3 10 83 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c14ff62c3957ffd32715a8dc1372e872.jpg 70a2355989f43cbea691b7950936c706 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/9fd8725cdebb69a770b575c85d0698bd.mp4 f68577650491dfe8cb69eed302173b84 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound A Return to Sanity From Old Form to New Life (Psalm 23) There are certain scripture passages and verses that form the bedrock of our Christian faith: John 3:16 Jesus teaching what came to be referred to as “the Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13) The opening verses of the first chapter of the Gospel of John “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” …and the 23rd Psalm One of my favorite and most quoted parts of that chapter is Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul – He leads me in paths of righteousness” I want to begin this morning by saying something simple: God wants to restore us. Restoration assumes something was off. Something was not right The quest for restoration should begin the moment we realize it is needed in our lives. One of my favorite movies opens with this line: “A beginning is a very delicate time.” And today—this first Sunday of 2026—is a beginning. Not necessarily a loud one or a dramatic one. …But a delicate one. Proverbs reminds us to know the importance of the season we are in. Not every season is for speed. Some seasons are for alignment. Psalm 16:11: Thou wilt show me the path of life Let me ask you something gently… Were there moments in 2025 where you took actions that didn’t seem in line with your goals… your values… …or even your own character? Moments where later you thought, “What was I thinking?” Shakespeare once lamented, “These rebel powers that thee array…” talking about forces inside the soul that pull us off course. “these “rebel powers” in the soul replaying” (forces that doubt belong there) anger. resentment. guilt. bitterness. unforgiveness. We all know them. The TV commercial asks, “What’s in your wallet?” But maybe our deeper question should be: “What’s in your soul?” Sometimes we kinda need a setback to prepare us for a comeback. And so much of recovery — so much of restoration— can be traced back to one thing: A return to sanity. In the Twelve Steps, Step Two says this: “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Sanity simply means: reasonable, sound, clear thinking. Living in alignment with reality. I submit to you: Insanity, then, isn’t madness — it’s misalignment. “He wasn’t in his right mind when he did that” “not being in your right mind” can mean all kinds of things. It doesn’t have to be addiction or something that people can see outwardly It can be anger, resentment, anxiety, unforgiveness, being judgemental Someone once said, “That rare person who truly sees their betrayal by their own wrong ideas is ready to awaken.” A wake-up call is really a return to sanity. That’s mercy. Jesus gives us a perfect picture of this in Luke 15. (Prodigal Son) Luke 15:17 says,“When he came to himself…” That’s restored sanity. TPT says, “Humiliated, the son finally realized what he was doing.” Not condemned. Not rejected. Awakened. Truth did something nothing else could do. Truth can show mercy toward you by being merciless toward everything that is harming you. “The TRUTH shall set you free” 3 John 2 says, “…even as your soul prospers.” God desires your life to flourish— but flourishing follows restoration. Our souls need to be restored to God’s divine settings so that our souls can prosper, so that our lives can flow the way they were designed to flow. …so that we can accomplish our “Divine To-Do’s” This isn’t about trying harder. It’s about returning to alignment. Proverbs 8 says this: “If you wait at wisdom’s doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen.” Listen to this line: “…the fountain of life pours into you every time you find me.” (ref: Prov 8:34) That’s not striving. That’s beholding. But Proverbs also warns us: Ignoring wisdom brings harm to your own soul. Not punishment — harm. The opposite of sanity is in-sanity. Scripture describes insanity this way: “Like a dog returning to its vomit.” This comes from Proverbs 26:11 and describes a fool who repeats their foolish mistakes … someone going back to harmful or sinful behaviors, even after knowing better … it’s going back to what once made us sick and wondering why we still feel unwell. So when we ask, “What was I thinking?” the honest answer is often: “I was thinking — but I was thinking carnally.” “To be carnally minded is death.” Carnal thinking disconnects us from reality. But Proverbs 9:10 says, “The starting point for acquiring wisdom is to be consumed with awe as you worship the Lord.” “Consumed with awe.” Isn’t that what we’ve been talking about? Isn’t that beholding? Transformation doesn’t start with effort. It starts with awe. One of the clearest signs of insanity is often revealed in the way we speak. Why would we curse ourselves? Why would we speak against our future? 1 Peter 3:10 says, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil.” Words reveal what’s happening in the soul. …those “rebel forces” Wisdom guards the mouth because wisdom guards the soul. This year isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about coming back to yourself — the self God intended …before fear, distraction, and misalignment set in. Psalm 23:3 doesn’t say, “He pushes my soul.” It says, “He restores my soul.” Restoration is not force. It’s return. “Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. From old form - to new life. From confusion - to clarity. From insanity - to sanity. So today, don’t rush this new beginning. It’s a delicate time. Let Him restore your soul. Father, We come before You now not to fix ourselves, not to promise improvement, but to return. We confess that at times we have lived out of alignment— thinking without awe, speaking without wisdom, moving without clarity. And yet You have not withdrawn. You have remained near. You are the One Who restores our souls. So we yield the noise within us. We release the old ways of thinking, the old fears, the old forms that no longer belong to the life You are shaping in us. We choose stillness over striving. Awe over anxiety. Wisdom over impulse. Restore our souls to Your divine settings. Bring us back to clarity. Bring us back to truth. Bring us back to ourselves as You intended us to be. As we behold You, quietly and honestly, let our thinking be healed, our words be purified, and our lives realigned. We trust You with this beginning. It is delicate — and it is held in Your hands. We rest in You. We return to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Return to Sanity 《回归清醒》 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/04/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 23:3: He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 詩 篇 23: 3: 他 使 我 的 灵 魂 苏 醒 ， 为 自 己 的 名 引 导 我 走 义 路 。(pg 901) Psalm 16:11: Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 詩 篇 16:11: 你 必 将 生 命 的 道 路 指 示 我 。 在 你 面 前 有 满 足 的 喜 乐 ； 在 你 右 手 中 有 永 远 的 福 乐 。(page 892) Romans 8:6 - The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 羅 馬 書 8:6: 如果你们的思想受罪恶自我的控制，只能导致死亡。如果你们的思想受灵的控制，你们就会得到生命与和平。(page 1832) John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 約 翰 福 音 8:32: 你 们 必 晓 得 真 理 ， 真 理 必 叫 你 们 得 以 自 由 。(page 1734) 3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I pray you to prosper concerning all things and to be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 約 翰 三 書 2: 亲 爱 的 兄 弟 阿 ， 我 愿 你 凡 事 兴 盛 ， 身 体 健 壮 ， 正 如 你 的 灵 魂 兴 盛 一 样 。 (page 1985) Prov 9:10: The starting point for acquiring wisdom is to be consumed with awe as you worship the Lord. 箴言 9:10:智慧始于敬畏耶和华，认识至圣者便是明智。 (pg 1045) Psalm 23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 詩 篇 23: 3: 我 一 生 一 世 必 有 恩 惠 慈 爱 随 着 我 ； 我 且 要 住 在 耶 和 华 的 殿 中 ， 直 到 永 远 。(pg 901) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/6d80c68401bcaf2a7055ffde48722c9e.jpg 79f5c0185ff1d0f2739b5494caed9d5c https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/631d0a0c8f9ac52962e694c4aab4863b.mp4 6f369f82f029f50c7635103d32b74b39 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound From Caterpillar to Butterfly: Divine Transformation in 2026 – Ephesians 4:22-24 Being human can be such a challenge. (if you’re me, at least) We should desire improvements – real change in our lives, but often come away with less than satisfying results - despite our best efforts. Paul lamented, "Oh wretched man that I am!" Here's a fundamental truth: as long as we're human, we will depend on Divine Mercy. As we approach 2026, I wonder — are there aspects of your life you'd like to see improve in the New Year? Are there changes you're considering making, perhaps even today? The Book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon, is centered on wisdom. Its core message is simple, yet profound: "Get Wisdom." Part of wisdom is recognizing our three-part nature: Body, Mind, & Spirit. We aren't meant to neglect any part of this trinity. All three need to be in alignment. Psalm 19:14 reminds us: "May my words and thoughts please You. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me." Our words and thoughts please God when they align with His Word and His will. God's Word tells us in 3 John 1:2 that we should "prosper and be in good health." ? But is our heart—and are our words—in alignment with this promise? Do we stand in agreement with God's desire for our wellbeing? We may trust GOD – but that doesn't mean we just passively sit back. It doesn't mean we abandon common sense. We are still and always will be Body – Mind- Spirit Eph 4:23,24: Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness. ? Are we “waiting on the Lord” while He’s telling us to move our feet? Today is Your Invitation —not to try harder, but to rest, as God leads us from old form into new life. Consider this example: A friend I met while living in Maine (who attended my church) claimed he was "waiting on the Lord" for his family to join him in his new life. (they were still living somewhere lese) Meanwhile, he literally spent his days hanging around the church playing guitar. What he wanted and what he was doing were clearly not in alignment, …but for quite a while, he couldn't see this disconnect in himself. Many of us may be living in similar contradiction. (in some area?) We know we have to trust God—and also do the things that are in alignment with that trust. This doesn’t minimize our faith – it actually confirms it. Without this alignment, it’s kinda like we remain caterpillars when we're meant to become butterflies. In 1909, anthropologist Arnold Vanjane wrote "The Rights of Passage" after studying rituals across dozens of human cultures. He discovered that every meaningful human transformation—whether birth, marriage, or identity change—follows the same three-part structure that mirrors a butterfly's metamorphosis. This transformation framework isn't just metaphorical; it's rooted in actual science and spiritual truth. Embracing this process can transform us from frustrated individuals pushing ourselves to improve into beings experiencing a metamorphosis of the heart that literally pulls us toward the right choices and direction. As the saying goes, "God doesn't renovate caterpillars—He resurrects butterflies." This divine transformation process follows three essential stages: **STAGE ONE: SEPARATION (The Cocoon)** This stage lays the groundwork for detachment from old patterns and beliefs that no longer serve us. 2 Corinthians 6:17: "Come out from among them and be ye separate." John 12:24 tells us, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." The chrysalis stage looks like death and stillness, but it's actually hidden transformation. Life is not lost—it's being reconfigured. What looks like surrender is actually preparation for flight. **STAGE TWO: LIMINALITY (The Chrysalis)** liminal: relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process. "that liminal period when a child is old enough to begin following basic rules but is still too young to do so consistently" This is the messy middle where we actively reshape ourselves through intentional changes and practices. "Be transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Romans 12:2) — this indicates a process of deliberate effort and rewiring. 2 Cor 3:18 reminds us that, as we are beholding Jesus, "We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory..." This is ongoing transformation—not instant arrival. Just as a butterfly cannot rush emergence, spiritual formation is organic, not forced. Transformation comes by beholding, not striving …just as a butterfly emerges naturally, it does not "try" to fly. Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us to "Put off your old self... and put on the new self"— - much like the shedding of the cocoon. The butterfly does not carry the chrysalis with it. Yet "Some believers are alive—but still clinging to their cocoons." **STAGE THREE: REINTEGRATION (The Butterfly)** In this final stage, we emerge renewed, reflect on our journey, and embody our transformed self with gratitude. 2 Cor 5:17 declares, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." Not the same creature with upgrades, but something entirely new. A caterpillar never returns to crawling once transformed. "New life doesn't remember how to live the old way." 1 Peter 1:8-9 promises, "You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls." As we stand at the threshold of 2026, embracing a New Year requires releasing the old one. We must: 1. Identify the areas where we need separation from old patterns 2. Embrace the uncomfortable liminal space of transformation 3. Trust the process even when progress isn't visible 4. Allow God to complete what He has begun in us 5. Step into our new identity with confidence Remember, Ephesians 4:24 promises: "And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness." Father God, We come before You - not to strive, but to be still. We release our need to hurry, to fix, to become something by force. We quiet our hearts and rest in Your presence. In this stillness, Lord, we trust that You are at work— even when we cannot see it, even when we cannot feel it. We surrender the old ways, the old fears, the old identities that no longer belong to the life You are forming in us. Teach us to trust the hidden work. Teach us to wait without anxiety and rest without resistance. As we behold You, shape us. Change us. Not by effort, but by grace. When the time is right, Lord, bring forth what You have been forming within us. We rest in You. We remain in You. We trust You with who we are becoming. Amen. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. - Romans 13:12 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource From Caterpillar to Butterfly 从旧形态到新生命 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12/28/2025 Description An account of the resource Eph 4:21-24: Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 以 弗 所 書 4:21-24: 如果你们听过祂的事，领受了祂的教诲，就是在祂里面的真理， 就应该与从前的生活方式一刀两断，脱去因私欲的迷惑而渐渐败坏的旧人， 洗心革面， 穿上照着上帝形象所造的新人。这新人有从真理而来的公义和圣洁。(page 1898) Psalm 19:14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. 诗篇 19:14: 耶和华——我的磐石、我的救赎主啊，愿你喜悦我口中的言语、心中的意念 (page 897) 3 John 2 - Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering. 约翰三书 2: -亲爱的弟兄，衷心地祝你凡事顺利，身体和灵魂一样健康 (page 1985) 2 Cor 3:18: So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 哥林多后书 3:18: 我们这些脸上不再蒙着帕子的人，可以像镜子一样反映主的荣光，渐渐变成主的样式，荣上加荣。这都是主的作为，主就是那灵。(page 1733) 2 Cor 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 哥林多后书 5:17: 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人， 旧事已过，看啊，一切都更新了。(page 1875) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/4130cc3e584029764f8c49b6e58c2e76.jpg b33e544c6ccff6d912203d4be6944af8 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/35c76e4b3789fc0e2da92ef982c3cc2a.mp4 eaa1f8678bb0e135bfd04dc685e74e87 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Love Connection: Advent Week Four Experiencing Christ's Pursuing Love Last week, during Drive-Thru Prayer, we were standing outside, praying for people as they passed by. At one point, I said to Tracy, "We're getting a lot of wavers today." Not too many people were stopping... but at least many waved. And as I stood there, it struck me - despite the distance, a connection was being made. Not because of words. Not because of explanations. But because people could sense sincerity. They could feel that someone genuinely cared. Then I realized something profound: Love doesn't always require proximity - it requires presence. When the arms of this church reach beyond our walls, we are offering to the world what we ourselves have already discovered: The Love of Christ. "Everyone you know is fighting a battle" - everyone. My church family... we all struggle to fully comprehend and experience God's love in our daily lives. Many people see Christians and might imagine that we're probably nice people - but they still miss the true connection. They remain at a distance, essentially just waving rather than pulling over, hesitant to take that leap of faith that would allow God to minister to them personally. Ephesians 3:19 reminds us: "May you experience the love of Christ..." Not just hearing about it through words, but truly experiencing it. Because only then will you KNOW its transformative power. We often believe intellectually in Christ's love without allowing ourselves to be enveloped by it. We keep God at arm's length, thinking we need to fix ourselves first before approaching Him. This scripture doesn’t just say believe in the love of Christ. It says: “May you know the love of Christ…” Because knowing (experiencing) His love …changes everything. This message is not about the love we have to give – it is about the love we have received. “Love came down at Christmas” Titus 3:4-7: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. When our eyes are opened to the love Jesus has for us, we can reach out to Him in faith — for forgiveness, for healing, for restoration. Love becomes the bridge. And this is exactly what Jesus does for all of us. John 12:36: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 12:36: “Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” Jesus does not wait for us to fix ourselves before He comes near. He reaches out to us just as we are — because He is our only hope of moving beyond our current state. That’s the heart of the gospel. And that’s why Advent matters. Advent Week 4 is about LOVE — not sentimental love, but God’s faithful, pursuing love, revealed in the coming of Christ. Love that moves toward us. Isn’t that exactly what happens in Holy Communion? Paul tells us: “When you partake of the bread and the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26) That means every time we receive Communion, we are declaring — - not just remembering. We declare – we proclaim to ourselves, (our hearts) to the powers and principalities, to our own bodies and circumstances: We proclaim that Jesus’ finished work applies to me. Not trying to be forgiven — forgiven. Not hoping to be righteous — righteous. Not waiting to be healed — healed. Not wishing for restoration — restored. Holy Communion is the Love of Christ made tangible. (Means of Grace) When you partake of Communion, you’re not earning anything. You’re acknowledging and receiving by faith… • His broken body for healing and wholeness • His shed blood for forgiveness and right standing • His life for every place of lack Holy Communion becomes a moment (sacrament) where love meets need. Not because you deserve it — but because He loves you. This is Divine Reconciliation Remember the Mission It is our mission as a church: To share the love of Christ by making a connection — connecting with people at their genuine point of need. That’s what Jesus does for us. …And that’s what He invites us to do for others. • Sometimes it’s a prayer. • it’s an invitation to come to church it can be simply a Drive-Thru Prayer wave. …and sometimes it’s bread and a cup. …But every time, it’s love reaching out. Advent reminds us: Love has come. Love is present. Love is reaching toward you today. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t have to figure it all out. You don’t have to close the distance. Just receive. Because the love of Christ is already reaching for you. Prayer Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us where we are. Thank You for reaching us when we could not reach You. As we receive the bread and the cup, help us to receive Your love again — deeply, personally, fully. And teach us to carry that love beyond these walls, into the world You came to save. Amen. Jesus said: (John 8:12) "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of Life." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The LOVE Connection 愛的關係 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12/21/2025 Description An account of the resource Eph 3:19: May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 以 弗 所 書 3:19: 基督的爱比任何人所能知道的都要伟大。但是，我祈祷你们能够知道那种爱，这样，你们才能彻底被上帝的丰富所充满 (page 1897) John1:4,5: In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 约翰福音 1:4,5: 祂里面有生命，这生命是人类的光。 光照进黑暗里，黑暗不能胜过光。(page 1716) John 12:36: While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light. 约翰福音 12:36: 所以你们当趁着有光的时候信从光，好成为光明的儿女。 (page 1744) John 8:12: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 約 翰 福 音 8:12: 耶稣又对他们说∶“我是世界之光，跟随我的人绝不会走在黑暗之中，他将获得生命之光。” (page 1733) Titus 3:4-7: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 提 多 書 3:4-7: 但是当我们的救主－上帝显示他对人类的爱时， 他拯救了我们，不是因为我们的行为，而是靠他的怜悯、重生的洗礼和使我们更新的圣灵。 上帝通过耶稣基督，我们的救世主，慷慨地把圣灵倾注给了我们， 所以，现在我们靠上帝的恩典，在他面前是清白的，从而得以成为他的继承人，实现了我们对永生的盼望 (page 1936) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/4448bb697a2c85df62105c7cb62d211c.jpg c2a9b5334def4320c818714858ef166a https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f1ca1a374c9b710ab6756ea2ae17cbf0.mp4 9e82fafb611c37814f5cb395f8ca3601 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound ADVENT WEEK 3 - JOY: The Return of Joy When the Heart Flows Again "Long before you see spring... you hear it. When winter begins to loosen its grip, the very first sign is not the melting snow or the budding trees - it's the sound. A single birdsong on a cold morning. A crack of ice along the riverbank. A quiet drip of melting snow from a rooftop. Movement. Life. Sound. These tiny sounds are not the fullness of spring - but they are the announcement that spring is coming. And the Holy Spirit whispers: "Joy is the sound of the heart thawing." Not loud excitement. Not forced happiness. But the first movement of life inside a heart that is flowing again. This is Advent Week 3 - JOY - and today we listen for the sound of signs of an early spring in the soul. Psalm 16:11 tells us, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." And James 1:2-3 reminds us that joy can emerge even in trials: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." We've previously talked about the danger of a hardened heart. A heart that freezes... cannot feel joy. Even if joy is present - it cannot be sensed. Many of us live in this winter season of the soul. Our hearts grow cold through disappointment, through busyness, through the weight of our burdens. Some of you may feel this today - a numbness where joy once flowed freely. Romans 1:21 describes this condition: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. When we stop glorifying God, when we stop being thankful, when our imagination drifts away from the truth... the heart grows dim. “survival mode” Psalm 51:8 speaks to this when David prays, "Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice." David understood that sometimes our joy is broken, crushed under the weight of sin or sorrow. This is the spiritual winter we may find ourselves in - not because God has withdrawn His joy, but because our hearts have lost their capacity to feel it. And in this frozen state, we often make a critical mistake - we try to manufacture joy through our own efforts, through positivity, through circumstances. We strive and strain to create what can only be received. Prayer of St Francis – Make me an instrument of Thy JOY A joyless Christianity is a contradiction. It becomes heavy religion rather than vibrant relationship. Without joy, our witness grows dim. Without joy, our strength diminishes. Without joy, our hearts grow weary. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that "the joy of the Lord is your strength." When joy departs, our spiritual strength goes with it. Many believers live in this weakened state - faithful in practice but missing the vitality that should characterize those who know the living God. Isaiah 35:10 paints a picture of what we're missing: "Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." And even the world will notice when we lack joy. They see our duty but not our delight. They hear our words but don't witness our wonder. A frozen heart cannot flow with the living water Jesus promised in John 7:38: "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Philippians 4:4 calls us to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This is not a suggestion - but a command - because joy is essential to our spiritual health and witness. Weeks ago we began this series with the truth that transformation does not come by trying - but by beholding. Because whatever we behold... we become. …we magnify. David understood this when he wrote: "In Your presence is fullness of joy." Joy is not something we create - it is what rises when our eyes are lifted from ourselves and fixed again on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 instructs us to fix "our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." This is why the angel's announcement at the birth of Christ began with: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (Luke 2:10) Where Jesus enters... joy begins to flow. Jesus came with a promise: "He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted." (Luke 4:18) A healed heart becomes a feeling heart. A tender heart. A responsive heart. And when the heart softens - joy returns. Romans 15:13 offers this powerful promise: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Not because circumstances improved. Not because life became easy. But because the heart thawed. Isaiah 52:9 says, "Break forth into JOY." Joy is the warmth that comes when the ice breaks. Joy is evidence that Jesus has touched a deep place within you. Where there is flow, there is joy. Joy is not the result of human positivity. Joy is the overflow of divine life moving freely within us. 1 Peter 1:8-9 describes this supernatural joy: "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." Psalm 126:5-6 promises, "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." Joy is not the goal - it is the symptom of a heart where Jesus is flowing again. Some of you may have rediscovered this in recent weeks. The moment you stopped striving and started beholding... Peace came. Clarity came. …And Joy began to return Joy is the echo of a heart looking at Jesus. Andrew Wommack teaches that joy is not something we pursue - it is something we maintain by staying aware of God. (beholding) Psalm 51:12 becomes our prayer: "Restore unto me the JOY of Thy salvation." When we restore awareness - by glorifying Him... by thanking Him... by beholding Him... the heart brightens. And joy returns. Habakkuk 3:17-18 shows us how to implement this even in difficult circumstances: "… yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Advent joy is not loud. It is not emotional hype. It is the quiet confidence that: "Christ is with me. Christ is in me. Christ is moving within me." Psalm 30:5 promises: "For His anger lasts only a short time. But His favor is for life. Crying may last for a night, but joy comes with the new day." This is the joy that carried Mary. This is the joy that sustained Joseph. This is the joy that made unborn Baby John leap. This is the joy that filled the shepherds. This is the joy that Simeon felt when he held the child. The joy of "God is here." Emmanuel (will YOU choose to BELIEVE Today?) Maybe joy has felt distant for a while. Maybe winter has lingered too long in your soul. Maybe your heart has been frozen, or numb, or just plain tired. But today... listen. There is a sound. A small movement. A flicker. A whisper. The sound of spring. The sound of joy returning. Not because everything is perfect - but because Christ is present. John 15:11 captures Jesus' promise: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." And Isaiah 61:3 reminds us that God gives us "the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." And when Christ comes, winter loses its hold, the river begins to move, and joy rises naturally. The tests and challenges of this current season may have you feeling weak... …but the joy of the Lord can once again be your strength. **Prayer** "Lord Jesus, restore the flow of joy in my heart. Let every frozen place thaw in Your presence. Let every silent place begin to sing again. Open my eyes to behold You. Open my heart to feel You. Open my spirit to flow with You. Fill me with the deep, steady, unshakeable joy that comes only from Your life within me. Amen." Because of you, I know the path of life, as I taste the fullness of joy in your presence. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Return of JOY 《喜乐的归回》 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12/14/2025 Description An account of the resource Psalm 16:11: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 詩 篇 16:11: 你 必 将 生 命 的 道 路 指 示 我 。 在 你 面 前 有 满 足 的 喜 乐 ； 在 你 右 手 中 有 永 远 的 福 乐 。 (page 892) Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 羅 馬 書 15:13: 但 愿 使 人 有 盼 望 的 神 ， 因 信 将 诸 般 的 喜 乐 、 平 安 充 满 你 们 的 心 ， 使 你 们 藉 着 圣 灵 的 能 力 大 有 盼 望 。(page 1843) Nehemiah 8:10: …for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 尼 希 米 記 8:10: ...因 靠 耶 和 华 而 得 的 喜 乐 是 你 们 的 力 量 。 (page 802) John 15:11: I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 約 翰 福 音 15:11: 这 些 事 我 已 经 对 你 们 说 了 ， 是 要 叫 我 的 喜 乐 存 在 你 们 心 里 ， 并 叫 你 们 的 喜 乐 可 以 满 足 。 (page 1749) Isaiah 61:3: To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. 以赛亚书 61:3: 以华冠取代锡安哀伤者头上的灰尘，以喜乐的膏油取代他们的哀伤，以颂赞的外袍取代他们的沮丧。他们将被称为耶和华所栽种的公义橡树，以彰显祂的荣耀。 (page 1213) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/bad55c55ffdf831ed014357cb9069f45.jpg d082be24548083b8b1732cfbd55ef9bc https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/737c143be9e2db04c828578b769af81e.mp4 3b76870d0c731217dbc97cfea05d7ef3 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Finding True Peace: Advent Week 2 "We've got work to do to put right what has gone wrong, to heal what is broken, to mend the relationships, and to prepare for the company that will come." Peace. It's what we all long for, isn't it? That freedom from disturbance, that tranquility, that wholeness the Bible calls 'shalom.' As Augustine so beautifully put it: "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee." Without peace, our souls cannot truly rest. Colin Hay captures this internal turmoil in his song "Storm in My Heart": "I used to wonder as I lie on my bed Can I hear thunder or am I confused By what lies ahead? And I got storm in my heart Tearing me apart Storm in my heart" That storm - that restlessness - is what brings many of us here today. We're searching for something our world simply cannot provide. We desperately seek peace in our lives, don't we? We try everything - relationships, achievements, possessions, even religious activities. …Yet so many of us still find ourselves coming up short, still feeling that storm raging within. “storm in my heart - tearing me apart” Why? Because we're often building our peace on shifting foundations: - our house upon the sand • Where there is guilt - there can be no peace Where there is shame - there can be no peace Where there is double-mindedness - there can be no peace “all other ground is sinking sand” ? Is our identity built upon the finished work of the cross? We must understand the crucial difference between conviction and condemnation. One leads us toward God; the other drives us away. Some people have learned to control others through guilt and shame, or maybe they have been controlled by these themselves. Guilt and shame are powerful forces. And in that environment, true peace becomes impossible. Romans 5:1,2: Our faith in Jesus transfers God’s righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us. Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God. What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory! Peace. There are many different definitions for peace – but it all goes back to Shalom. One of God’s names is Jehovah Shalom - "the Lord is peace" “Shalom” - Wholeness. A wholeness we cannot create on our own. Sometimes when my world feels like it is spinning, I will just say “Peace.” (anxious) Without Divine Peace anchoring our souls, each day becomes a struggle. Our hearts remain unfixed, unstable. We find ourselves asking: "Are we saved one day and lost the next?" This uncertainty creates a spiritual restlessness that affects every aspect of our lives. As James writes, "A double-minded person is unstable in all they do." This instability manifests in anxiety, broken relationships, and a disconnect from our true purpose. People ask: "Have you made your peace with God?" - knowing deep down that without this fundamental peace, nothing else will satisfy. But here's the good news of Advent - Romans 5:1-2 tells us: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." Notice the source of this peace - it's "because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." That sounds like Grace to me! As Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift." This peace isn't something we achieve; it's something we receive. "Our faith in Jesus transfers God's righteousness to us and He now declares us flawless in his eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, has done for us." Romans 8:1-2 assures us: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Only Jesus can speak to the storm in your heart and say, "Peace, be still." When we embrace this Divine Peace that comes through Christ, everything changes. We find ourselves blessed as described in Psalm 32 and quoted in Romans 4: "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." This Divine Peace brings: Freedom from guilt and shame Confidence in our relationship with God Stability in life's storms A heart that is fixed, not double-minded The ability to rest in God's presence and love As 2 Peter 1:2 promises: "May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord." This peace grows as our relationship with Christ deepens. So, what should we do to establish or re-establish the divine peace that is already ours through Jesus? Here are some practical steps: **Pray consistently**: Jesus taught that we "should always pray and never give up." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing." TPT puts it this way: "Make your life a prayer." Not fancy prayers, but open-hearted honesty with God. **Practice thanksgiving**: (“in everything give thanks”) Philippians 4:6 instructs: "Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart." The Amplified version adds: "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your specific requests known to God." **Draw near to God**: James 4:8 promises: "Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting." **Grow in faith**: Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." **Embrace your new identity**: Eph 4:24 "take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." These practices don't earn us peace; they help us experience the Divine Peace Christ has already secured for us. As we continue this Advent journey, remember that the Prince of Peace came to bring you what you cannot find elsewhere. If you are seeking refuge from the storm, if you are seeking peace today, there is only one true answer. His name is Jesus. Ephesians 2:14: "For He Himself is our peace” Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! ...By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall Isaiah 53:5: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. “The punishment that He received has brought peace to us.” “ … we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus… has done for us.” Our answer to the storm is a new heart - a heart at peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us to continue growing in the fruit of the Spirit: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." So today, let us not forget - instead, let us remember our so great a salvation - and in so doing, live in God's peace. "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us." This Advent season, will you accept His peace? Will you allow the Prince of Peace to calm the storm in your heart? You can take that step of faith today. Luke 12:32: Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource PEACE 和平 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 12/07/2025 Description An account of the resource Romans 5:1,2: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 羅 馬 書 5:1,2: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。(page 1827) Col 1:20 - …and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. 歌 羅 西 書 1:20: 并通过基督，使一切，不论是天上的还是地上的都与自己再和好。上帝通过基督洒在十字架上的血缔造了和平。 (page 1909) 2 Peter 1: 2: May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 彼 得 後 書 1:2: 愿你们借了解上帝和耶稣我们的主，领受到更丰富的恩典与和平。(page 1972) Romans 8:1,2: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 羅 馬 書 8:1,2: -所以现在，在耶稣基督之中的人们不被定罪， 因为在耶稣基督之中，带来生命的圣灵的法，已把我从那导致罪和死亡的律法中解脱出来了。(page 1831) Col 3:15 – “ …let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” 歌罗西书 3:15 要让基督的平安掌管你们的心，你们就是为此而蒙召成为一个身体。 要常存感恩的心。(page 1911) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/da653b15691bf3f4feb95d23a387d561.png 207ddfe723698df3273efb4fc392b299 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/85e9bb8f609fd94ec0e2531551dae706.mp4 de377d1db648b97602b1a3130bd89add Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Staying Full of God: Guarding the Heart from Spiritual Dulling Romans 1:21 There's a small glass jar in my prayer area that holds a candle. When the candle was new, the flame burned bright - warm, clean, steady. But over time, something began to happen. Not suddenly... but slowly. A thin film of soot began to coat the glass. At first, you could hardly notice it. The flame was still there - still burning - but its light didn't shine through the way it used to. As the days went by, the glass grew darker. Nothing was wrong with the flame itself... but the film around it kept thickening - dimming the glow, muting the warmth, obscuring the brightness. One day, I finally wiped the glass clean. And immediately - without adding wax, or oxygen, or fuel - the flame looked brighter. Nothing new had been added. Nothing had changed about the flame. The only thing that changed... was removing what had built up around it. "Most believers don't lose the flame - they lose the clarity." "You may carry the Spirit, but does the Spirit carry you?" Not because the Spirit left... but because the heart grew coated - slowly - over time. And that is exactly what Romans 1:21 describes: "For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened." This is a message for those with hungry hearts today. Hungry for more. Hungry for a closer walk with God. Advent Week One is HOPE. Let our Hope be in a greater revelation of Jesus today. Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matt 5:6) > Let’s break this down by each of its parts… 1. (For though they knew God )“They did not glorify Him as God” To glorify God means to magnify Him — to make Him bigger in our hearts than anything else. Whatever you focus on, you magnify. Heb 10:38: “ …but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” “Faith is the positive response to what God has already given you by grace.” When we stop glorifying (magnifying) God: - problems grow larger - fears grow louder - emotions sit on the throne But when we deliberately magnify Him: - faith rises - clarity returns - His presence fills our awareness Psalm 35:27: “Let the LORD be magnified who hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” Start each day by exalting God before examining circumstances. Psalm 145:18: The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 2. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. The second step downward is ingratitude. (not being grateful) Gratitude is the retaining wall that keeps revelation from leaking out of the heart. Ingratitude: - Shrinks our awareness of grace - Feeds disappointment Thanksgiving: - Sensitizes the heart - Anchors joy 1 Thess 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. When we thank God IN everything, and our hearts stay tender toward Him. 3. “They became vain in their imaginations” “they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like.” Once God is no longer magnified and gratitude fades, the mind begins to drift. “Vain imaginations” means: - letting thoughts go unchecked - meditating on worst-case scenarios - picturing defeat instead of promise We don’t have to surrender to this fate – we were called to fight it - victoriously 2 Cor 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ… Andrew Wommack says “The imagination is ‘the womb of the heart’ — whatever you dwell on in-ternally is birthed ex-ternally.” “out of the abundance of the heart” If I turn on the DVD player to watch “Platoon” and instead it’s some lame movie called “The Notebook” – what went wrong? What movie are we replaying in our minds? Replace mental movies of fear with pictures of God’s faithfulness. 4. “Their foolish heart was darkened” “This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness.” The final step is not intellectual darkness — it is heart darkness. A darkened heart: - loses spiritual sensitivity - stops recognizing God’s voice - feels far from God 1 Sam 16:7: Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. When God looks into our hearts, what does He find? Jesus said ( Matt 6:21 ) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” A heart that was set on serving God and hearing His voice can slowly drift away by the distractions of this world. Heb 2:1: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. But here’s the hope: If decline has four steps, restoration has four steps in reverse: 1. Glorify Him 2. Give Thanks 3. Sanctify Imagination 4. Heart Enlightened This is how we stay full of God. Maybe you haven’t rebelled. Maybe you haven’t drifted morally. …But maybe you’ve gone dim inside. Today, God invites you to: - glorify Him again - give thanks again - renew your minds (imagination) again - let your heart brighten again You don’t need a breakthrough — you need a return to awareness. Prayer Lord, I magnify You above every distraction, fear, and circumstance. Thank You for Your goodness, Your presence, Your faithfulness in my life. Purify my imagination and align it with Your promises. Enlighten my heart again. Keep me full of You — tender, awake, aware, and responsive. Amen. Hosea 6:3: Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource FULL 充满 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/30/2025 Description An account of the resource Romans 1:21: For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened." 羅 馬 書 1:21: 因 为 ， 他 们 虽 然 知 道 神 ， 却 不 当 作 神 荣 耀 他 ， 也 不 感 谢 他 。 他 们 的 思 念 变 为 虚 妄 ， 无 知 的 心 就 昏 暗 了 。(page 1822) Psalm 145:18: The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." 詩 篇 145:18: 凡 求 告 耶 和 华 的 ， 就 是 诚 心 求 告 他 的 ， 耶 和 华 便 与 他 们 相 近 。 (page 1028) 1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 5:18: 凡 事 谢 恩 ； 因 为 这 是 神 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 向 你 们 所 定 的 旨 意 。 (page 1918) 2 Corinthians 10:5: We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..." 歌 林 多 後 書 10:5: 摧毁一切抬高自己、对抗上帝知识的高傲障碍。我们要俘虏每一种思想，使它们降服于基督。(page 1880) Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." 馬 太 福 音 6:21: 你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也会在那里。 (page 1567) Heb 2:1: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 希 伯 來 書 2:1: 因此，我们必须更加注意我们所听到的那些事情（真理）(page 1940) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/2151f9290c7bcbfe0de3cdae96c5ebd4.jpg 0c494f4191b77ab61b2bf65dc8ec6876 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e21515a4e4e4572b732470613677e6c0.mp4 abda8be1c104c691c499d03bb97192f5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound A Holy Calling 2025 2 Timothy 1:6-9 It is fun to explain to our international church family just how important college football is here in the Southern United States. “It’s not a matter of life or death, it is much more important than that”  Usually, we align ourselves with one school – one team – and then we stick with it, good years and bad years. When people ask me, as they often do in the south, who I pull for in college football, I let them know I am a lifelong Georgia fan. I tell them I was “literally born a Georgia Bulldog.” My mother and father went to school there, I grew up in Athens, and most of all, my dad was on the UGA football broadcast team when I was a wee young’un. You can’t argue with that, can you? Much MUCH more importantly, you and I, whether in the sanctuary or as a part of our online church family, are part of a bigger team with a much higher calling. What is Our Mission? What is Our Purpose? Nehemiah 2:17-18: “Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.” “Thankful people recognize the mission they have to fulfill and they rise and build.” Why are we thankful? vs 9: “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” You have a holy calling on your life - and it already was there when you first opened your newborn eyes. Even before time began. Things to focus on today: share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works according to his own purpose and grace, given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. The change we want to see in our lives – our families – our community – our nation – starts with a new hope in our hearts. The change literally has to flow through us. “I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living.” This quote is from Psalm 27:13 and speaks to the importance of faith and hope - even in difficult times. It expresses the idea that without belief in God's ultimate goodness and a future in the "land of the living," a person would despair and lose hope. The verse encourages perseverance, strength, and courage in the face of adversity by focusing on a confident expectation of God's faithfulness. 2 Tim 1:12 (Paul) “The confidence of my calling enables me to overcome every difficulty without shame” If you’re still breathing – you’re still in this “It is not over” (We walk by faith) If you truly live by faith you believe that the battle is the Lord’s Faith Sees – Faith Believes – Faith Steps Out Psalm 27:14: Here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Don’t give up; don’t be impatient; be entwined as one with the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope. Yes, keep on waiting—for he will never disappoint you! In today’s lesson, Paul wrote to Timothy, “I’m writing to encourage you to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you when I laid my hands upon you. For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.” Spurgeon: “Every living saint has (their) charge to keep, (their) talent over which they are a steward. A measure of a gift is in all of us, needing to be stirred up.” 2 Tim 1:6: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…” Methodist Hymnal: A Charge to Keep I Have • “A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify” • “To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill…” Eph 2:10: "We are his workmanship" As we close out 2025, if we are determined to still to “rise and build,” we must do it through God’s Power at work within us. (2 Tim 1:9) “God saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace in King Jesus before all time and ages…” “Not according to our works” – which reminds me (reminds most of us, no doubt,) of Eph 2:8: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Spurgeon: “Again, in order to shut out everything like boasting, the whole is spoken of as a gift. Do notice that, "purpose and grace which He gave us" — not "which He sold us," "offered us," but "which He gave us." “God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us.” As a Believer: • You are Saved • You have a Holy Calling …and it is a gift of God We are to be Christian soldiers – putting on the gospel armor – holy instruments of God’s reconciliation. Are we up to the challenge? This is a tough season Jesus said (John 16:33) “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” In our scripture today, Paul says we are to “share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.” “fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you” This is our time to get strengthened and equipped Psalm 90:12: Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Now is the time to feed our faith and starve our doubts Embrace our total salvation by grace through faith God gives the believer “the Holy Spirit who gives (us) mighty power, love, and self-control.” The Living Word speaks to you and me in this hour just like it has in every hour and in every age – if we will listen and apply it AMP: [For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. omnipotence: the quality of having unlimited or very great power. universal power We serve an Omnipotent, Almighty God Rev 19:6 - Then I heard what seemed to be the thunderous voice of a great multitude, like the sound of a massive waterfall and mighty peals of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!” As a Believer: • You are Saved • You have a Holy Calling …and it is a gift of God They replied, “’Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.” 2 Tim 1:2: I pray for a greater release of God’s grace, love, and total well-being to flow into your life from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Holy Calling 神圣的呼召 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/23/2025 Description An account of the resource 2 Timothy 1:9: He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 提 摩 太 後 書 1:9: 神 救 了 我 们 ， 以 圣 召 召 我 们 ， 不 是 按 我 们 的 行 为 ， 乃 是 按 他 的 旨 意 和 恩 典 ； 这 恩 典 是 万 古 之 先 ， 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 赐 给 我 们 的 ， (page 1929) 2 Timothy 1:6,7: That is why I want you to remember the gift God gave you. God gave you that gift when I laid my hands on you. Now I want you to use that gift and let it grow more and more, like a small flame grows into a fire. 7 The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control. 提 摩 太 後 書 1:6,7:为 此 我 提 醒 你 ， 使 你 将 神 藉 我 按 手 所 给 你 的 恩 赐 再 如 火 挑 旺 起 来 。因 为 神 赐 给 我 们 ， 不 是 胆 怯 的 心 ， 乃 是 刚 强 、 仁 爱 、 谨 守 的 心 。 (pg 1929) Psalm 27:14: "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" 詩 篇 27:14: 要 等 候 耶 和 华 ！ 当 壮 胆 ， 坚 固 你 的 心 ！ 我 再 说 ， 要 等 候 耶 和 华 ！(page 905) Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them 以 弗 所 書 2:10: 我 们 原 是 他 的 工 作 ， 在 基 督 耶 稣 里 造 成 的 ， 为 要 叫 我 们 行 善 ， 就 是 神 所 预 备 叫 我 们 行 的 。 (page 1895) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/d1f4adf78d95772501e6d0709d057a86.jpg 5bb885ce99a1810942612668271ab9d3 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/4b76d5b76eff95212bfc5a81e23f762a.mp4 c8755aa2f79db388721764616e22182f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Flow of Life: From Stagnation to Overflow John 7:38 25 years ago our family experienced three out of four seasons in New England (we only missed the summer) Last week, we stood beside a frozen lake - still, silent, unmoving. The surface was hard and lifeless, though beneath it, the water still existed. …But when spring comes, something quiet, yet miraculous happens. The ice doesn't shatter - it softens. The gentle warmth of the sun accomplishes what brute force cannot. Slowly, cracks begin to echo across the surface. Water starts to run. The frozen stillness gives way to flow again. Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts today: "When the heart grows soft, the life begins to flow." Jesus : Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted..." This is why Jesus began His ministry with these words - because the thaw of our heart (repentance in its truest sense) stands at the very center of His anointing: Psalm 147:3 affirms: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Jesus came to heal - to thaw - the brokenhearted. That is the miracle that happens when grace melts what human striving never could - everything that was once stuck begins to move – to flow - again. “flow” We know Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches (John 15:5). In the imagery of the river - He is the Source - we are His streams of life, flowing from Him. Without the Source, there is nothing to flow. (2 Cor 3:5 read) Jesus declared in John 7:38, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Notice the abundance in His promise - not trickles, not drops, but rivers. This flow is not something we generate through effort; it's something we release by surrender. It flows from Him through us. We've already explored the transformative power of Beholding in this series, and then examined the dangers of a hardened heart. Today, we turn to the blessings of a softened - thawed - heart. The Normal Christian Life reveals this truth: "God's purpose is not that we should live for Him, but that Christ should live in us and through us." As Galatians 2:20 declares, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Why would we cling to our frozen, hard-hearted state when a Springtime thaw stands ready to restore us back to life - beginning this very moment? When the heart is soft, Christ's life flows effortlessly. When it's hard or self-reliant, that flow becomes blocked. The Christian life was never meant to be a dam - it's meant to be a riverbed, as Psalm 1:3 describes the righteous: "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." Sometimes the blockage in our hearts comes from self-effort - trying to produce what only grace can release. Sometimes it's unforgiveness - holding on to hurts that keep the water trapped. Matthew 6:14-15 reminds us, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Sometimes it's fear - tightening control (fist) instead of trusting the current, forgetting 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Watchman Nee wisely noted, "The life of the Spirit is the spontaneous life of liberty." Jesus reminds us in Galatians 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Freedom is not the reward of trying harder - it's the natural state of a heart no longer frozen. The free-flowing Life of Christ through us Romans 8:6 teaches, "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." We can respond to the Holy Spirit and see the ice begin to melt When the heart thaws, the first sound is cracking. It's uncomfortable - the sound of things breaking open. But then comes the rush. Step 1 - Let light in. Psalm 36:9 reminds us, "In Your light, we see light." When God's truth touches what was hidden, life begins to move. John 8:32 promises, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Step 2 - Let go. As the ice breaks, the old layers drift away. Release what God is surfacing - bitterness, regret, control. (fist) (fist) The tightly closed heart may block the pain – but it also blocks the joy Step 3 - Let flow. "Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!" (John 7:38). The rivers don't come from your effort; they come from His presence. As Isaiah 58:11 promises, "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Step 4 - Let overflow. Once the river moves freely, it naturally begins to bless others - love, prayer, compassion all overflow without strain. “Blessed to BE a Blessing” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." "My cup overflows" (Psalm 23:5) becomes not just a scripture but a living reality. The melting usually starts gradually… Maybe even now you're already sensing a small current within - a prayer you didn't force, a tenderness you thought you had lost. That's how it begins. Don't rush the river; let it find its way. • When life flows again, you don't have to force worship - it rises naturally. You don't have to manufacture peace - it dwells within you. You don't have to pretend joy - it bubbles up from the spring within. Transformation happens because the current carries you. "The Christian life is not our struggling to live for Christ, but letting Christ live in us." That is The Normal Christian Life - not striving to serve, but abiding to flow. John 15:4-5 captures this beautifully: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." Galatians 5:22-23 describes this fruit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." VINE Notice these are not produced by effort but grown by connection. Possibly even last week your heart began to thaw, and today you sense something stirring - …movement, renewal, life returning. Don't rush it. Don't try to control it. Just remain under the warmth of His presence. Let Him do the melting. Let the living water find its course through you. Because when the heart is open, His life flows - not only to you, but through you, and beyond you - carrying healing wherever it goes. Jesus: "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) The flow of His Life begins once more to be released in your life, and everything begins to be changed... refreshed... renewed. New Life. God doesn't just repair... He restores and resurrects. As Isaiah 43:19 declares, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." "HE restores my soul" (Psalm 23:3) We are changed not by trying harder, but by beholding Him - and when we behold, His life begins to flow. 2 Cor 3:18 confirms, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." Prayer: Lord, let Your life flow freely in me again. Break every dam of fear, every wall of control. Melt what has grown cold, and move what has become stagnant. Teach me to live not by striving, but by flowing. May Your Spirit turn every stagnant place into a river of life. As Ezekiel 47:9 promises, "where the river flows everything will live." Amen. Jesus says to us today, "Believe in Me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!" Let the river flow, let the river flow; Holy spirit come, move in power. Acts 3:20: Times of refreshing Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource FLOW 流动 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/16/2025 Description An account of the resource John 7:37,38: On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 约翰福音 7:37,38: 节期最后一天，也是整个节期的高潮，耶稣站起来高声说：“人若渴了，可以到我这里来喝。 正如圣经所言，信我的人，‘从他里面要流出活水的江河来’。” (page 1732) Luke 4:18: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted..." 路加福音 4:18:“主的灵在我身上，因为他膏我去传福音给贫穷的人，差遣我去宣告被掳的得释放，瞎眼的得看见，受压制的得自由，(pg 1664) Psalm 147:3: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 诗篇 147:3: 祂医治心灵破碎的人，包扎他们的创伤。(page 1029) 2 Cor 3:4,5: We carry this confidence in our hearts because of our union with Christ before God. Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. 歌 林 多 後 書 3:4,5: 通过基督，我们在上帝面前有这样的信心作这样的声明。 我们的意思并不是说我们凭自己能做任何好事，是上帝使我们能够做到我们所做的 (page 1872) Psalm 1:3: That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 诗篇 1:3: 他就像溪水旁的树木——按时结果子， 叶子也不凋零。他必凡事亨通。 (page 881) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/dfdd8dc961abebfdc8c9414193e9b109.jpg 0d4c7eef6563e1a3223c20c748b211aa https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/385647f2446f38175bfd0b9695544e6e.mp4 0897a11de483f989f9a6e440d5669fe6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound When the Heart Grows Hard: The Hidden Danger That Blocks Transformation Heb 3:12-15 Imagine standing beside a frozen lake in the middle of winter. The surface is smooth and hard, reflecting the pale sunlight like glass. But beneath that frozen surface, life was still there — the water, the movement, the current — just trapped under the ice. Looking out across that silent sheet of ice, the Lord whispers to your heart: “This is what happens when your heart grows hard. My life is still there… …but it can no longer flow.” Sometimes transformation stops happening in our lives - not because God withdrew… it stops because our hearts grew hard. Watchman Nee once said, “Before a person hardens his heart, his heart is not hard. But once he decides to harden it, it becomes hard — and remains hard.” That’s why Hebrews 3:15 warns us, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” We talked about “beholding” last week. Before we can be transformed through beholding, our hearts must first be soft enough (not hard) to behold. How the Hardening Begins: Eph 4:17,18: So with the wisdom given to me from the Lord I say: You should not live like the unbelievers around you who walk in their empty delusions. Their corrupted logic has been clouded because their hearts are so far from God—their blinded understanding and deep-seated moral darkness keeps them from the true knowledge of God. “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of their heart.” Nee said, “The trouble starts from the heart.” …And that hardening rarely happens overnight — it begins with neglect. Maybe God nudged your heart, but you brushed it off. Maybe conviction came, but you said, “I’ll deal with that later.” I remember one autumn morning (my favorite time of year) I noticed, “I am not feeling the joy – the exhilaration that I used to feel when the weather gets like this. Where is aliveness I used to feel? Jesus warned: Matt 13:15: ‘For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ …as we already said, that hardening rarely happens overnight — it begins with neglect. Then slowly, you stop feeling what you used to feel… Maybe the same worship songs don’t move you. The same scriptures don’t stir you. You’re doing all the right things — but inside, you’re past feeling. That’s the second stage — numbness. ( ) Maybe someone hurt you so badly that you decided just to let your heart freeze up like that frozen lake we talked about. Tony Robbins: You will hang on to your pain until you find something you value more than your pain. And the last stage? Alienation. Not because God left — but because your heart quietly closed its door. Hebrews 3:12: So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God. Remember when Moses went to Pharaoh and said, “Let my people go?” Exodus 5:1: "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go…” Each time Moses spoke, Pharaoh hardened his heart. Eventually Scripture says, “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Before God ever hardened it, Pharaoh hardened it himself. Each refusal made his heart a little less responsive, until he could no longer feel anything at all. That’s the danger of a hardened heart — you may not even realize it’s happening. On that beautiful autumn day I experienced (or, rather, didn’t experience,) something in me spoke louder than many outward signs would have… I realized I wasn’t feeling the joy I would normally feel. I realized my heart was clogged up with all “the cares of this world.” Jesus’ teaching on The Parable of the Sower is often used to describe how these worldly distractions (the cares of this world) can "choke" one's spiritual life and make it unfruitful. Jesus describes this dangerous kind of soil as “thorny ground” Mark 4:18,19: And what is sown among thorns represents those who hear the message, but they allow the cares of this life and the seduction of wealth and the desires for other things to crowd out and choke the message so that it produces nothing. Can you relate? (has this ever been you?) Psalm 139:23: God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Symptoms of a Hard Heart • You’re doing the right things, but there’s no warmth. • You hear truth, but it doesn’t pierce you. • You know Scripture, but it no longer convicts you. • You get defensive instead of repentant when corrected. A hardened heart is not a punishment — it’s a condition. • When your heart closes, light can’t enter. When light can’t enter, truth becomes just… theory. And when truth becomes theory, transformation stops. The truth is, the root cause of many diseases lies in the heart. “When the heart is corrupted, the whole being is affected.” When the religious leaders argued with Jesus about traditions regarding what kind of foods were proper, He re-directed them to the true problem: (from Mark 7:20-23) “Words and deeds pollute a person, not food. Evil originates from inside a person…these corrupt things emerge from within (the heart) and constantly defile a person.” Matthew 5:8: (Jesus) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” To see God — to behold Him — requires a soft, open heart. “The trouble starts from the heart; therefore, the cure must start from the heart.” And here’s the cure: Beholding softens what striving cannot. John 1:29: John the Baptist sees Jesus and proclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world". When you Behold the Lamb of God — when you see His mercy, His meekness, His tears — the heart melts. Receive God’s healing and forgiveness today – and offer hat same grace to others. Job 42:10: After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. "see the cross and behold medicine for your soul and body" are you hungry for this revelation today? Four ways to reopen that flow: 1. Return to beholding — sit quietly before Him until you feel again. 2. Invite the Spirit to expose numbness — “Search me, O God.” 3. Respond quickly — every act of obedience keeps the heart tender. 4. Practice gratitude — thanksgiving re-sensitizes the soul. You don’t need to try harder — you need to look longer. (Beholding) God doesn’t want to condemn our hard heart — He wants to replace it. Ezekiel 36:26: “I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” That’s the invitation today. Let Him trade your stone for flesh. James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Our heart is the soil for God’s Word. The thorny ground Jesus taught about is a double-minded heart A new heart is the KEY to a new life – a true change ,…and that change can also will impact everyone around you. The change in you can bring about a revolution around you. BE the ONE “You are most qualified to help the person you used to be.” Your new destiny is waiting on the other side of your softened heart. Let Jesus give you a heart that feels again, that believes again, that beholds again. When the heart grows hard, we stop being changed by beholding. …But when the heart grows soft again, the image of Christ shines once more. “Lord, melt my heart again. Where I’ve grown cold, warm me. Where I’ve been numb, touch me. Where I’ve tried (in my own power) instead of beheld YOU, teach me to look again. Restore the tenderness that lets me see You clearly. Amen.” Ezekial 36:26: A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource When the Heart Grows Hard 心变硬的时候 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/09/2025 Description An account of the resource Heb 3:15: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. 希伯来书 3:15: 今日你们若听见祂的声音，就不可硬着心。 (page 1942) Eph 4:17,18: So with the wisdom given to me from the Lord I say: You should not live like the unbelievers around you who walk in their empty delusions. Their corrupted logic has been clouded because their hearts are so far from God—their blinded understanding and deep-seated moral darkness keeps them from the true knowledge of God. 以弗所书 4:17,18: 因此，我奉主的名郑重地劝告各位，不要再像不信的外族人一样过着心灵空虚的日子。 他们因为愚昧无知， 顽固不化，理智受到蒙蔽，与上帝所赐的生命隔绝了 (pg 1898) Hebrews 3:12: So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God. 希伯来书 3:12: 弟兄姊妹，要谨慎，免得你们当中有人心存恶念，不肯相信，背弃了永活的上帝。 (page 1942) Ezekiel 36:26: I will remove the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 以西结书 36:26: 我必从你们肉体中除掉石心，赐给你们肉心。 (page 1408) Matt 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 马太福音 5:8: 清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神。(page 1563) Matthew 13:15: ‘For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ 马太福音 13:15: 因为这些人心灵麻木，耳朵发背，眼睛昏花， 以致眼睛看不见，耳朵听不见，心里不明白，无法回心转意， 得不到我的医治。 (page 1580) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e91f971a97a94ec2179f5f459f755913.PNG 2679d0e28dec3601cd47f4ba64ab95c0 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/3aa8f23192947c1949d774568ded0d52.mp4 f254bd471ae6ba4cc25346f899f39bc2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2025 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound “Changed by Beholding—Not by Trying” 2 Corinthians 3:18 Triggers. Pushing my buttons. 2025: Am I being changed? “How can I change the world if I can’t change myself?” Good morning, church. (ever had to do a book report?) I want to talk with you today about a powerful book written many years ago — and a truth that has changed my walk with God. The book is called “Changed Into His Likeness” It’s the simple but powerful idea that we are not changed by striving… …we are changed by beholding. The author didn’t just believe these words he shared – he gave his life for them. to “behold” To look at or see with attention - to regard or contemplate something. John 1:29: John the Baptist sees Jesus and proclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world". By identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God, John is identifying him as the ultimate sacrifice sent by God to pay for the sins of the world, bringing redemption We must all behold Him – as our Savior, Healer, Provider, and Redeemer. 2 Cor 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” If we have “un-veiled faces,” that must mean The Veil Has Been Lifted Under the old covenant, a veil covered people’s hearts. They saw God through the lens of their own effort …and their own failures. But today, as Paul says, “We all — with unveiled face — behold the glory of the Lord.” That means when Jesus died on that cross and the veil of the temple was torn in two, God was saying: “The striving is over. The way is open. Stop trying to become what only My Grace can make you.” Some of us have been trying so hard to change ourselves. (Amen?) Trying to be more patient, more loving, more spiritual. Grace doesn’t say “try harder” — grace says “look closer.” Look to Jesus. (as Christians, we should always point people in one direction – to Jesus) Heb 12:2: Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. When you look at yourself, (honestly) you may feel condemned. When you look at Jesus, you’ll feel transformed. We are changed into His likeness as we behold Him. Galatians 2:20 says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” The author calls this the secret of the Christian life: “God’s means of deliverance from sin is not to strengthen our old self, but to replace it with Christ” You see, God’s not trying to improve your flesh. He’s given you a new spirit — His Spirit. He doesn’t want a better “you.” He wants a Christ-in-you. Let’s say that together: “It’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” That means when you wake up in the morning, you can say, “Jesus, Live through me today. Love through me. Think through me. Speak through me.” And as you do, by His grace, you’ll find that you’re becoming more and more like Him — not by effort, but by overflow “we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.” Now listen carefully — this is the heart of this message and the heart of grace itself. We are changed into His likeness as we behold Him. When we spend time in His Word — not to get points, not to perform, but just to see Him revealed — we’re actually being transformed. We may not always be aware of it, but the Spirit is doing a quiet miracle inside of us. Jesus said (John 6:63) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” “His Word is working mightily in me.” It’s like standing in the sunlight. You don’t have to try to get warm — you just stay there long enough, and the warmth finds you. Moses’ face shone because he beheld the Lord on the mountain. We stay in His Presence — and it will begin to shine from our lives.  Now, grace does not mean laziness. It means learning the rhythm of Heaven: rest comes before results. …the “the unforced rhythms of grace” mentioned in Matt 11 When you know you’ve been made righteous, you’ll start living righteously. When you know you’re forgiven, you’ll start forgiving more easily. When you know that you’re loved, you’ll start loving more freely. That’s the “from glory to glory” life Paul talked about. Stop measuring your progress by your performance. Start measuring it by your posture — Are you resting in Him? Are you beholding Him? Because that’s where the Spirit does His best work. 2 Corinthians 3:18 ends by saying, “…just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Zechariah 4:6: It’s “not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit.” Growth comes through spiritual disciple. The key word there is spiritual Time in God’s Presence. It involves deliberate effort, but the more importantly it requires surrender. You and I can’t make ourselves more like Jesus — but the Holy Spirit can, and He’s already at work in you. Every time you turn your heart toward Jesus… Every time you worship when it’s hard… Every time you choose to believe you’re loved instead of condemned… He’s shaping you into the image of the Son. That’s the miracle of grace. Every time the enemy brings accusations before God, the blood of Jesus speaks louder. It declares you forgiven, redeemed, and justified. The cross already settled your case — your past has no legal right to condemn your future. The accuser may bring up your record, but the blood of the Lamb erased every charge and stamped your life “Paid in Full.” Start your day with identity. Before your feet hit the floor, whisper: “I am the righteousness of God in Christ.” Say it until your heart believes it. Feed on His Word of grace. Don’t just read His Word for information — read for revelation. Ask, “Jesus, where are You in this passage?” Look to Jesus, not to yourself. When you fail — and you will sometimes — don’t turn inward in shame. Turn upward in faith. The same Jesus who saved you is still the One who sanctifies you. Rest in His love. Grace is not a push; it’s a pull. Let His love pull you into the kind of life you were made to live. 2 Tim 2:22: Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And if you’ll just keep beholding Jesus, one day soon you’ll step out radiant, renewed, changed into His likeness — from glory to glory. Let’s pray together. “Lord Jesus, thank You that transformation isn’t my burden — it’s Your promise. Thank You that as I behold You, I am changed into Your likeness. Not by my effort, but by Your Spirit. Not by the law, but by grace. Today I rest in Your finished work, and I receive Your life in me. In Jesus’ Name — Amen.” Now, say this with me: “I am changed — because I behold Jesus. I am free — because the veil is gone. I am loved — because of His grace. And I am being transformed — from glory to glory!” Church, this week, don’t strive to become. Behold who you already are in Him. …And you’ll find His likeness shining through your life more than ever before. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "Salvation isn't merely about forgiveness, but about being "conformed to the image of his son" Romans 8:29: God knew from the beginning who would put their trust in Him. So He chose them and made them to be like His Son. What does it mean to reflect the glory of God? It means to be conformed to the image of God. It means to turn away from oneself and trust wholly in Christ. We are changed into His likeness as we behold Him. Heb 12:2: Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource BEHOLD 看哪 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/02/2025 Description An account of the resource 2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 歌 林 多 後 書 3:18: 我们的脸不被蒙上。我们都显示了主的荣耀。我们都变得像他一样，在我们中的这种变化会带来了越来越多的荣耀。这荣耀来自主，即圣灵。(page 1873) John 1:29: The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 约翰福音 1:29: 次日，约翰看见耶稣来到他那里，就说： “看哪，神的羔羊，除去[a]世人罪孽的！ (page 1717) Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 加 拉 太 書 2:20: 所以，现在活在我体内的不再是我本人， 而是基督。我凭信仰生活在上帝之子之中，他爱我，并为我牺牲了自己。(page 1887) 2 Tim 2:22: Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. 提摩太后书 2:22: 你要逃避少年的私欲，同那清心祷告主的人追求公义、信德、仁爱、和平。(page 1931) 2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 哥林多后书 5:21: 神使那无罪[a]的替我们成为罪，好叫我们在他里面成为神的义。(page 1875) Zechariah 4:6: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 撒迦利亚书 4:6: 万军之耶和华说，‘不靠权势，不靠才能，乃靠我的灵。(page 1539) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States