brian shivers

HEBREWS 4:11-16 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.   12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.   14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.  15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.  16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Join in the Lenten Photo-a-Day Project. Take a photo each day that somehow refle

JOHN 3:16-21 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.   17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.  20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.  21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” Join in the Lenten Photo-a-Day Project. Take a photo each day that somehow reflects the theme. Post your photo to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with the word

HEBREWS 3:12-19 12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  14 For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.  15 As it is said,       “Today, if you hear his voice,       do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”  16 Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?  17 But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient?  19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Join in the Lenten Photo-a-Day Project. Take a photo each day that somehow reflects the theme. Post your photo t

PSALM 34 1   I will bless the LORD at all times;           his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2   My soul makes its boast in the LORD;           let the humble hear and be glad. 3   O magnify the LORD with me,           and let us exalt his name together. 4   I sought the LORD, and he answered me,           and delivered me from all my fears. 5   Look to him, and be radiant;           so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6   This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD,           and was saved from every trouble. 7   The angel of the LORD encamps           around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8   O taste and see that the LORD is good;           happy are those who take refuge in him. 9   O fear the LORD, you his holy ones,           for those who fear him have no want. 10  The young lions suffer want and hunger,           but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11  Come, O children, listen to me;           I will teach you the fear

 JOHN 2:1–12 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests h

MATTHEW 5:1-12 When Jesus  saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:  ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely  on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Join in the Lenten Photo-

JOHN 1:43–51 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”  44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”  46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”  48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”  50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”  51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God asc

John 1:35-42 35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,  36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”  37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.  38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”  39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.  40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).  42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). Join in the Lenten Photo-a-Day Project. Take a photo each day that somehow refle

Beyond the Fast Ash Wednesday 2015 Second Presbyterian Church Watch the sermon online here. http://new.livestream.com/accounts/696951/events/3775309 Isaiah 58:1-14
 "Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 
Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. 
Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 
Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sack

Last week we had another question and answer session at Niners. The following forum is designed for us to continue our conversation on your questions. Check it out here . Remember to be welcoming and supportive of one another. Comments will be moderated.