Today we come to a mark of the Christian life that sets us apart from what people believe is “normal behavior”. Most people will tell you “If someone hurts you...hurt them back.” “If someone takes advantage of you...write them off.” “If someone persecutes you...never speak to them again.” But today we’re reminded that Christians don’t act that way. We’re reminded that Christians don’t hurt, write off or ignore those that persecute them, but we actually “bless” them instead. Blessing a persecutor...
Apr 07, 2019•24 min
Today we come to a mark of the Christian life that sets us apart from what people believe is “normal behavior”. Most people will tell you “If someone hurts you...hurt them back.” “If someone takes advantage of you...write them off.” “If someone persecutes you...never speak to them again.” But today we’re reminded that Christians don’t act that way. We’re reminded that Christians don’t hurt, write off or ignore those that persecute them, but we actually “bless” them instead. Blessing a persecutor...
Apr 07, 2019•28 min
In all the things we can do to show our Christian faith, one of the simplest is to show hospitality to people. In fact, truth be told, it’s not just the simplest ways but it’s also one of the most effective! People don’t want to hear what you believe as much as they want to know that you care...even if they need to hear what you believe as well. But it’s not just about what people want, we’ll remember today that showing hospitality is God’s will for our lives and as such, is one piece in the bea...
Apr 03, 2019•26 min
Apr 01, 2019•14 min
Apr 01, 2019•11 min
Apr 01, 2019•20 min
Unfortunately, in today’s church-life, people often believe that the church should give to them rather than them giving to the church. Now, should the church provide for its members, visitors and guests? Absolutely! The church is all about serving others no matter what! But members, visitors and guests who are Christians are part and parcel of that serving community, not separate from it. And one way in which we “serve” is through generous giving of our financial resources to the work of the Lor...
Mar 31, 2019•30 min
Unfortunately, in today’s church-life, people often believe that the church should give to them rather than them giving to the church. Now, should the church provide for its members, visitors and guests? Absolutely! The church is all about serving others no matter what! But members, visitors and guests who are Christians are part and parcel of that serving community, not separate from it. And one way in which we “serve” is through generous giving of our financial resources to the work of the Lor...
Mar 31, 2019•25 min
“Being Constant in Prayer” (Romans 12:12) 1Thessalonians 5:16-24 PBJ Prayer is one of the single most amazing gifts that God gives to us. We’re allowed to come into God’s presence! We’re allowed to speak to the Lord of the Universe without fear! We’re allowed to speak to the Lord as we would to a best friend or a trusted father! Amazing and wonderful! And yet, we all have to admit that we don’t avail ourselves of this incredible gift. We all have to admit that we don’t speak to the Lord as we sh...
Mar 27, 2019•29 min
Mar 25, 2019•11 min
“Being Patient in Trials” Patience isn’t typically a human strong-suit. Patience isn’t something we human beings are very good at. We’re impatient when we’re young and not much changes as we age! And this is particularly true when it comes to suffering. When we suffer trials and tribulations brought on by this world, we want the Lord to fix our situation and we want Him to fix it now! But we’re reminded today that being patient in all circumstances, but in particular, being patient in trials, is...
Mar 24, 2019•27 min
“Being Patient in Trials” Patience isn’t typically a human strong-suit. Patience isn’t something we human beings are very good at. We’re impatient when we’re young and not much changes as we age! And this is particularly true when it comes to suffering. When we suffer trials and tribulations brought on by this world, we want the Lord to fix our situation and we want Him to fix it now! But we’re reminded today that being patient in all circumstances, but in particular, being patient in trials, is...
Mar 24, 2019•30 min
One of the more difficult things about our world is that it can flat out make you sad. How many times have you thought to yourself “I have to stop watching the news on TV...it ’s just depressing!” And yet, as a Christian living in what can be a “depressing” world, we are called to “rejoice” ...but we’re called to a specific reason to rejoice, namely, the hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is not sketchy but sure and certain. Our hope isn’t a “might be” but is a “done deal”. So today...
Mar 21, 2019•17 min
Mar 18, 2019•10 min
Mar 18, 2019•11 min
Mar 18, 2019•19 min
This week’s focus seems obvious and yet, it’s still a struggle. We are not called to serve ourselves...which is our go to...but we are called to serve the Lord in every way and every day. Interestingly, serving the Lord is actually best accomplished by serving others. In saying that we’re reminded that the order of service is the Lord first, our neighbor second and ourselves, a distant third. Hard to do? Yes. Impossible to do? No. This is not only the Lord’s will for our lives, but it’s also His...
Mar 17, 2019•25 min
This week’s focus seems obvious and yet, it’s still a struggle. We are not called to serve ourselves...which is our go to...but we are called to serve the Lord in every way and every day. Interestingly, serving the Lord is actually best accomplished by serving others. In saying that we’re reminded that the order of service is the Lord first, our neighbor second and ourselves, a distant third. Hard to do? Yes. Impossible to do? No. This is not only the Lord’s will for our lives, but it’s also His...
Mar 17, 2019•24 min
We come to a very important place in our Lenten journey together. Today’s society desperately needs to hear the message today. You see we live in a very disrespectful time in history where people freely and openly combine a very judgmental spirit with a very sharp tongue. As Christians we are called to act like the man in our story from Matthew and show honor where honor is due. And of course, alongside that truth, to remember that the Christian has no right to judge anyone and furthermore, is c...
Mar 13, 2019•32 min
Mar 11, 2019•15 min
Mar 11, 2019•11 min
Mar 11, 2019•11 min
This week’s focus seems so obvious and yet is also so difficult for us to do. We tend to be loaners in our lives lived in America. Some of us are better about it than others, but all of us tend to be more self-focused than we are ever other-focused. And yet the Holy Spirit of God calls us to not just love our neighbor as ourself, but to extend to our neighbor a love that brings them into our family. The people around us, the saved and the unsaved should experience family love, or brotherly love ...
Mar 10, 2019•25 min
This week’s focus seems so obvious and yet is also so difficult for us to do. We tend to be loaners in our lives lived in America. Some of us are better about it than others, but all of us tend to be more self-focused than we are ever other-focused. And yet the Holy Spirit of God calls us to not just love our neighbor as ourself, but to extend to our neighbor a love that brings them into our family. The people around us, the saved and the unsaved should experience family love, or brotherly love ...
Mar 10, 2019•35 min
We’re taught by our parents as Christian children not to “hate” anyone or anything in any way, shape or form. As Christians we don’t even like the word “hate” and sometimes correct our children from using the term. So it’s difficult, even though it makes perfect sense in this case, to start out our Lent saying that we “hate” something...and yet, in this instance, we must. We must hate evil. And we must because the Lord does. The Lord abhors evil and as the Psalmist writes it for us in Psalm 5 “e...
Mar 06, 2019•20 min
Mar 04, 2019•11 min
Mar 04, 2019•15 min
Mar 04, 2019•22 min
Today we will remember, consider and celebrate the amazing event in Christ’s earthly life known as “The Transfiguration.” Amazingly Jesus was completely transformed in the presence of the disciples and in the presence of two Old Testament figures, Moses and Elijah. Notice that while Peter, James and John were fearful and amazed, Moses and Elijah seems to have taken Christ’s changed appearance in stride. So, as you consider that truth, what does this event tell us about Jesus? What does it furthe...
Mar 03, 2019•32 min
Mar 03, 2019•24 min
