differently than we do.

Special guests Teen Challenge Int'l Ministry Institute from Lebanon, OR

Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God." Ruth is the story of a young Moabite woman who follows her Hebrew mother-in-law to Bethlehem,and ends up being the great-grand mother of kind David and listed in the genealogy of Jesus. This verse turns out to be a promise and a prophecy. It summarizes the purpose of the book of Ruth to show how a Moabitess could become one of the roots of David.

Like the prodigal the things we hunger for will determine where we go. They will demand our attention and they will ultimately demand all that we have in return. The reason sheep get lost is because they see that the grass is greener somewhere else, and then somewhere else, then somewhere else until their hunger for something else leads them away from the shepherd. The prodigal's hunger is what got him into trouble in the first place and interestingly enough it's his hunger that leads him home.

Even though the people of Israel rebelled against God and did what was right in their own eyes, God still responded to their cries for help which demonstrates His mercy, compassion and love in action. Judges 3:9 When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel,who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

In this parable the lawyer asked 'Who is my neighbor?' The way Jesus answered the question seems to tell us that the lawyer wanted to define a neighbor very narrowly by nationality but Jesus defined a neighbor by need.

This One Verse Wonder reaffirms that God is with His people. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

As human beings our programming is all messed up because of sin so our natural state is to be stony, weedy, and hard which makes us very resistant to God's word and His ways, but when the we believe in Jesus the Holy Spirit plows up the soil of our life and RE-creates us to be fruitful and reproduce what God has done in our life by sowing the word to others. The good soil of our heart is RE-programmed by the Holy Spirit. 

This One Verse Wonder reveals the love that God desires from us. Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 

Jesus doesn’t give us all the same responsibilities, but He does expect us to be faithful and serve to the best of our abilities. What that means for us is that we have to train and prepare to be good stewards.

The parable of The Wedding Feast is the story of our entry into the kingdom of God is pictured in two ways: The first is that God has paid a price in order to offer us as the Bride to His Son. The second is that God has called us to be gathered together with Him from every tribe, tongue, and nation. He calls the sick, the lame, and the broken. He calls the outcasts and losers. He’s even called us to Himself.