Follow the Culture or the Christ?
In Matt 16:24, Jesus said: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” NLT
Christians, Jesus requires three key actions:
First, say no to yourself vs. self denial (Jesus wants more than our giving up stuff, Jesus wants us to come under His authority).
Second, Be prepared to deal with hardship. The cross for the Christian refers to suffering and hardship for a divine purpose.
Third, Pursue Jesus. This involves reading God’s Word and understanding what God expects and out of obedience living up to God’s expectations.
These three actions are at the heart of following Jesus.
Christians, will you follow the culture, or will you follow The Christ?
God Bless,
Mtzionontario.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Monday, February 26, 2018
Choose the Most Important Things and Reduce your Stress.
Choose the Most Important Things and Reduce your Stress.
Mary and Martha often ministered to Jesus when He came to town. In the Luke 10:38-42 visit, Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him, while Martha was stressed behind the preparations she felt were necessary to host Jesus. Before you criticize Martha, think about what you would do if Jesus came to eat at your home.
Martha told on her sister and asked Jesus to make her get up and help out.
Jesus gave the profound point in the story in verses 41-42.
Instead of stressing about multiple things, identify the most important things.
Christians stop and sit at the feet of Jesus and use scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-7, to help you identify the most important things.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Mary and Martha often ministered to Jesus when He came to town. In the Luke 10:38-42 visit, Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him, while Martha was stressed behind the preparations she felt were necessary to host Jesus. Before you criticize Martha, think about what you would do if Jesus came to eat at your home.
Martha told on her sister and asked Jesus to make her get up and help out.
Jesus gave the profound point in the story in verses 41-42.
Instead of stressing about multiple things, identify the most important things.
Christians stop and sit at the feet of Jesus and use scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-7, to help you identify the most important things.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Pray for Americans Students Traumatized by Violence.
Pray for Americans Students Traumatized by Violence.
Our school-aged children must again work through the trauma of bloodshed, and death on their school campus. Imagine what they must overcome to return to school. Moreover, consider the active shooter drills American students practice today. Why? Someone, another American, is actually planning to hurt them in their place of learning.
Please keep the families from Broward County, South Florida, in your prayers, plus others still hurting from violence in America.
Moreover, let’s continue to advocate for our children and protect them from evil people and evil things.
Our national and local leaders must work to provide more security for our children, and all of us must persist in saying something if we see something.
Our children are training to compete in a global arena and they need our support.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E Kennedy, Sr.
Our school-aged children must again work through the trauma of bloodshed, and death on their school campus. Imagine what they must overcome to return to school. Moreover, consider the active shooter drills American students practice today. Why? Someone, another American, is actually planning to hurt them in their place of learning.
Please keep the families from Broward County, South Florida, in your prayers, plus others still hurting from violence in America.
Moreover, let’s continue to advocate for our children and protect them from evil people and evil things.
Our national and local leaders must work to provide more security for our children, and all of us must persist in saying something if we see something.
Our children are training to compete in a global arena and they need our support.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E Kennedy, Sr.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Follow Jesus
Follow Jesus
Now that Christmas sales are over, retailers are gearing up for “Easter” sales. Christians, retailers are running a business to make a living. We do not live with a retail or seasonal mentality. We do not party hearty and get wasted on “Fat Tuesday” then all of a sudden turn super holy on Wednesday, and then after “Easter” go back to doing what we please. Non-Christians view this as hypocritical.
Jesus did not call us to a rollercoaster Christianity, but to a love relationship characterized by following Him.
Christians, keep your practice of Christianity simply. Follow Jesus. Read through your Bible and follow the principles in our book.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Now that Christmas sales are over, retailers are gearing up for “Easter” sales. Christians, retailers are running a business to make a living. We do not live with a retail or seasonal mentality. We do not party hearty and get wasted on “Fat Tuesday” then all of a sudden turn super holy on Wednesday, and then after “Easter” go back to doing what we please. Non-Christians view this as hypocritical.
Jesus did not call us to a rollercoaster Christianity, but to a love relationship characterized by following Him.
Christians, keep your practice of Christianity simply. Follow Jesus. Read through your Bible and follow the principles in our book.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Friday, February 2, 2018
What is God Whispering in Your Ear?
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:11-30, is a vivid picture of God holding us accountable for using the gifts He entrusted to us.
Christians, let us use our God-given gifts to advance God’s kingdom. Invite someone to church or a small group, or christian concert. Take a co-worker or fellow student, etc to lunch and ask if you can pray for them during lunch. Buy food for someone in need, and pray for them. Volunteer at your local church to fill an area of need. Go on a missions trip. Do your work with excellence and when recognized, give glory to God. Pass out gospel tracts to non-Christians, and on and on.
Do something! Refuse to leave opportunities to advance the kingdom unattended.
Christians, after a day of faithful service, listen for the Lord to whisper in your ear, “well done my good and faithful servant.”
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Christians, let us use our God-given gifts to advance God’s kingdom. Invite someone to church or a small group, or christian concert. Take a co-worker or fellow student, etc to lunch and ask if you can pray for them during lunch. Buy food for someone in need, and pray for them. Volunteer at your local church to fill an area of need. Go on a missions trip. Do your work with excellence and when recognized, give glory to God. Pass out gospel tracts to non-Christians, and on and on.
Do something! Refuse to leave opportunities to advance the kingdom unattended.
Christians, after a day of faithful service, listen for the Lord to whisper in your ear, “well done my good and faithful servant.”
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Are You Looking for the Good?
Joseph, whose life story is found in Genesis 37-50, went through horrible circumstances. He was hated by 10 of his brothers, he was sold to some traders by his brothers, and then he was sold into slavery in Egypt by the traders. While working as a slave for the President’s head bodyguard, the wife, “Mrs. Potiphar” accused Joseph of attempted rape, and without any justice, he was put in the Federal Penitentiary as a sex offender. In the pen, he helped two prisoners understand their dreams, and the prisoner who was restored to his cupbearer position, forgot about Joseph for a couple years. For 13 years, Joseph went through tough trials and finally he became the Vice President of Egypt.
How did Joseph see his trials? He told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... (Gen. 50:20).
The same thought is found in Rom. 8:28.
Christians, whatever is going in your world, look for the good that God is doing.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Mtzionontario.com
How did Joseph see his trials? He told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... (Gen. 50:20).
The same thought is found in Rom. 8:28.
Christians, whatever is going in your world, look for the good that God is doing.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Mtzionontario.com
Monday, January 8, 2018
Stay on Mission
I love the story of Abraham’s servant who was sent to find a wife for Isaac.When the servant arrived among Abrahams home country, check out the servants prayer in Gen. 24:12-14
1. The servant acknowledged the God of Abraham (v. 12). Abraham influenced his servant to know and trust God.
2. The servant asked for God’s favor (v.12).
3. Out of the women who came to the well, the servant asked God to identify Isaac’s wife as the woman who gave him a drink and also volunteered to water his camels. Once Rebekah showed up and fulfilled the details in his prayer, the servant met with Rebekah’s family and asked to bring her to Isaac.
Rebekah’s brother Laban and her mom wanted to delay the servant with a 10 day visit. The servant declined and pushed to fulfill his mission (Gen. 24:56-59).
Christians, when you pray for God’s favor in doing your mission and God answers your prayer, stay on mission. People with good or bad intentions can be used to delay and even derail the completion of your mission. You must stay focused and don’t delay, keep moving, and fulfill your God given mission.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
1. The servant acknowledged the God of Abraham (v. 12). Abraham influenced his servant to know and trust God.
2. The servant asked for God’s favor (v.12).
3. Out of the women who came to the well, the servant asked God to identify Isaac’s wife as the woman who gave him a drink and also volunteered to water his camels. Once Rebekah showed up and fulfilled the details in his prayer, the servant met with Rebekah’s family and asked to bring her to Isaac.
Rebekah’s brother Laban and her mom wanted to delay the servant with a 10 day visit. The servant declined and pushed to fulfill his mission (Gen. 24:56-59).
Christians, when you pray for God’s favor in doing your mission and God answers your prayer, stay on mission. People with good or bad intentions can be used to delay and even derail the completion of your mission. You must stay focused and don’t delay, keep moving, and fulfill your God given mission.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
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