Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Jesus speaks with the rich young ruler and tells him to sell his possessions and follow him. The ruler goes away saddened because of his great possessions. We look at the pride beneath the surface of the rulers questions and posture and how we share these same points of pride. Then looking at the children, we see that grace is granted to those who come before God in total dependance, as a child is before their parents.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Paul admonishes the church of Galatia hearing that they have turned back to idols and have tried to find satisfaction in them rather than in God.

Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. How this servant was forgiven an unfathomable debt yet then went out and demanded from another servant what was owed to him. We see here that we are much like the unforgiving servant, being forgiven by God the immense debt of our sin yet often being unwilling ourselves to forgive others their tresspasses against us.

Jesus instructs that all who belong to Him are precious in His sight, and that we who follow Him ought to have great concern for those that are falling away. The church, and those in it, are tasked with the seeking and restoring of those caught in sin or have abandoned the gathering.

We explore righteousness and where we rest for our righteousness. Looking at the law and how often we try to earn our standing before God and in so doing we discount the work of the Cross.

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Southwest Harbor Congregational Church

Nine disciples are unable to cast out demon in boy. Jesus rebukes them for their little faith. We look at what faith is in the valleys of our lives and how mountaintop experiences don't secure a firm faith.

Paul shares his concerns with the Galatians over adding things to the Gospel such as works and performance. In so doing the Galatian church began to nullify the work of Christ "for if righteousness were through the law then Christ died for no purpose.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain and is transfigured before them. Here we have one of the strongest confirmations of who Jesus is, namely God. We also explore the reaction of the disciples first when Jesus is with Moses and Elijah and after the Father speaks and declares that Jesus is His beloved Son.

After declaring that Jesus is the messiah Peter discourages Jesus from fulfilling the suffering prophesied. Jesus rebukes Peter saying that he is setting his mind on things of man rather than of God. Afterward Jesus states that "whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Jesus inquiries His disciples of who they think He is. Peter answers Him saying that He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus proclaims the foundation of His church and grants authority to it. We explore this foundation and the importance of the proper use of the Church's authority.

The Sadducees and Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus. Jesus rebukes them and later warns his disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. We explore the different kinds of leaven we ought to be aware of in our own lives.

Jesus feeds the four thousand. We find here that while this miracle resembles the feeding of the five thousand, one major difference is that here Jesus feeds Gentiles showing the greater call of God on the nations.

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for letting the traditions of men become greater than the scriptures. We look at what true religion is and what it's views are on scripture, sin and the heart.

Jesus comes to the disciples during the fourth watch of the night as they strain against the wind and the waves. Peter asks in faith to come to Jesus on the water but, when Peter reaches Jesus he becomes fearful of the storm and begins to sink.

Jesus feeds the five-thousand and in so doing shows who He is, namely God. We see the parallels with Jesus' compassion and the compassion showed to Israel in the old testament and how the giving of the mana is also reflected in the abundance of Christ's dividing of the five loaves and two fish.

We compare and contrast these two literal storms form the Bible looking at both Jonah and Jesus. We go over what kinds of storms we face in our own lives, whether literal or spiritual, and how Jesus uses, guides, and keeps us through them.