Each of us face a variety of decisions every day—of course some are more critical than others. Occasionally we may be confronted with choices that challenge us to the core of our humanity. To those that God has called He has an expectation that we will use the blessings and skills that He has imbued us with. This is the ability to discern the correct choices and pathway that is in keeping with God’s commandments. During this Passover observance and the Feast of Unleavened Bread we reinforced our understanding that in taking part in the Passover observance we are to first discern the body of Christ. We are to be aware of His life and that He died so that we could gain access to the Kingdom and the blessing of eternal life with Jesus and the Father. Discernment is a blessing from God and in this Sermonette on the Last Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread we shall together explore the scriptures that will help us to better understand this blessing and the purpose in our lives.
Frank Bruno
Just a Second
In the sermons and sermonettes leading up to the Spring Holy Days we have heard and considered that even a person drawn by God to follow Jesus Christ can be beset by sin. Most of us would like to believe that we are basically good people in the eyes of God and among our brethren. However, in this sermonette on the Feast of Unleavened Bread we will consider just how easy it is for a human to sin, and how important repentance is to save us from our nature and mistakes, and even restore our confidence. We need not fall prey to Satan if we remain mindful of the blessing of the Holy Spirit sent to help us move forward. Repentance is the tool that we can wield to return to the embrace of the Father and His Son.
Dead Center
The world today likes to deceive itself that it prefers life in the center—a world of compromise. Politicians who do not espouse this sentiment, this focus on false healing and unity are condemned. The world is of course hostile to any truth associated with being obedient to God’s laws. Worldly negotiation demands driving to the center—accepting pain for all! Humans cannot succeed in this world if they are true to God’s commandments, yet, conversely, they cannot find the narrow pathway to the Kingdom of God if they seek to please two masters. In this Sermonette we will cover several scriptures that make this perfectly clear. Participating in the politics of this world by definition means choosing between the lesser of two evils—not the ways of the Lord. This is not acceptable for followers of Jesus Christ.
And on His Shoulders
That the world is a troubled place is a vast understatement. The condition of many of our major cities is an indication of the failed leadership by human-kind that is now deaf to the word of God and His Son. People worry about climate change as being irreversible, but never give a thought to the foundation and future of a nation that at one time espoused obedience to God as a primary tenet. The Bible holds the keys to the future of a government and a kingdom that will never end, and whose goodness will be boundless and endless as well. Together in this Split-Sermon we will refresh our understanding of the promises that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, have laid out in the scriptures for us to read, comprehend and pray for.
Finding Hope
The world today is a very dark place, and there is no leadership capable of fixing it—other than the hand of God and the return of His Son: Jesus Christ. Yet, this world and its creatures were still created by God and if we open our eyes we see His hand everywhere if we are paying attention. We must be vigilant and watch for the signs, but we can also appreciate the majesty of God’s hand in our lives each day. This Sermonette will discuss several scriptures that can make this clear in the ways that mankind cannot. Together we can find the hope we need to remain strong and do what we must.
Taking God to Work
As this world continues its spiral, members of God’s church must remember that a relationship with God and with Jesus Christ must not end with the Sabbath. In order to be sure we are following His Commandments, we must rely on Him as we face challenges in our work life as well. In this Sermonette we will explore scriptures that help us to honor Him and reflect our faith in our work and all that we do.
FOT: Gabriel’s Messages of Hope
This Sermonette will cover scriptures that convey not only the messages that the Angel Gabriel was charged by God to carry to specific people, and by extension—the human population of the earth, but the vital information that he brought. We do not often think or focus on the work that God created angels to conduct. They are however very important in God’s Plan.
You Must be Very Proud!
In this Sermonette we will explore together what the Bible tells us in terms of a correct, Godly way to find satisfaction in serving and doing our best—without becoming proud, haughty and superior, which can ultimately cause us to succumb to evil influences and sinfulness.
Contrasting Cities
In this sermonette, we will consider what God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have in store with the blessed city of life: the New Jerusalem. This is in contrast to what man is capable of, when reviewing, for example, CHAZ and later CHOP in Seattle. In the best case, humans can strive to do good—but only the Father and His Son are able to deliver the city of love and light that we crave.
Leaving So Soon?
We know that in the end times, many will fall away from their faith, and people will hate and betray one another. If any of us needed affirmation of this, COVID-19 has provided a simple introduction to the emptiness of relying solely on mankind to bring us through a crisis. We have witnessed many so quickly buying into mass hysteria, and seeking authority to turn one-another in for not complying with a political solution. God imbued in us the ability to choose and discern what is good and that which is not Godly. This Sermonette will offer the scriptural support that we need during this time, and in the trials to come. We can choose to turn to God with confidence and obedience, rather than path that leads to something far more terminal than any virus.