Times are changing, morality is changing, people are changing. People come to me who are genuinely concerned about whether or not the Church can survive the changes happening in society today. Today I want to tell you why I have nothing but hope for the church today!
When churches like ours began we were often referred to as "People of the Word" due to our single-minded devotion to the Bible as our only guide. Today we're going to take another look at this book that still stands at the center of how we answer the question, "Why do we do it like that?"
“Why do we do it like that?” It’s a question we’ve all asked at one time or another. How did all get started doing all those things that make our church distinct and different? We find the answers in the Bible, of course, but it would be wrong to overlook the very rich history that brought us together. We’re going to look at that history today as we kick off a new sermon series, “Why Do We Do It Like That?”
I was face down on the ground in an epic battle against a hulk named Randy. Seconds away from being pinned I reached for my handy pocket New Testament and read the words that I knew would fill me with power from on high. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me!” I jumped back into the fray and easily defeated my opponent. Ok, so maybe I didn’t defeat my opponent. Maybe I didn’t triumph; maybe I discovered that my “all things” weren’t necessarily the same as Jesus’ “all things” for me...
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11 Gods plan for the people who first received that word was 70 years in exile, 500 miles from their homes and families. I’m not sure that’s the kind of thing that comes to mind when we quote that verse to someone in need of encouragement. Today we’ll take a closer look at this verse and ask, “What is God saying here?” I think we’ll find a greater...
People who are going through difficult times are often told by others not to worry because, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” The words are said with the best of intentions but unfortunately no such promise exists in the Bible. We have no promise a pain free life or that God will go easy on us. So what does God promise us?
“Forgive and forget.” Those words roll off our tongues with ease, but if we’re honest they don’t roll out of our hearts with ease. Forgiveness is a challenge and forgetting is downright impossible. Grace calls us to remember. We remember so we can tell a greater story than just the story of our hurts. We remember so we can become a part of the story of grace.
“Judge not, that you be not judged.” If people know anything about the Bible they know that it teaches that you’re not supposed to judge other. The problem, of course, is that we do judge others. We judge them every day in a myriad of ways. What are we to do about that?
My friends are important to me. What amazes me, though, is I seem to be important to them too. They not only enjoy being around me but they support me, defend me and bless me in amazing ways. They do all this despite not all of them being believers. There are Christians who actually teach that we should “Have nothing to do with non-believers.” But what does the Bible say? What did Jesus actually do?
“Charity begins at home” is one of those phrases that sounds like it’s from the Bible but when we dig in we find neither the words nor the concept within God’s word. So what did God actually say?
Did God say "money is the root of all evil?" Not quite. This verse is often misquoted. In reality it's not even about money.
It’s been called the most well-known verse in the Bible, “God helps those who help themselves.” The problem is it’s not in the Bible. The bigger problem is, you can’t actually help yourself. So what does the Bible actually say?
This summer we're going to look at a few misconceptions and misunderstandings about the word of God and dive into His amazing truth. It all begins in the beginning with God's simple message and a horrible temptation that still plagues us.
When a young man in our high school took his own life our whole whole community was devastated. The message I preached at his funeral was the result of years of working through a tragic suicide in my own family.
It's been a difficult weekend for our community. One of our high school students took his own life on Saturday. This is the message I shared the following day. Is your God too small?
Most of us learned how to serve from our mothers. The way they sacrificed for us was our first experience with what Jesus taught in Luke 22, "I am among you as one who serves." What do those of us who aren't mothers look like when we take Jesus' example seriously?
Ephesians 2 tells an amazing story about you, and it does it only 6 words. It starts with four words in verse 1, “And you were dead.” Without life, without power, without motivation, without any means of changing yourself or your circumstances. This would have been the end of your story if not for one thing. Two words in verse 4, “But God.” Those are the two most important words in your story. Without them you would still be dead. With them you have been transformed—recreated. But for what purpo...
Easter came with a declaration of victory. So why does the Church always seem to feel defeated? Maybe it's time we took a close look at where our strength is found.
It Is Finished! Every hurt, every pain, every failure and every loss are met in those three words. They mean your debt is paid, you’re forgiven and you belong to Him forever! They also mean that no matter what tomorrow brings NOTHING changes the truth of the empty cross and the empty tomb. It Is Finished!
One of the great joys we have as Christians is the ability to be the answer to someone else’s prayer. When someone is sick, we can bring them comfort, food, and healing. When someone is down we can bring them encouragement. In so many ways God uses his own people to bless each other and show them that he hears their prayers. In John 17 Jesus prayed to the Father. In a very real way you and I are the answers to his prayer. It’s so amazing that God can use us to answer the prayers of His Son!
