Speaker: Pastor Jun Cardenas Text: Truth Matters Proverbs 16:20-25; 30:1-6. Truth Matters 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. 21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. 22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools. 23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.[c] 24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Have you noticed that nowadays people that have opposing point of views insist that each side is the correct view. Opposite views can never be both right. One has to be wrong. Join us this Sunday to explore where Truth comes from and what kind of attitude we should have to embrace the truth and learn of the truth. We will also learn the consequences of allowing us to tolerate things. thought / ideas that are not the truth

Speaker: Mark Oliver Text: Job 31: 13-23 Compelled to Act 19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, 20 and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep, 21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, 22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. 23 For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. Jesus taught and affirmed the sanctity of life. And this has always been a priority for maturing believers. This is precious to our Lord and they should be precious to us as well. In our study of this excerpt from the life of Job, we are made aware that Job even at a young age had discovered that God had a great concern for those who did not have a voice in our society, that this group of people were in the center of the heart and love of God. Job himself was open to being punished and be on the receiving end of the wrath of God, if he had done such unfair things to this group of people. “If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, 17 if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless— 22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. This heightened awareness of God's concern for the marginalized has made him choose to be on the correct side of the fence. That he would now be a blessing and an advocate for them. What have you been doing lately, in response to your knowledge of God's love for marginalized people, those that have been living in the fringes of society because of lack. Let's open our hearts to help. We have Missions that we support that help, there a many local agencies that we can give to or volunteer at. Let's open the possibility of being part of the solution and not a hindrance. v23 and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

Speaker: Deacon Genesis Alfonzo Text: 1 John 3:21-4:6 When Your Confidence Falls Short 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. Have you ever tried to do something that you have never done before and in the beginning, you were very sure that this was something you can accomplish. But right in the middle you lost confidence in your ability. This happens a lot to most of us. This happens even with our profession of faith. We want to share God but our own conscience condemns us that we become unsure that we could become a person worthy of sharing the gospel. Tis causes us to back away and think we are not worthy to do so. We lose confidence. Hence we are reminded, " 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." The ability to be worthy of the life we are called for is imbedded in us. He lives in us. It is by the Spirit He gave us. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Happy New Year! Speaker: Bro. Stanley Alfonzo Text: Matthew 16:13-17; Ephesians 5:1 Who is Jesus to You? 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Speaker: Alex Cruz Title: Merry Christmas Text: John 3:16 Isaiah 9:6-7 New International Version 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

This will be a joint service with White Ave. Community Church Speaker: Bro. Joven Calingo Text: 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 12:6-10 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that it is by Grace that you have been saved, not by your own works lest anyone boast. In 2 Corinthians, Paul makes it absolutely clear that it is also by Grace that we live, survive, overcome and thrive. What causes that, God repeatedly told Paul that "My Grace is sufficient for you. for in your weakness my power is made perfect. It is clear why we go through the refining by trials and tribulations. Paul tells us in v8-9 of 2 Cor 1 the reason for the hardship. "We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. God brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can begin operating on his capability, hence, Paul stopped relying on himself, so did his companions and learned to rely only on God. Let's start making it a habit on relying only on God. He raises the dead, right?

Speaker: Bro. Genesis Alfonzo Text: Matthew 17:14-20 19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” 20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” In the text it would seem that Jesus was correcting his disciples openly among the crowd. But in reality, he was addressing primarily the crowd that came just to witness a miracle and then criticized the disciples when they failed to deliver a healing. In private, Jesus addressed the disciples part in the failed miracle. He pointed that they were more focused on their ability to heal the boy rather than their faith in God that brought about the ability to heal. He pointed to another reason, " 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” meaning this was a difficult case, since you wrestle with principalities and powers - this specific one required more than what you usually bring. So He stated it needs prayer which calls for the intervention of God and fasting which means that they had to deny themselves. Or in other words, don't look at your own capabilities but look into your faith in the one who can deliver this healing. More dependence on God. Failing or not having enough faith is a lesson in itself. We have to ask God what we missed so that we can be effective in our ministry. Time and time again, we are reminded by God to act under his authority and strength. Let's see what Bro. Genesis is going to teach us this Sunday.

Post Thanksgiving Worship Speaker: Pastor Leo Delacruz Text: Isaiah 38:9-20 From Problems to Praise 17 Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. In biblical times, it was believed that people were ill due to sin. We can pick up this idea from the verse above. Hezekiah was gravely ill but after God forgave him of his sins, "For You have cast all my sins behind Your back." v16 "So You will restore me and make me live." He was healed and years were then added to his life. The Lord is sovereign and he will heal and other times he tells us that my Grace is sufficient for you. This difference in answer does not imply that he favors one person over the other. And this also does not mean that we should give up asking for our healing since our God also is merciful. In the new testament, the disciples were asking in the case of the blind man, "Lord, who sinned, seeing the man was blind since birth. Jesus answered, neither this man nor his parents sinned." We are being reminded that that while sin and illness may be connected, we should not assume that every illness is a direct result of sin.