In 2009, Facebook added the “like” button. That same year, Twitter added the “retweet” feature. Interestingly, reported cases of depression began to rise sharply in 2010. It is easy to think that the more people like us, the more successful our lives must be. Likewise, it is easy to believe the more people like a church, the more successful that church is. So here is an important epiphany for both individuals and churches. Popularity is not proof of success. Though there will be times when Chris...
Jan 27, 2025•30 min
When you are trying to share some important information with someone, but they refuse to listen or perhaps totally reject what you are saying, it feels like you have failed. This is especially true when someone rejects the gospel! We proclaim the good news because we want others to know the love of Christ. When people are disinterested in God’s Word, we feel like we’ve failed. So, here is this week’s epiphany. Rejection is not proof of failure. Precisely because the gospel is divine revelation, ...
Jan 20, 2025•31 min
“Who is Jesus?” For the longest time, people thought the answer to that question was, “Mary and Joseph’s son” or “a carpenter from Nazareth.” While true enough, those answers do not adequately describe Jesus. But when Jesus was baptized, God the Father spoke, declaring Jesus true identity. Jesus was the dearly loved Son of God, chosen to be the Savior of the world. “Who are you?” someone asks. Perhaps you would answer by providing your name. Maybe you would add additional information—where you a...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min
On Christmas Eve the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). One wonders if those words struck those Jewish shepherds as odd. For centuries, God had given special attention to one nation—Israel. There were Jewish religious leaders who taught that only members of that special people would be saved. Not according to the Christmas angel! The birth of the Savior was good news for all people. Today we celebrate the Festival of the Ep...
Jan 06, 2025•30 min
The Son of God took on flesh for two reasons: to be our substitute and our sacrifice. You see, when God created mankind in his image, his desire was that we would live holy lives, full of love for him and our fellow man. When mankind fell into sin, that became impossible. So, the heavenly Father sent Jesus. He is the only human being to keep all of God’s law perfectly. He did that as our substitute. Through faith, we claim his perfection as our own. But we needed another gift—one who could pay f...
Dec 30, 2024•31 min
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Dec 24, 2024•24 min
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Dec 24, 2024•18 min
“Make every effort to enter that rest.” That’s a strange sounding sentence. Effort and rest don’t usually go together. If I want rest, I don’t need effort. I just stop. Anyone can rest by stopping their effort. But the rest we are talking about today is different. It isn’t a rest that comes from inaction, it comes from work completed. The Christian life is not a life of inaction while we wait for Jesus to come back. It is a life of obedience to Christ as we strive to enter his rest. And when it ...
Dec 23, 2024•35 min
The original readers of the book of Hebrews were being tempted to let go of Christianity and go back to Judaism. To them, in their culture, following Moses felt like an upgrade compared to following Jesus. But that would be a downgrade! Jesus is best and far superior to Moses. Following Moses didn’t guarantee entrance to the promised land, and those who follow Jesus have the certain hope of heaven! What are we tempted to downgrade to? Whatever tempts us to turn away from Christ won’t benefit us ...
Dec 16, 2024•34 min
Jesus is the Son of God, the ultimate messenger. But if he was only going to be a messenger, he didn’t need to become human. He could have thundered from a mountaintop or blazed from a burning bush. But thundering voices don’t suffer, and burning bushes don’t die. If Jesus only wanted to be a messenger, power would have been enough. But Jesus wanted to do more. He wanted to bring us into his presence forever. So his presence had to be more. Jesus became the Son of Man. He became fully human and ...
Dec 09, 2024•33 min
Jesus is the Son of God, the ultimate messenger. But if he was only going to be a messenger, he didn’t need to become human. He could have thundered from a mountaintop or blazed from a burning bush. But thundering voices don’t suffer, and burning bushes don’t die. If Jesus only wanted to be a messenger, power would have been enough. But Jesus wanted to do more. He wanted to bring us into his presence forever. So his presence had to be more. Jesus became the Son of Man. He became fully human and ...
Dec 09, 2024•22 min
The Advent season reminds us of Jesus’ coming as a baby in Bethlehem, and of his second coming at the end of the world. But, so far, there have been over two thousand years between those two comings! Where is Jesus, now? And why isn’t he talking to us? Jesus promised to be with us always to the very end of the age. He is right here in this room. But sometimes, wouldn’t you like to see his face? Wouldn’t you like him to hear his voice? The disciples saw him, why can’t we? And if we can’t, maybe a...
Dec 02, 2024•26 min
“Eyes on the prize.” That axiom stresses that when pursuing some good goal, focus is important. You don’t want distractions or a lack of self-discipline to keep you from obtaining whatever that prize might be. “Eyes on the prize.” You summon the willpower to fixate on that good thing. You let nothing divert your attention from obtaining the prize. The prize that we want most is spending eternity with Jesus. As the Church Year comes to a close, Jesus promises that he will come again “in clouds wi...
Nov 25, 2024•35 min
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) affects many millions of adults. It is more than shyness. SAD includes an acute fear of being judged. An individual with SAD struggles with everyday tasks like talking to people at work or school because he is terrified that he is constantly being evaluated. Even if you don’t have that disorder, perhaps you have experienced that uncomfortable feeling that others are watching you, trying to find something to criticize. We don’t want others judging us. It is bad enoug...
Nov 18, 2024•26 min
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) affects many millions of adults. It is more than shyness. SAD includes an acute fear of being judged. An individual with SAD struggles with everyday tasks like talking to people at work or school because he is terrified that he is constantly being evaluated. Even if you don’t have that disorder, perhaps you have experienced that uncomfortable feeling that others are watching you, trying to find something to criticize. We don’t want others judging us. It is bad enoug...
Nov 18, 2024•29 min
“It will get better.” We say that to try to comfort someone who is having a bad day (or maybe a whole string of bad days). Perhaps tomorrow will be better. But perhaps it’s worse. In this life, there really are no guarantees that things will get better. That isn’t the case with the life that is to come. That life isn’t just going to be better. It will be perfect. Since the seventh century, Christians have marked a day to celebrate those who have died in faith and now realize the perfect joys of ...
Nov 11, 2024•29 min
Jesus repeatedly told his followers that living as his disciples would bring hardship. Living life according to God’s Law is going to make one appear odd in the eyes of the world, perhaps even evil. Sharing a message of mankind’s sin and God’s gracious salvation can cause offense. So why not just stay silent if that makes life easier--keeping our faith private? Answer: because we are going to live forever--a fact which changes how we live! In gratitude for Christ saving us, we share the gospel w...
Nov 04, 2024•30 min
Modern believers are in dire need of the biblical call to suffer well. With modern medicine, pain relief options, and even in some places the option of euthanasia, we have become a generation who fears and runs from suffering. Yet, the Bible repeatedly extols suffering as a tool the Lord uses to refine our faith, like gold in the fire. Daniel’s trial was unjust, unfair, and ungodly, yet he suffered well, with fire and humility. Even a wicked world notices when we suffer like Jesus. May this serm...
Oct 28, 2024•35 min
The gripping story of a ghostly handwriting on the king’s wall is God’s reminder of his sovereignty over us all. Those who humble themselves will be exalted, but those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Although God has shown grace to Nebuchadnezzar multiple times through his reign, Nebuchadnezzar continued to fall back in older pride-filled patterns. Finally, his time of grace came to an end. His example be a sobering lesson for us all.
Oct 21, 2024•31 min
The gripping story of a ghostly handwriting on the king’s wall is God’s reminder of his sovereignty over us all. Those who humble themselves will be exalted, but those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Although God has shown grace to Nebuchadnezzar multiple times through his reign, Nebuchadnezzar continued to fall back in older pride-filled patterns. Finally, his time of grace came to an end. His example be a sobering lesson for us all.
Oct 21, 2024•35 min
This week our message series delves into the theme of humility in a prideful world, drawing lessons from biblical stories about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, King Nebuchadnezzar and King Herod. The message emphasizes how the loss of humility can lead to downfall, while embracing humility in our walk with the true God is true peace, no matter what.
Oct 14, 2024•36 min
Daniel and his friends were in a foreign land filled with pagan gods, sinful customs, and unbiblical values. Did they cower and hide? No. Did they compromise their faith? No. Instead Daniel “resolved not to defile himself” (1:8). He leaned into the Word of God and the grace of God so that he could do the will of God. While modern America is far from ancient Babylonia, every believer would be wise to resolve to follow Daniel’s example of grace-based resolve.
Oct 07, 2024•34 min
Green Berets. Rangers. SEALs. Delta Force. These special forces groups are part of the United States military. They are elite: highly trained with unique skill sets. Many of their important missions are carried out in total secrecy. Several weeks ago, we acknowledged that we are in the middle of a massive spiritual war. Today, we thank God that we fight this war with the protection of special forces. Since the fifth century, Christians have observed the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels. We...
Sep 30, 2024•32 min
Love can cause harm. Consider the wife whose husband wants little to do with church. She loves him and does not want to upset him. So, when her husband wants her and the children to stay home Sunday morning, she complies without protest. That wife’s love for her husband hurts him, her children, and herself. Or consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everything that child asks for. That father’s love is toxic. It is shaping that child to be a selfish, entitled adul...
Sep 23, 2024•40 min
Love can cause harm. Consider the wife whose husband wants little to do with church. She loves him and does not want to upset him. So, when her husband wants her and the children to stay home Sunday morning, she complies without protest. That wife’s love for her husband hurts him, her children, and herself. Or consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everything that child asks for. That father’s love is toxic. It is shaping that child to be a selfish, entitled adul...
Sep 23, 2024•23 min
Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one’s hunger for all other sins. Humility increases one’s hunger for the forgiveness and healing found in Christ. The one who is proud demands to be served. The one who is humble is not content unless serving others. St. Augustine described it this way: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is ...
Sep 16, 2024•24 min
Humility and pride are polar opposites. Pride exalts self at the expense of God and others. Humility exalts God and others at the expense of self. Pride is the essential vice, for it increases one’s hunger for all other sins. Humility increases one’s hunger for the forgiveness and healing found in Christ. The one who is proud demands to be served. The one who is humble is not content unless serving others. St. Augustine described it this way: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is ...
Sep 16, 2024•32 min
So often it may seem that all is lost. A cancer diagnosis, a relapse into addiction, the revelation of the unfaithfulness of a spouse, just the nightly news of the horrors and atrocities taking place throughout the world—it would appear the evil has this world by the throat and there is no hope of any real and lasting change. But nothing could be further from the truth. Through the cross and his resurrection Christ has won the battle with sin and death. The demons must and do submit to his autho...
Sep 09, 2024•28 min
So often it may seem that all is lost. A cancer diagnosis, a relapse into addiction, the revelation of the unfaithfulness of a spouse, just the nightly news of the horrors and atrocities taking place throughout the world—it would appear the evil has this world by the throat and there is no hope of any real and lasting change. But nothing could be further from the truth. Through the cross and his resurrection Christ has won the battle with sin and death. The demons must and do submit to his autho...
Sep 09, 2024•25 min
When the fires of the trials of life burn hard and long, our strength, our patience, our ability to endure, even our motivation begins to fade. Arrogance and pride can sneak in when things are going well for us. Or we can become cynical and embittered toward our struggles and difficulties. Where do we find the strength and the ability to finish strong and to finish well?
Sep 02, 2024•40 min
