1-31-2018 Fr. Erel Villanueva Sermon

Serving The Lord With Gladness

January 31, 2018 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Fr. Erel Villanueva)

Topic: Serving The Lord With Gladness

Psalm 100:2 – Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

“We have been called to serve God.”

2 Timothy 1:8-9 – Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

“We can only serve God if we know God.”

“Growing and serving; knowing and serving; maturing and serving.”

“Faithful people are joyful people.”

Matthew 25:14-21 – Parable of the Talents.

“Always have a thankful heart when serving God – Worship!”

Romans 12:1-3 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

“Serving the Lord with joy and gladness is very important!”

Deuteronomy 28:45 – Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.

Let us ponder about this thought: “What is the reason why we didn’t serve the Lord joyfully?”

1-28-2018 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

Purified in Power

January 28, 2018, 4th Sunday of Epiphany (Year B)
Theme: “Purified in Power”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Let us walk in relationship with the Lord, that we might walk in the power and character of the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

– God uses human leaders to deliver His message to His people. To disobey our leaders is to disobey God.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3; 10-13

– Love must dominate our knowledge. We use knowledge not to put others down but to build them up.

Psalm 111

Mark  1:21-28

“The Lord wants us to develop a hunger for the teaching of the Word of God.”

1-24-2018 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Sermon

Stepping Into Your Divine Destiny

January 24, 2018 | Wednesday Fellowship Service (+Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz)

Topic: Stepping Into Your Divine Destiny

“Do not be afraid to enter into what God has called you to do.”

“When God chooses you, do not make any excuses.”

Psalm 139:16 – Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

“We have to say “Yes” to God!”

“Overcoming our fears”

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Exodus 3:7-14; Exodus 4:1-17

“Just like Moses, we are to rise up to the challenge.”

Here are some of the Hurdles

1. A sense of unworthiness of being chosen by God.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 – For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Daniel 11:32 – Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Hebrews 1:1-2 – God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

“Do not worry. Just do what God wants you to do.’

Proverbs 16:7 – When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Luke 2:52 – And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

2. Focusing on your weaknesses

Philippians 4:13 –  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Revelations 21:8 –  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

“There’s no place for cowards in the Kingdom of God.”

1-21-2018 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

All Life Is Sacred

January 21, 2018, The Feast of Our Lord the Giver of Life (Year B)
Theme: “ALL LIFE IS SACRED”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“The power of life is infinitely more important and more powerful than the power of death.”

Jeremiah 31:10-17

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Psalm 10

Matthew 18:1-5

1.(v.1-4) Child-like humility is greatest in the Kingdom of God.

2.(v.5) Child-likeness is valued by the Lord.

“Value what the Father values.”

“The Lord wants us to put more faith on how He sees us rather than how the world sees us.”

Psalm 127:3 – Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

1-14-2018 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

We are to Manifest ourselves as sons of God

January 14, 2018, The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ (Year B)
Theme: “We are to Manifest ourselves as sons of God”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

Manifest – to demonstrate our life by the kind of values we have; we live a life that is pleasing to our God.

Isaiah 42:1-7

Acts 19:1-7

Psalm 29:1-11

Mark 1:4-11

1.(v.4-8) To walk in repentance is to walk in a transformed life.

2.(v.9-11) We are to live out our lives as sons of God.

“Don’t think that what you gave up for God, you’re losing.”

1-7-2018 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

Built Up In The Light

January 7, 2018, The Feast of the Epiphany (Year B)
Theme: “Built Up In The Light”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Let us be counted among the wise in every generation.”

 

Isaiah 60:1-6; 9

Ephesians 3:1-12

Psalm 72:1-2; 10-17

Matthew 2:1-12

1.(v.1-6) The wise still seek Him

2.(v.7-11) The wise still acknowledge Him.

3.(v.12) The wise still live for Him.

12-31-2017 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

Pure Devotion

December 31, 2017, 1st Sunday of Christmas (Year B)
Theme: “Pure Devotion”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“God wants us to see through the eyes of blessing not through the eyes of burden.”

“The spirit of blessing must be greater than the spirit of hardship.”

revelation – means revealed truth.

Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3

– Our God will not rest until He has fulfilled everything He has promised us.

Galatians 4:4-7

– God has made us His sons and sent us the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 148:1-14

Luke 2:22-32

1.(v.22-24) Christ lifted life’s burdens from us.

2.(v.8-14) Christ’s birth means freedom for all people.

12-24-2017-Christmas-Eve Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

Pure Savior

December 24, 2017, Eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Year B), Candle Light Service
Theme: “Pure Savior”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“God is able to work His plan, despite the imperfections of life.”

Isaiah 52:7-10

Hebrews 1:1-5a

Psalm 96

Luke 2:1-14

1.(v.1-7) See the plan of God unfold in the world.

2.(v.8-14) Imperfect conditions, will not stop God from fulfilling His plan.

12-24-2017-Advent Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

Pure Submission

December 24, 2017, 4th Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Theme: “Pure Submission”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Receive the favor, Christ birth brought to us.”

2 Samuel 7:4,8-16

Romans 16:25-27

Psalm 89

Luke 1:26-38

1.(v.26-33) Rejoice in God’s favor.

2.(v.34-38) Trust in God’s help.

12-17-2017 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

Pure Witness

December 17, 2017, 3rd Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Theme: “Pure Witness”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“Know who you are that you might witness effectively for Him.”

Isaiah 61:1-4; 10-11
– God teaches us to heal, to anoint, to proclaim God’s Kingdom to others.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
– Because the presence of the Living God is with us by the power of the Holy Spirit, We can truly rejoice because He is in control.

Psalm 126:1-6

John 1:6-8; 19-28

1.(v.6-8) We are to become true witnesses of the true light => Jesus.

2.(v.19-28) You are not just a child of God, but a son of God. You work together with the Father in accomplishing things for His Kingdom.

12-10-2017 Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz Homily

Pure Preparation

December 10, 2017, 2nd Sunday of Advent (Year B)
Theme: “Pure Preparation”
Homily by Abp. Ricardo Alcaraz

“God has called us to prepare the way for Him.”

Isaiah 40:1-11
– We, the church must prepare the way of the Lord.

2 Peter 3:8-15
– Just because the Lord has not come yet, does not mean that He is slow in fulfilling His promises.

Psalm 85: 1-2; 6-9

Mark 1:1-8

1.(v.1-3) God has called us to partner with Him.

2.(v.4-8) God has called us to walk in His power.

“We, the church as bearers of light are to go and spread the light in dark places.”

2 Peter 3:8 – But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

“We can do God’s work through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I AM BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING