I’m first and foremost a follower of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, striving to learn more and grow closer to Him. I am also a former public middle school English, Reading, Social Studies teacher now spending my days trying to figure out where God needs me to go next! I'm privileged to help author-friends with beta-reading and editing their work. I’m honored that I get to lead a Bible study and play librarian at my little church in southwestern Colorado. I love to serve God, meditate on His Word, read great books, take photos, be crafty, jot down random thoughts, and crochet poorly.
Hello again! Here’s the next message from Pastor Alan. He taught last Sunday from the first seventeen verses of John chapter 13. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Pastor’s outline and links to the Scriptures he references. Enjoy! :)
The Upper Room & Foot Washing
The Upper Room
The place where:
Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
The Last Supper is taken
The followers hid after the crucifixion
Jesus appeared after the resurrection
Jesus gives the discourse and prayer recorded in John
Jesus appears to Thomas
The followers wait for the Holy Spirit
Foremost, it is a place where there was closeness between Jesus and His disciples.
What is your “upper room” place?
The place where you listen to Jesus’ instructions and carry them out.
Hello! I’m trying to catch up, so I’ll be posting two messages today (from May 22nd and 29th). The message below is Pastor Alan teaching on John 12:27-50. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Pastor’s outline with links to the verses he references. :)
Belief is acting on the revelation of Christ. Unbelief is rejecting the revelation of Christ, choosing darkness, and falling under condemnation. (v. 44-49)
It’s not a matter of if there will be a judgment, but where you end up after judgment.
The words that the Father commanded Jesus to speak lead to eternal life. (v. 50)
First, we’d like to ask for your prayers for those of our neighbors who are currently evacuated due to the Simms Mesa Fire and for those who are fighting to contain the fire. We praise God that the winds have decreased and that rain/snow is falling now. But we also pray that the fire would be put out quickly and without loss of life. Thank you for your prayers!
Last Sunday, Pastor Alan continued taking us through the Gospel of John, teaching from John 12 about “Three Marks of a Follower of Christ.” To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Pastor’s outline (Thank you Jen!), as well as links to the verses referenced.
The principle is this: The only measure to which Christ will be seen living in and through us is the measure to which we are willing to die to our self. Just as a seed is buried in the ground, and in a sense “dies” to produce, we have to die to our self-centered agendas to be productive. We must be like Esther in the Old Testament who said, “If I perish, I perish.” She was willing to die if it could save her people.
Conclusion: How are we doing at giving, praising, and dying?
Sources:
NIV translation of the Bible,
The Bible Exposition Commentary: Warren Weirsbe
If I Perish, I Perish: A Study on Esther by Major Ian Thomas
Christ Centered Exposition of John by Matt Carter and Josh Werdberg
*Special Note: Pastor Alan taught at Calvary Community Church in Ouray last Sunday evening, and if you are interested in hearing his teaching on the afterlife from that service, check out our “Listen to a Message” page.
Good afternoon! Pastor Alan was feeling better yesterday, and he was able to join us on an extra windy Mother’s Day. He taught from John 11 about Power Over Death. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included his outline with links to the Scriptures he referenced.
Power Over Death: Lessons from the Raising of Lazarus
The words, plan, and purposes of Jesus in response to the news of Lazarus. (John 11:1-16)
(vs. 1-3) Mary and Martha – a reference to Mary’s anointing of Jesus that occurs later and that Lazarus is sick.
(vs. 4-7) Jesus will allow Lazarus to die for the purpose of raising him up. Raising Lazarus will display Jesus’s glory and cause many to believe. Also, Jesus doesn’t always make sense to our limited understanding, but one thing is certain; He loves us. (Romans 3:23)
(vs. 8-10) Jesus is light that can drive out darkness and fear. No one could snuff out the light. No one could take Jesus’s life unless he allowed it.
(vs. 11-15) Jesus views death as not the final power. He has the power to raise someone from the dead as if they are simply someone waiting to be awakened from sleep.
(v.16) The world has many wrong views of death. A common approach is distraction. Another is a stoic sort of fatalism. Thomas exhibits a loyal determinism. A brave approach into the face of death, because that’s how life ends. Jesus provides a different reality. (1 Corinthians 15:47-58)
The words of Jesus in response to Martha and Mary (vs. 17-37)
(vs. 23-25) The promise Jesus makes to Martha and all who will believe who He claims to be. Lesson: the final resurrection of the dead is assured on the one who is the resurrection and the life.
Religion is all about rules, ritual and power over people. As we have seen in our study, Jesus comes up against the religious leaders again and again. So, once again that’s how the chapter ends. Just remember resurrection living is better than religious dying.
Good morning! Pastor Alan was under the weather yesterday, but we were blessed to have Terry teach us about Our Hope from Philippians 3:20-21. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included links to the Scriptures referenced by Terry in his teaching. Enjoy!
Hello! Pastor Alan taught yesterday from John chapter 10 about the Good Shepherd and the false shepherds. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are links to verses referenced in the message. Enjoy!
Hello all! Praying that you all had a blessed Easter weekend. We at Colona Community Church sure did: God provided beautiful weather for our Sunrise Service, the people of the church provided an abundance of yummy food for our breakfast, and we finished up with a wonderful lesson from Pastor Alan at the regular Sunday Service.
Unfortunately, we’re still having occasional problems with the recording, so the complete message audio is unavailable. God willing, we’ll get the issues resolved soon. :) I do, however, have the closing prayer from Easter Sunday. I’ve also included Pastor Alan’s outline of his message with links to the verses he referenced. To listen to the prayer, simply click play on the audio player below.
The Much More Life: Christ Alive to Live in You Romans 5:1-17
I. The Starting Line: forgiven by the death of Christ in your place on the cross. “I’ve Been Saved”. The “theological” term is justified. Just as if you died. Romans 5:1-9, Romans 8:31-39
II. The Daily Life in Christ: the much more life. Romans 5:10, 17. Our forgiveness cleans the slate for his activity in us, through the Holy Spirit. “I’m being saved.” This is the much more life. It’s not about our doing for Him but his doing in us. The “theological” term is sanctification. 2 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 2:1-11, Galatians 5:22-23. It’s not about us but Christ!
III. The Final Outcome. 1 Corinthians 15 is a chapter on the implications of the resurrection. “I will be saved.” In light of Easter, I urge you to read all of 1 Corinthians 15:13-28.
Summary: the major truth Paul drives home is that the life we are to live is a life grounded solely in the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Contact info: Dr. Alan Brock, albrock.ab@gmail.com www.Summit40.com
Hello! Pastor Alan taught us about the Prophecy, the Praise, and the Promise of Palm Sunday by leading us through John 12:1-19. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to the Scriptures referenced. Below that, I’ve included Pastor’s notes from the previous week (which accidentally did not get recorded…oops!) when Pastor taught on The Miracle of Sight in John 9. Enjoy!
*A special note: despite the snow that is currently falling, we plan to have Easter Sunrise Service at the Boyles’ home at 7 am, followed by a potluck breakfast. Regular Sunday Service will, as always, be at 10:30 am at the church. The weather forecasters promise that it will warm up! :)
Palm Sunday: The Prophecy, the Praise, and the Promise
The donkey is a symbol of service – a pack animal that takes the burden of man.
Praise
Hosanna (John 12:13) – means “save us.” The people wanted a new David.
Mary anointed Him, not to be the king, but to die.
“Jesus and Alexander the Great” by Charles Ross Weede
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three; One died in Babylon; and one on Calvary. One gained all for self; and one Himself He gave; One conquered every throne; the other every grave. The one made himself god; The God made Himself less; The one lived but to blast; the other but to bless! When died the Greek, forever fell his throne of swords But Jesus died to live forever Lord of lords.
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three. The Greek made all men slaves; the Jew made all men free. One built a throne on blood; the other built on love, The one was born of earth; the other from above; One won all this earth, to lose all earth and heaven. The other gave up all, that all to Him be given. The Greek forever died; the Jew forever lives; He loses all who gets, and gets all things who gives.
Disbelief: a common reaction to the miracles of Jesus. Even today, some Christian teachers explain away the miracles. (John 9:6-12)
Interrogation: yet another encounter Jesus had with the Pharisees over healing on the Sabbath. (John 9:13-34)
Sabbath – a day of rest for the good of mankind. Jesus kept the heart of the Sabbath through compassionate healing (the good of that particular man).
The Pharisees weren’t interested in compassion or people, only in proving how obedient to God they could be by keeping and enforcing rules.
Three steps of interrogation:
John 9:13-17 – The first thing about legalists is that they are close-minded. They are invested in getting rid of the threat to their system.
John 9:18-23 – The second thing about legalists is that they use fear to control people’s actions. When the Pharisees don’t get what they want from the man, they go after his parents. All works-based religions are fear-based. It is a powerful way to keep people in line.
John 9:24-34 – The man is brought back in and proves he had guts. He knew the real Power from the phony, hate-filled hypocrisy.
vs. 25: “I was blind, but now I see.” Sound familiar? :)
Jesus is the “Son of Man” – the bridge between man & God
Jesus gives spiritual sight to those who know and admit that they are spiritually blind. If you think that everything is okay because you are being “good,” you remain blind.
“It is not our littleness that hinders Christ; but our bigness.
It is not our weakness that hinders Christ; it’s our strength.
It is not our darkness that hinders Christ; it is our supposed light that holds back His hand.”
Hello there! Pastor Alan returned last Sunday, but technical difficulties kept the message about John 8:1-12 from being recorded. Sorry! This Sunday, he finished up John 8, inviting us to know Jesus, know our enemy, and know ourselves. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. And be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post, where you’ll find a special song written for Pastor Alan. :)
Questions to Answer:
How well do we know Jesus? Do we know about Him or do we KNOW Him?
How well do we know our common enemies and the Enemy? Evil does exist!
How well do we know who we are to be and what we are to do in Christ?
Do you know these things to be true about yourself?
Pastor Alan wanted to share this beautiful song, “I Can’t, You Can,” with the church. Here’s the description from Ashley:
I wrote this song as a tribute to my stepdad, Alan Brock, on his 60th birthday. “Pops” or “Popsy” as my youngest son affectionately calls him, has persevered in this life only by the strength of God. He is a kind and faithful man, and he loves my mom well. He feels called to teach the Word of God, currently serving as a preacher in a small country church in Colorado. He feels the most at home with flawed people who know they are not perfect. I guess that’s why the words of Major Ian Thomas, founder of the Torchbearers International, are so significant to him; “I can’t, You never said I could. But You can, and always said You would, and that’s all I need to know.” Pops knows we are all flawed, and it’s only by the grace and strength of Jesus that we can have the power to do anything that truly matters in this life.
Pops has run over 100 marathons, including a 100 mile Ultra-run, and gives all the credit and glory to God for each step. For him, it’s not about winning, but more about faithfulness to finish the race. Even if he comes in near the end, he is faithful to continue each step of the journey. Pops told me one of his favorite life verses from the Bible is Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Good afternoon! I apologize for holding on to these for so long and for putting all of them in one post, but I wanted to make sure to put up the remainder of Terry’s teachings on Ephesians 1. They are packed full of biblical truth, so take time to savor them.
Colona Community Church 