Concordia Sermons: Recent Episodes
Concordia Lutheran Church
Luke 17:11-19
11 Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When He saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
King Jehoshaphat has a vast army arrayed against him. Before he goes to battle, Israel thanks God ahead of time for what He will do. We usually thank God in response to something. But how does thankfulness become so ingrained in us that we thank God before something - even something that looks threatening and menacing?
Jesus has given us our community – the city of San Antonio – to bless! Will we let our light shine to transform our community with the love of Christ?
Faith is the gift that allows us to follow Jesus! But how do we manage our faith? Do we simply regard it as an internal state of our heart, or something that flows from our heart in our actions that blesses those around us? One of the way that we can grow our faith and manage it well, and bless those around us, is in how we steward our financial resources.
Jesus has given us incredible forgiveness at an incredible price – the price of His very life. He asks that we manage that forgiveness by extending it to others.
Jesus is the One who has given us our wealth! Yet, too often, we hoard our wealth instead of being generous. Jesus explores in this parable how generosity is the key to good money management.
One of the reasons so many people struggle in silence is because they believe they’re the only one and that others would not understand – or, worse, judge them – if they ever found out what they were going through. The preacher of Hebrews reminds us that we always have someone who understands – Jesus – and we can bring Him anything.
When something bad happens, it can be easy to let that bad thing become all-consuming. It becomes the filter through which we see our whole lives. The book of Lamentations was written during a tough time in Israel’s history – when they were in exile in Babylon. Although the author does not minimize his agony, he also does not totalize it. This awful situation is not the whole story. There is hope in God.
Have you ever made someone your “project”? You think you can fix them, change them, or, perhaps, even save them? Paul reminds us that at the same time we may try to change someone, they are also potentially changing us. He encourages us, then, to choose our relationships wisely and reminds us that the deepest change comes through Christ.
When life gets challenging, it can be tempting to give up. We can be tempted to quit everything from our jobs to our relationships to even our very lives. Jesus encourages perseverance by telling a story about a woman who goes through terribly trying times. He also reminds us that our strength to continue comes from God through prayer.
Last weekend, we talked about how sometimes we don’t feel as if we’re enough. This weekend focuses on how we often think we don’t have enough. “If I just had more money or more time or more energy or more whatever, life would be great!” When Paul writes to the Philippians, he speaks of his concern of not having enough, but also trusts fully that God will provide everything he needs.
“I’m not enough” is an interesting lie we tell ourselves because it’s not totally untrue. We do fall short of being enough because we are sinful. Yet, God’s Son Jesus is enough and redeems us from our sin to make us whole – to make us enough. Isaiah’s call from God is a beautiful picture of how God makes people enough.
Right before Joshua dies, he invites the Israelites to serve the Lord, knowing they will not be able to. In their pride, the Israelites claim they will be able to serve Him. The next book of the Bible – Judges – tells us otherwise. Humility is the key to spiritual growth. How have we fallen short serving the Lord? Out of His grace, God continually invites us to try serving Him again.
As Joshua nears the end of his life, he reflects on how he has been merely a steward of God’s Word and ways. It is God’s Word that lasts. When we get to the end of our lives, will we have spent our lives with an eye toward what lasts?
A man named Caleb has been waiting for years to receive an inheritance first promised to him by Moses. But rather than becoming bitter because of the wait, he is grateful for his inheritance, no matter how long it might have taken him to receive it. What good things will come to us when we are willing to wait?
Though the Israelites win many battles in Joshua, it is ultimately God who gives them the victory. He is powerful not just against enemies, but over all creation. When we face battles we cannot win, who will we entrust ourselves to?
Each year our middle school and high school students serve on a mission trip in order to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, and to be a blessing to others in His name. Even as the focus is on serving others, our youth return home excited and encouraged, and end up being blessed and served more than they could’ve imagined.
After the Israelites conquer Jericho, one of them, Achan, steals some of its plunder. God sees what has happened and punishes all of Israel by allowing them to lose their next battle against Ai. The lies we tell always hurt others. We are called to be people of the truth.
When Joshua fights the battle of Jericho, before he fights, he waits. He takes six days to march around the city with trumpets. It is only after giving the residents a chance of Jericho to repent does God decide to destroy the city. God was patient with Jericho and He is patient with us. Will we use His patience as an opportunity to repent of sin?
As Joshua and the Israelites are preparing to march on Jericho, they send some spies to the city to do some reconnaissance work. A foreigner named Rahab helps them and is blessed for doing so. This reminds us that God’s promises and God’s work are not just for certain people, but for all people.
As Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land, the Jordan splits so the Israelites can cross over – just as it did years before when the Israelites passed through the Red Sea. In commemoration of God’s work, Joshua instructs that a monument be built. We are to remember God’s work in our past, too, and perhaps even memorialize it in a monument, but what God has done is meant to spur us on toward the mission of what will yet do.
The book of Joshua opens with a recap of Israel’s wandering through the wilderness. In this message, we’ll recap the Pentateuch and discover how our past can both warn us and teach us.
When we pray and a prayer goes seemingly unanswered, our faith can be rocked. In this message, we consider how God answers our prayers.
One of the primary criticisms of Christianity is that people believe it degrades women. But the Scriptures and history paint a different picture. This is a faith where all people find dignity as God’s creations and as children of God in Christ.
There are many reasons that a good God may allow suffering in our lives. Sometimes, it is to train us. Other times, it is to call us to repentance. In every instance, God uses our suffering to ultimately bless us, even if we can’t immediately see it.
Scandals involving hypocrisy have left a bad mark on the integrity of the Church. Living with integrity is paramount in our witness to Christ. Everyone is a hypocrite in one way or another, but rather than hiding this, we must confess it and repent of it.
Aren’t Christians being exclusive when they claim that only Christ is the way to salvation? Claiming that all paths lead to the same God is itself an exclusive claim because it excludes those faiths that claim differently. Every claim is, in some sense, exclusive. So, we must discern which claims are true.
It is often assumed that either Christianity or science is true and that the Scriptures reject rational, scientific inquiry. In truth, the Scriptures invite it because they assert that there is a rational God who created a rational universe that we can joyfully investigate.
People want to know about the “weird” Bible verses, especially in the Old Testament – the ones against mixing fabrics and eating shellfish. Do we not take such verses seriously? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus invites us to see all Scripture as fulfilled and interpreted through Him.
Karl Marx famously said, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” He saw faith as nothing more than a crutch for the weak to deal with the vicissitudes of life. The reality is that Christianity is, in some ways, a crutch – one that we all need, because we’re not as strong as we’d like to think we are. But it is also more than just a therapeutic crutch. It is a divine reality.
When the women see a man dressed in white in Jesus’ empty tomb, he invites them, “See the place where they laid Him.” When Jesus died, hope was laid to rest. But then hope got up again. Is there any hope you have laid to rest? How can Jesus’ resurrection give your lost hope new life?
When Peter and John first go to Jesus’ tomb, they do not understand what they are really seeing. They still do not understand that Jesus was to rise from the dead. So, in verse 10, they go back to where they are staying. When we truly understand what happened at Easter, there is no going back. Easter changes our lives because it changes our eternities. What burden, addiction, or sin are you going back to that Easter can free you from?
As the Passover approaches, Jesus’ disciples want to make preparations for this most sacred meal. What they find out, however, is that Jesus has already been making preparations. He already has a room reserved. This is the message of the gospel. Jesus already has taken care of the most important things in our lives – our lives, our sins, and our eternities. On Maundy Thursday, we celebrate a meal that is a tangible indication of what Jesus takes care of for us.
Today we remember how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and went public with the fact that He was the King that God’s People were waiting for.
So often, we conceal the things we should reveal – like our sin in confession – and reveal the things we should conceal – like our righteous acts. Jesus invites us to give up boasting and do our best work in secret. These are the works that God honors.
We may not like to admit it, but sometimes, we are not only the victims of thorns, but the cause of thorns. We hurt others with our words and actions and, instead of bearing the fruit of righteousness, we wound others with our thorns of sin. Jesus invites us to repent of the times we have hurt others and speak and act in accordance with His Word.
It can be difficult to confess sin because it requires you to give up your pride. The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable is proud, but it is the tax collector who confesses his sin who finds mercy.
We all have struggles. The apostle Paul was no exception as he struggled with “a thorn in his side.” Though we do not know specifically what Paul’s struggle was, his call to lean on God’s grace when we struggle with sin or the effects of sin is the best way to address the thorns that afflict us.
As we celebrate service at Concordia, we remember that Jesus came to serve us. Jesus gave up His rights and privileges to be served and instead took up a towel to serve us. He invites us to do the same for others.
Because we live in a sinful world, there are thorns all around us that can try us and even tempt us to lose our faith. In a world that is thorny, Jesus invites us to have tender hearts that allow His Word to take root in our lives.
The Sabbath was a day to give up work so people could take up rest. Sadly, the religious leaders turned the gift of rest into a burden. Jesus invites His followers to experience the Sabbath as a gift rather than a requirement.
Before the Israelites enter the Promised Land, God tries to give them guidance on how to live in their future homeland so they do not fall into the thorny traps of the pagan nations currently living there. But the Israelites do not listen. How can we better heed the warnings of sinful traps that lie ahead so we avoid needless thorns?
In Matthew 4, Jesus spends 40 days fasting. The discipline of fasting – giving up food – can help us take up spiritual control. When we can tame our physical appetites, we can better endure spiritual temptations.
When Adam and Eve fall into sin, part of the curse God places on Adam in punishment for his sin is that his work will become, quite literally, thorny. There will be thorns for Adam. This sounds grim. Yet, the answer to Adam’s thorns are more thorns – a crown of thorns twisted on Jesus’ head.
Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar are a family who breaks each other's hearts. But even in the midst of pain and betrayal, God is giving them a new start. How can God give us a new start even when we struggle and suffer with a broken heart?
Because every human relationship is between two sinners, offenses will happen. Adam and Eve sinned against God, but also against each other – especially when Adam blames Eve for feeding him some forbidden fruit. Yet, Adam and Eve stayed together. How do we stay together when we hurt or are hurt by each other? The answer lies in how God stays with us – through forgiveness.
What is the secret that people in long-term relationships know? It is simply this: always humbly put the other person first. The first century world was patriarchal. The man was expected to be first and be treated as first. But Priscilla and Aquilla provide a counter-cultural example. While Aquilla, the husband, is at first named first, primacy is quickly given to Priscilla. Being willing to take a secondary role instead of jockeying for position ascribes value to another person and is the secret the relationships that go the distance.
There can be certain aspects of relationships that just “happen” to you. For example, a child does not choose their father or mother. But for a relationship to thrive, assembly is required. You must not just feel love, but choose to be committed to another person. The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful example of this intentional choice.
It can be scary to share Scripture! We’re worried about whether or not we’ll have an answer to a question someone is asking, or we’re worried we don’t know the Bible well enough to share it with anyone else. We can learn how to share the Bible with others by looking at the way Jesus shared the Bible with His disciples.
Reading the Bible can be frustrating because so much of it can sound so foreign. This is why the Psalmist invites us not just to read the Bible, but to meditate on it. Studying the Bible takes time and effort. So, it’s okay if you still feel like you have a lot to learn about the Bible!
Many people have read the Bible, but they don’t know the backstory to the greatest story ever told. How did this book come together? In the introduction to his Gospel, Luke tells us that careful research went into all the books that in the Good Book.
A popular acronym to understand the theme of the Bible is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. But though the Bible does contain plenty of instruction, instruction is not its primary theme. Jesus is. Paul speaks of how the Scriptures are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” If we miss Jesus, we miss the main point of the Bible.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6
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Most people make New Year’s resolutions because they want to make a change in their life. But sometimes we don’t choose change. Instead, it chooses us. Joseph and Mary planned to raise Jesus in Bethlehem. But then, because of a murderous plot of a mad king, they had to first flee to Egypt and then settle in Nazareth. Sometimes, the changes we most don’t want to make are the changes that do us the most good.
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Have you ever asked for a sign from God? Usually, when we ask for a sign from God it’s because we want something fixed by God. But God has already given us His ultimate sign – a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. God may not always give us signs that shock and amaze, but He has given us the sign we most need in His Son.
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The stresses of the holiday season and life in general can sap our peace. There are stresses that circumstances foist upon us and there are stresses that we bring on ourselves through our own decisions. When the disciples are caught in a storm, life has foisted stress on them but their reaction only exacerbates their stress. Jesus steps into all the stress with His peace.
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Christmas demands patience. From traffic jams to long lines at stores to, now, slow delivery service because of supply chain interruptions, we need patience now more than ever. In Luke 2, we meet a man named Simeon who had been waiting for decades to see the Messiah. He patience was rewarded. In a society that obsesses over quickness, a little patience can do our souls well.
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With all that we have been through, our souls can feel shriveled at times. In Matthew 12, Jesus restores a man with a shriveled hand. What He did for this man physically, He can do for us spiritually.
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Enjoy hearing the origin story of some of your favorite Christmas songs and carols, along with with a devotion from Pastor Paul!
Contentment is great! Gratitude is even better, for gratitude is not only happy with what it has – as nine of the lepers healed by Jesus were – but actively thankful for what it has. In this way, gratitude blesses others because gratitude is an expression of contentment and fulfillment.
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The Israelites were wildly blessed by God while wandering through the wilderness – but, for them, it was never enough. Grumbling misses the blessings God gives. The first step out of the trap of grumbling is contentment.
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David refused to even drink water if the water was a product of someone else work and risk. David wanted to work for what he had. Part of stewardship is working for what we have so we can share what we have. Are we more interesting in working or taking?
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Joseph was entrusted with a huge estate. But things quickly turned sour when he was falsely accused of mismanaging what he had been given. How can we be faithful with what God has given us, even when being faithful means sacrificing like Joseph?
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From the very beginning of history, God entrusted people with the responsibility of taking care of His world. What you have is still part of His world. Are you cultivating what God has given you or wasting or hoarding it?
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One of the hardest challenges families face is when they are divided over faith. Jesus’ own family struggled to believe in Him! But when we hold on to our faith, our household becomes divided against Satan. And, as Jesus reminds us, a house divided cannot stand. There is hope for your family members who are outside the faith!
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Some of the hardest sayings of Jesus have to do with family. Jesus called twelve men away from their families to be His disciples. Jesus challengingly invites us to remember that, as important as family is, family without Him is idolatry and will only lead to pain.
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Every family encounters problems and conflicts. Before Isaac and Rebekah even have children, God promises their sons will fight with each other. Looking at our family through the eyes of faith – through how Jesus sees them – can help us navigate the short-term conflicts with a larger goal in mind.
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We will often speak of our “friends and family.” There are some friends who are like family (Proverbs 18:24). Paul talks about how we are part of Christ’s family by faith in Galatians 3. When our own family fails us, we have a larger family that extends through space and time.
A family apart from faith can attempt some spectacular things, as does the human family in Genesis 11 when they build the tower of Babel. But our success will only be temporary. Each family must ask: what is most important?
When God created Adam and Eve, He created history’s first family. He also placed them in an idyllic setting. Their yard was perfect. But Adam and Eve’s sin stained not only their family, but the whole human family. The white picket fence was replaced by a flaming sword to keep Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). But in the middle of this mess, God promises a descendant who will restore their family. What our family needs most of all is not a white picket fence, but a cross.
When God is putting forth plans for the building of the tabernacle, He gives people the talents to do the work He needs. God has given us talents, too. How we steward our talents will guide how we feel about our work. Work can be a burden. But when we steward our talents well, work can also be a gift.
Moses dies before Israel enters the Promised Land. But Moses leaves a lasting legacy. He had a special, close relationship with God that ultimately foreshadows Christ’s perfect relationship with God.
"Covenant" is a word we hear in church, but we don't use it in many other places. Yet, this word is foundational to what it means to have a relationship with God and, when we understand it, can change our relationships with others for the better.
As God establishes a covenant with Israel, He expects them to obey the stipulations of His covenant. Obedience leads to blessings. History, however, reminds us that the Israelites do not obey this covenant. This is why God must establish a new covenant in Christ.
One of the most common questions that people ask about the Old Testament has to do with the violent stories in it. In this section, God lays down some rules of engagement for war. We see that God is not bloodthirsty, but careful and thoughtful and uses battle not as a first, but as a last, resort.
God forecasts that the Israelites will eventually cry out for a king to lead them, which they do (1 Samuel 8:4-21). In this section, God reminds the people that any leader they have should be led first by God and His Word. A leader is at his best when he first follows the Lord.
God blesses the Israelites bountifully. But God also expects the Israelites to use their bountiful blessing to bless others. Israel’s generosity is to extend both to people to whom they are close and to people who are outside their social circles and national identity.
The ancient Israelites lived as monotheists in a polytheistic society. Anything that takes their attention away from the one, true God is spiritually dangerous. In this section, Moses instructs the people how to discern true religion from false religion.
Moses tells the Israelites that God will bountifully bless them material. With such bountiful blessing, however, comes the temptation to boast in what you have received and treat it as though you have earned it. Moses reminds the Israelites to remember that what they have are divine gifts of grace and not things they earn.
All of God’s commandments can be summarized in a single word: love. God’s commandments show us how to love Him and how to show His love to others. Indeed, God gives His commandments to us not out of harshness, but out of love. When we understand this, we can follow His commandments joyfully instead of begrudgingly.
Even as God was conceived of as near, as we discussed last weekend, the Israelites still feared the Lord and so they asked Moses to be their mediator. Ultimately, Moses fell short as a mediator because of his sin. This points to our need for a perfect mediator, given to us in Christ.
God had a unique relationship with Israel. Whereas most religions conceived of divinities as distant and detached, Israel had a God who was near to them and heard their prayers. God’s nearness is ultimately confirmed and fulfilled when God comes near to us in Christ. On Father’s Day, we celebrate how Christ brings the Father near!
In order to do well in the future, we need to learn lessons from our past – especially from our past mistakes. As Deuteronomy opens, Moses calls to mind some of the Israelites’ mistakes during their wilderness wanderings and encourages them to follow God into their future.
There is no shortage of anxiety about the problems we face – be those personal or cultural problems. Jehoshaphat, as a ruler in ancient Israel, faced an enemy that brought him great anxiety. But even in his anxiety, he turned to the Lord.
As we commemorate Memorial Day, we remember those who have given their lives while serving in our nation’s Armed Forces. The loss of life always brings with it grief. But, as Paul says, because of Christ, we do not grieve without hope.
The superscript of this psalm indicates it was written by “Heman, son of Korah.” This ancient Israelite honestly processes and records his depression. Along the way, he gives voice not only to what we may feel, but to where we can turn.
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Abuse and conflict in households have increased exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The story of Abraham and Lot provides a healthy model of dealing with conflict and an invitation to let go of our own wishes and desires for the sake of love.
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Being a mom is hard work! When God calls Ezekiel into ministry, He tells him upfront: “There will be many times when the Israelites will not listen – when they will be obstinate and stubborn. But you are still called to shepherd them – to be a prophet for them.” A mother’s calling is similar. Through all of a family’s ups and downs, we can give thanks for our mothers. Their love and leadership reminds us “that a mother has been among us.”
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Peter was a follower of Jesus who denied knowing Jesus and thought his faith was fractured beyond repair. Yet, Jesus invited Peter back into a relationship with Him. Even when we struggle with faith, Jesus invites us to a relationship with Him, too!
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Peanut Butter and Jelly. Macaroni and Cheese. There are some things that just go together. For the early Jews, the Sabbath Day and worship went together – until the early Christians changed their worship day to Sunday. For them, resurrection paired with worship even better than the Jewish Sabbath, for Jesus’ resurrection became the centerpiece of their hope.
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We can sometimes think debates over a dead man coming back to life are new to our day and age. But people have long debated whether or not resurrection is possible. This was a debate between the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day. Old debates, then, our now our debates – and they are still worth having.
When a young man appears to some scared women at Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning, he announces Jesus’ resurrection and then gives the women a mission: “Go, tell His disciples and Peter” (verse 7). Peter is listed separately from the disciples because Peter walked away from Jesus as a disciple. He made Himself an outsider. Maybe you walked away from faith when you were younger. Like Peter, Jesus is inviting you back to a life of hope.
We use filters on our camera to make things look different – and better. The resurrection is the ultimate filter. Before Jesus’ resurrection, everything looked dark and hopeless. After the resurrection, everything Jesus did and taught was seen in a different light. We can view our lives through the filter of the resurrection, too.
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last.
The night before Jesus goes to the cross, He celebrates the Passover with His disciples, the night God passed over His people and struck down the firstborns of the Egyptians. It is critical to understand that God did not pass over His people because they were without sin, but in spite of their sin and because of a sacrifice. When Jesus shares this Passover a final time with His disciples, He is pointing to His final work on the cross.
When Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds shout, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9). Their perception of blessing, however, is that God’s blessing will lead Jesus to take on their enemies. God’s blessing, however, will come through cursing His Son.
The night before Jesus goes to the cross, the disciples are afraid at what will transpire. But Jesus explains how His death is actually the ultimate expression and creation of the friendship we have with God. When we are fearful at what is to come, we can remember that Jesus has already gone through the most fearful experience imaginable and is still our friend. This means that He will never leave us no matter what fearful experiences we may face.
The words we use are powerful. It is important, then, to choose them carefully. Every words we speak has the potential of drawing someone closer to Christ or leading them further from Christ.
Jesus is loved by Mary at a visit to Mary and Martha’s home. She expresses this love by giving Him an extravagant gift. When Judas hypocritically complains that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor, Jesus calls His disciples to truly care for the poor, noting that they will have plenty of opportunities to love those who have little.
Sometimes, the most powerful witness that we can offer is not in the words we say, but in the things we do. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus emphasizes the importance of being a merciful neighbor.
Those who are grieving need a friend. They can often feel like people forget their losses or simply stop caring. Jesus expresses His deep care to Mary and Martha after the passing of Lazarus. He not only raises Lazarus, He loves Mary and Martha.
Paul is doing his best to share the gospel, but he keeps meeting resistance. This, however, does not dampen the joy given him by the Holy Spirit. How can we have joy even when we face opposition sharing our faith?
Jesus befriended people no one else wanted to befriend. In John 4, Jesus cares for a woman who was hated by the Jews because she was a Samaritan, and rejected by her own community because of her scandalous sin. What outcasts can we befriend in Jesus’ name?
When someone offends us, our reflexive reaction can be often to strike back. But Abigail shows David and his men a different way when they are offended by Nabal. She stands between two angry parties to make peace. Christ can be our peacemaker when we feel locked in a world of angry debates.
Jesus is a friend to those who think they already have plenty of friends! Nicodemus would be an example of one such person. A member of the Jewish ruling council, he was well-connected and comfortable. But his comfortable life blinded him to what God was offering in His Son.
What happens if you feel like you just can’t forgive someone who has hurt you in a relationship? In this message, we discuss practical strategies to move from bitterness to forgiveness.
When Adam and Eve fall into sin in the Garden, they think this is the end of their relationship with God. Indeed, they even hide from God. But God makes a promise that what they think is the end is only the beginning of His plan of salvation when He says to the serpent who tempted them: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Marriage is meant to be a beautiful picture of how Christ loves His Church. Because of sin, however, this picture can be distorted and, tragically, sometimes even destroyed. How do we recover the picture of love God desires and has designed for our marriages? Paul answers, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
The most needed asset in a relationship is forgiveness. When two sinners get together, there are bound to be bumps and bruises along the way. In Luke 7, Jesus teaches us that much forgiveness leads to much love. Conversely, unforgiveness can destroy a relationship.
When couples first marry, they often carry different – and sometimes unspoken – expectations into their marriages that come from their backgrounds. The Pharisees had certain expectations of who the Messiah should be that blinded them to who Jesus actually was. How can we understand and properly align our expectations?
New Years’ resolutions often revolve around caring for our bodies. But though we can start strong, we can regularly quickly lapse into old, unhealthy habits. Paul speaks of the taking care of our bodies not just of the sake of our physical health, but for the sake of our witness. If we can keep our bodies in check, then we can keep our spirits in check. If we can reshape our bodies, then we can reshape our very selves as we seek to share our faith (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
When God appears to Solomon at night, He warns Solomon that Israel will meet tough times. But during these tough times, God shows Solomon a way forward through humility, prayer, and focus. During the tough times we face at this moment in our nation's history, this can be the Church's way forward, too!
When life gets busy, often one of the first things we neglect is the life of our minds. When Solomon felt overwhelmed, however, he devoted himself to wisdom rather than simply trying to make it through by his own grit. In this message, we’ll discuss strategies for doing the same.
True refreshment begins with our relationship with God. It begins spiritually. As Peter puts it in Acts 3:19: “Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” In Psalm 51, David speaks to God and asks him to “renew a steadfast spirit” (Psalm 51:10) within him. When we feel spiritually empty, God can refresh us and make us spiritually full.\
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When wise men come to bring gifts to Jesus, they come to bring gifts to God’s greatest gift. The gift of Jesus is the heart of our faith. If Jesus is not a free gift, we have no hope. Will you trust that God has given you a perfect free gift in Christ?
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In the Bible, darkness is a common metaphor for sin. But darkness can be easily pierced by light. Jesus comes to shed light on our sin and bring light for our lives. Will we walk in His light?
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After a choir of angels appears to some shepherds, they rush to gather around a manger to see a newborn King. The manger became the center of their lives. Is the manger the center of our lives?
A crackling fire is often part of a picturesque Christmas gathering. But, as we know, fire can be dangerous. It certainly was for Peter. It was around a fire where Peter denied his Lord. But Peter’s toughest moment eventually proved to be a turning point in his faith. Our toughest moments can be turning points in our faith, too.
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The tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
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One of the most common images in the Old Testament for the Messiah is a branch. In Isaiah 11, from what appears to be dead wood comes a new, living branch. Are there things in our lives that are “dead wood”? Even when we feel as though something is lost, Christ can bring new life!
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Hannah’s deepest desire was to have a child. When the Lord blesses her with a son, she is so thankful that she dedicates him to Him. When we live thankfully, we also live generously, for we want to share our bounty and blessings with others, honoring the Lord who has given everything to us.
Entitlement is the enemy of thanksgiving. When we assumed we are owed something, we are unlikely to be thankful for something. The lepers cried out for mercy, but nine of them were more bitter at God about their disease than they were thankful for their healing from God. What blessings do we miss that we assume we deserve?
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Paul is clear that we should “give thanks in all circumstances” (verse 18). There is not a moment in our lives when we have nothing to be thankful for. When we do not live thankfully, we are outside of God’s will and are, as Paul says in verse 19, of quenching of the Spirit.
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Stewardship involves faith that conquers fear. During an especially fearful time, Jesus’ Parable of the Bags of Gold reminds us that we’re nevertheless called to invest what He has given us for the sake of His work in the world.
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Joseph is entrusted by Potiphar to steward his estate. Joseph does everything right, but things still go terribly wrong. In this season, what do we do when we try to do the right thing, but things still go really wrong with our finances and in our lives?
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It feels like we’re becoming more obsessed with politics and elections. And even if we don’t care about politics much, we know someone who does! And their obsession can become our frustration. In a nation that is so divided, so scared, and so angry, how can the Church be different?
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For those who feel hopeless grace offers a promise – God is for you. Your righteousness does not define your standing with God. He defines His standing with You out of His love for you.
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Our culture operates on a system of merit – we get what we deserve. Grace upends this system because the very definition of grace is when we get what we do not deserve. But grace always gives us more than enough.
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When Christ sacrificed His very life, God vindicated this sacrifice by giving Him a name that is above every name. His reputation is spotless, which is why countless millions follow Him. What do our reputations look like? Do our reputations show us to be people who live for Christ?
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Christ humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross. He gave all. Paul says we are to have this same mindset. Before we can challenge others, we must give to them. What are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of others?
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It can be tempting to grumble and argue during a time like this. Yet, we are called to hold on to and hold out God’s Word of life to a world that needs it. This is what Paul did for the Philippians and this is what we are called to do for our world.
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After a meal and some rest at the beginning of 1 Kings 19, Elijah travels to the same place Moses once received the Ten Commandments. This was a big moment in Israel’s history where God appeared with thunder and lightning. But in this moment, God appears as a whisper. In our weakest moment, we not only need a God who is big enough to help, but small enough to be gentle with us. The very gospel is the story of how God became small in Jesus. Will be become small for the sake of others who are hurting?
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After a mountaintop moment for the prophet Elijah where he defeats false prophets of Baal with a miracle, Elijah spirals into a depression that is so deep that he wants to die. Yet, God meets Elijah and encourages him to rest and eat. When we struggle with big issues, we need to begin with the basics – things like resting and eating – to get us back on track.
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As Moses enters into the twilight of his ministry, God picks Joshua to be the next leader of Israel. Do we pour into the next generation so they can lead the Church forward?
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When we do not listen, God can reach us in many ways – even through a donkey. God’s preferred way to speak to us, however, is through His Word. Do we listen, or do we, like Balaam, refuse to hear God’s guidance for our lives?
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Once again, the Israelites are grumbling. This time, God disciplines them with death by sending snakes on them. We, too, are disciplined for our sins with death. But, as Moses held up a snake on a pole to rescue the Israelites from their sentence, we have Savior held up on a cross to rescue us from our condemnation.
The Israelites grumble again against God. Moses responds to their grumbling with anger and loses the privilege of entering the Promised Land. Responding to the grumbling of others with anger of our own does not solve anything. Our call is to respond with patience and love.
God makes Aaron’s staff bud a sign that He has chosen Aaron’s tribe – the tribe of Levi – to serve as priests before Him. God makes us His priests, too, to serve before Him by making a place of death – a cross – bud with life.
The Israelites are commanded by God to enter the Promised Land and take possession of it. But a band of explorers who go on a reconnaissance mission of the land are scared of its current residents. Because they refuse to go in, Israel wanders the wilderness for forty years. Our anxiety, too, can exile us to a wilderness. How do we trust God, even when doing so feels frightening?
Moses’ siblings become jealous of Moses’ closeness with God. But instead of becoming jealous of it, they should have learned from it. Whose relationships with God can serve as models for us as we seek to deepen our own relationship with Him?
Throughout the book of Numbers, the Israelites struggle to trust in God to provide for their needs. We can have a similar struggle. Whether naturally or supernaturally, however, God takes care of us.
The book of Numbers is full of long genealogies that we might be tempted to skip over. And yet, behind each name is a story. Wisdom can be found in people of the past, which is why it is important we remember them. Their lives count just as much as ours!
The First Commandment reminds us that God is to be first. Yet, every one of us struggles with putting other things before God. We all struggle with idolatry. On Independence Day Weekend, we are reminded that nothing – no matter how good – is to come before God. He is our focus and our hope.
It can be so easy to look at others and judge them! We all struggle with self-righteousness. As Jesus reminds us, however, judgment starts with discerning our own sins rather than decrying the sins of others. When we jump to judging others, it can be very difficult to be for others.
It is so easy to try protect what we have. We can try to protect our finances, our health, and even our church. David stepped up to fight a giant when everyone else was simply trying not to be conquered by the giant. On Father’s Day Weekend, we are reminded how we can be brave in how we live for Christ!
One of the best ways we can show our faith to our world is by contributing to needs. In the early church, Tabitha was well known for serving others. Her death caused many to grieve, but her new life became a testimony of Jesus’ power. What do we want our lives to contribute to this world?
It can be so easy to become click-ish. We have our friends, our cultural sensibilities, and our faith community. The early church struggled with this, too. But Peter and James reminded the early church that the Church should not put up barriers to entry, for it is by grace that we are counted as God’s family.
After 70 years in exile, God allows the Israelites to return from where they are living in the kingdom of Persia to their homeland of Israel, thanks to a ruler named Cyrus. When they return to Israel, things are not as they have been. They have to rebuild Jerusalem – its walls and its temple. Some are upset that things are not as they have been (Ezra 3:12). In this time of new things, we can ask: what new things is God doing for us?
When we face a crisis, one of the best things we can do is take it to the Lord in prayer. Hezekiah does. God also gives Hezekiah a sign that his prayer has been answered. He turns back the sun in the sky (2 Kings 20:8-11). In what ways have our prayers been answered during this time? Have we thanked God for turning back this pandemic?
Before this pandemic, we felt safe. Now, our safe havens and presumptions have given way under the unforgiving reality of a worldwide disease. And it has caused us plenty of dis-ease. The Psalmist reminds us that in changing times, God is unchanging. And in shaky times, God is rock solid. We are invited, then, to put our faith in Him.
There is so much to do when we are homeschooling our kids, working from home, and trying to keep everything going. Martha knew that feeling as she prepared for a visit from Jesus. On Mother’s Day, we take a special look at the pressures mothers face during a crisis like this and explore what it means to sit at the feet of Jesus.
Jeremiah is commanded by God not to marry or have a family while Israel is living in Babylon. Other Israelites, however, can. For those who are alone during this coronavirus crisis, the feeling of loneliness can be exacerbated. How do we find community in isolation?
At a time when millions are losing their jobs, financial fear is on the rise! Poverty is nothing new. A widow in the town of Zarephath is so poor, she is down to her last meal before she starves to death. How do we trust in God’s provision, even when our resources seem scant?
In a survey from the University of Phoenix, 68% respondents said that they feel as though their lives are out of control because of this COVID-19 crisis. But what feels out of control to us is in Jesus’ perfect control. In John 6, Jesus takes an out-of-control crowd and blesses it. He can take our out-of-control lives and bless us, too.
Paul was a witness to the resurrected Jesus. But he not only saw the living Lord, he also heard about Him from others. He received the message of the resurrection and he passed it on. Even if we do not see the resurrected Jesus with our own eyes, we have still received the witness testimony of others. As John says at the end of His gospel: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). Is this testimony enough for us to believe?
The seven last words of Jesus from the cross.
John 19:14-16a; Luke 23:32-34
Luke 23:35-4
John 19:25-27
Matthew 27:45-46
John 19:28-29
John 19:30
Luke 23:44-46
What begins as an old Passover turns into a new meal. Just as Jesus fed His people with bread and rescued them with blood during the Passover, He still feeds His people with bread and rescues them by His blood, shed on the cross.
The crowd on Palm Sunday was looking for a king. What they got, however, was a servant. Jesus rode into Jerusalem not to rule over the people there, but to give His life for the people there – and all people everywhere.
Fear often arises because we feel as though something or someone is stronger than us and is out to get us. Daniel knows this feeling when he faces his adversaries in the Persian Empire. They want to destroy him, and almost do, when they get him thrown into a lions’ den. But Daniel’s God is stronger than any fear or foe – and He still is!
Peter utters three simple words to Jesus: “Lord, save me!” And Jesus does. When we are afraid and cry out to Jesus, Jesus hears and helps. Instead of worrying because of fear, we are called to pray – to cry out to God – in the midst of our fears.
When the Israelites move into the Promised Land, they fall into such terrible sin that God ultimately destroys their nation and carries them off into exile in Babylon. They feel like they have lost their nation and culture. Do you ever feel like you’re losing your nation and culture? Even if we do lose these things, what things still remain?
This past week was the Jewish festival of Purim, which is based in the book of Esther. Esther’s story is unique in that God is never mentioned in this biblical book. Nevertheless, He is working behind-the-scenes to help and save His people. He is with them. In a time like this, it can feel like God is absent. But He is not. He is working to help and save us. He is with us.
This past week was the Jewish festival of Purim, which is based in the book of Esther. Esther’s story is unique in that God is never mentioned in this biblical book. Nevertheless, He is working behind-the-scenes to help and save His people. He is with them. In a time like this, it can feel like God is absent. But He is not. He is working to help and save us. He is with us.
Struggles in life can quickly melt into the hopelessness of despair. Even the apostle Paul struggled with this feeling. But even in despair, his comfort was in Christ.
Adam and Eve fell into sin. Adam and Eve’s descendants spiraled into even deeper sin. So, God sends a flood to destroy the earth. Yet, in the flood, God rescues Noah and begins again! This flood, according to 1 Peter 3:21, points to baptism, where we begin again, too, after being born into sin.
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Shame makes us want to conceal what we should be willing to reveal. Adam and Eve, when they fall into sin, are immediately ashamed and physically seek to cover ourselves. When we are tempted to hide, we must rest in the reality that we cannot hide from God, for He knows everything about us, and still loves us.
Matthew 15:19
Genesis 3:1-6
Genesis 2:16-17
Genesis 3:7
Genesis 3:5
Romans 7:7
Jeremiah 6:15
Genesis 3:7
Genesis 2:25
Genesis 3:7
Genesis 3:8-9
Genesis 3:21
Romans 13:14
1 Corinthians 13:12
When Adam and Eve fall into sin in the Garden, they think this is the end of their relationship with God. Indeed, they even hide from God. But God makes a promise that what they think is the end is only the beginning of His plan of salvation when He says to the serpent who tempted them: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Give Online Anger is everywhere! But anger is also dangerous because it leads us to try to solve the problems with face by our own means instead of by God’s guidance. Moses, in his anger, disobeys God and it costs him dearly. What might your anger cost you?
Matthew 15:19
Numbers 20:2-4
Numbers 20:6-8
Numbers 20:10
Numbers 20:11
Exodus 17:3-6
James 1:19
Exodus 34:6
Ephesians 4:26-27
Numbers 20:12
Genesis 4:5
Matthew 17:1-4
Packed calendars and piles of responsibilities can cause stressed hearts. The apostle Paul reminds us that even when we can’t change our circumstances, we can change our focus. We can focus on what brings us peace instead of what stresses us out.
Philippians 4:4-8
Philippians 4:4
Psalm 30:5
Hebrews 12:2
Philippians 4:5
Matthew 10:17-19
Philippians 4:6
Matthew 26:39
Philippians 4:7
Philippians 4:8
News stories cause it. Politicians peddle in it. There is fear everywhere. When the Israelites wind up surrounded by an enemy force, they are terrified. But the prophet Elisha knows that no matter how much fear there may be around us, we have God with us – and His love can drive out our fear.
Matthew 15:19
2 Kings 6:8-10
Deuteronomy 26:5
2 Kings 6:11-12
2 Kings 6:13-15
Deuteronomy 26:5
2 Kings 6:16-17
2 Kings 6:18-21
2 Kings 6:22-23
Proverbs 25:21
2 Kings 6:23
Matthew 26:52-53
Matthew 28:5
1 John 4:18
When writing to the church at Corinth, Paul assumes that there will be unbelievers in their midst and so encourages them to consider them. Do we consider those who have doubts and questions when we are worshiping each weekend?
1 Peter 3:15
1 Peter 3:13-14
1 Peter 4:10-11
1 Corinthians 12:7-10
1 Corinthians 14:23
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
Isaiah 1:16-18
John 4:28-30
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
It is always difficult to share your faith with a family member who does not believe. As we seek to share God’s love with those who we love most, it is not just about our words, but about our lifestyles.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)
1 Peter 3:8-9
1 Peter 3:15-16
1 Peter 2:21-22
Matthew, also called Levi, works as a tax collector. Matthew also, after he is called by Jesus, shares Jesus with his fellow tax collectors. How can we share our faith around our office in appropriate ways?
1 Peter 4:8-9
Romans 12:13
Isaiah 58:7
Matthew 25:35-36
Luke 5:27-28
Luke 5:29
Colossians 2:6
Luke 5:30
Luke 5:31-32
James 5:16
When Abram is called by God to go to a place he does not know, he follows God’s prompting, and becomes a blessing to the whole world. God can often call us out of our comfort zones to share Him with people we do not know, but He does know – and love.
Luke 22:27
Luke 18:31-33
Luke 10:25
Luke 10:26
Luke 10:27
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Leviticus 19:18
Luke 10:28-29
Luke 10:34-35
Colossians 4:5-6
1 John 4:19
Luke 16:10
Ephesians 3:20, 21
When Abram is called by God to go to a place he does not know, he follows God’s prompting, and becomes a blessing to the whole world. God can often call us out of our comfort zones to share Him with people we do not know, but He does know – and love.
Genesis 12:1-3
Joshua 24:2
Genesis 12:4
Genesis 12:2
Matthew 5:3, 8
Mark 2:15 (ESV)
Matthew 23:27
Genesis 12:2
Matthew 5:11
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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What is Meant by the Resurrection of Our Bodies?
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What is Double Predestination?
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Can Anyone Sit in the Front Row of Church?
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How Do We Hear Jesus's Voice?
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Can You Explain How the Old Testament is Filled with Harsh Things?
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What is Jesus's Name?
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How Can You Believe in Just One God?
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How Can God Forgive Me if I Can't?
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Is Confession at Church Enough?
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Why Did Jesus Say "Tell No One"?
The idea that God would come to earth as a man was not a common Jewish expectation in the first century. Because of this, many Jews missed God’s arrival, simply because they would not look around them to see God’s work in Jesus among them. God is still at work in our world. Do we look around us to see His work?
What in life are you looking for? Fulfillment? Fun? Purpose? Hope? When Jesus’ parents were looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem, they could not find one. Yet, God’s plan was greater than their search. Perhaps God is answering what we’re looking for with something greater than what we’re looking for!
Luke 2:7 (NKJV)
Luke 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Luke 2:10-11 (NKJV)
Romans 15:7 (NIV)
Luke 2:16 (NIV)
Luke 2:19 (NIV)
After Jesus is born, Mary takes the time to reflect on all that has happened to her. Do you ever take the time to look into yourself and reflect on your experiences and how they have affected you and challenged you? Is there any internal struggle you need to confront?
When the shepherds look up to the heavens, they see an angel with good news. So often, we let a slow downward slide happen in our lives as we compromise our values and integrity, or we look only at the next crisis in front of us. At these moments, we need to look up to heaven to hear its message, call, and promises and to put things into perspective.
Hebrews 12:2
Luke 2:8-9
Luke 2:10-11
Isaiah 6:5
Luke 2:12
Luke 2:13-15
Ephesians 4:29
Luke 2:8-9
John 1:14
When Gabriel appears to Mary, he turns her whole world upside down. He makes her question what she thought she knew – like the fact that a virgin cannot have a child! What things do we think we know that we too need to take a second look at? Things like: “There’s no way I can take a break.” “There’s no way that I can be generous during the holiday season.” “There’s no way that I can have faith in a God I cannot see.” Taking a look at our presuppositions may just lead to us to look at our lives differently!
Hebrews 12:2
Luke 1:26-28
Luke 1:29
Luke 1:30-33
Luke 1:34
Luke 1:35, 37
Luke 1:30
Luke 1:37
2 Kings 5:17-19
Luke 1:32-33
As Christians, we are saved saints! Yet, we still struggle with sin. This is an ongoing tension we have inside of ourselves until we die. Living in this tension requires God’s forgiveness and grace!
1 John 1:5
John 8:12
Matthew 5:14
1 John 1:6-7
1 John 1:8
1 John 1:8-9
Psalm 32:3, 5
1 John 1:7
Matthew 18:15
Matthew 5:25-26
Numbers 5:7
Genesis 9:11
1 John 2:9
1 John 1:9
The kingdom of God came with Christ, but we do not feel or see its full effects. It is here now, but it is not yet fully realized. We see this tension come out especially clearly in the healing stories in the Gospels. Although Jesus heals some people, He does not heal all people. We see some amazing things now, but we are still waiting for the amazing things that are yet to come.
Hebrews 11:1
1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
John 5:2-3, 5
John 5:6-9
1 Thessalonians 5:17
James 4:2
Galatians 6:2
Revelation 21:1, 3-4
Hebrews 12:1-3
There is a doctrine known as the hypostatic union in Christ. Simply put, there is only one Jesus, but this Jesus has two natures: He is God and He is man. Paul explains this well as he points to Jesus’ human characteristics, like His death on a cross, while also asserting His divinity, saying that the very fullness of God dwells in Christ.
Mark 10:14
Matthew 25:40
Matthew 9:24
Colossians 1:15-20
Colossians 1:15
Colossians 1:16
Genesis 1:1
Colossians 1:19
Colossians 1:18
John 6:38
Matthew 28:12-13
1 Corinthians 15:6
Colossians 1:21-22
Hebrews 4:15
John 10:10 NLT
Colossians 1:20
The doctrine of the Trinity says that there is only one God, yet He is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From the opening pages of Scripture we see all three persons present. God is creating. The Spirit is hovering. And Jesus is the Word who is spoken.
Matthew 3:13
Matthew 3:5-8, 11
Matthew 3:14
1 Peter 2:22
Matthew 3:16-17
Matthew 28:19
Genesis 3:5
Philippians 2:3
John 17:21-22
Righteousness doesn’t come from our good works... it comes from Jesus’ work on the cross!
Luke 18:9
Luke 18:10
Luke 18:11-12
Luke 18:13
Luke 18:14
Ephesians 2:8
James 2:13
Luke 18:14
John 1:14
Giving is not just about a portion of our lives, but about all of our lives. Jesus gave all of Himself to us. We, now are called to give all of ourselves to others. When we give of what God has given us, the impact on the lives of others can be huge.
Acts 3:1-3
Acts 3:4-8
Genesis 32:26-28
Luke 18:3-5
James 4:2
Romans 8:26
Mark 14:27-31
Many people give out of guilt. The apostle Paul says we should give with joy! The only way we can do this is if we first realized just how joyfully generous God has been to us. When we see His joyful generosity, that encourages us to be joyfully generous ourselves.
Psalm 116:12b
Matthew 10:8
2 Corinthians 9:2-3
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
2 Corinthians 9:6
Malachi 1:8
Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
2 Corinthians 9:7
Matthew 6:21
2 Corinthians 9:8
Luke 6:38
Giving starts with God. He was the first giver in history when He gave Eve to Adam and Adam to Eve. From that original gift, we continually re-gift – we give of what God has first given us.
Genesis 2:18-23
Genesis 1:14-17 (ESV)
Genesis 1:4
Genesis 1:10
Genesis 1:12
Genesis 1:25
Genesis 1:31
Genesis 2:18
Genesis 2:21-22
Romans 13:7
Proverbs 21:20 (NIV)
Deuteronomy 15:11 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 16:1 (NIV)
Genesis 1:29
John 3:16 (NIV)
Psalm 116:12
Matthew 10:8
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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Is it a Sin to get a Tattoo?
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Are Those Who Have Less, Less Blessed by God?
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Do People Who Don't Believe in Jesus go to Heaven?
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Is "Oh My God" Taking the Lord's Name in Vain?
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Do Lutherans Believe in Re-baptism?
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Can Those Who Commit Suicide go to Heaven?
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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Do We Still Have to Tithe?
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How Were People Saved Before Jesus Came?
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What Does "Accepting Jesus as Your Savior" Mean?
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How Does God Know Who We're Praying For?
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What is the Role of Saints According to Lutherans?
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Is it Crazy to Talk to Souls in Heaven?
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Is Baptism of the Holy Spirit Different Than Water Baptism?
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If God Already Knows What We're Thinking Why Should We Pray?
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We Work and Get Results; Where Does God Come In?
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If God is in Control, How Can I be Responsible for my Mistakes?
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How Does the Church or God Support a Political Party that Enacts Laws Against the Bible?
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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Are You Still Resurrected if You're Cremated?
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Do People go to Heaven Immediately After Death?
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How do we Maintain and Strengthen our Spiritual Life in this Evil World?
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If a Woman Had an Abortion is She Still Forgiven?
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Leviticus Says We Shouldn't Where Blended Fibers... Are We Sinning if We Do?
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What Did Jesus Mean by, "Greater Works Than These" in John 14:12?
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Why Did Old Testament Men Have Multiple Wives?
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Is it OK to Rely on What God Tells Me Instead of the Bible?
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How Do Lutherans View Right-to-Die Statutes?
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Why is There Suffering if God Says He Doesn't Have Plans to Harm Us?
Everyone has doubts. Instead of avoiding the doubts of others, we are called to engage others in their doubts and share faithful and thoughtful answers to their doubts. Are you prepared to struggle through your own doubts and help others struggle through theirs?
John 20:24-27 (NIV)
John 20:26
Jude 1:22 (NIV)
John 20:27
Matthew 5:29
Matthew 16:24
John 20:25
John 20:27-28
Luke 12:33
Matthew 19:5
Genesis 3:1
Central to the Christian faith is the doctrine of grace – that God gives us that which we don’t deserve. Instead of just talking about this doctrine, however, we are also called to live out this doctrine in how we treat others.
1 Timothy 4:16
Matthew 9:2
Genesis 3:8
Matthew 9:3
Matthew 9:4
Matthew 9:5-7
John 20:21-23
1 Timothy 1:15-16
Romans 5:20
An act of service to others can be a powerful testimony of the faith we have. Beyond being helpful to others, it also points people to Christ because, as will be revealed on the Last Day, our service is ultimately for Christ.
1 Timothy 4:16
Matthew 25:31-33
Psalm 23:1
John 10:14
Matthew 25:34-40
Matthew 25:35-36
Matthew 25:37-39
1 Corinthians 9:16
Matthew 25:40
Isaiah 52:13-14
Isaiah 53:5, 7
Our Scripture reading for today is from Leviticus 24. Leviticus 24 outlines what is known as “the law of retaliation,” which states that every punishment must fit the crime. Instead of increasing violence, God wants to limit it.
Leviticus 26:3-6, 11-12
Leviticus 26:3
Job 1:1
Leviticus 26:18-20
Jeremiah 12:1
Matthew 5:45
Leviticus 26:11-12
Leviticus 26:31
Leviticus 22:18-19, 21
2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)
Our Scripture reading for today is from Leviticus 24. Leviticus 24 outlines what is known as “the law of retaliation,” which states that every punishment must fit the crime. Instead of increasing violence, God wants to limit it.
Leviticus 24:17-22
Leviticus 24:20
Leviticus 24:22
Leviticus 24:10-11
Leviticus 24:11-12
Leviticus 24:23
Matthew 5:21
Leviticus 24:17
Matthew 5:22
Matthew 5:29-30
Leviticus 24:20
Matthew 5:38-42
Matthew 26:63-64
Daniel 7:13
Matthew 26:65
Matthew 26:66
Leviticus 23 outlines a bunch of parties that Israelites are supposed to have! Celebrations are important in any life, because they form refreshing rhythms for our daily lives.
Leviticus 23:1-3
Leviticus 23:11 (NIV)
Leviticus 23:5, 34
Matthew 26:26
1 Corinthians 15:20
In Leviticus 18, we learn that God did not want Israel to live or look like all the other nations around her. How should we look different from the culture around us?
Leviticus 18:1-3
James 1:22
Leviticus 18:4
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Leviticus 19:1-3
Leviticus 19:28
Leviticus 19:18
Leviticus 19:33-34
Matthew 5:43-44
The story in Leviticus 16 focuses on the holiest day in ancient Israel: the Day of Atonement. Try as they might, the Israelites still sinned and needed forgiveness.
Leviticus 11 focuses on dietary restrictions in ancient Israel, many of which Jews still follow today under kosher laws. God give them detailed instructions that are meant to keep the Israelites from foods that could hurt them.
In Leviticus 10, it looks like God brings a big punishment on two people for a little mistake. What mistakes have you made in your life that seemed small at first, but proved to be big?
Leviticus 10:1-3
Leviticus 16:12
Genesis 3:19
Numbers 20:8
Romans 1:29-30
Romans 7:19
Mark 15:38
1 Peter 2:5
Leviticus 10:3
1 Corinthians 11:27-30
1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Ephesians 5:1-2
Priests served as intermediaries between God and people so that people could relate to God. How do you relate to God?
The book of Leviticus opens by outlining a series of offerings the Israelites are to bring to God. As we go through this book, ask yourself: how much of what I have do I offer to God?
Hebrews 10:19-25
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Lev. 26:11-13
Love ultimately calls for commitment. This is why couples speak vows at their weddings. This is why parents make promises to their children. To love Jesus, we must commit to following Him, even as Jesus has committed to dying for us.
Matthew 4:18-20
Matthew 4:21-22
Matthew 9:13
Mark 12:7
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Matthew 4:19
Matthew 28:19-20
John 13:34, 35
John writes, “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Stephen was a man so convinced of God’s love for him in Christ that he was willing to face even martyrdom because he knew his eternity was secure.
Acts 6:8-9
Acts 7:57-58
Acts 6:10-13
1 Corinthians 4:3-4
Acts 7:59-60
True love does not just affirm those the world would deem “lovable,” it befriends those others overlook. This is what Jesus does with a Samaritan woman in John 4. How can we love those the world overlooks?
Ephesians 3:17-19
John 4:4-5
John 3:14
John 4:40-42
John 4:7-9
John 4:13-14
John 4:14
1 Peter 3:18, 21
Philippians 4:19
John 4:14
John 4:28-30
John 4:10
When you love someone, it can be difficult to watch them make foolish choices. And yet, sometimes love lets others learn from their mistakes because love wants to encourage people to take responsibility for their own actions. Jesus lets His disciples make mistakes not so He can condemn them, but so that He can grow them.
Mark 9:14-18
Mark 6:7
Mark 9:21-22
Mark 9:22-23
Romans 3:23
1 John 1:8
Leviticus 6:2-5
Mark 9:25-27
2 Corinthians 1:3, 4
Mark 9:29
A big part of love is simply being present with someone. This is why God promises His people, over and over again, “I will be with you.” And yet, God is with us in a special and specific way – through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus that we can safely encounter God. This is what Jacob discovered as he wrestled with God one night.
Genesis 27:18-19
Genesis 27:27-29
Genesis 27:41
Genesis 32:24-25
Genesis 32:26
Genesis 32:27
Genesis 27:18-19
Genesis 32:27-28
Isaiah 41:10
Jeremiah 15:20
Haggai 1:13
Genesis 3:9
Genesis 27:20
Genesis 32:25
Matthew 26:67
Genesis 32:30
2 Corinthians 4:6
Memorial Day is a time when we remember those who laid down their lives for our nation. Remembering is critical, both as we reflect on our loved ones, and on God's deeds. Remembering God's deeds of the past gives us hope for our futures.
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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What does the bible say about cremation?
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Do we struggle with demons today? If so, what's the difference between today's demons and biblical demons, if any?
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When we die do we "go to sleep" until Jesus’ return, or do we go to heaven?
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Is it ok to believe that God included the "Big Bang" and brought Earth through all its history (including what appears as evolution in the fossil record) in the Genesis description?
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Why do we baptize babies but not adults? Jesus says to go into the world and baptize.
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How do we know Job is the oldest book in the Bible and when in the biblical timeline does his story take place?
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How do we know that the writers of the Bible didn’t alter the Bible from what God said to write?
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How do you know when God is calling you to the next thing?
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Is the Bible literal, figurative, or both? If both, how do we decipher each story?
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Is there an unforgivable sin? Can you lose your salvation?
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Does God have a favorite person?
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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As a Christian (Lutheran), what is the best way to respond to someone that says they are spiritual, but not religious?
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Atheists and others say the Bible has many contradictions and mistranslations… how can we know what’s true and what’s not true?
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Why do we pray for things to happen when God already has a plan?
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Since Jesus said there is no marriage in heaven, what will our relationship be with our spouse in heaven?
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What part do angels play in our lives?
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Will God forgive an abortion if it was medically necessary? I had an emergency at 5th months and was told I needed a procedure ASAP. I’ve carried this guilt around for 7 years that I killed my daughter.
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How can you ensure that your faith in God stays in tact when the prayers for something you want so desperately are not being answered?
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What is the “Priesthood of Believers?”
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Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Does He still harden hearts today?
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What is the “predestination” that is spoken about in Romans?
Pastors Tucker and McIntosh answer your faith-related questions!
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What is the Communion of Saints & why it included in the third article of the Creed?
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What advice do you have for college students trying to pursue their faith?
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Is salvation a one-time event? How do justification and sanctification come into play?
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What is the difference between free will and choice? Is it really free will if God already knows what is going to happen?
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1 Peter 3:21 seems to link baptism and salvation. Is baptism necessary for salvation?
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Is it my imagination, or does God seem angry in the Old Testament? I always think of a merciful God not an angry God.
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Where in Scripture does it say Jesus descended into hell?
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Did Jesus have brothers & sisters?
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What does it look like practically to “love thy neighbor”?
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Do children pay for their parents’ sin?
Believing that God exists is one thing. Believing that you, as an individual, can have access to Him is quite another. In this message, we see how anyone, no matter their background, can have a relationship with God – through His Son, Jesus Christ.
John 3:1-2
Leviticus 27:30
Matthew 23:23
Luke 18:11-12
Leviticus 11:45
John 3:3
John 3:5
John 2:6
Ezekiel 36:25, 27
John 3:13
John 14:6
Even if someone believes there is a God, they often wonder if He cares about them or for them. Suffering can make us question God’s goodness. The Bible, though it does not answer every question about suffering, is honest about the human struggle with suffering. This is what we see in history’s most famous sufferer – Job.
Job 1:13-19
Matthew 27:46
Job 1:20-21
Genesis 37:34
2 Kings 2:11-12
Matthew 26:39
Psalm 30:5
Job 2:9,10
Job 19:6-7, 25-27
Romans 8:28
Job 42:12
Matthew 27:46
The percentage of people who either believe there is no God, or do not know whether they believe there is a God is increasing. The Bible assumes God’s existence. But is it plausible for us to believe what the Bible assumes? In this message, we look at some clues that point to God’s existence, beginning with what is all around us.
1 Corinthians 14:20
Psalm 19:1-6
Genesis 1:1-2
Psalm 19:7-8
John 1:1-3, 1
Outwardly, growth looks like numbers. On Palm Sunday, Jesus had lots of numbers in the form of huge crowds! Inwardly, however, God can grow the soul even when others forsake us, as what happened to Jesus demonstrates.
When life gets difficult, the best thing we can do is offer thanks to God! This reminds our souls that, ultimately, God’s blessings far outweigh this world’s trials and troubles.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Psalm 103:1
Psalm 103:2-5
Psalm 103:8-10
Psalm 34:1
1 Timothy 4:3-4
Colossians 3:15
Philippians 2:14-16a
There are two ways that people try to fill their souls: by their works or by God’s grace. The way of works never works! It only leaves people empty. The way of grace, however, provides the path our eternal souls are yearning for.
Matthew 16:26
Ezekiel 18:4
Romans 7
Romans 3:19-20
Leviticus 13:47, 50-52
Romans 3:21-23
Isaiah 64:6
2 Corinthians 5:17
Genesis 3:15
Galatians 3:24
Romans 3:23-24
Ephesians 1:4, 5
In order to be healthy, the soul must reach beyond itself to the eternal truths of God’s Word. The Word of God refreshes weary souls and forgives sinful souls.
Every person eventually has what St. John the Cross once described as a “dark night of the soul.” When we are in a dark time in our lives, instead of being led by the emotions of our souls, we need to talk to our souls, and remind ourselves that our ultimate hope rests in God.
Most people think of the soul as a nebulous part of them that is mysteriously internal to them. The Bible, however, often uses to the word “soul” to describe the whole of who we are. The soul is what holds us together. When God creates the first man, who becomes a “living being” (verse 7), the Hebrew word behind this phrase is the word for “soul.” When any part of us is off – be it our emotions, our bodies, or our minds – our souls are off.
Ultimately, what we hear and learn from Jesus is supposed to change us. It is supposed to turn us into different people. But the change Jesus wants to make in us is one that leads us into childlikeness and not complexity, humility and not arrogance. During this weekend, we hear some stories of life-change from this series!
As Christians, we have the greatest message and hope in the world. Jesus wants us to go and share the hope that lives in us with the world. When one man declares what Jesus has done for him, it changes the whole region in which he lives. How can we change our regions with the message of the gospel?
Jesus loves to give! This is why He gives His life for the life of the world. Jesus wants us to reflect Him in how we are generous with others. And we don’t need a lot to be generous. With just a little – five loaves and two fish – Jesus can do a lot.
Jesus’ ministry on earth revolved around serving others. This is why He healed people and taught people and, ultimately, died for people. The night before Jesus dies, He gives His disciples a lesson on service. He calls upon us to serve the vulnerable in ways that can make us vulnerable.
Central to Jesus’ mission was forgiveness. Jesus calls us to share the forgiveness we have received from Him with others who have hurt us. And just like Jesus’ forgiveness is limitless, our should be as well.
Every parent has had the frustrating experience of telling their child one thing and then watching them do the opposite. God has the same experience with us. The reason He has given us His Word is because He wants us to live according to His Word. At the end of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains that the purpose of his message is not just so that folks can hear some good preaching, but so that they will live according to the preaching.
Every parent has had the frustrating experience of telling their child one thing and then watching them do the opposite. God has the same experience with us. The reason He has given us His Word is because He wants us to live according to His Word. At the end of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains that the purpose of his message is not just so that folks can hear some good preaching, but so that they will live according to the preaching.
Concordia is called to shine the love of Jesus in our community! Sometimes, this can be difficult, but we are promised that God will give us strength and will carry out His mission through us according to His desire.
While we know God will heal all believers on the Last Day, there's plenty of hurt and pain in this life that still exists. Pastor Paul Teske proclaims God's glory through Jesus's death and resurrection, and the healing He still does today.
The holidays are the busiest travel days of the year. People visit relatives from all over. The first Christmas too began with a trip as Mary and Joseph traveled to the Bethlehem to be registered in a census. But this is nothing compared to the distance the Son of God traveled to be with us on the first Christmas.
Dealing with family members during the holidays can be stressful! Joseph was very stressed as he tried to figure out what to do with his fiancée who had turned up pregnant. Rather than immediately jumping on Mary, he carefully considered what to do. When family members frustrate you, do you carefully consider your response?
When Mary hears that she will be the mother of the promised Messiah, she bursts into song. In her song, she sings specifically about the special place God has in His heart toward those who are poor and lowly. In a Christmas that is marked by consumerism, how can a simple poverty reflect and reveal God’s glory?
Between holiday parties and kids programs and lots of shopping and visiting relatives, Christmas calendars can get jam packed. What’s more, just one unexpected thing can turn your calendar upside down and add to the stress of the season. The first Christmas turned Mary’s calendar upside down. Yet, out of a stressful situation came the world’s greatest gift. How can God use your stressful situations?
Worry is one of the most besetting sins of our age. From whether we will get a raise to how our kids will turn out to what the weather will bring, worry infiltrates every part and portion of our lives. Jesus calls us, instead of trying to control tomorrow, to trust in God.
Most people would never call themselves “lazy.” But we are lazier than we think. We simply call our laziness “distraction.” How much time do we spend surfing websites or checking sports scores or just, generally, wasting time? The command against laziness is a call to focus our efforts on what actually truly matters.
There is no mistaking it: we are a culture that is sexually confused. But before we point our fingers out the sexual confusion “out there” in the world, we must take an honest look at the sexual temptation “in here” – in our hearts. God’s boundaries for human sexuality are not meant to be restricting, but loving. They allow us to model God’s love in our relationships.
With an election only two days away, tensions are high! As Christians, rather than getting angry at others, we are called to be forgiving of others. Instead of exacting vengeance, we wait for God’s justice.
The riches we have received, ultimately, have nothing to do with our goodness, but with God’s grace. When was the last time we truly took stock of just how recklessly God has blessed us and just how freely God forgives us?
The Christian churches in Macedonia were impoverished. But that did not stop them from being generous. So often, we create excuses not to be generous. But if we truly took stock of what we had, we might just find that we can give in ways we never imagined!
Jesus tells a story where three men receive lavish amounts of money – years’ worth of wages – from their master. Two invest the money wisely and joyously. The third is fearful and foolish. We have been lavishly blessed by God! When we spend our money, are we wise and joyful, or fearful and foolish?
It can be tempting to fall into a pattern of praying only in church and, perhaps, before a meal. But prayer is not an occasional activity. It is a whole way of life! When we “pray constantly,” we begin to see life differently – through God’s eyes.
We have all probably had a moment where we prayed for something and God said, “No.” We sometimes call these prayers “unanswered prayers.” But these are really “transforming prayers.” Even when God says, “No,” He uses His “no” to strengthen us and draw us closer to Him.
There are ways not to pray. James discusses some of these ways in James 4:1-3. But in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus gives us a model for all prayer. Praying for things like God’s glory, God’s provision, and God’s forgiveness are vital to prayer. Praying for these things also orients us around what matters most.
The power of prayer is on its receiving end. When God receives our prayer, He answers it according to His will. Turning to God for help and guidance, then, is powerful. When we spend time in prayer, we begin to see how God has worked through prayer, which grows our faith in Him.
The thought that the God of the universe would be interested in conversing with us can seem improbable to some. Doesn’t God have better things to do? Hebrews 4 reminds us that the proof of God’s care for us in Christ. If God has come for us in His Son, we can come to Him through His Son.
When Moses spoke with God, his face glowed. But that glow faded. We need a face that will not just temporarily shine on us, but eternally shine on us (Numbers 6:25).
At the same time God is giving Moses a command to worship only Him as part of the Ten Commandments, the rest of the Israelites are building and worshipping a false God because Moses has been conversing with God for so long. At those times where God’s presence seems absent and His word and will seem distant, we must not fall into the temptation to look for another god.
God promises to be with His people, enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant. At the center of the Ark is a mercy seat, which covers the Ten Commandments kept inside the Ark. When we break God’s commandments, mercy covers us!
God gives His people Ten Commandments not to burden them, but to free them by guiding them. When God gives commands, He does so with our best interest at heart. Divine commandments not only reveal God’s will, but His tender heart toward us.
The Israelites just faced too much water as they stared down the Red Sea. Now they face the danger of too little water as they swelter in a desert. God provides water from a rock, which Paul says is nothing less than Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
God has provided for Israel through rescuing Israel from their slavery. But no matter what God does for the Israelites, they always seem to want more. In Exodus 16, God provides bread from heaven, which prefigures God’s provision in Christ as the Bread from heaven (cf. John 6:51).
No matter what obstacle we may face, God can make a way! When the Israelites believe they are backed up against a sea, God parts the sea. In what area do you believe there is no way out? Even if there is no way out, God can give you a way through, just as He does with the Israelites.
God has judgment against sin, as is seen in His judgment of Egypt. But He does not treat Israel as their sins deserve. Instead, He passes over them because judgment for them has fallen on lambs. God also passes over our sins because judgment for them has fallen on the Lamb.
God reveals His glory to Egypt in a series of ten plagues, many of which directly confront elements of the false Egyptian pantheon of Gods. The Nile, for instance, was considered divine and life giving. But the true God takes what gives life and turns it into a place of death. In His Son, however, He takes a death and turns it into life!
When the Israelites are in Egypt, they are not only oppressed, they are disparaged. When sin oppresses us and people disparage us, we can trust that God is right there, working for our rescue and good!
After Moses grows up, God appears to him in a burning bush. God first reveals to Moses who He is before He gives something to Moses to do. In order for us to do the right things in our lives, we must first become intimately familiar with who God is so we trust Him to have our best interests at heart.
The story of Moses’ birth is one that is fraught with peril. Yet, God rescues one man so that, through him, God can rescue many men. Likewise, when Christ is born, God rescues Him from the murderous intents of Herod (cf. Matthew 2:13-15) so that through one rescued man, God can rescue many men!
Solomon concludes his book by inviting us, instead of learning the hard way, to trust and obey what God has revealed. Solomon has learned the hard way and does not want us to fall prey to his same mistakes. This book, then, though it can at times seem depressing, is ultimately written in love for those who will read it.
Our culture loves and desires money. Greed, however, will never be satisfied. It will always leave you wanting more. Being content with what you have is key to fulfillment!
Some people center their lives around their careers. They define themselves by what they do. Solomon says such a path is folly. Defining yourself by your work often leads to refusing to trust God for rest. And our work, for the most part, simply does not last. Only God’s work endures, which is why we trust in Him.
Some people can be educated beyond their intelligence! Learning about complex mysteries without understanding the simple arc of life and death only results in foolish, because such learning fails to answer the most fundamental foundations and fears of people’s lives.
Many people think that life consists of chasing your passions, because we believe that our passions can lead to pleasure. Solomon reminds us that chasing our passions, when our passions are not formed by God, will only lead to pain.
Does life actually have a purpose? Is history headed somewhere? It can feel as though we can be caught in a cycle, doing the same things over and over again. These cycles, at the same time they can be cumbersome, can also be blessed.
One of the most basic questions of our existence is this: what is the meaning of life? In Matthew 25, Jesus reminds us that even seemingly menial meaningless tasks take on great significance when we come to understand that by serving and loving others, we are really serving and loving Christ.
The saws say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” or, “A leopard can’t change his spots.” With Christ, however, real and lasting change is possible. If Christ can take a person from death to life in salvation, He can also help us fight nagging addictions and habits to His glory and to our benefit.
The prophet Jeremiah was known as “the weeping prophet” because his ministry was so difficult. Though, in our culture, we try to avoid pain as much as possible, pain can have a purpose in God’s Kingdom. If God can use the pain of His Son to save the world, He can use our pain to touch the lives of others with His truth.
We can be enslaved by guilt to the sin of our past. Yet, no matter how bad our sin may look to others or feel to us, the promise of the gospel is this: sin has been overcome by Christ! In John 21, Jesus walks Peter through his sin to forgive him of his sin. Jesus can do the same thing with us!
The story of Easter is amazing, but it only portends an even better story to come – the story when we will be raised to everlasting life! In a world where we see so much despair, anguish, and even death, the message of Easter is this: the life that God promises is bigger than the pain that sin brings.
Jesus knows He will soon die when He rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Yet, He goes to Jerusalem anyway. Matthew says He does so, in part, to fulfill a prophecy from Zechariah. Jesus keeps this promise in the prophecy out of His love for us.
Achan’s lie hurts not only Achan, but the whole Israelite community. To love someone is to tell the truth, even when the truth embarrasses us, or is tough for them to hear.
In Jesus’ parable, a judge gives a woman what she wants because she won’t stop bothering her and it irritates him! Jesus promises that, no matter how many times we “bother” God, He will never become irritated with our pleas!
It is easy to be rude when someone angers you. But rudeness only ruins relationships! When we are tempted to be rude, we should instead forgive someone for whatever it is that is tempting us toward rudeness.
It was envy that got Jesus killed. The religious leaders were jealous that Jesus was smarter than them and had a more devoted following than them. Their envy led to death. Envy always kills – it kills joy, it kills fulfillment, and, many times, it kills achievement, because it’s so busy complaining about what it doesn’t have that it forgets to grow into what it could have.
Saul was not patient in waiting for Samuel to make a burnt offering and give him a word from the Lord. Because of Saul’s lack of patience, Israel’s kingship was lost to his family. Impatience results in loss. This is why God is so patient with us – because He wants to keep us (cf. 2 Peter 3:9)!
It can be scary to witness to the Christian faith! Jesus’ frank witness to who He was got Him crucified. Sometimes, we need to tell the truth, even if it is uncomfortable or frightening. Like Jesus, being brave should never mean being obnoxious. But it can mean telling the truth, even when the truth will cost us.
Jesus knows that sometimes a pointed question can be just the thing needed to open a deeper conversation. When Jesus asks the disabled man by the pool, “Do you want to get well?” He is opening up a conversation about what this man believes. Does he believe, superstitiously, that some magic pool can heal him, or is he looking for healing from the Son of God? What questions can we ask to identify people’s spiritual beliefs and needs.
Though nations like North Korea have rattled sabers for a long time, 2017 seemed to mark an uptick in such provocations, especially from the isolated nation. And awfully, ISIS is still wreaking havoc across the world. In a world that feels dangerous and frightening, God promises peace. But His peace can only come to us when we believe that He – and not we – has everything under control.
Sadly, scandals of infidelity and assault dominated many of the headlines of 2017. In a world that has divorced intimacy from commitment, Jesus reminds us that true intimacy must be bounded by and grounded in a marital covenant.
Hurricanes, wildfires, and even a total solar eclipse. Nature made a lot of headlines in 2017! It can seem as though nature is fickle. But we must remember that with natural disasters also come natural wonders. And even in natural disasters, we can be confident that Christ is Lord over nature. So, in storms, we fix our eyes on Him.
Mass shootings in places like Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs were major headlines in 2017. But from a place of tragedy arose a stronger community. As God’s people, we have the privilege of being a part of the ultimate community – the Church. In the Church, we rejoice in the hope we have while also sharing the burdens of those caught in tragedies, understanding that God can use tragedy to strengthen His community.
As joyful as the holiday season is supposed to be, for some, this time of year brings grief, especially if they have recently lost a loved one. Jesus too knows the pain of loss. He weeps with you in your loss. But He can also overcome your loss with His promise of everlasting life.
When families get together, conflict can abound. We can get frustrated with each other instead of celebrating with each other. James reminds us that, instead of fighting with others, we can trust in God to bring ultimate justice to all, even when we feel as though others have wronged us.
During the holidays, there are parties to attend and presents to buy and relatives to visit and too many things to do! The stress of the season can steal joy from the season. It is important that, rather than overscheduling ourselves, we take time for rest and, when we need it, be willing to ask for help.
It is easy to get so focused on the gifts of Christmas that we forget about the Gift of Christmas! Materialism is rampant not only during the holidays, but in our society, all year long. In Luke 12, Jesus tells a parable that reminds us that the earthly things we store up for ourselves are not nearly as important as the spiritual inheritance that is ours in Christ.
Sometimes, we get so caught up worrying about what we have stored up, we forget that, no matter how much or how little we may have on this earth, God has something fantastic in store for us – nothing less than a crown of righteousness. In a world that test and try our faith, we can be confident that our faith will be vindicated when Christ returns.
If we are going to store up things, what things should we be storing? Jesus invites us to store up things that are imperishable – things that last into eternity. Thus, in this life, we ought to store up God’s Word in our hearts and we ought to store up people in our lives, for these treasures last.
The first principle of stewardship is this: no matter what we may store, it ultimately belongs to God. Any store house is finally God’s house. To help us understand this, God has given us a tithe. In the tithe, we not only give to God, we give back to God, since everything we have comes from Him in the first place. When we give back to God, we learn that God continues to give us what we need and even beyond what we need.m
Today, we celebrate a moment in time when a man with a message changed the world. In 1517, Martin Luther gave voice to concerns by posting his 95 Theses (against indulgences) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31. His intention was to bring to light the fact that the people were being led into false belief in a practice called indulgences. What happened changed the world in profound ways.
Soli Deo Gloria explains how we should live. Everything we do should be connected to Christ. In this way, we have no spiritual life and everyday life, we only have a Christ-centered life. Do you do everything with Christ in mind?
When it comes to understanding God, it can be all too tempting to trust ourselves rather than God’s Word. We try to trust our consciences, our culture, or our comprehension. But going beyond God’s Word either allows us to create a God in our own image (Mark 7:1-13) or saddles us with burdens we cannot bear (Matthew 23:4).
They way in which we receive God’s grace is through faith. We trust that God wants to forgive and save us. If we seek to work for what God has given, we are saying that God’s work is not enough. Do we trust God’s work so completely that we do not try to add to it or augment it?
Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve. In a culture that works on merit, that can be difficult for us to accept! Yet, even if grace goes against our cultural senses, it is a deep spiritual need – for each and every one of us.
It is tempting to exalt ourselves over Christ. John the Baptist, however, knew that things work the way they should only when we decrease and Christ increases. In what ways are you trying to add your boasting to Christ’s work? How does that lessen your hope?
As recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey get underway, insurance companies will be working overtime. One insurance company boasts, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!” We don’t need to work for an insurance company, however, to be a good neighbor. Jesus explains that being a good neighbor can be as simple as seeing a need and taking the time to offer your help. Everyone can be a good neighbor. Everyone can serve.
When the disciples are caught in a furious squall on the Sea of Galilee, they offer up a simple, ineloquent prayer: “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” No matter how simple the prayer, Jesus hears and helps because Jesus has been there the whole time. As we process what has happened with Hurricane Harvey, we must remember that Jesus hears and helps us when we pray because He is not only the calmer of storms, He is with us through every storm.
After all that Joseph’s brothers have done to him, when Joseph becomes second in command in Egypt, he could use his power to exact vengeance from his brothers. But instead, he eventually reconciles with his brothers. In Genesis 43, when the brothers are getting ready to go see their brother Joseph a second time, Judah offers to bear the blame if something happens to his younger brother Benjamin. How far are we willing to go to love our families?
After being thrown into a cistern, Joseph eventually winds up in prison in Egypt. But even in prison, Joseph seeks to serve God by helping others. During our worst times, do we seek to help others, or are we only focused on ourselves?
Every family is broken. Just ask Joseph. His brothers hate him so much that they throw him into a cistern and almost leave him for dead. When our families are filled with brokenness and acrimony, we must seek reconciliation and forgiveness.
As Jacob is running from his brother, he wrestles with God in the middle of the night. Have you ever felt like you were wrestling with God? Counterintuitively, our greatest struggles with God can lead to great growth in our strength and in our faith.
When Jacob falls in love with his uncle’s daughter, Rachel, he is willing to do anything to get her. Love drives us to do many things. This is why we can be thankful that God’s love for us drove Him to do the ultimate thing – to sacrifice His Son for our salvation.
From the womb, two brothers, Jacob and Esau, feud with each other. When we feud with others, how are we to handle these feuds? Our desire to love others must always be stronger than our desire to triumph over others.
God makes an unthinkable request of Abraham – to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. But a human sacrifice can never atone for human sins. God Himself must provide the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Sodom and Gomorrah were the epitome of wickedness in the ancient world. Yet, in spite of their wickedness, Abraham argues for God’s grace. When we see wickedness, how do we argue? Do you we argue for judgment or grace?
God continues to seek new beginnings in a world filled with old sin. He makes a promise to Abraham to, from him, bring forth a new nation that will be a beacon of righteousness in a world darkened by sin. He also shows us how righteousness ultimately comes about – by faith.
Noah brings a new beginning, but humanity quickly falls back into its old ways as it seeks to usurp God’s position by building a tall tower. This tower demonstrates both the folly and the danger of human ambition. Human ambition is filled with folly because, of course, no one can build a tower to the heavens. But human ambition is also filled with danger because it cannot compete with God’s perfect commands.
As man’s wickedness increases, God’s justice against sin is finally rendered in the form of a flood. But out of disaster emerges a man chosen by God to bring forth a new beginning – Noah. As “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17), we too are called to bring forth new beginnings in a world that is filled with sin.
The effects of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin quickly become apparent in the story of Cain and Abel. Hatred and death quickly have their way. But in the face of evil, God both exacts justice and gives grace. He forces Cain to wander the earth, but he also protects Cain’s life even though he has taken his brother’s life.
God’s good creation was quickly corrupted by a bad decision. If Genesis 1 describes the best of times, Genesis 3 ushers in the worst of times and sets up a tension for the rest of the book, for the rest of the Bible, and for all of history. We live in this tension, however, with hope, for God has promised to swallow up the worst of times in His Son.
How did all we see get here? This is the question that Genesis 1 answers. The great promise of this chapter, however, lies not in how everything got here, but in what everything that God created is: it is good.
So often, we think of heaven being a place that is far away. But the story of Jacob's encounter with a ladder that leads to heaven teaches us that heaven is not as far away as we think. Indeed, the promise of Scripture is that, on the Last Day, heaven will come to earth: "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband' (Revelation 21:2). On Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who have given their lives in service to our country, but we also find our hope in the truth that their heaven is as close as our Savior, who will one day return for all who trust in Him.
When Nineveh repents, Jonah is angry. Jonah does not want God to show his enemies grace. Is there an enemy for whom you do not want God’s grace? God’s grace not only forgives us, it calls us to forgive others.
When Jonah finally makes it to Nineveh, he preaches a terrible sermon. There is no promise of grace. There is no reference to Scripture. There is only a declaration of judgment. But through Jonah’s terrible sermon, God works amazing conversion. Mothers can often feel as though their best efforts are inadequate. On Mother’s Day, we celebrate how even in our inadequacy, God’s faithfulness and work shines through.
When Jonah is in the belly of a big fish, he offers a prayer to God. But even though there are flashes of brilliance in his prayer, Jonah does not seem to understand the mission God has given him and how this mission will call upon him to act selflessly. Do you struggle with praying for what is right when you would rather pray for what is selfish?
Jonah may be running from God, but God is also running after him. God sends a storm after him. Though we may not like to think about it, there is a day of reckoning for sin. But though this day of reckoning may seem difficult, it is for our good.
The story of Jonah opens with the prophet running from God because He has called him to preach to a group of people he hates. Everyone has something that unsettles them. What causes you to run?
When the women go to the tomb on Easter, they are going to take care of Jesus. What they find out, however, is that Jesus already has everything taken care of by His resurrection. What in your life are you trying to – and unable to – take care of? The gospel shows us how Jesus takes care of everything that matters.
It is easy to become turned in ourselves – on our accomplishments, our importance, and our needs. Scripture calls us, however, to humble ourselves – to let go of our pride and get honest about our sin.
This world can be a hostile place for Christians. Yet, we are called to proclaim our faith boldly, even when persecution ensues. Choosing bravery over timidity is not easy, but it does give hope to our world!
There are a whole host of false beliefs into which our world buys. “All faiths lead the same God.” “God would never want me to be unhappy.” “What I desire is who I am.” James says that false teachings are dangerous. In this message, we confront some of our culture’s most prevalent false teachings and deconstruct them with the truth of Scripture.
In a world obsessed with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it can be tempting to spend our lives on what is trivial rather than on what is meaningful. In a world where trivial information is being fired at us constantly, how can we minimize distractions and wholeheartedly devote ourselves to what really matters?
Everyone lies. Parents. Kids. Bosses. Coworkers. Politicians. It’s become accepted. And yet, as Christians, we are called to tell the truth. In a world where lying is accepted and expected, how can we be truth-tellers, even when telling the truth is difficult?
Paul calls Timothy his son. But He knows that Timothy is only his son in the faith because of the legacy of faith left to Timothy by his mother and grandmother. He encourages Timothy to fan into flame that faith. What legacy are we leaving for our children?
Moses and Aaron disobey God. As a discipline, they are not allowed to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land. From God’s discipline of Moses, we can learn some lessons about disciplining our own children.
God gives to Abraham and Sarah that which seems impossible – a son. Every family, ultimately, is a gift of grace. God brings men and women together by grace and husbands and wives and God blesses couples with children out of His grace. In this way, we do not choose our family – God does. This is a reflection of the family we are in Christ. God, out of His grace, chooses us to be His children.
We are called to share what God has given us with others. When we share what we have, we not only share of ourselves, we share Christ in our actions!
Everyone needs rest. Rest teaches us to rely on God, who continues to take care of us even when we are not taking care of business. Rest leads to replenishment, which allows to better steward our responsibilities.
Work apart from God can become a meaningless and exhausting burden. But when we see work as a gift from God, our work begins to reflect His eternal works. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon invites us to see our work as a gift from God.
As Christians, others are to know us as people who love (cf. John 13:35). In Romans 12, Paul talks to us about what love looks like in practical terms. Does our love look like biblical love?
When God reveals His identity to Moses, He simply calls Himself, “I AM.” We can be tempted, when we speak of our identities, to speak of them in terms of our accomplishments. “I am successful.” “I am rich.” “I am good.” But before any of those identities, we need to be content to simply say, like God, “I am.” Just the fact that we exist – that God has made us – is special in its own right. Before we speak of our accomplishments, we must give thanks for our creation.
Whether it is the past, the present, or the future, all time shares one thing in common: trouble. John 1 reminds us that Jesus stepped out of that which was timeless and trouble-free and into a time that was trouble-filled. Why did He do this? To meet us in and to love us through whatever troubles we may face!
Fear of the future is common. An old man named Simeon notes that Mary’s future will be a difficult one as she has to watch her Son die. Simeon himself is nearing death, and yet he does not fear the future, for He has seen God’s Savior. We too do not need to fear the future when we face the future with Jesus.
The normal hustle and bustle of the holiday season is stressful enough in and of itself. But when sometime unexpected comes up – whether that be a big bill, a health crisis, or a problem at work – the effects can be overwhelming. Mary is met by an angel with a completely unexpected announcement – that she will be the mother of the Messiah! Her response of faith is precisely what we need to face life’s unexpected challenges.
Christmas is a time for family! Families come in from all over to be together during the holidays. The family you grew up with in the past, however, can sometimes become frustrating in the present. In this message, we see that every family has its warts and flaws, but by grace, even a bad family experience in the past can be used according to God’s good purposes.
What if God wrote your bucket list? What would be on that list? Travel to distant places? Learn a foreign language? Pick up a new hobby? Often times our desire to live a full life can lead us to discontentment. Paul tells us the secret to contentment and the secret to full life. Everything we do we do "through HIM who gives me strength." And because of Jesus we are not only content, but FULL of thanksgiving.
Kindness can be difficult, especially when someone is not kind to you! David sought to be kind to Nabal, but was repaid with scorn. When we feel slighted in our marriages, how can we respond with kindness rather than with retaliation?
Humility is one of the primary virtues of Jesus. Indeed, it is how He showed His love for us. It should be how we show our love to our spouses. Do you set aside your own rights and desires for the sake of your spouse?
This year's election is the source of a lot of stress! The political climate of the first century was also a source of stress for the Jews who lived under the oppression of the Romans. But when the religious leaders come to Jesus with a political question about the Romans' rule and their taxes, Jesus does not become stressed, He handles their political question adeptly and brilliantly. How Jesus answers the religious' leaders question can teach us a lot about how we engage in politics today.
God gives His Son to bless our world. This is Jesus’ message in John 3. This is also the heart of the gospel. On Reformation Day, we’ll reflect on the primacy of the gospel in the Church and for the world, and we’ll discover how God’s great gift can move us to give as well!
It had to be a hard thing to give away all she had to live on. But this widow did. Why did she give away 100% of her possessions? Because she came to trust God with all her possessions. What things are holding you back from trusting God with everything? In this message, we’ll discuss some of the most common barriers to stewardship.
In the middle of a famine, Elijah asks a pagan widow to trust his God for provision. She has only a little flour and oil for her and her son. But Elijah asks this widow to give the food to him so that he can eat, assuring her that his God will provide her with what she needs. Elijah, in some sense, is using stewardship as an evangelism strategy. For Elijah knows that if this widow learns to trust his God with her possessions, she will learn how to trust this God with her eternity.
The call of every Christian is to live beyond themselves. We are to share the hope that we have with the world. When some lepers stumble into an Aramean camp that has been emptied by God, and when they find all sorts of treasure there, they cannot help but share the good news of the treasure with their neighbors. How can we do anything less than share the good news of the gospel with our neighbors?
When Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples the night before He dies, it becomes more than a Passover. It becomes a promise of His presence. For in, with, and under simple forms of bread and wine is the body and blood of Christ. In this message, we look at the Passover and how Jesus’ death on a cross leads God to not merely pass-over our sins, but to forgive them!
In the last chapter of Matthew, Jesus calls us to make disciples in two ways: by teaching His Word and by baptizing in His name (cf. Matthew 28:19-20). The Ethiopian eunuch becomes a disciple by baptism. Jesus still makes disciples in baptism today!
Worship is the natural and inevitable response of people who have faith in God to a good God. In this message, we look at the nature of worship, the location of worship, and the focus of worship in the Christian life.
Jesus gives us words in His teaching and He is the Word made flesh. Thus, it is vital that we hear and practice His words. In this message we talk about the nature and character of Jesus’ words – how they are perfect – and how they call us both to faith and to action.
The story of the Bible moves from God’s Creation to Our Fall to Christ’s Redemption to the Final Restoration. In the introduction to this series, we look at how Christ undoes the curse of our Fall into sin by becoming cursed on a cross.
Many of the Psalms were written by King David, Israel’s greatest king. But as great as David was, the Psalms express a yearning for another king – one who is even greater than King David. Psalm 96:7 says, “O LORD, save the king!” As Christians, we know that this prayer was answered when God sent a king named Jesus who saved us.
In the Bible, wisdom is defined not just as knowledge, but as the ability to make right choices. This is why wisdom ultimately comes from God! For when choices in life become difficult, God can give us wisdom to choose what is best even when we, by ourselves, do not know what to do.
As Christians, we know we are called to be forgiving people. Yet, when someone wounds us deeply, we often struggle with wanting to get revenge. In Psalm 137, the Israelites have been carried off into exile by the Babylonians. They too struggle with revenge as they gleefully envision Babylon’s destruction. How can our feelings of revenge be turned into God’s purpose of redemption?
Life can throw a lot at us at once! Sometimes, what life throws at us can become so overwhelming that we begin to lose our joy. We become sad. Psalm 55 is honest about sadness, about the questions sadness asks about God, and about how sadness leads people to want to run away, all the while asking God for help in the midst of sadness.
Psalm 23 is perhaps the most famous passage in all of Scripture. In it, people have found deep comfort, usually in midst of some sort of grief. This Psalm teaches us about faith and reminds us that faith is found in someone with whom we are very comfortable, even if what that person leads us through is not comfortable at all.
Even if we don’t like it, most of us have had to endure the feeling of guilt over something we know we did wrong. The cure for guilt is not self-pity, self-debasement, or self-loathing; it is repentance. Psalm 51 invites us to get honest about our sin, but it also invites us to trust in our Savior.
It is not difficult to be thankful when we have a lot to be thankful for! But what if we are in trouble? What if disaster has struck? In Psalm 34, the Psalmist invites us to take a long view of thankfulness, understanding that even if we experience momentary troubles, finally, the LORD will deliver us by faith. For that, we can be thankful!
A glance at a beautiful sunrise or a gaze at a lofty mountain can inspire a sense of awe. In Psalm 19, while a sense of awe is declared at God’s creation, the Psalmist reminds us that our ultimate awe should be in how God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in His Word.
Leadership courses will often teach people that before they lead anyone else, they need to be able to lead themselves. This is the heart of self-control. Jesus, even when His desires may have tempted Him toward sin, controlled Himself and won a decisive victory. Is there a battle to sin that you consistently lose? The answer to the loss is Christ’s forgiveness. The call of Christ going forward is to self-control.
In a world that is often “hard-knocks,” gentleness can be an overlooked virtue. Yet, as the story of Rehoboam demonstrates, gentleness not only helps people, it endears them to you. To whom do you need to demonstrate gentleness so your relationship with them can be strengthened?
The old saying goes, “Behind every great man, there is an even greater woman.” The story of Esther reminds us, “Behind ever great woman, there is a faithful man.” Mordecai challenges Esther to do everything she can to defend her people, even though it might cost her her life. On Father’s Day, men need to consider: what are they doing to call their wives and families to faithfulness?
Most of us have traded true goodness for what we think is “good enough.” In Jesus’ encounter with a rich man, He challenges this man to see what and who is truly good and to consider that he, as a sinner, is lacking in true goodness.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is merely synonymous with what it means to be kind. But kindness not just lies in what the Samaritan does, but in who he does it for – for the Jews and the Samaritans hated each other. Are you kind only to those who are kind to you? Or does your kindness extend beyond the boundaries of your normal social circles?
Patience is hardest to practice in the midst of fear. This is the lesson Saul learned. Saul is instructed to wait on the prophet Samuel to make offerings to the LORD. But when Saul sees that the Philistines are upon he and his people, he makes the offerings himself rather than waiting for Samuel. Because of this, his household does not remain kings over Israel. When has your lack of patience led to disaster?
Jesus has come to bring peace. But before He brings peace, He has peace. He is peacefully sleeping in the back of a boat while His disciples are terrified by a storm. But on that storm He pronounces a command: “Quiet! Be still” (Mark 4:39)! Over what areas of your life does Jesus need to pronounce a similar command?
The apostles encountered much persecution as they spread the gospel, especially from jealous Jews. Yet, immediately following the persecution they encounter in Acts 13, we read, “The disciples were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52). How can we have joy even when life is at its worst?
The love of a mother is unique. For many, the love of their mothers is steadfast, unconditional, and forgiving. In this way, a mother’s love mirrors God’s love. At the head of the fruit of the Spirit is love. Why is this at the head? Because “if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).
If you parent a young child, you’ve probably been told by more than one person: “They grow up so fast.” And it’s true! In the short time that you have to raise your family, how do you leave a legacy? Jehoshaphat left a spiritual legacy by encouraging families to stand before the Lord (verse 13). But his father also left him a legacy of faith: “He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD” (2 Chroniciles 20:20). How do we leave a positive legacy for our families?
As if raising a family wasn’t difficult enough in and of itself, families face many crosswinds that make things even more difficult: in-laws, divorces, blended families, custody battles, financial hardships, and on and on the list goes. In this message, we look at the hardships that Noami faced with her family and then discuss what God’s Word has to say about some of the hardships we face.
The average sitcom is 22 minutes. In 22 minutes, parents in a sitcom family must have a problem with their kids, confront the problem, struggle through the problem, and fix the problem. Family problems in real life are not so easily fixable. How do you parent for the long haul? How do you struggle through disagreements with each other and make hard decisions on how to raise and discipline your kids? The preacher of Hebrews reminds us that raising kids takes time, and we often don’t see the fruits of our hard fought battles until “later on” (verse 11).
Before there were cities, before there was pop culture, before there were wars, before there was poverty, before there was even sin, there was the family. God brought Adam and Eve together as husband and wife and encouraged them to have children. This is home base for all of society. This is where it all begins. In a world where the value of family is being questioned, how can we winsomely hold the concept of family – and, more importantly, our own family – sacred?
The story of Palm Sunday is the story of Jesus using a simple thing – a borrowed colt – to make a big statement.
No matter how simple we may be, Jesus can use us too to do big things for His glory!
What do you do when you you’ve experienced a terrible tragedy or loss and you feel like you will never be able to smile again? Paul, himself in the middle of a very difficult time as he languishes in prison, is able to write, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). We can learn from Paul’s joy as we seek to be joyful!
Even people who seem to have strong faith sometimes doubt. This was the case even with John the Baptist. John the Baptist wondered out loud if Jesus was the Messiah. Perhaps you struggle with doubt and you wonder if you can ever be forgiven for your doubt. Jesus spoke to John’s doubts lovingly. He speaks to our doubts in the same way.
Even people who seem to have strong faith sometimes doubt. This was the case even with John the Baptist. John the Baptist wondered out loud if Jesus was the Messiah. Perhaps you struggle with doubt and you wonder if you can ever be forgiven for your doubt. Jesus spoke to John’s doubts lovingly. He speaks to our doubts in the same way.
One of the saddest parenting stories in the Bible is that of David and Absalom. Years of neglectful parenting finally resulted in Absalom’s rebellion and death. By the time David sees what has happened, it is too late. What can we do as parents today to escape regrets tomorrow? And how do we deal with regrets for past mistakes we have made as parents?
Marriage is meant to be a beautiful picture of how Christ loves His Church. Because of sin, however, this picture can be distorted and, tragically, sometimes even destroyed. How do we recover the picture of love God desires and has designed for our marriages? Paul answers, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
The first section of the book of Judges has been focused on outside threats to Israel: threats from the Midianites and the Moabites and the Canaanites and the Philistines. The final part of the book of Judges focuses on the threats from within Israel. In the words of the famous Pogo comic strip: “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Micah undermines his faith by keeping an idol that sets off a chain of tragic events. In what ways are you undermining your own life?
Samson was a man of great talent. He had strength and he had political savvy. But he did not have any character. He fell into sin again and again. Even the most talented people crash and burn if they do not have the character to support their talents. In what ways do you fall short in your character?
We have come to expect that politicians will make campaign promises they cannot keep. Jephthah made a promise that he should not have kept, but did, and it ended up costing him the life of his daughter. Jephthah tried to control God’s actions with a foolish vow. Is there any ways in which we try to control God’s actions?
It was Franklin Roosevelt who famously said in his first inaugural address, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Gideon was a man who was always afraid. Many people know the story of Gideon’s test of God with a fleece. Far fewer people know, however, that before Gideon tested God with a fleece, he tested God with an offering. It seems as though Gideon had a hard time trusting God, always asking God to prove Himself because Gideon was always frightened. In what ways are we frightened?
The first major judge in Judges is a woman! And she is strong. She spearheads a battle against Jabin and reveals that her commander, Barak, is a coward. Deborah is an example of how heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and do not always look or act the way the world thinks they look and act.
“The definition of insanity,” the old adage goes, “is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The book of Judges is set during a time when Israel fell into the same sins over and over again – and got the same result of judgment. What “insane” things do we do over and over again of which we need to repent?
Because it is embarrassing, it can often be tempting to try to keep our sin a secret. But Jesus reminds us that all our sins will eventually be brought to light. Therefore, we are called to confess our sins and guard our lives.
Christmas is meant to be a happy time of year! Yet, for many, it is stressful and sad. How do we endure the downs of this season? The preacher of Hebrews gives us the answer: by fixing our eyes on the reason for the season.
During this time of year, it’s not too tough for jealousy to take root. We see what gifts others are buying their families and we can be tempted to try to keep up, or to compare the gifts we receive with the gifts other receives. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul warns against comparison, instead encouraging contentment in Christ.
Christmas is meant to be a happy time of year! Yet, for many, it is stressful and sad. How do we endure the downs of this season? The preacher of Hebrews gives us the answer: by fixing our eyes on the reason for the season.
Daniel is persecuted by people who are jealous of him. They purposely set him up so that he will have to compromise his faith or risk being killed in a den of lions. Daniel does not compromise in his faith. As we watch instances of persecution around our world, how will we witness to our faith – no matter what?
King Belshazzar has taken holy things plundered from the temple in Jerusalem and used them for unholy purposes – for revelry. God judges Belshazzar’s immorality, however. When we are confronted with immorality, do we trust that God will get the final word of righteousness?
In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar sets up a giant golden idol. Three of Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have a choice: do they bow down to the king’s statue or do they stand up for what they believe. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand up for what they believe. When we are confronted, do we capitulate? Do we handle things passive aggressively? Or, do we stand?
In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that none of his wise men can interpret for him. Daniel offers to interpret the king’s dream, but before God reveals to Daniel its meaning! All Daniel can do is trust and pray that God will give him the wisdom that he needs. When things are uncertain in our lives, do we trust and pray that God will give us what we need?
In order to learn from mistakes, a coach will often have his team watch the tape of their last game. This way, they can study and learn how to do better next time. We too are to “watch God’s tape” – that is, God’s Word – so that we can understand our mistakes and serve our Lord well. As Joshua reminds us, we are to “be careful to do everything written in [God’s Word]” (Joshua 1:8). As we celebrate the Reformation, we are reminded to be people who read, mark, and inwardly digest God’s precious truth.
Professional teams live with salary caps. This way, one team cannot radically outspend another. We too live with salary caps. God has given us much, but He has not given us everything. Our challenge is to be generous with what God has given us not only when it feels good, but when it becomes hard.
A superstar may be good for a franchise’s bottom line, but it is rarely good for a team. Teams play together to lift each other up. As Christians, we are on Christ’s team. We must play together and serve each other. This is why one of the fundamental facets of Jesus’ ministry, as Jesus Himself describes it, is service. He has come to serve us. In the pattern of Jesus, we too are to serve others. Service teaches us humility and reminds us that what is most important is not found in our accomplishments, but in our selflessness.
When you’re on the field, you have tune out the roar of the crowd to focus on the game. When life roars at us, we need similar focus. This is why, when Job loses everything, his friends come to him not to speak, but to sit in silence with him. Silence allows us to listen to God and guards us from confusing God’s Word with our words. It also allows us to demonstrate, as Job’s friends do, empathy with someone – not explaining their pain, but being with them through their pain.
Just as important as playing hard is resting well. We need rest to replenish ourselves. This is why the Bible commands us to Sabbath. But Sabbath is not only a command, but a blessing. To legalistic religious leaders who had turned the Sabbath into a burden rather than a blessing, Jesus restores the Sabbath’s appropriate place as a gift of time to rest and relax. Are we taking advantage of this?
What you eat before the big game is important. Similarly, what you eat in your walk with God is vital. This is why the Bible suggests fasting. Fasting teaches us to control our desires and reminds us that we rely on God’s providence to meet all our needs. It also reminds us that the best bread is not the bread that feeds our bodies, but the bread of life that feeds our souls.
Before a team hits the field, they will often gather to pray. This prayer helps reorient them on what matters most. How much time do you spend huddling with God in prayer? Martin Luther explained, “Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church: it is a goodly Christian’s weapon.” Prayer is so important to Jesus that He not only tells us that we should pray, He goes so far as to specifically teach us how to pray.
Adultery is often justified by excuses. “My marriage has grown cold.” “This lover is my soul mate.” “God wouldn’t want me to be happy.” But no excuse can justify adultery. What we need are not excuses. What we need is forgiveness.
Coveting is a dangerous sin because you can fall prey to it without anyone around you knowing it. It is first a sin of the heart. And it will make you miserable. How can we be content rather than covetous?
Everyone lies. But just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right. Abraham lies about his relationship to Sarah because of fear. He also tries to justify his lie by pointing out how it is partially true. We do many of the same things. Yet, because Christ is the truth (cf. John 14:6), we are called to be truthful.
When someone “please the fifth,” they are refusing to speak about a particular incident because what they say may wind up being incriminating. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus looks at the Fifth Commandment and pleads with us that we follow it not only in our actions, but in our hearts.
God loves to provide for us (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:10). Stealing takes what God has provided for someone else and tries to commandeer it for oneself. Therefore, stealing distrusts God’s provision. Theft, of course, is not just a crime of the poor. As the story of Zaccheaus demonstrates, even the rich can fall prey to distrusting God’s provision. The remedy for theft is both faith in God and generosity toward others. Do we live our lives in this way?
The great Greek philosopher Aristotle asserted that families are the basis of any healthy society. The Scriptural authors would agree. Thus, families need to thrive. The Fourth Commandment is meant to foster such thriving. Parents and children are to show mutual respect to each other.
The Hebrew word “Sabbath” means “stop.” God’s desire is that we stop and take time to rest so that we may do the work He has given us. The Sabbath, then, is meant to be a joy, given by God out of love. Yet, in our culture, we all too often neglect this joy for the sake of workaholism. How can we be more intentional about practicing the rest God commands?
In the ancient world, someone’s name was also their reputation. God does not want us to take His name in vain because that damages His reputation. Yet, by how we live and by what we do as Christians, we often do besmirch how God wants to be known. Honoring God’s name, then, includes everything we say and do.
Idolatry is when we take a good thing and turn it into a God thing which is a bad thing. Why is this a bad thing? Because it is an affront to the true God. But Isaiah also reminds us that we desire out of an idol what it can never give: help and fulfillment. Idols always disappoint. God, however, always keeps His promises.
Debates have raged between different segments of the Church over how we are to number the Ten Commandments. Some say there are two commandments on idolatry. Others say there are two commandments on coveting. But in Jewish thought, the first commandment is not so much a commandment as it is a declaration: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). Before God tells His people what they are to do, He reminds them of what He has already done. God’s work, then, is the power behind our works.
Some of the best moments in life are the spontaneous ones. On Father’s Day, we give thanks for fathers and their sometimes spontaneous antics that can remind us all that we need to be free to sometimes take on unplanned opportunities in life – for these unplanned opportunities can be life-changing.
Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation. But sometimes, with all the special occasions of summer, it can turn into a time of fatigue. It is important to carve out time for rest so you can recharge during these summer months, but, most of all, we must always rely on the Lord for our strength.
When kids are in close proximity to each other all summer long, fights are bound to erupt. Sibling rivalry is as old as sin itself. Remember Cain and Abel? Joseph gives us a way out of sibling rivalry when he forgives his brothers for their wrongs against him. Parents, what are you teaching your kids about forgiveness?
Sometimes families plan all their fun around one big summer vacation. But something doesn’t have to involve a big event to be fun. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon reminds us that we can find joy and fun in the everyday things of life. What everyday joys can you find with your family this summer?
Sometimes families plan all their fun around one big summer vacation. But something doesn’t have to involve a big event to be fun. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon reminds us that we can find joy and fun in the everyday things of life. What everyday joys can you find with your family this summer?
Summer can be a time of farewells. Kids leave their friends at school. Some even are transitioning to a new school. My mother used to tell me, “Always leave a place better than how you found it.” As you say goodbye to friends for the summer – or maybe for longer – are you leaving those relationships better than you found them? Paul, when he says goodbye to the church at Ephesus recounts his strong relationship with the people there, but trusts in God to lead him into the future.
It is tempting to define ourselves by our accolades and achievements rather than by Christ’s achievement for us on the cross. On Mother’s Day, we take a moment to remind women – and men – that they are valued and precious not because of what they do and accomplish, but because of who they are – baptized children of God.
When confronted with and caught in a sin, you’ve probably heard someone try to justify his or her actions by saying, “I wasn’t hurting anyone!” In Joshua 7, we are introduced to the biblical concept of “corporate sinfulness.” Achan sinned, but all Israel was held responsible. Thus, there is no such thing as a strictly private sin. This is why we ought to freely confess sin and receive absolution. For our sins not only hurt us, they hurt those about whom we care the most.
Far too often, we get so caught up in the things of today that we forget about the eternal things of God. This world is more than what we see and the possessions that we have. This is why Paul warns against loving material things like money and, instead, striving toward eternal things such as righteousness, godliness, faith, and love. These are things that will last – not only in this world, but in the next.
Love is important. But many people have reduced love into little more than feelings and desires. Paul, however, speaks of love in challenging terms! Love is patient. Love is kind. Love forgives. Love never fails. The truth is that no human can have this kind of love. That is why, even more than love, we need our Lord. For He is the one who pours His perfect love into our broken hearts.
Our culture is mired in relativism. Many people believe that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe something. They believe all roads lead to God. Jesus, however, is clear: only He leads us and brings us to God. In this message, we discuss how to begin a conversation about the exclusivity of the gospel in a world full of relativism.
Colleges often partner with businesses so students can get hands-on training in an internship. In a sense, this life is an internship for heaven. The temptations we face can strengthen our faith and the holiness to which we aspire will be perfected for us in heaven. This life, as an internship, can give us tremendous hope and insight into the next!
The Gnostics, as well as the Jews, prided themselves in following all sorts of rigorous rituals. But Paul says a person does not need rigorous ritual to have true knowledge. Indeed, such legalism, though it leads to pride, does not lead to true wisdom and righteousness. Only Christ can give that.
There is no one smarter than Jesus! After all, as Paul notes, He is the fullness of God. And whereas the Gnostics thought their education was for only a few, Paul notes that in Christ, “all things hold together.” In this message, we talk about how Christ can hold you together when you are confused by the hardships of this world.
Giving can help us grow our faith because when we give, and God comes through in His provision to us, we learn to trust Him more. Because giving is an exercise of faith, fanfare and rewards from others whenever we give are not needed, for ultimately, we’re giving to God.
Christ’s desire is that all come to know Him. This means that, as His followers, we are to leave no corner of creation unturned in our efforts to share the gospel. How we do that, however, ought to be winsome. Jesus gives us two good winsome strategies. He says we are to be “salt,” that is, we are to add flavor to a “blah” word. We are also to be “light,” that is, we are to speak the truth to a world in darkness because of its lies.
The hallmark of a disciple is love. If God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us, we ought to be more than willing to love others. In this message, we’ll talk about the importance of loving others and we’ll also discuss some roadblocks that can damage our love for another person.
The gospel is for you! Because God is so focused on us, we ought to focus on ourselves as well – not because of arrogance, but for the sake of stewarding ourselves well so we can serve the Lord well. God has put us together in an amazing way so we can serve Him in amazing ways.
When I was in school, rather than reading a whole book for a class, I would sometimes rely on Cliff’s Notes. These notes gave me a good understanding of what was most important in a book without actually having to read the whole book. In Matthew 22, Jesus gives the Cliff’s Notes of Old Testament law. And His Cliff’s Notes can be summed up in one word: Love.
We are called to make other disciples by engaging the world with the truth of the gospel. This is what the disciples do in front of an angry mob of religious leaders. It is no secret that many in our world are hostile to the gospel. How can we, as Jesus’ disciples, bravely and winsomely engage the world with the truth and hope of the gospel?
The Hebrew word for “kindness” is chesed, a word that is used to refer to God’s steadfast love (e.g., Psalm 107:1). In the Bible, chesed is a primary attribute of God and, thus, ought to be a primary attribute of His people. Kindness is best displayed when it is shown toward someone who does not seem to be deserving of it, such as David does with Mephibosheth.
We are not meant to be in isolation from each other. Many people who profess to be Christians do not see the need to be in association with other Christians. The preacher of Hebrews reminds us that we need each other for both accountability toward good (verse 24) and encouragement when things are bad (verse 25).
We are called to do ministry! The Greek word for “ministry” is related to the word for “service.” Jesus shows His disciples how to serve when He washes their feet and calls them to do likewise (verse 15). When disciples minister to others, they learn how to imitate Jesus’ actions, becoming more like Him as His disciples.
When we speak of broken hearts and pierced souls, we usually think of betrayals and broken relationships. But when Simeon prophesies that a sword will pierce the soul of Jesus’ mother Mary (verse 35), he is speaking of a moment that will reconcile, rather than break, our relationship with God.
God keeps his promise from generation to generation! He never loses His focus on saving us. Where is your focus this season?
The commercialism of Christmas is well-documented. But Mary eschews the trappings of things and rejoices in the simple things that God gives. She exclaims: “God has filled the hungry with good things” (verse 53). Rather than focusing on what you want for Christmas, what simple things do you already have that you can celebrate?
Mary’s circumstances were hard. Yet, she was nevertheless joyful because her joy came from God. This is why she sings, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (verse 47). From where does your joy come?
The husband is called to be the spiritual leader of his marriage and family. This is why when the wife in Song of Songs sings about her husband, she sings about his strength. How can a man lead well? By not only being a husband and lover, but by being a friend (cf. verse 16) to his wife, supporting her and guiding her.
In a world that is full of unrealistic standards of beauty, do you make your spouse your standard of beauty? To beat back lust, husbands and wives must continue to see each other as beautiful and remind each other that they are beautiful, but not just because of their looks. Rather, they are beautiful because of who they are in Christ.
Every marriage encounters tough times. It is during these times that the promises you made at the altar must trump the feelings you currently have. When a couple is drifting from each other, they must intentionally pursue each other.
Satan loves to destroy marriages by making marital intimacy grow cold. Indeed, the Bible warns against a lack of intimacy in 1 Corinthians 7:5: “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Intimacy is not just about pleasure, but about strengthening and solidifying the bond between husband and wife.
The gospel is a payment – Jesus has paid for our sins. The gospel is also a gift – Jesus gives us blessings, both temporal, like family and home, and eternal, like salvation. Jesus pays for us so He can give to us! On Reformation Day, we remember how Martin Luther re-discovered this simple, yet central, truth.
Because God paid for our sins, we are free to give – not “reluctantly or under compulsion” (verse 7) – but out of thankfulness to God. And God promises that even as we give, God gives to us! Thus, we will never run out of things to give!
Abraham lived in a world where other nations would try to pay off gods by their sacrifices. Indeed, many of these sacrifices would even be of children. But when the true God asks for Abraham’s son, He shows Abraham a different way: rather than demanding payment from Abraham, He provides the payment Abraham needs in the form of a ram and ultimately in His Son. We do not have to pay for our sins! God has paid with His Son.
You would think that the disciples would have figured out Jesus’ mission by this point in Luke’s Gospel! But they were still confused. Like the disciples, we do not have everything about Jesus figured out – even the stuff that we should have figured out. But Jesus patiently continues to teach us, calling us back to his truth.
Arrogance can be disastrous to human relationships. Yet, even though the disciples were often arrogant, Jesus compassionately called them to humility. Who do we know who is arrogant? Do we compassionately call them to humility? How are we arrogant? Jesus can teach us humility!
Our fears can distract us from our faith. This is precisely what happened to Peter when he was walking on water to meet his Lord. In the midst of our fears, Jesus persistently calls us to fix our eyes on him again and again.
The Twelve Jesus called as disciples were nothing particularly special. In fact, the book of Acts calls the disciples “unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13). But Jesus uses common people to do extraordinary things. For he does not call disciples based on their merits or abilities, but simply because he wants to call them (cf. verse 13). Jesus can use us even though we are ordinary!
As we celebrate Labor Day weekend, we take some time to reflect on both the burdens and blessings of our vocations, trusting God to give us the strength and resources we need to do the jobs he has given us faithfully and well.
The book of Malachi is a story of a people deep into sin. In fact, the people in Malachi do not even often recognize how they have offended God. But for all their offenses, God offers a promise: that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” God desires to heal and save even the most wayward and recalcitrant sinners.
The people in Zechariah’s day stubbornly refused to heed the word of the Lord. He wanted them to help each other; but instead, they hurt each other. God calls us to have soft hearts not only for Him, but for others!
This weekend, we take some time to share stories from our trips to Costa Rica, Moore, Oklahoma, and the south side of San Antonio, rejoicing at how God's good news knows no bounds!
Haggai reminds us that all the earth is the Lord’s! But Haggai also promises that into the earth, the Lord will come down. He may own the earth, but even more so, He saves the earth – He saves us.
Zephaniah has a word of judgment for all the nations. His words are often harsh, but he knows that for every harsh word, God has a sweet song. Like a mother who sings over her child, God sings over His children.
One of the most common questions people have is: How were people saved in the Old Testament if Jesus had not come yet? The answer is: They were saved in the same way as people now are – by faith. Habakkuk teases this out beautifully. For the prophet explains how the righteous are made that way not by their works, but through their faith in God’s righteousness, perfectly expressed in Christ.
On a weekend when we celebrate our nation’s independence, we remember that we desire not only liberty for all, but justice for all. God gives us the recipe for justice: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. These three things can change our nation and our world.
The story of Jonah is unique. For it is not a story of a prophet teaching some wayward people, but of some wayward people teaching a prophet. The teacher Jonah becomes the student. In what areas of our lives do we need to do less teaching and more learning?
Obadiah is written against Nineveh but it can serve as a warning to us all. We cannot live in sin without suffering the consequences of sin. Thus, repentance is paramount.
Fathers love to camp out! On Father’s Day, we celebrate the people and things dads love and get honest about the mistakes dads make, remembering how God takes our worst and redeems it for His glory.
The prophet Nahum brings a warning against the city of Nineveh. His message is straightforward: you cannot expect to reap wickedness and harvest righteousness. God will judge the Ninevites for their wickedness. Yet, if they repent, God will be their refuge.
Joel is serves as harbinger of bad news. He foretells a plague of locusts and refers to the day of the LORD as “great and dreadful” (2:31). Yet, even with all the suffering the Jews endure, Joel maintains his hope, for Joel knows that God’s Spirit is for and with His people.
Divorces, as any one who has ever had to endure one knows, are painful. In Hosea, God divorces Israel because of her unfaithfulness. But Israel’s unfaithfulness does not ultimately overcome God’s faithfulness, for He woos His wayward wife back.
The world’s end will most certainly come. Christ has promised it. But how shall we live in the mean time? When the world ends, Christ will reveal to us what mattered most when we were still in the world: serving and loving others. For when we serve and love others, we ultimately serve and love Christ. On this Memorial Day Weekend, we reflect especially on how our troops have served others bravely – many, by giving their very lives.dr@
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about the end of the world. Teachings like the rapture, the millennium, and all sorts of gloom and doom connected to geopolitical events take what the Bible truly says about time’s end and twists it. In this message, we look at some of the common misconceptions about the world’s end and set the record straight.
For millennia now, when trouble strikes, some have been concerned that the end of the world is upon us. But Jesus clearly says that even when we “hear wars and rumors of wars...the end is still to come” (verse 6). As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we consider the challenges of motherhood – the challenges of raising children in this day and age – and the promise that Christ has everything under His control.
People have lots of questions about the end of the world. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the questions for which we don’t have answers that we forget about God’s promises which give us the answers we need the most. The Sadducees were terribly concerned about marriage after the end of the world. But in all of their questions about one woman’s marriage, they forgot about the Church’s marriage to the Lamb of God.
Everybody likes happy endings. There’s something about the hero conquering the villain or the guy getting the girl that warms our hearts like nothing else can. Jesus promises that the ending of this world’s story can be the happy ending of our stories. But with Jesus’ promise of a happy ending comes a warning: our endings will only be happy if we end with Him.
The old saying goes, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” But it seems as though the things we don’t know are the things that hurt us the most. Whether it’s a question about a tragedy, a loss, an addiction, or a trial, the things for which we do not have answers are painful. When Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples had a lot of questions. Indeed, John 20:9 explains, “They … did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” And yet, even if they did not understand everything, John 20:8 says they “believed.” What big questions about God and life do you have that you do not understand? Do you still have faith even when things don’t make sense?
What happens on Palm Sunday points forward to what will happen in heaven. Just as the people hold palm branches on Palm Sunday hailing Jesus’ arrival, people in heaven wave palm branches hailing Jesus’ rule (Revelation 7:9). By faith, this future can be our final – and eternal – future!
Most people have heard of a “deathbed conversion,” though many are skeptical of the genuineness of such so-called “religious awakenings.” But here is a thief who has a genuine end-of-life conversion. His story teaches us two things. First, we learn that the doors of heaven stand open to us until we take our final breath. Second, our salvation is not based on what we do, but on what Christ has done. For, even when we don’t have any time to make amends for our wickedness, Jesus can still receive us into His kingdom out of His grace through faith.
Jesus’ final lesson to His disciples is one of love: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (verse 35). Being that this is Jesus’ final lesson – a last will and testament of sorts – do we listen to and obey Jesus’ call of love?
Most people have had premonitions before – an eerie feeling that forebodes something to come. Of course, many of premonitions never come to pass. Jesus, when he tells the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard is serving up more than a premonition, He’s offering a prophecy. He knows He will be treated unjustly and killed. Though we cannot see into the future, there is a good chance we will all be treated unjustly at one time or another. Will we respond to injustice as Jesus responds?
We all have causes – things to which we devote our passions and energies. Some people devote themselves to humanitarian work. Some people devote themselves to their favorite team. Jesus’ cause is that of His Father’s house, that is, the worship of the one, true God, for Jesus understands, in the words of the Westminster Catechism, “The chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.” Is your cause the same as Jesus’ cause?
What do you celebrate in life? In the day-to-day grind of life’s hectic schedule, celebration can easily get lost. Even in the final week of His life, Jesus participates – and indeed, hosts – a celebration. Though the crowds do understand Jesus, they celebrate Him. Even when we do not fully understand God’s ways in our lives, do we still celebrate Him?
Jesus' words are not meant merely to be heard; they are meant to be done! To hear Jesus’ words and then to reject them by our actions is utter foolishness. Where do you need to grow in doing Jesus’ words?
With great wealth comes great responsibility. This sums up Jesus’ teaching on money. No matter how much treasure we may have on earth, our primary calling is to use our earthly treasure to heavenly ends – to share and show the gospel of Jesus to people who need to hear and believe it.
Jesus’ words about “judging not” (cf. Matthew 7:1) have to be some of the most misunderstood words in the history of biblical interpretation. In this message, we look at what the Bible says about judging and when and how to judge and when and how to not.
The old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This is usually meant to be a reminder that someone who looks like little on the outside may be incredibly wise on the inside. But sadly, the inverse can also be true. Those who look righteous on the outside can harbor deep wickedness on the inside. Jesus warns us against these kinds of people and reminds us that these kinds of people can look a lot like…us.
Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with a word on how we are blessed by God. Now, Jesus exhorts us to be a blessing to others – but not just to any old “others,” but to our enemies. In this message, we look at some ways to bless those we like the least.
Jesus certainly does not shy away from tough topics in the Sermon on the Mount. He talks about murder and anger and making vows and loving enemies and foregoing worry. In these verses, Jesus talks about sexual morality. Like Jesus, we must never be afraid to tackle even the tough and controversial topics of our day. People need and want to know what the Lord says.
Any good sermon is based on Holy Scripture and treats Holy Scripture as authoritative and normative. In Jesus’ sermon, He offers an account of what He believes about the authority of God’s Word.
“Jumbo shrimp.” “Open secret.” “Original copies.” “Microsoft Works.” These are just a few examples of funny oxymorons. Oxymorons, of course, are statements that, at least at first glance, seem to contradict themselves. Jesus opens His sermon with a series of oxymorons known as the Beatitudes. In these Beatitudes, He essentially says, “Blessed are the unblessed.” But Jesus is not just flagrantly contradicting Himself. Rather, He is teaching us that “the blessed life” doesn’t always look the way we want or imagine it to.
In sit-down restaurants, there is often a sign at the entrance saying, "Please Wait to be Seated." Though we wait, we usually don't like it. After all, our world is a hurried world. But waiting is valuable. Simeon was waiting "for the consolation of Israel" (verse 26). As it turns out, it was worth the wait.
Joseph could not believe it! His betrothed Mary was pregnant – but not by him or another man! Rather, she claimed that God had visited her and announced to her that she would be the mother of the world’s Savior. It takes an angelic announcement from Gabriel to overcome Joseph’s incredulity. What do you have a hard time believing? God can provide us what we need to strengthen our faith in Him!
In the ancient world, shepherds were considered to be blue collar, insignificant scoundrels. But it is to these simple men that God chooses to herald the birth of His Son. God takes insignificant shepherds and gives them a significant role in one of the most famous stories of all time. God can also use us – no matter how insignificant we may feel – for amazingly significant things.
Herod was ignorant that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. The wise men were ignorant that Herod was an evil despot. Both needed to understand God’s Word and plans more fully. We too need to understand God’s Word and plans. Thankfully, God reveals Himself to us through Jesus so that we do not remain ignorant of who He is.
Herod hatched a plot to kill the Christ because he saw him as a threat to his throne. But rather than letting Herod succeed in his catastrophic plan, God reversed Herod’s efforts in a way that fulfilled Scripture and brought God glory. God can reverse our catastrophic plans – and even our catastrophic decisions – as well.
Inevitably, to some people who pray for healing, God says, “No.” But even when God does not heal us physically, we can still trust that, ultimately, even if we don’t receive the healing we desperately desire in this life, we receive final and ultimate healing – resurrection healing – in eternity.
Healing is often not so much an event as it is a process. The woman Jesus heals from her bleeding has gone through doctor after doctor, but none have been able to help her. Jesus Himself then leads her through a process of not only physical healing, but of confession and absolution. When we are sick, we too go through a process of getting help from medical professionals and turning to Christ in faith for help.
Some people treat faith as if it is a magical healing force. “You can be healed,” some will say, “if you have enough faith.” But faith is not a force; it is trust in Christ. Faith is only as good as what it trusts in. The Canaanite woman is healed not simply because she has faith, but because she has faith in Jesus – that He loves her and desires to help her.
Why does sickness plague us? Because sin plagues us. When some friends of a paralyzed man bring Him to Jesus, before He heals the man physically, Jesus heals the man spiritually – He forgives this man’s sins. Though we cannot say that it is some specific sin that leads to an illness, disease is a part of and the result of living in a sinful, fallen broken world. Therefore, we all need healing.
On Reformation Day, we remember that we are God’s treasure. Indeed, God treasures us so much that He sends His Son to die so that we might be saved. In Mark 10, when Jesus meets a rich young man, He immediately treasures him: “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (verse 21). But this rich young man will not respond to Jesus’ love in faith.
Too often, we value the things of this world above the things of God. In two short parables, Jesus asks us to envision this world’s most precious treasures and then asks: What if we pursued the treasure of God’s kingdom as passionately as we pursued the treasures of this world?
Zacchaeus began as a man who look out only for himself. But then he met Jesus and went from being greedy – concerned only with his wealth and needs – to generous, gladly giving sacrificially of himself to serve others. When we put others before our money, this inspires generosity. Do we live as Zacchaeus lived?
Everyone is tempted. Even Jesus was tempted. Jesus responds to temptation with the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. This is how we too are called to respond to temptation. In this message, we learn about Satan’s tactics for tempting us and how we can stand strong against him
Baptism washes our sins away (cf. Acts 22:16). Of course, Jesus had no sins to wash away, yet He still wanted to be baptized! This is why the one whom Jesus asks to baptize Him, John the Baptist, becomes so puzzled. During Jubilee Weekend, we take a look at the theology of baptism and learn how we should follow Jesus’ lead in baptism and trust the promises He gives through baptism.
Jesus is not always easy to understand. His parents learned that early on. What do we do when we are puzzled by Jesus’ ways? We respond like His mother: “His mother treasured all these things in her heart” (verse 51). In this message, we learn some methods we can use to better understand Jesus’ sometimes puzzling works and ways.
People often wonder, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” This was Peter’s conundrum – except that he was wondering why bad things would happen to Jesus! In Jesus’ suffering, we see how God can use suffering to accomplish His purposes.
Recently, CNN featured an article by Reza Aslan, a former Muslim turned “Christian.” He said about Jesus: “Today, I can confidently say that two decades of rigorous academic research into the origins of Christianity has made me a more genuinely committed disciple of Jesus of Nazareth than I ever was of Jesus Christ. I have modeled my life not after the celestial spirit whom many Christians believe sacrificed himself for our sins, but rather after the illiterate, marginal Jew who gave his life fighting an unwinnable battle against the religious and political powers of his day.” To Reza, Jesus was a zealot, but not the Messiah. Jesus, however, thinks of Himself as much more than a rebel. In a world that has many different conceptions of Jesus, it is important to know who He really is: God come to earth as a man to save us.
Many people worry about their friends who do not know Jesus. They ask, “Will I see them in heaven?” “How can I reach them with the gospel?” In Revelation 3, John describes Jesus’ persistent knocking on the doors of the hearts of those who either do not know Him or who are far from Him (verse 20). Though it may take a long time, we too are called to knock on the doors of our friends’ hearts with the message of Christ.
With nearly ubiquitous access to the Internet, social media, and smart phones, there is an abundance of things which can distract us from what is most important in our lives. We can even lose sleep over such distractions as we trade needed rest for mindless distractions! In Luke 10, Martha is distracted from making preparations for Jesus’ visit (verse 40). But Jesus calls her to focus on Him. He calls us to do the same.
Work can become so overwhelming that people can lose sleep over it or have nightmares about it. When Jesus was about to go to the cross to do the work of salvation, understandably, He was overwhelmed. How did He handle His heavy workload? He went to His Father in prayer. We should follow Jesus’ lead.
With increasing frequency, there are many who are expressing anxiety over the direction of our country. Can the U.S. survive many wars, high debt, and moral decay? The book of Daniel reminds us of two things. First, God cares about those in power. Again and again, God pursues Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, seeking to make him His follower. Second, even if worldly kingdoms fall, God’s Kingdom stands forever. And we are residents first and foremost of His Kingdom.
Have your kids ever woken you up at night because they thought they heard a noise? That’s what Samuel did to Eli. But in Samuel’s case, the voice he heard was the very voice of the Lord. Tragically, though Eli paid close attention to his Samuel, he paid little attention to his own children, Hophni and Phineas. Though kids cause us concern, they should, in some sense, “keep us up at night” because we love them and want what’s best for them.
The word “vocation” means “calling.” As Christians, we are called to live out our faith in every one of the callings of our lives – be that as a husband, a wife, a parent, or an employee. In this message, we look at the callings that spouses have to be loving toward each other.
To be “sanctified” means to be “made holy.” The Holy Spirit makes us holy when He guides us in the way of holiness outlined by God’s word.
As the gospel reconciles us to Christ even though we are by nature separated from Him because of our sin, we are called to be reconciled to each other. What sins, committed against us, do we need to forgive so we can be reconciled to each other?
The doctrine of justification reminds us that we are saved not because of anything we do, but because of what Christ has done. When we have faith in Christ, He shows us grace and gives us His righteousness while nailing our wickedness to His cross. The word “justify” means “to make righteous.” Christ makes us righteous through His death and resurrection.
The doctrine of predestination can be summed up thusly: “Jesus chooses you.” He chooses you not because of any merit or worth on your part, but because of His great love for you. Though this doctrine is somewhat mysterious, it need not be frightening. Rather, it can be consoling because it reminds us how far God will go to save us, even choosing to save us when we are rebelling against Him.
The truth of Christian doctrine is vitally important because it helps us defend ourselves against the lies of Satan (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3). This is the point Paul makes at the end of his letter to the Ephesians when he speaks of the armor of God. We begin with the end of Paul’s letter so we can understand the point and importance of doctrine before we unpack some individual doctrines themselves.
Dads wear many hats! From disciplinarian to bread winner to healer of hurts, dads do it all. But dads also struggle. Sometimes, their jobs and families can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, even their faith can be shaken. But no matter how tough things may become, Jesus invites dads to find their strength and solace in Him.
Everyone needs friends. Jonathan’s friendship with David was so strong that he risked his wellbeing to protect the life of his friend. In a culture that is becoming increasingly isolated, do we have good friends who will give much to help and love us?
So often, singleness is overlooked or downplayed in the Church. But singles have an important role – to devote themselves undividedly to the work of the Lord! Singleness does not have to be a curse of loneliness. Instead, it can be a tremendous opportunity to devotedly serve the Church in ways that others may not be able to.
Jesus loves marriage! In a culture that was full of divorce, Jesus upholds the value and primacy of marriage. Marriage is a tremendous good not only because of the support, love, and counsel that a spouse can offer, but because it offers a tremendous picture of deep unity.
Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate! Mothers work hard and sacrifice much. In the story of Moses’ mother, Jochebed, we find a mother who made a brave sacrifice – giving up her son to save him. What sacrifices have our mothers made for us for our good?
Do you ever feel like you’re running on empty? Exhaustion leads to emptiness. But Jesus can fill us with His strength. We should turn to Him and draw from His Word.
Do you ever feel like you’re running on empty? Exhaustion leads to emptiness. But Jesus can fill us with His strength. We should turn to Him and draw from His Word.
The disciples are scared of everything! They are scared of a storm and then, when Jesus calms the storm, they are scared of Him. Fear can be paralyzing. But Christ calls us not to fear and instead to live by faith in Him.
The story of David and Absalom is one of the saddest in Scripture. A father is estranged from his son and does not realize what he has lost until his son dies and David cries in despair, ““O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son” (2 Samuel 18:33). Rather than living with regret, we are called to repent of our sins and start anew.
The burdens of life can become overwhelming. The apostle Paul, no matter how stressful his life may be, knows the secret to overcoming stress: finding strength in Christ (cf. Philippians 4:13). Christ can help us bear the burdens of stress we cannot bear by ourselves.
Do you ever feel as though you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? Such a feeling is only an illusion! Just as the rock was rolled away from the empty tomb on that first Easter, the Lord can roll away the sins that weigh us down and give us new freedom and strength through His resurrection.
How do you share the gospel in a society riddled by relativism and pluralism? Paul encountered just such a challenge in Acts 17. In Paul’s speech at Athens, we take a look at some of the techniques he used to minister to people who saw no apparent value in believing in one God and Savior.
The places that need the gospel are nearly limitless. Jesus’ desire, as demonstrated in Acts 1, is that his gospel go out to “the ends of the earth” (verse 8). Where is God calling you to share the gospel – in a place near or far?
Sharing the good news takes time! A person does not always believe after only a single conversation. Such is the case when Paul shares the gospel with King Agrippa. As we share our faith, then, we must be patient, knowing that God works through his Word, even if God’s Word takes many years or even decades to bear the fruit of faith!
The message of the gospel is always the same – that Christ died on a cross in our place for our sins. But the way we share that message can be different depending on the situation or personality. Some people share the gospel through friendships, others through service, and still others through confrontation. In this message, we look at different styles of evangelism, reflecting on Paul’s admonition to share the gospel “by all possible means” (verse 22).
In Mark 4:1 it says, “The crowd that gathered around Jesus was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.” Jesus was a popular teacher when in Galilee. But in Mark 5, he enters into the region of the Decapolis – pagan territory. Only one man comes out to meet him – and he is a demoniac at that. But Jesus heals him and tells him, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (verse 19). Jesus wants the good news to be shared with everyone – pagans and believers alike.
The old saying goes, “You take two steps forward and one step back.” Setbacks are simply part of life. But they are not reasons to give up! In Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, the son believes his sin has cast him out of his father’s good graces…permanently. But as he learns, even the most serious setback of sin is no match for his father’s love.
Always worrying about what other people think of you can be paralyzing. It can keep you from doing the right thing and lead you to do the expedient thing so others will think well of you. It can also lead you to manage your image to impress others rather than getting honest about your failures. Success comes when you live not to please others, but God.
Hard work is great! But sometimes, working hard only wears us out and leads us to failure. In these instances, we do not need to put in more hours or apply more elbow grease. Instead, we need to find a different way to work. This is the lesson that Jethro teaches his son-in-law Moses.
Sometimes, we set ourselves up for failure. We tell ourselves we will not be able to do something. We do not give something our full effort because we are convinced that it is beyond our ability. We fulfill the prophecy we make about ourselves. This is what the Israelites do in Numbers 14. They are convinced that they will die and so they grumble. And their own words prove to be their undoing as they are judged by God.
Sometimes, we have to learn how to accept an answer that is “no.” Other times, it behooves us to ask again! Consider Abraham. He won’t take “no” for an answer…even from God! He haggles with God with the hope that God’s mercy will triumph over His judgment. And though God still destroys Sodom and Gomorrah, God proves to be delighted that Abraham won’t take “no” for answer when it comes to mercy.
If you’ve watched enough football, soccer, or basketball games, you’ve probably seen someone make a goal…for the other team. It’s a highly embarrassing mistake. After all, a player reaches the goal. It just happens to be the wrong one! Sometimes, the reason we fail is because the goals we have aren’t right. Take Samson, for instance. He had goals of revenge. But this wrongheaded goal was his undoing at the hands of the Philistines.
Simeon is ready to go meet his Maker. How did Simeon ready himself? By trusting in Christ! When Simeon saw Christ, he received his consolation. We, like Simeon, can only be readied to meet our Maker through Christ. On a Sunday when many people are readying themselves for a new year, we talk about readying ourselves for a new - and eternal - life.
According to a widely promoted story, the world, according to the ancient Mayan calendar, will end on December 21. This, of course, is out of step with Christ’s teaching, “No one knows about that day or hour [of the end], not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the first coming of the Lord. How can we best prepare for His second coming?
In light of the terrible shooting in New Haven, Connecticut, we take some time to process our grief and address some of the questions on the hearts and minds of many.
Elijah passes his mantle to Elisha. As Christians, we are called to pass the mantle of our faith to the next generation. The holidays are an especially good time to do this, as we share “the reason for the season” with our kids and others.
Even the most stalwart spiritual heroes encounter moments of despair. Elijah did when he was being chased by Jezebel, saying, “I have had enough, LORD. Take my life” (verse 4). In the midst of the holidays, some people experience a heightened sense of depression. It is important to lean on God’s presence and strength even in our darkest moments.
In times of scarcity, it can be tough to trust God! The widow at Zarephath had to learn this lesson first hand as she shared the only food she had with a prophet she didn’t even know. As we give thanks for what we have, do we trust God to provide us with all we need? And are we willing to share with others as they have need?
Many people are passive aggressive, refusing to confront head on differences with others in conviction or challenges in their relationships. God wants us to confront things – even difficult things – head on like Elijah does with the prophets of Baal.
Now that the election is over, there is a group of people who is inevitably disappointed. When our political party is victorious or defeated, how do we respond? With prayer and submission, of course! In this way, we entrust ourselves to God’s ultimate rule, believing the rulers He has put in place will ultimately accomplish His divine purpose.
When the Pharisees and Herodians come to Jesus with their question about taxes, they are trying to get him either to disrespect the powers that by answering that paying taxes are not necessary or to somehow compromise his devotion to God by living under the government. Jesus respects the government while still holding his ultimate allegiance to God’s kingdom. In a world where political discourse is often uncivil and where people put politics ahead of God, we should follow Jesus’ lead.
On Reformation Sunday, we remember the central message of our Christian faith: that we are justified not by our works, but by grace through faith. All too often, we can be tempted to make how well we steward our lives the benchmark for our self-worth. The gospel reminds us that we are precious not because our own righteousness, but because of God’s righteousness, given to us through the cross of Christ.
This parable is one of the most difficult in the Bible! After all, having a master (who stands for God) commending a dishonest manager (verse 8) raises all sorts of questions. But the interpretive key to this parable comes at the end of verse 8: “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” If we are shrewd about things like our jobs and our reputations, how much more shrewd should we be when it comes to managing our money for the sake of God’s Kingdom!
“You can’t take it with you.” Everyone has heard this cliché, but far too many of us have far too much trouble living like it’s true. Rather than storing up treasures for ourselves, we are called to leverage the treasures God has given us for the blessing of others. As Augustine commented on this parable, “He did not realize that the bellies of the poor where much safer than the storerooms of his barns.”
Many people have many questions about heaven, for we, like Paul, know that “our citizenship is in heaven” (verse 20). In this message, we answer some common questions about heaven as asked by Concordia’s members.
If heaven is as glorious as the Scriptural record paints it to be, the question naturally arises: “How do I make it into God’s heavenly kingdom?” On Jubilee Weekend, we answer this question clearly according to the Gospel: it is through faith and faith alone in Christ that we receive paradise.
Many people think of heaven as a place “out there.” And though it is true that when we die, we “depart to be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23), heaven’s ultimate resting place will be in a reconstituted creation. Heaven, then, is not finally a different place, but a different state – a state that is free from sin, death, and the devil.
The promise of heaven may be glorious, but the stark reality is, as Jesus alludes to in this parable, that not everyone will live with God in heaven. This is not by God’s dream or design, however. Jesus consistently addresses and warns against hell so that we may escape such a damnable destiny.
Most people know that there is something wrong with this world. The tragedy, death, and despair of our world makes us cry out for something better – something heavenly. The apostle Paul addresses this yearning for something better in Romans 8 and reminds us that the reason we yearn for a better life is because there is a better life!
Retirement involves more than playing golf and lounging around! When Moses led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, he was 80 and his brother Aaron was 84. Just because you retire doesn’t mean that God can’t use you to do amazing work! What work is God calling you to do for Him?
Many people take work home with them, either physically or emotionally. Some people are always on call or working on projects and are never able to stop. Other people carry the emotional weight of their work on their shoulders and are never able to relax. On Labor Day weekend, we look at the importance of balancing work and rest and note how in the Ten Commandments, a mandate to rest goes hand in hand with a mandate concerning relationships in the family.
Key to any Christian budgeting is giving. Solomon reminds us, Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). When we trust God to give back to Him what He has given us, our faith in Him to provide for all of our needs grows by leaps and bounds.
A recent feature in Psychology Today asked, “Is Your Job Killing You?” It’s no secret that some people do not like their jobs and feel like they are slowly having the life sucked out of them. How do you survive when your work gets hard? By remembering that, ultimately, even in a trying job, you can still serve God. This is what Joseph had to remember when he worked for Potiphar. His job was so bad that it landed him in jail! But God ultimately came through for Joseph and He will come through for you too.
Many people want to pray, they just don’t know how! Thankfully, Jesus gives us a great way to pray in His prayer – the Lord’s Prayer. But this prayer is not just a prayer to be recited, it’s a prayer to be followed. Praying for everything from God’s glory to forgiveness for sins to our daily needs are all appropriate topics in prayer. In this message, we tease out how this prayer can be a pattern for our praying.
The Hebrew word for “health” is shalom which describes not just our physical health, but our mental, spiritual, and emotional health as well. God wants us to be healthy in all aspects of our lives. The foundation for holistic health, however, is our spiritual health. In this message, we discuss how all these areas of health intersect with each other.
Many people struggle with feelings of worthlessness and unworthiness. They forget that they are made in God’s image. However, when we remember this fact, we can rest assured that it is in Him that we find our worth and can then develop a healthy self-image
Many people struggle with out-of-control debt. God’s call is that we steward the resources He has given us faithfully and avoid debt as much as possible. Yet, there is one debt God wants us to have: the debt to love each other. On Pastor Tucker’s 25th Ordination Anniversary, President Kieschnick shares how the continuing debt to love each other is part of the pastoral ministry and every Christian’s ministry.
As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Holding love, or grace, and truth and tension can be difficult. Sometimes, we are tempted to tell someone the truth self-righteously, lambasting them to make a point. Other times, we are tempted to avoid a tough conversation, preferring to offer them instead encouragement even when they need to be confronted in sin. When Jesus meets a woman caught in adultery in John 8, He holds grace and truth in perfect tension. He does not condemn her, but He also does not sanction her sin.
When someone wounds you deeply, to put it mildly, it is difficult to forgive. Yet, forgiveness is what we are called to by God, for God Himself is forgiving. The prophet Jonah despised this attribute of God. He says, “I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (Jonah 4:2). Yet, if we do not forgive, we are bound by those who hurt us. When we forgive, however, we are freed!
According to a study conducted by the AARP, 44 million people struggle with loneliness. This same study found 35% are chronically lonely, a 15% from ten years ago. Loneliness is epidemic. Jesus can sympathize with our loneliness. In His hour of deepest need – as He was on His way to the cross – His dear disciples were scattered. It is because of Jesus’ loneliness that He makes the promise to never leave us alone.
Many people struggle with finding time for God in Bible study and prayer. For husbands and fathers, being rooted and grounded in these things is especially important, since they are called to lead their families spiritually. On Father’s Day, we reflect on the promise that a man who is grounded in God’s Word has the strength to lead his family faithfully and well.
God is in the business of asking people to do seemingly strange things. In the book of Hosea, God asks the prophet to take a prostitute as a wife. The prophet and the prostitute – what a combination! But through this odd coupling, God teaches Israel about being faithful to Him. Will we be faithful to God, even during difficult times?
We all have regrets. Past mistakes, failings, fallings, and sins can scar our souls in significant ways. How do we move past these things and live with the chazowns that God has given us? The key is Godly sorrow, otherwise known as repentance. Rather than beating ourselves up over our past mistakes, we need to sorrowfully bring them to Christ so that he can forgive them and give us a fresh start.
During Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country. We also remember that every life will eventually end. With this in mind, it is worth it to ponder whether or not we are living with eternity in mind. For Paul, what matters most is “knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection.” For this is the key to eternal life. Does this matter the most to us too?
Now that we have discovered our spiritual gifts and have thought about our vocations, how can we move toward intentionally living out God’s purpose for our lives? This is where having a plan of action comes into play! Jesus notes that for building projects and in wars, there is always a plan of action. Do you have a plan of action for your life? You need to be ready and set to go!
There are three other major spokes in our vocational wheel. They include our health, our work, and our finances. The goal in these areas is that we would be, as Paul writes of himself, “commended in every way” (verse 4) even when things get difficult, as they certainly were in Paul’s life. We want to be found faithful.
When people get excited about something, they will often speak of “getting stoked up,” like embers in a fire. God wants us to get stoked up about the different vocations he has for us. We can look at these vocations like spokes in a wheel – we need to faithfully live out several vocations at once to make our life roll forward. For the next two weeks, we will talk about getting spoked up! That is, we will discover what spokes God has placed in the wheel of our vocations. We begin with our two primary vocations – seeking God’s kingdom and sharing God’s kingdom.
Crafting a personal purpose statement helps bring clarity to the ways in which God has gifted you to live for Him. Writing it down allows you to revisit your purpose statement time and time again and discern whether or not you are being faithful to God’s purpose for your life. When God comes to Habakkuk and asks him to write down a revelation, the Hebrew word for “revelation” in verse 3 is chazown. The chazown that God wants Habakkuk to write down has to do with righteousness before God. What chazown is God asking you to write down?
Our unique chazowns are rooted in the spiritual gifts God has given us. In order to discern our spiritual gifts, we need to ask what we love, what upsets us when it is not done or done incorrectly, what our past experiences are, and be familiar with the areas in which we have consistently been affirmed.
Far too many people drift through their lives aimlessly, not knowing what they will do next. Or, when they do make plans, they do not make them with God in mind. When you reach the last day of your life, will you be where God has designed you to be? Or, will you simply live and die without purpose?
Before we ever had a purpose in our lives, God had a purpose for our lives. And His purpose for us is expressed in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. For when Christ died and rose, our eternities were secured and our salvation was fulfilled. Do you believe in Christ’s purpose for you?
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. 5 Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD— 6 the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. 7 But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully.” 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. 9 Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.
All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.” 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
As Christians, how do we live in a world filled with so much depravity? How do we work with those who share radically different worldviews from us? Paul argues that, without compromising our core convictions, we can gladly enter into the lives of unbelievers, seeking by any moral means possible to bring to them the message of the gospel.
When conducting the Facebook survey that served as the basis of this series, one person commented, “I need a 25 hour day.” This was the one thing she wanted more than anything else for 2012. We have so many things to do and we never seem to have enough time to do them. The apostle Paul realizes that “time is short” (verse 29). And we will not get any more hours than what have been appointed for us. What we need, then, is not more time, but to use the time God has given us to His glory.
“It seems like everyone I know is getting cancer.” A dear lady said this to me a year ago after her husband was diagnosed with cancer. She prayed for healing. It did not come. Why is it that Jesus heals so many people in the Bible, but so many of our prayers for healing go unanswered? How do we trust Christ even when our prayers for healing aren’t answered as we might like them to be?
“Children are a gift from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3 NLT). Yet, with children also comes heavy responsibility. The call of Scripture is clear: We are to raise our children in the faith and, when they stray, we are to exercise patience and seek gentle restoration.
Many people struggle with long-lasting and lingering temptations. Whether we are tempted by alcohol, food, anger, resentment, or sexual indiscretion, we all face some type of temptation. Jesus models how to overcome temptation: through Scripture, the power of God, and consolation from others.
“What does God want me to do?” “Where does God want me to go?” “What does God want me to be?” These big questions about life’s direction do not have easy answers. What’s more, when we approach God in prayer about large life decisions, heaven can sometimes seem strangely silent. Yet, even when we don’t know what to do, we are given this admonition: “When we do not know what to do, we are to fix our eyes upon You”
He only looked like a child. But to Herod, he was so much more. He was a threat to his title as “King of the Jews.” Herod desires to kill this child, but his plot is foiled. Some wise men from the east desire to worship this child, and they are blessed. Jesus is King! Will we respond with rebellion like Herod or worship like the wise men when we meet Him face to face?
He only looked like a child. But to Simeon, he was so much more. He was the consolation Israel was waiting for. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Him that a baby named Jesus was God’s promised Messiah. When He sees Jesus face to face, then, he sings, “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace” (Luke 2:29). Simeon sees Jesus and now knows that he can die in peace. For through the Messiah, he has the assurance of seeing Jesus again face to face in eternity. Do you have the assurance of seeing Jesus face to face in eternity?
The XBOX Kinect is a video game system you play by simply moving your body. It interacts with your movements and your voice so that you can become fully immersed in the game. No joysticks or buttons needed! It takes you into a different reality. On Christmas Day, we marvel at how Jesus willingly came into a different reality. He left heaven to come to this earth. But His different reality was not an entertaining one, it was a humble and dark one. As John says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (verse 14). The promise of the gospel is that Jesus joins us in our reality so that we can join Him in His.
The Nerf N-Strike Stampede ECS is the first fully automatic Nerf dart gun, complete with one six dart clip and three extended clips which hold 18 darts each. It has a lot of firepower and is every boy’s (and man’s) dream! When Christ came to this earth, He came in the most meager of ways. Born in a stable, He seemed to be nothing special – or powerful. But Jesus, as God incarnate, had incredible firepower. By His death and resurrection, He conquered sin, death, and the devil. What sin, fear, or difficulty do we need conquered? The baby in the manger can help!
Lego Board Games are games you build yourself! And as you build them, you also try to beat your opponents. In Matthew 2, we are introduced to Herod the Great. Herod was known as quite a builder. He was the one who expanded the temple in Jerusalem to an untold splendor. He was the one who built fortresses such as the Herodium and even built a whole new city – the Caesarea Maritima. But Herod was also paranoid that someone would seek to take his power and prestige. So when some Magi from the east come inquiring about “a King of the Jews,” Herod becomes immediately jealous, believing that someone is trying to steal his throne. Sadly, during Christmas, our penchant for jealousy often comes out as we compare ourselves to those who more than us. Are we satisfied with what we do – and do not – have?
Pillow pets are exactly what their name implies – they are pets, but they are also pillows. By simply unfolding it, your child can turn his stuffed animal into a pillow on which to sleep. Around the holidays, a pillow pet sounds nice, doesn’t it? After all, this season is so busy and tiring. Who couldn’t use a nap? In Isaiah 8, the prophet speaks of a dark, tiring, and stressful time. He foretells a coming Assyrian invasion. But then, in chapter 9, Isaiah breaks out in a chorus of hope: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light” (verse 2). He further promises a coming Messiah who, among other things, will be the “Prince of Peace” (verse 6). Jesus, even when we are stressed and in need of rest, stills our souls with His peace.
They won “The Toy of the Year” for 2011. Sing-A-Ma-Jigs can talk, sing, and harmonize with each other! If you collect the whole family, they will always sing in perfect harmony. If only our families were as harmonious. But the truth is, our families are often filled with stress and strife, especially around the holidays. During the first Christmas, Joseph encountered a major family problem – his fiancé Mary turned up pregnant and he knew he was not the father! Yet, because of Joseph’s trust in God, he stayed with Mary and saw their marriage through. Do we trust in God to see us through difficult times and reconcile our broken relationships?
Aretha Franklin sang, “You better think, think about what you’re trying to do to me!” In Philippians 4, Paul is exhorting us, “You better think!” But what Paul calls us to think about is not the pain of our relationships and lives, as in Aretha Franklin’s song, but about that which is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. What we think about shapes the outlook we have on life. What do you think about?
The Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ron Suskind has just published a book titled Confidence Men, detailing the Obama administration’s confidence – and confusion – as they seek to handle some of our day’s biggest issues. If there was a “confidence man” in the first century, it was Paul. In his former life as a Pharisee, he was confident in his own ability, morality, and spirituality. But now he has shifted his confidence to Christ. Where is your confidence?
The phrase “cop an attitude” usually carries with it a negative connotation. But in Philippians 2, Paul calls us to cop the same attitude as Christ! We are to imitate His humility, His servant-spirit, and His obedience. For when we cop Christ’s attitude, we are pointing others toward Christ Himself so that the knees and the tongues of others can bow can confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
In a dispute, a plaintiff will sometimes try to sue a defendant for “pain and suffering.” In these instances, the plaintiff is seeking to recoup some sort of reimbursement for the anguish the defendant has allegedly caused him. Paul opens his letter with an honest admission of his situation: he is in great pain and suffering. He is “in chains for Christ” (verse 13). Yet, rather than suing, Paul rejoices, for he know that what has happened to him “has really served to advance the gospel” (verse 12). Do we see circumstances that cause us pain and suffering as opportunities to advance Christ’s gospel? What are some ways we can better learn to see the gospel even in our most difficult moments?
Though our national debt is big, it is not nearly as big as the debt of our sin, for the debt of our sin is incalculable. When Jesus encounters a sinful woman who anoints His feet with perfume, He knows that she loves Him much because she has been forgiven by God for a debt of sin that baffles her. On Reformation Day, we celebrate God’s extravagant love – a love so great that it would cover our sins. We respond by loving and serving our Lord for His marvelous gift
Prudential built its reputation on providing their clients with steady financial returns on their investments. That’s why their logo is a rock. It indicates steadiness and sureness. Stewardship, likewise, begins with a rock-solid promise: “I the LORD do not change” (verse 6). This means if God has been generous to us in our past, we can count on Him to be generous to us in our future! How have you seen God’s generosity in your past? Do you steward your money generously as a sign of faith that you trust His generosity for your future?
The enticement to lust is everywhere in our culture. What we see on TV, the internet, in video games, and in many other places can tempt us to lust after someone who is not ours. Paul’s pronouncement on lust is unequivocal: We ought to flee it (verse 18)! Why? Because we are temples of God’s Spirit. Thus, we live our lives with zeal for him rather than a lust for sin, as Paul says in Romans 12:11: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Idleness is inexcusable! Because we were created to work, we will find work to do one way or another. But the work born out of idleness is sinful work, like being a busybody. Thus, it is important that we are intentional and faithful in the work we do so that we glorify God in our work.
When facing injustice, a person can respond in one of two ways: anger or rejoicing. The apostles could have responded with anger at the Sadducees because the Sadducees were unfairly persecuting them. Instead, they were “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy suffering disgrace for the Name” (verse 41). How do we respond to adversity?
Our world is full of lies. The most dangerous lies are those told about God. This is why John encourages the children of the true God to stay way from idols (cf. verse 21) and remain in him who is true (cf. verse 20). In this message, we will discuss how to stand up for purity and truth in a world full of wickedness and lies.
In Ephesians 4 and 5, Paul outlines four sins that cause us to FAIL: Falsehood, Anger, Idleness, and Lust. What is the solution to overcoming such enticing sins? Should we strive harder? No! Paul says we should “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (verse 24). We should put on Christ. For when we do, we receive the PRIZE he has for us: Rather than lies, we receive God’s Purity; rather than anger, we live with Rejoicing; rather than sitting around idle, we live with Intentionality; rather than lusting after others, we live with Zeal toward God, and, finally, Christ ushers us into Eternity. Over the next five weeks, we will unpack each of these items and discover how Christ’s power overcomes our sinfulness with his righteousness!
Next Sunday is Grandparents’ Day. One week early, as we wrap up our series on Proverbs, we take a look at how age and wisdom often go hand in hand. In a culture obsessed with youth, the Biblical writers find great value in age. Age develops patience, knowledge, trust, and wisdom!
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
While Paul was in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
James warns, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:6). How we speak about others and God counts. Our words can hurt more than many of us realize or understand. How do you use your tongue? To curse men or to praise God (cf. James 3:9)?
We were created to be in relationship with one another. Friendships, therefore, are important. Friendships, however, involve more than just good times and goofing off. They also involve honesty and transparency. Do you have friends with whom you can be honest and who are honest with you, even when the truth hurts?
The simple message of Proverbs concerning riches is this: riches are not to be trusted. Money is good for many things. It can be saved (21:20) and it can be shared (11:24). Either way, it does not provide the security we desire. Only God can provide that.
Studies show that the average person wastes approximately two hours per day at work socializing, surfing the internet, and running personal errands. During the summer months, we are keenly aware that rest is good! Laziness, however, is not. Do we work hard, knowing that our efforts form our character and serve the needs of others?
Wisdom does not begin with what a person knows, but with who a person knows. To fear the Lord and to trust his Word is to have wisdom. Notice that Solomon says that it is the “beginning of knowledge” (verse 7). Hence, wisdom is a journey. We have only begun to become wise. There is always room for growth. This series is devoted to helping us grow in wisdom.
An old cliché, finding its origin in the fifteenth century in the sermons of a clergyman named John Mirk, says, “Children should be seen and not heard.” Mirk originally applied this only to female children. Jesus, however, has a much different take on all children: He delights to welcome them, listen to them, and bless them! In this message, we’ll discuss the value of children, modern attitudes toward children, and offer comfort to those who desire children, but cannot have any.
Adam was not meant to be alone. He needed a “helper” (verse 18). The title “helper” is not meant to be derogatory toward Eve, relegating her to Adam’s slave, as this same moniker is used of God Himself: “The LORD is with me; He is my helper” (Psalm 118:7). This title is instead meant to describe the special gifting a wife has as her husband’s helpmate, helping him as God helps His people. In this message, we discuss the woman’s role as a helpmate and talk about the temptation that women face to nag their husbands bitterly rather than to support them joyfully.
Esther was a strong woman. As the favorite female of the king, she could have lived out her days in ease and luxury. Instead, she chose to work fiercely and fearlessly to save her people, the Jews. And God, though He is never explicitly named in this book, is there the whole time, giving Ester the strength she needs for the daunting tasks in front of her. On Mother’s Day, we give thanks for the moms who work fiercely and fearlessly, knowing that they, like Esther, need God’s strength.
What a strange way to begin a series on how God views the family! Jesus here talks about dividing the family and causing feuds, not uniting the family and fostering love. And yet, here we find a fundamental truth concerning the family: unless our families are rooted and founded in following Christ, they will ultimately fail. Christ comes first. He is the one who blesses and keeps our families. Our families must rally around Him and be united by Him.
Although the idiom "Hold your horses" is most commonly meant to encourage someone to slow down, it used to take on a more literal sense. In the days of horse drawn carriages, people would use this expression if a horse became unruly. It was an admonition to keep a horse in check. When Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he enters on a colt "which no one has ever ridden" (verse 2). Unbroken colts were known to be difficult and unruly to ride because they were not used to carrying burdens. Unbroken animals were also known to be set aside for holy purposes (e.g., Numbers 19:2). Jesus, then, as the Holy One of Israel rides in on an animal set aside for God's holy purpose. The donkey has been held just for Him. Do you trust in Jesus as your Holy One?
As we approach Holy Week, we look at a parable Jesus told concerning His impending death. The religious leaders are plotting to kill Jesus even though He is the very Son of God. Yet, Jesus’ death does not mean His end. He is rejected by men, but chosen by God as the unshakable cornerstone on which we can base our lives.
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” This axiom reminds us that sometimes, we must push, prod, and cajole to get what we want or need. In Jesus’ Parable of the Unjust Judge, the woman must do just this simply to get justice. Jesus’ point, however, is that our Father is a just judge who will bring us justice according to His righteousness. No cajoling is needed.
When a company is going out of business, they will often have an “Everything Must Go” sale where they seek to liquidate their merchandise. Jesus calls upon us to liquidate the merchandise of this world in order to obtain the true treasure of God’s Kingdom.
Scripture tells us that there is a chasm between us and God, created by sin. God Himself bridges this gap by sending His Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sin. The punishment of hell is reserved for those who do not want God to stand in the gap between them and Him. This is why Abraham reminds Lazarus, in hell, “A great chasm has been fixed” (verse 26). The call in this life is to trust in Christ who bridges the gap between us and the Father so that gap does not become fixed eternally. In this message, we will address the doctrine of hell, as well as some of the issues raised by Rob Bell’s new book, “Love Wins.”
giving it time to bear fruit. So it is with us: Our Lord bears with us in our sin, giving us time to repent and bear the fruit of His Spirit. We are to reflect God’s willingness to bear with us as we “bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another” (Colossians 3:13).
It’s not just Elizabeth Bennet who suffers from pride and prejudice in the Jane Austen novel, it’s a tax collector who suffers pride and prejudice in the Bible. The Pharisee is both prideful of himself and prejudiced against the tax collector. And yet, God is not prejudiced against this taxman because of his sin. Instead, God sees his humble faith and gladly forgives him.
When GM and Chrysler were teetering on the precipice of collapse, many touted these companies as “too big to fail,” noting the effects that these business’ bankruptcies would have on the national economy. As big as these companies might be, they are nothing compared to the Kingdom of God. Though it appears small, God’s Kingdom is massive. And it is so big that not only can it cannot fail, it will not fail!
The lawyer of Luke 10 asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor” (verse 29)? According to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, your neighbor is not merely one who is closest to you, be that in physical proximity or relational affinity; rather your neighbor is a person who you may despise or who may despise you. Nevertheless, you are called to help them in Jesus’ name.
Jesus has come to make things new – even us! Thus, trying to hold on to our old, sinful natures while being renewed and redeemed by Jesus simply will not work. Because of Christ’s new work and Kingdom, we are called to celebrate our newness in Him.
Parables are generally titled, “The Parable of…” For example, we find in the Gospels “The Parable of the Talents” and “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Though this parable is generally titled “The Parable of the Sower,” it could also be titled, “The Parable of the Parables,” for, in this story, Jesus explains the purpose of His parables and how people either believe or reject them. In this opening message, we introduce the parables and explain their purpose and meaning for our lives.
Following the Fall, God renders a harsh judgment on Adam: "Dust you are and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). This is meant to remind Adam - and everyone - that we are made from dust and, upon our deaths, we will return to dust. Yet, even though we are made from humble dust, the Psalmist exclaims that we are highly exalted! He sings, "You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned with glory and honor" (verse 5). How is it that we, made from humble dust, can be celebrated as the crown of God's creation? The preacher of Hebrews finally applies this Psalm to Jesus (cf. Hebrews 2:5-9). It is Christ who exalts us and restores our value by His cross. God, rather than dusting us away in death like we do with the dust on our furniture, blesses us, keeps us, saves us, and will raise us on the Last Day.
The Bible cannot be “inspiring,” without first being “inspired.” Because the Scriptures are “inspired,” they inspire us with their wisdom, insight, and understanding about our lives. Thus, we hide God’s Word in our hearts and study it daily. In this message, we’ll cover tips for studying the Scriptures and also survey different Bible translations and their strengths and weaknesses.
As orthodox Christians, we believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture. “Verbal” means that the very words of the Bible are inspired. “Plenary” means all the words of the Bible are inspired. Because of this, we can trust what the Bible has to say because its author is God. This is why it is profitable for doctrine and life. In this message, we’ll talk about the doctrine of inspiration and address some of the objections to it.
In verse 30, Jesus quotes what is known as the Shema, a Hebrew word meaning, “hear.” The Shema is taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which was popularly considered to be God’s greatest commandment, as Jesus affirms in Mark 12. Interestingly, when quoting the Shema, He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Loving God with your mind, however, was not a part of the original Shema! Jesus adds this! He adds this because He knows that being mentally fit is important to a healthy life. Thus, we are called to study the Scriptures, for by sharpening our minds, we also sharpen our faith.
Some people, when speaking of a person they love romantically, will refer to them as their “soul-mate.” Though this term often carries with it connotations that are not concomitant with a biblical theology of romantic love, this term can be helpful in identifying the fact that romantic love is deeper than just physical affection. For we, at the very level of our souls, were created to be relational beings! Thus, appropriately ordering our relationships according to God’s design is paramount for healthy living.
Jesus says that our hearts follow our treasure (cf. verse 21). Thus, if our treasure is money, our heart will be attached to cash. Time and time again, Jesus warns against loving money, for the love of money can wreck our souls (cf. Mark 8:36). We are to steward our money, not love it. This is the path to good financial health.
When we worship, the apostle Paul says, we worship by offering our bodies (cf. verse 1). Unfortunately, far too many people do not treat their bodies as things with which they are to worship God. They engage in gluttony or chemical abuse and thus destroy their bodies with wickedness rather than worshipping with their bodies in righteousness. Paul’s call is for us to worship God with our bodies and be the Body of Christ.
God has created your body and loves it and even promises to raise it on the Last Day. Sadly, there is a battle for your body. For whereas God loves your body as His creation, Satan hates it and wants to destroy it. He uses things such as obesity, chemical dependency, and even terrible illness to wreak havoc in your body. This is part of the reason Jesus speaks of demon possession so often. Jesus wants to have control of your body by faith so that Satan cannot come in and destroy it.
It’s crunch time! Christmas is only five days away and, my guess is, you do not have everything done that needs to be done for the holiday. During these final, stressful days, we remember that even when stress abounds, the peace of God surpasses our stress. Whether your stress is rooted in a “to-do list” or a painful memory or a family quarrel, God’s peace is there for you!
1 Peter 1:13-25 The joys of Christmas can be fleeting. A day for which we spend months preparing comes and goes in a matter of hours. Not long after gifts are unwrapped and the tree is taken down, life returns to normal. It is at these times that we can take comfort in the fact that even though holiday cheer does not last, our Father does. His word and ways will continue, even when the things of this world do not.
Matthew 1:18-25 In Matthew 1, our Lord is given two names: “Jesus,” to describe His function of saving us from our sins and “Immanuel” to describe His identity as God. Thus, Jesus is our “Mighty God.” He is “mighty to save” as well as God come to earth to dwell with us in our trials and pain.
John 14:15-21 Shortly before He is crucified, Jesus promises His disciples “another Counselor.” The word “another” connotes that there is also a first Counselor, who is Jesus. The Holy Spirit, then, is Counselor 2.0. In the midst of the stress of the holidays, we need all the wise counsel we can get – to navigate stressful schedules and unhealthy family situations. Do we rely on the great counsel of our God?
Hebrews 11 recounts the lives of faithful saints who have gone before us. In Hebrews 12, the preacher reminds us that “we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses” (verse 1). We, as God’s saved children, are his saints. Doctrinal Topics: Sinner and Sainthood, Life Everlasting Apologetic Concerns: Praying to the Saints
Doctrinal Topics: The Holy Spirit, Sanctification Apologetic Concerns: The Charismatic Movement, Relationship between Justification and Sanctification Following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, he promised to send “the Spirit of truth to guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). God’s Holy Spirit indwells every Christian. Contrary to the “acts” that we do in our sinful nature (cf. verse 19), the Spirit produces good “fruit” (cf. verse 22) as he sanctifies believers in the truth.
Doctrinal Topics: Eschatology, Judgment Apologetic Concerns: Dispensational Premillenialism, Postmillenialism Whereas Christ came as a gentle baby in a manger upon his first advent, he will come as a conquering King at time’s end. Jesus explains that there will be distress in the last days as well as false prophets and false teachers. Our call, then, is to stand firm in the faith as we await his return and final judgment.
Doctrinal Topics: Scripture, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Unity Apologetic Concerns: Why Bother With Church? The Lutheran Confessions teach: “The Church is the congregation of saints in which the Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered. For the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree about the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments” (AC VII 1-2). This is the Church: Word and Sacrament. And this is the source of the Church’s unity. On Reformation Day, we remember how Luther called the Church back to the core of its being.
As the old saying goes, “You can’t take it with you.” The rich fool in Jesus’ parable had to learn this the hard way. He took many treasures into his barns, but he could not take them with him into eternity. This is why Jesus encourages us to take the right treasures – the very treasures of God. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
A drought has swept across the land. Elijah is commanded by God to go and stay with a widow at Zarephath. Upon arriving at her house, Elijah requests a piece of bread to eat. But the woman has only enough oil and flour to make bread for she and her son. But Elijah encourages her: “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me” (1 Kings 17:13). Elijah continues by assuring this woman that God will provide, but only after she shares her last bit of food with Elijah. She must trust in God’s providence. As we give, do we trust that God will also give to us so that our needs may be met?
Doctrinal Topics: Resurrection, Descent into Hell Apologetic Concerns: Arguments Against the Resurrection Jesus’ resurrection conquers death. Indeed, the Creed and Scripture teach that Jesus descended into hell to declare his victory over sin, death, and the devil (1 Peter 3:18-22). Unlike Peter, we do not have to wonder to ourselves what happened. Christ has risen! And the promise is that we too will rise.
Doctrinal Topics: Atonement / Propitiation, Love Apologetic Concerns: Divine Child Abuse, The Scandal of the Cross God killed his Son on a cross to satisfy his wrath, invoked by our sinfulness. Some are offended by this teaching, equating it to “divine child abuse.” But John teaches that God’s action of killing his Son was not motivated by anger at Jesus, but by love for us. Jesus’ willingness to take on his Father’s wrath at sin means that we receive the Father’s grace.
Doctrinal Topics: Incarnation, Two Natures in Christ Apologetic Concerns: Christ’s Divinity, the Virgin Birth Beginning with Adam and Eve’s “original sin,” it was always God’s intention to send a Savior. But God’s Savior is no hired hand. God’s Savior is God himself. The doctrine of the incarnation teaches that God comes into history in the person and work of Jesus.
Doctrinal Topics: Creation, God’s Word, Fall Apologetic Concerns: Evolution God’s Word is powerful and effective. With only his command, he brings everything that is into existence. And what he creates, he declares to be “good.” But sin mars creation’s goodness and paves the need for a Savior to redeem the fallen creation.
Doctrinal Topics: Trinity, Idolatry Apologetic Concerns: Pluralism God is incomparable. This is the prophet Isaiah’s argument. As we open this series, we consider the ways in which God is incomparable and how, as the incomparable God, he is worthy of our worship, praise, and faith.
Stained by Death 1 Thess. 4:13-18 Under the influence of false and nefarious teachers, the Thessalonians had begun to believe that death marked the ends of their existences. Paul refutes such a notion and promises that we will rise from death on the Last Day. The resurrection of Christ is proof of this (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20).
Stained by Sin Romans 3:21-28 Paul’s verdict on humanity’s sin is harsh: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:11). It is only through Christ’s blood that the stain of our sins can be washed clean. In response to this, we are to live humble lives (cf. verse 27), knowing that our righteousness is a pure gift of God.
Stained by Anxiety Mark 14:32-41 It’s called hematidrosis. Dr. Frederick Zugibe, the Chief Medical Examiner of Rockland County, New York, explains the disease: “Around the sweat glands, there are multiple blood vessels in a net-like form. Under the pressure of great stress the vessels constrict. Then as the anxiety passes the blood vessels dilate to the point of rupture. The blood goes into the sweat glands. As the sweat glands are producing a lot of sweat, it pushes the blood to the surface – coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.” This seems to be what Jesus experiences in the Garden of Gethsemane, so great was His anxiety. Jesus understands our anxiety, and He also promises to care for us in the midst of our anxiety. As He reminds us, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:30, 33).
Stained by Betrayal Mark 14:17-26 The tension in Mark’s gospel is intense as Jesus prepares to go the cross. Before He gives His life, Jesus celebrates with His disciples one last supper. But even this affair is marked by darkness. For one of His own will betray Him unto death. The Greek word for “betray” is paradidomi, meaning “to hand over.” Interestingly, this is the same word used by Paul to describe the Lord’s Supper: “For what I received from the Lord, I also passed on (paradidomi) to you” (1 Corinthians 11:23). Jesus “hands over” His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sin even as we hand Him over to the cross because of our sin.
Stained by Ill-Preparedness Matthew 25:1-13 It is not a doctrinal topic we often think about, but we should. The Second Coming of Christ should be central to how we live our lives every day. Indeed, the primary command associated with the Last Day is to “keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (verse 13). We are to be prepared! Do we joyfully prepare for our Lord’s coming?
Stained by Fear Matthew 8:23-27 Fear is the antithesis of faith. When Jesus’ disciples are fear-struck at the sight of a terrible storm, Jesus asks them, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid” (verse 26)? Jesus asks us the same question. He also invites us to believe that His “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18).
Stained by Hunger Mark 6:30-44 In our cultural context, it can be hard to understand true hunger. Yet, over 1.02 billion people suffer from chronic hunger in our world. To a hungry culture, Jesus provided food. But He provided not just the food for their stomachs, but bread for their souls. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry” (John 6:35). Do we care for the hungry, as did Jesus, while also feasting on the spiritual food of Christ?
Stained by Battle Hebrews 4:1-13 On our nation’s Independence Day, we remember how we entered the rest of freedom even as the Israelites entered the rest of God’s Promised Land. We are also warned not to harden our hearts, but to allow our consciences to be pricked by the sword of God’s Spirit – His holy Word.
Stained by Inadequacy Luke 5:4-11 Peter was a professional fisherman. But even a professional has an off day from time to time. He has been fishing all night and hasn’t caught a thing. Jesus tells Peter to put his nets down on the other side of his boat. When he does, and when he catches a miraculous number of fish, Peter responds with deep a sense of anxious inadequacy: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (verse 8)! Do you every feel inadequate? Addictions, guilt, and even other people can all make us feel inadequate. Praise be to God that Christ makes us not only adequate, but abundant!
Stained by Need John 2:1-11 Jesus’ mother has a need: the wine at a wedding feast has run dry. So, she goes to her son and asks for help. Even when He does not respond favorably – “Dear woman, why do you involve me” (verse 4)? – Mary responds with faith. She tells her servants, “Do whatever He tells you” (verse 5). Do we trust in God to meet all our needs and, indeed, meet them in a way that is “more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20)?
Stained by Misunderstanding Luke 2:41-52 Joseph and Mary were confused. Jesus had slipped away from their care so that He could teach in the temple courts. Even after He explains that He had to be in His Father’s house, “they still did not understand what He was saying to them” (verse 50). What parts of Christianity confuse you? We are to trust that, by God’s Spirit, that which is mysterious can be made clear, for we have been promised insight by “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Stained by Ridicule Acts 2:1-13 Being ridiculed for your faith is as old as the faith itself. Indeed, even on the Church’s very birthday – on Pentecost – the disciples are ridiculed as they speak in tongues. “They have had too much wine,” their antagonists say (verse 13). How do you respond in the face of ridicule? Jesus promises, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
Memorial Day Weekend: Fully Armed! (Chaplain Connie Walker) - Ephesians 6:10-18 There have been many long-standing feuds: Irish Catholics and Protestants, the Montagues and Capulets. But none of these are as long-standing as the feud against God and Satan. Blessedly, we already know the outcome of this battle, however. Our Lord wins! And yet, even though the outcome of the battle is certain, God calls us to be His soldiers, fighting with the weapons He gives us. This weekend, we are reminded of these weapons which can take down Satan and save souls.
Hope When…You’re Trapped by Addiction - Exodus 32:1-6, 19, 21-24, 30 At the root of all addiction is idolatry. Satan tempts us to take a good gift of God such as food or drink or sex and turn it into a god-thing and that’s a bad thing. As we review Israel’s idolatry in the wilderness, we see addictive behaviors such as drunkenness (cf. verse 6), situated in a context of rank idolatry. Yet, even in such a sinful context, Moses holds out the hope of atonement, for there is rescue from addiction!
Hope When…You’re Depressed Ruth 1:1-5, 8a, 16 Naomi is a depressed woman. Throughout the book of Ruth, she blames God for her heartache and hardship. She says, “The hand of the LORD has gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13). And yet, the hand of the LORD is not against Naomi. For through the faithfulness of her daughter-in-law, Ruth, God works to restore the fortunes of Naomi. God can restore us out of depression and despair as well! On Mother’s Day, we also remember how we are called to honor our mothers even as Ruth honors Naomi.
Hope When…Your Children Rebel 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Eli has wicked and rebellious sons. The disobey God’s commands and even abuse women. When Eli tries to talk to them, his efforts prove feeble and futile. His sons do not listen to him. However, there is another young man in this story named Samuel who will eventually become the greatest prophet in all Israel. Eli may have lost his biological sons but he finds a son from God in Samuel. We too have a Son from God in Jesus. When our children rebel, we can give thanks that God’s Son never rebelled, but fulfilled the will of His Father perfectly. And His perfection covers over our children’s rebellion and over our rebellion as well.
Hope When…You’re Estranged 1 Samuel 18:9-14, 21, 31-33 David and his son Absalom are not on good terms. Indeed, one time David says of Absalom, “He must not see my face” (2 Samuel 14:24). This estrangement continues until finally, Absalom is killed in battle. It is only then that David realizes how futile his estrangement from his son has been. When sin estranged us from God, He did not allow that estrangement to remain. Rather, He sent Jesus and deal with us a loving father deals with his son – firmly, but compassionately.
Hope When…You’re Stretched Too Thin Exodus 18:13-18, 21-23 Have you ever felt overwhelmed? Moses knows how you feel! He took on too much. Blessedly, his father-in-law encouraged him to delegate his tasks. One of the great spiritual dangers of our world is the danger of having too much to do and not enough time for what – and who – matters most. Do you delegate what you need to delegate so that you have time for your family and for God?
Hope When…You’re Caught In Blame Genesis 3:1-13 “My wife tricked me!” At least, that’s Adam’s excuse when God questions Adam as to why he broke God’s command. Adam blames his wife for his sin. He tries to pass the buck. How often do we try to blame others for our faults and pass the buck of our foibles to others? The blame game destroys relationships and families. Thankfully, we have someone who took the blame our sins deserved and died the death we should have died – Jesus Christ. Rather than playing the blame game, Christ removes our blame of sin.
Hope When…It All Falls Apart Luke 24:1-6a When the women go to the tomb on the first Easter, they must have felt as if their whole world had crumbled out from underneath them. The Man they had worshipped, followed, and put their trust in was now dead…or so they thought. But on Easter, when they arrive at the tomb, they find hope in what they don’t find. They don’t find Jesus – because He has risen! As we begin this series, we will discover how the risen Christ can offer hope to us – and to our families – just He offered hope to these women on that first Easter morning.