God says in the Scriptures, ”My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge" (Proverbs 12:1). One thing that sets Holy Cross parish apart is that we are a teaching church.
The Holy Scriptures are the very Word of God written, and contain all things necessary for salvation. We are constantly teaching God’s Word. We are teaching the Word in our adult Christian Education class — and the class is taught at the college level, we are preaching the Word at our Services, we are teaching the Word in the videos we show, in the books we recommend, and in our weekly radio broadcasts of The Faith Once Delivered.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
If you want to really learn the Bible, and learn the Holy scriptures in their proper textual, cultural and historical context, then Holy Cross is the congregation for you!
IS GENESIS HISTORY?
What if the Bible really is true? What if the Book of Genesis really does accurately record how God created the heavens and the earth? What if there really was a flood and an Ark? What if the Bible really is the Word of God written? How would that affect your life, your priorities?
Beginning on Sunday, December 15th we will be showing the documentary film, Is Genesis History? in the parish hall during fellowship time. The film will be shown in two approximately fifty minute parts on Sundays December 15 and 22.
Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, PhD says that the film, “Will strengthen confidence in Scripture, clarify understanding of the relationships of revelation, science, history, and faith, and enhance understanding of difficult questions all while being both beautiful and entertaining.”
Is Genesis History? features over a dozen scientists and scholars explaining how the world intersects with the history recorded in Genesis. From rock layers to fossils, from lions to stars, from the Bible to artifacts, this fascinating film will change the way you see the world.
The film’s goal is to provide a scientific case for Creation, a real Adam and Eve, an actual fall, a global flood, and a tower of Babel. Dr. Del Tackett, creator of The Truth Project, serves as your guide—hiking through canyons, climbing up mountains, and diving below the sea—in an exploration of two competing views … one compelling truth.
Many people don’t realize just how many scientists and scholars see Genesis as the key to understanding the world around us. Each of these experts has spent decades working in his respective field to better understand how it relates to the history recorded in the Bible.
Kevin Anderson, PhD – Microbiologist
Steve Austin, PhD – Geologist
Steven Boyd, PhD – Hebraist
Robert Carter, PhD – Marine Biologist
Arthur Chadwick, PhD – Taphonomist
Danny Faulkner, PhD – Astronomer
George Grant, PhD – Pastor
Paul Nelson, PhD – Philosopher of Science
Douglas Petrovich, PhD – Archeologist
Marcus Ross, PhD – Paleontologist
Andrew Snelling, PhD – Geologist
Kurt Wise, PhD – Paleontologist
Todd Wood, PhD – Biologist
Stuart Burgess, PhD – Mechanical Engineer
Douglas Kelly, PhD – Theologian
Larry Vardiman, PhD – Atmospheric Physicist
This is a film that you will not want to miss! Be sure to invite family and friends. Make an effort to reach out to those who do not believe that the Bible can be true, that believe life began by chance and that evolution is true, or that life is meaningless and we are all alone in the universe.
I am attaching for you the two and a half minute official trailer for Is Genesis History? You will really enjoy it! Please share it with others. Here is the link:
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CLASS
Last Sunday I handed out a new Study Guide during our adult Christian Education Class. It is titled, What is the Kingdom of God? I have put a lot of effort in preparing this Study Guide and I think you will find it very helpful in going deeper into God’s Word and reading the Bible with greater understanding. If you missed last week’s class, you can get a copy this Sunday. We have only begun to work through the handout.
THESE CLASSES ARE VERY IMPORTANT. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND THEM. Visitors are always welcome. Thank you!
We are studying both “the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and Bible Prophecy. The faith was delivered in the 1st century, not the 1950s, the 16th century, the 11th century or even the 4th century. It is important that we are all on the same page spiritually, so we can move forward together in our mission as a congregation. To do that these classes are vital.
Christian Education class is at 8:30 AM on Sunday. The public is invited. I hope to see you there!
WHY IT’S YEhovah, BUT HalleluYAh — SIX MINUTE VIDEO
In this brief, six minute episode of Hebrew Voices, “Why it's YEhovah, but HalleluYAh,” one of my favorite scholars, Nehemia Gordon, explains why the vowel in "Yehovah" changes in "Yah" and why people who don't understand this Hebrew rule are pronouncing Yeshua's name wrong. He also shows why God’s name is Yehovah (Jehovah) and not Yahovah or Yahweh.
Please invest six minutes of your time in this video. You will learn a lot and be glad you did! Here is the link:
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT — This Sunday, December 8th
This coming Sunday is the Second Sunday in Advent! The Advent Wreath has been set up, the liturgical colour is purple, and the Decalogue has returned to the Eucharistic Liturgy.
We will be decorating the church for the Advent and Christmas seasons one week from Sunday, on December 15th. Everyone is invited to participate. Jesus is the Reason for the Season!
ADVENT SERMON SERIES
In Advent I will be preaching a four week sermon series focusing on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this sermon series you will learn things that you have never known before. This will be an eye opening, faith building and exciting sermon series as we dig beneath the surface and uncover how the text was understood by first century believers.
The topics of the Advent Sermon Series are as follows:
Second Sunday in Advent, December 8th —
The Genealogies in Matthew and Luke’s Gospels are very different and apparently contradictory. Are they contradictory? Are they important? What do they tell us?
Third Sunday in Advent, December 15th —
Who really were the Shepherds that were caring for their sheep on the night in which Jesus was born? Were they poor shepherds and were the sheep ordinary sheep? The truth will both surprise you and thrill you!
Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 22nd —
Was Jesus really born in a stable, in a cave? Were the people of Bethlehem so cold hearted that no one would provide a place in a house for a young mother to deliver her baby? Why didn’t the local priests or rabbis intervene? The surprising truth will warm your heart and give you a new perspective on humanity. You will not want to miss this sermon!
NO MIDWEEK SERVICE NEXT WEEK
There will be no celebration of the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist on Wednesday, December 11th. Subdeacon Michael and I will be recording two radio broadcasts at the KCRO studio on that day.
SATURDAY’S RADIO BROADCAST
THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED is heard every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM CST on KCRO Radio 660 AM in Omaha, and 106.7 FM in Lincoln, and can be heard throughout eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Not in eastern Nebraska or western Iowa? No problem! You can listen live over the Internet. Just go to the KCRO Radio website and click Listen Live:
THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED — PODCASTS
In addition to the radio broadcast every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM Central Time on KCRO Radio 660 AM in Omaha and 106.7 FM in Lincoln, each episode of THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED is being archived and can be listened to anytime as a Podcast. You can access past radio programs here:
SUNDAY SERVICES
Sunday Christian Education is at 8:30 AM, followed by Morning Prayer at 9:15 AM, and the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist at 10:00 AM, with fellowship and refreshments after Services.
Holy Cross is an Orthodox Bible-believing congregation where the Holy Scriptures are taught in their proper textual, historical and cultural context. At Holy Cross parish God is worshipped in a spirit of holiness and the Bible is taught as the very Word of God written. Everyone is invited to attend and visitors are always welcome. We are a faithful and friendly parish, and we have a place for you. We hope to see you on Sunday!
Blessings,
Father+
Fr. Victor Novak
Pastor
HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
7545 Main Street
Ralston, Nebraska 68127
(402) 573-6558
