“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

This simple passage from the Bible is one of my favorite verses because it lays out the salvation plan and tells of God’s great love for us. Jesus came to seek and save all of humanity and had a special tenderness for those who were despised by society. This week we will examine the parable of the lost sheep and our value as human beings in God’s eyes. Jesus wanted to convey how God views humanity with compassion, so if you’re the lost sheep or maybe you know someone who has wandered away, come join us this Sunday for an encouraging message of compassion and redemption.

May God richly bless you today,

Pastor Charles Thorell

The people in Ephesus had converted to Christ from the worship of Diana and the apostle Paul was concerned with how the new Christians were going to live in a decadent pagan society. The temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and it was in this setting that the Paul spent three years organizing a church and carefully outlined the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. He explained how God is eternal, Jesus is the Son of God and how predestination fits into our lives. Paul also explained how we are born into the kingdom of Satan and why we are transferred by salvation into the kingdom of God.

Salvation is the cornerstone of Christianity and Paul was emphatic in stating that it only comes by faith and cannot be earned. He called for the believers to live a life worthy of their calling and introduced many concepts that were foreign in idol worship. Paul explained what took place at the resurrection of Jesus and how new believers will be resurrected as well. He instructed them on how to set up church leadership in what has been termed the five-fold ministry and also shared God’s desire for us when it comes to interaction between family members and co-workers. Continue reading >>