In the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, the Israelites continue to rebel and only their children will enter the promised land… when will they learn? Will Moses’ final message to his people take root?
Moses is given some pretty specific instructions at the outset of the book of Leviticus. What are they for? Let’s dive in and get some insight to the book, it’s important theme of holiness and how God’s people respond to some uncomfortable truths.
The book of Exodus opens on a depressing note. Jacob and his sons have died. However, the writer tells us there were many decendants. So many, in fact, that they quickly filled the land and caught the eye of the new king… and not in a good way. So begins the long and terrible Egyptian enslavement of the Israelites. But also on display were God’s great signs and wonders and His unmistakable provision and presence among them.
On January 8th, we begin a year-long deep dive into the narrative of the Bible and discover how as a whole, it tells the story of God’s commitment to bring good out of evil. Our big goal for 2023 is to fall more in love with Jesus as we journey through each book of the Bible, discovering how they all contribute to one story of God’s commitment to bless humanity and redeem a fallen world.
Imagine this scene for a moment... standing in your office during a regular, run-of-the-mill work day. Then, in a sudden flourish, the CEO of your company rushes in and says, '"you've gotta see what's going on outside. You don't want to miss this..." I imagine that's a bit like what happened to those shepherds that night long ago. They were being invited to witness something amazing, some good news of great joy, and for sure, they were not gonna want to miss it.
Waiting is hard... especially when we're used to insta-everything. Imagine waiting for generations, centuries even, for the fulfillment of a promise - the perfect gift - that would be unto all people for all time. Now that would be something worth waiting for.
Darkness. Gloom. Despair. Those words don't exactly sound like Christmas, do they? 'Merry & Bright' and 'Joy to the World' is where we generally land. Without the gift of that baby so long ago, though, mourning and desperation would be all this world would know. Think of it like this... it would always be winter, but never Christmas.
"Walking in darkness. Groping for light... stumbling along like corpses." A pretty grim picture, right? This is how the book of Isaiah describes us, living apart from God, with no hope and no future. The Christmas story and the birth of Jesus began the most comprehensive rescue mission in all of history - one to save us from eternal darkness. That mission continues today... in this very minute. Join us until December 25th as we discover the wonder and significance of Christmas through the lens o...
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on good things and being thankful, both in our homes in our church family. So many hands, uniquely gifted for service, make our church family what it is. Our expression of thanks is never quite adequate but certainly always sincere.
A fundamental process in the life of a believer is accepting the challenge to be the husband or the wife and the follower of Jesus that God has called you to be. Our actions indicate a choice to either move forward in pursuit of a desired outcome or taking a hard pass and saying 'no' to God's best. Will you accept the challenge?
We've made so many changes to our closets recently... discerning each day what it is we want to wear and what we do not. The most important thing, though, when we dress for the day is that our most prominent accessory is JOY.
Be careful..." , "Do good..." and "understand what the Lord wants you to do." Sounds like a perfectly coordinated outfit for the next time you get dressed.
"For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it." Ephesians 5:8 By now, you've emptied your wardrobe of the old and ill-fitting garments. What's left should highlight all your best features and make you feel as if you've 'dressed up' a bit.
So the closet door is open... what will you choose to put on? Will it be the super comfortable green sweater that complements your eyes or will you choose the harsh, black turtleneck that makes you appear rough and unapproachable? What you choose NOT to wear is likely more important.
Do you ever look in your closet and think "Ughh. I don't like anything in there!" The clothes seem old and tired and are perhaps ill-fitting. Something new - anything new - would be a welcomed addition. Much like a clothes closet, our spiritual life, our thoughts and attitudes, could sometimes use a perfectly taylored renewal.
Every person, each uniquely gifted by God, is so important to the proper functioning and health of the church. Don't cheat your church family out of all that you have to offer.
If the church is unified around the person and work of Jesus Christ, then as far as the enemy is concerned, it's game on and a battle will be waged for the hearts and minds of those people. But just like a rope is stronger than a single thread, so is a unified body of believers.
People can be unified around any number of events, ideas or causes but our most basic tenet of unity in the church is Jesus Christ. As believers, we must be united around Him - His person, who He was and His work, what He did.
Unity should be at the heart of any Christian community. Brothers and sisters in Christ living in unity with one another is the glue that holds it all together... it is not enough to just be "present". Unity denotes the blessing of God...and the enemy knows it.
It was a beautiful day at Paradise Trail Lodge, a PLACE where countless people have come to be together with friends and family to enjoy and marvel at our incredible Creator and His workmanship. There is nothing quite like the view after a hike at Paradise Park, or the little waterfall at the end of Road 39. What PLACE holds special meeting and tethers you to your Creator?
The wilderness is unpredictable and uncomfortable, but God uses 'wilderness' times in our lives to speak to us. We will hear His voice, but we will also hear the voice of the enemy, trying to convince us that God cannot be trusted.
How do we engage with people when conversations are difficult, uncomfortable or deal with intensely personal subjects when our world and the culture are deeply divided from God's purpose and perspective.
We are continuing our August special speaker series. Please welcome Jeremy Waldridge, Executive Director of Pure Life Alliance, as he shares with us "The Bible and Human Sexuality".
"So God created people in His own image, God patterned them after Himself; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27 We continue in our August series, "God's Good Design: Sexuality and Gender".
Truth is a sticky word these days. Jesus said that He is The Way, The Truth and The Life. The world does not embrace Christ followers because we are not conformed to this world and its ways. Be bold and proclaim the LOVE of Christ to this world who so desperately needs Him.
"For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until He comes again." The Lord's table is a sacred and holy place and when believers in Jesus gather together around this table, they experience His mercy and His grace and His forgiveness. This is communion.
Unforgiveness wreaks havoc because it is borne from sin. Someone has been hurt, sometimes deeply, and as a result relationship is broken. Forgiveness is often not a choice we can make on our own - it's hard. But we need to forgive - and we are able to forgive - because we are ourselves have been forgiven a debt we could never repay.
We are continuing the 2022 "Better Together" series and diving into how the church ought to - and who ought to - respond to difficult situations regarding its members. We know the LORD desires repentance, reconciliation and unity between believers. How can we, as a church family, achieve that end when things get sticky?
When we deny personhood to people who are created image bearers of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, there is no telling what evil we can do.
There is something special that happens when believers gather together on Sunday morning. We come full of hope and holding on to the promises of God for the future. Let us be encouraging toward one another as we walk forward following Jesus.
