"Advent" (Isaiah 9:2-7; 11:1-2; 12:1-2, 25:6-9) Works cited/Recommended Reading: ESV Study Bible Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller Christians in the Age of Outrage by Ed Stetzer Come Let Us Adore Him: A Daily Advent Devotional by Paul Tripp 1. Joy to the world! Isaiah 9:3 (ESV) “Outrage functions as an odd catharsis for our insecurities, fears, and sense of powerlessness.” - Ed Stetzer “You can’t hate people and engage them with the gospel at the same time. You can’t war with people and show the lo...
Dec 02, 2018•37 min
The Cheerful Giver 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[ d ] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[ e ] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his...
Nov 25, 2018•32 min
Being spiritually healthy means daily evaluating your heart to see if there is anything hindering growth. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24 A heart that is spiritually dead “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Cori...
Nov 18, 2018•48 min
THE CORE: A LETTER TO THE LUKEWARM Revelation 3:14-22 Jesus knows the true condition of your heart. “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16 “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17 Life-change never happens until a person comes to a...
Nov 11, 2018•50 min
Nov 04, 2018•52 min
Psalm 107 Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So 1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble[ a ] 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he deliver...
Oct 28, 2018•38 min
THE CORE: WHY WE VALUE COMMUNITY Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Acts 2:42-47 WE VALUE COMMUNITY . . . Because God has created us for community. We are hardwired for relationships with God and with others. To have a relationship with God. “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness . . . So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26a, 27 To have a relationship with others. “Then the LORD God said, ‘It ...
Oct 21, 2018•49 min
THE CORE: AUTHENTICITY 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 6:3-11; Philippians 3:12-16 AUTHENTICITY’S ENEMY . . . One of the greatest hindrances to authenticity is fear. The fear of being known. The fear of what others might say or think about me. The fear of seeing what I know to be true but don’t want to admit. The fear of being rejected. AT THE CORE OF AUTHENTICITY . . . Authenticity is not being true to yourself but being true to who you are in Christ. “Spiritual pride is the illusion that we...
Oct 14, 2018•41 min
Psalm 133:1-3 We shall never know the full power of the anointing of God until we are of one heart and one spirit as we learn to forgive. In our lives In our families In His church Ephesians 4:32 Matthew 18:21-35 God calls us to forgive because He has forgiven us and He knows we can never reach our spiritual destiny if we refuse. Forgiveness is not Condoning Reconciling Forgetting A feeling About the other person Forgiveness is To pardon an offense and give up the right to be repaid Agreeing to ...
Oct 07, 2018•42 min
Matthew 28:18-20 1) God's mission is to reach the world. 2) All Christians are called to join God in His mission. 3) Effective Participation in God's mission demands discipline.
Sep 30, 2018•43 min
Sep 23, 2018•41 min
Sep 16, 2018•42 min
PRAYER: MORE THAN JUST WORDS Joshua 6:1-20 “Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God. Why? Because they don’t require divine intervention. But ask God to part the Red Sea or make the sun stand still or float an iron axhead, and God is moved to omnipotent action.” Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker God is the One who removes o...
Sep 09, 2018•47 min
THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE . . . There is a daily spiritual battle that you will either engage in or be indifferent “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up...
Sep 04, 2018•36 min
Matthew 6:5-13 PRAYING GOD’S WORD . . . Powerful and effective prayer is shaped by the abiding word of Christ in you. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 The desires of your heart will be shaped by the extent of your delight in His word. God answers prayers that are saturated with the truth of His word. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His ...
Aug 26, 2018•38 min
Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12b “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2 “ . . . pray without ceasing . . .” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “ . . . be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12b GOD’S INVITATION . . . Prayer is God’s invitation to enter into His presence. Everything flows from the presence of God. “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm...
Aug 19, 2018•31 min
1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (ESV) Luke 22:24-26 (ESV) The Gift of Administration leads the church to be a people of order while reminding the church of the God of order. 2 Timothy 2:4 (ESV) 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV) Psalm 19:1 (ESV) Romans 11:36 (ESV) Works Cited/Further Reading: ESV Study Bible The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB) “The Spiritual Gift You Don’t Notice Until It’s Gone” by Trent Hunter “Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God” by Eric Metaxas Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller Spurgeon on ...
Aug 12, 2018•40 min
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: PROPHECY 1 Corinthians 14:1-33, 39 YOU MAY HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IF . . . You have a desire to serve God, empowered by His Spirit, to boldly and fearlessly proclaim God’s truth. You have a sense of discernment and a desire to make people aware of sin in their lives, so they will repent . You have the ability to easily spot what is wrong and often have to look to find something right. You have a strong burden over the brokenness of people that compels you to pray for and weep...
Aug 05, 2018•47 min
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: SERVING 1 Peter 4:10- 11; Romans 12:7 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 THE GIFT OF SERVING . . . You have a strong desire to be involved. You see and meet...
Jul 29, 2018•40 min
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: TEACHING Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 The spiritual gift of teaching is a gift given and empowered by the Spirit for the purpose of teaching truth with accuracy and in a way that others gain understanding. YOU MIGHT HAVE THE GIFT OF TEACHING IF . . . You have a strong desire, accompanied by a capable ability, to teach Scripture. “ . . . and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach othe...
Jul 22, 2018•42 min
Romans 12:1-8 (ESV) How the Gift of Mercy edifies the body of Christ: It reminds the body of God’s mercy. Romans 12:1 (ESV) Exodus 34:6 (ESV) “God's mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.” - Charles Spurgeon “There is more mercy in Christ, than sin in us.” - Richard Sibbes Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) It makes the body more merciful as a whole. Romans 12:4-5 (ESV) Proverbs 27...
Jul 15, 2018•37 min
YOU MIGHT BE A SHEPHERD IF . . . You are a leader, not a follower. You are people-focused. You are good at creating and cultivating healthy relational You have a strong protective You have a genuine desire to help You are more of a disciple-maker than you realize. THE GIFT OF SHEPHERDING . . . The one who has a shepherding heart is always leading. Good shepherds consistently point to the green pastures and quiet waters. “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He...
Jul 08, 2018•48 min
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: EXHORTATION Romans 12:6-8; 1 Timothy 4:13-14a THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION . . . The gift of exhortation is speaking encouragement or correction, that is intentional and directional, into the lives of others. It is purposeful, not superficial or empty; it points people to something better and to become better. It is putting handles on the truth so that others know what to do and how to do it. It is most effective when there is credibility. When you’re speaking into someone’s life wha...
Jul 01, 2018•55 min
SPIRITUAL GIFTS: EVANGELISM Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13 Categories of Gifts . . . Miraculous gifts Enabling gifts Team gifts Gifts without Love . . . A deep love for Christ is the source for you to genuinely love others, expressed most visibly and tangibly through how God has gifted you. Your gifts become useless and ineffective if they are devoid of love. “If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have propheti...
Jun 24, 2018•44 min
#DADLIFE Mark 6:30-44 DAD AS A SHEPHERD . . . “And He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (v. 34) You are like Jesus when you show compassion to those whom God has given you to shepherd. “And He began to teach them many things.” (v. 34b) The greatest need your child has, above all else, is to know the truth about Jesus. “You give them something to eat.” (v. 35-37) Your children need to feast from your table, not the world’s table. “How many loaves do you hav...
Jun 17, 2018•45 min
WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS? Abilities given by the Spirit of God by grace through which He works for the common good of the body of Christ, for the glory of God. “A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to express our faith effectively (in word or deed) for the strengthening of someone else’s faith.” John Piper “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine....
Jun 10, 2018•38 min
THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN GOD’S STORY 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11 WHAT IS MY S.H.A.P.E.? Spiritual Gifts—What gifts has God graciously given you to use for His glory and to change the world? (take the assessment) Heart—What are the passions that resonate in your heart? Abilities—What are your abilities that seem to come naturally to you? Personality—What is the personality God has given you? Experiences—What are the experiences that have shaped your life?...
Jun 03, 2018•44 min
May 27, 2018•30 min
Prodigal Pt. 2 - The Elder Brother (Luke 15:11-32) Luke 15:11-32 (ESV) Religious self-righteousness is even more dangerous than rebellious unrighteousness. 1. Because it gives us an inflated view of self. Luke 15:29 (ESV) “A cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute.” - C.S. Lewis 2. Because it gives us a deflated view of self. Luke 15:30 (ESV) Jesus said to [the religious leaders], “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitu...
May 20, 2018•40 min
BE SELFISH TO BE SELFLESS . . . Be selfish with the time that allows you to selflessly care well for those you love most. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 CARING FOR YOUR HEART . . . Daily get away with God. “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” Mark 6:31 “ . . . in Your presence is full...
May 13, 2018•40 min
