“The Secrets of Jesus,” Jeremy Foster 3-18-2018

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3-18-2018

Today at Real Hope we join Hope City Church Lead Pastor Jeremy Foster as we begin the message series, "Secrets of Jesus."

 

 

Real Hope Program and Study Guide for 3-18-2018 

Welcome to Real Hope.  We’re Glad You’re Here.  

 

 

Join us in worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

This is our program for today, Sunday March 18th.

 

Countdown to Worship: "Glory To Glory," William Matthews.

 

Invocation and Bible Reading: Pastor Ernest Thomas

 

First Music Offering: "Glorious Day" – Kristian Stanfill.

 

Second Music Offering: "Your Love Awakens Me" – Phil Wickham.

 

Third Music Offering: "Jesus" – Chris Tomlin.

 

Communion Video: "Jesus Is Alive," Reverend Billy Graham.

 

Communion Service: Shirlee Yoder.

 

Offering, Prayer Requests, and Announcements: Dana Smith.

 

Today’s Sermon: "Secrets of Jesus," Pastor Jeremy Foster, Hope City Church.

 

Closing Prayer: Ted Yoder


We hope that you enjoyed our service today and encourage you seek God in everything that you do.

 

At Real Hope our purpose is to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and with all of our souls and with all of our minds.

 

Our focus begins with all the people of Citrus County and by the Grace of God we will:

 

Gather together to worship and celebrate God,

Grow in our knowledge and faith,

Give in love and,

Go out into the world to shine brightly with the light of salvation from our Savior Jesus Christ and tell the world what we know is true!

 

We boldly ask God to help us shake the Earth and touch the Heavens!

 

We look forward to seeing you again. 

 

Thank you and God bless you.

 

Sermon Message & Study Guide for 3/18 to 3/25

 

Simple Story – Big Truth
This week Pastor Jeremy teaches from the book of Matthew. 

 

More than 5,000 people had followed Jesus Christ to a deserted place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus cared about them deeply. He healed people; and when they were hungry He fed all of them with just five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21)!

 

Then Jesus sent His disciples on ahead while He said goodbye to the thousands of people. He told the disciples to get in their boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (verse 22).

 

After the people left, Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying, His disciples were struggling against a powerful headwind. Many of the disciples were experienced fishermen, but they were straining to make headway against the wind.

 

Seeing the plight of His closest friends, Jesus went to them (Mark 6:48). To do this, He defied the natural laws of physics. He performed the amazing miracle of walking on the water (Matthew 14:25)!

 

During “the fourth watch of the night”—which would have been in the last few hours of the night prior to daylight—the disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the water (verse 25). Not realizing who He was, they cried out, “It is a ghost!” (verse 26). They were terrified of the figure approaching them in the middle of the sea.

 

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid’” (verse 27).

 

Upon hearing Jesus’ voice Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (verse 28). Jesus said, “Come,” and Peter took a step out of the boat without sinking (verse 29).

 

With faith in Jesus Christ, Peter started walking on the water toward his Master. But then the strong wind took his focus off of Christ. Soon doubt started forming in his mind. With his faith in Christ shaken due to the howling wind, he started to sink into the sea.

 

As he was sinking, Peter called for Jesus’ help. Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him. As He did so, Jesus asked Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (verse 31).

 

At that moment Peter "grabbed the wheel," challenged Jesus’ authority and authenticity ("Lord, if it is really You…") and took the focus away from Jesus to make the story about himself 

 

Questions: 
Have You ever challenged God?

 

Are you too busy to make time for God? 

 

Is your life all about you?  Do you have faith to trust God and not only place him first in your life but make Him your life?

 

In Luke, 18:8 Jesus asks, "…When the Son of Man comes; will he find faith on the earth?”

 

Today, millions are totally self-absorbed in their own lives and their faith and trust in God is greatly diminished if not totally abandoned. 

 

For many God is nothing more than a line on our to-do list of life.  "Believe in God." Okay I got that box checked, what else do I need to do today?

 

What is faith?

 

In Romans 4:20-21, the apostle Paul describes Abraham’s faith: “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

 

Faith is not just wishful thinking, but it is a deep conviction and belief that God’s words are true, and that He is able to bring about His promises. Our faith is made strong in Jesus Christ.

 

Suggested reading:
Matthew 21:22

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

 

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

 

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

 

Hebrews 11:1  

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

Mark 11:22-24

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

 

Luke 1:37          

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

 

Ephesians         

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

Proverbs

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

2 Corinthians   

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

 

Ephesians 2:8  

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

 

Hebrews 11:1-13:25

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. …

 

1 Corinthians 2:5      

That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

James 2:14-26  

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. …

 

Thank You and God Bless!

 
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