The evening before his death on the cross, Jesus had one last supper with his followers. Through this meal, Jesus institutes a lasting tradition of Christianity to partake in the Lord’s Supper to help us remember what Jesus did. But it’s also about servanthood, loyalty and love.
Jesus didn’t just send out the disciples after His ascension, He sent them out multiple times during His ministry, including just after appointing the 12. We don’t have to be fully trained, theological masters, with a master’s of divinity to evangelize the Gospel, we just have to be followers of Jesus and go out in His power, not our own. They certainly didn't have all the answers. But they had hope, they were willing, and they were faithful. We can’t let the fear of rejection prohibit our messa...
Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, who would’ve been despised by everyone at that time. Despite being looked down on and despised by society, Jesus still calls all those who are “sick from sin” that they may be healed and follow Him. From the lowest of blue-collar workers to the white-collar criminals, Jesus is truly for everyone. We show more about our connection to Christ in the way we accept a new brother or sister into the family of God than by years of religious deeds. No, we must...
Jesus, being God Himself, went out of His way not just to evangelize to people, but to build a group of individuals that He could both pour into and rely on. The first that Jesus calls to His side is Peter, James and John (and presumably Andrew based on the other Gospel accounts). The story in Luke shows Peter’s initial faith, as well as an instant realization of who Jesus is (or at least who He represents). Jesus calls Peter and co to a greater life as fishers of men. Sometimes we fail not beca...
You would think people would learn from their recent history, but humans have a way of selective memory when things are going well. King Darius fell for the trap and was too proud to go back on his word, so Daniel went into the Lion’s Den. But our God shuts the mouths of lions, and will not be outdone. There will always be people who will seek to find fault in the faultless. Let's give them nothing to talk about. What if all they could come up with are false claims and frail arguments? No matter...
Who gets the glory? God, end of story. We can’t forget where our help comes from, we can’t forget who props us up in the position that we are in. Nebuchadnezzar did just that, and he paid for it. We must provide others with the confidence that their honesty will not be met with hostility. We can deliver hard truths in a way that lends itself to compassion. God's judgment can be averted by repentance. Change doesn't happen overnight and God doesn't expect it to. Even when we fail, restoration is ...
It doesn’t matter what the fire consists of, we must know we are not in it alone. Faith and perseverance brings reward. What are we really fighting for?
What do we do when we as believers have been ordered to do something that goes against our beliefs? Lead by example and hold true to what we know is right. Oftentimes doing things that are right by God means doing things we are ordered not to do. We must be willing to lose all that we have gained for what is right. We must be willing to go from being praised to pariah.
The reward of acting in faith in times of struggle is provision. God will give us what we need and nothing less. Nebuchadnezzar was attempting to prepare these men for positions of responsibility but their success came because they were being prepared by God. God doesn’t just give you what you need to survive, he gives you what you need to thrive. In the face of certain death, Daniel sought like-minded believers and the intervention of God.
Despite being given a command by the King who had just captured and dragged them off from their home, they refused to stray from their convictions of what was right. It’s easy to change the way we do things in the midst of a struggle, but faith perseveres. You are who your actions say you are. It’s easy to seek God when our provision is pint-sized and far more difficult when our provision is plentiful. Faith and logic aren't always at odds. Honoring God never results in having egg on your face....
You’re a loser. It’s ok - we’re all losers next to God’s goodness. We all are in need of righteousness, given to us by God, and to be equipped by Him. Once we’ve been equipped, we’re ready to be used by him to accomplish his great purpose - to bring other losers like us into his family. When we realize and accept that when we are left alone to our own devices, we are on the losing side of righteousness, then God can use us. The preparation for your calling is on you - God will take care of it. G...
Elijah is one of the great prophets of the Bible and was, at one point, the only prophet of Israel. He accomplished some astounding supernatural things with God’s power… and yet could not overcome his depression. If you feel that way, you are not alone. But we have to find our identity in God’s declaration of who we are, not who we see ourselves as. You can have immense faith, which leads you into the wilderness, and be willing to go wherever God calls you. You can give others hope in the face o...
Paul persecuted Christians for years. And then he met Jesus. For possibly the rest of his life, though, we had a personal struggle, what he called a “thorn in the flesh”. We too have our struggles like Paul, but we know that Jesus is there for the losers in the midst of their deepest valleys. Outside of Jesus, God has never called anyone to do anything who hadn’t experienced a giant L. Understand that God will often use you not only in spite of your shortcomings, but because of them. It’s not ab...
This week we’re looking at the life of David. He had many failures but was still described as a man after God’s own heart. Why was this? We set ourselves up for failure when we value the opinion of others more than we value the opinion of God. God cares more about substance than style, and we should do the same. God equips the called. He doesn’t necessarily call the equipped. We are who God says we are. We are only defined by sin if we remain in sin and allow it to be our identity. David was afr...
We are all sinners. There is nothing special that we can do to earn salvation. We have to look at ourselves in a healthy way to have a right relationship with God. We need Jesus. We are losers. God loves us. To be Christ-like requires daily effort.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the blessing to all nations through the line of Abraham. But He also revolutionizes what the Family of God is, breaking down the belief that one must be of certain descendants to be chosen by God. All of humanity was intended to be the Family of God. Due to our sin, God required a new plan - God elected Abraham. The Family of God, through Abraham, was to outnumber the stars in the sky and be a blessing to all nations and families of Earth. Israel could not accomplish ...
Election is not about Good vs. Evil. It’s about chosen vs. not chosen. God’s intention is always to bring all those who accept him in faith into the covenant relationship. But sibling rivalry always seems to get in the way. For every son or daughter chosen, there is one that isn’t. Yet, they all point towards the coming Jesus. The family of God is often divided between those who were chosen and those who were not chosen. Just because you are non-elect does not mean you are outside of God's mercy...
God’s design for us is to thrive and find salvation through relationships, not independence. Throughout the Bible, he has used election to deliver his people through connection. Adam and Eve were first, then came Abraham, and finally Jesus. Election is not absent of faith or action. Throughout Scripture we see that salvation always comes through our connection with others. We follow God's will through faith and participation in a community rooted deeply in forgiveness and surrender. When things ...
When we find unity under God and through His design, it’s a beautiful thing. But when we try to unify outside of what God has designed for us, it leads to self-elevation, whose only outcome can be destruction. When we fail to adhere to the design God intends for us, it leads to destruction. It's not just about abstaining from violence, it's about respecting God's word and sovereignty. Instead of honoring God, this was an act of rebellion. God’s command for unity isn’t a command for a lack of div...
From the Garden to the destruction of Babel, God’s purpose was to unify us, although not how we might think. God’s desire for a diverse family is evident. We discuss how God’s desire for a big family doesn’t take away our individuality but expands upon it. God’s original intention wasn’t that His creation just survive - it was that they thrive. When this relationship exists as it should, society prospers because it is in the design of God. Gen 2:24 Naturally, humans as creation will come togethe...
The family of God unites us across all nationalistic ties. In order to experience the fullness of what God has for us, we must learn to appreciate, respect, and connect to cultures around the world. Jesus's movement knows no bounds. It was and is the most culturally diverse and ethnically inclusive religious movement ever. The diversity of the Church is a reason to hope. Diversity does not weaken the family of God - it only makes us stronger. Christians have more in common with someone who is “i...
We are called to be a living sacrifice in our service to God, and to use our God-provided gifts in service of others. In doing so, we find unity as we all become one. The giving of our bodies is an act of worship in which we give back to God what he has paid for with the blood of Christ. The general measuring stick for life success is others. But as renewed beings, our success is measured against how well we conform to God’s plan for our life. Sober-minded persons are able to view themselves as ...
We have a responsibility to others. We must leave judgment to God and ensure that we are not the cause of someone being susceptible to his judgment. We will never change lives if our focus is on how we differ from others rather than how we all differ from Scripture. If you are making a choice in an earnest attempt to honor the Lord, and the choice you are making isn’t prohibited by Scripture, what matters isn’t what I feel about your choice. You are accountable to the Lord only. We take time awa...
God has fulfilled his promises to the Gentiles and he will for the Jew, too. God calls us into salvation with His mercy. Gentiles, who were not God’s chosen people and did not seek right standing with God, now enjoy that right standing by faith. What does it take to be saved? We must be anguished at the rejection of the Gospel in order to be bold enough to share it with the world. The reason we often don’t feel as if we experience this isn’t the value of the promise - it’s guaranteed. It’s becau...
We have been reconciled with God through the death of Christ. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ. What does it look like to be alive in Christ using principles in this section of Scripture? We have justification through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Baptism is a naming ceremony. A life empowered by the reality of the new covenant with Christ and a life that reflects the values of Christ. Sanctification is becoming like Christ through our union with Him. Sin has lost its dominion ov...
Since no one can be righteous before God (see last week’s message), we see that right standing with God comes through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. But He didn’t stay dead. He rose again, defeating it all! Faith and righteousness are synonymous in that one cannot be obtained without the other. Regardless of how hard we try, we continuously fall short of the mark set for us by God. The ransom payment was the literal blood of Christ, and it paid for our sins. Not only did Christ...
God is righteous in his wrath against sinners. To understand the depth of his salvation, we have to understand the depth of our depravity. People usually do not sin in naivety but actually try to push approval of their sin. God's condemnation is the natural consequence of ignoring his existence and righteousness. The lie we believe is that humans can be self-fulfilled, self-reliant and have no need for God. Anytime we live outside of God’s design for us, we sin. There are no excuses for sin. God...
Are we the same as this world? What sets us apart? We should strive for a renewed mind. We use the gifts God has blessed us with to benefit the Church and God’s kingdom. We submit to earthly authority. We don't judge each other. We don't cause each other to stumble. We are model citizens. Genuine love reflects the Father's love and it is the fruit that Christians must bear. We have to be brave enough to call a sin a sin. Not to do so is the opposite of loving and it destroys the purpose of God's...
This is the greatest commandment given to us - to love God with literally all of who we are. What does that look like and how do we accomplish that? The entirety of Christian living can be summed up in two things - loving God and loving others. We can’t love God wholly and completely if we have placed something before him. Obedience is the only thing we have to offer in return for all he has done for us. Real love stands the test of time.
The way we love our family shows how God loves His Church. There are various passages throughout both the Old and New Testaments teaching us how to love our spouse, children, and parents. These are important relationships both selfishly for our own wellbeing, but also to show the world the type of life God desires for us all to have and what God’s relationship with His Church looks like, one abundant with love and respect. - A hardened heart closes reasonable ears. - Serve the Lord by supporting...
