Faith Alive Church - Sunday Message

The Day of Pentecost

Joshua Boyd Series Context *  Part of A Walk Through the Bible *  Focus on how Old Testament feasts point directly to Jesus and the Church  God Is a God of Order *  Numbers, timelines, and feasts throughout Scripture matter  *  The Old Testament wasn’t written just as history  > “All these things happened as examples for us.” The Three Major Feasts God instructed Israel to celebrate: 1.  Passover / Unleavened Bread  2.  Feast of Firstfruits  3.  Feast of Final Harvest (Pentecost)  These weren’t random holidays:  ➡️ They prophetically pointed to Jesus. Jesus Fulfilled the Feasts Passover *  Jesus entered Jerusalem  *  The Lamb prepared for sacrifice  Unleavened Bread *  Jesus crucified and buried  *  Unleavened bread represented purity and no sin  Firstfruits *  Resurrection Sunday  *  Jesus became the firstfruits of a new kind of humanity  The Seed Principle A seed must: *  Be planted  *  Die  *  Then produce new life  Jesus: *  Died  *  Was buried  *  Rose again with a glorified body  ➡️ The first human body resurrected into eternal life Why Pentecost Matters Pentecost = 50 days after Passover Originally: *  Feast of Final Harvest  Spiritually: *  Jesus was the Firstfruit  * Believers are the Final Harvest The Meaning of the Yeast Most sacrifices: *  Required bread without yeast (symbol of purity)  But Pentecost was different: *  God specifically commanded bread WITH yeast  Why? *  Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice  *  Because of Him, imperfect people can now carry God’s Spirit  ➡️ The Spirit of God can now dwell in flawed humanity Before vs After Pentecost Old Testament *  Spirit came upon people temporarily  After Jesus *  Spirit lives inside believers permanently  Acts 2 — The Fulfillment On Pentecost: *  Wind filled the room  *  Tongues of fire appeared  *  Believers were filled with the Holy Spirit  This connected to: *  Moses and the burning bush  *  Fire on Mount Sinai  *  God’s presence descending  But now: *  The fire no longer consumed  *  It indwelled  Christ Is the Reality The Old Testament was always pointing to Him. What Pentecost Means for Us Because of Jesus: *  We become new creations  *  God’s Spirit lives within us  *  We can walk daily with God  *  We have direct access to His presence  The Holy of Holies Is Open In the tabernacle: *  Only the high priest could enter once a year  Now: *  Every believer can enter God’s presence anytime  Final Takeaways *  Jesus fulfilled the feasts  *  Pentecost was always part of God’s plan  *  We are the “final harvest”  *  The Holy Spirit is not just with us—but in us  Closing Encouragement Don’t stop at salvation alone. There is: *  New life through Jesus  *  AND fullness through the Holy Spirit  > The same God who descended in fire now desires to dwell within His people.

Modern Christianity (Part 3) — The Power of Testimony and Revelation in Scripture

Dr. Jordon Gilmore In Part 3 of the Modern Christianity series, Dr. Gilmore  continues exploring the 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost. This short but powerful period gives us a blueprint for modern faith, showing how believers grow through doubt, faith, testimony, Scripture, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Key Theme: Two essential parts of Christian life are the power of testimony and revelation in Scripture. Testimony is more than reporting what happened. It is a kingdom tool God uses to strengthen faith, encourage others, and point people to Jesus. Revelation in Scripture is more than gaining knowledge. It is the Holy Spirit opening our understanding so we can see Christ more clearly throughout the Word. This compares to a charger. The power is available, but testimony and Scripture help connect our faith to that power. Mary Magdalene and the Women at the Tomb In Matthew 28, the angel tells the women, “He is risen,” then immediately sends them to tell the disciples. Jesus Himself also appears to them and repeats the instruction: go and tell. This marks a shift. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He often told people not to spread the news of miracles. But after the resurrection, the command becomes urgent: go testify. The women obeyed even though they were afraid. Their message sounded impossible—Jesus was alive, and the disciples needed to go to Galilee. Yet they went in faith. Their example reminds us that our call to testify is immediate and urgent, even when we feel fear, uncertainty, or concern about being misunderstood. The Road to Emmaus In Luke 24, two followers walk with Jesus without recognizing Him. As He opens the Scriptures to them, their hearts begin to burn. When they finally recognize Him in the breaking of bread, they immediately return seven miles to Jerusalem to tell the others. Their testimony became a natural response to encountering Christ. They were tired, discouraged, and confused—but once they recognized Jesus, urgency replaced weariness. Testimony Builds Faith When we share what God has done, it strengthens others. Someone else’s testimony may help us believe until we have our own encounter. Then we become the ones encouraging others. Testimony creates a chain reaction in the body of Christ. Revelation in Scripture Jesus did not always reveal Himself immediately. On the road to Emmaus, He first opened the Scriptures. This shows that faith often grows as God connects the dots for us through His Word. Mature faith moves beyond knowing isolated Bible stories. It begins to see how all of Scripture points to Christ and how God’s plan connects to our lives today. The Role of the Holy Spirit John 16:13 says the Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth. John 14:26 says the Holy Spirit will teach us and bring Jesus’ words to remembrance. We are not left to understand Scripture on our own. The Holy Spirit helps open the Word and apply it to our lives. Not every Bible reading moment feels dramatic. Sometimes Scripture is like a simple meal—daily nourishment. Other times, it feels like a feast. But both are necessary for spiritual growth. Call to Action Matthew 28:18–20 gives the Great Commission: go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. This was the plan from the moment Jesus rose, and it is still the plan today. Final Reflection: Who are you telling about what God has done? How is your understanding of Scripture growing? Testimony and revelation should both be active in our walk with Christ.

Mothers & the Heart of God

Joshua Boyd God’s First Command: Be Fruitful From Genesis: *  God created everything with:  *  A purpose  *  A seed  *  A mechanism to multiply  > “Be fruitful and multiply” *  Blessing in the Bible is always connected to:  *  Increase  *  Fruitfulness  *  Multiplication  Why Woman Was Created Differently *  Adam was formed from dust  *  Animals were formed from the earth  *  Woman was uniquely constructed from man Why? *  To complete the blessing  *  To complete the image of God  *  To provide the mechanism for fruitfulness  ➡️ Woman completed what was missing Mothers Complete the Blessing *  Without Eve, Adam could not fulfill:  *  “Be fruitful and multiply”  *  Mothers are not just child-bearers  *  Women carry:  *  Nurture  *  Comfort  *  Multiplication  *  The heart of God in the home  God’s Nature Reflected in Mothers Isaiah compares God’s comfort to a mother comforting a child. The Pattern in Scripture Again and again: *  Mothers prayed  *  Mothers interceded  *  Mothers carried faith for their children  Examples: *  Hannah praying for Samuel  *  Samson’s mother receiving the angelic message  *  The Shunammite woman  *  Mary receiving the promise of Jesus  ➡️ God often spoke to the mothers first Jesus and Mothers One powerful story: *  Jesus saw a widow mourning her dead son  *  She didn’t ask for a miracle  *  Jesus initiated it out of compassion  > “Jesus gave him back to his mother” ➡️ Jesus sees a mother’s heart Encouragement to Moms *  Don’t stop praying for your children  *  Even if they’ve wandered  *  God hears the prayers of mothers  *  Your heart for your children reflects God’s heart  Honor Your Father and Mother *  One of the most repeated commands in Scripture  *  Also the only command tied to a promise:  *  Long life  Honoring parents honors: *  The role God created  *  The image of God placed within them  Women in the Resurrection Story *  Women first received:  *  The announcement of Jesus’ birth  *  The news of Jesus’ resurrection  *  Women were present at:  *  The empty tomb  *  Pentecost  ➡️ God consistently honored women in key moments of redemption Final Truths *  Women are created intentionally  *  Mothers reflect the nurturing heart of God  *  Men and women together reveal the image of God  *  Mothers help complete the blessing in the home  Closing Encouragement To every mother and spiritual mother: *  You are seen  *  You are valued  *  You are created with purpose  *  Your prayers matter  *  Your nurturing reflects the very heart of God  > “Be fruitful and multiply” is still part of God’s blessing today.

Modern Christianity (Part 2) — When Doubt Meets Faith

Dr. Jordon Gilmore Big Idea *  Doubt and faith often coexist  * Matthew 28:17: “They worshiped Him, but some doubted”  *  Even in powerful encounters with Jesus, doubt can remain  Key Truths About Doubt 1.  God is not surprised by your doubt  2.  God is not intimidated by your doubt  3.  Doubt does not disqualify you from God’s call  4.  Unchecked doubt leads to hardness of heart 5.  Doubt must submit to faith to move forward  What Is Doubt? *  A natural response based on observations and expectations *  Not sin by itself—but must be addressed  *  Two main sources:  * Fear → “I’m afraid to trust God”  * Cynicism → “I won’t risk being disappointed again”  Faith Defined * Hebrews 11:1: “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see”  *  Contrast:  *  Doubt = based on what we see *  Faith = anchored in what we cannot see Context: Why the Disciples Doubted * John 20:19: They were hiding behind locked doors out of fear  *  Their doubt was shaped by:  *  Trauma (crucifixion)  *  Fear of persecution  *  Broken expectations  Pattern: How Jesus Handles Doubt 1. Women at the tomb *  Afraid → Angel says “Don’t be afraid”  *  Act in faith → Jesus meets them  2. Disciples *  Hear testimony → don’t believe  3. Road to Emmaus *  Jesus explains Scripture → reveals Himself  *  They respond → go tell others (not believed)  4. Jesus appears to disciples *  Addresses fear directly: “Why are you frightened?”  *  Shows physical proof → eats with them  5. Thomas *  Doubt from disappointment  *  Jesus meets him personally → “Don’t be faithless, believe”  Key Insight: Jesus Meets Every Doubt *  Over 40 days, Jesus intentionally addresses:  *  Fear  *  Confusion  *  Disappointment  *  He doesn’t avoid doubt—He engages it The Galilee Moment (Faith in Action) *  Jesus calls people to travel ~100 miles to Galilee  *  Some go by faith (before seeing Him)  *  Over 500 witnesses gather (1 Corinthians 15:6)  *  Even then: some worship, some doubt  The Commission Still Stands *  Despite doubt, Jesus gives everyone the mission:  *  “Go and make disciples…”  *  “I am with you always”  *  He doesn’t exclude doubters—He includes them  Final Movement: From Doubt to Power *  Jesus sends them back to Jerusalem  *  Command: Wait for the Holy Spirit *  Faith + Holy Spirit = ability to fulfill the mission  Takeaways *  Doubt is natural—but not meant to stay  *  Jesus meets you in your doubt  *  Faith grows when doubt is surrendered  *  You are still called—even while growing  *  The Holy Spirit empowers what faith begins  Closing Thought Don’t settle into doubt. Let Jesus meet you there—and lead you into belief.

A Walk Through the Bible - Part 5 - Everything is the Same...Or Is It?

Joshua Boyd Series Context *  Part of A Walk Through the Bible *  Core truth: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever *  Not two different Gods (OT vs NT)  *  Justice has always existed—Jesus changed how judgment is paid Humanity Hasn’t Changed *  Sin existed before the Law (Cain & Abel)  *  Pattern throughout history:  *  Sin → Judgment → Repentance → Rescue  *  Seen clearly in Judges (repeated cycles)  *  Ecclesiastes: “Nothing new under the sun” Two Cycles 1. God’s Cycle (Life Cycle) *  Sin  *  Judgment  *  Repentance  *  Rescue  2. Death Cycle *  Sin → Judgment → Sin → Judgment (no repentance)  God’s Character in the Cycle * Merciful * Compassionate * Slow to anger *  Gives repeated opportunities to repent  Delay of judgment ≠ lack of justice It is mercy Why Judgment Seems Delayed *  God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2)  *  If judgment were instant:  *  None of us would stand  *  What we see as delay = God giving time to repent  Perspective Problem *  We often say:  *  “This is the worst it’s ever been”  *  Reality:  *  Humanity has always had extreme evil  *  God sees all of history:  *  Our “worst moment” = a tiny blip Biblical Example: The Flood *  Humanity became:  *  “Consistently and totally evil”  *  Judgment came—but only after time to repent  * One man (Noah) completed the cycle *  Faith + obedience = rescue  One person’s obedience can impact generations God’s Nature (Key Truth) *  God is:  *  Slow to anger  *  Full of unfailing love  *  Eager to forgive  He is not looking to punish—He’s looking to rescue Jonah & Nineveh Lesson *  Jonah wanted judgment  *  God showed mercy when people repented  *  Jonah got angry  ➡️ Lesson: *  We often want justice for others  *  But mercy for ourselves  Why We Shouldn’t Judge *  We don’t see:  *  The full story  *  Private repentance  Eternal Perspective *  This world is temporary  *  God’s Word is eternal (Matthew 24:35)  *  Solomon’s mistake:  *  Focused on temporary things → found emptiness  ➡️ True meaning = eternal focus “Where Is God?” Question *  People have always asked this (2 Peter 3)  *  Answer:  *  God is not slow  * He is patient > “He does not want anyone to perish, but all to repent” Time Perspective Delay = opportunity Final Encouragement *  Stay in the full cycle *  When you sin → repent quickly  *  Trust God:  *  Judgment is just  *  Mercy is available  *  Reward is coming