Leviticus 1-5

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson.  He spoke on the various Offerings in the Book of Leviticus: Burnt Offering, Meal Offering, Peace Offering, Sin Offering, and Trespass Offerings. After listening to his message, one can not help but have a deeper appreciation for the Lord Jesus Christ's work and offering of Himself for our sins. We are complete in Him:

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1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson; pictured with his wife, Kristen, and his cute children. It is always a pleasure to have the whole family visit our congregation.
Mr Stevenson's message was based on 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18, and other passages:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 The above passage was written by the Apostle Paul to comfort believers who have had loved ones pass away. Mr Stevenson touched on various subjects, including the rapture, the return of Christ, the anti-christ, the tribulation, and the 1000-year reign of Christ. Pray that people would have an attitude of a love for the Truth; otherwise they will be lost for eternity because of strong delusions and lies.  Mr Stevenson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD. Please see Romy.

Luke 15

Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson.  He is pictured with his wife Kristen, and their children: Hope, Heather, Grace, Courtney, Caleb, and  Kelsey.  It's always a blessing to have him preach at our chapel.
He message was based on Luke 15: 1-32:  

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

 ²And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

 ³And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

 ⁴What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

 ⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

 ⁶And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

 ⁷I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

 ⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

 ⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

 ¹⁰Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 ¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons:

 ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

 ¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

 ¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

 ¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

 ¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

 ¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

 ²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 ²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

 ²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

 ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

 ²⁴For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

 ²⁵Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

 ²⁶And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

 ²⁷And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

 ²⁸And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

 ²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

 ³⁰But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

 ³¹And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

 ³²It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

In the passage, Jesus responds to the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes for drawing publicans and sinners to Himself.  He uses three parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son.  The parables reveal the loving and kind  heart of the Father; and the rejoicing and celebration that results for each repentant sinner.  God WANTS to draw people to Himself.  He WELCOMES sinners and literally RUNS to embrace them and welcome them home.
 Mr Stevenson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD.  Please see Romy.

More on Joshua 1

 Our speaker during Family Bible Hour was Mr Jim Stevenson, pictured with his daughters, Hope and Heather.  He spoke from Joshua 1: 1-9 --- that's two weeks in a row on the same passage --- God is TELLING us something! 
We all wish everyone a "Happy New Year"; how about greeting everyone with a "Prosperous New Year" instead?  We find a promise of prosperity, albeit a conditional one, in verse 8:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Meditation on God's Word is the key.  We must feed on His Word, obey His Word, speak His Word.  It is the source of our prosperity, spiritually, and in all other ways.


Related Passages --
2 Chronicles 26: 3-5:

 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.

Deuteronomy 30: 10-14: 

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

Mr Stevenson's message, in full and in context, is available on DVD.  Please see Romy.

We welcome our guests from California, Joel & Smitha