Throughout the book of John, the author carefully records Jesus' words so that we can know that Jesus is the promised Messiah. In fact, John tells us this is his purpose in John 20:31, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." This Sunday we will be looking at John 10:1-30 to see the unique ways Jesus reveals Himself to us.
The Problem with Psalm 51
How can David say that it is only against God that he has sinned, when he has committed adultery with Bathsheba, and murdered Uriah?
I'm not sure I know the answer, but we're going to spend some time looking.
In the Moment... On the Road to Emmaus
The Resurrection of Christ is a central tenet of the Christian doctrine. But the world and Hollywood have turned this unique event - perhaps the most important event in all of human history - into a modern storytelling trope.
This Sunday, let's turn back the clock. Let's check our 21st century perspecteve at the door and go back to THE day - Resurrection Sunday - when the impossible became possible. The day that new life was breathed into creation. Let's walk a mile in the shoes of two disciples as they face each situation as the day unfolds. Let's experience this day through their heartache, confusion and wonder - on the day that forever changed human history. I look forward to being 'in the moment' with you - with these disciples - on the Road to Emmaus.
This is War
The battle is real. But we’ve been given a strategy for standing strong. Please join us as Steve Thomas preaches to us Sunday on this truth that is so important for following Jesus.
Grace and Peace Be Yours in Abundance
1 Peter 1:1-2
Are you far from home? Living in a foreign land? Or maybe you just feel like an outsider. No matter where you are, Peter’s greeting and blessing to believers everywhere is simple: Grace and Peace be yours in abundance.
This Sunday, let’s unpack together this brief, uplifting passage to reveal an amazing functional description of the Trinity as well as the promise and responsibilities of abundance.
Gaining a Heart of Wisdom - The Deadly Folly of Immorality
Last week we heard the plea to guard our hearts—to watch carefully what we allow in and where we let our hearts take us. This week we see the catastrophic results of failure to do this. Few sins, if any, are more deceptive and destructive than sexual immorality.
The same lesson is taught in different ways in Proverbs 5, 6, and 7; we will explore these together. This is admittedly a sensitive subject, but we’ll keep it PG-13..
Gaining a Heart of Wisdom - Guard Your Heart
This week we will explore Proverbs 4 together. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “above all, guard your hearts.” We are driven by desire. Everything we do is driven by something we want (even if it’s something we wish we didn’t want). We need to guard what goes into our hearts by embracing proven wisdom; and we need to guard what comes out by letting wisdom shape our desires and guide our choices, words, and actions.
Things to be Learned on the Slow Train
This Sunday Trevor Marshall will be teaching on things to be learned on the ‘Slow Train’ (yes, that is a Bob Dylan reference).
Gaining a Heart of Wisdom - Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
Proverbs 3:1-11 Last week we considered the peril of rejecting wisdom and the rewards of pursuing it. Proverbs 3 encourages the pursuit of wisdom by showing us its benefits and several ways it is reflected in our daily lives, choices, and character.
Gaining a Heart of Wisdom - How Do We Gain a Heart of Wisdom?
Proverbs 1:20-23, 2:1-6
We learned last week a bit about the Proverbs and the fear of the Lord. We also were reminded the Lord delights in giving us wisdom when we ask. That asking needs to come from a right heart attitude, which is not something we have naturally. Proverbs 1 & 2 encourages us to pursue a heart of wisdom by warning us against the perils of rejecting it and setting before us the blessings of receiving it.
Gaining a Heart of Wisdom
Gaining a Heart of Wisdom Wisdom: First Things
Proverbs 1:1-7
Navigating life, work, and relationships well can be overwhelming. We face a multitude of decisions throughout a day, not to mention throughout life. Some may have far-reaching consequences for our lives and relationships. Sometimes the Bible is clear in its direction. But often we face decisions where Scripture doesn’t give us specific direction. We need wisdom. This age offers its wisdom, which looks attractive but is deceptive. This Sunday, Preston begins a series of messages from the book of Proverbs. We’ll consider together how to understand the Proverbs and how we can gain a heart of wisdom to navigate life and relationships wisely to the glory of God.
Lament—The Honest Cry of a Hurting Heart
Lament—The Honest Cry of a Hurting Heart
Psalm 13
Pain and brokenness are part of our lives and part of our society, here and everywhere. We struggle with the pain and we struggle with God. Thankfully, that is not the whole story. In this week’s message from Psalm 13 we will consider together the hope offered to us in lament. That may be a new form of prayer for you, but it is not new—lament is found often in Scripture, especially in the Psalms. It is God’s gift to us to help us work honestly through pain and brokenness and move toward hope and trust for each day while we wait for what God has promised.
Strength for the Difficult Journey
This Sunday we will be looking into Acts 4:23-31
In Acts 4, the church experienced its first taste of the opposition Jesus had promised. Following that, they gathered to pray. In their prayer we find help as we face our own challenges, whether it is opposition to the gospel, or another type of personal challenge in life, or the challenge we face together as a church in transition.
Follow Me
This Sunday, we reflect on the post-resurrection transition the disciples have to make as they may no longer have Jesus with them 24/7.
As we undergo a similar transition of our own, we hope to learn from their experience, and be reminded that an awareness of God’s abiding presence with us may help us to manage this transition. Job Yan, an ICP elder, will be sharing from John 21:1-22.
Things to Remember
This Sunday I will be sharing some, "Things To Remember," in a Living Letter to a Church we love. This will be my final sermon as Pastor of ICP. We are so thankful to God and to each of you. Serving ICP has been an honour far beyond our dreams for Becky and I. We love you all so much!
Pathways to Knowing God and Making Him Known - Walking In Step with the Holy Spirit (part 2)
This week we will conclude the message on being in step with the Holy Spirit and explore what true worship looks like.
The Holy Spirit is the most personal expression of God's love towards us. He makes our hearts His home. Every believer should desire to be filled and seek to live in way that makes the Holy Spirit at home in our lives.
Desire to be filled - We are invited to ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13)
Denying Self as Jesus denied Himself for us.
Dependence fully on God
Daily refilling
Devotion (Love for God with all that we are)
Delight in what Delights God (Loving others)
Discernment - Be aware that the enemy is a prowling lion seeking to devour and deceive even followers of Jesus.
Join us this week as we explore Walking In Step with the Holy Spirit in our series, Pathways to Knowing God and making Him Known. We will explore how Jesus teaches us about the Holy Spirit.
Pathways to Knowing God and Making Him Known - Walking in Step with the Holy Spirit
The person and work of the Holy Spirit is often neglected in the life of a believer, but it is absolutely essential for every follower of Jesus to understand. You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Why we need to be filled, and refilled again and again.
The Holy Spirit convicts and draws unbelievers to know Jesus
The Holy Spirit indwells and influences all believers
The Holy Spirit gives life to the believer
The Holy Spirit enables us to obey
The Holy Spirit unifies believers as One in Christ Jesus.
This week we will explore how to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Walking in Step with the Holy Spirit involves…
Desire to be filled - We are invited to ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13
Denying Self as Jesus denied Himself for us.
Dependence fully on God
Daily refilling
Devotion (Love for God with all that we are)
Delight in what Delights God (Loving others)
Discernment - Be aware that the enemy is a prowling lion seeking to devour and deceive even followers of Jesus.
Join us this week as we explore Walking In Step with the Holy Spirit in our series, Pathways to Knowing God and making Him Known. We will explore how Jesus teaches us about the Holy Spirit.
We have a Resource Guide below to help you develop your time with the Lord and to equip you to seek Biblical revelation and guard against projecting our thoughts onto our understanding of Scripture. Click on the link in the section below to download the Pathways Scripture Exploration Guide.
Join us this week as as we continue on the Pathway to Knowing God and Making Him Known!
Pathways to Knowing God and Making Him Known - Walking Like Jesus
Too often there is a gap between what we say we believe and what we experience. The source of the gap begins with not understanding our union with Christ Jesus and the filling of the Holy Spirit. This week will explore how to Walk Like Jesus; in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
To walk like Jesus, start by focusing on Him and not you. Walking with Him requires us to focus on Him first and not ourselves.
To Walk like Jesus with must be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus walked and worked in the power of the Holy Spirit and so must we.
John 16:12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Holy Spirit sometimes seems mysterious, but He is not confusing. The Holy Spirit seems a bit illusive because He always points us to Jesus. He speaks in ways the draw us into a closer relationship and likeness to Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself, and the gifts He gives are never intended to draw attention to us, but to focus the glory and honor on Jesus.
Join us this week as we explore Walking Like Jesus in our series, Pathways to Knowing god and making Him Known. We will explore how Jesus teaches us about the Holy Spirit.
We have a Resource Guide below to help you develop your time with the Lord and to equip you to seek Biblical revelation and guard against projecting our thoughts onto our understanding of Scripture. Click on the link in the section below to download the Pathways Scripture Exploration Guide.
Join us this week as as we continue on the Pathway to Knowing God and Making Him Known!
Pathways to Knowing God and Making Him Known - Discerning the Right Path
How can we recognize Jesus voice and know that what we are hearing is true?
In John chapter 10 Jesus gives us both a warning against false teaching and the comfort of knowing that we can accurately hear His voice. There is nothing more important for believers than to be able to discern truth and listen for what God has to say. This week we will explore this important passage along with its background from the Old Testament in "Discerning the Right Path; Hearing Jesus' Voice Correctly."
We have a Resource Guide below to help you develop your time with the Lord and to equip you to seek Biblical revelation and guard against projecting our thoughts onto our understanding of Scripture. Click on the link in the section below to download the Pathways Scripture Exploration Guide.
Pathways to Knowing God and Making Him Known: The Path of Union and Communion
Jesus commanded us to do two very specific things: Baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to celebrate the Communion meal in remembrance of Him.
Baptism represents our Union with Christ Jesus' death burial and resurrection through faith in Him and what He has done.
Lord's Supper represents our Communion and ongoing fellowship with Jesus. It is a celebration of the life we have in Him and an anticipation of His return. These two celebrations are beautiful displays of what life in Christ truly is.
In addition to our celebration of baptism this week, we already have others who want to be baptized in the weeks to come. If you are interested please email Pastor Drew - drew@icprague.cz. And join us this Sunday for a very special celebration together.
We have a Resource Guide below to help you develop your time with the Lord and to equip you to seek Biblical revelation and guard against projecting our thoughts onto our understanding of Scripture. Click on the link in the section below to download the Pathways Scripture Exploration Guide.
Join us this week as as we walk the Pathway of Union and Communion, on the Pathway to Knowing God and Making Him Known!