Drawing CLOSER

January 22nd, 2024
by Pastor Randy Eliason
1
We are already three weeks into 2024, can you believe it? As I was praying for our church family as we began the new year, the Lord placed a specific word on my heart for our church. That word is CLOSER. I began to pray that God will draw each of us CLOSER to him and CLOSER to each other. 

The Holy Spirit wants to move us beyond the status quo level of intimacy with Jesus and draw closer to himself. The Holy Spirit also wants to take us beyond status quo, superficial, relationships with our brothers and sisters into closer, intimate, Christ-centered, life-giving relationships.

In order to achieve the first part - the call to grow closer to Jesus – I am inviting everyone who calls Calvary Church home to join us as we embark on a life-changing journey through the Gospel of Matthew in 64 days, starting January 28 and concluding on Resurrection Sunday, March 31.  We have created a daily scripture reading and meditation plan for us to engage in together using the SOAP Bible study method. SOAP is a simple method to follow which helps Christians develop a daily habit of reading the Bible and applying it to your life.  

You will find resources on this page that you can download to enrich your journey. Click on the video to learn more so you can be prepared to start SOAPing with us through Matthew.

I believe you will find this daily habit to  be life transforming as it brings you closer to Jesus.    

-    Pastor Randy
Posted in Book of Matthew
Posted in Drawing closer to God, Introduction to SOAP

Pastor Randy Eliason

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Cathrine - January 30th, 2024 at 12:23am

Matthew 1:1-25

VV 1-17, Outstanding is that Matthew follows the legal Jewish system in giving the genealogy of the "father".If the Jewish opponents of Jesus could have demonstrated that He was not descended from David, they would have disqualified His claim to be the Messiah, yet they did not and could not.

Matthew demonstrate Jesus' royal lineage "Son of David" and His link with the founder of the Jewish race "Son of Abraham"

Matthew continues in vv18-25, his fulfillment statement declares the famous Isaiah 7:14- prophesy of Christ's virgin birth, Jesus's miraculous birth, a virgin conceives and bear a Son who will be called Emmanuel "God is with Us"

Christianity doctrine stands at the very heart of the Lord's Person and saving work. Without the virgin birth there would be no salvation for sinners, of whom I am the first one. Jesus would be a sinful human being.



V21 brings all this home.

This is very encouraging to me to be reminded of " the power of The Holy Spirit" It was by the power of The Holy Spirit that Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb.



As a christian disciple I must learn to live within the tension of two ages, the present age of fulfillment in the Person of Jesus (in His words and works through His church by the Holy Spirit's

power) and the Age to come, that is the consummation of all things.

I am called to be humble, patient, genuine, faithful, watchful, and responsible.



It is my prayer that God give me the divine courage to be obedient , and trust His Plan.

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Archive

 2024
 January
Drawing CLOSER Day 1: January 28Day 2: January 29Day 3: January 30Day 4: January 31
 February
Day 5: February 1Day 6: February 2Day 7: February 3Day 8: February 4Day 9: February 5Day 10: February 6Day 11: February 7Day 12: February 8Day 13: February 9Day 14: February 10Day 15: February 11Day 16: February 12Day 17: February 13Day 18: February 14Day 19: February 15Day 20: February 16Day 21: February 17Day 22: February 18Day 23: February 19Day 24: February 20Day 25: February 21Day 26: February 22Day 27: February 23Day 28: February 24Day 29: February 25Day 30: February 26Day 31: February 27Day 32: February 28Day 33: February 29
 March
Day 34: March 1Day 35: March 2Day 36: March 3Day 37: March 4Day 38: March 5Day 39: March 6Day 40: March 7Day 41: March 8Day 43: March 10Day 44: March 11Day 45: March 12Day 46: March 13Day 47: March 14Day 48: March 15Day 49: March 16Day 50: March 17Day 51: March 18Day 52: March 19Day 53: March 20Day 54: March 21Day 55: March 22Day 57: March 24Day 58: March 25Day 59: March 26Day 60: March 27Day 61: March 28Day 62: March 29Day 63: March 30Day 64: March 31
 September
Reading Plan : Paul's letter to the Romans0. Background: The Social and Cultural Context in Romans1. Romans 1:1-7 - Introduction and the Gospel2. Romans 1:8-17 - Paul’s Thanksgiving and The Power of the Gospel. The righteous shall live by faith? - Roman 1:17 3: Romans 1:18-23 - The Revelation of God’s Wrath and Human IdolatryUnderstanding the Indictment of Homosexual Conduct in Romans 1:24-284. Romans 1:24-32 - Human Sin and Degradation 5. Romans 2:1-11 - God’s Impartial Judgment6. Romans 2:12-29 - The Law and Its Limitations7. Romans 3:1-8 - The Law and God’s Faithfulness8. Romans 3:9-20 - All Under Sin9. Romans 3:21-31 - Righteousness Through Faith and the Law’s Role 10. Romans 4:1-8 - Abraham’s Faith and Justification11. Romans 4:9-17 - The Righteousness of Faith and Abraham’s Faith12. Romans 4:18-25 - Abraham’s Faith and God’s Promise13. Romans 5:1-5 - Peace and Hope Through Faith
 October
14. Romans 5:6-11 - The Assurance of Salvation Through Christ’s Death15. Romans 5:12-17 - The Role of Adam and Christ16. Romans 5:18-21 - The Contrast of Sin and Grace17. Romans 6:1-14 - Death to Sin and New Life18. Romans 6:15-23 - The Results of Sin and the Fruit of Righteousness 19. Romans 7:1-6 - The Law and Relationship with Christ 20. Romans 7:7-13 - The Law and Sin 21. Romans 7:14-25 - The Struggle Between Sin and Righteousness
 November
22. Romans 8:1-11 - The Work of the Spirit and Christian Freedom23. Romans 8:12-17 - Walking in the Spirit: Embracing Suffering on the Path to Glory

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