There is a Greek word found in the New Testament that some Christians enjoy using on occasion, “Kairos”. This word is simply translated in English as “time” but it’s a very specific kind or measurement of time. It’s not a unit of time but rather, “Kairos” speaks of an appointed time, a time prepared by...
Author: City of Refuge
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Service Honoring Charleston Shooting Victims, Wednesday, June 24th, Bethlehem AME Church
We will be joining area churches in a service of remembrance, worship, confession and prayer in response to the killings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC last week. The service will be held this Wednesday night, June 24th, at Bethlehem AME Church located at 213 East Pearl Street in Burlington. The service...
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Ephesians 4:25-32 The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit: “What Grieves Him?”
Last week we talked about the Holy Spirit being a person who grieves. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:30 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God . . .” This was not a call to fear but rather a revelation of love. Paul was revealing to us that the Holy Spirit does not live within...
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John 14:15-18; Ephesians 4:30 The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit: “A Person Who Grieves”
For just a moment I want us to try to identify and feel a specific emotion. When I quote the apostle Paul and say “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit . . .” what is the first thing that you think and feel? Don’t make it theological and don’t try to make it right, just...
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A Conversation Around the Word, Sunday, June 28th
Sunday, June 28th, in our 10:00 service we will be gathering together to have a conversation focused on the Scriptures. For the next couple of weeks we are all reading John 15 together. We are being encouraged to read the passage each day, to pray through it, study it and to ask God to reveal...
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John 16:12-15 The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit: “A Person Who Listens And Speaks”
One of my favorite hymns is “In the Garden” by Charles Miles. For those that may not know it, the chorus says “And He walks with me and He talks with me and he tells me that I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”...
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John 14:19-31 The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit: “The Gift of a Loving Father”
Today I want to go just a little bit further in introducing you to this person of the Holy Spirit and I want us to simply see that the Holy Spirit is a gift of love, He was given to us because of God’s love for us, but just as much He was given to...
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Mark Bible Study: Mark 11:1-11 “The Triumphal Entry”
Mark 10 ends with Jesus leaving the city of Jericho on His way to Jerusalem. Mark 11 begins with Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem for the final time as a man. The last six chapters of Mark’s letters cover the final week of Jesus’ life. The least detailed account of Jesus’ life gives great detail to...
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Acts 2:1-13 & John 14:15-18 The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit: “He is a Person”
Today is Pentecost Sunday. It was on Pentecost, more than 2,000 years ago that the Holy Spirit was poured out, that He came to dwell in and baptize the first 120 followers of Jesus and birth the church. I did not believe there was a better time to begin a sermon series to study the...
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New Sermon Series This Week, “The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit”
Join us tomorrow as we begin a new seven week series called “The Person, Purposes and Plans of the Holy Spirit”. Our hope and prayer is that through sermons, conversation, daily readings and directed prayer that will will journey together into a relationship of deeper intimacy and fellowship with the person of the Godhead whom...