Happy Mother’s Day. In today’s society, it’s easy to overlook mothers and their importance in the family when society continuously tells us that to be a mother is an easy and/or pointless job. But what exactly is a mother? And what is the role of a mother? And is a mother important in the family? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of mothers in his Mother’s Day message, Carry Him to His Mother.
Carry Him to His Mother
18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
2 Kings 4:18-19
During the time of Elisha, there was a Shunammite woman who had no son, and her husband was old, but every time Elisha was in her area, she fed him and even built a room special for him. So, as a thank you, Elisha blessed her with a son. Now, when the child had grown, one day he hurt his head, immediately the father told the servant to carry him to his mother. Why? Because the father knew that mothers had the intuition from God about what to do for their children and how to take care of them. It was because of this that Elisha was able to raise the boy from the dead and give the woman her son back.
This is the day that we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday) is three days after the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. And with His death, He purchased the souls of men with His own blood, and with His resurrection on the third day, He gave us eternal life. But before He could get to the resurrection, He had to go through the death and torture on the cross. The constant reminder of the price that He would have to pay for the redemption of the souls of mankind weighed on His shoulders. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the True price Jesus paid for our sins in His Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday) message, Now Is My Soul Troubled.
John 12:27–36 Luke 22:39–46 John 3:16
Now Is My Soul Troubled
Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Every year the Church celebrates Palm Sunday, the Triumphal (Triumphant) Entry of Jesus. While we may call this the Triumphal Entry and celebrate it yearly, many of us have no idea why we refer to this event as the Triumphant Entry. What was the purpose of this event, and why is it so important to the Church? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the hidden meanings behind this event in his message, Humble and Riding on a Donkey.
28 And when He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”
32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as He rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.
37 As He was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
So many people say they know what love is. They use phrases like love is love but never define what love is, so no one can really learn from this phrase. So, what is love? If we can’t define love, how can we show love? What does the Bible say about love? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the true meaning of love in his message, What Is Real Love?
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a (NIV) Mark 12:30–31 Luke 6:32–36 John 3:16
What Is Real Love?
Definition of love
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
How To Love?
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:15-17
The Love of God
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16-18
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.
John 10:11-18
Next Steps
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Today is National Religious Freedom Day; it’s a day when we acknowledge and celebrate the freedom of religion that is written into our constitution. This luxury is not found in any other country. So, why does it feel like our society today is very keen on giving up our religious freedom? Are we just destined to join the Persecuted Church? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the dangers of losing our religious freedom and so much more in his message, Remember Me.
Matthew 24:9–12 1 Corinthians 13:1–3
Remember Me
Remember the Persecuted Church
Today we still have freedom that the early Church didn’t; don’t let that religious freedom come to an end. Don’t give it up, lest we too join in the persecuted Church. And for as long as there is a Church, we must pray for the persecuted Church, for prayer is our greatest weapon.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Websites to Partner with to Fight the Good Fight of Religious Freedom
We often talk about the slavery of the past. We make movies, songs, slogans, t-shirts, etc. about it, but we don’t really talk about the present slavery that takes place worldwide. The vile slavery of human trafficking is prevalent in our world today. It affects millions of people every single day, yet there doesn’t seem to be much anyone is doing to stop it. Is it our job to do something about it, or is this just out of our hands? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shines a light on the darkness of sex trafficking in his fiery message, Speak Up for the Least of These.
Proverbs 31:8–9 (NIV) Revelation 18:11–13
Speak Up For the Least of These
The sex trafficking industry is one of the most financially lucrative crimes to get involved in. So many lives have been destroyed because of this evil. We have an obligation as humans, to help those who have been the victim of this horrible and vile practice. Look at what Jesus told us about taking care of others.
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:40
Human Trafficking Stats
Louis-based Missouri Eastern District, said there has been a tremendous uptick in the number of children being recruited online for sexual purposes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Jansen, a former FBI agent, said 83 percent of prosecuted defendants last year used the internet as a means of solicitation.
In honor of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, join us this January for a month of awareness to end human trafficking.
How To Get Involved?
1. Wherever you are, walk, run, or cycle this January to raise awareness about human trafficking in your community. Share your miles completed on social media with the hashtag #MovetoEndHT
2. Pledge $ per mile for someone you know participating this January, or follow Dr. Sandra Morgan on her goal of completing 100 miles in January to raise awareness about human trafficking.
3. Listen and learn about human trafficking by tuning into 31 Days to End Human Trafficking with the Ending Human Trafficking podcast on Instagram at @eht_podcast
Throughout Scripture, the second coming of Jesus is prophesied. From the prophets of old to the apostles to Jesus Himself, there are prophecies after prophecies of the second coming of Jesus. We get closer and closer to His return with every generation, yet the Messiah hasn’t returned yet. So, is the return of Jesus Christ something to worry about; will it happen in our lifetime? or is the return of Jesus Christ something far off that won’t happen in our lifetime? Is Jesus even coming back? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the promises of Jesus in his message, Hold Fast.
Revelation 3:11 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 Philippians 4:1 Luke 16:16 Revelation 4:4 Revelation 4:9-10 Revelation 22:7 Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) John 13:34-35 Revelation 22:12 Revelation 22:20 2 Peter 3:9-10 Revelation 22:17
Hold Fast
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
What are the prophecies of Jesus’ second coming?
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:29-31
The Great Tribulation is initiated during the time of the Man of Lawlessness, which Paul confirms in the verse below. This is one of the biggest and most important signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
According to both Paul and Jesus Himself, the second coming of Jesus Christ will not come until after the Great Tribulation. This is one of the great signs that Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets of old have given us.
After Christmas Day, we tend to move on and forget the Birth of Christ because of the rush of cleaning up the mess of the presents/gifts and preparing for the coming new year. As the year moves on, we slowly forget more and more, until December 1st comes around again, then suddenly we are all about the Birth of Christ. But is this the way it should be? Is the day after Christmas as important as Christmas Day? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the importance of the story of the Wise Men in his message, ‘Tis The Season: Twas The Day After Christmas.
Matthew 2:1–6 Matthew 2:11 (KJV) Matthew 2:16 (KJV) Daniel 5:10–12 Matthew 2:7 2 Timothy 3:5 2 Timothy 3:10–12 John 4:35–38
Twas The Day After Christmas
The Day After Christmas: The Story of the Wise Men
Many believe that the Wise Men came to find the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, but this isn’t actually the case. They arrived, if you will, the day after Christmas.
Their Encounter with King Herod
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Matthew 2:1-6
Their Encounter with The Messiah
This is how we know for sure that the Wise Men encountered Jesus after He was grown a little. This had to be, if you will, the day after Christmas because Jesus was a child living in a house with His two parents.
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Matthew 2:7-12
Today is the day after Christmas, are you still seeking Him?
Happy Christmas Sunday! Christmas is about the promise of the Messiah being fulfilled. The prophets prophesied that the Messiah (Jesus) would receive an everlasting kingdom with eternal dominion. Every prophecy was tied into one, Immanuel. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he explains biblical mysteries in his Christmas Message, ‘Tis The Season: O Little Town of Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:6 John 7:14 John 6:35 Joshua 19:14–16 John 1:5 John 8:12 Isaiah 9:6–7 Micah 4:8 Matthew 28:18b Genesis 49:10KJV Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 7:15–17 Exodus 28:31–32NIV Matthew 26:65 Isaiah 7:14
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Prophecy of Jesus’ in Bethlehem
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Micah 5:2
This prophecy stirred the writing of the Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem:
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see Thee lie Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in Thee tonight
Jesus’ Authority
Jesus, through His earthly ancestry, has the right to sit on David’s throne, and through His heavenly ancestry, that is His deity, He has the right to sit on the Father’s throne with Him. So, Jesus has inherited the former and the ever-present dominion.
Christmas is the season of hope and good news. The joy of the birth of the Son of God, but do we take the time to share the good news of Christ? Is it even important for us to share the good news of Christ? Isn’t it the pastor’s job to preach and teach the Gospel? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he shares the importance of the Great Commission in his message, ‘Tis The Season: Our Christmas Mandate.
Luke 2:8–20 Luke 2:10b-12 Luke 2:15–16 Luke 2:17–18 John 1:35–42 Mark 16:15 Romans 10:14–15 Luke 2:12
Our Christmas Mandate
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Romans 10:14-15
This is our Christmas mandate. For as the Shepherds were told of the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ and shared all they have seen and heard, so are we to go and share all we have seen and heard.
