What is Love?

by Marc Krevo Posted on April 24, 2018
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To describe love means to understand it in its context. If I said I love ice cream it would not be the same way in which I love my wife. That’s a good thing too. When a person becomes a Christian, the capacity to love takes on a whole new meaning, because there are also characteristics of love.

In this lesson from 1 Corinthians 13 we read about what love really is. That love is more outward focused and less a desire to satisfy self. The early church in Corinth had new believers who were beginning to understand what it meant to love others. They were having to do this while trying to understand that of all the Spiritual gifts God gives they are really nothing without love as the basis.

Christians today must understand in a world today that says your number one and its all about you must realize that love is not all about you. Actually to love others means your number two. When believers put this practice into their faith they begin to develop an eternal perspective as they reflect the love of Christ in a world which is filled with self.

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Open Your Gift!

by Marc Krevo Posted on April 16, 2018
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If you gave your child a gift on Christmas Day and after opening it they simply said, “Thank you” and then set it aside, how would you feel?  When we set aside our spiritual gifts and simply say, “I can’t do that” or “I’m not cut out for that” in the service of the church its as if we say to God “thank you” and set His gift aside.

Every believer has been given a spiritual give that is unique and special because each of us are unique and special to God. So unwrap your spiritual gift, and use it for the glory of God. Realize that a spiritual gift is an expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer which empowers him or her to serve the body of Christ. So, unwrap it, enjoy it, employ it, and use it for the glory of God.

In this message we learn in 1 Corinthians 12 how each of us are given unique gifts, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit who apportions to each one individually as he will” (1 Corinthians 12: 11). Therefore, you are unique and God has a special gift for you because you are unique and special to Him! 

Here are two handouts to help you discover your spiritual gifts. Read the first handout “Spiritual Gifts List” first. This explains the many spiritual gifts God has given us as believers and should help you understand the “varieties of gifts” (1 Cor 12:4). The second handout is the “Spiritual Gifts Survey.” Before completing this survey I urge you to spend in prayer before taking this survey. Perhaps you may want to reread 1 Corinthians 12 and then pray the Lord speak to you from His word and for your life of service to Him.

Spiritual-Gifts-List Spiritual-Gifts-Survey

Spiritual-Gifts-Survey

 

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Glorious Body

by Marc Krevo Posted on March 12, 2018
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While some people think they have a glorious body we all are suppose to glorify in our body no matter what we see on the outside. We honor Christ when we honor him with our body. The truth is when we think our bodies are simply for our own desires we become slave to the desire. Jesus wants to be the master of our bodies to glorify him. The good news is that when we do that we have lives that reside in peace and greater fulfillment.

In this message we hear how the early church in Corinth was struggling. Many of the new believers were still seeking to gratify their desires with sex thinking their bodies could serve there desires. However the apostle Paul encouraged them to live lives that did not seek sexual immorality. He explained that unless they did their desires would in the end master them. Instead he encourage them to let Christ be their master and in effect glorify him!

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United In Christ

by Marc Krevo Posted on March 4, 2018
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Have you ever been a member of an organization that was driven by its purpose? You know no matter what happen: strife, divisions, problem, arguments, change, etc. No matter what happen their was one thing that unified them, their mission.

For the Christians keeping the main thing the main thing must be our purpose despite disagreements, quarrels, or divisions. The church is unified by one name, Christ. The early church of Corinth came under the influence of those who sought self-ambition and needed to understand the purpose and unity of the cross. Today the church needs to be grounded in the word of the cross rather than cliques or eloquent speakers because only the word of the cross saves.

Today in our lesson we hear essentials for unity in the church:

  • The Church has unity when it follows Christ alone.

  • The Church has unity when it relies upon the word of the cross alone.

  • The Church has unity when Christ crucified is preached alone.

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Always on Mission

by Marc Krevo Posted on February 26, 2018
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Each of our lives are often demonstrated by our roles. If you are a father, no matter what happens you do not cease being a father, your children will always ask for money no matter what age. If you are a mother, your children will always see you as the one who will love them, no matter how misbehaved the grandchildren are your children will still ask mom to baby sit. If you own property you can always rest assure the county will send you a nice letter asking you send them money for the privilege of owning land.

We all experience always. We all have a role to play within our families, community and government and as believers we always are on mission no matter where we are, who we are with, or what our circumstances are we are always on mission. In the final chapter of Acts 28 the apostle Paul is finally in Rome, but his circumstances did not prevent him from continuing to be on mission.

In this message we come to understand that despite circumstances we are always on mission for the gospel. Regardless of the response we get, we are to be faithful. Listen to hear how each of us as believers learn that our journeys are always on mission; we are to be seekers for the lost as our mission; and we should always be faithful to witnessing the gospel.

 

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Farewell of Hope

by Marc Krevo Posted on February 5, 2018
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If you are familiar of hearing a farewell then you perhaps you thought it was sad and left no hope. That is because most farewells detail the past with little hope for the future. However we have a farewell of hope that gives us good news and direction for our future in Christ!

In this message we hear a farewell of hope given by the apostle Paul to the elders in the church of Ephesus. Despite the men Paul was speaking to believers have hope for our future despite things we experience along our walk with the Lord. Here in Acts 20 we see that when Paul gave his farewell address he was not just giving an autobiography, he was giving instruction and hope for the church in Ephesus.

As you hear today’s message and read the Scriptures you find that a good farewell expresses concern and love for those left behind and offers them hope for a future. That hope is the grace of God in His Son, Jesus Christ.

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A Complete Witness

by Marc Krevo Posted on January 31, 2018
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ACTS 18:24-28; 19:1-7

When others don’t understand the gospel correctly we must understand that is not the end of their spiritual journey with Christ. Just as Apollos and twelve disciples of John the Baptist only knew John’s baptism of repentance, God still had plans for them.

Today believers must help others to understand the gospel accurately for their salvation depends upon it. We don’t don’t always know the plans God has for others and ministry. Therefore we just like Paul, Priscilla and Aquila have a duty to gently instruct and in love the accurate and complete teaching of the gospel.  

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The Grace of the Gospel

by Marc Krevo Posted on December 18, 2017
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The Good News About The Gospel

by Marc Krevo Posted on December 10, 2017
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If you had just one word to describe the gospel what would it be? If that leaves you with too many options allow me to narrow the search. If you had just one word to describe the gospel WHO WOULD IT BE? When the apostle Paul traveled on his first missionary trip he basically asked that question.

However for many people today the good news of the gospel is closer than they realize. And this is what the apostle Paul wanted the people of Antioch Pisidia to understand. Yet it is God’s plan for everyone to free everyone from that which holds them down from that relationship, sin.

Jesus is the reason, the redeemer, the deliverer and savior for all nations for all generations. In this study of Acts 13:26-39 we see how that it’s not earthly solutions that fix our lives, but a spiritual solution delivered through heavenly means––Jesus

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The Fulfillment of Christmas

by Marc Krevo Posted on December 3, 2017
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Today we live in a world that places a lot of hope on the festiveness of Christmas. We enjoy the decorations, the food, the gifts, the visits from family and friends. This certainly makes Christmas special.

We live in a world that is trying to push the name of Jesus Christ out of Christmas into making it a holiday celebration, but if we don’t know why or whom we are celebrating what will the importance of Christmas truly be about? Christmas brings excitement not just to children who get gifts at Christmas. Christmas doesn’t just mean we get visits from the grandchildren. Christmas doesn’t just mean we get some paid holidays off from work. Christmas doesn’t just mean sugar cookies and candy.

The joy of the wise men was the coming promise of a savior, not about a place or festival, but about the person Jesus Christ. The joy of Christmas is not about festivals, places or gifts, but God’s fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

When we celebrate Christmas we celebrate the hope that we have in salvation, because Christmas is a person, Jesus Christ. We probably don’t think about salvation much at Christmas because we are so caught up in the celebration we forget about the hope that Christ brings in his incarnation. Our joy in Christmas is in a person, because Christianity unlike any other faith is about a relationship with a person. So today in our message we see three things God fulfills when the when the wise men visit the Christ-child.

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