Heaven Embassy Church.OnLine

05/31/2026

MATTHEW 28:18-20

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS

28:18 God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. On the basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. With this same authority, Jesus still commands us to tell others the Gospel and make them disciples for the Kingdom.

28:18-20 When someone is dying or leaving us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with these last words of instruction: they were under his authority; they were to make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach them to obey him; he would be with them always. Whereas in previous missions Jesus had sent his disciples only to the Jews (10:5, 6), their mission from now on would be worldwide. Jesus is Lord of the earth, and he died for the sins of people from all nations.

We are to go-whether it is next door or to another country— and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus "Lord." We are not all evangelists, but we have all received gifts that we can use in helping to fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us.

28:19 Jesus' words affirm the reality of the Trinity. Some people accuse theologians of making up the concept of the Trinity and reading it into Scripture. As we see here, the concept comes directly from Jesus himself. He did not say baptize them into the names, but into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, but it well describes the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

28:19 The disciples were to baptize people because baptism unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his death to sin and resurrection to new life. Baptism shows submission to Christ, a willingness to live God's way, and identification with God's covenant people.

28:20 How is Jesus present with us? Jesus was with the disciples physically until he ascended into heaven, and then spiritually through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). The Holy Spirit would be Jesus' presence that would never leave them (John 14:26). Jesus continues to be with us today through his Spirit.

28:20 The Old Testament prophecies and genealogies in the book of Matthew present Jesus' credentials for being King of the world-not a military or political leader as the disciples had originally hoped, but a SPIRITUAL King who can overcome all evil and reign in the heart of every person. If we refuse to serve the King faithfully, we are disloyal subjects, fit only to be banished from the Kingdom. We must make Jesus King of our lives and worship him as our Savior, King, and Lord.

05/29/2026

"LIVING IN A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY" study MATTHEW 28:18-20; HEBREWS 10:22-25

05/24/2026

JESUS is LORD of TRADITION MARK 2:18-28 and AMOS 5:12
AMOS 5:12 - GOD DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR ALL
12 For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS
5:10-12 A society is in trouble when those who try to do right are hated for their justice. Any society that exploits the poor and defenseless or hates the truth is bent on destroying itself.

5:12 Why does God put so much emphasis on the way we treat the poor? How we treat the rich, or those of equal station, often reflects what we hope to get from them. But since the poor can give us nothing, how we treat them reflects our true character. Do we, like Christ, give without thought of gain? We should treat the poor, as we would like God to treat us.

5:12 Here are eight common excuses for not helping the poor:(1) They don't deserve help. They got themselves into poverty; let them get themselves out. (2) God's call to help the poor applies to another time. (3) We don't have any people like this. (4) I have my own needs. (5) Any money I give will be wasted, stolen, or spent on other things. The poor will never see it. (6) I may become a victim myself. (7) I don't know where to start, and I don't have time. (8) My little bit won't make any difference.

Instead of making lame excuses, ask what can be done to help the poor. Does your church have programs that help the needy? Could you volunteer to work with a community group that fights poverty? As one individual, you may not be able to accomplish much, but join up with similarly motivated people and watch mountains begin to move.

MARK 2:18-23
18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS

2:18ff John had two goals: to cause people to repent of their sin, and to prepare them for Christ's coming. His was a sobering mes-sage, and so he and his followers fasted. Fasting is both an outward sign of humility and regret for sin, and an inner discipline that clears the mind and keeps the spirit alert. Fasting empties the body of food; repentance empties the life of sin. Jesus' disciples did not need to fast to prepare for his coming, because he was with them. Jesus did not condemn fasting, however. He himself fasted for 40 days (Matthew 4:2). Nevertheless, he emphasized fasting with the right motives. The Pharisees fasted twice a week to show how holy they were. Jesus explained that if people fast only to impress others, they have twisted the purpose of fasting.
2:19 Jesus compared himself to a bridegroom. In the Bible, the image of a bride is often used for God's people, and the image of a bridegroom for the God who loves them (Isaiah 62:5; Matthew 25:1-14; Revelation 21:2).
2:22 A wine bottle was a goatskin sewed together at the edges to form a watertight bag. New wine, expanding as it aged, stretched the wineskin. New wine, therefore, could not be put into a wineskin that had already been stretched, or the taut skin would burst.The Pharisees had become rigid like old wineskins. They could not accept faith in Jesus which cannot be contained or limited by man-made ideas or rules. Your heart, like a wineskin, can become rigid and prevent you from accepting the new life that Christ offers.Keep your heart pliable and open to accepting the life-changing truths of Jesus' message.

05/22/2026

"JESUS is LORD of TRADITION!" Study MARK 2:18-28.

05/15/2026

"KINGDOM LIVING: THE WEAK, WORK AND WEALTH!" Study DEUTERONOMY 24:14-21; EPHESIANS 6:5-9; 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19.

05/10/2026

Part 2 "THE BIBLICAL CALL TO WORK!" GEN 2:15; EX 20:9; JOHN 5:17; 9:4; ACTS 20:33-35; 2 THES 3:6-12.
GENESIS 2:15

The Garden of Eden
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS

2:15-17 God gave Adam responsibility for the garden and told him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Rather than physically preventing him from eating, God gave Adam a choice, even though Adam might choose wrongly. God still gives us choices today, and we, too, often choose wrongly. These wrong choices may cause us pain and irritation, but they can help us learn and grow and make better choices in the future. Living with the consequences of our choices is one of the best ways to become more responsible.

EXODUS 20:9

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS

20:8-11 The Sabbath was a day set aside for rest and worship. God commanded a Sabbath because we need to spend unhurried time in worship and rest each week. A God who is concerned enough to provide a day each week for us to rest is indeed wonderful. To observe a regular time of rest and worship in our hurried world demonstrates the importance of God in our lives while having the extra benefit of refreshing our spirits.

JOHN 5:17;9:4

Jesus claims to be God's Son - Do you really believe this in your heart, then "stand up for JESUS" whenever you read this lesson!

5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS

5:17 If God stopped every kind of work on the Sabbath, nature would fall into chaos and sin would overrun the world. Genesis 2:2 says that God rested on the seventh day, but this can't mean he stopped doing good. Jesus wanted to teach that when the opportunity to do good presents itself, it should not be ignored, even on the Sabbath.

5:17ff Jesus was identifying himself with God, his Father. There could be no doubt as to his claim to be God. Jesus does not leave us the option to believe in God while ignoring Jesus (5:23). In response to Jesus' claim, the Pharisees had two choices: to believe him or to accuse him of blasphemy. They chose the second. Which do you really choose? GOD KNOWS your decision, we do not.

ACTS 20:33-35;2

33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

HOLY SPIRIT DISCUSSION POINTS

20:33 Paul was satisfied with whatever he had, wherever he was, as long as he could do God's work. Examine your attitudes toward wealth and comfort. If you focus more on what you don't have than on what you do have, it's time to reexamine your priorities and puts God's work back in first place.

20:34 Paul worked to show he was free of covetousness, not to grow rich. He supported himself and others working with him.

20:35 These words of Jesus are not recorded in the Gospels. Obviously, not all of Jesus' words were written down (John 21:25); this saying may have been passed on orally through the apostles.

05/08/2026

HECO - "THE BIBLICAL CALL TO WORK!" GEN 2:15; EX 20:9; JOHN 5:17; 9:4; ACTS 20:33-35; 2 THES 3:6-12. Photos by Pastor Larry D Shannon

05/03/2026

GRACE BEYOND BORDERS
JONAH 1:1-3; 3:1-5; 4: 6-11

"I cannot stand you!" JONAH 4: 6-11

6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
7 But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered
8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
10 Then said the LoRD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

HOLY SPIRIT COMMENTARY

4:3 Jonah was more concerned about his own reputation than God's. He knew that if the people repented, none of his warnings to Nineveh would come true, This would embarrass him, although it would give glory to God. Are you more interested in getting glory for God or for yourself?

4:5-11 God ministered tenderly to Jonah just as he did to Nineveh and to Israel, and just as he does to us. He could have destroyed Jonah for his defiant anger, but instead he gently taught him a les-son. If we will obey God's Word he will gently lead us. His harsh judgment is reserved for those who persist in rebellion.

4:9 Jonah was angry at the death of the plant, but not over what could have happened to Nineveh. Most of us have cried at the death of a pet or when an object with sentimental value is broken, but have we cried over the fact that a friend does not know God?
How easy it is to be more sensitive to our own interests than to the spiritual needs of people around us.

4:10, 11 Sometimes people wish that judgment and destruction would come upon sinful people whose wickedness seems to demand immediate punishment. But God is more merciful than we can imagine. He feels compassion for the sinners we want judged. and he devises plans to bring them to himself. What is your attitude toward those who are especially wicked? Do you want them de-stroyed? Or do you wish that they could experience God's mercy and forgiveness?

4:11 God spared the sailors when they pleaded for mercy. God saved Jonah when he prayed from the belly of the fish. God saved the people of Nineveh when they responded to Jonah's preaching.
God answers the prayers of those who call upon him. God will always work his will, and he desires that all come to him, trust in him, and be saved. We can be saved if we heed God's warnings to us through his Word. If we respond in obedience, he will be gracious, and we will receive his mercy, not his judgment.

Pastor Larry D. Shannon will provide a weekly introduction and application of the referenced scriptures, which will be read and discussed by Deacon Anderson C. Hill, II, followed by comments/remarks on the “lesson” from anyone in the meeting.

05/01/2026

"CHOOSING GOD over COUNTRY!" Study JONAH 1:1-3; 3:1-5; 4;6-11. Photos by Pastor Larry D Shannon.

05/01/2026

Congratulations!

Mt. Pleasant's Class of 2026!

Join us Sunday, May 17, 2026 during our 10:15am Worship Experience for their Graduation Celebration.