Good evening! I’m trying to get caught up, and I apologize for the late postings. This message was from the last Sunday in June. Pastor Alan was away, so we got to learn from Terry about Matthew 5:13-16. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below.
The Church of Laodicea is the church of the last days. (Revelation 3:14-22) But, Jesus doesn’t talk to the CHURCH who overcomes… He speaks to the ONE who overcomes… (Revelation 3:21) It’s an individual calling to rise above, be salty, and shine your light.
v. 16 is also an INDIVIDUAL command, not a corporate one. Don’t wait for the Church to shine; it’s on you!
Good evening! Last Sunday, Pastor Alan shared another wonderful teaching in the book of John. He continued his lessons on what occurred in the Upper Room, focusing this week on “Peace, Love, and the Holy Spirit.” To listen to this message from John 14, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Pastor Alan’s outline with links to the verses on Bible Gateway. Enjoy!
The Upper Room, part IV: Peace, Love, and the Holy Spirit
Father’s Day note: It’s tough to lose a person you turned to the most for strength and guidance. The disciples had Jesus as their spiritual father for strength and guidance. He was going to leave them physically but would be with them always through the Holy Spirit.
Hello! We had a lovely service on Sunday, where Pastor Alan taught on John 14:1-14. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included is Pastor Alan’s outline with links to Bible Gateway, so you can read the verses. Enjoy!
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
Christ is not just another way among many to be in connection to the Father in heaven.
To know Christ is to know truth, direction, and life.
“And tho’ this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro’ us. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him–His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him.
Christ’s connection to the Father and to the Spirit
The Clarity of Christ’s Work to be Seen in the Apostles’ Works and Teaching (John 14:12-13)
The Purpose of Praying & Living is to do so to God’s glory. (John 14:13)
Conclusion: We need to know God’s promises and grow in clarity about who He is. It’s not enough to believe in God just as a higher power or that all gods are equal. To believe as Jesus taught is to believe in the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the role each member plays in our lives.
Good afternoon! This past Sunday Pastor Alan taught from John 13:18-38, sharing a message about love, betrayal, and denial. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Pastor’s notes with links to the verses he references in his message. Enjoy!
The Upper Room Part II
Love, Betrayal, and Denial
The Last Supper: In Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting, the apostles are grouped in three. One grouping is John, Simon Peter and Judas. These three are referenced in John 13:18-38. All are in conversation. John records part of that, as does Luke in his gospel. In Luke we find out that part of the conversation was an argument among friends. Luke 22:15, 24-30. So that’s the setting.
Now let’s go back to the 3 principle characters in John. John, Judas and Peter and the three main things we know about each of them.
Johnis closet to Jesus. The one Jesus loved is a self-description. The theme of walking in love is major in his writings. He in fact records Jesus’s words, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John was the only male disciple that was present with Jesus at the cross and Jesus entrusts the care of his mother to John when he says, “Behold your mother.” So John is a reminder to us of the positive which is to love and remain close.
The other one mentioned is Judas. He reminds us of the potential there is to betray and how Satan can take over. It says when he ate the morsel Satan entered in and he left out into the dark. A contrast here is that the supper was, and is, all about signifying taking Jesus, the bread of life, into us and walking in the light. Judas allowed himself to go the opposite direction. We are capable as well. The end for Judas was a sorrow that led to his taking of his own life. He got to a point beyond repentance and forgiveness. Interesting that his betrayal started with denial. He says, surely not I, recorded in Matthew 26:25. Both Peter and Judas deny Jesus but only one let himself forever be defined by betrayal. Both wept but one’s sorrow would lead to repentance, the other’s to death. As it says in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death.” In 2nd Peter 3, it seems some were beginning to think the Lord wasn’t going to come back. Peter clears that up and in essence says don’t think his delay, in human understanding of the time, means he isn’t coming again. He is delaying to give you the opportunity to repent. 2 Peter 3:9-13.
Simon Peter reminds us of the possibility of denial due to fear. What was Peter’s first mistake? Denial was the results of a 2-fold mistake. He didn’t realize his limitation and he didn’t ask for strength. Even though Jesus still prays for him, even though he doesn’t ask. Mark 14:27-31, 66-72.
So, 3 apostles
– One calls us to love
– One stands as a warning against betrayal and non repentance
– One stands as a warning against denial but the promise that turning back to Jesus brings forgiveness and restoration.
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!
Colona Community Church 