Song & Sword

Leaven Your World Today - Luke 13: 20-21 20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

Three Things You Should Know Today - Ephesians 1:16-20 16 cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

The Church The World Needs Now - Episode #17 A Unhindered Church - Acts 28:11-16 11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 14 where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. 15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage. Paul in Rome 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. BOLDNESS IN THE CHURCH MAKES THE CHURCH BOLDER o Paul took courage (vs. 15, 20; Romans 1:16, 16:3&4) o Paul welcomed all (Philippians 1:14ff; Colossians 4:7-14; Philippians 1:1; Philemon; Philemon 1:24; Philippians 2:25-30) A BOLDLY PROCLAIMING CHURCH CANNOT BE STOPPED o Can’t stop the Word of God (v 31; Ephesians 6:19-20; II Timothy 2:9) o Can’t stop the work of God (v. 16; Philippians 1:12; Philemon; Philippians 1:13) Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify @songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

God May be Trying to Get Our Attention - Amos 4:7-8 7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 8 So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

Two Reasons Not to be Bitter - Ruth 1:19-22 19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

The Lamb of God - John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

The Smell of Victory - 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

A Glory Word for God - Romans 16:25-27 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

God’s Details - Exodus 26:26-30 26 And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward. 28 And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end. 29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold. 30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

The Church The World Needs Now - Episode #16 A Vulnerable Church - Acts 20:17-32 Miletus 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. OUTLINE: FIERCE WOLVES MAKE THE CHURCH VULNERABLE (Amos 3:12, vs. 29, I Corinthians 15:32) o There will be “outsider” wolves (“…fierce wolves will come in among you…” v. 29, Matthew 10:16, vs. 19 & 23) o There will be “insider” wolves (“…and from among your own selves…” v. 30, Matthew 7:15) BIBLE WAYS TO DETECT WOLVES 1. By their fruit (Matthew 7:16a) 2. Do or say things to harm Christians (Matthew 10:16) 3. Unwilling to sacrifice (John 10:12) 4. They twist Jesus’ words (v. 30, II Peter 2:1-4 - sensuality) 5. It’s about them (v. 30, II Peter 2:1-4 - greedy) SHEPHERD STRATEGIES FOR PROTECTING A VULNERABLE CHURCH o Pay careful attention (vs. 20 & 27, I Timothy 4:15&16) o Finish your course (v. 24, I Corinthians 9:24-27, II Timothy 4:7, II Timothy 1:6) o God’s church. God’s grace. God’s word. (Revelation 2:1ff) Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify @songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

Called to Bless - 1 Peter 3:8-12 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For He that will love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, And his ears are open unto their prayers: But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

The Church The World Needs Now - VISION SUNDAY Song of Grace, Sword of Truth - Psalm 149, Live Sunday Sermon 1 Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. 3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. 5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds. 6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, 7 to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, 8 to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, 9 to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people. Praise the Lord. A SONG OF PRAISE TO THE GOD WHO HAS SAVED US (vs. 1-6a) o A new song (Psalm 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 144:9; Revelation 5:9, 14:3) o Adorned with salvation (Grace – Ephesians 2:4-9) A SWORD OF TRUTH TO REPRESENT GOD IN BATTLE (vs. 6b-9) o Battles to bind kings and kingdoms for justice o Spiritual battles (II Corinthians 6:7, 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:11-12; I Corinthians 15:55-57) SONG AND SWORD CHURCH VISION: WE WILL PROCLAIM JESUS WITH A SONG OF GRACE AND THE SWORD OF TRUTH WE PROCLAIM JESUS (John 1:14&17, 3:16-17; Matthew 16:16; John 14:6; Romans 6:1-4; I Corinthians 15:3&4; Acts 2:38) WE SING A SONG OF GRACE (Psalm 32:1&2; Luke 19:10; Acts 15:11; Romans5:17; Ephesians 2:4-10;I John 1:9) WE BEAR THE SWORD OF TRUTH (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:18-25; I Corinthians 13:6; Ephesians 4:15, 6:14&17; I Timothy 3:15) Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify @songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

Standing on The Shores of The Unknown - Exodus 14:13-14 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

God’s Bride - Ephesians 5:22-32 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

How Much Did Jesus Pay For You? - Hebrews 9:11 & 12 11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

Looking To The Eternal So That Grace May Extend More And More - 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. . . Please Visit us at www.songandsword.com #church #jesus

Can Your God do This - Psalm 115:1-9 1 Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. 2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. 9 All you Israelites, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield. . . Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify: msha.ke/songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

The Church The World Needs Now - Episode 12 Sending Church - Acts 13:1-4, Sunday Sermon 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. On Cyprus 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. Outline: • A SENDING CHURCH IS FIRST A TEACHING, WORSHIPING, AND FASTING CHURCH o Five guys (prophets and teachers – v. 1, see Acts 11:27-30) o Worshiping and fasting church (John 4:24, Matthew 4:2) • THE SENDING AGENT OF A SENDING CHURCH IS THE HOLY SPIRIT o “the Holy Spirit said…” (vs. 2b, 4, Acts 16:15-16) o The work to which I have called them (v 2b, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 2:10, Acts 9:15-16) • A SENDING CHURCH SENDS STRATEGICALLY WITH PRAYER, FASTING, AND BLESSING o Laying on of hands (v. 3) o First steps (Seleucia to Cyprus – Acts 14:24-28)

Strengthen Yourself in God - 1 Samuel 30:3-6 3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. . . Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify: msha.ke/songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

The Manifold Works of God - Psalm 104:24 4 How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. . . Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify: msha.ke/songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

Join Us Online - Sunday at 9am CST Invite a friend over, a family member or a new neighbor! However you watch just have fun and get in the word of God. Worship with us as we continue through the Book of Acts this Sunday. visit us at www.songandsword.com • . #christianity #jesus

The Most Powerful Message - 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. . . Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify: msha.ke/songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

A Picture of Cross Bearing - Luke 23:26 The Crucifixion of Jesus 26As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. . . #christianity #jesus #christian #bible #songofgrace #swordoftruth #sundaysermon #churchonline #bookofacts #dailydevotion #actsseries #gospel #bibleverse #holyspirit #godisgood #miraclesstillhappen #fiveminutesaday #dailychurch #scripture #blessed #worship #biblestudy #grace #songandsword #religion #jesussaves #devotional #jesuslovesyou #peace #miketalks . . Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify: msha.ke/songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

Seek Three Things - Zephaniah 2:1-3 Judah and Jerusalem Judged Along With the Nations Judah Summoned to Repent 1 Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, 2 before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you. 3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. . . Visit us at: www.songandsword.com Listen on Spotify: msha.ke/songandsword #dailydevotional #churchonline

Join Us Live - Sunday August 20th at 9am CST Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington IL Bring a group of friends, a family member, maybe a new neighbor! However you watch just have fun and get in the word of God. Worship with us on this Vision Sunday as we look to the future of Song & Sword visit us at www.songandsword.com • . #christianity #jesus