Jesus came to the place in the River Jordan where John was baptizing many people who had come out to see and hear him. Jesus asked John to baptize Him, because it was the right thing to do. One reason Jesus did this was an example to us.

Baptism does not wash our sins away, but rather is a sign that our sins have already been forgiven and forgotten by God because we have made the decision to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord. Baptism is a witness to others who observe it that we have decided to follow Jesus.

We’ll talk more about John the Baptist and about baptism this Sunday. Please plan to be with us this week, and bring along a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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We have only a single glimpse of Jesus between His birth and the beginning of His ministry at age 30. The Gospel of Luke tells us about one time when Jesus was twelve years old, the age when Jewish boys became bar mizpah (son of the law). That year Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem to observe the Passover celebration.

After the Passover was over, Mary and Joseph started to walk back to Nazareth with the group they had come with. After a day’s travel, they realize that Jesus wasn’t with them! They hurried back to Jerusalem and, after searching for another whole day, finally found Jesus in the temple discussing with the scribes and priests.

Mary told Jesus that they had been worried about Him, but Jesus was surprised at this and told her “I must be about my Father’s business.” Even at age 12 He understood His special relationship to God and His ministry.

But Jesus obediently returned with Mary and Joseph, and continued to grow as He prepared to begin His ministry.

Join us this Sunday as we take a closer look at this interesting event…and don’t forget to invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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At the end of this period, it was time for Jesus to turn His work over to His disciples and return to heaven. He gathered the disciples together and gave them what we know as the Great Commission. It applies just as much to us today as it did to the original disciples. We are to go into all the world, starting where we are, and tell others about Jesus…of His love for them, of His dying for their sins, and of His offer of forgiveness and eternal life—abundant life.

In the book of Acts, Luke tells of how the disciples saw Jesus rising into the heavens until the clouds hid Him from their sight. Two angels appeared and promised that Jesus would return to earth again, just as He left. In the meantime, His followers have been given a task…to tell all the world about Jesus.

Join us this Sunday as we take a closer look at Jesus’ ascension into heaven, and how we can confidently look forward to His re-appearing. Don’t forget to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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For some reason, the disciple Thomas was not present with them. When the other disciples excitedly told him that they had actually seen the risen Lord, Thomas did not believe them. He would not believe until he saw for himself.

The next Sunday Thomas was with the other disciples, again in the locked room. Sure enough, Jesus appeared again, with a special message for Thomas. Jesus told him he could put his fingers into the nail wounds in Jesus’ hands and into His spear-wounded side. The Bible doesn’t say whether Thomas actually did so or not…but in any case Thomas fell to his knees and cried out to Jesus “My Lord and my God!”.

Jesus pointed out that Thomas believed because he had seen, but that many who had not seen also believed and were blessed. That includes us, who were not alive when Jesus was on the earth, but believe in Him through our faith and the account in the Bible record.

Join us this Sunday as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ rising from the dead and living today! Bring a friend.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Two disciples, one named Cleopas, were travelling on the road to Emmaeus (close to Jerusalem) when they were met by an unknown stranger. He asked them what they were discussing, and they told him about Jesus’ death and the reports of His resurrection. The stranger began to explain to them what the Old Testament taught about the promised Messiah. When they reached their destination, the disciples finally recognized that the stranger was Jesus, as He was breaking bread with them.

They ran all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that Jesus was really alive, as they had seen Him for themselves!

Jesus remained on earth for some 40 days after He rose from the dead, and appeared to a great many disciples at various times (Paul tells of His appearance to over 500 people on one occasion). We can say with assurance, “Jesus is alive!”

Come be part of our class for this exciting study, and bring a friend along!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This was the greeting and response used by the early Christians on Easter Sunday to celebrate and to encourage one another. It’s a good greeting for us today, as we celebrate the central event of all history. God became man in the form of Jesus so that He could live a life of perfect obedience to God and then freely give up His life in payment for our sins. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Join us this Sunday as we worship with Easter songs, celebrate with videos about the wondrous events of Easter, and have fun with some games to help us remember the facts about the resurrection. This would be an excellent Sunday to bring a friend to join us!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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This celebration was foretold by Old Testament prophets, who told of the Messiah coming in majesty and power, riding on a donkey. The people shouted “Hosannah to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

We will learn about praise—why and how we can praise Jesus today, much as the people of Jerusalem did on that first Palm Sunday. Jesus told the temple officials that if the people, including the children, did not praise Him, then the very stones would cry out in praise. Jesus deserves our worship and praise.

Come join in this great celebration with us! It would be a perfect Sunday to bring a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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Jonah was sent by God to preach to the wicked city of Ninevah and warn them to turn away from their sin. Jonah actually seemed to want Ninevah to keep on sinning so that God would punish them, rather than repenting. After Jonah’s attempt to run away from God in the opposite direction from Ninevah being thrown into the sea and swallowed by a big fish, and praying in the belly of the fish for three days, he finally did go to Ninevah and preached God’s message. The end of the story finds Jonah upset that Ninevah actually listened to his message and repented, still arguing with God.

Come join us Sunday and bring a friend as we study this exciting story.

Ton and Sydney Cook
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God consistently honored Daniel’s choices and his faithfulness, and used Daniel to reveal Himself to a great nation.

Join us Sunday for some great fun learning about Daniel. Don’t forget…invite a friend!

Tom and Sydney Cook
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We will also talk about how we can use the talents, gifts, and opportunities God has given us to help other people. Join us as we learn about one of the most interesting people in the Old Testament!

And, of course, invite a friend to come with you.

Tom and Sydney Cook
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• Jesus Was Baptized
• Boyhood of Jesus
• Jesus Returns to Heaven
• Thomas Believes Jesus
• On the Road to Emmaeus
• Resurrection Sunday
• Palm Sunday
• The Prophet Jonah
• The Prophet Daniel
• The Prophet Elisha

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