LifeBridge Community Church

Reaching the Lost. Discipling the Saved. Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.

Tag: Worship (Page 10 of 28)

Ima Dogg

August 20, 2023 /

Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.

Matthew 15:27b

The story of Ima Hogg, the “First Lady of Texas” is well known; sometimes not for her enormous generosity, philanthropy, and blessings to Houston and Texas, but because of her unfortunate name.

But we can take that which may be seen as a detriment and be extremely blessed by it!

In the Gospel for today, Jesus tells a women that “it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” The women doesn’t dispute that she’s a dog, but responds with one of the greatest statements of faith and truth in Scripture; “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Crumbs of God’s grace is more than enough!!

With that truth, I can proud say, “Ima Dogg!”

SCRIPTURES

  • Psalm 67
  • Matthew 15:21–28

Everyone

August 13, 2023 /

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:13

Sometimes we feel like everyone and everything is against us; like the weight of everything is going to crush us.

But we have an almighty God who lifts our burdens and carries our sorrows. A God we can call upon to help us in any need and at any time. And the promise is that, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”

Saved from sins. Saved from burdens. Saved from death. Saved for eternity!

EVERYONE who calls on Jesus!

What great news! What great comfort!

SCRIPTURES

  • Psalm 18:1-6
  • Romans 10:5-17

Come!

August 6, 2023 /

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1

Coming off of Hosea, we hear from another prophet who covered much of the same ground. But Isaiah shares more about the coming Savior and Messiah and the new reality ushered in by Him.

“Come” and share in something beautiful, eternally nourishing, and free! “Come” and share in Truth, forgiveness, and life itself. Put away falsehoods and all that comes with them.

“Come!”

What a beautiful invitation! What a beautiful reality! What a beautiful Savior!

“COME!”

SCRIPTURES

  • Psalm 136:1-9
  • Psalm 136:23-26
  • Isaiah 55:1-5

HOSEA – Living in the Good Law of God

July 30, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

Israel’s destruction will take place. It’s punishment will happen. Pain and suffering will be inevitable.

But that won’t be the end.

They will repent and God will restore!

This will happen with a remnant in their return, but ultimately in the sending of the Messiah, Jesus; through Whom all is restored!

Praise God for His goodness, His love, His restoration, and His Chosen One, Jesus!
May we seek and see His haling and restoration in Him all our days!

SCRIPTURES

  • Hosea 14

HOSEA – Judgement Made, But Victory Through God, the Savior

July 23, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

Hosea 13:14 is quoted in 1 Corinthians 15. There part of the passage is explained and fulfilled: yes, death and the grace have some success, but the ultimate victory is ours through Jesus!

The kingdom of Israel didn’t know that ultimate fulfillment, but they did know that God was their Savior in Egypt, and that should have guided their heart and actions.

Yet, they didn’t, and they paid a heavy price.

Victory over death and the grave – and everything else – has been given to us through Jesus! Let us live in that joyful, glorious, and everlasting reality!

“Thank You, Lord, for that victory in Jesus!”

SCRIPTURES

  • Hosea 12-13
  • Revelation 2:10
  • 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

HOSEA – The Heart of the Father

July 16, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

Chapter 11 is the most tender one in the book. It shows a loving Father whose heart breaks at the rebellion of His beloved Israel and what is in store. It shows that He loves and will restore His people in the end.

We see this restoration not just in the return of the remnant later, but ultimately in Jesus, who restores with right relationships and for all time!

“Heavenly Father, create in us new hearts, like Yours, and remind us of the joy of our salvation in Jesus, where the results of our prodigal hearts are forever reversed.”

SCRIPTURES

  • Hosea 11
  • Luke 15:11-32

HOSEA – Beware Prosperity!

July 9, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

There is something to be said for the strength that comes from a persecuted Church. In times of distress, it’s much easier to call upon the name of the Lord. Conversely, when times are prosperous and good, we often forget God. We forget His goodness; His grace; His blessings. We can easily fall into complacency and loose sight of Him.

This happened during some of the prosperous times in Israel and, in it, they forgot God (just as He warned).

“Lord, in good times and bad, may we always Call upon and depend upon You!”

SCRIPTURES

  • Hosea 10
  • Deuteronomy 8:11-20
  • 1 Timothy 6:6-10

HOSEA – Sow the Wind? Reap the Whirlwind!

July 2, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

It seems too harsh for us to consider God punishing the ones He loves. But most of the time, this punishment is simply the natural consequences of our stubborn idolatries, allegiances, desires, and addictions. They are the result of God “giving us over” to what we say we want.

You want to serve other gods? Go, be in their care!

You want to lust after others? Deal with the failed relationships and diseases that follow.

Should we choose our way rather than God’s, He won’t stop us; and woe to us if that happens!

“Lord, forgive us when we demand our own way and bring us back to Yours – always!”

SCRIPTURES

HOSEA – True Repentance & Trust

June 25, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

Chapter 6 looks promising: God’s people repenting!

But this repentance is neither heartfelt nor long-lived.

And right after we see that their trust is grossly misplaced: not in God but in the strength and allegiances they have with other nations.

This is idolatry!

Trust in God! He is the only One who can, has, and will continue to save! He is the only One in whom we are to trust; and He is always faithful!

For us the question becomes: “will we trust in the One He sent us, Jesus, or is the seeming strength of other people or things?”

May our Trust in Jesus be ever true – and our repentance sincere when we fail!

SCRIPTURES

  • Hosea 6 — 7
  • Psalm 51:16-17
  • Deuteronomy 10:16-17
  • Deuteronomy 30:1-8

HOSEA – Consequences of Unfaithful Priests

June 18, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

Before getting to the unfaithfulness of the people, God has some choice words of judgement to His priests.

They are not interceding for the people to God, but interceding for themselves to false gods! They are oppressing God’s beloved rather then helping them. They are leading people astray rather than to God.

And the results are disastrous; not just for the priests, but for Israel, too!

“O LORD, send us faithful leaders who point people to Jesus! Point people to You!”

SCRIPTURES

HOSEA – Generational Consequences of Unfaithfulness

June 11, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

God commands Hosea to marry a “wife of whoredom” and have “children of whoredom.” And the children’s name are…harsh.

Yikes!

But God is using the prophet to show Israel how they are acting and what the results of their actions are in regard to their relationship with Him.

Bad. Unfaithful. Idolatrous. Deserving, not only divorce, but death.

But there is hope, because where Israel (and we) is unfaithful, God continues to be faithful. And that is what saves!

Thank God for His faithfulness amidst our lack of it!

SCRIPTURES

“HOSEA – Introduction

June 4, 2023 /

I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (ceb)

Hosea is the first of “The Book of the Twelve” or the “Minor Prophets” (though not chronologically first).

It shares a shocking command from God for the prophet in regard to his family in the first three chapters and then a series of collected “sermons,” warning Israel of God’s coming punishment and their exile; pleading with them to repent.

Yet they won’t and what is prophesied will come to pass.

Yet, even then, God’s love and grace will prevail and restoration will take place.

Through it all, God is good and faithful, even if His people aren’t.

SCRIPTURES

  • Hosea 1:1
  • 1 John 1:8-10

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Phone / Email

(979) 885-7270 [Church]
(713) 965-6761 [Pastor Scott Heitshusen’s Cell]

info@lifebridgesealy.com

Location // Mail

2162 FM 2187 Rd (location)
P.O. Box 934 (mail)
Sealy, TX 77474

Connecting People to Jesus by:
Reaching the Lost.
Discipling the Saved.
Sharing the Love of Jesus with Everyone.

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