Author: Barbara Markham

“Following in His Footsteps” – Advent Reflections 2016 – 4th Sunday

Barbara Markham

4th Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2016

“Light to the Captives”

“I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison.” Isaiah 42:6-7

Isaiah wrote this to describe God’s purpose for His coming Messiah.

With these words, God equaled the playing field for mankind. In spite of the special relationship God had provided for the Jews, in Isaiah’s time they were living in spiritual darkness. In this way they were no different than their gentile neighbors, who had never experienced the light of God’s truth in the first place.

Every man was living in the dark prison of his own spiritual blindness.

Then Jesus came onto to the scene, springing open the prison doors and setting the captives free.

There are many miracles in the Bible, but out of every prophet or servant granted the power to do miracles in the thousands of years of biblical record, there was only one man who made the blind see. Those physical healings were an unmistakable sign that Jesus was the promised Messiah, described hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah as the One who would open blind eyes.

As wonderful as those miracles were, they were a mere metaphor for what He was ultimately sent to do: to bring mankind from the domain of spiritual darkness into the Kingdom of Light. “You will know the truth,” Jesus told his disciples, “and the truth will make you free.”

(Light candle)

As His light-bearers, we illuminate the darkness around us by living as He lived, sharing the truth of God’s Word as He gives opportunity, and inviting those in darkness into the light. People continue to be rescued by the light of God’s truth today. He is still in the business of setting the captives free.

Written by NHC teaching leader, author and speaker, Julie Coleman

“Following in His Footsteps” Advent Reflections 2016, 3rd Sunday

Barbara Markham

3rd Sunday of Advent – December 11, 2016

“Light of the World”

 

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”                                                                           John 12:46

When you are in total darkness, it is impossible to find your way to where you should be without some kind of light.

We were once lost in the darkness. The word lost does not mean condemned or doomed. It’s merely being in the wrong place. When something is lost, it exists—somewhere. It’s just not where it belongs. We were in the wrong place. As Isaiah wrote, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”

We had moved away from God. And like the good shepherd of Jesus’ parable, who went out into the dark of night to seek out the lost lamb, so Jesus came down to a world in darkness to seek His lost sheep. He sought us out, picked us up, and carrying us on his shoulders, brought us into the fold where we belonged.

He brought us out of the darkness into the light, where we were created to dwell in the first place.

So as we light this third advent candle, let’s remember the light of the world who stepped down into darkness to rescue the lost. The world around us continues in darkness. Jesus called us to be lights to the world. As we live to follow Him, may we shine a light to the lost, a reflection of the Savior who died to save us all out of the darkness.

Written by a NHC teaching leader, author and speaker, Julie Coleman

“Following in His Footsteps” Advent Reflection 2016, 2nd Sunday

Barbara Markham

 2nd Sunday of Advent

Light in the Darkness

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” Isaiah 9:2

The trouble with darkness is that you are robbed of your ability to see clearly.  It is a challenge to avoid obstacles and identify the things you are looking for.  This is life for the more than 40 millions Americans who are blind.

Isaiah wrote this prophecy about 800 years before the birth of Christ. At the time of Isaiah’s writing, the nation of Israel had allowed itself to become heavily influenced by its pagan neighbors. They had turned to worship false gods instead of the one true God.  It was a very “dark” time in Israel’s history.

But now Isaiah promises a “great light.”  This declaration told Israel that God was not finished with them yet.  He was going to bring Israel back to himself through the person of Jesus, the Messiah.  When Jesus burst onto the scene, his presence was an unmistakable light.  He brought hope for the destitute, freedom for the captives, and sight for the blind. Of all of the miracles recorded in the Bible, Jesus is the only one who made the blind see and fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61.

Spiritual blindness is still the problem for many of the people we see as we go about our day.  Paul wrote, “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ.”

God wants to use us to reflect his light to those around us.  Jesus said, “You are light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In this advent season, take the time to show the love of God to others in practical ways and give him the credit.  Just a simple statement, “I am just passing on the love that God has shown me,” or “I am doing this in the name of Jesus Christ, or “I happy to do this because Jesus changed my life.”

God can take any light and shine it deep into a heart struggling in the darkness.

 

Written by Julie Coleman, NHC teaching leader, author and conference speaker

“Following in His Footsteps” Advent Reflections 2016

Barbara Markham

1st  Sunday of Advent 

“The Glory of God”

As we begin this advent season, we’re going to spend a few minutes each week focusing on one aspect of Jesus, and how we can follow in His footsteps. Today we’re looking at Hebrews 1:3, which tells us that Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.”

We first see God’s glory mentioned in Exodus, when the people of Israel were complaining. Moses called the whole congregation to come before the Lord. And as Aaron spoke to them, the glory of the Lord suddenly appeared in a cloud. At the sight, all the grumbling came to an abrupt halt. They saw it again a few chapters later, when Mount Sinai was “ablaze” with God’s glory, like a “consuming fire”. The sight was so terrifying, the people asked Moses to speak to God for them, so they wouldn’t have to come near Him themselves.

In the New Testament, John wrote about Jesus: “We saw His glory—the glory of the One and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.”

Rather than a blazing mountain or a burst of light from behind a cloud, did you catch how John described Jesus’ glory? Full of grace and truth.

Jesus displayed the glory of God, but it was a glory that did not inspire men to keep their distance. Instead, this time, His glory beckoned men, women, and children to draw near to Him. He offered grace. He spoke the truth. And people followed Him.

As we walk in His footsteps, we, too, will reflect God’s glory. We were created to do just that! Like Jesus, our reflection should draw others to Him. When we act in love, offer grace rather than judgment, or forgive freely when we are offended, His reflection shines brightly to a world living in darkness.

So as we light the first candle of advent, remember the light of Jesus’ glory. And resolve to reflect Christ in you, with a glory that will draw people to God. It’s one way we can walk in His footsteps.

 

Written by a NHC teaching leader, author and speaker, Julie Coleman

 

Sunday School Classes

Barbara Markham

10:00 – 10:45 AM Sunday School

Here are the classes for the 2016-2017 school year starting Sept 11, 2016.

Ages 0-2,                 the Nursery  Cristina Cruse and Melanie Selmer
PreK, ages 3-5,      room 5           Kristin Bloom
K and 1st grade,   room 1           Carolyn Johanson
2nd-5th grade,     room 2           Don Cruse
6th-12th grade,    room 3           Rick Sardella
Adult Class,            room 6          Steve Coleman
11:30 – 12:15 Children’s Church classes meet throughout the year
Ages 3-5, in room 5. Team Teachers: Loris & Karl Nebbia, Jo-Ann & Walter Intlekofer, and Rachael Cahoon
The children sit with their parents for the worship songs and are dismissed just before the sermon begins.

A Prayer for a Balanced Christian Life

Barbara Markham

Father, I’m not really sure where I am exactly in relationship to the Calm, Confident, Compassionate life you desire for me. I never thought about it like this before. However, I do know where I want to be.

I choose to continue to grow to a place where I am truly concerned about what is going on around me, but not so concerned that I need my eternal circumstances to provide my inner peace.  There are some things I have grown cold towards or stopped caring about – help me to see with Your eyes.

I also pray for my own continued growth in understanding who I am in You.  Teach me about yourself, so that as I come to know you better I also come to know who I am in you. Make me stand with Confidence in You and temper my ego to keep me from pride.  Where I am timid remind me of the Power you have placed in me.

Finally, the deepest part of me truly wants to love others. I am open to learning and growing in loving others without feeling bitter or needing them to love me back.  Teach me this love you have, that places no demands on others, that has no conditions for them to be loved, that needs nothing in return.  Bring me to a place where I can even love my enemies.  Show me how this loving others in and of itself makes me full and complete.

I trust you Lord in faith, for all of this.  My hope in you is making me confident.  My heart is opening and becoming vulnerable so that I may love them as You love them.

I see this now in my mind, coming to life in me.  As you once shook the world, so now shake me so the Gospel would ring out through my life.  Touch my heart in the hardened places to make it soft towards others.

In Jesus Name

A response to June 19, 2016 message by Dr. Bill Smith

Encouragement from Converge Worldwide president Scott Ridout

Barbara Markham

Response to Mass Shooting – June 2016

God is bigger than any circumstances we could possibly face in this life, so live courageously. The world is not as it should be. This incident is another proof of that. Sin is rampant. Evil is real. Yet God is sovereign. Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world but we should not become a people of fear. “Take courage,” he said, “for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Knowing God’s power and wisdom are in play, we must choose not to be a people of fear, but a people of faith.

Every person is valuable to God and therefore should be valuable to us, so live compassionately. Paul tells us in Romans 12 to “Weep with those who weep.” In 1 Tim. 2 he tells us to “pray for those in authority.” Rather than joining the barrage of conversation on social media, I ask that you take an hour and pray for all involved–weep over the loss of life, grieve with those who lost loves ones, mourn over the sinfulness of our world and pray for wisdom for our leaders.

God designed the church to shine in crisis, so live intentionally. In Matthew 5, Jesus describes the church as a “city on a hill” and tells us “let your light shine in such a way that people see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.” Don’t give in to cynicism or fear, do something. Pray. Give blood. Speak words of comfort. Reach across the divide of sexual orientation and religion with the grace and mercy of Christ. Become a part of the solution. Be the church.

Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, so live hopefully. What the world needs more than anything in this moment is not more politics, posturing or pledges. What the world needs is more Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John.14:6). Remind yourself and others of his love, power, comfort, strength, wisdom, mercy and peace, and let other see these qualities of Christ in you. In doing so, your witness will be the remedy this world needs. Together, God will help us leverage this tragic moment to advance his purposes and greatness in this world.

I ask you to pray with me for the comfort of those who lost loved ones, the healing of the wounded, the wisdom of the authorities to uncover the facts and the discernment of local leadership to lead well. Pray God will provide peace and unity and many would come to him. Most of all, pray the church displays unity, compassion and hope of God to all the people of the Orlando community, throughout our country and around the world.

Redeeming Love

Barbara Markham

When God asks tRedeeminglove-smhe Prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute, he experiences the devastation of an adulterous wife and the heartache of unfaithfulness. Through his experience, he gains insight into God’s heart, as it breaks over Israel’s infidelity. Through the study of Hosea we’ll discover the love of a faithful God, the unfaithfulness of His people, and the relentless pursuit of redemption. This sermon series will be presented each week, April 27 – Jun 1, 2014, by a different Bible teacher on the New Hope Chapel teaching team.  Join us as we gain greater insight into the heart of God and are drawn to become more devoted to Him.