spiritual gifts

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John Mark was at the centre of the dispute between Paul and Barnabas. What led to that, and what happened afterward that made Paul praise John Mark as one of his chief comforts and helpers? And what can we learn from Mark’s story, and the fact that he eventually wrote the gospel that bears his name?

Acts 15:36-41 (NLT) ; 使 徒 行 傳 15:36-41 (CUVS)

You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Or, you can get real-time audio captions when you listen with these apps:

Image by Johan Bolhuis from Pixabay

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Balaam was a prophet who used his gift to earn money by uttering blessings and curses. (Yes, that used to be a thing.) He also had a donkey, who was wiser than he was.

2 Peter 2:12-16 (NLT) ; 彼 得 後 書 2:12-16 (CUVS)
Numbers 22:4-6 (NLT) ; 民 數 記 22:4-6 (CUVS)

You can read more of Balaam’s story here:
Numbers 22-24 (NLT) ; 民 數 記 22-24 (CUVS)

You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Image by Ansgar Scheffold from Pixabay

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Pastor Ryan’s sermon “You Will Receive Power” says that the power we are given through the Holy Spirit is more than just for the doing of mighty miracles (although that is a significant part of that power). We have power to love and to be disciplined in our study and journey of faith. We have power to lean into, without fear, the gifts of the Spirit that God gives us.

2 Timothy 1:5-8 (NLT) / 提 摩 太 後 書 1:5-8 (CUVS)
Acts 1:6-8 (NLT) / 使 徒 行 傳 1:6-8 (CUVS)

Here is a PDF of Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript) for you to download.

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

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Pastor Ryan’s sermon “The Lord Needs It” talks about the donkey that Jesus rode when he entered Jerusalem the week before the Passover. In particular, it talks about what the Lord needed from the owner of the donkey, and now, from us.

Zechariah 9:9-10, 16-17 (NLT) / 撒 迦 利 亞 9:9-10, 16-17 (CUVS)
Mark 11:1-11 (NLT) / 馬 可 福 音 11:1-11 (CUVS)

Here is a PDF of Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript) for you to download.

Photo by TS Sergey on Unsplash

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Contrarians Guide to Knowing God

October 27, 2019 – Pastor Ryan Emmons
A Contrarian’s Guide to Knowing God
#3: You Don’t Need Someone Else’s Habits or Gifts

Proverbs 6:16-19 ; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

箴 言 6:16-19 ; 歌 林 多 前 書 12:12-20

For further thought and reflection:

Spend some time this week thinking about and identifying your gifts. Don’t limit yourself to the “traditional” spiritual gifts, but think also about things that you are good at or enjoy doing. Celebrate the unique way God has built you and ask Him to show you the opportunities He’s made available for you to use those gifts.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”            ~ Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
因 为 你 们 立 志 行 事 都 是 神 在 你 们 心 里 运 行 ， 为 要 成 就 他 的 美 意 。                                           ~ 腓 立 比 書2:13 (CUVS)

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash.com