GOSPELS

 

There is a question as to the dates of when the Gospels were written and first published in particular the Synoptic’s.  It is known that the Gospels were first published during the apostolic age and the dates were pretty well established between 65-78 A.D.  It is evident they were written before the death of Paul.  The book of Acts was written before the book of Luke.  Scholars say that Luke had all his information on hand during the imprisonment of Paul at Caesarea.  It is also logical to assume that the books were written before the fall of Jerusalem.

 The Gospels are an account Jesus, of who He was, what He said and did.  The apostles were His best witnesses.  The birth of Jesus Christ was during the time of Herod the Great.  After the death of Herod, Palestine was divided up and ruled by his sons.  For example, it is clear from the gospels that Antipas was the ruler of Galilee and Perea and Pilate was the governor of Judea.

Jesus started out His ministry in the Jewish places of worship but after a time He went out to the wilderness to teach His disciples.  Jesus was an exile in His own land.  He knew from the very beginning what His work was.  He prepared His disciples to carry on His message after His death, burial and resurrection.  They were given the task of bringing His message to the world.

For the next few moments we will talk about the Christian concept.  It is the concept of the crucified and suffering Messiah which Jesus Himself taught during His earthly ministry,.  It was not on the minds of His disciples until He had risen from the dead.  It has been ruling since the writings of Paul.  The concept of the suffering Savior is not the invention of the church.  It was given to the church as a gift from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no provision for the natural man in the teachings of the New Testament.  The needs of the church are a creation of Christ.  It is Jesus who gives the concreteness and definiteness to the Messianic concept.

QUOTES FOR MARY 24, 2026

 

THE HOLY LAND

 

Geographical Setting of the Gospel Story.

               This area has been called the Holy land, Palestine, the Lord`s land, Canaan and the Land of Israel.  It is a place that has the distinct blessing of God on it for a long time.

               It is a small land, 140 miles long by 25-30 miles wide.  It is a fertile land that can supply food for its people.  It is famous for its fruit and vegetables.  It is rich in trees and has moderate climate and rainfall.  It is a secluded land for it has desert on the south and east borders. On the west is the Mediterranean Sea and in the north are the mountains of Lebanon.  God over the centuries has  protected this land by its geographical location from their enemies and the idols they brought.  This is a centrally located land for Palestine was right in the middle of the major empires of Babylon, Assyria and Egypt.  It is here that Jesus came to teach, live and die.

               It has been divided into four major regions.  The maritime plain runs from Gaza in the south to Tyre in the north.  The central plain includes the Jordan River and the provinces of Judea, Samaria and Galilee.  East of the Jordan is a region which goes from Caesarea Philippi in the North to the Dead Sea in the south.  The eastern range is from Mount Hermon in the north to Edom and Moab in the South.

 

Places mentioned in the Bible:

 

Enon:  John baptized here.

Bethabara:  Place of Jesus` baptism.

Bethany:  1 mile away from Jerusalem, Lazarus lived here.

Bethesda:  Pool with five porches in Jerusalem.

Bethlehem:  Birthplace of Jesus and is some 6 miles from Jerusalem.

Bethpage:  It is near the Mount of Olives.

Bethsaida:  2 Miles from the Sea of Galilee, home of Peter, Andrew and Philip.

Caesarea Philippi:  At the foot of Mount Hermon.

Cana:  4 Miles north of Nazareth.  Jesus’ first miracle was here and this is the home of Nathaniel.

Capernaum:  NW corner of the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus lived here during His ministry,

Chorazin:  North of Capernaum near Sea of Galilee.

Dalmanutha:  On the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Decapolis:  A district of ten towns in the Northeast part of Galilee.

Egypt:  Joseph took Mary and Jesus there.

Ephraim:  7 ½ miles from Jerusalem to which Jesus and his disciples would retire too.

Genneseret:  A fertile plain on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Gergesea:  On the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Gethsame:  The place where Jesus prayed in the foot of the Mt. of Olives.

Golgotha:  Place where Jesus was crucified, outside the city walls of Jerusalem.

Gomorrah:  One of the cities destroyed by God around the Dead Sea area.

Jericho:  A city near the Dead Sea, 900 feet below sea level.  Jesus spent a lot of time here.

Jerusalem:  capital city of Judea, city where the temple was and Jesus died here.

Jordan River:   Runs through central Palestine.  It begins at Mount Hermon and ends at the Dead Sea. 

Kidron:  A valley that runs between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem.

Magdala:  On the west short of the Sea of Galilee.

Nain:  About 5 miles NE of Nazareth.

Naphtali:  Beyond the Jordan River to the east.

Nazareth:  A city on the Plain of Esdraelon about 20 miles north of Capernaum.   Home of Jesus and His family.

Nineveh:  Ancient capital of Assyria.

Olivet:  Ridge on the east side of Jerusalem.

Salim:  John baptized near here.

Serepta:  Tear near Sidon.

Sidon:  A city on the Mediterranean Sea.

Siloam:  A pool in Jerusalem.

Sychar:  A town on the east side of Mount Ebal in Samaria.

Tiberias:  A town on the west short of the Sea of Galilee.

Tyre:  A city on the coast of the Mediterranean.

 

Approximate Distances

 

Jerusalem to Bethany, 1 mile, Bethlehem, 6 , Caesarea. 57 , Caesarea Philippi, 105 , Capernaum, 85 , Emmaus, 7, Hebron 20, Mt. Hermon, 125, Jericho, 15, Joppa, 33, Jordan 21, Mediterranean, 37, Nazareth, 65 and Samaria, 36.

Capernaum to Bethsaida, 6 miles, Caesarea Philippi, 27, Cana, 16, Nain, 22, Nazareth 20 and Tyre, 35.

Bethsaida to Gergesea is 7 miles.  Jericho to Bethabara is 10 miles and Nazareth to Shechem is 35 miles.

 

Sea of Galilee:  Width, 6-8 miles, Length, 14 miles, Depth, 150 feet, 112 square miles and is 680 feet below sea level.

Dead Sea:  Width. 10 miles, length, 48 miles, depth is 1300 feet at NW corner and 1300 feet below sea level.

Jordan River:  It is about 100 Miles long and runs from Mt Hermon to the Dead Sea.

 

Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea is about 65 miles.  Mediterranean Sea to Jordan River is 50 miles.

 

Mountains:  Carmel, 1810’, Ebal in Samaria, 3077’, Gerazim, 2849’, Gilboa in Galilee, 1648’, Gilead in Transjordan, 3077’, Hermon in Syria, 9700’, Hor in Edom 4360’, Lebanon in Syria, 10052’, Nebo in Transjordan, 2643’, Olivet in Judea, 2680 and Tabor in Galilee, 1843.

 

Jerusalem is 2593 feet above Sea Level

 

  

 

 

MADEOF THE RIGHT STUFF

 

Matt 11:28-30 – Made of the Right Stuff – Feb 3-2013

 

Intro:  Today I will be focusing on a familiar portion of scripture but coming from it from a different point of view.  It is called being made of the right stuff.  What does it take to be a person of faith and a disciple of Jesus Christ?

 

1. Jesus was in a time of praise and worship.  He had just thanked the Father for Him taking the things hidden from the wise and learned and giving it to them who were like children.  It was His good pleasure to do this.

 

1. Jesus then praised the Lord because all things were committed to Him by the    

      Father.  No one can know the Son with without the Father and no one can know  

      the Father except through the Son.

2. As well no one can know the Father except whom the Son chooses to reveal Him too.

 

2. Jesus outlines here what kind of characteristics you have to be made of to fully appreciate or comprehend what is being offered.

 

1. Jesus says come, Rev 22:17 says come.  This call is still being offered today.  Come.  Don’t hesitate, shrink back.  Make a decision.  Take a step. God wants to get intimate with you and be your friend.
2. If you are weary, tired, worn out and can’t go another step.  Life does that.  The urgent and crisis have become the order of the day.  You have too many things going on.  You have more matters than moments. You are burdened.  The load you carry is too heavy.  You have been overcome by the problems of life, the expectations of others, burdened down with the cares of life.  Being made of the right stuff is recognizing you need help.  You need Jesus and His people. 
3. Jesus says I will give your rest.  Spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical.  Your prayer times, Bible moments, worship experiences all can give you rest.  Being made of the right stuff is acting on this invitation and getting the rest you need.  God promises you will find rest if your will come and lay your weariness and burdens before Him. 

 

3. Jesus says, take my yoke upon you.  In Jesus’ days most water was carried in jars fitted on a yoke that people carried.  Each yoke was fitted to the carrying capacity and body shape of the person.

 

1. Each one of us has a fitted yoke fitted to our capacity to carry and state of our being The responsibilities, opportunities and challenges you have cannot be carried by another.  God knows what you can handle and what you cannot.  Being of the right stuff is knowing and trusting God to give us our fitted yoke and carrying it with confidence, obedience and faithfulness.
2. Jesus says learn of me.  Let me be your example and role model.  I will show you how it is done.  See how I react and act.  See what I say, do and think.  Watch my life.  He is our example.  You want to see how a life for God can be lived out study the life of Christ.  See how He forgives, loves, respects and deals with others.  In Charles Sheldon’s book, the question is posed.  “What would Jesus do?”  Being made of the right stuff is looking at the life of Jesus as an example and role model.  See His faithfulness, obedience, motives, attitudes, reactions and actions. 
3. Jesus even tells you how it is done.  I am gentle.  It means to be mild or moderate. To be calm, tame or do that in others.  Make all those around you feel as comfortable as possible. 

 

4             To be humble in heart.  This work starts in the heart.  It starts there and works it way

               outwardly. 

 

1. You change because your have the Holy Spirit regenerating your heart.  You have been born      

        again and given a new nature. The old has passed away.  All things are new.

2. You are taking on the nature and characteristics of God.  You have a modest estimate of your  

        own self worth.  You want to serve, put others before yourself.  And exalt others before  

        yourself.  You do not suffer from I disease.  You refuse to let pride and selfishness to rule you

        and you rule them.  You master sin, it does not master you.  You keep connected to God   

        because He helps keep pride in check.  This is the right stuff. 

3. When you do this you will find rest for your soul.  You will have the great burdened bearer with you

 

5.    Jesus closes off by saying, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  The right stuff is being wise

       and taking these truths and walking with them in confidence.  Jesus gives easy yokes and light

       burdens.  If you are carrying a burden right now you cannot carry it was not Jesus who gave it

       to you.  There are four sources of the burden you are carrying. You put this on yourself, the

       world did, the devil did or others.  Jesus said, I have come to set the captive free. 

 

                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                          

 

 

NEW BEGINNING

 

Gen 4:6-7 – A New Beginning – July 4^th 2010

 

Intro:  Well good morning, I know it has taken a long time but we are finally here in Cornerstone and in St. Albert.  This is the first of my messages from the book of Genesis.  It is also a new beginning for both of us.  But before I start my message I wish to share with you a humorous story.  Tell of the man who had a lab report and a cat scan on his dog. 

 

1.      Genesis is the first book of the bible and is called the book of beginnings or origins.  Talk about going through the bible over the next four years.  Genesis scholars tell us was written by Moses it is a record of the origins of the universe, human race, sin, redemption, languages and the Hebrew race. 

a.       The main theme is man’s sin and the initial steps taken for his redemption and the divine covenant made with God’s chosen race.  In this series we will look at the lives of Enoch, Noah,

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.

b.      Ernest Francis stated that Genesis tells us how it all got started and laid out the path of where we are going.

 

2.       Our scripture today is Gen 4:6-7, which tells us the account of Adam’s 2 sons, Cain and Abel.  The Boys had just presented 2 offering to the Lord.  Cain the oldest presented a fruit and cereal offering and it was not look on with favor and Abel the youngest offered an animal offering and it was accepted and look at with favor.  This of course created a conflict.

a.       It all started with Adam and Eve, their mom and dad who were the first human’s.  They were created perfect, had a perfect invironment  and relationship with God, but as with all perfect situations there is always a spoiler.  The spoiler was satan.  In the garden he came in the form of the serpent but he comes in many forms and ways. 

b.      His M.O. is spelled out in John 10:10, he comes to rob, kill and destroy.  He uses accusation.  He is known as the accuser of the brethren in Rev 12:10.  He uses temptation, he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Luke 4:1-11.  He uses deception, Jesus in John 8:44, calls him the father of all lies and tells us that there is no truth in him.

c.       Genesis introduces or gives us the origin of two of the enemies of the child of God.  Both are results of the fall, satan and sin.  When Adam and Eve fell or gave into the temptation it resulted

In death or separation from God.  It was a physical, spiritual and eternal death or separation.  God’s answer to this situation was a promise of a future redeemer and a substitution.  Animal skins were given to Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness which meant an animal substitution or an animal giving its life was made to cover our sin.

d.      Cain and Abel in our text implies knew this  but Cain like so many understand what is required but decided to present what he thought what was right.  Talk about sin clouds our view.  Talk about Les Jarratt, the 1^st part of the story.  Abel knew what was required and he did.  Talk about my first car accident.

 

3.       Our text reveals next a very important truth.  Cain was angry with God because God did not accept his offering or look at it with favor.  He reacted wrongly and with anger.  God reminds him of this truth. “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”   Or Cain, you knew what was required and if you would have given the right offering it would have been accepted.

a.      Obedience is the key.  Andrew Murray writes, “Obedience is the key to spiritual life and victory.”

The Bible teaches that each believer will be judged on several things, motive, love, faithfulness, attitude, walking in forgiveness and obedience just to name a few. 

b.      God then says to Cain, “but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you.”  The Lord’s view of sin here is that it is like an animal, enemy or person that is ready to pounce.  It wants to control , dominate, have and destroy you.  Then God says, “but you can master it.”  Right from the beginning God reveals the power of choice.  I saw a sign recently that said, “Character is the sum total of the choices that we have made.” 

c.      God says to Cain, “sin wants to be your master.”  Cain this is your moment to rise or fall, to be master or be mastered.  As the first born of Adam, this is a pivotal point in human history.  Cain was making a choice of destiny.  Would the sins of the Father be passed onto the next generation or not?  Would sin become a permanent part of the human race?  That is why I love redemption it gives us a second chance to begin legacy and a new path for our part of the human race.  Brothers and sisters in Christ we can cannot change our past but we can change our present and future.  Talk about my choices.

 

4.      We see from the next verse, Cain attacked and killed his brother and then tried to cover it up, deflect the blame or accept responsibility for his actions.  That happens a lot today. 

a.       The results or consequences because there is always results or consequences for sin.  The law of sowing and reaping comes into effect here.  Jesus taught, if you sow to the flesh you reap the flesh, if you sow to the Spirit you reap in the Spirit. 

1.      Separation from God, family and friends. 

2.      Ground would not yield fruitfulness to him.  The very thing he loved was taken from him.  Sin destroys the things we love.  Sin will always cause you to do things you never though you would do, take you places you never thought you would go and make you something you never though you would be.”  Talk about dateline trap for child predators.  Cain asked for mercy and was granted some.

b.       Our story, account or passage today stresses how sin got its foothold in man and how it operates but also how it can be thwarted.   The power of choice is a wonderful gift of God.  You just have to say no as the ad campaign said.  Have people say no, to each other.  Talk about Nicolas and Jeremiah.

5.       As I close and as we get ready for communion let me share Paul’s perspective on how we can deal with this issue or problem.  He says in Rom 12:1-2.  I beseech you brothers by the mercy of God or because you have receive the mercy of God, to present your body as a living sacrifice.  Remember it is holy and acceptable to God.  Paul’s says doing this is your reasonable service.  The bare minimum. 

a.       Do not conform to the images or standards of this world, which is materialism, pursuit of pleasure or pride.  But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, which James D. Craig calls “Walking in the Spirit.” 

b.      That happens by everyday putting on the Helmet of Salvation, Eph 6:17, Choosing to think on that which is pure, holy, truthful, noble, right, lovely, excellent, admirable, or praiseworthy as Paul writes in Phil 4:8-9.  Reading, studying and applying God’s word daily. 

c.      This Paul says will help you know the perfect and acceptable will of God.  As we close today and

Focus on communion let us remember all that was purchased and as well remember the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Close with Roger Jarratt’s salvation and the second part of an earlier story.   Then focus on beginning new and the new era that is upon us. 

 

QUOTES FOR MAY 23, 2026

 

FROM PRISON TO PRAISE

 

From Prison to Praise – 1 Tim 4:6-8

 

This letter contains some of the last words, Paul would ever write.  Today’s message, I believe everyone should desire to say and live. 

 

Paul encourages Timothy in four areas.

 

1. To be encouraged and steadfast in the work of the Lord.
2. To combat false teaching, preach the word and pass on the message to the faithful.
3. Be willing to suffer for the truth.
4. Be a servant of Christ above reproach in a wicked world.

 

c.      In spite of his loneliness, Paul is praising the Lord.  He had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he was in.  Praise releases, peace, joy, contentment and the power of God.

 

 

Vs 6  - For I am being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure.

 

1. Paul knew he was going to die and he may have already been sentenced.  The time of my departure is at hand. 
2. He knew he was facing death so he was setting his affairs in order. 

.

Vs 7 – I have the fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

 

1. Paul had fought the world, the flesh and the devil and won.  Souls had been saved, churches established and Gentiles had been converted
2. He had finished the race.  Paul knew it was not how you started that matter but how you finished. 
3. I have kept the faith.  This is an image of faithfulness in ones stewardship of Christian truth and life. 

 

Vs 8 – Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and only to me but also all who have longed for his appearing.

 

1. There is in store for me a victor’s crown of righteousness.  The crown of Life which is given to those who faithful unto death (James 1:12.)
2. The Crown incorruptible. This is the crown given to those who finish the race.  (1 Cor 9:24-27)
3. The Crown of Rejoicing given to soul winners.  (1 Thess 2:19-20)
4. The Crown of Glory given to faithful and obedient pastors, church leaders and workers.  (1 Pet 5:2-4)
5. The crown of righteousness is a reward for righteous living.  This crown is given on the day of His appearing. 

 

Conclusion

 

               Paul has five exhortations I will close with.

 

1. Rekindle your faith, be willing to suffer and guard the truth.
2. Be, Strong, pass on this message to the faith, be a soldier and an athlete.
3. Let Jesus be your example of stability, faithfulness and steadfastness.
4. Avoid vain discussions, apostasy and continue in the faith.
5. Preach the word.