Risen Church NC: Recent Episodes
Risen Church NC
Subscribe and listen for encouraging, convicting, and inspiring messages from God's Word with the goal of leading you in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, so you can live a life for the Glory of your Creator!
. Ultimately, our relationship with Jesus will always be a reflection of time spent in God's Word.
In this message from Mark 14 we discuss:- How the religious leaders, Judas, and Mary all reflect the possible responses to Jesus. What does Jesus mean to us?- Every participant in this story has a free will, but Jesus was the Divine Director of all of these events. Everything was working according to God's definite plan. - Jesus was faithful amidst all the noise, ready to lay His life down for the world. His posture and poise through it all should move us to respond with devotion and sacrifice.
The early church was motivated by a brand of faith that will always inspire and challenge readers. However, this faith is not stuck in the past, but is very much still available to believers today. The Holy Spirit radically changed their lives, showing them their higher purpose and making them bold. In this message, we see this ambition take them to an even greater level, as they once again stand before the authorities. Listen as we hear them articulate their sense of ought, as we consider how we must take on this same kind of dedication.
Psalm 139 invites us to rest in the unchanging attributes of our good and loving God. Listen as we consider the access we have to God by faith and how this offers us grace and peace amidst our uncertain, challenging circumstances.
The boldest faith creates the brightest witness. In this message, we look at the boldness of the early church, from their testimony before the courts to their generosity towards others. We notice the undeniable correlation between boldness and brightness. Listen as we consider what drove the early church to take such bold steps and what might be preventing our own obedience.
Few people have enjoyed the blessings and security that King David knew in his generation. Aside from the material possessions, he knew the heart of God like none before Him. Even still, one day he was overcome with an existential conviction--His life was not centered around God. He could have easily gotten lost in his many gifts from God, but he could not shake the notion that his life was still unbalanced. He knew he needed to make more room for God. So often in life, we reduce God down to a category and a provider of necessities. We file our faith away as a policy or a tool. All the while, we miss out on what God truly desires to give us and what only comes by way of walking with God in a personal relationship. In this message, we learn of the joy that is found in knowing and walking with God. If God is the greatest source of good in the universe, then it stands to reason that the greatest measure of joy is found in Him. We spend our days pursuing happiness and satisfaction, but we are mostly looking for it in the wrong places. David reminds us that pure, lasting joy is found in a desire and passion for God. The question is: Will we make room for Him?
Psalm 121 reminds us to worship when it's the last thing we feel like doing. So many times we associate worship with feelings, but worship is about overcoming, overpowering your feelings with something much greater: Faith. Listen as we discuss how worship can transform our lives by opening our hearts to receive God's peace and power.
The early church displayed a brand of fearlessness that could only be explained through supernatural cause. They had witnessed the most supernatural event possible--The Resurrection of Jesus. After seeing Him alive and sitting under His teaching, they were compelled to continue His movement with confidence and courage. Jesus warned them of the risk and cost, and yet they were unfazed and determined. In this message, we see how committed and convinced they were in the face of the same threatening authorities which sentenced Jesus before them. Jesus taught His followers to see opposition as an opportunity to maximize their witness, which is on full display in Acts 4. Listen as we observe Peter and John before the courts and be inspired by their incredible faith. Acts 4 confronts us with a reality that many believe is contrary to God's Will for our modern church. Yet, this is consistent with what the New Testament teaches should be the expectation for Christians. How can we follow suit in fearlessness and boldness? Listen and discover that the same Spirit who moved through the Apostles can transform our outlooks and attitudes.
The book of Acts is more than a collection of incredible miracles—it’s a record of how God established and authenticated His Church while also providing timeless principles for every believer. In this message, we look into the important distinction between the extraordinary signs God used to validate the apostles and the enduring patterns the Church is called to follow. When we recognize this, Acts becomes the greatest defense of the Church as God’s choice vehicle in our world today. It also helps us to understand what principles are meant to be adopted and practiced by all believers. Focusing on Acts 3, we discover that the healing of the lame man was never meant to draw attention to given person's 'ability' to perform miracles, but was always about exalting Jesus. The miracle opened the door for the gospel, reminding us that every act of compassion, every opportunity to serve, and every testimony should ultimately point people to Christ. While miracles may capture our attention, the greatest miracle is still the transforming power of Jesus, who refreshes hearts today and promises complete restoration for all who trust in Him.
In this message, we learn that one of the most valuable things we can ever have in our possession is ANSWERED PRAYER. For God to hear our cry and entrust us with His amazing grace is truly beyond us. Hezekiah saw God intervene in his life more than once, responding to his prayers for mercy. One of the most striking verses in all the Bible tells us that he failed to recognize the priceless gift and did not honor God with his life in the aftermath. Perhaps the greatest consequence of his pride and arrogance came in the impact it had on his son, Manasseh. The text tells us that Hezekiah and Manasseh's leadership ultimately sent Israel down a path of no return. Listen as we discuss the grace behind every answered prayer and set our hearts to properly respond to the favor God shows us.
One of the most important themes of Acts is how the Gospel creates a transformed, Christ-centered community. In this message, we break down the different facets of the Church Community and how they all are essential characteristics in making Christ known.
In this message, we discuss how our fears can be exchanged for faith and boldness, even if trouble and uncertainties linger. If we are willing to suspend our doubts and turn up Heaven's volume, we can find the supernatural strength to endure and overcome even the greatest of odds.
A reflection on 250 years of American history, how the Scriptures inspired our founders, and how they might continue to guide us into accountability, unity, and compassion.
In this message, we learn how a humble approach and a pure desire for God is key to receiving true, spiritual blessings.
In this message, we hear King David's final, public prayer in which he calls Solomon and the rest of Israel to consecrate themselves to God. Through sacrifice and prayer, we can position ourselves to become the person God desires us to be, with a pure, devoted heart. Listen as we marvel at David's example of sacrifice and seek to follow his posture of prayer.
2 Chronicles were written to inspire a new generation of Israelites to not repeat the mistakes of their ancestors and teach them the power of prayer. From the earliest days of humanity, dating back to Adam's grandson, Enosh, prayer was key to helping people overcome their sinful nature and draw close to God. 1 Chronicles 4 spotlights a forgotten hero of ancient Israel, named Jabez, who was cursed from his youth and considered to be destined for failure. Through prayer, Jabez saw that curse broken and reminds us that we too can be redeemed.
What does it look like to put God at the center of our lives? And why is it so critical that we revolve our lives around Him? Listen as we look at King David's initiative to place God at the center of the nation's heart and how we can learn practical lessons from his approach. Our three main takeaways from 1 Chronicles 13-16 are: Through prayer, obedience, and endurance God will become the center of our attention and affection.
Acts 1:1-11 gives us the promise of Pentecost and foreshadows all of the incredible moments ahead for the church. It's tempting to move right into chapter 2 to see the Holy Spirit fall and His flame begin to spread, but the interstitial passage offers us tremendous insight and convictions. To overlook Acts `1:12-26 would mean skipping over an account that emphasizes the love and passion the early church had for Jesus. In this message, we discuss this essential preparatory passage that sets the stage for Acts 2. Make no mistake, there would be no Acts 2 without the simple acts of obedience and faithfulness that preceded it. Acts 2 power only comes on the back of Acts 1 preparation. Listen as we discuss the importance of each step of preparation and how we might follow in the early church's footsteps.
In this message, Haggai confronts and challenges us in our priorities and reflects back at us the futility of putting anyone and anything above or alongside God's place in our lives.
Of all the systems and ideals that Jesus came to turn on their heads, the definition and concept of Greatness is probably the most significant. In this message, Jesus challenges the world's understanding of what makes one great and shows us a better way forward. Listen as we discuss how 'losing' now can mean 'winning' in eternity--how victory in God's Kingdom is found down a rather unconventional path.
For years, Israel repeated a cycle of rebellion and remorse, returning to God only when they began to yearn for the worldly goods they had cost themselves. The prophet Joel looks forward to a day when true repentance produces a better kind of and enduring restoration--where God heals our hearts and gives us His Spirit.
In this message, we discuss the importance of being a church willing and ready to help all people, especially those who may seem beyond rehabilitation.
The story of Jonah often gets reduced down to cartoonish caricature of a defiant, rebellious unbeliever. However, the story of Jonah is actually a very relevant, reflection of the average, complacent believer. By all accounts, Jonah is a good man - better than most in his generation. Jonah had served many years as a faithful prophet in Israel, but at some point, he drifted to a place of self-righteousness and religious pride. Jonah was ready to serve God... up until a certain point. One day, God asked him to do something that challenged his comfort levels and worldview, and that's where Jonah drew the line. Listen as we discuss this threshold of obedience that all of us are guilty of setting in place and learn how Jonah offers us all a reflection of where complacency and selfishness can take any believer.
By this point in Mark's Gospel it is clear that Jesus is more than an ordinary man and everyone is suspecting that He had a connection with God the world had never seen. Some were spectulating, hoping that He could be the long-awaited Messiah, but they weren't really sure what all that would entail.In this message, we hear Jesus respond to Peter's famous confession by detailing and clarifying what Messiah actually meant. More specifically, Jesus began to disclose the ontological phenomenon that made His status as Messiah so unique and extraordinary. Listen as we hear Jesus emphasize both His humanity and His divinity. Jesus' dual ontology is the distinction between Him and any other faith leader or would-be messiah. It is also what makes Christianity the exclusive way to God and the only means of redemption and restoration for sinful humanity. P.S. If you can guess what the thumbnail is referring to, great is your reward in Heaven.
The Disciples are at their most relatable in this passage, where we find them repeatedly doubting and stumbling in their faith. Jesus offers a soft and gracious rebuke, but makes it clear the risk of ignoring this kind of disconnect with God.
What does God want from us more than anything else? What will set us apart as His people and distinguish from those who don't believe? The prophet Micah answers these questions simply and succinctly. Ancient Israel had lost touch with what it meant to truly know God and society was collapsing all around. With a disconnect from God, there was no moral compass with how people should be valued and treated. There was no justice. There was no mercy. People had become hardened and careless. However, religion was thriving in Micah's generation, because it served as an effective substitute for a true relationship with God. It eased people's conscience while not demanding true devotion or change. So God raised Micah up to condemn the charades of his generation and call the people back home to true devotion. Listen as we discuss how Israel fell for religion's trap in the first place, and why we all should be on guard of its devices. Once we understand what God wants most from us, we will be properly compelled and empowered to honor Him with our lives.
The first chapter of Acts is more of a continuation than it is a beginning. That's because it's literally part two of the story of Jesus and the movement He set in motion. For that reason, Acts 1 reflects on the foundation that has been laid in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and looks forward with confidence. In this message, we discuss how the certainty of Jesus' resurrection provides continual inspiration and momentum to the Church in every generation.
The Old Testament contains many efforts by God to breakthrough the hardened hearts of Ancient Israel, and the book of Hosea may be the most powerful and moving. God raised up Hosea as a prophet in a day when His people had turned from Him and charged them with committing spiritual adultery.In this message, we see how God led Hosea into a devastating personal struggle in order to reflect back at Israel the gravity of their unfaithfulness. Listen as we look at one of the most passionate displays of God's redeeming love in all the Bible.
After a tense stand-off with the Religious Leaders on the subject of sin and true righteousness, Jesus departs Israel on one of His most surprising missions ever. He takes His group north to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. Known for their notorious role of influencing the Jewish people in all the worst ways; thus any Jew seeking to maintain purity would never so much as look in that direction. Wanting to punctuate our inability to save ourselves and our reliance on God's grace, Jesus took the Gospel to this infamous people group. In this message, we see how unlimited God's mercy truly is to all who come to Him in humble, sincere faith. We also see how important it is to help bring people to Jesus who are unable to approach Him on their own. If we understand His grace's impact on us, we will be compelled to help everyone come to Him.
Welcome to our newest series, BLUEPRINTS- a study on the first generations of Jesus Followers and the path the paved in founding and building the Church. While the majority of this study will be rooted in the book of Acts, this introduction launches from Matthew 16, where Jesus Himself cast the original vision for His Church. Listen as we discuss the early church's motivation, mission, and power-source. If we want to follow in their footsteps, we will embrace the blueprints they left behind.
In this conclusion to our DISCIPLESHIP series, we study the last part of Jesus' prayer in John 17. Whereas the first part can be extracted from the text and applied to individuals, the last portion addresses every disciple as members of a collective body. What makes this so important is that it explicitly defines a true disciple as a faithful, engaged member of a community of God's people, set apart for His cause-- that is, a local church. Listen as we look back on the challenges, distractions and divisions that have plagued the church in America over the past few decades, forcing us all to return to God's Word for fresh wisdom and direction. We arrive at a pretty conclusive understanding that the future of the Church must be a return to true, devoted discipleship.
In Mark 7, Jesus peels back the religious facade of Ancient Israel and exposes the truth. The Religious Leader's' self-righteous efforts could not compensate for or remedy their sinful hearts. The most unfortunate part of this, however, was how the masses had been misled into relying on gimmicks and traditions to improve their standing with God. Listen as we discuss religion's inability to save and our heart's desperate need for God's grace.
In this message on Discipleship, we learn how Jesus actively intercedes for all of His followers to stay faithful and true. John 17 is a record of the prayer that He prayed on the last night of His earthly life, but it serves as a reminder of the daily intercession He offers for us. We unpack four discipleship truths, which direct us in realizing our full potential as believers. Rest assured, Jesus does not lord over us with pressure, but rather champions and empowers us through the Holy Spirit. We have the capacity and are fully capable to receive His help. It comes down to our willingness to surrender and readiness to serve Him above all.
If we come to understand all that He 's done for us, love will come naturally, and with it, obedience.
In Christ, we all have been set apart for God's work. This message is about pursuing God's anointing and being best positioned to receive all He has to offer.
that we can only receive if we are faithful with and properly leverage our temporary riches. In this message, we hear Jesus cast His vision for how we should handle our money and possessions, and look back through the Scriptures for even more insight. Listen as we learn about the origins of tithing, the 23 % three-fold tithing system of Ancient Israel, and how all of this translates from Old to New Testament. Ultimately, we realize that our earthly goods are only as good as we leverage them for eternity. When we understand why God gives us any measure of wealth, we will be moved to honor Him with all of it. Generosity is an overflow of love. Just as God loves and gives, when we truly love Him, we will be compelled to give, thus tethering our hearts to His Kingdom above.
The Pharisees were self-designated as the religious elite of Israel. In an age where everyone was desperate to hear from God, they believed they were best positioned to get His attention and earn His approval. They boasted of their superiority and manipulated the religious system to magnify others' sinfulness. Naturally, Jesus and His Gospel upset the establishment and threatened to dismantle the hierarchal system. In this message, we hear Jesus' strong words against their self-righteousness and learn how empty their religion truly was. We also examine the current church and discuss if and how Mark 7 still resonates to this day.
In this message, we study why Jesus left the scene so abruptly in the aftermath of one of His most famous miracles. We also discuss Jesus' intentions in sending His followers into a storm and why this shouldn't cause us to lose heart at all. Listen and uncover a truth that Jesus' original audience so often missed...
what God has done to change our world and our lives. Rest assured, if there's any part of us that wonders if we can rise above our sorrows and sin, Easter also reminds us that Jesus is well acquainted with our brokenness. Once we understand that everything we need to know God and find new life is provided through Christ's death and resurrection, we will have unshakeable hope and peace.
A walk through Matthew 27, where we see how Satan's attempts to destroy Jesus actually created the platform for the Gospel. The redemptive power of God is on full display, from how He leverages evil for our salvation and how Jesus was forsaken in our place, for our forgiveness.
When the Gospel accounts reach the events of Passion Week it's as if time slows to a crawl. Every last detail is included as the story nears its climax. Thursday night, the last night of Jesus' life, is no exception. Matthew shares with us everything that transpired from that evening until deep into the night. Every expression of our fallen world is on full display and we witness Jesus navigating it all, feeling the intense gravity of the moment. Listen as we breakdown the Passover meal, the New Covenant, the high stakes of Gethsemane, Jesus' arrest and trial, and much more.
Every generation knows what it's like to want a revolution. From politics, to culture, to moral issues - we've all hoped and advocated for radical change. 2000 years ago, the people of Judea were desperate for a revolution. Many would-be revolutionaries had come and gone, being unable to put even a dent in Rome's armor. In this message, we look at how many had high hopes that Jesus would answer their cry and deliver Israel into a golden age. Jesus had indeed come to change everything, but His sights weren't set on Rome or any other worldly kingdom. Listen as we see how Jesus identified a much more deadly enemy and provided true, lasting salvation.
The allure of power and authority has captivated every mind once or twice across life. For those with a real shot at obtaining such privilege, it becomes a mesmerizing possibility. For the few that ascend to such heights, they can't imagine ever losing it and spend most of their rule wondering how they may retain it. In this message, we consider how Jesus was truly a king like none other. He had within His grasp all that any man could ever want and He turned it all down. Not only that, He laid His down His supremacy and leveraged His power to arrange the most perplexing of realities: His own death.Listen as we marvel at Jesus' choice to decline the offer to be a king, choosing rather to sacrifice His life for something He valued much more.
Few chapters of the Bible speak to us all as powerfully as John 11. It contains deep theological insight and revelatory practical wisdom. As we walk through this famous account, we discuss:- How Jesus response/delay to a dear friend's need offers vital perspective for our own trials- Martha's willingness to trust Jesus without knowing all the details of His plan - Jesus' emotion in the face of brokenness offers us great comfort- Lazarus death and resurrection is commentary on our sinful condition and potential spiritual transformation
The Redemption Plan involved atonement from the very beginning. God initially warned Adam and Eve that rebellion would result in death. However, in His mercy and grace He chose an animal to die in their place. In this message, we chronicle God's promise to provide a substitute to pay our penalty from Genesis to Exodus to the Gospels. We discuss all of this and more: - The reason a sacrifice is required to atone for sin- How Passover was a display of God's Wrath and God's Mercy - Why sin deceives us into thinking we are independent and free only to set us up for shame - What makes Jesus the ultimate substitute for our sin
In this message, we discuss why the people of Nazareth dismissed the notion that Jesus might be more than just a ordinary man. Their rejection of God's revelation stunted their faith and shut the door on Jesus performing miracles in their midst. After being rejected by His own people, Jesus encourages His disciples to join Him on the mission field. Just as He pressed on in spite of challenges, He charges us all to stay focused and keep our eyes on God for motivation.
In this message, we consider what made Jesus and His movement so irresistible to His original audience and what the church could learn from His approach. We also look at some familiar stories, in which Jesus answers the desperate plea of a father and visits a woman who had endured an excruciating wait.
, which no one could have possibly taken literally when it was originally shared. However, 4000 years later, the entire world has heard of this promise, or at least brushed up against the people of the promise. Listen as we learn about God's plan to redeem the world through Abraham's family and how His work of restoration continues to this day.
A message about Spiritual Blindness and how it often causes us to miss/resist what God is doing.- Learn how Jesus interprets suffering and promises all of us hope - See how one man's simple testimony carries tremendous weight - Contrast the Pharisees' arrogant skepticism with the Blind Man's authentic gratitude
In this message, we learn what it means to be transformed by the saving power of God. We don't just need to be freed from sin, but we need to be filled with the Life and Presence of God. We learn from two famous stories from Scripture about the longing within all of us for a real, authentic connection with God. We see what happens when we are filled with all the wrong things, and how only true, lasting satisfaction comes through Jesus.
series, we discuss why we need to be reconciled to God in the first place. Romans 5 explains how sin entered creation, by contrasting Adam's rebellion with Jesus' sacrifice. We come to understand that all that is broken in the world stems from the Fall in Genesis 3. We also realize that the first temptation is a preview of the temptation that we face every single day. The first humans' sin caused a systemic fracture in Creation, setting all of us up to inherit a nature of sin and shame.The fallout from all of this? Well, we all own a piece of our broken world. We all fall short of God's standard. We all hide our sin in shame, until eventually we become defiant and even make excuses for our sin. This is just the beginning of our study on redemption, but even in this first message, we hear the Gospel's invitation to bring our sin to Jesus and find forgiveness. By confessing our sin, we can access and receive the gift of salvation.
In this special message, we look back at the story of Esther and learn about God's sovereignty over the nations and the unique responsibility He has given His people, which He has placed in the various kingdoms of the world. Esther tells of the only time in history where Israel faced oppression from the Persian kingdom. We discus why this is significant, especially in light of a prophetic passage in Ezekiel and recent real-world events. 2500 years later, on the eve of celebrating Purim, this story demands a fresh look...
In this message, we discuss what it's like to feel a sense of urgency while lacking the agency or opportunity to properly respond. We've all felt this tension—knowing that something needs to change, but being unable to make the change. We often face these kinds of waiting periods, where the pressure only builds and builds as time presses on. Listen as we wrestle with this burden and the emotions that go hand in hand. God's Word speaks into this common scenario, by reminding us that we can still honor and serve God in the midst of our waits. We may feel held back by many limitations, but God promises to do much with whatever we have to offer.
In one of the most theological rich passages in all the Bible, Jesus teaches us about the nature of discipleship, the sovereignty of God, and our hope in the face of fears and uncertainty.
We've all sat in plenty of waiting rooms, where it seems like time stands still as we sit on the edge of our seats or pace the floors in distress. Other waits aren't confined to clinics, but still render us frozen and full of emotions. The problem with our waits is that the world continues to turn and life moves forward whether or not we are able or ready to. As ideal as it would be to be able to bring our burdens to God in prayer and sit still until the answer comes, this simply isn't how the process goes. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God uses our waits and is in their midst. Prayer has never been touted as a means of erasing our waits, but rather enduring them and redeeming them for God's glory. Listen to this first message in a series all about life's most challenging waits and learn how Jesus promises to be our source of strength during and throughout our trials.
A look at Jesus' first parables, focusing on the story of the seed and different types of soil.
Peter closes out his first letter by admonishing Christians everywhere to reset their expectations for how the world will treat us and react to our faith. He admits that it may feel strange to expect trials and persecution, but he reminds us of what our ultimate goal should be as followers of Jesus. Jesus called all of us to take up our cross and follow Him. The Way of the Cross is not just a means of salvation, but a lifestyle for all who are saved. In this message, we discuss what it means to bare a cross for Christ and how it should inform and influence our stance and response to whatever the world might throw at us.
was at hand. That fervor continued into the 2000's, but eventually faded into the background. Nowadays the subject is barely breached in the local church, with an emphasis on political and cultural dominance having become the new favorite topic within the evangelical church. The Bible has a lot to say about the Last Days, warning us that we are exiles on this earth and that we should live out every day as if it could be our last. The promise of Jesus' return is certain and the reminder that we are strangers who will never truly belong to this world is stressed particularly by the Apostle Peter. In this message, we discuss how we might conduct ourselves and live out our lives until Jesus returns. He warns us to live with sobriety and seriousness, so that we don't lose focus on who we are and our purpose as missionaries for Christ.
In this message, we learn how Jesus' miracles were signs of an even greater work that He came to do. Our flesh focuses on the sign, but they were always meant to point to God's plan and provision of salvation. We'll unpack how this frames miracles of all kinds, past and present. Then we discuss the way and method in which Jesus welcomed and accepted people, just as they were. When Jesus passed by Levi's house, he was captivated by the matchless grace of God, while convicted by His unwavering truth. Listen as we consider how we might strike the same perfect balance of acceptance and accountability.
A message about Jesus showing us how to navigate to honor God with our daily lives, while also making it clear that He came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.
A message about the power of a testimony and the transformation that follows an encounter with Jesus.
In this message, Peter shows us how our freedom in Christ should inform us as we face opposition in this world. As exiles, the empires of this world push us to the margins, and thus, to our limits. As believers, we can thrive in the fire and realize that God is using these moments to amplify our witness and shine His light into darkness.
. He compelled us all to taste and see that there is so much more to life than what this world offers to us. Listen as we hear Peter's invitation and learn what is fully offered to us from our new birth in Christ.
Acts 10 represents a watershed moment in not only Church history, but world history. The Church faced a crossroads early on in its establishment - How would it handle growth and expansion? To whom would it carry the Gospel? How wide-open were its doors? The Apostle Peter is confronted with a divine appointment, wherein he refuses to stand in God's way and takes the church into its next phase. On the other side of the story is a man named Cornelius, who had many reasons to doubt that there would ever be a place for him in the story of Faith and Redemption.Listen as we dive into this incredible story and hear how the meeting of these two men changed the world.
Mark 1:1-14 underscores Jesus as the one and only Savior, emphasizing that He came to save by way of serving, submission, and substitution. Listen as we go verse-by-verse through Mark's prologue to see how he introduces us to Jesus and several core principles of our faith.
isn't the most encouraging notion. Yet, our true purpose and true power from God lies in our accepting and embracing this role.Listen as we discuss how Peter's message would've encouraged his original audience and why it offers both uplifting and challenging truths to modern ears.
In this message, we reflect on the past year and consider what remains unfinished. Perhaps many of our goals, aspirations, and plans didn't come together. Does this mean they are now abandoned or will be forever incomplete? Listen as we remember the story of Joshua and think on some of the challenges, delays, and setbacks that his generation faced. As he resolved to keep pursuing the Lord into the next chapter of his life, so must we as one year transitions to another.
Listen as we take a look at an ancient Messianic prayer that was answered through the birth of Christ. From there, we unpack 3 promises that Christmas brings to all who believe and 3 challenges that it presents to us.
Because of Jesus, joy is obtainable and sustainable. Having been born disconnected from God, we know all too well the struggle to find and keep joy. We battle the enemy day in and day out, as he attempts to suppress and steal our joy. Listen as we discuss our shared quest for joy and how Christmas makes it a reality.
A message on Job's gratitude and peace in spite of his devastating circumstances. Discover the secret to maintaining a thankful heart at all times.
In this message, we look at a story that doesn't have the happy ending we assume its featured character deserved. Instead, tragedy and injustice strikes a man who played a key role in preparing the way for Jesus and introducing Him to the world. While there isn't an easy way to make sense of the story, we hear Jesus invite us to trust Him and have hope in spite misfortune.
A Comprehensive look at many of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and their fulfillment as detailed in the New Testament.
In this message, we discover how presence is always key to having peace. From the presence of family to friends, there is nothing more vital and valuable than having someone by our side with persistence and purpose. This longing for presence is ultimately the thumbprint of God on our souls, pointing us to our greatest desire: His Presence. Listen as we discover why God's presence is the greatest present of them all and see how peace is uniquely tied to our relationship with Him.
Zacchaeus' pursuit of Jesus represents the longing in every heart for more than anyone or anything of this world can provide. From Luke 19 to Acts 17, this message shows us that we can find everything we need in a personal relationship with Jesus.
The story of Ezra represents a reset for the people of Israel and shows all of us how we too can find a fresh start through repentance and sensitivity to God.
Genesis 25 shows how God made the specific choice of Israel over all the rest of Abraham's children. Also, this text underscores the fulfillment found in a life devoted to God and the certainty of an afterlife.
The next step in the story of God's promise to bless Abraham's family turns out to preview an even greater story -- How God sent His Son into the world to find His Bride and bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
Most of us are superstitious about any number of things, even regarding what could affect our standing with God. Often we obsess or fixate on issues that condemn others, so as to elevate our own egos. All the while, what actually condemns us is our own self-centered, sinful hearts.Listen as we discuss our tendency to deflect our own sin by focusing on others'. Galatians 5 confronts the duplicity within every heart- the struggle between our flesh and God's Spirit - and calls us to surrender to the work that God can do within each one of us.
In this message, we consider how the widow of Luke 18 represents a believer whose hope is totally resting in Jesus, compared to those who hedge their bets and lean on this world for peace and confidence.
History may seem to be a series of disconnected events which have an equal chance to produce something good or bad. However, according to the Apostle Paul, history is actually a series of Providential events which God has orchestrated to further His Redemption Plan. Listen as Galatians 4 details how the advent of Jesus was preceded by specific actions that perfectly set the stage for His saving work and movement.
looking for a city whose designer and builder is God”? What if saw ourselves as “exiles on this earth” and true citizens of Heaven? Might this attitude and outlook “cost us” in this life? Certainly - but should that be considered a bad thing? What if that’s actually a saving thing? What if our priorities and ambitions are actually misinformed and ill-inspired, where this world’s motives are distracting us from our Kingdom reward?Listen as we examine the attitude and mindset Abraham conducted himself with and learn how this should inspire and inform our daily activities and eschatological beliefs.
2000 years ago, many assumed Christianity was just Judaism 2.0- an evolution of the religious systems that held the world in hopeless bondage. In Galatians 2, the Apostle Paul argues how Christianity was truly a revolution, meant to replace all other would-be pathways to God. Listen and learn how Jesus promises and provides what no religion ever could.
In this message, we look at one of the earliest and greatest tests that God ever brought on someone. After waiting years for God to answer his prayers for a son, God finally provides - and then instantly asks Abraham to render the child back to Him. Listen as we wrestle with this test and seek out the purpose in our own.
In this message, we listen Jeremiah's lament over Jerusalem in the aftermath of its destruction. Filled with great sorrow, he finds comfort and perspective in God's sovereignty.
In Paul's most personal and passionate letter, he defines and defends the Gospel. Listen as Paul pours out his heart and shares his testimony, laying a clear foundation for what it means to be in an authentic relationship with God.
In this message we reflect on Abraham's imperfect journey as he learned what it meant to trust and follow the Lord. What is made obvious in his story - and any of our stories - is that God is the main character. He bears with our shortcomings and sin in order to magnify and underscore His grace. As His grace has its perfect work on us, we are progressively sanctified and discover our source of joy.
The story of King Saul is earmarked by unreached potential and repeated mistakes. Perhaps the most tragic part of it all is fate of his loyal son, Jonathan. In this message, we dig into the complicated relationship between father and son, and discover one of the greatest Christ-like examples in Jonathan. With all that went wrong for Jonathan and as unfair as his story went, he remained full of hope and trusted that God was still sovereign and good.
As we near halfway in our Genesis study, we take the opportunity to recap God's faithfulness to Abraham and the nature of the covenant He made with him. In this message we discuss the broader, longterm implications of the Abrahamic Covenant and how it is still in effect to this day. We discuss both the spiritual and terrestrial aspects of the covenant, with looks at Galatians 3 and Romans 11 with regards to how it applies to every generation since Abraham. Listen for insight about Israel's role throughout history and its purpose in God's eschatological plan.
Genesis 19 is one of the most infamous chapters in the Bible. The story of hostility, immorality, and compromise echoes thousands of years later. Overlooked by many, a similar scenario plays out within Israel's own borders a few generations afterwards. As we discover, this parallel story actually ties into the story of Sodom and Lot in multiple ways. Listen as we discuss the sin of Sodom, Lot's family, and one of the greatest redemption stories of all.
Life is full of letdowns. It can be hard to recover and bounce back from some of our toughest falls and failures. There are so many factors that influence how quickly any of us will be able to get back up. No matter how great the letdown and how difficult the recovery, could it be possible to look up immediately? Is there a way to find the strength and faith to look up to God, even when we're still navigating the fallout?In this message, we wrestle with life's greatest letdowns with the story of Joseph as our guide. We seek out the Goodness and Sovereignty of God which persists in spite of our struggles. Listen and discover how we can find the faith to always look up to Heaven's Light and be lifted up by God's own hand.
Every season of life is finite. Some may seem to last longer than others, but ultimately everything exists within a short window of time. In this message, the prophet Jeremiah brings one final warning to Judah, which nears the end of a long, grueling summer. After suffering from famine and pestilence, the outlook for the winter months appears grim. At this eleventh hour, a turnaround seemed unlikely.Listen as Jeremiah's message reminds us that our opportunities to serve and respond to God are likewise short. How is God trying to get your attention? What is He calling you to? How can we ignore the invitation of a lifetime?
Humanity has a long, complicated history of pretending to worship God, but all the while, we're really just worshipping ourselves. Since the beginning, we have been crafting idols and stamping God's name on them, insisting that we are living for Him, but our devotion and behavior suggests otherwise. In this message, we look at the infamous story of an impatient Israel at Mt. Sinai's base, wherein they rebel against the God who was actively delivering them. We see how God uses Moses to bring conviction regarding how they had replaced Him with golden calves. Although they asserted that they were still honoring God, they were actually wrapped up in the false promises of this world. We hear God's call to repentance and then hear Jesus outline what true repentance is and isn't. Listen as we consider these questions and more: - Why do we shift our trust to worldly leaders and systems? To objects, images, ideas? - Why can’t we imagine a life where our faith isn’t propped up, supported by, supplemented by more than God Himself? - Are we truly living life on "The LORD's Side"?- Do we see Repentance as our only entry point into a redirected and restored life from God?
In our final Passion + Purpose study, we discover the endgame of our Salvation. From justification to sanctification, the endgame of our maturation in Christ is the passion and purpose laid for us in Romans 14 and 15. Listen as we hold up our broken world to these passages and seek God's grace and truth to navigate us through these days. In this message we discuss:- How Christians have always been on the margins of society, culture, and political power and how Jesus instructs us to respond - How we might maintain our voice and maximize our witness, choosing to make a impactful difference rather than just make witty points - How the litmus test of our sanctification is found in our desire to and determination to love and serve others, especially those who are not like us- How we should continue to love and endure no matter what comes against us. Just as Christ bore our reproach, so we must bear one another's weaknesses
God invites us to trade pressure for purpose, to exchange stress to perform for power to serve God.
The first 8 minutes contains a reflection on recent tragedies in our country. "Lord haste the Day, but until then may we continue to seize the day."---At the 8:15 mark, our message on Sodom and Gomorrah begins. Listen as we discuss the outcry against those cities and the severity of their sins. We hear from Romans and Ezekiel on what led these cities down this dark road and we answer questions about how to respond to similar cases in our world today.
In this message, we study Lot's drift away from God into darkness and learn how we should conduct ourselves as lights and witnesses for Christ.
We often pray for God to hold up the systems and institutions of the world wherein we have placed our hope. However, the Bible invites us to shift our hope entirely - out of this world, on to Christ alone. When everything around us moves and fails, Christ remains secure.
God promised Abraham and Sarah that their prayers for a son would be answered soon. When God appeared to their homestead in Genesis 18, Abraham was determined to make the most of this opportunity. In this message, we look at the template for true worship that is presented and modeled in this text. We also discuss how the long wait was part of a necessary process to prepare their hearts for this moment. It's never a matter of difficulty for God, but that He is waiting for the right opportunity and for us to be best positioned to take full advantage of it. God is waiting on us: - To elevate Him to first place, regardless/without results- For our delight in Him and desire for Him to match/surpass all else- For us to make the most of the wait and be prepared for the opportunity Questions to consider after listening: - Does Genesis 18 resemble your approach to God in worship? - Does your response reflect doubt or anticipation and readiness?- Are you making the most of it, from prayer to answer?
In this message, we discuss the Scripture's call over all of us to pursue and find our prophetic voice for our generation. Listen as we learn the following: - The Biblical Prophets did much more than predict the future- To prophesy is to speak God's Truth with boldness, clarity, and purpose- The New Testament encourages us all to seek this gift "above all"- Have you ever asked God to anoint your words for His glory? - How a prophetic voice is key to becoming a powerful witness for Jesus
Everyone wants to be independent and autonomous. Unfortunately, this just isn't a reality for humanity. We all are dependent on something. We all take orders from someone. In this message, we discuss our sinful nature and how we are often unaware of sin's influence and grip on us. We learn that in order to achieve true, lasting victory over sin we must find a new and better master. Listen as we hear the Bible's invitation to embrace and exalt Jesus as our King and how only through active, intentional submission to Him can we obtain Resurrection Life. We must see how Jesus died because and for our sin and then see that our victory is directly connected to His reign over our lives.
In this message we see Abraham continue along in his faith journey and cover the following topics: - How Salvation always precedes Sanctification - How Circumcision was a sign of the Covenant, and how it correlates to our faith - How we can navigate our waiting periods and possess a true heart of worship
We've all taken risks before- some that have paid off and others that we've regretted. Following and trusting in Jesus is often portrayed as a great risk, asking us to step into the unknown. However, as we learn in this message, to not follow Jesus is actually the greatest risk of them all. Romans states clearly that we have all lost our way from God, having a disconnect from God at our core. We all need to be reconciled to God, by receiving a right standing with Him. We all suffer from this condition because of one thing. And salvation is only obtainable through one way. Listen as we discuss what sin has done to every person and how only through faith can we receive God's righteousness. How will this change our life? What does God's righteousness do for us? Why can we be so confident that Jesus is the one and only Way? Learn all that and more in this message!
There's often a great misconception when it comes to faith - specifically the Christian faith, as it pertains to living by and acting upon it. Unfortunately, many have assumed and been taught that faith is merely wishful thinking, reduced down to blind hope. This couldn't be farther from the truth. In this message, we discuss what it means to possess faith in Jesus and how faith in God is rooted in knowledge and confidence. Ultimately, Jesus' resurrection brings validity to every page of the Bible, and thus creates a firm foundation on which we can place our faith. Hebrews 11 memorializes the many believers across the Redemption Story who acted upon faith in God, after they placed their trust in His Word and Promises. As they found a new way of living, so can we- if we place our trust in what God has said and done. God's track record is forever settled and recorded in His Word, so it's up to us to trust Him and the Holy Spirit will prove to us that we've made the right choices.
Following Jesus will improve every aspect of our lives. We all want to live the best possible version of life, but that is only obtainable if we apply Jesus' most practical teachings. Jesus often addressed our tendency to worry when we can't control or predict how things will play out. Our best life - and our even better, eternal future - lives and dies on our willingness to trust every unknown to Jesus. In this message, we hear Jesus call us to a life of worship and eternal dedication. He makes it clear that only when we counter our anxious nature with intentional, concentrated devotion will we walk in God's blessings now and receive an even greater inheritance in the Life to come.
The book of Romans is held up as one of the great, if not the greatest, resources for theology and Christian living. The backstory to why it was written only adds to its importance. In this message, we marvel at the Apostle Paul's journey from sworn enemy of the church to a devoted evangelist of the Gospel. His desire to see the world won for Jesus ultimately compelled him to visit Rome and bolster the fledgling church in the heart of the evil empire. Listen as we follow Paul in his quest to visit Rome and see how that underscores his words in the opening passage to the Roman church. He calls them - and us - to be "set apart for the Gospel" and embrace a life that is unashamed and full of God's power. This passage brings several questions before us that are both convicting and comforting. God desire to set US apart for Him. We don't deserve such a privilege, but we risk great loss if we ignore this invitation. - How set apart are you for Jesus, His Church, and His Kingdom? - Does your life suggest that you are "not ashamed" of the Gospel? Are you convinced that prioritizing Jesus and His Kingdom will never disappoint you? - Are you living by faith, in and under the power of the Gospel?
Genesis 16 tells the story of one of the most consequential episodes in all of history. By no means did those involved and making decisions intend on the conflict that would perpetually stem from their actions, but alas such is the history of the Middle East. In this message, we discuss God's Will and how He permits us to get "our way" if we insist and persist in our selfishness. While God has a perfect will that we are invited to walk in, our obstinance and rebellion often sees us spending much of our lives in HIs permissive will.
If anyone understood the benefits of wealth and power, it was King Solomon- he only ever experienced life from the most advantageous, blessed vantage points. This is why his remarks and reflections on this life's vanity and the vapidness of his material gains stand out so strongly. He had it all, but decried it all as unable to satisfy his deepest wants and desires. In this message, we learn from Solomon and Jesus on where true satisfaction and fulfillment is found. We also learn that having more doesn't make us immune from obedience to God, but rather increases our accountability. We learn how living a life with open hands and a generous heart brings lasting peace to our hearts.
We are all motivated by various different things, but ultimately we have to prioritize what's best for us and our futures. However, as Christians we have a reminder from God that we exist for something beyond ourselves and this short life. Listen as we discuss what it means to be servants of Jesus and stewards of the mysteries of God. The Apostle Paul calls us to a life of faithfulness, which we unpack in great detail in this important, practical message.
In one of the most foundational chapters of the Bible, the plan and nature of salvation is defined and detailed. Listen as we discuss how we are saved and the promises of God that accompany our salvation.
Amos condemned his generation for knowing the truth and not acting on it. Specifically, they knew how God expected them to live out their lives and they choose the exact opposite way. From the beginning, God wanted Israel to be different than the other nations. He called Israel to be a beacon of light, example of decency, and a place of refuge. He commanded the people to choose love and selflessness over the accepted way of the world by which humanity was corrupted and set against one another. Listen as we hear Amos call us to leave our "ivory beds" and set our eyes on the needs of our brother and sisters. We'll also hear from Jesus, who offers a final and most authoritative word which firmly establishes the Christian standard and expectation of love and service.
Life is full of waits. We're all too familiar with waiting - but do we see God in them? Most of our waits are wasted, spent holding our breath until they end or raising our fists while they persist. What if there was a way to redeem our waits and obtain a unique blessing from God in their midst? Listen as Psalm 40 guides us through our struggles and shows us how to be patient and endure every wait. God promises a revelation that we will only discover on this path and calls us to share all that we learn.
Life is full of tests. The Bible consistently teaches that these tests, trials, and challenges are actually from God. God uses them for our good, our growth, and for His Glory. We may not enjoy every test, but God promises there is joy in every test if we remain faithful. If we look for God in every test and trust His will, we not only pass each one, but we will excel. Listen as we study the various tests that Abram faced and see how they provide insight and wisdom for us today.
Abram takes a backseat in Genesis 14, as the larger world around him clashes. The established superpowers are faced with a rebellion from their vassal states - upstart nations like Sodom and Gomorrah. When Abram's nephew, Lot, becomes a prisoner of war, he joins the fight against the empire. Ultimately, this story foreshadows what is widely known all of these years later. Nobody remembers the kings and empires of 4000 years ago, but everyone knows who Abram was. His legacy outshines anyone's of his generation. Listen as we discuss how this reflects God's approach throughout history and emphasizes how He operates to this day.
Psalm 73 presents to us a very relatable scenario, in which a believer is struggling with all that's unfair and lopsided towards injustice our world. Asaph confesses his faith in a Good and Sovereign God, yet admits his confidence had been shaken. Listen as we seek to understand Asaph's plight and compare it to our own battles. We'll see how he found perspective and hope, and how we might as well.
What if we suddenly lost access to the Bible and all the supplementary Biblical resources we've come to rely on? How much would remain in our hearts? All throughout the Bible, there is a reminder from God to store His Word in our hearts. Have we obeyed this crucial commandment? Despite our unlimited access, we've deprioritized a steady, daily consumption and meditation of God's Word. God doesn't have to send a "famine" as Amos warned Israel about, because we've silenced God on our own.As advanced and accomplished as we are in every category... as much attention as we give our physical and mental health... as eager as we are to chase after goals and success - we have ignored our Spiritual health and as a result, we are worse off spiritually, mentally, and physically. If we don't take care of our souls, our bodies and minds will suffer too. However healthy we may be, if we starve our spirits, we will struggle mightily. Truly, one thing is more necessary than other discipline. Listen as we spotlight the importance of healthy Spiritual habits, and the consequences for taking God's Word for granted.
Psalm 23 is written from the perspective of a sheep. An ever-dependent, helpless, frail sheep. We've all confessed that God is our shepherd, but are we aware of what that says about us? Are we content with being as a sheep, always in the shadow and at the mercy of our shepherd?Listen as we break down this classic passage of Scripture and seek to make David's confession our own.
In Matthew 13, Jesus spoke of His movement and ministry with confidence and vision of what the future held. No one in His audience could’ve imagined what would become of His rabble following. All of these years later, the impact that He and His Church have had on our world and lives is self-evident. We get to live our lives out on this side of all of Jesus' promises and their fulfillments, and thus are without excuse as to not opt in to His Kingdom and Reign. In this message, we consider the impact that Jesus has had on our world and how every life has been influenced for good by His teaching. We hear His invitation to pursue the Kingdom of God above all other causes and priorities and are confronted with questions as to how we are spending our time. At the end of this age, everything done without Christ at the center will be considered a waste and will perish. Are we wasting the gift and opportunity that God has given us? When this age is done, only that which was done for Christ will matter.
Listen and learn how we might become sensitize to our souls' cries for help and entrust our hearts to our God of Refuge.
What if we began to see every fear as more than a loop of emotional turmoil, but rather an opportunity to obtain a stronger, greater faith? What if every fear is actually a test of our faith and an invitation to surrender to God for more faith? Listen as we wrestle with our greatest fears and how faith often causes our fears to rise. We discover that fear overpowers our faith in many instances and hear Jesus offer us relief. Jesus never tells us that our fears are illegitimate. He merely reminds us that a greater faith is possible, even when confronted with the most intimidating, debilitating trouble.
The Redemption Story as we know it begins in earnest with Genesis 12. Listen as we are introduced to Abraham and see how his life and legacy continues to impact our world today.
Jesus outlined the true nature of Christianity from the very beginning. The call to follow Him has not changed and is not reserved for some elite level believers. We are all held to the same standard - the original call from the shores of Galilee
Learn how the ascension of Jesus created a baseline of hope and confidence for every believer
Listen and see how the Apostle Paul and his companions lived out a model faithfulness unto the Lord. Wherever He sent them, they were willing and ready to go. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is at work in all of our lives to position and prepare us for a life of ministry. The only question is: Have we surrendered to His call over our lives?
Fresh off the boat, Noah sets his sights on a new world filled with new opportunities. He begins his first day with building an altar and anchoring his future in the Lord. Listen as we discover how we might adopt and maintain a similar pursuit.
Pentecost delivered to believers everything that Jesus purchased. From that day on, the Holy Spirit has been dwelling with God's people and showing us how to live a bold, new brand of life. Listen as we look back on the crooked arc of the world before Pentecost, and how everything changed for the better after that day. Truthfully, every day is Pentecost for God's people. His Spirit still moves as strongly and intentionally as ever. By His Spirit, we can come together as His church and for His cause. Dedicated to Jesus, God can demonstrate His nature and power through us and help us discover a better belonging.
The Bible's description of Heaven reveals what drives and motivates God every day - reaching and saving people of all kinds, seeing us all united together around Him. The early church struggled with expansion and evangelism beyond Judea. Acts 11 is a turning point, wherein Peter confesses his own resistance to God's plan and why he eventually surrendered to it. Listen as we consider what it means to stand in God's way and determine if we are guilty of any measure of it.
God's people can approach life differently. God's people can react to life differently. If our hearts have been made whole through spiritual devotion and maturation, we will be prepared for anything. More specifically, we will be able to navigate the greatest of challenges and be better for it in the end.
Sometimes God seems silent, absent, late, or even careless. However, the Scriptures make it clear that God remembers and keeps His promises.
A call to humility and simplicity before God. We're never too old to be nurtured by Him.
Many of us are introduced, motivated, and choose to come to Jesus on the basis of a fairly simple and selfish basis. In short, we don't want to go to Hell. On this same note, Heaven is mostly talked about as a place for reunions and luxury. The Christian life is reduced down to having little to do with what the New Testament actually teaches. While we are certainly saved FROM Hell, Christianity is actually more about being saved FOR something. The Bible teaches that we are saved for God's glory, to live a life that will honor Him and serve His purposes. This is why the New Testament has so much to say about how our lives should be radically transformed by Jesus. Salvation is the starting point of a life that should be sanctified for God's glory. This doesn't put pressure on us to perform, but emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit within any true believer's heart. In this message, we talk about the first steps we should take as a New Creation in Christ. We listen to Peter cast his vision over us regarding our new identities as chosen, royal, and holy. Peter calls us priests unto God and shows us how our lives should look with Christ as our Cornerstone.
The world had become a dark, corrupt place by Genesis 6. God expresses emotions not recorded anywhere else in the Bible and the human race is indicted as being totally, utterly depraved. But one man found favor in the eyes of God.But God had mercy for one man amidst the multitude of rebels. In this message, we put a spotlight on the grace of God which spared an unraveling world. Years later, God's grace continues to endure and overcome the persistent sin of humanity. Listen as we unpack God's mercy, Noah's salvation, and much more!
Isaiah the prophet once wrote that no one has seen, heard, or imagined the things that has prepared for His own to experience once freed from this fallen world. This is often circulated to refer to what Heaven has in store for us in our next life. However, the Apostle Paul makes a bold declaration that those who are in Christ can experience these things right now...Jesus' Resurrection brought about a new age for all creation. Those who trust in Him and receive His Spirit can enter into His New Creation here and now. We don't have to wait until we get to Heaven to be filled with and led by God's Spirit. What is life like as part of this New Creation? What can we experience now? What things still await us in Heaven? Listen to this first of many conversations about how our longing for more is answered and realized in Christ.
In this message, we see both pictures of Jesus and patterns to mimic as His followers in the lives of Enoch and Noah. They both stood out in their godless generation because they "walked with God". Listen as we learn how walking with God is possible and expected of God's people, even in an ungodly world.
Jesus' Resurrection changed everything. It signed and sealed everything that the Cross accomplished. It proved everything Jesus had ever said and did, and authenticated Him as God's Messiah. While Good Friday would have secured our forgiveness, without the Resurrection there would have been so many outstanding concerns. From the paradox of suffering, our persistent sinful impulses, and the questions about death and the afterlife - only Jesus' Resurrection brings clarity and certainty. In this message, we observe how the Disciples wrestled with their unbelief and came to true faith in Jesus because of Easter Sunday. We also learn about these major promises of the Resurrection: Hope for our Trials, Freedom from our Sin, and Victory over Death.
Good Friday defines and illustrates goodness. It also makes it clear that true, pure goodness is found in Jesus alone. Listen as we reflect on Jesus and His Cross and learn how this day brought favor and hope to us all. We could never be good enough on our own, but Jesus proved that He is good enough. That's why Good Friday will always be enough for us. Jesus forever settled on earth and in Heaven our relationship with God, when His extraordinary, unending goodness met our excessive, unrelenting sin.
How could someone who spent so much time with Jesus remain lost and ultimately decide to betray Him? The story of Judas is both baffling and typical. He wasn't the only person who followed Jesus for selfish reasons, as many sought to make Him their personalized lord and savior.In the end, the reason Judas followed Jesus became the very reason he betrayed Him. He followed Jesus for personal gain, and then turned Him over when that seemed to promise a better reward. Judas refused to surrender to Jesus as King and saw no need to cling to Jesus as his Savior. He believed the lie that the devil ensnares so many with, and was left hopeless and full of regret.
Palm Sunday is the intersection of what we often want Jesus to be and who Jesus actually is... What we often envision Christianity to be about and what it actually is about. Everyone expected a king and a kingdom to rise up during the events of Passover 33 AD, and it certainly did. However, nobody could have imagined the way Jesus introduced His rule nor the nature of His Kingdom. Listen as we follow Jesus through the events of Palm Sunday and see how He subverted every expectation that day. His words and actions in the face of such an opportunity reveal the heartbeat of His Kingdom and show us the way forward as God's people. Palm Sunday’s outcome is why we can be saved and it outlines how every saved person must live.
John 6 is a crossroads in the early Christian movement. The masses assumed they understood Jesus and believed that He could be easily manipulated to get whatever they wanted from God. Perceiving that His signs had been woefully misinterpreted, Jesus sought to clarify His message to His thousands of followers. Alas, at the end of the day, the majority unfollowed Him. In this message, we discuss the motives of the crowds that followed Jesus in those early days. We learn why it was so urgent and necessary that Jesus correct the narrative surrounding His movement, even if it did end up costing Him greatly. He knew that the greater cost would be that which His followers would pay, if they remained so misguided. Listen as we learn about the true, pure, and most fulfilling incentives for following Jesus. His primary purpose isn't to enrich us with temporary stuff, but rather to fill us with Eternal Life. Many turn to Jesus to obtain and consume more, but the true prize comes from following, sacrificing, and surrendering our lives to His greater calling over us.
For God so loves our rebel race that He continues to have mercy for those who deliberately turn against Him. In the immediate aftermath of the Fall, Cain begs for relief from his self-induced burden and God gives him grace. If we ever question how God feels about sinners like us, Genesis 4 makes that very clear. in response to this grace, Cain's offspring react with even more defiance. Things continue to look bleak for the human race. Yet, God had a plan - He always does. God would raise up a remnant that would live in contrast to the children of man. Even in our generation, God has a remnant and will preserve a people for Himself.
Jesus came into a world that was so misinformed, misguided when it came to God. Attempts at reconciling with Him had only created further distance and separation between the average person and God. Religious leaders were delusional in their quest to earn God's favor, while common people were downcast in their own sin, guilt, and shame. People were waiting in lines that never took them anywhere good, but only left them with less hope and more questions. In this message, we see Jesus encounter people on both sides of the spectrum, but extending the exact same message. Listen and see how the same Gospel comes to all us, whether in our self-righteousness or self-defeat. Jesus issues the same invitation to us, one of grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.
In this message we discuss divine appointments, risk vs reward, and the boldness of Christian hope. In one of the most memorable chapters in the Bible, Jesus demonstrates His mastery over demons, disease, and even death.
As hard as it to imagine, there was a time when "Jesus" wasn't synonymous with God and when Christianity wasn't an global institution of grace and truth. 2000 years ago, a line was drawn in history when Jesus entered this world and changed everything. While many generations since haven't worshipped Him as Savior and Lord, they've lived in a world that has been undeniably touched and impacted by Him. That truth alone ought to make everyone take a second look. Even believers should consider Jesus more seriously and sacredly than ever. In this series, we follow the eyewitness account of Jesus' original follower, John, as he details how Jesus began to change the world. In this opening message, we see Jesus encounter John and his friends for the first time and consider John's initial observations of who Jesus was. Together, with the witness of history, we marvel at how Jesus revealed God to a lost, desperate world and kickstarted a movement that has yet to slow down.
The breakdown of our world was a direct result of the breakdown of the family - the very first family, that is. In this message, we look at God's original mandate given to Adam and Eve pertaining their complementary design and purpose in reflecting the full image of God. We see how both were made in equality, yet given unique responsibilities, for the good of each other and the Kingdom of God. A failure to meet those responsibilities is what caused the first of many dominos to fall in the world, leading to the disorder we still feel today. Listen as we discuss all of this and more - including a quick mention of dinosaurs and some concluding thoughts on God's promise to clean up the mess we had made.
In this message we discuss: - The origins of sin in our universe. Does evil predate Genesis 3? - If God is sovereign over all things, is it possible that the events of Genesis 3 were part of His plan all along? - Why the original audience for this text would've needed no explanation for the serpent being synonymous with the devil- How the enemy always calls into question the goodness and trustworthiness of God's Word
Our 1 John series concludes with a conversation about confidence and assurance. In Christ, we can possess an unshakeable faith, preparing us for and motivating us during whatever the Lord wills. John outlines three secrets to obtaining this enduring confidence in God: Anchor our faith in God's Truth, Surrender our lives to God's Plan, and Guard our hearts from sin and idols
Before the Fall, there was Purpose. Humanity was placed by God in paradise and given responsibility. Even on this side of the fallout, we still look back to God's original vision for our world to understand what we were made for and how we might honor God with our lives.
Jesus performed many miracles throughout His ministry, it's hard to keep up with them all. However, Jesus was very strategic and intentional with each divine work. None of them were random acts of power, but rather signs and wonders designed to show people who He really was. While clearly a miracle worker, Jesus came to do something even greater than heal our earthly maladies. He came to forgive sins and deliver our hearts from bondage.Jesus did the unthinkable in His day - He touched the unclean and did good for those that religion had condemned. He gave people their lives back who had long been cast away... but more importantly, He showed those same people what a connection to God was like and provided them Eternal Life.
We were not made for the commandments. The commandments were given for us, for our good. In this message, we consider how salvation should produce obedience. We also conclude that obedience is the obvious move, because our best is always on the other side of it.
God's Love is front and center of the Gospel and should remain top of our minds always. In His love, we find a better belonging and through His approval, we find a pathway to become the person we were made to be.
Take on a "Greater Than" faith in the face of conflicting emotions and opposing enemies
God didn't rest on the seventh day because He had to but because He could...He could rest because He was finished and everything was in place to operate smoothly and completely.We are called to take hold of this same kind of rest, not to fulfill religious obligations, but to take hold of one of God's greatest promises.
In the opening message of "Beginnings", we discuss the 'why' behind the book of Genesis and marvel at the power and goodness of God on display in the Creation story.
Ephesians promises that the Holy Spirit wants to take our lives to new level of depth and purpose for God's Kingdom. Chapter 4 emphasizes that above all, He desires to see us united to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Discovering and valuing our place in God's family is key for us to rise up to our calling and gifts in Christ.
If we believe that forgiveness comes through Christ, then we must also embrace the freedom and invitation that He brings to our lives. We have been forgiven so that we might follow Him and walk just as He walked. In this message, we discuss the transformation that salvation brings upon our lives. To follow Jesus is more than to say "no" to sin, but we are commanded and compelled to say "yes" to love. John anchors the Christian walk in how we love our brother, sister, and neighbor. He goes as far to say that if we focus on loving like Jesus did, sin will become an afterthought. Listen as we talk about the contrast between sin and love and set our sights on following Jesus, as closely as we can.
Proverbs offers all sorts of wisdom for any given area of our lives. It also happens to place premium value on finding our place in the faith community and leaning on one another. In this message, we look at several verses from Proverbs that all build a powerful case for our belonging and investment into our local church. Listen as we discuss the importance of accountability, the danger of isolation, and the blessing of having a Spiritual support system.
The Holy Spirit desires to change our lives. He has full intentions to overpower our flesh and empty of us of sin. The question will always be - are we cooperating with this transformation? Are we walking in His steps? Listen as we discuss the tension between our flesh and God's Spirit. We emphasize the importance of justification by faith, wherein we lean on Jesus completely. We also see how this kind of faith produces within us a New Life, leading us in a bold, brand new direction.
To say that the Christian life is full of blessings is not news to most believers. We believe and serve a Good God who indeeds is kind and gracious to His children. However, the true, desired blessings that both Jesus and the New Testament promises us are much greater than, beyond what we've otherwise settled for...In Ephesians, Paul writes with clear intent to direct our eyes higher, above this material world towards the Spiritual promises that God has made us. He leads us along from chapter 1 to 3, speaking of our "Spiritual Blessings", "Glorious Inheritance", which promise the "fullness of God" in our hearts, bringing us "Abundantly More" than we've even considered. Coupled with the teachings of Jesus, it's obvious that there are Spiritual Blessings we've passed over, settling for temporary fixations. Ephesians calls us to discover our true inheritance as believers, exclusively found in the transformation the Holy Spirit wants to bring on our lives.In this message, we decouple ourselves from what we've settled for and set our eyes on a new horizon. What can our lives look like in sync with the Holy Spirit? What new goals can we set? What new aspirations can we live for? Far beyond our temporary satisfactions, focused on short lives full of treasures and pleasures. God is inviting us to accomplish Immeasurable Greatness in His Church - Abundantly More than we've ever even considered.
Jesus came to manifest God unto the whole world. He came reflecting Heaven's Light and promising life as God always intended us to have. For generations, the truth about God was misconstrued and many religions proposed ways back to Him. Jesus came to set the record straight for all time to come, so that nobody would be in the dark about God or His plans for our lives. Listen as we look back God's original vision for creation and see how Jesus restores both creation and creature. 1 John 1 provides a true benchmark to show whether or not we have come to know God like we can and are enjoying true, eternal life.
Many relate to Church the same way we do restaurants or stores. We may happen to attend with many other people, but everyone's disconnected, without regard nor obligation to any but one's own interests. While this may be the predominate understanding of church and the Christian faith in our modern world, it couldn't be farther from the Biblical teaching on the Faith Community. In this message, we dive in and hear the truth echoed from all over the Scriptures - how our faith binds us together, to a larger body. We hear both Old and New Testaments stress the importance of vulnerability, accountability, and our shared responsibility. Listen as we define Christianity the way that Jesus did - and still does. If we are following Him, we will belong to His Body and take serious the role we play and the relationships we are called to embrace. From the first faith community in the Garden of Eden to the newly minted Church of Jesus Christ - God's command to every believer is to put WE over ME.
Have you ever started something that you didn't finish? As easy as it is to start, it's almost easier to quit and walk away. Spiritually speaking, we are all guilty of beginning efforts that will draw us closer to God and His Kingdom, only to lose heart along the way. In this conclusion to our Nehemiah study, we learn about his team's commitment to their work. We discuss the importance of declaring God's call over our lives as great and worthy and why we cannot trust the many dissenting voices that surround us. We also conclude that "greatness" in God's eyes is much different than the way our flesh and world see things. What is your "Great Work" in God's Kingdom? Have you walked away from it? Has your commitment or enthusiasm for it waned over time? Listen as we allow God's Word to motivate us and hear Jesus' call us all to God's Great Work for our lives.
The first step in thriving spiritually is totally dependent on the steps we take to follow Jesus. A common disconnect between our confession of faith and activation of our faith lies with our misunderstanding of true salvation. To be saved is to follow Jesus, to abide in Christ. If we believe, we will belong to Jesus and follow after Him every single day. Listen as we take salvation back to its roots and outline the basics of Christianity.
Abiding in Jesus will lead to a transformed life. Our hearts will become aligned with His truth and we will be compelled to act out our faith. In this message, we discuss the common disconnect between what we believe and how we behave. Listen as we hear God's Word give us decisive truth on the subject of faith and good works.
The Holy Spirit fills the heart of every believer and begins leading us all in a very specific path. His primary desire and purpose for all of us is that we would seek God's glory in all that we do. Jesus told His original disciples that the Holy Spirit would come upon them for a single reason - so that they might be witnesses to His Gospel.In this message, we discuss what it means to be a witness for Christ and how the Holy Spirit narrows our focus on God's will for our lives. Embarking on God's mission will surpass any competing call. The Spirit will show us how our involvement in God's movement on earth is more rewarding than anything else.
Who is the Holy Spirit? How does He relate to God the Father? To Jesus? What impact should and can have on our lives?In this message, we are introduced to the Holy Spirit and hear how every Christian should come to rest in and rely on Him. In short, the Holy Spirit's role in a believer's life is to bring the presence of God to us and work the power of God through us. He makes us like Jesus and helps us obey the Greatest Commandment through our words and actions.
How can we find the courage to make the move that God has called us to make? Why are filled with fear and anxiety when we are called to sacrifice something or surrender everything to God? God's callings are greater than any invitation of this world, yet they test us and challenge our fleshly instincts. Only when we've humbled ourselves to Him and given our hearts over to His causes, will we be fueled by His passion. In this message, we study how Nehemiah was able to walk away from His privilege and embrace a life of service. He chose to make God's glory the desire of his soul and never looked back.
Reignite your passion. Rediscover your purpose. Be revived by God's call over your life in 2025
In this message, we take a look back at our Spiritual growth and progress in 2024. We measure ourselves against Peter's words regarding sanctification and a life that glories the Lord. As we finish another lap around the sun, has 2024 been just another lap around the mountain? Or have we become more holy? Have you become more Christ-like this year? Would you describe your attitude and actions as others' first? We have been saved unto this end - so that we might thrive Spiritually and be holy, as God is holy.
The world becomes a different, better place for a few weeks every December. Everywhere we turn, we hear the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaimed. Even the non-believing world takes notice and feels the effects. There is an undeniable, palpable spirit of hope, peace, joy and love in the air. In this Christmas Eve message, we reflect on the power behind Christmas and marvel at the impact of the birth of Jesus. From a throne to a manger, the world received its final, ultimate King.
A message about the Peace that Christmas promises and how Jesus demonstrates the true power it brings to our lives.
A message about the Joy the Christmas brought into the world and how Jesus alone helps us retain the Christmas Spirit.
The Christmas story punctuates God's amazing grace on so many levels, but maybe the most powerful takeaways are the revelations within its backstory. Some of the most embarrassing episodes from Israel's past just so happen to involve some of the ancestors of Jesus. It would make sense that these stories be buried and forgotten, but no - Matthew highlights them as he sets up his Gospel.As someone who had been scorned by society for his past, Matthew relished in being chosen to tell the story of Jesus. Perhaps what delighted him the most was to be able to remind people that Jesus came from a long line of sinners. God isn't embarrassed or ashamed to include any of us in His family. Our backstories simply make us prime candidates to experience the salvation that Jesus came to bring.
Christmas came to bring good news of great joy to all people - particularly, all SINNERS. How do we know this? Well, because Christmas came THROUGH generations of all kinds of sinners.In this message, we study the life of the namesake Israel's most famous and important tribe. It turns out, Judah wasn't selected to be the progenitor for God's Messiah because he was good, but rather the opposite. His life demonstrated just how much the world need a Savior.
It's easy to excuse people who have been dealt the worst hand and have become bitter as a result. We understand that if only things had went better, maybe they wouldn't be broken. However, we know exceptions to this rule - people who consistently rise above their troubles who choose to respond to life's unexpected turns with extraordinary perspective and grace. In this message, we see how Daniel responded to some of the worst news anyone could ever receive. We marvel at his faith and discuss how we might remain strong when confronted with adversity.Discover how choosing to be thankful no matter what is key to remaining faithful throughout life. We too can choose the extraordinary path in our lives, by which we see and are full of God's goodness whether or not we feel good.
Every Christian should be full of gratitude towards God. Thankfulness isn't an emotion, but rather a decision and an attitude that we must constantly possess. If we don't choose to be thankful, we will become forgetful of what the Lord has done. The Bible also calls us deeper, beyond just saying that we're thankful. We are called to show that we're thankful by leveraging our gifts for God's glory. In fact, God desires that we mimic in Him in generosity so that others may become aware of God's goodness and join in with praise. In this message, we connect the dots between God's blessings on us to God working through us. What begins with giving thanks is meant to produce a lifestyle of giving and serving. By this, others will discover our God and we can take hold of an even greater reward.
Revelation 21 is the longing of every heart. We may not realize it. We may feel as if other desires are stronger. Truthfully, every desire we have is an overflow of this ultimate longing for Heaven. The Bible teaches that God has set Eternity at the center of every heart, and deep down, we want to be with Him more than anything. Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse of a future we can have with God, and offers to set our hope in the right direction. In this message, we discuss this longing within us all and talk about the core promises of Heaven. We learn how the hope of Heaven can give us perspective and purpose for every day life. Also, we hear one final warning of how foolish it is to jeopardize our souls, attempting to find satisfaction in all the wrong places.
In this message, we discuss the sobering subject matter of Hell and eternal judgment. We discuss the reason there is a place called Hell and then learn what an eternity of judgement might be like. More importantly, we also learn how Jesus offers everyone a way to be saved. On the cross, He welcomed on Himself a torrent of judgement, that was the combined punishment due to every sinner across all time. In His three hours of suffering, He experienced an eternity's worth multiplied by all in need of salvation. In light of what our Savior suffered for all and the extent He went to pardon us, the subject of Hell cannot be ignored.
We all know what it's like to lose hope. So often the many variables we place our hope in prove unsustainable and as they falter, we faint. In this message, the Bible exposes the futility in placing our hope in fragile, uncertain variables. We are invited to trust only in the one and only constant, the God of the Universe. Daniel teaches us that God truly is in control of all the elements of this world. Daniel brings a word of challenge and conviction to King Nebuchadnezzar, which sends him off the deep-end of insecurity. The king attempts to secure his power, making an example out of Daniel's three friends. Their response sends shockwaves throughout all the world and all time to come, as they showcase what it looks like to have a hope that is unshakeable and fireproof.
In this series, we study the lives of four sons of Judah who have their entire worlds turned upside down, and yet they retain their faith. Everything that they had prepared for and dreamed of was taken from them, setting in motion a series of unpredictable events.This message spotlights Daniel's determination and resilience in the face of adversity and uncertainty, and shows us a core pillar of the Christian faith. Our foundation in a Resurrected Savior anchors and aims our lives in an ever positive direction, instilling within us a "refuse to lose" attitude.
We all struggle with purpose. What is our purpose? We turn to and lean on worldly systems for affirmation and confirmation of purpose. We long for a sense of peace and power, which comes from feeling good about our place in life. In this message, we peel back all the distractions and detours this world offers us, and clue into our shared purpose as Christians. We discover that when we keep our God-given mission at the center of our lives, then we are freed from being so sensitive to this world. Listen as God's Word clarifies our true purpose, calls us to our ultimate mission, and promises us an out-of-this-world peace and power.
In this message, we discuss how our faith intersects with our political landscape. How should Christians process and react to the outcomes of elections and attitude/actions of our government? Listen and be encouraged, challenged, and filled with God's peace...We learn 4 major truths about how God is at work over and above our current events:- God is Sovereign (Colossians 1:15-17)- God is Right (Daniel 4:34-35)- God is Purposeful (Acts 8:1-8)- God is Merciful (Jonah 3:1-5)We also talk about 4 crucial things that Christians ought to value and prioritize: - Kingdom > Country (Acts 17:7)- People > Politics (1 Peter 2:13-17)- Unity > Division (John 17:20-23)- Witness > Winning (Matthew 5:13-16)
The mastermind behind the kingdoms of man has always been our Adversary, the devil. His most sly, subtle, underestimated tactic through the ages has been to incite a spirit of rebellion in the heart of every person. The easiest route to deceiving people is through the kingdoms we call home and how they offer us an immediate semblance of comfort and peace. However, the Bible makes it clear that every nation, from every age and generation, is just another beast, in which God's people are placed to be lights and prophetic witnesses. In this message, we begin with Genesis 11 and hear the rally cry that is at the heart of every nation, kingdom, and empire. Mankind sets out to make a name for itself and build something for itself, to protect and preserve its own. Ultimately, this has always led to God being an afterthought and His greater purpose being forsook for something temporary. Listen as we navigate the tension of our desire for God to sanction and support the beasts of this world, while hearing the Word tell us clearly that our purpose is to endure and outlast our temporary homes. Hearing how the New Testament instructed Christians within Rome, offers a sobering perspective to us who find ourselves in a far more comfortable, albeit deceptive position. At the end of the day, our victory will never be found in the beastly kingdoms of this world obtaining or maintaining a certain standard. Our hope is in Jesus and He shows us how we might live for, rest in, and rely on Him and not conform to the image of the beast.
Samson is known for the riddles he told, but his life and story are a riddle in and of themselves. He was clearly gifted and used by God, while also being blatant and defiant in his sin. God's patience and sovereignty over Samson's life is contrasted by his own casual mishandling of sacred, serious moral issues. In this message, we look at Samson's remarkable strengths and startling weaknesses. We see how he eventually succumbed to the consequences of sin, which offers us a reflection of our own vulnerabilities. Listen as God's word brings us both conviction and healing.
In this message, we discuss what Heaven will be like for those who die in Christ and who are taken up when He returns. We look at how worship and a devotion to Jesus will be a constant according to Revelation. This leads into a reflection on how we understand worship here on earth and discussion about our unity with other believers. We also discuss the judgment that Christians will face and THE event that God the Father is most looking forward to when all His children are finally home.
When the final kingdom of this world has fallen, after 21 different judgments are poured out - there's still more to the story.When everything this world has called good and relied on for generations has been consumed and fades away - there's still something better on the horizon.In this message, we let the words of Revelation 19 instill us with hope and joy. After all of the doom and dread of Revelation 6-18, an Eternal Kingdom appears and shows us the destination that God has always promised.When the kingdoms and domains of this world are long past, there is a home in the Heavens that promises believers an eternity of bliss.
The Bible talks a great deal about strongholds of evil that are established by the devil, meant to frustrate and inhibit the work of God within the people of God. We often assume that these strongholds are built around places or groups of people, but they are actually most present within every heart. Misidentifying our true enemy has caused many of us to engage in the wrong battles and ignore the true battles within us. In this message, we discover how Satan builds fortresses in our hearts and how we cannot underestimate our own weaknesses. Ephesians gives us a battle strategy that has proven to be the only path forward in our fallen world.
Satan's greatest deception and most successful tactic against Christians has always been through religion. He has constantly worked to turn the movement of God, into a museum about God, where the mission is emphasized and mood and memories are prioritized.Through religion, Satan lulls us into a state of comfortable detachment from God, where we are deceived by a superficial association with Him. We fall for this artificial alternative, because it offers a quick ease for our conscience. Like the Jewish faith before ours, Christianity often devolves into just another religion. Churches become more about pacifying than propelling people forward and igniting passion with them. Listen as we discuss Satan's unnoticed stronghold at the center of our faith and how we might restore our churches to being the movement and mission that God intended.
Early on in life we learn how to monitor and modify our behavior based on our surroundings. While this may quell our bad habits and repercussions, eventually it begins to enable a worse habit. Overtime, we ignore the impulses behind the actions. We may not say or do the wrong things in front of the right people, but we still carry the sinful desires in our hearts. In this message, we examine our hearts through the many Biblical warnings about the origins of sin. Every sinful action flows from a sinful desire that has established a stronghold in our hearts. If we settle for pretending and masquerading, continually suppressing and excusing the enemies of our heart, then we will never truly break free from sin or be filled with better, godly emotions.
Being a Jesus follower means we've received a brand new identity, with access to a brilliant, unbelievable opportunity in God's Kingdom. In this message, we consider the wonder of Jesus' invitation to us all and how privileged we are to be included in God's plan. In spite of who we are compared to Him, He has chosen us to be key players in His mission to save the world and offers us an out-of-this-world anointing and purpose.
Everybody wants to be great. We want to be great in every category and on every level. Politicians promise greatness. Advertisement campaigns are all about making people feel and look great. Revelation looks forward to the final kingdom of man, which in many ways is the ultimate form of all the preceding kingdoms. Revelation 18 refers to Babylon as being great, exceeding everyone's expectations. However, it also previews Babylon and all of its greatness going down in flames. In this message, we take a look at how greatness according to this world is so vastly different than greatness according to God. Jesus came to a people so desperate to be greater than all the rest and showed them a brand new way forward. Listen as we discuss what makes one great in the Kingdom of God and how futile it is to chase greatness in this world.
Presiding over every kingdom of man, permeating the structures on every level of society is the spirit of Babylon. This agenda has long been leveraged by the Enemy to solidify and further the separation between God and man. In this message, we look at how the beastly kingdoms have always deceived the masses with illusions of power, treasure, and pleasure. These all have proven to be empty promises to every generation that falls for the traps set by the devil. What outwardly presents as beautiful, appealing to our flesh and pride, only ever leads to loss and death.
In an age of multitasking, we are also prone to multi-worship - that is, split our devotion between God and many other masters. We may not bow at idols like the ancient pagans, but we certainly order our lives around vain, lifeless rulers. In this message, we examine the many idols we have elevated above God and realize that much of our behavior reveals the altars we bow at. If we are going to follow Jesus, we must unfollow any and all that competes for first place in our lives. Good things that we've made ultimate. People that we've elevated to unholy heights. The things that our time, talent, and treasure flows to. All of these can become idols that not only rival God, but take His place in our hearts.
Revelation 16 gives us a glimpse of the day on which Earth's last mortal kingdom will fall. No matter how peaceful, prosperous, or powerful any nation or empire of this world may seem, there is an expiration date on them all. In this message, we look at the series of plagues that will fall on the earth in the last days. These all serve as judgements on a world that has believed itself to be invulnerable and self-sufficient. Truthfully, our world is pummeling towards a final day of distress and conflict. Our only hope is in the King above all kings, and His Kingdom to come.
Are you really following Jesus? It's one thing to say we believe or to obey certain religious commands, but following Jesus is truly measured in how we behave and live out our daily lives. In this message, we hold ourselves up to the ultimate litmus test of Christianity - The Sermon on the Mount. In this famous message, Jesus lays out a practical path for every disciple to walk. If we are truly His followers, it will show up in our real lives.
There have been many reminders of our world's fallen, fragile nature throughout the generations. As the Day of the Lord draws near, nature and society will fracture and crack even more. All of these things should cause us to look up... for our redemption is coming soon.
In this series, we go back to the basics (and the Bible) to discover the most essential truth about Christianity. That is, there is no version of the Christian faith where following Jesus is not at its heart. Our modern world defines Christianity dozens of different ways, with various degrees of severity and flexibility. However, according to God's Word, there is only one way to be a Christian- Be a Follower of Jesus. What does that mean? What does that look like? Listen to find out the simple, yet convicting foundation of our faith.
As merciful as our God is and as many chances as we are all afforded, eventually our earthly lives will come to an end. This doesn't take anything away from His grace, but points to God's sovereign plans and our finite nature. He's given us an opportunity to live for His glory and eventually, that opportunity will end. Our lives may end, but our stories will go on and be remembered forever. How we respond to God's grace all throughout our lives will determine how our stories play out and the legacy that will go with us into eternity. Listen as we consider the tragic story of Israel's last king and how a series of foolish decisions eventually led to the entire nation's defeat. Nobody in the story believed that the end would come so soon, until it was unfortunately too late. At that point, there would be no "come backs", but a reckoning for all that had led to this moment.
This message spotlights some of the most forgotten heroes of our faith who all experienced rejection and disappointment. God sent special revelation and comfort to them- which continues to serve as inspiration to us. Listen as we hear God's promises to raise us up from life's lowest moments and sustain us by His grace. In Christ, there is acceptance and a belonging that even our greatest disappointment can't undermine or overshadow.
In this message, we study the difference between those marked by the Beast vs those marked by the Lamb. Revelation 14 gives us a description of those redeemed by God, in contrast to those who have fallen completely away. Listen as we discuss God's image and what our lives look like when we've been restored through Christ.
Bitterness and resentment can be like an albatross around our neck- dead weight that will only drag us down and hold us back. Of course, nobody becomes bitter or resentful because they want to. In most cases, these emotions are the overflow of other peoples' actions. We would have much rather done without the hard feelings. In this message, we look at two powerful stories which spotlight the power of trusting in God and forgiving others. When life deals us an unfortunate, unfair hand, our instinctive response will almost always distance us from God's plans to redeem and restore us. Listen as we marvel at the likes of Jospeh, Joshua, and Caleb - who all took their hurt and betrayal to God and pressed on in spite of all that was stacked against them. They removed the weight from their necks and they allowed God to heal their hearts.
"God helps those that help themselves"This is an old proverb that is often repeated and even assumed to be rooted in the Scriptures. However, it couldn't be any further from the Bible and its truth. In this message, we study the life of a man who couldn't stop trying to help himself and brute force his way in life. It took decades of trying and continually overcomplicating everything for him to finally surrender to God's way. Many of us realize we need to improve and have obstacles to overcome, but if we don't follow God's path to recovery we will only make matters worse.
Satan has been attempting to copy and counter God since the Fall. He offers us up counterfeit, imitations to deceive people, and ultimately destroy them. Satan has long been desired to be worshipped in the place of God and has lured many to give the praise that only God deserves. In this message, we learn about his ultimate copy and what will be the culmination of all his schemes. When the Holy Spirit pulls back from this world and everything descends into chaos - the devil will revel in his chance to bring humanity down with him. His final act of deception will be through an antichrist- a knockoff messiah whose endgame will be everything but saving. Listen as we imagine a world that could fall for such a ploy and see how it's not as unlikely as it may first seem. There's much to speculate about concerning Revelation 13, but one things for sure - it represents a future point of no return for this world and everyone left in it.
Looming over every generation is a shadow of evil and deception. Our fallen world has been a domain of beasts- wild, unruly kingdoms with short-sighted vision and man-centered goals. In Revelation 13, John sees a vision of a world overran by a kingdom destined for judgement. Behind the nations, corporations, and institutions that lead people astray is a dragon- the same devil who has attempted to usurp God and destroy His people from the beginning. While most of the world is always bowing to the beast and its dragon overlord, a remnant of believers is called to persevere and keep the faith. Although oppression be fiery and obstacles be aplenty, the reward for the faithful is eternal. Listen as we talk about how Revelation 13 reflects our current world back at us and discover how we are all tempted to serve the beast every day. While certainly previewing the end of this age, this text proves to be a sobering reminder of the evil influence at work today and the call for us all to patiently endure.
We can't always start over or obtain a clean slate. Most of our lives are built on top of many sins, mistakes, unwelcome circumstances - but these don't have to be the end of us. Jesus invites us to put these things behind us and walk by faith, however limited it may be. He also calls for us to identify our sin and guilt and allow Him to extract it from our lives.Listen as this first message in our new series shows us the path forward from our most challenging, frustrating seasons of life. Indeed, we can take heart knowing that Jesus promises healing and restoration.
Revelation gives us a glimpse at the future reckoning which will come against our fallen world and the powers of darkness that overshadow it. We even get a brief look into the Spiritual realm, where God will once and for all bring an end to Satan and every force of evil. This short passage in Revelation 12 details the end of Satan as our accuser and promises an end to Satan as our stumbling block. In this message, we search the Scriptures for reasons as to why God has allowed him to be either of these throughout time. We hear conclusive truth on these matters and much more.Listen and be encouraged by God's sovereignty over evil and learn how we might endure and overcome every obstacle and trial for His glory.
When distresses come, is your initial response to worship the Lord? There probably isn't a more unnatural suggestion, right? Nonetheless, the Bible instructs us to do this again and again. Psalm 118 doesn't just tell us to do this though, it explains why we should and the blessing that's found when we do it. In this message, we learn why God sovereignly allows our lives to enter valleys and trials. We gain perspective on the prevailing goodness of God and His unfailing love. Listen as we find both comfort and challenge from God's Word on this ever-relevant subject. In our distresses, we can find refuge in the Lord. When troubles surround us, we can actually take solace knowing that we are right where we need to be, with God on our side.
Christians are called to seek out and set their minds on the better pathways made accessible through God's grace. Jesus has opened up to all of us a brand new way of life, whereby we walk in true fellowship with God and reflect Him to our world. In this message, we look at the most important of all the pathways laid out for us by God's Word: the Christian standard for our relationships. Listen as we unpack the selfless, humble way taught by Paul and demonstrated by Jesus Himself. We cannot be authentically, convincingly Christian if we are not Christ-like in this core, essential area of our lives. If we are going to truly walk with God and have relationships that endure and thrive, there is no other way than this...The health of our families, friendships, churches, and communities depends on every one of us embracing and committing to Philippians 2:3-5.
Nobody ever intends on getting lost, but we've all been there. Not just in our travels, but figuratively speaking. We've all arrived at places in our lives that are less than the best we dreamed about. As much as we'd like to hope otherwise, good intentions don't matter if we're going in the wrong direction. In this series, we discuss how if our hearts are not submitted to God's truth, then we will always find ourselves drifting and straying from the right path. Our emotions and senses deceive us and distract us again and again, disconnecting us from the good and right path. Listen as we discuss how we might confront our nature to perceive life and respond based on how we feel, by submitting our whole heart to God's rule. By seeking Him and setting our affections on Him, we can follow new rules for life and stay on His perfect path.
God's warning to Ancient Israel about how they might protect and preserve their freedom turns out to be just as relevant to our generation. Listen as we hear what the Bible says about our God given freedom, the fear that always follows it, and how we might ensure the best possible future for us and our children.
Before a storm rolls in, you can almost always hear thunder in the distance. Revelation 6 begins with thunder roaring from the Heavens, before going into great detail of the storm that will one day come upon this world. In this message, we breakdown the outline of the "Apocalypse" as described in Revelation 6. Ushered in by four horsemen, there is indeed a day of judgment on the horizon. Listen as we unpack what these signs could be pointing to and how it ultimately will lead to the earth's restoration.
We have such a unique opportunity before us each and every day, living under and by the promises of God. Our place in history only adds to the blessings of knowing Jesus. Our privilege and good fortune cannot be overstated.In this message, we hear Jesus hold us accountable by reminding us of our great opportunity and tremendous responsibility. May we all count our blessings and consider what God requires of us.
In this message, we take a look at three passages that highlight our Triune God and how He is Father, Son, and Spirit. In all three, we see how we can encounter Him and be transformed through a deep, personal relationship.
Pentecost is our annual reminder that Heaven's momentum is on our side. No matter what may seem to frustrate us, the mighty, rushing wind of Heaven is at our backs and driving us forward.
If there's one constant in Heaven, it's worship. Worship is ascribing praise to that which we consider most valuable. Obviously, there's no question that God is worthy of all the attention in Heaven. Revelation 4-5 gives us a glimpse of Heaven and challenges us to adopt a similar posture of worship here on earth.
The third section of Revelation begins in chapter 4 and continues until the end of the book. After speaking to the things which God had done through Christ and addressing the Church, John is called up to Heaven to see what the future holds. In this message, we learn about the promise of rapture and resurrection that the Church will experience one day. We discuss all that the Bible teaches about this our ultimate hope. We also catch a glimpse of what awaits every believer upon our arrival to Heaven and discover how we can get a taste of it here on earth.
We all want forgiveness. We all want to feel forgiven, free from our guilt and shame. In this message, we look at this universal longing of every human heart and how God alone can answer it. He has always wanted us to know that He is forgiving and desires to give us peace. Jesus made the great exchange, when He took our guilt and shame, in order to give us salvation. Through Christ, we can receive forgiveness and by His grace, we can be redeemed in full.
Jesus' final word to the Church in Revelation spotlights two different congregations, on opposite extremes of the spectrum. One was persevering against all odds, while the other had lost sight of God completely. In this message, we hear Jesus encourage us to embrace all of the grace that God has for us and make the most of every opportunity. We also hear a word that challenges any notion of complacency or sin that may creep into our hearts. He has set an open door in front of us all, but we must keep the door to our hearts opened. He is always willing, but we must always keep heart set on Him.
Jesus issues a stern warning to the Church about the Enemy's plot to sidetrack us from our mission. The greatest danger may seem to be from those who seek to do us harm, but according to Jesus it's something much more subtle. In this message, we talk about Satan's strategy to corrupt the Church from within, to plant seeds of compromise and turn us away from the Truth. Listen as Jesus calls us all to be wake up and walk in our sacred purpose.
If Jesus were to speak to the Church today, what would He say?It would probably be pretty close to what He said to the Churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3. In this message, we look at His word to the first selection of congregations, bringing both peace and pressure. Our time serving as His Church is limited and borrowed. His return is certain, which brings us comfort. However, this also brings us a certain level of conviction, knowing that we will give an account for how we spent our time on His stage.
Every decision we make and action we take involves some kind of sacrifice. Regardless who those sacrifices are made for, there's no denying that all of our priorities are a result of a series of sacrificial choices. In this message, we once again hear Jesus call us to a life devoted to following Him- one in which we must be willing to lay everything down for God. We consider how Jesus is speaking to the sacrifices we all make and that He is simply trying to steer us in the best direction. If we are going to live forever in Heaven and if how we live on earth is going to impact our eternity- shouldn't we welcome Jesus' guidance on how to spend our lives? If He knows what's best and how we can avoid making the wrong sacrifices, why wouldn't we listen to what He has to say?
From the day that Jesus launched His Church, He has invited every one of His followers to join it and help build it. Yes, that includes every one of us. Ephesians 4 is one of many invitations from God to us all, that we would wake up to our calling and realize the role we've been given. Not only are we all called, but we are also all gifted by God.Called and gifted, this message shows us how we can live lives that matter for God's Kingdom and make much of every opportunity. The Church services equips us so that we might serve and edify the Church Body. If we all do our share, the Church will become a stronger, more united movement for God.
Revelation was given to the Church to be a timeless resource of inspiration for every generation. As the church exists in the margins of society, enduring great trials, this book is meant to always restore our hope.In this opening message, we look at the landscape of the Church across the first century and see how God was calling them to maintain their witness and keep their hopes anchored in Christ. Revelation 1's words prove just as relevant to us and remind us to keep our eyes on Heaven, always.
Of all the powers that ruled and fought for control of the Ancient Middle East, Persia was the one nation that Israel never engaged in conflict with. In fact, Persia played a special role in restoring Israel after a long period of captivity. This makes the mention of a future war between Israel and Persia one of the most perplexing prophecies of the Bible.Fast forward a few thousand years, and a long winding road has led to our current world, where Israel and Persia (Iran) have seemed destined for war for decades now. After years of threats and false starts, Iran has finally made its first move against Israel. In this message, we chronicle the journey that Israel has taken over the past 2000 years and discuss the fulfilled prophecy of Ezekiel 37. We also take a look at how the Arab nations responded to Rome's erasure of Israel and how history was rewritten in its absence. All of this leads us into a historical overview of the 21st century, where Israel was reborn and Iran became its greatest rival. Listen as we discuss how this ancient prophecy suddenly becomes as relevant as it ever has been. So much remains uncertain, but one things for sure- God is sovereign over the nations and everything is progressing according to His plans.
It's His Church. It's our turn. And Peter is our greatest example of how to mature from a Jesus consumer to a true Jesus follower. Simon Peter started following Jesus for the same reason anyone does- Jesus did something for him. Peter immediately got lost in the wonder of what else Jesus might do for his life, so he became one of Jesus' first and most vocal disciples.As Jesus cast His vision for what His movement would look like, Peter and others questioned their involvement. While Peter made bold confessions, his behavior clearly revealed his compromised heart. When association with Jesus proved to be a great risk, Peter abruptly unfollowed Him. However, Jesus didn't give up on Peter...In this message, we see Peter's transformation from self-seeking to Kingdom-seeking. We see how he eventually arrives at an all-in mentality and challenges the rest of the Church to do whatever it takes to stay obedient to Jesus.
Easter brings us into a brand new, resurrection reality. We don't have to fall back to our old ways, our former emotions and behaviors because we have been lifted up with Christ. Listen and learn how Jesus' resurrection transforms us from the inside-out!
Jesus cast a grand vision from the very onset of His ministry that became more and more central to His message as time went on. After His resurrection, He reminded His disciples how everything had been building up to this moment. Now it was their turn...In this message, we hear Jesus lay the foundation for His Church and learn how it is God's big plan for every generation. Listen as Jesus passes the baton to us and learn how He prayed specifically for us- that we might make the most of our opportunity to be His Church. Now it's our turn...
What's so "good" about the Friday on which Jesus died? Hindsight is everything and allows us to see exactly what God was doing through Jesus' crucifixion. Listen as we discuss the major promises of Good Friday: Our Hope, Our Purpose, and God's Love
Jesus came to redefine what it meant to know and follow God. While many believed He was Messiah after seeing the signs and wonders, they still had a warped understanding of what the Messiah had come to do. The heart of Mark's Gospel shows Jesus challenging His followers' conviction about godliness, teaching them about a true, genuine relationship with God.In this message, we hear Jesus detail what living a godly life looks like. He teaches us how to be/do good and how to be great in the Kingdom of God. His way stands in sharp contrast to our preconceived notions and ideologies, but will save us from a wasted, selfish life.
On Palm Sunday, the shouts were, "Hosanna, Blessed be the name of the Lord." Just a few days later, on Good Friday, the cries were, "Crucify Him!" and curses were shouted at Jesus.Things changed so quickly, revealing the ongoing, hypocrisy and rebellion at the heart of humanity. However, Jesus' resolve and mission remain the same. He wasn't a king like they had expected, when they waved palm branches and lauded Him with praise. He was a different kind of king, come to do something unthinkable and unexpected. Jesus had come to bring redemption to our rebel race, to bring salvation instead of judgment. As Passion Week unfolded, the worst of humanity would be on full display, while the absolute best would be poured out by God. On this Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus the King - a King like no other. Although the celebration 2000 years ago was short-lived, He has indeed ascended to His throne and we owe Him nothing but shouts and praise.
How did Jesus meet (and exceed) all of the Old Testament expectations for what the Messiah would be like? Listen as we study and discuss how Mark presents Jesus as:- The Most Brilliant Teacher, revealing the secrets to knowing God- The Master and Lord Over All, deserving our full trust- The Ultimate Healer, who saves us from sin and death
Religion often makes it seem that God is most passionate about being right and condemning sinners. Jesus came to reveal that God was actually most passionate about being right with sinners. In this message, we see Jesus face off against the Pharisees, with a sinful woman's fate hanging in the balance. We learn how Jesus came to save us from our sin and the debt we all owe. We also learn how Jesus came to save us from having to save ourselves. Because of Jesus, sinner and pharisee alike can be fully saved and totally freed. In Christ, there is no more shame, no more sin, and no more self-righteousness.
Jesus is the full expression of God's passion. As Jesus told Nicodemus, His mission on earth was driven by love and meant to demonstrate God's love for the world. The story in John 4 underscores God's passion for people in that it features Jesus going out of His way to reach a certain woman. In the same way that Jesus was driven by passion, so can we find a new, totally satisfying way of life in Him.
Check out the first installment in our Road to Calvary Bible Study. An outline is providing below:The Road to Calvary: Heaven Sent - Mark 11) A Bridge from Old to New - 1:1-8- Fulfilling Old Testament - Replacing Old Covenant - Providing New Way 2) A Connection between God and Man - 1:9-13- Relationship with man- Relationship with God- Rescue from Enemy3) A Pathway from Earth to Heaven - 1:14-20- Change your outlook- Change your occupation- Confront your opposition
Sometimes God's plans for our lives are different than the plans we've envisioned for ourselves. Sometimes we can easily conflate worldly success with God's perfect will. Listen as David learns that God was taking his life in a different direction than he anticipated. While at first he resists and fights against it, he later surrenders to the greater work that God had in mind to do.
For thousands of years, the people of Israel had God's Word, full of sufficient revelation about God. Even though this should have been enough to bring people to Him, God decided to do something greater for the lost, confused world. When God took on flesh, the Logos took on Pathos - God poured His heart on all creation. Jesus came showcasing God's passion for the world, seeking to ignite passion within us all. Listen as we unpack the irresistible invitation that Jesus has given us all and learn how we might come and see how God can change our lives.
The story of Jonathan is one that's too often overlooked and perhaps misunderstood. As King Saul is driven by ego and jealousy, his relationship with his son was fractured. David found himself in the middle of their strife and got to observe one of the most humbling, inspiring acts in all the Scriptures. Listen as Jonathan shows us how beauty can be found amidst life's letdowns and how God is at work in our greatest disappointments.
The early church set the bar for what it looked like to walk in the fullness of our salvation. The original disciples were just ordinary people, made into extraordinary servants of God by the power of Christ. Listen as we marvel at the extent they all went to in their service to God and learn how we might measure up to the original, Christian standard.
We are no match for our spiritual giants - our flesh and sin. On our own, we are outranked and outnumbered. We need a Savior. The story of David and Goliath is a picture and preview of the work that Jesus came to do for us all, and the New Life that He enables us to live. In Christ, we can face our giants and we can indeed overcome. Just as He overcame sin and death, we can walk in this gift of salvation and be empowered by His grace.
There's a fine line between being called by God and actually knowing every detail about His plan for our life. Navigating this space between requires waiting with patience and trust.In this message, we talk about how God always has a plan laid out and how we can have confidence that He will open doors in due time. We also discuss how we should conduct ourselves while we wait and once the opportunities begin to come.
In this message we learn how aiming to live an extraordinary life means we own each moment that God presents to us.
Jesus said that following Him leads us into an abundant, extraordinary life. In this message, we hear how our lives can go above and beyond for God's Glory.
God is not the least bit impressed, moved by, concerned with physical appearance or experience. Religion loves to emphasize appearance, experience- the sights, sounds, feelings. However, God cares about our hearts, what kind of person we are.
While it was never God's perfect will for Saul to be Israel's king, God was more than willing to bless and guide him. Refusing to defer the glory to God and humble himself, Saul set out on a path of self-destruction. Listen as we learn about Saul's downfall, a reign that was quickly disgraced through foolish, short-sighted decisions. We discuss the difference between putting God first and putting one's self first, and learn where the greatest gain is found.
When his father sets aside his duties as king and takes the day off, Jonathan steps up to the plate and is determined to protect God's people. Unsure of what he should do, he turns to the Lord and puts all of his trust in Him. Listen as we discuss what it looks like to fully rely on God and be willing to obey Him even amidst uncertainty.
From our ears to our hearts, there's often a disconnect between we've heard and what we feel able to do. When it comes to hearing God's Word, we all have had intentions of following through, yet somethings frustrates our hearts again and again. In this message, we talk about the importance of clearing our minds and giving priority to God's promises and guidance. If our minds are preoccupied or distracted by lesser things, then our hearts will never be filled with God's peace and power. Listen as we study about this battle within all of our minds and learn how we might can endure and overcome.
Many things in life leave us broken and can make us bitter, but what if God has a plan and intends all along to make us better than before? Listen as Job's story inspires us to take heart in the midst of all uncertainty and find hope in God's promises.
In one of Jesus' most dramatic sermons, He addressed how serious it is for us to continue in sin and what great extent we ought to go to in order to overcome it. His proposed solution is intentionally extreme, meant to make all of us pause and consider how detrimental it is to remain out of God's Will. Listen as we discuss the nature of sin and how it causes all of us struggles in various ways. We hear Jesus offer us grace and true deliverance from the many stumbling blocks that we all face. We all know what it's like to face temptations and trials, but we can likewise know and experience the help God promises to provide.
With every new year comes unknowns and unpredictability. We often wonder and worry over what we cannot be certain about. However, there is far more that is known and predictable about any given year than we may realize. Every January, a new cycle begins, with much of what we've experienced before set to repeat. Having been there and done that, we have the wisdom we need to face whatever comes our way. In this message, we focus on the constants and certainties that we can count on this year. Most important of them all, is the promise and assurance of our God. We've witnessed Him work, provide, deliver, and comfort us year after year - surely He has prepared us for what lies ahead? Listen as we reflect on what we've learned from years past and set our sights on what might come next. Whether 2024 brings many opportunities or challenges, we know that God will show. He always has and He always will.
God intended on building a kingdom through the prophet Samuel, that would unite Israel around His Will and Way. Yet after glimpses of revival, the people chose to prioritize their own kingdom. In this message, we examine the poor choice made by Israel and how it reflects our own common misunderstandings of prayer and submission to God. We'll see how the people took the bait of worldly looks and power and shifted their faith from God to mere man. In this study, we learn how easy it is to repeat this mistake and also how to easily avoid it.As Saul is chosen to be their king, God invites him to use his position to seek after a greater glory - an invitation that we all receive with every gift that is given to us. Listen and learn what it means to be a good steward of God's varied grace. By remembering and honoring Him in all that we do, we will faithfully manage and leverage our lives for His Kingdom's sake.
Christmas changed everythingHistory bears witness to the indisputable mark that Christmas and the birth of Jesus left on this world. There's just no denying just how significant a day that first Christmas was. The question is, do our hearts bear witness to a similar impact? Has Jesus and the reality of Christmas changed us?
Christmas explains so much about God. It brings clarify and understanding to His approach throughout history and adds context to what may guide His decisions over any of our lives. The finer details of the Christmas story, particularly those God selected to be front and center of it all, are meant to underscore the nature of the salvation He brought into the world.In this message, we discover the joy that's available to us all through the Christmas gift. We observe how He chose the most unexpected cast of characters to bring about a universal gift for every unique individual. No matter what may work against us, God has chosen us and offers us true and lasting joy.
The romanticized version of the Christmas story that we all know so well is accepted by most as the picture of peace. We sing songs about how that first Christmas night was filled with an otherworldly peace. Indeed, it seems as if Heaven and Earth became one for a small moment of time.In reality, the story behind Christmas was anything but picture-perfect. Every person in the story faced so much uncertainty and so many unknowns. From the immense pressure that was placed upon Mary, to the doubt within Joseph, to the horror that came from Herod's decree - Christmas is far from a fairy tale, that lacked any drama. In this message, we dive into the details and factors at play in the Christmas story and discover how God brought peace in spite of these challenges. While it's often hard for us to imagine peace in the storms of life, Christmas reminds us that it's actually in those storms that we find and receive true, heavenly peace.
There are many verses and passages in the Bible that direct our attention to the skies above as proof of the wonder and glory of God. The ancients were especially in tune with the stars believing that something was being communicated by God through the many celestial phenomenons.In this message, we zero on a particular group of people who spent many centuries tracking the stars, hoping to hear a word from God. While the people of Israel had many signs and prophecies concerning the coming Savior, this foreign group knew only what the skies told them.Listen as we learn how their many years of observation paid off in the most spectacular, famous of ways. Perhaps no revelation punctuates God's thorough preparation for that first Christmas than what is revealed in this message...
Nothing sweeps over our world quite like the Christmas season. The Spirit of Christmas is unlike anything, utterly dominating and overshadowing anything in its vicinity. Many generations have come and gone, where some wondered if Christmas would remain such a powerful force. Of course, it has persisted and proves unstoppable. In this message, we discuss why Christmas' continuation and ever-growing relevance should embolden every believer with confidence in God. We look back at the many ways Satan attempted to stop the first Christmas from every happening, only to fan its flames in the end. The enemy has not and never will prevail at thwarting God's plans. God's sovereignty over history proves that we can absolutely trust Him with our lives. Christmas promises that God will always be with us and will always be for us - What more could we need to have endless peace and joy in our hearts?
The Christmas season brings a sense of wonder and joy along with it, unrivaled by every other time of year. It's often said that Heaven draws closer to Earth every December. In this message, we learn how this might very well be the case. However, the true intersection of Heaven and Earth may surprise you. Listen as we discuss how Christmas parties could resemble Heaven more than any other scene on earth.
The short book of Habakkuk is unlike any other book of the Bible. It also stands out in contrast to all the other prophets. In it we get to read a back-and-forth conversation between Habakkuk and God, as the prophet brings his concerns before the Lord. Long lay the world, in sin and error pining - with the nation of Israel especially feeling the effects of the world's brokenness. Now facing invasion and captivity, Habakkuk comes to God wondering how much longer Israel would have to wait for God to move. This is a position that we can all easily relate to. In this message, we discuss the hope that is promised to us through the Advent season and how Christmas offers us an assurance that those in the ancient world never knew. We hear God's response to Habakkuk and discover how we also can find a renewed sense of hope.
In this message, we hear the Bible command us to give thanks to God, no matter the circumstances and detached from feelings. We discuss how this may fly in the face of human nature, but how it also offers us the ultimate freedom and powerful perspective. Listen as Psalm 100 and King David show us the the true heart of worship and how our lives can be transformed through giving thanks.
In this message, we take a broad look at Revelation and seek to understand how God will reclaim and restore the earth one day. We focus on the Enemy's tightening grip on this world and how God will use a revived nation of Israel to overcome evil once and for all.
The Bible contains many prophesies, most of which have already been fulfilled. From the promise of a Savior, to the story of Ancient Israel, God's Word proves trustworthy time and time again. There are in fact many prophecies that are yet unfulfilled, that give us a glimpse at what is to come in this world. This message shows us what's in store for the earth and how God has a definite plan to restore and reclaim our fallen planet.
In part two of "Whole Heart", we hear from Jesus on how we might experience the fullness of God in our lives. After commanding us to "seek first the Kingdom of God", He makes it clear that God wants our whole heart so that He might make us whole and complete. Listen as we discover how committed Jesus is to restoring us and empowering our lives, and embrace the challenge to be as committed to Him and obtaining His will for our lives.
This is the first of a two part study on God's desire to make our hearts whole. In this message, Jesus reveals to us that our hearts are compromised and weighed down by so much from this world. As uncomfortable as it may be to hear, Jesus doesn't mince His words and shows us the only pathway forward...Listen as Jesus reflects our hearts back at us and offers us a way to be untangled and set free.
God's choice way of evangelism has always been through inspired people sharing how their lives have been transformed. While the Gospel is based on objective truth, Gospel witnessing has always, also leaned on our own personal testimonies. Ultimately, Jesus does the same work in all of us, but our individual circumstances allow for unique opportunities to tell others about Him. In this message, we hear the Scripture's call for every Christian to share their testimonies. If our eyes have been opened, then we've got a story to tell.
Who is Jesus?This is the question that matters more than anything when defining our faith and sharing it with others. In this message, we discover how God worked across generations to set the stage and prepare the world for its Savior to arrive. Jesus came to take on sin and death, and bring redemption to all people. Knowing who Jesus is, what He did, and what He wants to do in all of us is essential when it comes to sharing our faith and leading others to God.
As Christians we are expected to be ready to share our faith at any given time. We are all well aware of this imperative. We've heard countless messages on the Great Commission and about evangelism. This series isn't another reminder of why we must do this, but all about helping us narrow in on the story we have to tell.In this message, we trace our faith back to its earliest stages and observe the odds stacked against every believer. Somehow, someway the church endured and expanded across the ages, and left an undeniable impact on our world. Listen as we marvel at the journey the church has taken to allow us the opportunity we enjoy today. As we consider all the details, we realize some of the most incredible reasons to believe are found in this story.
"Make Us Like All The Other Nations"Israel made this infamous request to Samuel and to God, after years of deflecting God's calling over them. He desired for Israel to be a light unto the world, unlike all the rest to hopefully make Him known. In this message, we relate Israel's request to the desire of our own fleshly nature and discover their one in the same. We hear how the Bible calls us in a different, better way and learn what it means to be set apart to God. How can we be a people unlike all the rest, driven by completely different motives and desires? Thankfully, the way of Jesus and the way of His Cross show us exactly what to do.
When God installed Samuel as Israel's Judge, the nation was deeply immersed in sin. For Samuel to reach them, he would be engaging with a people given over to idols, with hearts far from God. In this message, we talk about the approach Samuel must have taken and relate that to our own Christian mandate under the Great Commission.
Sometimes God sees us going in the wrong direction and prevents us. Sometimes He says "No" to our misguided requests. However, there are times when He observes our ungodly desires and permits us get exactly what we wanted. This is the Permissive Will of God.God is always sovereign, even when He lets us walk away. It's His mercy at work, hoping that we will one day realize our error and return to Him.In this message, we discuss Israel's desire for a king and how God granted them their request. They asked for permission to replace God at the center of their nation, and He obliged. We spend the bulk of the message dissecting exactly what Israel was looking for in a king, and why it was far from God's Will. We then talk about God's Perfect Will vs His Permissive Will, and conclude around one simple question:In your approach to God, are you asking for permission or are you coming to Him in submission?
Within all of us is a longing to belong, to matter, to find, feel, and sustain significance. This is core to our nature as humans. Unfortunately, our nature often misleads us in our quest to belong. We make plans and take paths to arrive at this place, yet we aren't always happy with our destination. In this message, we tune into our heart's cry for more and listen as God's Word guides us to the right solution. The Bible doesn't just criticize our misguided nature, but draws us towards our Savior, Jesus Christ. We find in Him the ultimate sense of belonging, through a relationship with God and a membership in His family. Listen as we sync our hearts with God's remedy for our longing souls. May this message help you have greater clarity about what you need the most and a greater passion to make the most of this God-given invitation.
In our conclusion to our series all about the coming Judgment Day, we take a look at some of the final messages Jesus ever preached, pertaining our preparation for Eternity and what's at stake. Jesus doesn't mince words as He urges us to live a life of readiness and anticipation, refusing to risk our Eternal gain on anything temporary.Listen as we unpack His sobering words and seek to apply them to our own lives. Jesus is loud and clear about how nothing comes close to the importance of Spirituality and our faithfulness. An otherwise invested life will leave us with an eternity of intense sorrow and immense regret... which begs the question: Is this a risk we're willing to take?
Idolatry is still the greatest temptation that we all face today. There is this subtle desire to take the idea of God and reshape Him into our image and redefine worship in a self-serving, self-seeking way. We often imagine idolatry in the ancient world as outright apostasy, but it was much more cunning than that. It was additive to faith in the one true God, almost like a back-up plan or an attachment that allowed for more personal input. The children of Israel had fallen away from true faith and saw God as nothing more than an idol they could manipulate. Their poor witness would end up leading their neighboring nations astray.In this message, we are reminded that God is a King to be served, not an idol to be manipulated. We discuss the temptation of serving idols and examine our own understanding of faith.Are we here for ourselves, or are we here to worship, serve, and honor God? Is our main motivator in worship our own gain and glory, or is it God's? The answer to these questions will reveal whether God is just another idol to us or if He is truly our King.
Anger is a feeling we're all well acquainted with. While some anger can seem unfounded, there is a kind of anger that can seem justified, even righteous. Indignation is a sensation we feel when we've been wronged or when someone we love is wronged. This is a kind of anger that we feel like we must hold on to, lest someone be let off the hook...The unfortunate reality of anger however, means that we are the ones who are actually on the hook. No matter how just our anger is, it will still never be fully and finally satisfied. Anger offers no actual resolution, other than keeping us miserable and enslaved.In this message, we wrestle with this uncomfortable subject, while hearing how the Bible firmly compels us to forgive and love. At the heart of these radical commands is an opportunity to entrust our anger and hurt into God's hands. We consider the story of Joseph and are humbled by how he was able to choose forgiveness and see the goodness of God in spite of his brothers' evil.The shadow of the Cross of Christ should remind us how God chose to respond to all sin, including the sin that caused us so much hurt. The promise of a Judgment Day should remind us that one day we will have our full and final vindication. Until then, we must learn how to trust in God's plans and be confident in His role as our Good and Righteous Judge.
Imagine a world where everyone lived with Eternity on our minds at all times. Imagine a world where we all recognized that how we live out this life will have some sort of impact on what's next. Imagine a world where everyone lived, loved, and served knowing that these are what properly prepare us for Eternity...This shouldn't have to be an imaginary version of this world, but should indeed be ordinary for every believer. If we all lived each day aware that our current lives will impact our eternal state, we'd strive to live in this extraordinary way. In this message, we read how the Bible promises that Judgment Day can be a day of rewards for every believer, if we have lived our lives with an eternal mindset. If we are seeking to honor Christ and allow Him to live through us, then we have nothing to fear about the coming judgment. In fact, we can look forward to that Day if we dedicate every day to God.
Believers under the Old Covenant didn't know many of the luxuries that we do when it comes to our relationship with God. One of our greatest privileges is knowing that God is always with us and that even when He can't be felt, His Spirit still abides near to us. For many complex reasons, God's presence was confined to a particular place and was only accessed through specific rituals. This led many to see God as a mere object that they could manipulate. They had a "God Box" that they attempted to control and use for their own gain. In this message, we break down the differences between accessing God then and now, and we learn about the many restrictions under the Old Covenant. We also see how Israel misunderstood God completely and reduced Him down to a commodity. In this text, they learn the valuable lesson of seeing God as anything less than their one and only King.
Learning how to listen to God is probably one of the most important habits we can develop. Having ears to hear means we not only listen to what He says, but we retain with an eager heart. We listen with an ambition to apply, obey, and do. In this message, we find in a young Samuel what it means to listen and learn from the Lord. Just as he came before God with an open mind and heart, so must we come humbly and earnestly to God's Word. There is nothing standing in between us and the Bible, unless we choose to be distracted or otherwise engaged. If we have ears to hear, we will present ourselves to God and say as Samuel did - "Speak, for your servant hears".
In this message, we take a closer look at Hannah's devotion to God in an ungodly world. We find inspiration in her perseverance and patience, as she committed herself to God through prayer. No doubt, her faithfulness fanned the flame in her son's heart as he began to pursue the Lord.
Listen and see how this mother and son stood out in their generation and ushered in the presence of God like never before.
When you think of Judgment Day, are you filled with anticipation or dread? Certainly this subject and all things to do with Eternity causes us all to react differently. While the Bible doesn't tell us much or anything about when it is coming or what things will be like afterwards, it most definitely reminds us again and again that there is a Judgement Day on the horizon for us all. Either we will run out of time, or time will run out on us. This series is all about coming to terms with the certainty and reality of Judgment Day and what awaits us in the next life. At its core, it's all about learning the importance of preparing for what's next by making the most of every single day. However, Jesus came to make it clear that whatever preparations we make must be built on the shoulders of His own preparation on our behalf. This message is all about learning why Jesus came and how He can make Judgment Day something we actually look forward to. Because of what's He done for us, we can know for sure where we're going to live forever. He invites us to follow Him and discover God's greatest gift for all humanity - Jesus received judgement for us, so that we might receive salvation from Him.
Have you ever been so impatient that you ruined a surprise that someone had prepared for you? What about being so insistent on knowing how a story ended that you read the the back of the book when you were only a few chapters in?
We've all got harmless stories like these to tell, but our impatience isn't limited to these kind of moments, are they? In different situations and seasons of our lives, we grow impatient with waiting on things to work out. Often, we become very frustrated with not knowing how things are going to play out. The thought of simply waiting on, trusting and resting in God's higher plan isn't at the top of our minds.
This message is all about our struggles in those waiting periods of our lives, where we grow impatient and restless. We've all responded to the unknowns with impulsive decisions that have left us with many regrets, which begs the question, why didn't we listen to God's promises?
If Jesus is our Lord and Savior - if He is who the Bible tells us He is and if He loves us like He claims to, why wouldn't we turn to Him? When our stories are on pause, rather than dwelling on the rest of the story, what if we simply rested and trusted in Him?
With so much on the line, there is a peace and power we can take hold of when we remain patient and faithful. There's also great consequences if we give into our impatience. Listen and hear from God's Word on how you can step into true, lasting rest.
A nation set apart for God's glory and the world's redemption was years in the making by days of 1 Samuel. The pieces and building blocks were in place, but the Hebrews were still spinning their wheels for the most part. However, thanks to a few faithful, chosen people things were finally going to come into place.This study, "Rising Kingdom" is going to chronicle the tribes of Israel finally coming under an anointed king and reaching their long-awaited potential. 1 Samuel's opening pages spotlights a generation with a rather bleak outlook, immersed in immorality, corruption, and spiritual confusion. This message shows how one person seemingly trapped in the worst possible circumstances brought Heaven's power down to earth. Thanks to her humble, patient prayers, a new day was about to dawn for Israel and a kingdom was about to rise up....
Have you ever had to fill a role occupied by someone else... someone that was particularly lauded and celebrated for their accomplishments and success? If you have, you probably faced that obligation with all sorts of emotions. The pressure of expectations, comparison, and opinions are enough to cause us to stumble before we even get started. Truth be told, it's almost impossible to fill someone else's shoes and even more difficult to attempt to walk in their shoes.
If you've ever faced this kind of scenario, then you have an idea of what Joshua was dealing with when tapped to take Moses' place as Israel's leader. Just the thought of losing Moses, sent the entire nation into a state of mourning. After his passing, entering the Promised Land became an afterthought, as all the people stood still, numb and overcome by his death. How was Joshua ever going to gain their approval? How would he ever fill Moses' shoes?
In this message, we hear God confront Joshua amidst his fear and anxiety, and put on repeat an encouraging, empowering message. God calls on Joshua to take courage and not even attempt to put on Moses' shoes, but to simply walk in his own and be himself. God hadn't called Joshua to be another Moses. God wanted Joshua to be the best version of himself.
Listen and find the courage to be who God has called YOU to be. See that the ground beneath you is His Holy Ground and make sure the shoes on your feet are uniquely yours.
The final chapter of 2 Corinthians is a fitting send-off for a book all about RESTORATION. Listen as Paul makes one last plea for the Corinthians to be restored to their true potential in Christ. While we are accepted in our weaknesses, Jesus will never leave us that way. To be saved is to be filled with His restoring power.
Paul also calls on us to examine our relationships with God and be on guard against Satan's deception. The devil is relentless in trying to undo the work of God in our lives, but thankfully Jesus is much more resilient and He is much more efficient with in restoring power towards us.
Have you ever been given an assignment that immediately made you feel inadequate? We've all been in those classrooms or meeting rooms where someone asked us to do something that felt way beyond our skillset. In real life, we've all stepped into challenging seasons and circumstances that made us doubt if we could endure any or all of it.
However, at the core of our doubts and fears isn't an inability or a lack of resources. Usually, what's really holding us back is a lack of confidence. We may feel like we don't have it in us, but truth be told, we just need more confidence.
In this message, we look at the story of Moses and see how God came to him at his lowest and weakest and called him into the most incredible work. Moses resisted and made countless excuses, but God wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Likewise, life often doesn't accept our "no's" and our excuses don't remove our burdens and callings. We need more than faith to step up and step out; we need confidence.
Listen as Moses receives a revelation from God that puts all of his weaknesses and doubts in perspective. Like Moses, we all have many shortcomings and setbacks, but we can learn exactly what he learned:
I Am Not, But I Know Who Is I Am Not, But I Know He Is I Am Weak, But Through The Power of I AM I Can Be Strong
In a letter filled with heartfelt, impassioned expressions from the Apostle Paul, his words in this passage may be the most remarkable. Certainly these do not get the attention they deserve, but in this message we attempt to give them their due.
Listen and marvel at how Paul showcases his compassion and love for the lost, backslidden, and unconcerned believers in and around Corinth. His humbling words expose our often angry and cynical hearts, and show us how to love like Jesus does.
Faith is the starting point of a relationship with God. However, faith is not exclusive to this area of our life. We exercise faith every day of our lives, in so many different lanes of life. Thus, when it comes to knowing God, it's not a matter of having enough faith but simply transitioning and shifting our faith over to Him.
In this message, we hear how the Scriptures define faith as the foundation and catalyst of coming to know the Lord. We also deconstruct the myth that faith must be blind, seeing as the Bible emphasizes God's trustworthiness and proven track-record.
By focusing on the story of Abraham, we learn how his story should cause ever hearer to be confident in God. Much the same, the work of Jesus and the growth of His Church demands that we all evaluate where our faith rests. God has given us substantial proof, highlighting His reign and redemption plan.
Christianity at its core is all about hearing God's invitation and trusting His Word. Everything else that matters - righteousness, obedience, discipleship - flows from this starting point.
"Sometimes God chooses to remove it. Oftentimes, He chooses to use it."
In this message, we dive into the physical, mental, and spiritual struggles and trials that we face and learn how we are not alone in our suffering. The Apostle Paul reveals that like us, he asked God to remove him from many valleys, yet God had a different plan...
Listen and learn how God can meet us in our greatest weaknesses and show us His grace and fill us with His power. What feels like being emptied could actually be the beginning of our empowerment.
Greater than getting what we want is becoming who God wants us to be. What may feel like an exit ramp away from God's goodness, could prove to be an entry point into His grace and power.
Like Paul, and many others before us, we must learn to rely on God for His greater provisions and trust that His grace is sufficient and at our weakest, we can indeed become our strongest.
Any given season brings with it all sorts of opportunities. Sometimes those opportunities are limited to that very season. When time has passed, the window often closes.
In this message, we hear the Bible urge us to make the most of time before it gets away from us. We turn to the story of Israel coming unraveled at the seams, and hear the prophet Jeremiah call on the people to return to God. Ultimately, they don't repent and Jeremiah sits down despondent and overcome with grief over this missed opportunity.
On this note, we discuss the ways that God might be trying to get our attention, and consider how this door may not always be open for us. What more could be on the line for any of us, on any given day? God has set life before us and offers us entrance into His Kingdom, how could we put off responding to Him?
A message all about discipleship:
- What our motives should be as followers of Jesus
- What an active, working faith looks like
- How ready and willing we should be to respond to Jesus
- The impact of true, pure faith
A prayer for each day:
God give me eyes to recognize when you pass by Give me ears to hear what you command me to do Give me feet that are swift to go wherever you send me
The world has really changed over the last 150 years or so. Nothing is more emblematic of this transformation than summertime and all that it means to most of us. What once was a time of year that only made work more grueling, now mean vacation and days of play. America introduced brand new categories to the world, through which we've come to enjoy far better standards of living than our predecessors.
We've relished in this American Dream for more than a century now, but has it made us all any happier? In so many ways, we're as strung out, stressed out, and burnt out as ever before. Perhaps all the avenues that promise us everything we could ever want, only actually tease us of what they cannot truly provide us.
In this message, we hear an ancient anthem of Israel which reminded the people of God of their need for true revival. While Israel was enjoying prosperity like never before, Psalm 85 pointed them to their greater, outstanding, spiritual need.
This Psalm reminds us of the story of Jacob, how he once set his mind on worldly dreams and desires, but was later awakened to the Lord, was revived, and even received a new name.
Greater than any dream of this world and more fulfilling than any desire of our flesh, is seeing God's dreams realized in us and being brought to life by His power.
Remember the church trend from a few decades ago that prompted the question, What Would Jesus Do? Well, we don't really ever have to wonder what Jesus would do, because the Gospels show us exactly what Jesus did. We see Him across all the lanes of life, reacting to situations similar to those that we face each and every day. He set for us an example of how to always honor God and make the most of every opportunity afforded us by God.
In this message, we hear how Jesus sacrificed everything for the Kingdom of God, valuing it and its mission above all else. We see how His commitment allowed Him to see and showcase the power of God in spectacular ways. All the while, we see and hear Him call us to FOLLOW Him, so that we might experience a similar life.
Do you find that your joy, peace, and sense of worth is often effected or even controlled by other people? Do you live by the wins of this world and die by your losses?
Do you thrive off things that make you feel better about yourself? Do you ever compare yourself to others and feel better/worse based on them?
If your answer to any of these is yes, then your old, fallen nature is still exerting its dominance over your life. Did you know that "in Christ" you can find true, unwavering peace and acceptance? When we lean on Him for justification, we find a foundation that can withstand any and all of life's circumstances. In Christ, we are not fazed by others' opinions and aren't tempted to compare ourselves. In Him, we find the approval we desperately long for.
In this message, we hear the Apostle Paul take on his critics with a stoic confidence. He shows us how we might be able to rise above this world's broken system of affirmation and judgment. We learn how to see ourselves complete in Christ and how true satisfaction is found in a life hidden and resting in Him.
Psalm 43 is a lament like none other. It's messy, raw, and reveals a heart full of conflict and confusion. In it, David confesses that he has placed his trust in the Lord, yet he hardly feels anything as a result. He identifies the Lord as his refuge, but he admits that he still feels helpless and vulnerable.
In this message, we look inside David's heart and see a reflection of our own. In his honesty with God, we see how we too can bring all of our emotions to God and find a listening, interested ear. We also discover how leaning into what faith we do have, allows us to overcome the pit of our unbelief and obtain true, lasting hope.
As Paul continues to detail how the grace of God has a transforming work in every believer, he turns his attention to his critics. They had attempted to discredit his ministry, and cited his meekness and gentle nature as proof of his weakness.
Paul uses this as an opportunity to boast of these "weaknesses", pointing to how Spiritual strengths stand in contrast to what this world celebrates. It's on that note that we are clued into the battle within all of us, the push and pull from our flesh against what the Spirit wants to do in and through us.
In this message we discuss this internal battle and hear how the Spirit enables our nature to become like Christ's. While it's tempting to see the battle around us or with others, we must keep in mind that the real battle is within and our true prize is becoming like Jesus. If we desire God to do great things through our lives, He must first bring about this great change within our hearts.
Worship services are meant to do more than just make us emotional. They're meant to inspire us and lead us in response to God. Many of the psalms showcase the goodness of God, but also lead us in making vows and commitments to Him.
In this message, we hear from Psalm 19 about how worship services aren't contained to Sundays and Sanctuaries. Nature around us is constantly praising God and reminding us of His power. Those reminders, as it turns out, are crucial for us - because we are a very forgetful people.
With so many reminders, we are without excuse. Listen as we're encouraged to slow down and join along in worshipping and glorifying our great and awesome God.
How much more blessed is it to give than to receive? Well, we will never know until our lives are more defined by giving than they are receiving.
That sounds simple, but it's also so striking. Most of our lives and the goals we set in this life are all about gaining, saving, taking, and having more. But if we are to take Jesus' word for it, then if we want to get the most out of this life - and prepare for the next life - than we will make our lives all about giving and serving.
In this message, we hear Paul call the Corinthians beyond just small, proportional giving to a bold, radical kind of generosity.
This is not a message about tithing - that's just the baseline for any believer. This message dives into two passages that should be the moral compass for every follower of Jesus and shows us how Christians are called to give, give, and give some more. And no, the goal isn't about gaining more earthly treasure, but rather it is about becoming more like Christ and setting our hearts on His Kingdom to come.
Perhaps you've only ever related to God on the basis of truth. As in, it appears that God only cares about us knowing what's true and behaving for truth's sake. While for certainty, God and His Word reveal truth and what rightly honors Him, this isn't His only intention for reaching out to us...
It could be argued that God is as interested in - maybe even more so - in our finding and sustaining true happiness. His Word and Will for us have our best in mind, and He longs for us live under His goodness.
In this first installment in our Summer Psalms series, we look at Psalm 1 and hear David muse about where true happiness is - and isn't - found. He invites to approach God wide-eyed, expecting to find much more than this world otherwise offers us.
From the very onset, Jesus intended on His followers representing Him to the rest of the world. Just after recruiting His first disciples, He cast a vision over them as to how they might reach and impact their world. These many years later, that same vision remains over us...
In this message, we hear how Jesus positioned His Church as Keepers of His Kingdom and sent us on a mission to make disciples. It's clear in His teaching that our greatest opportunities are found in the relationships we build and foster.
He's given us the keys and He calls us Salt, Light, and Refuge. We must make much of our appointed time on this mission field, until His Kingdom comes.
The Bible tells many stories, from God's perspective and humanity's. From Genesis to Revelation, the overarching narrative is one about kingdoms, rising and falling. God's Kingdom has always ruled over all, with His realm spanning from the highest heaven to the depths of the earth. Since the fall, man has attempted to build its own kingdoms, set in opposition to God.
While we may not realize it, all the kingdoms of this earth lead us away from the Kingdom of God. From Eden to Babel, and on down through the ages, every initiative and agenda of man has always been in rebellion against God.
In this message, we discover the origin of our dissension and trace throughout the Bible the folly of the kingdoms of earth. We see how God has worked relentlessly to rescue us and reveal His higher throne to us.
In conclusion, we focus on how Jesus came preaching that a greater Kingdom had opened its doors for all. Entering His Kingdom would require turning away from all other inferior kings and kingdoms, and putting Him first.
Every day we all seek after and serve some kingdom, trying to arrive at our best and a most secure place. May this message open our eyes and lead our hearts in seeking God's Kingdom first and foremost, and learning to trust in Him always.
The work of Christ on the cross offers a change to the human race at our core. Our sin was placed on Him, so that His righteousness might be received by all of us.
In this message, we discuss this great exchange that took place on Calvary and learn the true and full nature of our salvation. We talk about what it meant for Christ to bear our sin and what it looks like for us to embody His righteousness.
In order to take hold of our full inheritance as believers - sons and daughters of God - we must be fully awake.
Ephesians 5 and 6 call us to wake up from our sleep so that we might know where exactly God is leading us and where His blessings are found. We are often exhausted and strung out, going about half-asleep, with a lack of awareness. If we are not resting in Christ, we won't be able to be fully awake to God's Will for us.
Rest assured, if we are not fully awake, there is an enemy seeking to take advantage of our vulnerability. In the very areas that God wants to work the most in our lives, Satan takes aim at us. Ephesians tells us that the days are not neutral- they are evil and deceptive. Today's evil works to prevent us from arriving at tomorrow's blessing and eternity's reward. We must be fully awake to God's Will and fully aware of what's at risk.
The heart of Ephesians is God's desire for us to take hold of our true and full Spiritual Inheritance in Christ. As personal and individual based as our salvation is, Paul shows us that our full participation and experience in God's Kingdom comes through belonging to the community being built by God.In this message, we hear Paul's invitation to see ourselves as part of Christ's body, which is a deeply communal and relational experience (Ephesians 2:11-21). Then, we hear Paul pray that we would come to understand and receive the fullness of God, which is our Spiritual Inheritance (Ch. 3:14-21). Finally, we see all of this culminate with a command to walk the pathway of a true Christian and member of the Church (Ch. 4:1-6). It's in this last passage that we spend most of our time, unpacking this call towards unity with one another, our brother and sister in Christ. We discover that to take hold of our true inheritance, we will have to share and unite in a life with our fellow saints. If we aren't pursuing unity, we will not only cost ourselves but we will fall short of fulfilling our God-given mission (John 17:19-24).
To be a follower of Jesus is to be an evangelist for Him. Every disciple is called to make disciples. We've all heard these points before, over and over again, but do we really understand how every Christian is called to spread the Good News? Should every salvation lead to evangelism? In this message, we hear Paul implore every believer to join him on mission, and we unpack why we should all seriously consider the role we play. From a look at the Gospels to discussing the different personalities we possess and the challenges they present - this is a must-listen for every Christian.
Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry, exercising Heaven's power over nature, disease, and all kinds of misfortunes. Most assumed these were previews of a coming, earthly reality, however Jesus meant them as signs of something even greater...
In John 6, Jesus shows us how all of these signs were tastes of the full, abundant, and spiritual life He came to give us. He called the crowds that day to follow Him with an all-consuming faith, relying on and finding in Him eternal life.
In this message, we talk about the top item on God's Will for us and what is our Spiritual Inheritance as His children. No longer do we have to be incomplete or held back by sin - with a dynamic faith and God's dynamite Spirit, we can indeed come fully alive in Christ.
Capping off the trilogy of Christian Holy Days - Pentecost should be just as celebrated as Christmas and Easter. Whereas Christmas means "God With Us" and Easter proclaims "God For Us", Pentecost brings us the promise of "God Within Us". In this message, we learn about the origin story of the Church and the work that the Holy Spirit has been doing through it and within its members ever since. Just as there is one Jesus and one cross, Pentecost gave us the birth of the one and only Church. Listen and learn how the movement that began 2000 years ago continues to this day. The Church was born to be a vehicle that carried the Gospel to the world, with a focus on reliability, efficiency, and maneuverability. The mission is too great and the power within us is too sacred for us to not seek to be as closely in line with the original movement as we can be.
No matter how much of this world we obtain or what we may accomplish in this life, deep down we all fear exposure. Our flesh is terrified of coming up short one day, where and when it really counts. However, our sinful nature tries its best to sway us with remedies that are proven to be insufficient. After pleading with us to embrace our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, as mere jars of clay, the Apostle Paul continues to invite us to take full advantage of our Life in Christ. In Chapter 5, he contrasts this flesh and our glorified state to come, along with this world and the Heavens above. As he so poignantly puts it, this life is like a temporary tent in light of the permanent home God is preparing for us in Eternity. In this message, we consider the two paths we can take in this life, whether it be seeking temporary gain or eternal glory. We relish in the promise of our Eternal Home and Glorified, Resurrected Body. We also learn how if these promises are our guide, then we can indeed learn to walk by faith while we wait and not by discouraged by sight, sound, or senses. If we make it our aim each day to be clothed in the Life of Christ and walk by faith in Him, then no matter what we face we can have confidence of God's plan for today, tomorrow, and forever. By living to please Him, we can receive His peace and live through His presence.
To have access to something great and not take advantage of it or even to underutilize it is such a shame. We would all agree that if there's a path for us to obtain something that can be ours and should be ours, we are only shorting ourselves to not pursue it. Yet, this is exactly the case for many Christians who fail to receive the fullness of spiritual blessings which God has deeded to us. In this series, we dive into Ephesians 1 which entices every reader with a word on God's riches towards us, how He desires to lavish upon us from His abundant grace, and give us a glorious inheritance in Christ. In this introduction, we distinguish between what this inheritance is and what it is not. So often the idea of blessings and riches from God gets diluted and reduced down to earthly, material things. Is Paul's message to us really about temporary goods? Is God really trying to draw us in with treasures that will fade and waste away? We learn that He indeed has much better, spiritual blessings to give us than this world can offer up. Within arms reach of all of us in our Spiritual Inheritance, but to obtain it we must first repent and turn away from this world and set our eyes on Jesus. When we come before Him in humility and hunger for true riches, we can count on finally taking hold of the fullness of God.
Our greatest temptation or at least our most often one is to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Since the serpent first came after humanity in Eden, we've all struggled with the allure of becoming like god, being independent and invincible. We scoff at the notion that we might rely on or trust in something more than we do God, but our actions suggest we are rather quick to shift our weight away from Him. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul invites us to understand this great temptation we face and come to terms with our nature's obsession with power and self-sufficiency and its want to embellish and evade weakness. We are and always will be jars of clay, after all.In this message, we learn how our vulnerability and fragile nature is an opportunity for us to keep our faith in Christ and an opening in our hearts so that we might increase our trust. Paul's message invites us to not resist serving the Lord out of a fear for discomfort or loss, but rather that we take the leap of faith. This passage makes it clear that God's power can only be fully known when we submit to God's design and trust His plans. Paul points us to the promise of seeing Christ's life manifest in ours and a weight of glory that awaits us in eternity. As tempting as it is to focus entirely on what we can see and feel here and now, it's what we cannot see and fully understand now that will one day become our eternal reality.
So many lose heart in serving the Lord and doing ministry. It's so easy to burn out or grow weary and walk away from doing what we've all been called to do. When we maximize the antagonizing words and efforts of the Enemy and minimize the encouraging, empowering words and provisions of Christ, this is the common, expected result. In this message, we hear the Apostle Paul plead with the Corinthians about this unfortunate place so many believers end up at. He begins by reminding them of the undeserving mercy they had received that compels them to always be in a resilient, enduring position. He implores us not to turn inwards, making the case for all that is on the line in this time of Kingdom preparation. Then he shows us how to retain our passion and purpose, without becoming distracted by the opposition to our work. If our eyes are on Jesus, and His peace guards our heart, then we can persevere and we will not lose heart.
Paul's final contribution to the Bible was a letter to his young protege, Timothy. He chose to use this send-off as a way of reminding Timothy what had driven his ministry for years, with hopes of grounding Timothy's in the same convictions. His opening words are so very poignant in that he reminds Timothy of the gift that he had been given, from both his maternal and spiritual families. This double-portion of God's blessing, having had anointing hands on his life since he was a child, gave Timothy a much greater runway than most. Paul urges Timothy to seize this opportunity and allow God's Promise of Life to take its full effect on him. In this message, we reflect on God's Promise of Life and how we should honor those who passed along this gift to us. We also realize that to truly honor them, we will channel their same passion and fan the flame to those around us. Lastly, we unpack the different angles of God's promise, seeking to understand what a life full of power, love, and grace can look like in us all.
There is in all of us the ability to endure, persevere, and press through the most challenging of times. However, like with most things concerning our fallen world, what was meant to be doesn't always come about. What was meant to produce hope within us, often leads to the opposite - pessimism and negativity. Genesis 37-50 features a story that shows what happens when we don't abandon our faith when our plans and dreams seem to be altered. The resilience and determination on display in the heart of Jospeh reveals that the same kind of hope can be awakened in all of us as well. In this message, we study what distinguished Joseph in his generation and learn how we might possess (and maintain) his level of hope and connection to God.
In 2 Corinthians 3, we finally begin to understand the sort of opposition the Apostle Paul had been facing in his ministry. In a full defense of his doctrine and beliefs, Paul launches into a powerful message about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ was not a mere off-shoot of Judaism, but was something brand new. While the influence and scriptures of ancient Israel would always be a priceless foundation for our faith, Paul wanted us to know that Christianity can stand on its own nail-scarred feet. In this message, we hear Paul explain how the Old Testament and Sinai Covenant always pointed to something better and much more glorious. We also look at several passages in both the Old and New Testaments that flesh this idea even more.What we discover is the true, transformative nature of our Christian faith and receive an invitation to step out of religion, into a dynamic relationship with Jesus. With His Living Word guiding us, and His Holy Spirit within us, we can truly come face to face and hand in hand with God. This is an experience, and a liberty, that can only be found in Christ.
The Scarlet Thread of Redemption is an undercurrent throughout all of history. From the very beginning, we see God's intent to save the human race that rebels against Him. In this message, we discuss how God certainly knew the decisions that the first people would make, and yet He poured everything into creating the perfect world for them anyways. It becomes clear that God was unfazed by the Fall, because it provided the perfect platform to showcase His love above everything else. From Eden to Calvary and unto the ends of the Earth, God's love runs deep and wide. Tracing the thread back to the very beginning emphasizes our one source of redemption. It also compels us to open our own hearts to God's love.God has always been convinced that if the riches of His love meets us in the poverty of our sin, then we will return to Him and remain with Him. The question over us every day is, "Have we let God love us?"
In 2 Corinthians 2 we hear Paul reflect back on the troubles with sin that the Corinthians had struggled with, yet rejoice at the hope of the Gospel. While many in Corinth had not yet experienced the power of repentance and restoration, Paul encourages the church to pass along the grace and forgiveness that he had shared with them. In this message, we talk about how Paul's commitment to the people of Corinth points to the faithfulness of God towards all of us. We also discuss the importance of reaffirming our love for those in need of salvation, because God's everlasting love has been our own steadfast hope.
In this message, we hear Paul testify of his own ministries integrity and sincerity, while emphasizing how our own works must be validated and authenticated by these same virtues. As he tells the Corinthians about many of the unexpected twists and turns he'd faced in his efforts to serve them, he stresses that he refused to allow these things to disrupt his commitment to the Lord. Listen as we seek to learn from his passion and faithfulness, and are challenged to stand firm in our faith. In Christ, we are promised all the resources and strength we could ever need. Serving His Kingdom will always be fulfilling in and of itself, and will always be worth it no matter what may frustrate us along the way.
In the early days of America, Benjamin Franklin was asked outside the Constitutional Convention what sort of government he and the other founding fathers were seeking to establish. Famously, he responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." That is, the American ideal would require a great amount of responsibility and care in order to maintain and preserve it past its inception. When God first created Adam, he placed him in a garden and gave him a simple task to work and keep it. It was as if He was saying to Adam, "I have given you a Paradise, if you can keep it." Well, we all know how that worked out...In this message, we continue this series by looking back at God's creation mandate over Adam and Eve, and how they were called to live a life of purpose in a world created just for them. We learn how responsibility and productivity have always been core to God's desire for all of us and the secret to realizing God's Kingdom in our midst. We discover our "why" or "what for" by learning from the famous creation story. We also hear loud and clear from God that if we work and keep a life that is driven by His purposes for us, every day can actually be another day in paradise.
It's been said that in order to truly appreciate and fully understand something you need to know where it comes from. There is so much that can be discovered and revealed through learning the origin story. When God was rescuing the children of Israel out of Egypt and preparing them for the Promised Land, He wanted them to know their history. They were generations removed from their forefathers, and had never heard about the stories of how God made the world and set the stage for the children of Abraham.For that reason, the book of Genesis is a vital resource that shows all of us the origin story of creation. More than telling us what happened however, it reveals to us why God made the world and set us at its center. In this message, we learn why God wanted Israel to know this story and we hear it for ourselves in a fresh way. Listen and hear how God's love overflowed into our universe and how creation is His gift unto us all. As we learn why God made us, we understand our own hearts should overflow with a love for Him.
Why do we fall? So that we might learn that it's God alone who raises us up and gives us true, lasting strength. So that we might not put our faith in unstable, unproven foundations, but place our hope in Christ alone. In Paul's introduction to 2 Corinthians, he reminds us of God's sovereignty over and faithfulness to His own, before launching into a larger conversation about sharing in Christ's sufferings. On the surface these two topics seem far apart, but they actually compliment one another. In this message, we learn about the privilege that comes with sharing in Christ's sufferings, and how this brings us more in tune with the comfort and hope that we only find in Him. Listen as we consider how to reframe our circumstances with God's unwavering promises.
2000 years ago, a relatively unknown Jewish carpenter cast a vision about the movement He was building and the unstoppable power that would fuel it for all time to come. At the time, before a modest audience of a rabble group of misfits and outcasts, this seemed like a pipe dream. Even those who esteemed this man to be someone special - perhaps even Israel's long-awaited Messiah - wondered if His movement could reach such heights. He didn't stop there in His vision casting though. He went as far to say that His movement would transcend time and life on earth, as in what He was building would bridge the gap between this life and what comes next. In a world where people were clinging to this earth out of fear of what came next, this seemed even more unlikely.2000 years later, the Church of Jesus Christ is a global community, centered around a fearlessness of death and confidence in God's plan no matter how uncertain things appear. So many forces have tried to stop it, yet all of them proved to be powerless against the the Church. What is the explanation for this unexpected trajectory from obscurity to the world-stage? How did the Church actually prove to be an unstoppable force with an inspiring faith? There's really on one explanation that holds any water. There's only one reason why those who initially doubted Jesus, and even disowned Him upon His death, would eventually push all of their chips forward for His cause and give up their lives to spread His name. The reason is the Resurrection. Listen and marvel at how the Resurrection of Jesus changed everything, and not only validated all that Jesus said, but also brought a Spirit of Power on all who followed Him in its aftermath.
On Good Friday, God established that He will forever be FOR US, by doing something FOR US. He provided a solution for all the ungodly, unrighteous sinners, when Jesus took our place on a cross. He bore the curse of this fallen world FOR US, so that we might be cured from its power and bondage. There is a healing that we can exclusively receive by trusting in Jesus' work on the cross. No matter our wounds or scars, regardless how great our shame and sin may be - we can be made whole again through Him.
As every household in Jerusalem gathered to celebrate the Passover, so did Jesus and His disciples. However, nobody was prepared for Jesus' spin on this foundational holiday. His words that night still ring loud and powerful all of these years later, literally defining the work He would do the following day. Jesus broke the bread and raised the cup and declared that from now on this night would remind the world of Him. In this message, we look back on the history of Passover and the nation of Israel. We discover the story of redemption which began so long ago, but was always building towards a Messiah. Listen and learn how Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and how God decided in advance that He would pass over our sin and provide Jesus as our atoning sacrifice.
What would you do if a pathway appeared for you to be a king? No, not necessarily in the royal sense, but in terms of autonomy and control. What if you could maximize power and privilege, and minimize all weakness and limitations. What if the world around you suddenly leaned in your direction and bent towards your will? All that resists, frustrates, and works against your will - suddenly all began working in your favor and according to your rules. You would take this path in a heartbeat, wouldn't you? We all would. We may not admit it, but there are people that we wish would just listen to us. If we were king or queen... if we had the power and all the luxuries in the world, life would be so much better. 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ obviously had come from God and deserved all the glory anyone could give Him. All the stars aligned the week of Passover 33 AD, as thousands declared Him their king. However, to everyone's shock and awe, Jesus said, "No thanks" to this opportunity to seize power and become their king. In this message, we seek to understand just why Jesus would turn down what most everyone else would love to have. We see how in Jesus' deflection, His whole heart is revealed and essentially true Christianity is defined. Listen and learn how Jesus calls for all of us to choose this same path. Every day we face the same crossroads He faced, where instead of a throne, He chose a cross - for God's glory and the whole world's good.
As Paul signs off on his letter to Corinthian Church, he invites them to look beyond their local body, and consider the work being done elsewhere. His lengthy message about the health of Corinth concludes with a reminder of the work it takes to plant and foster other healthy churches. In this message, we hear Paul invite us to not only prioritize our role in our local church - as the entire letter stressed - but also consider how we are supporting the growth of the Church at large. He reminds us that we are all to always be on mission and see ourselves as Evangelists. His invitation to step onto the mission field begins with a call to support and invest in the Kingdom work financially, but goes beyond that, encouraging us all to labor for the Lord out of a love for Him and His people. Listen as we hear this invitation and see that these are not things we should pray about doing, but commandments we are all expected to do.
We often confuse and conflate God's goodness with what's expected and what's easy to process. Sometimes however, God's good plans involve subverting our expectations so that we might gain a stronger faith through in the end. The story of Lazarus is one that we all know so well, but had we been there and were observing it in real-time, can you imagine our emotions? Can you imagine what Lazarus was thinking as Jesus delayed, what his sisters were thinking, and everyone involved? Jesus had healed over 30 individual people in His ministry, not counting the multitudes healed as He passed through town after town. Had we been there, we'd wonder why Lazarus' story would go any different. In this message, we learn that sometimes our lives take an unexpected direction, and God isn't merely passive, but rather active in these twists and turns. Even in our let downs, God is working so that we might be lifted up to a higher place - so that we might learn and take hold of Resurrection Life. Even though we fall, or die, we will discover that there is something greater being brought to life within us. It turns out the hardships are a necessary conduit for our spiritual growth. Therefore, we can lean into the let downs that we face, and trust that God will lift us up and lead us into a richer and more real relationship with Him.
We often confuse and conflate God's goodness with what's expected and what's easy to process. Sometimes however, God's good plans involve subverting our expectations so that we might gain a stronger faith through in the end. The story of Lazarus is one that we all know so well, but had we been there and were observing it in real-time, can you imagine our emotions? Can you imagine what Lazarus was thinking as Jesus delayed, what his sisters were thinking, and everyone involved? Jesus had healed over 30 individual people in His ministry, not counting the multitudes healed as He passed through town after town. Had we been there, we'd wonder why Lazarus' story would go any different. In this message, we learn that sometimes our lives take an unexpected direction, and God isn't merely passive, but rather active in these twists and turns. Even in our let downs, God is working so that we might be lifted up to a higher place - so that we might learn and take hold of Resurrection Life. Even though we fall, or die, we will discover that there is something greater being brought to life within us. It turns out the hardships are a necessary conduit for our spiritual growth. Therefore, we can lean into the let downs that we face, and trust that God will lift us up and lead us into a richer and more real relationship with Him.
As Paul continues to emphasize how the Resurrection of Christ is an inseparable pillar of the Christian faith, he focuses in on one particular aspect. He teaches the Corinthians how the of the Resurrection takes on its ultimate meaning as we suffer and face the various trials of this life. In this message, we heed Paul's invitation to view our hardships through the lens of Jesus' death and resurrection. We review the words of Jesus and hear the testimonies of His closest followers, and see how suffering actually allows us to tap into what all the resurrection promises us and empowers us with.As we bear the cross of Christ, we are being renewed and strengthened by His resurrection power. Every trial we face allows us to experience an exclusive grace and comfort of God. Each of these experiences gives us a taste of the Resurrection, as with every trial, the Final Resurrection comes more clearly into view.
All of our stories feature something that challenges or takes away our ability to see clearly. Perhaps we were born into something that has made it hard for us to see past all the obstacles in our way. Perhaps we experienced or encountered something along the way that frustrates our outlook on life. It could be, however, that we've set certain expectations and developed a particular set of beliefs that have made us stubborn and resistant towards anything that doesn't operate on our own terms. Regardless which category we slot into, John 9 brings to us a powerful word and invitation from Jesus. No matter what our stories look like now, they can be radically changed and redirected by Jesus. We may feel as if there's no hope for us, or we may question and seek to understand everything, but Jesus presents us another way. John 9 features Jesus speaking into our pain and problems, and promising purpose and an opportunity to witness God's glory. It also spotlights just how easy it is to miss out on God, if we refuse to open our minds up to His way. From the man born blind to those who had taken on a willful blindness, we see Jesus breakthrough their darkness and show them a way out. Likewise, this message brings God's Light our way and promises to open our eyes, if only we make Jesus our focal point.
In this text, Paul begins to address his final area of concern within the Corinthian Church: Many were denying the Resurrection. While they believed in Jesus, they had trouble accepting His humanity and were questioning what the big deal was about His resurrection and the hope of our own resurrection. They saw no redeemable value in this physical world and longed for an escape. Also, they wondered why would God condescend Himself take on the substance of this world? Many Christians in our day fail to truly appreciate and understand God's plans for our earthly lives and His intent in resurrecting our physical bodies one day and restoring this earth to its original design. We too see Christianity as a way of escape and fail to understand that God's eternal plans very much involve this physical creation. In this message, we take a deep-dive into why Paul was so passionate about the Resurrection and why we should all seek a better, more full understanding of God's plans for this earth. We consider some of the following points and more: - God was complete and self-sufficient before Genesis 1, but have we considered how His intent has always been to merge His pre-existing Spiritual realm with this physical world, essentially planning to relocate Heaven to Earth one day?- God made a world that He didn't need, to inherit a creation that needed Him more than anything else. - Christ's resurrection was an act of reclamation of this world and the beginning of a total restoration. All of this was part of God's plans to maximize His Glory by contrast, where He created a world unlike His own dwelling place in order to tell a glorious story of His grace and love. - Our earthly lives matter and are significant from beginning to end. They may end in death, but the promise of resurrection echoes the work of Christ and points to our Eternal Future when Heaven comes to this Earth.
One fateful morning, as hundreds began ascending the Temple Mount with animals in town, the religious leaders came to make a different kind of sacrifice. Their forces had caught a woman in adultery and they were set to make public example of just outside the Sanctuary courtyard. There they would stone her and send a message to the whole land, that while sacrifices for sin were being made a few yards away, some sin and some sinners were just too far gone to be atoned for...But there to meet them that morning was Jesus, who would shine a Light of hope and grace into the world that day. Jesus intervened and saved the woman, and extended an invitation of mercy to her, and all sinners alike. In this message, we look at what the Temple was always supposed to point to and how by the days of Jesus, it had failed to communicate God's message of hope and salvation. We look to Jesus and see in Him the Light of Life that means forgiveness and freedom for every sinner. We hear Him invite us to embrace His grace and find in Him salvation from shame, guilt, and condemnation.
The final major topic of 1 Corinthians is all about the Resurrection of Christ - what it promises us and the kind of life it propels to. In this first look at chapter 15, Paul recaps the simple Gospel, emphasizing some key elements that can easily be misunderstood. We are reminded of the grace of God that saves us and sustains us and about the importance of spreading the simple, yet powerful message. As we reflect on what salvation means to us, we resolve to keep the Gospel pure so that more might be resurrected by God's grace.
When John set out to write his account of the life of Jesus, he took a different approach than his contemporaries. Rather than recounting every sermon, parable, and big event, John chose to focus in on the people that Jesus impacted the most. In his Gospel, he highlight several in-depth, one-on-one conversations between Jesus and people just like us, to show us that all of us have a place in God's story... We can all have our own Jesus story.In this series we are spotlighting four episodes in John's Gospel that feature Jesus speaking light and life into the hearts of men and women who were searching for answers and direction. In this first message, we look at the story of Nicodemus and seek to understand his struggle, which is one we all can relate to. Jesus taught him about a New Birth and pointing him towards an exchange that will truly transform our lives.
In this chapter, Paul uses the subject of Spiritual Gifts to address an overarching concern he has about the Church at Corinth - and all local bodies of Christ for that matter. Even just a few decades into the Church movement, Paul was noticing a trend that Church services and Church communities were becoming very insider-focused and mostly about appealing to the senses of those who already belonged.By spotlighting the gift of prophecy, emphasizing the ability church members have to encourage one another and build up one another, Paul warns the Church of becoming obsessed with spectacle and emotion. This path would lead (and has led) the church in a direction that effects its ability to reach outsiders and is detrimental to believers' faith. Paul desires that the Church produce Christians with faith not tied to feelings or a time and place, which is strong enough to stand on its own no matter the environment or circumstance. In this message, we take a "behind the scenes" tour at what goes into producing a truly edifying and uplifting church service and community. From the role each members plays to the posture towards outsiders, this chapter gives us tremendous guidance about making the most out of every gathering and impacting attendees for the greatest good.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul returns to the subject of Spiritual Gifts and enlightens us even more about their intended use. God envisions a Church filled with devoted members, filled with His Spirit, and leaning in each others direction. Paul makes it clear to us that Spiritual Gifts only find their true purpose when in service to one another within the Body of Christ. In this message, we break down what Paul determines is the most important Spiritual Gift, which we should all pursue. We define and discuss the gift of prophecy, and how it punctuates the design and importance of Church fellowship for every believer. We also hear Paul contrast this edifying gift with those gifts that lend themselves to being more individualistic and more about the spectacle. As we learn His Word and are led by His Spirit, God desires to give all of us a prophetic voice to speak His truth out to our worlds and insight that we might help build up our brother and sister in Christ.
In our final installment of our "We Believe" series, we take a look at the place Jesus says that all true, devoted followers will end up eventually. When He called His original disciples, He cast a vision over them concerning what would become their number one passion, even if it would take years for them to arrive at it. Listen as we discuss how God wills that all of us be filled with a heart for reaching the world with the Gospel. We've all been called to make disciples and reach the nations for Jesus, through direct and indirect means. God is at work in our world to remind us daily that this should be our greatest passion. Reaching the world begins with reaching our worlds, and beyond what we are called to do, we are expected to support those who labor alongside of us. It all comes down to how much our faith means to us and realizing how great an impact sharing Jesus can have. One things for sure, we only know Jesus because someone first reached us.
We believe that if we have been reconciled to God, we will seek to be reconciled to one another.Early on in the story of humanity, God confronted one of the first people about the risk of unresolved and unchecked anger. As it turns out, the Bible has tons to say about how dangerous anger and hatred are. In this message, we discover that anger and hatred ultimately stem from a disconnect in our relationship with God. The light of the Gospel shines on this emotion and subject in particular, because our very salvation is based in God's love and forgiveness. Listen as God reveals to us how crucial it is that we overcome any anger and hatred in our own hearts, so that we might allow the power of the Gospel to work in and through our lives.
The New Testament anchors the entire Christian ethic and lifestyle in love. On every page and from every author, we find and hear reminders of the love of God displayed and demonstrated through Jesus. We are invited to receive that love and we are commanded to share that love. In this message, we look at Paul's definition of this selfless, sacrificial love. Paul details how we can embody this love, from our attitudes to our actions, so that we are without excuse. He also declares that the true mark of maturity and growth in a Christian is in how we love and our persistence in love. Every Christian has been saved by God's love and is compelled from His Spirit to remain in His love and refuse to live by any other way. If we want to change the world, like God has changed our hearts, it will only come through love.
We Believe that Redemptions leads to a Relationship, and that leads to our Renewal and Restoration. As we continue our "We Believe" series, we dive into the New Life that is available to us in Christ. We take a look at an Old Testament story of a great man who had a major, devastating secret and see how his healing is a picture of God's power at work in our lives. That story of renewal and restoration points to how we come to new, abundant life in Christ, and fully realize what it means to bear the image of God. We learn what it means to put off the old life and put on the new. Designed, prepared, and directed by God - in Christ, we can be renewed unto true life. If we've been redeemed by God... If we're in a real relationship with Jesus... we will experience renewal and restoration.
In his explanation of the Spiritual Gifts and different ways that we all can serve in the church, Paul expressed concern over the contention and judgement that may settle upon the church in this area. He knew that the church was prone to go the way of religion, and allow each members' aspiration for holiness create within them a sense of self-righteousness and arrogance. He warns the Corinthians that they not forget that before they discovered their giftedness as Christians and before they made strides in their devotion, they were saved by grace and that same grace sustained them still. And so, Paul leads them in understanding a More Excellent Way, which is the only way that every Christian is required to perfect. In this message, we discuss this Most Excellent Way - the Way of Jesus - the Way of Love. Listen as we realize that this one thing is what makes the difference in our devotion to God and service to His Church. No matter how gifted we may be and no matter how devoted we may become, if we fail to wrap everything in love, we accomplish nothing. Jesus taught it first and Paul echoes it here, that Christians must be known for their love above all else. This begs the question: What are we known for? What do we want to be known for? Jesus made it clear what He wanted to be known for, through who and what He died for. This same love and this same passion must drive us all in everything that we do.
We believe that redemption leads us into a relationship. In week two of our "We Believe" series, we discuss what comes after salvation and forgiveness of sin. While this is our foundation, the Bible makes it clear that in tandem with our redemption comes a real relationship with God. Everyone who sees their sin washed away in Christ, also receives a new heart and the very Spirit of God within them. When the Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the Lamb of God, we immediately begin to hear Jesus' invitation that we "follow" Him and that we "come and see" what God can do in our lives. All throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus always encouraged people passed simple faith, inviting them to walk and truly fellowship with Him so that God might transform their lives with His power. Listen as talk all about what it means to have a personal relationship with God through Christ. Has believing in Jesus changed your life? Has He become the center that all of your life revolves around? If we've been redeemed, we should have a relationship to prove it.
Chapter 12 is really the heart of Paul's letter to the Corinthian Church, wherein he reveals why he's stressed unity and accountability in the preceding chapters. In this text we see Paul's high and sacred view of Church membership come into full light, as he defines and details what it means to say that we are the Body of Christ.In this message, we discuss all of this and more - focusing in on our identification and representation as Christ's Body. With a clear understanding of how the church embodies Christ, both literally and spiritually, we are equipped with a better idea of how serious our membership and participation within the church is. It turns out, each members' care for and support of one another is essential in our living up to our name and true identity as the people of God.
There was a time when the core, foundational beliefs of any given local church were practically impossible to miss. They were apparent in how the church conducted and promoted itself. As faith and culture have blended, and all sorts of opinions and agendas began to have greater influence, it became a lot harder to identify these key beliefs. However, it's not hard at all to figure out what the church should be all about. If we stay true to the source material, it becomes very clear. For the sake of every church's clarity, community, and convictions, it is a necessity that we keep front and center what were primary from the very beginning. In our first message in this series, "We Believe", we discover what the Bible tells us should be of most importance for every church. We listen to the both Paul and John explain how Jesus and His atoning work should always be The Main Thing on every Christian's mind. Listen as we discuss the heart of the Gospel and the source of our salvation. Jesus came and died for all, so that all might come and live through Him. Yes, there is sin in all of us, but within every local church there should be a beacon of hope, because in Christ, we can all find New and Eternal Life.
Paul has established that being saved means all of us are being transformed by the Spirit of God. With this new nature, comes new desires and new opportunities in life. As the natural body breathes and moves, the Spirit-filled body will seek to do and participate in Spiritual things. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul introduces us the gifts of the Spirit, which every Christian can receive and experience in their service to God. Paul's approach in this chapter, in line with his overall agenda in the entire letter, is to teach the Corinthian believers how their gifts are meant to be in service to the whole Body of Christ. In this message, we break down all the Spiritual Gifts and discuss how they play a whole in edifying and supporting the work of every local church. While they may not all show up in a church service, they all play a vital role in serving the church. Listen and learn how these gifts function and how they may be more accessible to you than you realize.
There's no way to talk about the life of a Christian without discussing the Spirit of God. We are literally products of His Resurrection power. The same power with which Jesus arose from the grave lives in the heart of every believer. This means that we are now supernaturally transformed, given a new nature and new desires. This also means that our lives are being guided in a new direction. In chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, Paul talks to the Church about their new Spiritual nature and introduces some of the many gifts that God wants to bless His people with. It's tempting to think of these gifts as mere tools we pick up from time to time, but they are better understood as spiritual encounters a believer has with God as they daily pursue Him. Just as our natural bodies breath and have muscles and organs that serve specific functions, our Spiritual nature introduces us to new, Spiritual traits that can become natural. From gifts of wisdom and insight to wonderful, glorifying experiences with God - God invites us to fully embrace our new, Christian nature. As we are individually empowered by God, we are able to contribute even more to the Body of Christ, for God's glory and one another's good.
Did you know that the man known for his wisdom, power, fame, and success is also known for his tremendous regret? King Solomon was the envy of his day, yet in his own reflections on his life, he spoke of shame and disappointment. In this message, we conclude our series on our Souls and how we should give priority to them, by listening to the words of Solomon. He contrasts a life well-lived with a life wasted on vanity, and points us in the direction that both honors God and preserves our souls. What may seem instinctual turns out to be contrary to what our souls need the most. Solomon sums up the whole duty of man in a simple, yet convicting way - and thanks to Jesus, it becomes all the more clear to us what is the path to a fulfilled, purposeful life.
1 Corinthians' thesis is that the Church is the Body of Christ, detailing how we should love each other and why we truly need one another. In chapter 11, Paul teaches how we share in His Body through worship and fellowship. He highlights how celebrating the Lord's Supper particularly emphasizes the importance of our joint participation in Christ and our partnership together in Him. Listen as we discuss all of this and more!
Building off of Jesus' most thought-provoking question about the value and importance of our souls, we take a look at the story of Ruth. Her story turns out to be a reflection of all of our stories, having come from our family which was far from God, she received an opportunity to step into His story. There were all sorts of reasons as to why Ruth shouldn't have been so committed to staying with her mother-in-law and relocating to Judea, but after weighing her options, she knew what she had to do. In this message, we consider the Ruth's story and dive into the details of her family history to discover how unlikely it was that she found herself at the crossroads of faith. Ruth makes a great exchange, embracing God's invitation to her and we realize that this same invitation has been given to each of us.
Amidst all the resolutions we may make and work towards in 2023, it's important that we consider what goals we should make for our souls. After all, our souls are us with or without the material statuses or possessions of this world. Our soul is our inner self, the seat of our emotions, and the center of our personality and conscience. Needless to say, our soul is the most valuable part of us. When Jesus came on the scene, He promised and offered to change lives for the better. People came to Him seeking healing and provisions, and He provided again and again. Until one day, however, His message shifted and He began calling people to tend to a greater need. In this message, we look at one of the most pivotal moments in the Gospels, where Jesus notices that none of the hundreds of people following after Him were seeking Him with concern for their souls or a desire that He would help reconcile their hearts to God. Most of them, didn't even acknowledge that there was any sort of need within their souls - which is likely the case for many of us. Thankfully, the words of Jesus are as clarifying and convicting to our ears as they were His audience long ago. Listen as we hear Jesus bring awareness to the need within us all and hear how He leads us in beginning to tend to and care for our souls as we should.
We return to our study in 1 Corinthians and once again hear Paul talk about the importance of considering the greater good of Christ's Body over our own interests and desires. He reminds us of the way of Christ, which is an others-first lifestyle. Being members of Him, we now understand that to glorify God, we must make decisions that edify His Body. From there, Paul launches into addressing a more specific issue, concerning gender identity and gender roles within the Body of Christ. He offers a unique, sacred perspective on how Biblical manhood and womanhood is as tied into our spiritual attributes as they are our physical distinctions. To disregard God's spiritual design of men and women is as concerning as disregarding our physical differences and callings. Ultimately, this all ties into what properly edifies His Body and what best reflects His image to our world. Listen to this message and more of our study in 1 Corinthians for a deep dive into how we all called into the Body of Christ and made to function within it for God's Glory and our neighbor's good.
Every new year presents an opportunity for renewal and rededication. It also lends itself to setting goals and making resolutions. In this first message of our new year, we set out to pursue the goodness of God and make the most of every day that He gives us. He promises to make Himself known, if we simply seek Him and desire Him above all else. Regardless of what has happened or may happen, we can have confidence that God can be found and His goodness felt in the Land of the Living.
As another year comes to an end, we consider the brevity of this life and seek to put in proper perspective our time on earth, under God's rule and care. This leads us into an even more serious conversation about the general purpose of all of our lives, and how we might seek to complete our God-given tasks here on earth in an honorable way.In this message, we pray for God to fix our eyes on His coming Kingdom as the passage of time signifies an important milestone in our journey towards Him. Listen as we search the Scriptures to better understand the greatness, graciousness, and goodness of our God, and learn how we might finish our coarse well.
Christmas is just a single day, yet it dominates an entire part of every year. Its spirit is felt early and it lingers well passed the 25th of December. No doubt, Christmas is such a beloved and anticipated time of year because of the comforting and joyous atmosphere it brings into our world. This comfort and joy, of course, is a direct result of the promise of Christmas - that none of us are too far from, because God came into our world to save everyone. Christmas is the day that God erred on the side of grace, by stepping into the world that had rebelled against Him, and loving it anyway. Jesus is God's light sent to our dark world. Jesus is God's love fleshed out and poured out for us. Jesus is the fullness of God made fully known, so that we might be fully loved and wholly belong to Him. Christmas is the permanent, eternal record of what God is like and what He thinks about us, because Christmas gave us Jesus - and He's the gift that keeps on giving. He is God and in Him we are loved, chosen, and saved. Glad tidings of comfort and joy, indeed.
The backstory of Christmas is full of miracles, from Zechariah's encounter in the Temple, Elizabeth's pregnancy, and Mary's conception. So many miracles, yet none of them actually measure up to the miracles on display in Luke 2 where we see the world change in real time. Luke 2 presents a world overran by darkness - from the empire that ruled to the laws that controlled. It was against that backdrop that God placed the brightest of lights in the night sky. In this message, we talk about the miracle that is God's desire to enter our world and the many ways that He turned things upside down when He stepped into our midst. Needless to say, nothing has been the same since that starry night and we are all forever blessed because of it.
The Bible teaches that our present age is bookended by the first coming and second coming of Christ. It invites us to take hold of our inheritance as believers, and see our lives transformed now and our hearts set on eternity. The season of Advent is all about discovering these gifts and unwrapping them. Christmas promises that God is with us and brings these gifts to our hearts.Perhaps the gift that we fail to take full advantage of and that speaks to our greatest weakness is JOY. Isaiah 61 gives us the Messiah’s long-decided mission statement and at the heart of it is bringing God’s Spirit to us and filling us a lasting joy. On the night of Jesus birth, the angels declared that God was providing a gift that would bring "Great joy to all people". All throughout Jesus' ministry He invited people to come and follow Him and be filled with an endless source of joy. This same invitation has been given to us. However, in our weak and deceived vessels, we often settle for things that may briefly make us happy but cannot truly fulfill us. All the while, it seems we are constantly being emptied of our joy. Can we overcome this discouraging cycle? Can our hearts receive a joy like that the Bible promises? What about all the things that work against us? How can we resist the compromised and counterfeit offerings of this world? In this message we consider the gift of joy that God promises in Christmas and we set our hearts on Jesus so that we might have this much-desired treasure.
As we continue our Advent journey, we come to yet another promise of Christmas: Peace. Perhaps the best way to understand peace, and truly appreciate it, is through a discussion of the absence of peace. This is a reality that we are all too familiar with, on so many different levels. In this message we talk about the reason for the absence of peace in our world - all the tension, animosity and conflict we experience. We trace all of this back to humanity's fall from God and being separated from His presence. Lacking His peace, we descended into a life of conflict and created a world ladened with animosity and tension.Once again, the Good News of Christmas finds us in our distress and offers us an incredible gift. Whereas humanity crafted a world where division was expected, where the flames of conflict were fanned - God went to work to redeem the world, to make peace with those who rebelled against Him, to reconcile us all back to Him. Without our cooperation whatsoever, God went to the most extreme measures to make peace with us. He sent His Son to take on the blood and flesh of Adam, so that we might receive the Spirit of God. Jesus came a son of Adam, so that we might all become sons and daughters of God. On that first Christmas night, the angels proclaimed that peace had come, because God broke the ice of tension between us and Him, and came to be with us. From that day forward, He has never left us and through Jesus we all can find peace with God and allow that peace to flow through us. There are a lot of good reasons for why there is so much conflict in the world. Alas, now there is a better reason for why there can be peace in our hearts, our relationships, and the world around us.
Christmas is such a tradition and its themes are so ingrained into our lives that it's easy to take for granted just how great of an effect it's had on the world. Every December as the world is immersed in a cold darkness, the bright and brilliant lights of Christmas put the miraculous power of God on display.
Where there was once disconnect from God, there is now His presence. Where there was once silence from God, there is now His Gospel. Where there was once darkness, there is now light. Where there was once dread, there is now hope.
In this special series, we look at how the stage was set for the first Christmas, and how the world fell into such a dire place to begin with. Yet, we hear God promise to send a Messiah into the mess, and observe a small remnant of believers who held on to these promises long after most had given up. In this season, may we all be renewed in our confidence in God and may we all experience a breakthrough of His miracle-working power in our lives.
We don't have to come before the Lord, wondering when the silence might break and if the darkness will ever lift. The lights of Christmas remind us that we now live in a new normal, where God is with us.
This special message was bookended by lighting the first candle of Advent and celebrating Communion, both which punctuated the Hope that the Christmas season brings us.
In this message, we study one of the oldest prophesies concerning the promise of Christmas and seek to understand what it means to anchor our hearts in true, everlasting Hope. Isaiah brings us a sobering word about the things that compete for our hope, but offer us no actual assurance or confidence.
In contrast to all that's fleeting in this world, he points us to the arrival of our Savior and bids us to place all of our hope in Him.
If we've placed our faith in God's reign and we've prayed for His will to be done, then the next step to take is obeying Him and bringing His Kingdom to life. Trusting God and praying to God all prepares us to see our lives transformed by God, that we might obey Him.
In this conclusion to our ENGAGE series, we talk about how God has filled us with His goodness so that we might unleash goodness on our world. He works within us to will and do His good work, and to make us like stars in the sky.
The question we must ask ourselves with each day, as we consider the work that God wants to do in our world through us is this: In light of the goodness God to us and to channel the goodness through us, what is the next, good thing we can do?
For such a time as this, we’ve been placed here... Positioned to do His good, to bring His Kingdom to life.
Jesus taught that prayer was a vital part of our relationship with God. He stressed the importance of giving God our complete focus, so that we might be fully engaged with Him.
He also clarified some common misconceptions about prayer, like the idea that prayer is simply a means of bending God's will to our liking. He assures us that God already knows what we need and intends on taking good care of us.
In this message, we study the template Jesus gave us for prayer and discover powerful truths and hear a transformative invitation from God. Prayer is an amazing opportunity to sync up with God's earthly activities and see as much as Heaven realized in our worlds as possible. Through prayer, we can become aware of God's greater plans and prepare to participate in His Kingdom's expansion.
Paul appeals to the story of ancient Israel and their Exodus experience as a basis for our Christian salvation. He establishes that just as Israel came to be under God's care and firmly secured upon a new foundation, so do we have the same hope in Christ. However, just as Israel immediately drifted away from God, so must we fight the same temptation.
1 Corinthians 10 tells us that this story of Israel is an example for us to learn from so that we don't follow the same path. Paul cites the lustful desires in all of our hearts that cause us to cling to idols, which in turn lead us away from God. These idols are not external however, but internal - feelings and desires in our hearts that cause us to leave the Lord for something less than.
In this message we break down these temptations that are common to us all and learn how we must guard our hearts if we are to stay in step with the Lord. There is a way for us to endure and remain under and upon God's grace and guidance, but we cannot underestimate the desires of our hearts that work against us.
Our world's unpredictability is at an all time high. Whether we are all facing uncertainty as a nation or if we're facing unknowns individually and within our families - it's easy to be overwhelmed and discouraged. However, for Christians we have no reason to be afraid or dismayed, because despite how things may look, our world rests in the hands of our God.
What if we began looking at life and interpreting all of life through that lens? If God is in control, how should we as His own children act and react under His rule? In this series we conclude that in order to stay most engaged with our God, we ought to trust in Him, pray to Him, and obey Him in every situation and season.
In this first message, having established that our God is in control and with these aspirations to engage with Him, we discuss what it means to trust totally in Him and live from a place of confidence in His plans.
If God is with us, no matter what, we can live with confidence that He is trustworthy and His plans are good. If He's got the whole world in His hands, that means we are always right where we need to be.
Paul continues to detail his commitment to winning the lost to Christ, and explains what he believes is the best approach to impacting others. Rebuking those who boasted about their knowledge and rights as believers, Paul stresses his obligation and burden as a follower of Christ. Just as Christ served others and poured Himself out for them, so should we.
1 Corinthians 9 lays out a plan that has stood the test of time and proven successful across every generation. If we will put others above ourselves, and serve them in a Christ-like way, we gain the best opportunity to make a personal, powerful impact on their souls.
If we are as dedicated to the Gospel as Paul was, we will adopt this same "be all things to all", "be a servant of all" posture. According to him, if we do this we stand the greatest chance to save some - perhaps even most of those God brings into our lives.
The question over us remains, do we love Jesus and others to the point that we would serve them so that more might be saved? This winsome approach will enable us to win some and maybe most, with the same grace that won us.
1 Corinthians 8 brings us a word on a topic that is more relevant than ever: The rights we possess and can practice as individual people vs the righteousness we possess and should practice as Christians belonging to the Body of Christ.
What we may think is a cut-and-dry issue turns out to be much more nuanced as we realize that knowledge and right beliefs don't impress God nor earn His approval. God is actually impressed by and only recognizes us as His own when we move in righteousness, loving one another as Jesus would do.
Paul goes as far to tell us that even if we are in the right, if we treat someone the wrong way - no matter how right we are, WE are the ones charged with sin before God.
In this message, we talk about how our rights and our liberty often clash with what is the righteous and loving thing to do. We break down what's really at stake when interacting with people who are clearly at a vulnerable, weak place in their faith/unbelief. Finally, we hear Paul's radical approach to navigating this issue, and how Jesus shows us all the way we should treat one another.
Humanity has a shared experience of being lost. We get lost easily, in every area of life. We are so prone to getting lost or figuratively losing our way, that it's safe to assume that something's not right in our hearts.
Pretty much everyone agrees that humans are bent towards imperfection. Within all of us is also a notion that we've missed the mark - that we've fell short of some standard of perfection.
The Bible confirms and explains our lost condition. It also tells us why we have such a keen awareness of our shortcomings. We all share a creator, whose image we bear. We also share a common ancestor, whose sin we inherited. This is why "lost" is the perfect word to describe our condition, because we've all wandered away from our Creator God - our Heavenly Father.
In this message, we come to an agreement about our lost condition and look at some foundational Bible verses explaining it all. Then we turn to Jesus for some Good News. Even though we are all a long way off, impossibly lost, Jesus promises that God sees us, loves us, and is running towards us to find us and bring us back home.
1 Corinthians addresses our lives across the board, commanding us to glorify Christ in our relationships and in every area of our lives. Paul's focus in chapter 7 is to fix our eyes on the purpose God has for us and has placed in us, so that we might maximize our lives for His Kingdom.
So often we look for purpose on the other side of something happening or changing in our lives. We deflect what we might could now by claiming such and such has to happen to make it more comfortable or convenient to serve God. However, we learn in this text that we need not chase after purpose, but realize it is with us right where we are.
Paul's message in 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20, and 24 is that we answer God's call over our lives in whatever state we may find ourselves in. No matter our circumstances or status, we all have a capacity to seek the Lord and His Will. Through contentment, we can find strength from Christ to endure hardships or escape distractions.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 that now is the appointed time - that time is short and we need not delay considering God's plans for our lives. Knowing what we know about God’s sovereign placement and lordship over our lives, we need to LIVE AS IF each day could be our last.
Purpose isn't on the other side of something, but rather on the inside of us. God has placed it there, and He has placed us exactly where we can best leverage our earthly lives for eternal gain.
There is an undeniable, inescapable calling over all of our lives. As children of God, we are all sent into our worlds to serve Him and glorify Jesus with our lives. Thankfully, Jesus built the Church to help us navigate our callings and direct us in our commission.
In the earliest days of His movement, He gathered His original followers and cast a vision over them and gave them a mission statement that would define the church for years to come. He compared us to and commanded us to function as salt, light, and refuge for our world. These things all naturally better and improve whatever they are applied to, and they do this without force. Salt is made to preserve. Light is made to brighten. Refuge is made to restore.
What these three things all have in common is that they are intentional in their function and irresistible in their impact. This is what Jesus was calling the church - all of us - to be like. In order to fulfill our callings, we must develop and practice habits of intentionality and irresistibility.
In this message, we talk about how as participants and representatives of the Church, we can be like salt, light, and refuge for our world. We learn what is required of us if we are to be intentional and become irresistible in our outreach to our worlds.
One things for sure, if we’re going to win people to Jesus, we’re going to have to be intentional and irresistible. We’re going to have to be salt, light, and refuge.
The subject of sexuality and morality can easily be segmented away from our faith, and only talked about when addressing sinful lifestyles. However, in 1 Corinthians Paul addresses the Church about God's original design and desires for men and women, and how we conduct ourselves as single and married people. His aim is that the Church would model for the world what it looks like to reflect God in this area so core to our being and the very image of God.
Paul is very clear, along with the rest of the Bible, that our sexuality can be a wild fire or a holy fire. If we don't involve God in our relationships and marriages, we will we drift away from His design and suffer loss spiritually and personally. Thus, the example we set for our world is no different than the mixed signals the world gives. However, if we allow our passion for God to influence and direct our passion in our relationships, we will burn bright for Him in a lost world. This will also lead to mutually healthy and beneficial relationships.
Listen as we navigate this subject with grace and truth, and allow God to heal us from broken relationships, guide us in our current relationships, and prepare us for the future.
Apologies for poor audio quality of this file
We all know what it's like to be called upon by someone. We also know what feels like to be called to something. Some callings seem like obligations, while others feel like opportunities. Callings can leave us with a burden, a conviction, a sense of must. They drive us with more than just a "have to", but with a "want to".
As Christians, we have an inescapable calling over us all, compelling us to surrender our lives to God and voluntarily pursue His plans for our lives. The callings He places over us and plants within us are greater than the highs we get from this world, and supplant any lows we face in this world. They push us forward, pick us up, and fill us with peace.
In this message, we talk about the inescapable calling over and on all of our lives as followers of Jesus. We study the life of Isaiah, and see how God got his attention when he was otherwise discouraged and distracted. Isaiah went to seek the Lord one day, mostly for comfort and consolation, but left His presence with a calling.
We talk about how this inescapable calling leads us to an irresistible opportunity to serve God. Like Isaiah, we must respond to God with those famous words, "Here I am, send me!" We must pray that God open our eyes, and begin living with open hearts, arms, and hands.
We are all sent to minister in our world - what is keeping us from stepping into our mission field in our churches, communities, and beyond?
In another look at 1 Corinthians 6, we hear about Paul’s approach to combatting the sexual perversion of the ancient world - which turns out to be very relevant for us and helpful in navigating our own world.
We talk about God’s original design of humanity and sexuality and how all of us have been impacted by the breakdown and fallout of that design. We also hear how Jesus wouldn’t budge from these ideals, and discuss why His stance wasn't one of condemnation, but an invitation to receive restoration and healing.
Finally, we turn to 1 Corinthians and see how Paul charges Christians to show God’s way of purity and morality to the world. In a world without a moral compass, God was using the Church to recenter the human conscious around His design and spark a much needed, sexual revolution.
In part two of our look at 1 Corinthians 6, we learn more about what it means to be lights in our world and how our witness has the potential to make a tremendous impact on those around us. In this message, we focus on how our own recovery from sin and resistance to sin proclaims the Gospel to our neighbors.
We hear Paul emphasize that no sin should be underestimated and all of us should be communicating the power of God's grace through our new, Christ-like nature. Listen to how the Bible talks about what the resurrection of Christ does for us and in us, and how we cannot consciously allow sin to take hold in our lives.
In part one of our look at 1 Corinthians 6, we discuss the importance of our Christian testimony and witness. Paul begins by addressing how we should react to being sinned against. Listen as we discuss how he builds off of Jesus' radical commands that Christians should be the lights of their world, and how our detachment from the material and temporary should help us always react with grace and mercy.
In our final message in our "On Loan" series, we once more connect the dots between our commitment to God now and our capacity for all He has for us in the next life. We look one of Jesus' most famous sermons, where He reminds us that we all will lose this life one day, and He urges us to lose it for a purpose. This raises the question, if we know we're going to lose it one day, why not give it away for a cause that will make a significant, kingdom-difference?
Jesus equates following Him to bearing a cross and having a willingness and an eagerness to give this life away. But what did He mean by "losing this life" or "giving our lives away"? Many were anxious to know, especially after He promised that those who follow Him gain early access into God's kingdom activity.
Jesus made it very clear what it meant to bear our cross and surrender our lives to God. He made it all about loving God and loving others, as He would demonstrate with His own cross. He even said that our love for God is demonstrated by and validated by our love for others.
This caused quite the stir across the Religious circles, because surely Jesus didn't expect everybody to love... everybody. Surely there was a bare minimum required to still grant us access to God's presence and activity.
Listen and hear how Jesus answers the question of one religious man who was bold enough to ask Jesus what kind of love was required of us and would suffice as giving our lives away for God. One things for sure, Jesus makes it very clear to us all what it means to live our lives in preparation for His return and our entrance into His Kingdom to come.
Jesus instilled in the hearts and minds of the early church that the Kingdom of God was very near. We are all created by God and we are all headed back to Him. Our time on earth is just temporary. We are all like sojourners or exiles, awaiting our entrance into God's Kingdom. Our current reality is merely preparation for our eternal future.
The early Christians took this framework and ran with it, and modeled their entire lives around it. The Apostle Peter wrote to the early church and couched his message and motivation around this idea of exile. He wrote that we are all strangers in a strange land, and will one day give an account for how we lived out our temporary stay.
In this message, Peter calls on all of us to live each day with eternity in mind. He reaches back into the Old Testament and echoes the words of Moses, calling the people of God to consider His Will in every area of our lives. He invokes that there is a healthy sense of fear we all should possess so that we would not waste our one and only opportunity to prepare for the future.
After hearing Peter's word, we conclude that have been saved from temporary futility and have been set apart for an eternal future. We must make a decision to remember the Lord and remain surrendered to His Will. Having been set apart to God, we must set everything before Him.
We all respond to responsibilities in this life differently. Some of us take great amounts of pride in our work and are very possessive over that which belongs to us. In other cases, we are more passive and less concerned about what we should do. All of this falls under the presumption that we answer to no one for our lives and we can do as we please.
But if our lives don't really belong to us... If all that we are and all that we have is borrowed and on loan from our Creator... then we cannot escape this eternal accountability and responsibility. The Bible makes it very clear, as creatures made by God, we are all called to be stewards of a life that is from Him and will one day return to Him.
In this message, we discuss the subject of stewardship and what it means to be entrusted with God's gifts. The last sermon that Jesus ever preached deals with this very matter, as He looks forward to a judgement day to come, when all of God's servants will give an account for what they did with their lives.
Will we be called faithful or slothful stewards? Will our eternities reflect a life of service or a life of waste? When our lives are over, it will all be settled in Heaven, but it's what we do now that will determine what happens next.
Having established how important the local church is to every Christian, Paul begins addressing some of the problems persisting within the church at Corinth. He's made it clear that every body has a vital role to play in the Body of Christ, and thus we cannot separate individual selves from the whole, and vice versa.
Beginning in chapter 5, Paul admonishes the Corinthians how they ought to react to sin and respond to sinners within the Church. He confronts their apparent arrogance and indifference towards one individuals' sin, and identifies the proper response of a compassionate, sincere Christian.
In this message, we unpack this and much more, and learn the right approach when caring for our brother and sister in Christ. We discuss the importance of our gathering in the power of the Spirit, and giving place to God to sovereignly tend to both the wheats and tares of His field. Our goal with this conversation is to have a sober understanding of sin, its effects on the us and our church family, and a commitment to the One who can save and deliver us from it.
What would life be like if we lived from an understanding that everything - including us - is borrowed and on loan from God?
What would life look like if we lived as if nothing really belonged to us, and would one day go back to God?
In this introduction to a series all about this premise, we consider how all of our lives come from God, exist for Him, and will one day return to Him.
The Bible has much to say on this matter, but we take our initial inspiration from the story of Hannah and her son, Samuel. They set a precedent for us all to follow regarding our beginning and our inevitable end.
Listen and consider what life could be like back in the hands, resting in the hands, and led by the hands of the One who made you.
After addressing how each of us individually will be judged for our service to Christ, Paul tells us that we will also be held accountable for our participation in the Body of Christ. He calls us the New Temple of God, echoing the words of Jesus that the gathering of God's people becomes His dwelling place. How we treat God's Temple - Christ's Body - is crucial in our Christian service.
From here, Paul teaches on the importance of every church member developing a healthy relationship with those in leadership over them. He stresses that a mutual trust and integrity across pulpits and pews is key for a healthy Church. Ultimately, it all comes down to everyone fulfilling their obligation to be faithful.
In this message, we discuss what it means to be faithful to Christ's Body and learn to respect the institution and community that is God is building. If we are all faithful, the church can reach its full potential and be full of divine possibility. As we find our place and become rooted in Christ's body, and connected with other believers, we unlock our true identity.
We should cherish our opportunity to find a local church and call it home. After all, there's no place like home - especially a church home.
What if our greatest weakness turned out to be our unexpected ally? What if God doesn't remove them because He chooses to use them to remind us of Him?
While we often conceal our weaknesses, Jesus invites us to bring them to Him. In those moments we are discouraged, distracted, or tempted, we can actually be reminded of God's grace and power. It's in our weakest moments that we can be full of God's power.
Until we are honest about our weaknesses, we can never take hold of this power. Jesus promises us that there is no weakness that He cannot provide strength for.
From now on, as we face our struggles, we can embrace the grace and power of God. From now on, we can see every weakness as an unexpected ally.
In our look at 1 Corinthians 3 we discuss:
-
The Spiritual Nature vs the Fleshly Nature: There is a vast difference between God and everyone else. He is higher and greater and above us all. Apart from Him, we are helpless and hopeless in our sin. However, Jesus and His Cross bring salvation to us all. In Him, we can be revived from sin and regenerated by His Spirit. Our fleshly nature still lingers, but if we rest in Christ and rely on Him alone we can overcome and thrive.
-
What is our most primal expression of our fleshly nature: In Corinth, the people were held back by their spiritual immaturity and lack of growth. This is why there was a great deal of jealousy, animosity, and competitiveness amidst the church. We discuss how it is from this place that our flesh stunts our growth the most.
-
What's Now impacts what's Next: Paul implores the Corinthians to rest firm on their one and only foundation, and build towards eternity. He breaks down how we will all be judged for what we did with our salvation. We will only make a difference for Christ with our lives, if He has first made a difference in our hearts. In the last part of this message, we discuss the judgement to come and the rewards/consequences for the lives we live.
In our final look at Ezekiel's unique, unexpected, yet transformative experience with God, we step into the Valley of Dry Bones. In this vision, Ezekiel's difficult ministry met its most devastating scene yet. In spite of all the hope he had been given by God, how could Israel come back from this? How was he supposed to motivate the remnant after seeing this?
At this point, nobody would've blamed Ezekiel for giving up. Much like our own struggles and losses, giving up seems like the only logical choice sometimes.
However, God used this to instill an even greater confidence in Ezekiel. In the midst of this valley, God asked him if he was going to give up or look up. He asked Ezekiel if his faith was still alive, even if his previous dreams were not. Would he choose to believe that there was still hope?
In this message, we wrestle with the difficult and challenges that many of us have faced in this life. We reflect on the times we've considered giving up, but collectively we look up and hear God's Word of promise and power.
The Word of the Lord remains over every season of loss and defeat and His Spirit moves towards us all, proclaiming, "Come alive... Come alive!" Because Jesus took all of our brokenness, we can be made whole - we can come back to life.
Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 1 that we all come to Christ, seeking God's glory and His Body's good. In the next chapter, he uses his own approach to preaching as an example for everyone to follow in their participation in the Church.
He states that he always handles God's Word, and by extension, he conducts his life through the lens of Christ and Him crucified. Paul tells the Corinthians that his ambition is always driven by Jesus and His Cross.
In this message, we discuss how this mantra should influence how we hear, read, and handle God's Word. As we extract truth from God's Word, we take on wisdom that can transform our lives. If we are seeking and savoring Jesus and learning the way of His Cross, we are gaining true, practical, spiritual power. We also discuss how this is often contrary to how many read and interpret God's Word, with their own agendas in mind.
As the old hymn says, "The Way of the Cross leads home." God has given us everything we need in His Word to prepare us and empower us with His wisdom. All its inspiration and impact centers around the Crucified Christ.
Salvation often gets reduced down to an insurance plan, to being bailed out of trouble and whatever consequences that we may have coming. However, Christian Salvation is much more than that. Our salvation is a redeeming work of God.
Redemption evokes buying something back that has been lost. In Christ, God has bought us all back from sin and desires to bring us back to life. Like with some things for sale in this world, we often question our own worth. In the eyes of God, we are worth a great price - and in the hands of God, we gain a great purpose.
In this message, we consider the true nature of our salvation and discuss the hope and beauty of redemption. Our God doesn't waste anything and He is looking to redeem every aspect of our lives. What we may think has been a waste, God is able and willing to turn around for His glory.
Like He promised Ancient Israel, He has a better plan than to simply keep bailing us out. He has a redemption plan. From Him, we can receive a new heart, a new spirit, and a new life.
The first item on Paul's lengthy agenda in 1 Corinthians is the subject of unity and division. He addresses this first, because the mission of the Church was so very contingent on the ambition of the Church.
The people at Corinth were dividing up into factions, quarreling with each other over what made one right and righteous. Paul quickly reminded them about the Cross. Each faction was boasting of their beliefs and positions, but their posture and behavior were far from Christian.
If we are to fulfill our role as the Body of Christ, we must always bear His cross. The way of the cross, is a lifestyle of humility and selflessness. This is where the power of God is found, because this is where Jesus is found. We cannot find our glory in what we know or what we bring, but rather in what God has done.
If we all bow at the cross and bear the cross, we will live up to our name. If we keep the cross at the center of our church, if we unite together around the cross - we will constantly be reminded of the equal ground around it, and the love that should always be radiating from it, and through us.
The nation of Israel was in disbelief about their situation in exile, but God raised up the prophet Ezekiel to shine a different light on their circumstances. In this message, we hear how God is always working in our lives so that we might know Him in a personal, intimate way.
Ezekiel invites us to see our lives, specifically our defining moments as entry points into the Kingdom of God - as opportunities to know God fully. As with Israel, sometimes God has to pry us loose of this world so that we might get closer to Heaven. Thus, when it seems our world's are turned upside down, they are actually being turned right-side up.
Apologies again for poor audio quality
The demands and ways of true, Biblical Christianity fly in the face of the desires and ways of culture. There is a temptation to dilute what the Bible teaches and the movement that Jesus started, but we risk jettisoning the salvation we so desperately need.
In this message, God invites us into the discomfort zone so that we might find true, abundant, eternal life. What we first resist for fear of cost and loss, soon takes on a new light when we realize what is actually on the line.
This message is an introduction to our 1 Corinthians study, with some important context about the circumstances that led to the Corinth church plant and the pressure it would have been under from its secular culture.
Listen as we discover how Paul's word to Corinth is just as relevant to the Church in today's world as it was so many years ago. In many ways, the spirit of selfishness that sought to tempt and divide the Church at Corinth is even more prevalent and potent in our current age.
Thankfully, Paul's appeal about the true gift of the local church and how it helps us realize our faith to its fullest extent shows us the way to navigate this pressure. In this intro, we discuss key topics like discipleship and fellowship, unity and the true nature of Christ's Body.
Apologies for poor audio recording. Master file was lost, and this is the backup file
Everything that Ezekiel had ever anticipated and prepared for unraveled right before his eyes, when he and many others were taken captive by Babylon. All he had ever known was serving God in and around the temple and his chance to be part of the priesthood ripped away. He along with the entire nation, couldn't even imagine how to serve God in these circumstances.
Much to Ezekiel's surprise, God appears to him in captivity and shows him a purpose that would far exceed the "normal" life he could have had. God tells Ezekiel that he would still be a priest set apart for His Kingdom and be a prophet called to stand out for Him. God invites him into an experience like none other.
In this series, we will learn how Ezekiel experienced God in unexpected, yet marvelous ways. In this introduction, hear how Ezekiel begins to see the Glory of God amidst the ruin of his circumstances.
In this conclusion to our series, "Ready, Set, Go", we discuss the history of the Church and consider why we continue in traditions from thousands of years ago. We hear from God's Word about the power of God that is at work when we cling to His Kingdom's promises and deflect this world's alternative, inferior invitations.
We trace it all back to Jesus, how He displayed the wonders of Heaven, yet demonstrated a radical approach to life here on earth. He stared death and the devil in the eye, and didn't blink. What appeared a foolish decision on His part, was actually the apex of the power of God.
As we commit to following God and doing things His way, we revel in the foolishness of the cross and glory in God's greater path. We know that we will experience His power through it all and in eternity to come.
The book of Romans is a masterful presentation and summation of the Gospel. It takes us from condemnation to salvation, and details every possible layer regarding humanity's stance with God. Specifically, Romans teaches us what salvation does for us and tells us what we should do with our salvation.
In our study, we've heard Paul teach on justification and sanctification, showing us how our lives change in Christ. He makes it very clear how we should be transformed as believers and how this directs our path in service to our King and His Kingdom.
It's only fitting that Paul concludes Romans by recognizing some of the key people, who in their own service to Christ, made such an impact on him. In Romans 16, Paul gives special attention to more than two dozen relatively unknown saints who he credits as instrumental in his ministry.
In this message, we take time to appreciate those who gave their lives for the work of Jesus Christ, His Church and His Kingdom. We seek to understand how they became immortalized and gained eternal fame, and consider how we might walk the same path.
Paul has given us every thing we need to know in order to follow Christ and be involved in His mission. We can look forward to future glory, just as these mentioned in Romans 16 received, if only we choose the same faithful lifestyle.
As Paul reflects on his overall message to the Roman Church and looks back across his ministry in general, he invites us to consider how we are participating and delighting in the plan of God. The Church age is the culmination of thousands of years of preparation by God and His chosen, to bring the whole world under Him.
Paul took great joy in being part of the realization of this plan, and longed to live a life that glorified God and further enlarged His fame over the world. He invites us to follow in this same path, and find the true joy available in a life wholly devoted to the glory of God.
Jesus came from Heaven to Earth on a mission. He wasted no time and cut no corners in proclaiming the high stakes nature of His invitation. To miss out on what He was offering, would be eternally costly.
He also made it clear that choosing to pursue Him and finding a relationship with God would be the most rewarding experience obtainable. God has spared nothing to redeem us, so it's not extreme to suggest that we should spare nothing to take hold of all that He has for us.
Jesus proclaimed that "Everything was ready". The question that looms over us is, "Are we ready?" Are we following Him and enjoying the life available to us? If not, what are we waiting on?
To put a wrap on what it means to truly be transformed by the power of Christ, Paul gives us one last word about doing for others just as Jesus has done for us. Having received so much from God, those remade in His image will give so much to and for one another. There is no better way to describe or characterize Christianity in practice.
In this message, we hear how Paul's words are rooted in Jesus' own words from His most famous sermon, and in line with the entire Biblical standard.
David experienced life's highest of highs and lowest of lows, yet through it all He never lost faith in God. Perhaps the height of His confidence in God came at his lowest personal and professional moment. After suffering the breakdown of his family and facing an insurrection led by his own son, David was ready to leave it all behind. Empty handed, exiled from his own kingdom, David's faith was rock solid.
On the brink of losing everything he had dreamed of and prayed for, David retained a peace that was beyond understanding. David had an unshakeable hope.
In this message, we take one final look at David's life and chronicle how his later years saw many heartbreaks and disappointments. Through it all, David exemplified how we all should face these seasons of our lives, and showed us how we might remain hopeful.
Romans 14 continues with the theme of sanctification, in that it calls us to examine and evaluate our motives and ambitions. Paul wants us to consider the decisions that we make and the stances that we take, in light of how they contribute to the greater Kingdom of God and how they build up the body of Christ. This chapter is a true intersect of individual liberty and communal responsibility, as Paul helps us navigate what glorifies God and what is good for us all.
What makes a nation great? The Bible actually contains a whole book that exclusively covers this topic. Long ago, God made it clear how a nation could become great and remain great. Originally meant for Ancient Israel, this prescription could be applied to any nation wanting to reach its full potential.
In this message, we discover that America's founders signed-off the Declaration of Independence with a statement of intent, suggesting how exactly they would use the freedom they were seeking. Their desire was in line with God's outline in Deuteronomy.
If a nation wants to be great it must be totally dependent on God and have a population that lives in dedication towards one another. Listen and learn how we might continue to remember what God has done for us and be good stewards of the freedom God has given. Learn how a life of faithfulness to God and kindness towards others is the secret to any nation's greatness.
In this sobering conversation about the recent news concerning abortion, we discuss:
-
Does God judge an entire nation for the sins of some of its people? Does He sometimes prolong judgement in order to save sinners?(Genesis 18)
-
Why did God spare Israel for a similar - or perhaps worse - outbreak of sin than was seen in Sodom? (Judges 19)
-
The Bible makes clear that all life is precious, valuable, and sacred to Him. No measure of complication voids this truth. (Psalm 139)
-
God requires that His people declare how valuable all life is by ministering to the weakest and most vulnerable in society. The Bible has tons to say about God's heart for mothers and children, especially. (Deuteronomy 10)
-
A nation that doesn't seek justice for and keep an outstretched arm towards its most needy people stands guilty before God. No amount of worship compensates for serving those among us who are marginalized. (Isaiah 1)
Romans 12 makes the case that our duty as Christians is to follow the path of Christ, focusing on serving and loving one another. We are taught that the sanctification and transformation process will cause us all to raise others above ourselves, looking out for their best above our own. This flies in the face of our nature of self-preservation and self-promotion. It will cause us to decide if God's Kingdom or our own kingdoms are more important.
This line of thought leads us into Romans 13, where Paul brings into view the kingdoms of this world and the role they play in our Christian lives of love and service. His commands are extremely contrary to our own wills and will seem completely unreasonable to most. However, if we've committed to a life of building up God's Kingdom and bringing as many under His love, then it will not be challenging at all.
Together these two chapters offer us a way of escape from the pull of this world, wherein "winning" and "being in power" is most important. It puts in perspective the role of the state and its leaders, and calls us to focus on the Church's lane and determine to follow Christ's path through the up's and down's. Whether the state is for us or against us, we are called to be for the world and find a way to be the Body of Christ no matter what. We are to rest in God's sovereignty over the state, and trust that He is good whether the state is or not. Paul's teaching about how we are to relate to politicians will at first seem controversial, but with an understanding of our greater purpose, it begins to seem most logical.
Ultimately, by being the best citizens we can possibly be, we maintain and even strengthen our witness to the world and faithfulness to God. This is what matters most. By fulfilling our civic duties with grace and respect, we are able to maximize our Christian calling of love and service. By this, and only this, the world will come to know the Greater King we serve and the Kingdom He is building.
David's rise from shepherd boy to prince of Israel happened suddenly and took the nation by storm. He was beloved like none other in his generation. What once was a secret between the prophet Samuel and his family soon became a forgone conclusion: David was destined to be Israel's next king.
Like any rising star, David became enraptured by his assumed destiny. From his musical skills, war trophies, and favor under Saul, it would have been hard for even the most modest person to dismiss the hype. David seemed too blessed and important to fail.
However, just as quickly as he rose to fame, he saw it all unravel and taken away. King Saul turned on him and soon after, the whole nation. Within days, David went from prince to pauper, from hero to fugitive.
The next chapter of his life would be spent on the run, making a series of selfish decisions as he attempted to cling to his destiny. Yet, it was during this dark episode wherein David realized that God had a greater plan for him. In the aftermath of tragedy, David begins to understand his true destiny and sees God transform him into a man after God's own heart.
Romans 12 calls all Christians to a transformed and sanctified life. In this message we breakdown the transformation process and begin to understand what our lives will look like as we grow in Christ.
It should come as no surprise that this chapter deals heavily with themes of loving and serving others, resulting in our lives looking more and more like Jesus.
David is remembered and celebrated as a man after God's own heart. He received this compliment from God Himself, when early on in his life, he made seeking and following God his ultimate desire.
In this message, we talk about the desires and motivators that all of us are driven by, and how so often we are left disappointed by where they take us. We hear about God's desire for us and how this should convince all of us to pursue Him with our whole heart.
Hear from David about how fulfilled and blessed our lives can be when we desire the God who desires us. His entire life story is one that proclaims the goodness and favor of God, but it all began when he was just a kid with a harp, worshipping His Good Shepherd.
Romans 12 is the beginning of the final section of the book, which is all about Sanctification. We've learned about why salvation changes us and how it leaves us different, but now we will begin learning about what we should do as saved people.
Paul launches quickly into practical teaching, showing us how following Jesus will impact our daily lives and influence us at our core. We see how the local church is supposed to facilitate this process in every Christian. Together, we can encourage each other and discover how we might put to use God's gift of grace.
After two thorough studies on the nature of salvation, the Apostle Paul gives a final word about the heart of the matter. In this message, we talk about how salvation is completely a product of God's grace.
We get saved by grace. We are saved by grace. We will always be saved by grace. We don’t earn grace. We can’t fail grace. We never outpace grace. Otherwise, grace wouldn’t be grace.
There's no denying that there is a fire spreading across our world. This fire consumes everything in its path. Wildfires often are ignited in dry and parched lands, and spiritually speaking, our land is devoid of God's presence and power. All throughout history, such distance from God has led to extreme violence and perverseness. There are countless examples of societies being overcome by these kinds of fires, from 2000 BC to today.
The Bible calls on God's people to neither ignore those caught in these flames or become judgmental. We are called to take on these burdens, and be compelled by them to do our best. The prophets in the Old Testament led the people of Israel to respond in two ways when their worlds were aflame: REPENT and LAMENT.
In this message, we learn how taking on a posture of repentance and lamentation can bring healing on our land, one person at a time. We learn how to identify what we can do better and why we should intercede for those stuck in sin or suffering from others' sin.
We hear the prophet Joel heed his generation to repent and lament, and how he sees a day in the future when God would pour out His Spirit on all that turn towards Him for presence and power. We learn that if we are ever going to see revival in our world, it has to begin with each individual believer turning towards God with our whole heart.
Whereas Romans 9 is all about God's sovereignty, Romans 10 is all about Human responsibility. In this chapter we see that these are indeed two sides of the same coin. God makes a choice for us, but we must also make a choice for Him. He initiates, but we must respond. And if we do respond, God will hear and He will save. Always.
Salvation belongs to and comes only from the Lord. Romans 9 is a thorough study on how God's sovereignty is at work in our salvation.
Jesus' ascension to Heaven's Throne doesn't mark the end of His story or His followers' hope, but rather a new beginning. When He sat down, a new reign began over all creation. All of the earth no longer has to settle for bondage under the beasts that deceive and distract us. When we look to Jesus, we find peace, power, and purpose that's not of this world, nor limited by this world's weaknesses.
In this message, we consider how Jesus' reign changes how we process our world's brokenness and burdens. We find comfort and are compelled to bring as much of Heaven to Earth as possible.
The Ancient of Days is our anchor in these days. In Him we find the courage and boldness to not bow to the kingdoms of this world, but seek His Kingdom and realize its values and ideals while we wait.
The story of Samson reflects God's desire and ability to change a life that is dedicated to Him. However, it's also a story of God's patience and mercy, as Samson was far from a perfect man. There were blatant moral blind spots in his life, and after flirting with disaster again and again, his poor choices finally caught up with him.
Satan set a trap for Samson, and being led by his unchecked lusts, he fell headlong into it. He found himself drained of his power, robbed of his vision, and bound in chains. The once shining star, Israel's heroic leader, was captured in shame, and the whole nation suffered as result.
This is what sin will do to us all. Satan tempts, then traps, and takes away our capacity and ability to enjoy life as God intends. However, God's grace was greater than Samson's sin, and God did not forsake him.
In Samson's final moments, he brings his sorrow and shame to God, and prays for redemption. More than just confessing his wrong, He trusts that God was always right and clings to Him for restoration and life. Samson models true repentance as he casts himself before the goodness of God.
If there's ever a story that leans into the tension of our forgetfulness and God's faithfulness, this is it. If there's a person that embodies true repentance and redemption, it's Samson.
Within all of us, there is a tendency to drift away from God. Through salvation and the gift of God's Spirit, we can be restored to God and find New Life in step with Him. If not for the Spirit's lead however, we all inevitably and helplessly fall away.
The story of Judges features the nation of Israel drifting from God, even though they had ample reasons to trust Him and worship Him. God raised up deliverers in this generation to bring the people back to Him and to help reestablish their connection with Him.
While the judges were pictures of Jesus, they also are pictures of Christians. Yes, they acted as saviors for their people, but they were still sinners themselves. If not for their reliance on the Holy Spirit, they would never been able to help the nation.
In this message, we look at the story of Samson and see how his life was changed by the Spirit of God. We observe how joyful he was when he remained in step with God. The goal of this conversation is to cause us to see how vital the Spirit is in keeping us in God's orbit. We also identify and punctuate the joy and fulfillment available to us if we walk in the Spirit.
At the conclusion of our message, we arrive at four important reminders with regard to being joyful and sustaining our joy:
1) Joy is found in God's presence - 1 Chronicles 16:27 2) Joy is found in our pursuit - Psalm 37:4 3) Joy is found within God's parameters - Psalm 40:8 4) Joy is found in our persistence - Matthew 25:21
In this introduction to our study on Samson, we take a look at the world that he was born into. In the Judges' era, Israel's faith had wavered and the whole nation felt the effects of this breakdown. God was actively working to redeem His people though, lovingly disciplining them and repeatedly rescuing them. He was looking for a faithful few through which He might perform wonders for and thru.
In this message, we are introduced to Samson's parents, who felt as unworthy and unqualified as could be. However, they dared to believe that God was indeed able to change their story and bring a breakthrough.
In our last look at Romans 8, we wrap up our conversation about the new heart we have in Christ, and move on to what is our ultimate Christian Hope.
Paul pivots from talking how our salvation changes our behavior, to how it effects our response and perspective amidst this world's brokenness. He shows us how even this world's fallen and fragile nature is actually, actively being reinterpreted and reframed by Christians who put their hope completely in Christ. This hope affords us an exclusive opportunity to see even the worst days in a different, redemptive light. In Christ, we cling to the promise that all things are being worked out for good.
In part two of our Romans 8 study, we continue to talk about our newfound life in Christ. In some of the most rich and transformative verses of all Scripture, hear the Apostle Paul's plea that we take hold of all that has been deeded to us now that we are heirs of God.
For the most part, those recognized as famous throughout history were people of power, wealth, and great success. However, when it comes to the history of the Christian faith, most of the people that we celebrate were relative nobodies in their day compared to their contemporary leaders and influencers. It is truly remarkable how kings and rulers of the ancient world are mere footnotes in the stories of peasants, shepherds, and refugees.
The truth is, the stories from ancient Israel and the first century church only survived because the original followers of Jesus believed they were worth telling. They were willing to sacrifice everything to make the redemption story known to everyone, everywhere.
In this message, we take one more look at the aftermath of the Resurrection and see how Jesus convinced the disciples to choose Him instead of an easier, more convenient path. We also see how this same calling is over our lives, how we are sent just like the first century church was.
The question over us today is will we be as determined as they were to be God's movement? Will we choose boldness and seek first the Kingdom? Will we be distracted or discouraged by lesser things?
All of us are sent by God, for God. We all have room to give more, serve more, and do more. It begins by hearing God's word daily, applying and obeying it. It continues by investing in others over ourselves. It is sustained by maximizing every opportunity and praying for more.
Christians, we must be faithful, flexible and fearless. We must be bold in a world that downplays God's Kingdom. Perhaps choosing Jesus will make us footnotes in the world's story, but when it's all said and done, the roles will be reversed, and only what's done for Christ will last.
There is probably no better or more pure expression of Christianity than Romans 8. Having established that we are justified by faith alone, Paul uses this chapter to exult over the benefits of saving faith.
In this message, we break down the blessing of being in Christ. Paul gives us two major revelations regarding what salvation means for us. Listen as we marvel at the work that God has done on our behalf and discover just what manner of power rests upon us as a result.
Across the first six chapters of Romans, Paul has made a few things very clear: We need to be reconciled to God and are incapable of accomplishing that on our own. In Romans 7, he is going to make one final case about the unreliable and counterproductive nature of religion insofar as bringing about justification and salvation.
Paul emphatically states that even the Jewish Law, as holy and inspired as it may be, is not a means of salvation for us. He also offers us a proper understanding of the Law's purpose and place in our lives today.
We cover all of this and more in this message. Listen as we uncover a true and certain way to overcome sin and stay in fellowship with God.
Whether or not Jesus would fulfill His earthly mission was never in question. However, whether His followers would accept their mission was a whole other story. After unfollowing Him and hiding out in fear, on top of outright scoffing at the idea of Jesus being resurrected, the Disciples weren't exactly eager for whatever Jesus had planned next.
Jesus spent a period of 40 days after His resurrection persistently working to re-recruit His Disciples and turn them loose on the world. After several encounters, while they seemed glad that Jesus was alive, they weren't all too inspired. Eventually, they realize the errors of their ways and surrender to God's plan.
But what if? What if Peter and the others had stayed on their self-centered path? What if they had chosen to stay in Galilee and reverted back completely to their former lifestyles.
In this series, we study the aftermath of Easter and consider the potential directions things could have taken. We hear from Jesus how crucial and urgent it is that we continue His mission and prioritize His Kingdom over all else. How foolish would it be, to have witnessed all that God has done for us, but go about our lives as if nothing really happened? How can we claim Heaven's promise, but deny Heaven's calling over us? It's clear that resurrection's impact on us is determined by what we do with what's been done for us.
Easter has had an undeniable impact on the world. A New Creation was put into place through Jesus' death and resurrection, and we can experience New Life through Him.
In this message we hear how Jesus changed everything and how He can change our lives for the better. Easter can be summed up as our inheritance. God has done something for us and desires that we take hold of this gift and make it personal.
2000 years ago, Crucifixion wasn't something only heard about in history books, it was a constant backdrop of every day life. In the Roman Empire, people were crucified regularly, and as a result everyone was familiar with the sights and sounds of this brutal, inhumane practice. This makes the demand for Jesus to be crucified all the more bewildering. Over the last few days of Jesus' life, the cries were ever-growing for Him to be put to death in the most devastating way.
What had humanity come to? How could things have descended to this place. Was this the world and the people to whom God had sent Jesus? Was there any hope for redemption and regeneration?
As Jesus suffered, John tells us that His mother Mary watched it all from the hillside. Can you imagine the emotions she experienced? Assuredly, God the Father watched from Heaven as well. Both were near the cross, not only in proximity but participation. While Mary felt helpless, surely God could do something about this.
Jesus was one with the Father. He was God in Flesh. They were always in harmony and in agreement with one another. As heartbreaking as it would've been to watch Jesus suffer, this was part of the plan. Jesus had been born and sent into the world for this moment.
From the cross, He cried out in intercession for the very people that placed Him there. On the cross, He did a work to save not only those sinners, but all sinners. This was the plan all along. God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to die for us. Through His broken body and offered blood, we find salvation. In Him, we are reconciled to God and brought back into relationship with God. When He cried, "It is Finished!", our redemption story was just beginning.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus was by far the most popular person in all the land and had enough support to overturn both Temple and Empire. By Friday of the same week, everything had changed. Everyone had turned on Jesus. Shouts of praise had turned into jeers. "Hosanna" was replace with "Crucify Him!"
How did this happen? How did Jesus go from beloved to betrayed? Chosen to cursed? Destined for exaltation to delivered over for extermination?
The Apostle John was there for it all and gives us the inside scoop of how it all unfolded. He heard the sermon after the parade on Palm Sunday that thinned the crowds. He heard the rumors of the religious leaders colluded with Judas to set a trap for Jesus. He tells us exactly how Jesus went from adored to unfollowed.
Listen as we unpack how Jesus' movement appeared to unravel over a single week. One thing becomes clear with each passing day, Jesus wasn't panicking at all. Even when He was left alone, arrested, and falsely accused, He was absolutely committed to His plan - a plan that was all about saving the very people who had just unfollowed Him.
On two different occasions, the crowds that accompanied Jesus tried to make Him king. WIth numbers greater than the average Roman legion, all Jesus had to do was lean into their support and they would be unstoppable. He had displayed such greater power and wonders, clearly He was able to do whatever He wanted. After refusing the support again and again, one thing was becoming clear - Jesus didn't want to be king.
Indeed He was a king, but a different kind of king - one unlike this world had ever seen. In this message, we take a look at Jesus' response to the crowds rallying around Him on two different occasions. We hear Him inform His Disciples in private the true nature of His Kingdom and cast a vision over them for how they should represent Him going forward.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem to shouts of "Hosanna, Hosanna", He would refuse the throne and embrace a cross. This is why He came into this world, leaving the glory of Heaven to face a gory punishment from Rome. Herein is Christianity defined, showing us why we can be saved and how we must live one we are saved.
In this message, we unpack yet another powerful passage from Romans, regarding the impact salvation should and can have on a believer. After teaching us about what it means to be "alive in Christ" and "made new", Paul takes us deep into a conversation about grace and sin. Now that we're under grace, we can come out from under sin.
We no longer have to be slaves to sin, because sin is no longer our master. If we are still obeying our sinful nature and walking in the flesh, we are out of step with Christ. Romans 6 is a must-read text for any believer, but especially anyone that is struggling to break free from their old life.
Paul gives us practical instruction about how we can take full advantage of our forgiveness and freedom. He calls us to a place of total dependency and devotion to Christ, so that we can be filled with His life and power. As we'll discover, following Jesus removes the burden of sin and the pressure of religion, and opens us up to True and Eternal Life.
Within just a few decades of Jesus’ time on earth, the Roman Empire was totally immersed in the Jesus Movement. Try as they might to quell its growth and destroy it, Rome was powerless. However, it was undeniable that there was great power behind and within the Church. As Jesus became a household name, questions burned within every heart and mind: Who is Jesus? Why are so many worshipping Him? What exactly did He accomplish in His ministry?
In this series, we follow John’s telling of Jesus’ story to learn from an eye-witness and Day One Follower the answers to these important questions. John gives his testimony of who Jesus was to him and why he came to worship Him. John’s words are bold and profound, and leave us without a doubt regarding Jesus’ identity and impact.
John tells us that if there’s ever been an expression of God, Jesus is it. John identifies Jesus as God’s definitive Word - the full revelation and manifestation of God. To many, Jesus appeared to be just a man, but to John, Jesus was clearly and certainly God made flesh.
In this message, we marvel at John’s testimony and consider the exact moment that convinced him to follow Jesus and never turn back. Listen as we discuss what Jesus reveals about God and rejoice in the Good News of forgiveness and freedom.
Maybe you’ve asked the question, about yourself or someone else, “Why am I the way that I am?… Why is anyone the way that they are?” Research shows that the the answers to these questions can be quite complex, but the short of it is a combination of genetics and conditioning. We are all born with certain predispositions and we are all conditioned into certain behaviors.
According the Romans, these factors prove to be true regarding our connection to God. We are all born into sin and fallen in our nature, thanks to the first man, Adam. Try as we might to rehabilitate ourselves, we need more than just religious conditioning. We need to be made new.
Jesus promises to undo what Adam did and reverse the curse of sin. His death and resurrection unleashed a brand new reality on the world, and opens the doors for us all to find new life in Him. Our sinful nature can be overcome and we can learn to walk in the newness and power of resurrection life.
In this message, we breakdown the gift of salvation and talk about the practical impact it can and should have on us all. From the immediate effects to the continuous, lasting effects, Romans 6 shows us the pathway to abundant, full life.
The Church reminds us that we have a better belonging and invites us to find a more satisfying life. Deep down all of us long to find a life of true, deeper meaning. None of us want to be forgotten, and are well aware of our world's ability and tendency to wear away and dispose of life.
Jesus came to make sure we all can find true and full life. He came alongside everybody in every possible walk of life, including those who were as far from God as one could imagine. In this message, we consider the final person He visited during His earthly ministry, and how that exchange still speaks to us.
If you're looking for eternal hope and hoping to ensure that your life makes an eternal impact, Jesus invites you to follow Him. Only in Him can we find our way to God and the way to make our lives count for all eternity.
Romans 5 casts a clear vision for what our life in Christ can look like - Full of God's peace and grace, reconciled and transformed by the promise of Christ. However, the key word in this chapter is "access". In Christ, we have access to a new and better life. The question is, will we take advantage of and activate our resurrection power?
Romans 5:12-21 acknowledges the sin of Adam that works against all of us, while also punctuating how Christ came to do an opposite and greater work to save us. In Adam, we are fallen, but in Christ we are raised up anew. In Adam, sin dominates us, but in Christ grace resurrects us.
Listen to this message for more about the salvation we have been provided through Christ and learn how we can come to life in Him.
Of all the stumbling blocks put before by the Enemy, guilt may be the most sinister and most toxic. Tragically, it's also something that many of us assume is actually from God. Religion has leveraged guilt for generations, leaving many to feel as if guilt is a curse we'll forever have to bear. Thankfully, this is not so...
In this message, we discover that God has been trying to free His people from guilt since the beginning. He has never imposed it, but rather Satan has imprisoned many by guilt. Jesus came to remove our sin and absolve our guilt. If we trust in Him for salvation, we no longer have to bear our shame or regrets.
If we make Christ our hiding place, rather than running from God, He will remove our disgrace and empower us with His grace. Guilt will try to keep us from peace and joy, but Christ died and rose again to give us forgiveness and freedom.
Romans 5 is one of the best and most basic descriptions of the Christian Life. In this chapter we learn how faith anchors us in God's peace and grace. With our hearts and minds transformed by these gifts, we gain a new perspective which raises us up to New Life in Christ.
In this special message, we dive deep into the Scriptures looking for clarity and perspective regarding the chaos in our world and how God may be found in its midst. What we discover may surprise you, but will almost certainly offer you peace that is out of this world.
Of all the ways the Enemy seeks to combat our faith in God and faithfulness to His Kingdom, this message addresses his most subtle strategy. This world often causes us to feel infringed and marginalized, and many environments in which we find ourselves cause us to feel out of place, making us want to retreat or even rebel. It turns out, however, that it's in these places that God may very well be sending us and calling us to endure for Him.
The Bible is full of charges over the people of God to be mindful of their greater purpose and always see past the Enemy's attempts to discourage and aggravate us, and fill us with apathy. If indeed we have been driven to the margins, then it stands to reason that it's from those margins we have been called to endure and from which the Kingdom of God will emerge. The question is, will we remain determined, motivated and ambitious to serve God no matter where He places us, no matter what we may face?
We all have a certain level of anger within us. Anger lurks in every heart that has ever been wounded... that has ever been taken from, let down, or wronged. Ultimately, anger is the result of a heart that didn't get what it wanted. And isn't it true, we get angry because we don't get our way. We feel like we deserved better, or at least different.
While it's tempting to categorize anger as being someone else's fault, anger is our problem to deal with. It may have been triggered by something external, but at the end of the day, anger is inside of US... anger is a poison in OUR hearts.
James brings an incredible word to us regarding anger - about where it came from and how we can overcome it. James leads us in admitting that it's ours to own, so that it won't own us and control us. If we will admit why we're angry, then we can embrace and enjoy the solution that only God can provide for it.
We cannot wait on someone else to be the solution to our anger, because only Jesus can give us the grace and peace to find freedom. If we'll follow James' teaching, we can escape anger and we can embrace forgiveness, peace, and grace.
Anger may cause us to see red, but by God's grace we can see a different kind of red... which will remind us of something much greater than anyone could possibly give us.
After spending the opening of Romans dismissing any and all alternative pathway to God, Paul finally focuses in on the true way in Romans 3. In this message, we discuss why righteousness is not something we achieve, but rather a gift we receive by faith.
Paul gives us the very basis for our Christian faith, by articulating what our salvation does for us. Listen and learn what it means to be imputed and imparted with righteousness, and how by faith we can begin to live a life that honors God.
Are you more sensitive to this broken world or our Mighty God?
Our answer to this question will determine whether or not we are overtaken by fear or emboldened by faith in times of uncertainty and distress. This world is fragile and volatile, and gives us plenty of reasons to be afraid. However, if our God is good and sovereign, then we have a greater reason to have faith.
Ephesians 6 teaches us that we can overcome the fiery darts the enemy targets us with. We can stand firm against fear if we are grounded in the Gospel. If our faith is in Jesus and His coming Kingdom, then we will not be shaken and we will continue finding courage to serve Him in every season.
We don't have to be frozen by fear. We can remain focused in our faith. We can see God through the fog, if our hope rests in Christ alone.
We are constantly comparing ourselves and being compared to one another. Our world today makes it extremely easy and natural to do this, with social media and society pressure. At the heart of this notion to compare ourselves is jealousy. We may not be jealous of others, but we are jealous of who they are and what they have. Jealousy's power and influence is deceptive, leaving us vulnerable and vindictive.
When we give our minds over to jealousy and comparison, we are emptying our hearts of purpose and peace. Solomon describes jealous ambition as causing us to chase after the wind, which causes us to be filled with dissatisfaction.
In this message, we hear and heed Solomon's words, and take a sober look at our lives and purpose, and we check the tank on our peace and joy. Our goal is to restore faith in God's plan for us, so that we wouldn't be distracted by His plans for others. We learn that it is possible to escape the comparison traps and secure peace and contentment.
In our last look at the Great Commission, we go beyond our call to witness and talk about what it looks like to be a truly welcoming people. As it turns out, when Jesus called His first disciples, He quickly began teaching them a brand new Kingdom ethic.
Jesus emphasized their place in this world as salt and light, stressing that their good works towards others would be as important as their preaching the Good News. Combined with a message about Jesus, if our lives reflect Jesus we can always be on track to fulfill the Great Commission.
CS Lewis wrote, "There is within all of us a curious idea that we ought to behave a certain way, however, we do not in fact behave in that way."
Romans 2 confirms that there is indeed this notion within us, which confirms that deep down we all acknowledge God's righteous standard, even if none of us can live up to it. In this chapter, Paul confronts the Jews' appearance of godliness and confirms that even those unreached are still accountable. His goal is to show everyone that there is salvation found in Christ, who can bring actual, authentic change to every believer.
In this edition of our Romans study, we unpack the Mercy and Kindness of God. We discover that God's mercy allows us to walk away from Him, while it also works to call us back. We discuss how it is the kindness of God that works to empower that which sin has weakened, to enable us to find new life.
While no excuses are made for our sinful nature, no barriers are in place keeping us from obtaining a new nature. Romans 1 makes it clear that we are all deserving of judgement, but Romans 2 begins revealing the overwhelming kindness of God, that offers us grace instead.
Every single day, we face an enemy who seeks to tear down that which God is building up. He works against all that God works for: Redemption, Preservation, Sanctification. He attempts to leverage our world's fallen nature and God's patience with it, against us so that we might lose our joy and faith.
The Apostle Paul details this battle that rages around us, and makes specific note of how Satan seeks to wound our hearts. He aims flaming arrows at us day after day, hoping to set our hearts on fire in all the wrong ways.
In the introduction to this series, in which we'll cover many of the fiery darts that the enemy targets us with, we discuss the seeds of doubt that have been planted in the collective heart of the Church. Too many Christians have become overwhelmed with doubt and have lost their confidence in God and His Plans.
Listen as we discuss the ramifications of doubt and the depressed state that we easily slip into if we forfeit the confidence and courage available to us. May we swiftly confess our doubt and begin renewing our faith in God's goodness. Truly His plans are full of peace and purpose. We only need to stand firm and doubt not.
In the introduction to Romans, Paul extols the gift of salvation made available through Jesus Christ, but the tone changes midway through chapter 1. This transition however is very appropriate, because it addresses the question ,"Why do we need to be saved?"
Beginning in Romans 1:18, Paul begins to unpack why humanity finds itself in dire straits apart from Christ. He explains what caused us to be far from God and details our unrighteous nature.
This passage gives us incredible insight regarding our predisposed bent against God's will and way, exposing how we repeatedly exchange God's glory for our own shame. All of this serves to drive us to repentance and call us to worship, so that we might break the fallen cycle of humanity.
The heart of the Great Commission is a call to be witnesses for Christ - but what exactly does that mean? In this message we discuss what is necessary to effectively share the Gospel. What begins as a personal passion for Jesus, translates to and produces an eagerness to witness and a mindfulness for those outside of Christ.
Are you willing to take the LEAP and obey the Great Commission? Listen and discover that you can be empowered to serve God in this way.
In this introduction to the Book of Romans, we look at how it uniquely fits into the Bible and serves as an incredible intersection of Old Testament promise and New Testament reality. The Apostle Paul shows us how that which was longed for across all of history was finally made available through Jesus Christ. Listen as we define what it means to be in a relationship with God.
The Great Commission is an imperative that hangs over every Christian. Those who know Jesus are called to live their lives with an ultimate purpose of making Him known. However, for many different reasons the majority of Christians don't feel up to the task and wonder if this commission really applies to them.
The main reason we miss the calling of the Great Commission is because we misunderstand the essence of it and how truly accessible and inviting it is. We often think that witnessing is where it begins and ends, but really the Great Commission begins with worship.
Worship is the first essential step in fulfilling the Great Commission. When we engage in worship we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit's lead. When we understand that Jesus is worth EVERYTHING, we will live a life full of worship. Not only will we exalt God vertically, but our lives will overflow with His goodness and Gospel.
A lifestyle of worship is what we need if we are going to begin making disciples. If we possess a worshipful spirit, we will naturally lean towards those around us with a desire and ability to encourage, uplift and console. This is how we open ourselves up to being used by God and how we can begin seeing the Great Commission as an achievable and desirable goal.
A message from 2 Chronicles 20 about the power of prayer and a collective dependence on God.
All of our lives are telling a story. What if they all could tell the story of God's redeeming power? No matter what our lives are filled with, they all can be touched by and saved by the grace of God. Often we allow the wrong narrative to take hold in our lives, but what if God has a plan and wants us to bring everything to Him?
In this message, we take a look at what God's Word has to say about our weaknesses and hardships in life, and how in them we actually intersect with God's grace and power. We learn how we can reframe our trials, find redemption for them, and find strength in them.
We learn how to pray and what to pray for, and why God's Will is always best, even when we can't wrap our minds around it. We also learn to rejoice in even our struggles, because of the special encounter with Jesus awaiting us.
As Christians, we are called members of the Body of Christ. What exactly does this mean? How does the Local Church take discipleship to its intended place?
In this message, we break down how participating in the Church allows our faith to grow. We may can follow Jesus from anywhere, but finding our place in a Church community opens our lives up to so much more. Find out how God is able to give us much more than we may have settled for, and how our brothers and sisters in Christ are essential in helping us discover this.
What sort of New Year's Resolutions should Christians make? Is there one vow that every follower of Christ ought to devote themselves to?
Ephesians 4 identifies one thing that every Christian is called to do. The Apostle Paul declares that all who have put on Christ have this shared imperative over their lives. It turns out that this passage in Ephesians is just the tip of the iceberg of the New Testament's greatest message.
In this message, hear how every Christian is called to consider how we relate to those around us. Our beliefs in God are actually proven and authenticated by our behavior towards others. As God has done for us, we are called to do for others.
As we consider all that this passage introduces to us, we marvel at the possibility of a world where every Christian follows this path. Can you imagine what would happen if we all loved one another the same way God has loved us?
We all have a great work to do in 2022. Perhaps we haven't identified yet, or it could be something we've walked away from in the past. In this message, we turn to Nehemiah for inspiration about how we might commit our hands to the work God would have us do in this year.
Nehemiah teaches us how to identify the "great works" that believers should prioritize. His story also shows how important accountability and persistence are, lest our works be abandoned.
As you listen to this message and consider the text, ask yourself these very important questions:
-
What is my "Great Work" for 2022? In light of my faith and what God expects from me in my current walks of life - What can I not possibly ignore? Consider your role as a man/woman, husband/wife, single person, church member, etc.
-
How can I ensure that I will remain accountable to this work throughout this year? What support systems do I have in place to keep me from coming down from this work?
-
What temptations do I face, or could I face, that might detract from and distract me from this Great Work? Am I prepared to withstand the temptation to turn to something lesser than this calling over my life?
At the dawn of a new year, we turn to God's Word for inspiration and direction. Naturally, there's no shortage of wisdom and guidance to be found. Romans 14 is a brilliant passage that calls for unity amongst a diverse group of Christians, who were quarreling over traditions vs liberty. One side argued that there were certain days that required a specific measure of reverence, while the other side advocated for less accountability and individual discretion. The Apostle Paul does a wonderful job at bringing everyone under their shared calling and shared cause.
Paul reminds them, and us by way of inspiration, that every day belongs to God, and we are called to maximize them all for His glory. In this message, we gain incredible insight about God's sovereign design of us and the place in time He's placed us into. Turns out, every day that we wake up to was made with us in mind. Likewise, we were made with these very days in mind. We were made for these days, and these days were made for us.
Listen to find out how 2022 + Us is God's latest plan to spread redemption to the world and build up His Kingdom for the world to come.
Every year that passes is another lap in an incredible journey towards our eternal destination. In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul rallies the Church to consider the invitation and opportunity we have been given.
We are called to run this race for the glory of God, devoting every day to Him. As we close another year, it's right that we evaluate the progress we've made. What did we add to our eternal portfolio in 2021? What do we need to change in order to live with the proper urgency and necessity in 2022?
There is a gravitational pull on every one of our hearts that compels us grow as believers and go as followers. As we conclude another lap around the Sun, may we begin the next one with a heart of passion and purpose.
After enjoying the wonder of Christmastime and in reflection on another year under God's care, we spent the last Sunday of 2021 doing the only sensible thing: Savoring our Savior.
Shouldn't our biggest regret of the year be that we didn't savor Him and seek out all of His grace? We are often full of worry or given to worshipping lesser things. If only we would spend every day soaking up all of God's goodness and allowing His grace to change our hearts.
As we put a wrap on 2021 and look forward to 2022, this message helps put in perspective just how good our God is. Zephaniah's word to Israel is just as relevant to us, as he spotlights God's gift of salvation for us all.
Jesus was known to keep company of people from all across the spectrum. He dined with both Pharisees and Tax Collectors. Both sides, especially the religious crowd, wanted to keep Him for themselves, but Jesus could not be contained.
On one occasion when Jesus sat down with a group of Pharisees, an unexpected and unwelcomed guest found their table. A woman labeled as an outcast and considered irredeemable came to worship Jesus, and this drew great ire from the religious men.
This fateful encounter proves to be a perfect window into the Kingdom of God, and Jesus's thoughts about both sin and religion. In this message we discuss what the world had gotten so wrong about both matters, and how Jesus came to change everything.
He came to lift the burden of judgement from every sinner. He came to expose religion's incapability to justify and satisfy our souls. He came to bring the love, hope, peace and joy that we all long for.
Jesus came a Savior unto us all.
Matthew's version of the Christmas story doesn't begin with a grand introduction, nor does it immerse us into the drama and wonder of it all. No, Matthew's Gospel begins with a list of names. This isn't an ordinary list of names of course, but it is the genealogy of Jesus, tracing Him back to the beginning of Israel's story.
Matthew assures us that Jesus's bloodline included the who's who of Israel's history - Abraham and David. However, much of the list features relative nobodies, that aren't so much as mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. There are also plenty of everyday sinners, who are remembered for all the wrong reasons. Yet, they're all included just the same.
Matthew 1:21 tells us that Jesus came to save His people from their sins. The genealogy details just who His people were - People just like us. The message Matthew wants to send is pretty clear: Christmas is for EVERYBODY.
Matthew's Gospel goes on to tell an incredible story about Jesus inviting and including sinners like him in the family of God. He is planing the party to end all parties, and everyone's name is on the invite list. Christmas forever reminds us what God was willing to do to make sure that none of us miss out.
Christmas promises to produce a hope within us that is unwavering and thrilling beyond all compare. During the seasonal lead-up and celebration, it seems easy to believe that this is true and obtainable. However, for many of us once December 26 rolls around, Christmas is already a memory.
The indication of whether we've embraced and received the true spirit of Christmas is not our hype in the build up, but our hope in the aftermath. When we've fully trusted in Jesus and have placed our hope in Him, we find everything this world won't and can't give us.
Often we settle for hype because to truly find hope requires that we let go of any and all false hopes. For this reason, many celebrate Christmas but fewer are changed by Christmas.
In this message we talk about why hope is always better than hype, and we identify and expose our false hopes. Christmas creates a space where all who are wearied can be honest about it and can rejoice knowing that Jesus is our unwavering hope.
We've all heard the story of the Wise Men who following a star, came to Jerusalem in search of a newborn king. Perhaps however, you haven't heard their backstory. Yes, their dedication to studying the heavens for a sign from God was a longstanding quest, that generations of stargazers had pursued.
Practically the entire world featured religious societies which looked to the stars for a sign from God. Only the descendants of Abraham seemed to go about worship another way...
In this message, we learn that God had long been planning to bring the rest of the world to Him. Listen and marvel at the phenomena that changed the course of history.
In this conclusion to our Acts series, we look back at the road taken by the Disciples from Jerusalem to Rome. It's clear that we can learn a lot from the early Church's constant, forward motion. They embodied the true spirit of being Jesus Followers.
Arriving at Rome wasn't the end of the Church's journey, but rather, it was just the beginning. If we continue to be the movement, as they were... if we continue to follow Jesus and take steps forward... we too will impact our world just as they did.
In this message, we considered the familiar Christmas story in a different light, and what we discovered is pretty remarkable. It turns out that the people that we celebrate as the stars of story, were actually ridiculed in their day. Yet, that’s what makes their role in the story so perfect, because it captures the heart of Christmas.
From Jesus's entrance into this world, He identified with those rejected and outcast by religion and culture. He spent His 3 year ministry totally focused on engaging and uplifting every downtrodden and oppressed person. Those marginalized because of their age, gender, profession or disabilities, were given a special place in Jesus's story.
Ultimately, this was all part of His goal to make it known and felt that EVERY soul is valuable to God. Jesus made it clear that there is room and there is a place for EVERYONE in God's family. Even to those that are still a long ways off, Christmas sends a message that God has drawn near to us all.
Given the option, wouldn't you always want to be wherever God is? Even if God's choice is to lead us into a storm, if that is His dwelling place of choice, there remains no more desirable place for us.
In Acts 27, we once again witness the Apostle Paul exemplify faith and delight in the Lord. In the eye of a hurricane, Paul leads a ship full of nonbelievers in a time of worship. They begin thanking God before He gives them their victory.
In this message we learn that any moment in time wherein God is with us, is never a wasted moment. Our goal should be that we learn to live a "worship first" life, so that we might see the glory and good in every season of life.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, Advent teaches us how to wait patiently and expectantly on the Lord. Christ's coming is certain, but in Advent we lean into the wait and realize that it's not in vain.
The Bible is full of promises from God, that He will visit us in our waiting and deliver us. If and when we ever consider giving up, we are reminded that just as Christ came the first time, He will come again. We've never lived in a world apart from His care, and have nothing but more of His goodness to anticipate.
In this message, we juggle the frustration that often comes from our seasons of waiting with the unwavering promises of God. We look back at the time before Christ came, at a world in great distress. Listen and learn the story behind the earliest Christmas prophecies, and discover that the message is just as relevant for us today.
When it feels like God is NO WHERE, Advent reminds us that God is NOW HERE.
How can our thanksgiving outlast just a day or a season? Is it possible for us to be thankful every day and in every season? Even in challenging circumstances?
The Bible teaches us that the key to this kind of thankfulness is a life of giving and sacrifice. Choosing to leverage our lives, our blessings and burdens, for the glory of God allows us to stay in tune with the work God is doing and wants to do through us
Blessings come to us from God so that they might work through us for God. We have been enriched in everything and in every way so that we may serve God through it all.
In this message we talk how this will leads to a harvest of thanksgiving to God. We learn that our hearts are most full when we are living sacrificial lives. We will always be MUCH MORE blessed from loving, serving and giving than we will from living any other way.
This portion of Paul's custody and trials in Caesarea, features two leaders who are remembered for all the wrong reasons. They thought Paul was at their mercy, but the story reveals that they were truly blessed to be in his presence, and given the invitation to Christ through him.
However, both of these men fail to capitalize on the opportunity presented to them. One thought it was too inconvenient, while the other just couldn't break the generation cycle his great-grandfather had started. We remember them for being so close, but not in Christ.
In this message, we talk about the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ, and how the blessings of knowing Christ far outweigh whatever inconveniences that come from following Him. We also talk about the power of God that intervenes into the most unlikely of stories, to work His glory.
Listen and marvel at the invitations that God gave to Governor Felix and King Agrippa, and consider the tragedy of their rejection.
Having been arrested in Jerusalem and now set to appear before the Roman governor of Judea, the Apostle Paul isn't worried at all. He knows that the accusations made against him by the Jewish leaders are baseless and he has done nothing to disgrace Rome. Neither of these charges would pose any threat to him.
When he finally stands trial before Governor Felix, the Jewish leaders bring these two accusations against him, and he quickly discredits them. However, a third charge is mentioned, to which he doesn't deny one bit. In fact, he embraces it.
Upon being accused as the ringleader of the Jesus Movement, the one who was spearheading all the mission trips around the Roman Empire, planting churches in every province, Paul gladly accepts the blame. Even though there was nothing illegal about his faith, the unknown motives made everyone uneasy. Paul wasn't concerned what his Christian faith might cost him, and used this trial as an opportunity to boldly preach Jesus.
In this message, we talk about Paul's unashamed and unafraid spirit, and dig into his mindset as he faced this challenge. We cross reference Romans 1 and 5, and hear Paul passionately and powerfully articulate just why he was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May God give us this same fearless and bold heart.
All of us share memories of being reminded again and again as children to say, "thank you." Thankfulness is a learned behavior, not simply an emotional reaction. If we were aren't taught to be thankful, we won't be thankful...
The Bible is full of reminders to praise and worship the Lord, giving us an infinite number of reasons why we should. However, the Bible is also clear that no matter how blessed we are and full we are, we are more likely to be forgetful, than thankful.
In this two-part conversation about Thanksgiving, we establish why God is always good and sovereign and thus always worthy of our praise. We talk about our nature to forget, and why we must choose to say "Thank you, Lord" early, often, and out loud.
If only we had more, better, different, another... If only things were different.
Often we look at where we are at in life and we grow frustrated at what is missing or what we need. We've all found ourselves dissatisfied and discontent because of our own inabilities and this world's unpredictabilities and uncertainties. If we're being honest, these same frustrations can keep us from pursuing or growing in a relationship with God as well.
We feel as if everything has to be just right to know God and follow Him. If God could change one thing about us, this would be it. In fact, what holds us back the most in life is our unbelieving nature that resists and doubts God.
In this message, we study the story of Abraham who was overwhelmed and wearied by his own inabilities and the unpredictability and uncertainty of his world. God invited him to trade all of that in for faith. Abraham trusted God's promise to him and showed us all the way to a true relationship with God.
God's Word is as good as His blood, as was proven in Jesus' death. We can trust Him and see His grace activated in our lives, and our lives transformed. By faith may seem risky, but it actually allows us to experience maximum security. After all, God is our Rock and Refuge. He is trustworthy, and we find our best when we rest in Him. Faith doesn't promise us everything, but it does guarantee us the most important things: The peace, promise, and power of Jesus at work in our hearts.
The Apostle Paul was relentless in his attempts to reach his Jewish brothers and sisters with the Gospel. Against the will of his companions, he returned to Jerusalem to preach that Christianity was the fulfillment of Judaism and that Christ did what the Law could not do. After being assaulted at the Jewish Temple and then seized by the Roman tribune, Paul was even more determined to use this as an opportunity to address the Jewish crowds.
In this message, we marvel at Paul's love and passion for his kinsmen, and consider how this reflects Jesus' heart for us all. We examine the sincerity in his approach and measure our own ministries against it.
We also hear from Paul's testimony how remarkable God's grace truly is, and see how his story was totally flipped around for God's glory. What was true about God's pursuit and redemption of Paul is also true for us. His compassion is great for us and His sovereignty is mighty over us. What the enemy weaponizes for evil, God can rewire and redeem for good. There is no questioning that we are in the hands of a relentlessly loving God.
After addressing several churches with a call to repentance, and a message of renewal and reform, John is called up to Heaven. His experience is meant to invite every believer to understand the bigger picture and adopt a new perspective for their lives.
Catching a glimpse of Heaven and seeing our eternal destination, compels us to take even more seriously and sacredly the mission that God has given us. He has called us lights of our world and ambassadors of His Kingdom. How blessed we are to have been given such a role!
In Heaven, John sees that the scene is one of constant praise and worship around Jesus. He alone is worthy of all the glory, honor and fame. This begs the question - Are our lives proclaiming and pointing to His worth? Or are we carrying water for lesser beings and smaller matters?
In this message, we consider the worth of our Lord and Savior, and hear His call for reform and renewal once more. How urgent it is that we examine our lives and filter every choice we make through who's worth we are proclaiming, who's kingdom we are investing in...
Truly, Jesus alone is worthy.
Paul begins a remarkable journey in Acts 21, which will result in him being arrested in Jerusalem and sentenced in Rome. Everyone knew that Paul was facing danger on this journey, and many tried to talk him out of it. However, Paul could not be persuaded.
Paul had a heart to reach his Jewish kinsmen and had a passion to take the Gospel to the heart of the empire. He knew it would be a costly road, yet he was willing to do whatever it took to glorify God and advance the Kingdom. There's no question, Paul embodied what it meant to be a true Jesus follower.
In this message, we marvel at how Paul's journey literally mimicked the steps of Jesus and compare the structure of Luke's two-part story. We unpack Paul's Christlike determination to give instead of take, and consider how much more joy there truly is when we choose the former over the latter. How great a blessing are we leaving on the table by choosing to take instead of give, defend instead of sacrifice?
There is often duplicity between something's appearance and its true substance. Sometimes there is a disconnect between what we claim to be and what we actually are. When it comes to Christianity, this equates to hypocrisy.
The Church at Sardis and Laodicea both had a great reputation. Sardis was recognized as a thriving, booming church. Laodicea was renown for doing great things and offering lots to its community. However Jesus reveals to them that their hearts were not in line with their professions and reputations.
In this message, we talk about the nature of an apocalypse, meant to reveal what is often hidden or covered up. God's Word is constantly presenting an apocalyptic opportunity to us so that nothing remains in darkness. When God reveals to us something that needs to change, He gives us the ability to make those changes.
Sardis and Laodicea may have drifted far from their confession, but Jesus was lovingly pursuing and waiting for them to return to Him. Likewise, He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, bidding us to come back to Him.
Acts 20 serves as a reminder of all that had made the launch of the Church a success. Special attention is given Paul's commitment to encouraging and equipping believers and communities with all they needed to thrive as a local Church. In this message, we break down what faithfulness looks like in a modern context, and how we can see our churches reach and maintain their full strength.
In this message, we continue to talk about the tension between the world and the Church, particularly the trials and tribulations that come on the people of God. We hear Jesus' word to Smyrna and Philadelphia, as they were facing increased opposition and persecution.
His Word to them was to fear not and remain faithful. He made it clear that following Him would cost them, explicitly saying that many would die for their faith. Revelation is honest and raw about the sufferings of this world, but it puts them in the proper perspective of our mission and the purpose of God.
As God is patient with the world to come to Him, are we patient in our struggles? Are we faithful to endure our trials in order to become more like Him and do more for Him? Jesus whispers to us through His word to Smyrna and Philadelphia and reminds us that Heaven's doors are open, and help is on the way. Do we trust Him more than we fear the world? He is trustworthy and His plans for us forever good and promising.
Christianity made a huge splash in Ephesus, leading many to forsake their idols and cling to Jesus. In this message, we talk about how idolatry persists in our world today, even and especially in religion. God calls all of us to cast down our idols, and totally surrender to Him. True Christianity should threaten the idol industry, just as it did 2000 years ago.
Revelation identifies the Local Church as a candle placed by God to light up a dark world. Jesus' critique of the first few churches is most concerned with each church's ministry and mission. In this message, we consider the calloused church at Ephesus, the compromised church at Pergamum, and the causal church at Thyatira, and hear God's call to repentance.
These churches all share a common issue: Their passion for and commitment to Jesus had faded away. As a result, their light had began to dim. Ephesus had drifted away from a relationship into religion. Pergamum and Thyatira seemed to be people of worship, but lacked a true witness and walk with God. Ephesus was all about truth, yet lacked a true heart for God. Pergamum and Thyatira appeared faithful in service, but lacked a faithful lifestyle.
These churches remind us that what matters most is knowing Jesus in a personal way. We learn that our church membership is only as effective as our relationship with Christ. Jesus promises that He can heal our callous and compromised condition and purify our hearts, so that we might truly experience the blessing of salvation.
In this message we take a look into the greater, spiritual reality that we live in. Paul's encounter with the Sons of Sceva in Acts 19, gives us insight about the Darkness at work in our world, but the Light available to believers.
On this week's episode, we discuss how the Incarnation of Christ is continually realized and manifested through the local Church. Learn how participation in the Body of Christ draws us closer to God and brings Him closer to our world.
If Jesus were to address today's church, what would He say? Turns out the book of Revelation is a timeless message for every church of every generation. As the last book of the Bible, it completes the foundation set for the Church, equipping God's people to fulfill their mission.
The Revelation serves to remind the Church of its place in God's hand, and compel the Church to remain faithful and endure. The pressure that this world has put on, is putting on, and will always put on Christians is highlighted, but so is the protection and power that we have in Christ.
As John addresses various churches, marginalized and cornered by the Roman Empire, his words of encouragement to them remain just as relevant to us. Likewise, we are called to be vigilant and focused on finishing the mission, until Kingdom come.
Acts 18 and 19 features a couple of interstitial episodes that are connected by a common theme. These accounts spark a conversation about the purpose of outward forms of worship and devotion and how they relate to the heart of the matter.
In this message, we talk about how outward observations and practices are ways that we express our faith, but are only as valuable as what our heart possesses. This is what God is most interested in and most concerned about - what's on the inside?
As faithful believers, we guard ourselves from being caught up in religion, and losing sight of what matters most. We don't boast about what we do or how we do it, but rather we rest in why we do it and Who we experience through it. God forbid, we ever settle for having mere wisdom, but lack true passion. Mere head-knowledge does not reflect true salvation, but a true personal relationship with Christ is rooted in heart-possession.
A conversation between Pastor Justin and Pastor Brandon Heavner about God's one request of us as His servants and as stewards in His Kingdom. The inspiration for this comes from 1 Corinthians 4:2, wherein the Apostle Paul talks about the importance of faithfulness.
Joshua 5 is a time of preparation for battle, but it’s different than what anyone expected… The people learn that a greater, spiritual war is at hand. We often only see the battle on the surface, but the battle behind the scenes is most pressing. This battle cannot be won by means of flesh and blood, but is only won through worship.
In the presence of our enemies, we must learn to worship and seek victory from and through the Lord. Rather than responding to the trials and test of this world in a manner after this world, we must take a higher path. Instead of raising this world's weapons, we raise our voices to Heaven, syncing our hearts up with God's will and way.
Worship is a weapon in the spiritual warfare that we wage every day. It breaks the power of sin’s pressure and oppression. It confuses the enemy and can confound his forces. We don’t worship to win, but we worship because we because we have already won. Our victory is the Lord. His presence with us and promise over us is our exceedingly great, everlasting reward.
By Acts 18, the Church had breached the firewall that was the Roman Empire. Satan was beginning to launch attacks, to attempt to stop the church from going and growing. The Church had dealt with Jewish opposition but now state-sponsored persecution was on the horizon.
Before becoming clearly aware of the situation, Rome began targeting Jews in general, expelling them from the European mainland around 50 AD. As time would pass and more information was gathered, the persecution became more specific towards Christians. This would last from 64 to 313 AD.
Paul arrived at Corinth, and met two Jewish Christians on the run, Aquila and Priscilla. They bonded over their faith, and this couple actually joined Paul’s team. Paul goes on in Romans 16:3-4, to commend them as being crucial for helping to build the Gentile Church, saying they “risked their necks” for the cause.
Tension arose in Corinth, from Jews who didn’t want to Rome thinking the new movement was their’s, and Greeks who opposed the faith. Paul and his team were in harms way, but God sent an angel to give them a reminder to fear not and endure.
In this message we take a look at Revelation 12, which frames the challenge the early Church faced, and remains relevant to our own struggle. Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla all exemplify how Christians should respond to the pressure this world puts on us. Likewise, the Lord promises us as He did them that we can and will overcome. By the Word and the Blood of the Lamb slain for us, we are sealed us until the Day of Redemption.
Before entering the Promised Land, the nation of Israel would face one last test from God. This test was meant to prepare them for and consecrate their hearts so that they may make the most of their life in the land.
God brought Joshua and the nation to the Jordan River, which seemed like an impossible barrier between them and where they wanted to be. However, the water would not part like the Red Sea had - this crossing would be different. God commands the nation to begin walking into the rushing, roaring water, and leave the rest to Him. God uses this episode to wire their hearts to Him by faith, and break their sensitivity to and reliance on what they saw and how we felt.
Crossing the Jordan River represents a pathway from death to life. What seems like a stumbling block is really a stepping stone. Crossing over the Jordan is a transformative passage, teaching us to rely on the Lord and to find ourselves in Him and His way. What feels like cost, is actually bringing about great gain.
Our flesh would rather avoid going ankle deep into the brink of rushing water, but the end result could be a full heart of God’s Spirit. May we see every obstacle as an opportunity this week, to grow closer to the Lord. The deep challenges of life may very well take us deeper in our faith. Anything that shakes our reliance on this world, is ultimately a good thing, as it’s meant to shift our weight towards the Lord.
Joshua 3:13 describes God as "the LORD of all the earth", but what was most important in this story, was that the people allow Him to be LORD over their little piece of the earth. As they took those steps into the water, it was imperative that they trust Him and leave the unknowns in His hands. This text leaves us with this same question - Is the LORD of all the earth the LORD over our little portion of this earth? Are we walking by faith, not by sight or feelings? Have we found ourselves and do we continually find ourselves in Him?
The last half of Acts 17 features the famous account of Paul at Mars Hill, which was an ancient center of idolatry and philosophy. The people of Athens had grown tired of religion. The gods took and demanded all the more, but never gave. Philosophy grew out of this desire to carve a path for people to live peacefully, and hopefully skirt the attention of the gods. However, tradition reminded them that there was no avoiding the gods. Their own consciences felt tethered to idols and idolatry, knowing the only hope beyond this life rested in the gods’ hands.
Enter the Apostle Paul, who steps into this place of unrest and yearning. Mars Hill was named after the Roman god of war, but the name was also appropriate seeing the battle the people of Athens were in at heart. They wanted to break free from their bondage to idols and emptiness.
Acts 17 is a marvelous portrayal of effective and intentional evangelism. Paul swallows his pride and seeks a connection with the people. His words from 17:24-28 are especially powerful.
Paul’s words offer us freedom from the idols of this world that we have settled for and set our hopes on. We feel obligated to chase after this world for power, peace, and purpose. We’re often convinced there’s no other route to satisfaction and fulfillment.
Paul calls us to lift our eyes to the heavens and see that there is a God detached from the material and circumstantial. Paul reminds us that the idols we serve don’t bear God’s image, however we do. We are made by Him and for Him, and we live through Him. There is freedom for all of us if we realize this innate connection we have with God and how Jesus is proof that we belong to Him.
Acts 17 can bless all of us and give us liberty as it did many in Paul’s audience that day, pointing the way to the completion found in our Creator.
2000 years ago the world was dominated by tyranny and terror. This was how things had always been, and appeared the only means of obtaining and maintaining power. However, from a small corner of the Roman Empire, a radical movement began that denounced everything this world stood for and every way this world operated by. A Jewish carpenter from Nazereth proclaimed that God was using Him to usher in a Brand New Age, through and by bold new values.
Jesus Christ claimed to bring favor from God for all people and that He had come to bring freedom to all people. He said that He came to break the chains of this world, and to turn everything upside down. He preached that Greatness in the Kingdom of God was not based on superiority or success, but on servanthood. He modeled this servanthood by loving everyone and giving everything He had.
His death and resurrection punctuated and validated everything He stood for, and kicked off the Christian movement. His Church would go on to love, give and serve the Roman Empire to the point of starting a revolution. The ways of tyranny and terror gave way to the ideals of favor and freedom, and thus, western civilization as we know it began.
2000 years later, this forms the foundation for our western worldview and way of life. The ideas that love, generosity and service are virtues, are directly rooted in Jesus's influence on the world. While there are forces of darkness that oppose these values, now more than ever we must remember who we are.
Jesus has called us to be salt, light and refuge in a dark, oppressed world. We must measure up to this task and always proclaim God's favor and advocate for freedom.
Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt right up to the front door of the Promised Land. God led His people across the Red Sea, to Mt. Sinai, and to Canaan in only 18 months. Upon arriving, conquest and victory were not a matter of "if" but "when" and "how".
So Moses sent spies into the land to see how they would take possession of it. Their report was glowing, as it was everything they had prayed for, dreamed of and waited for. However, the majority of the spies lost faith at the sight of the giants in the land.
They allowed their potential enemies to overshadow their proven God. The challenge before them became bigger than the Savior above them.
Alas, they would spent the next 40 years wandering in the desert in unbelief. They were so close. They almost took possession of the Promised Land.
Decades later, upon Moses' passing, the next generation was given a second chance. God called Joshua to step up with courage and confidence and lead the people to finally take what was theirs.
The contrast between these two generations couldn't be more clear. The deciding factor in seeing God work victory in their midst came down to a single choice: Would they be defined by the giants they feared or the God they trusted?
Ultimately, the same question lingers over us. Obstacles and challenges will come, but God promises to be with us and that if we trust in Him, we will see victory in the end.
What was the Early Church’s secret to turning their world upside down? At the heart of every believer was a desire to make a difference, beyond just making points. They weren’t content to just say the right things, but they were committed to doing the right things, in the right ways. They preached a supernatural message and lived out a spiritual lifestyle, and this was appealing to a world that longed for a genuine connection with God.
In this message, we breakdown the supernatural message and the spiritual lifestyle of the Early Church. We also talk about how a particular church plant proves to be an incredible example for us to follow. With a focus on the Berean Church, we talk about how they took full advantage of what God was providing them, and maximized their potential.
How can we turn our worlds upside down in 2021? Well, the secret may just be found in the Berean Church.
Our God is holy and perfect and holds Himself and His creation to the highest of standards. Yet in His holiness, He is also loving, willing to clean up a mess that He didn't make through His Redemption Plan.
The LORD is a God of Victory and Salvation, working all things out for His Glory and our good. This is on display through His redemptive work with Israel. He called them His own, saved them from bondage, and gifted them with a Promised Land.
However, Israel struggled to make their way into that land. Even upon reaching its borders, they were reluctant and pessimistic about their ability to enter in. Herein we get a glimpse of a struggle we all face.
Often we stand on the edge of where we want to be and know we should be as children of God, accepting the lie that we'll never make it there. There are so many forces of deception at work in this world, trapping us in bondage.
God's message to Joshua and his generation is that through His power, they could find the strength and the courage to overcome their weaknesses and fears. In Christ, we have this promise fully realized and have access to a spiritual inheritance of faith, peace, joy, and more that this world cannot supply.
In this message, we hear God's command over us as we stand on the precipice of the Promised Land. Today is the day of salvation. We must not delay any longer. The LORD our God is with us and calling us to walk in His promises.
In this series we've looked at a prayer that Jesus prayed the night before He died. We've studied a prayer from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians. This week, we take a look at the prayer template given to every disciple. What do these 3 prayers have in common? Well, they all carry a desire for unity.
Sometimes the Bible's call for unity and words against division may seem a little unrealistic. After all, our world is fallen, and isn't division inevitable? Isn't unity just a lofty dream? Indeed, it seems like something that could only be realized in Heaven...
Enter the model prayer given to every Jesus Follower. What does Jesus instruct us to pray? "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done... On Earth AS IT IS IN Heaven."
We've prayed this line 100s, even 1000s of times, yet have we ever really meant it? This line agrees with Jesus and Paul, that unity isn't just possible, but it's necessary that every Christian choose it and pursue it.
In this message we talk about what "As It Is In Heaven" means for our time and lives on Earth. We take a look at what Heaven is like, and discuss how we might adopt and implement as "As It Is In Heaven" lifestyle. We also discover that realizing this on Earth isn't merely an impossible dream, but it's been done before...
What would happen if we began seeking to realize the Kingdom of Heaven's ideals here on earth? Turns out, we may see the Reign of Jesus and Will of God come to pass sooner than we expect.
The narrative in Acts takes us into a brand new frontier, as Paul and his team move into Europe. It was because of their reliance on and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that they were able to capitalize on this opportunity. Upon arrival to Greece, we see Paul encounter and win multiple people to Christ, all because of his responsiveness to God.
Paul's eagerness is the gold standard for every generation's Christian and Church to mimic. He proved both available and malleable, willing and ready for God to take him wherever and do whatever with him so that he might win some to Christ. Paul doesn't waver at following Jesus' commands to prioritize His call and His mission above all else.
How could Paul be so committed, even in the face of inconvenience and potential suffering? He was truly convinced that whatever loss would not compare to the surpassing gain in eternity. He believed that even the pressure or pain of suffering would be surpassed by the saving power of God. He began each day with the conviction that God had called him to preach the Gospel to more people. From that conclusion, he trusted God to handle any and every thing that might challenge him.
Do we have this kind of confidence? Do we have this same motivation? Are we as available and malleable as Paul was? Our answers will determine how powerful God will be through our lives, and the impact we are able to make in others' lives.
In this section of Acts, we find Paul in one of his most tumultuous seasons of ministry. Paul and his team face several challenges, yet their poise and response through each of them reveals their passionate focus on the Kingdom Cause. In this message, we discuss how Paul was able to avoid setbacks and confusion, and remained in forward motion. We learn how might adopt these same values and apply them in our own ministries.
Division is inevitable, and it seems unavoidable in our world. However, we discovered in part one of this series that Jesus was kept awake all night praying that the Church might overcome division and pursue unity. Without unity, we cannot know God fully and will not make Him fully known.
The Apostle Paul echoed Jesus' prayer from John 17, and prayed a similar prayer for the Church in Ephesians 3. He prays that we might be filled with the Fullness of God, the Resurrection Presence and Power of God. In chapter 4, he makes clear that to receive this blessing we must pursue unity.
Thankfully Paul gives us a practical pathway that will lead us to a place of unity with each other. He shows us the virtues we must choose and cling to in order to see our families, churches and world become more unified. He bases this pathway on the approach that Jesus took in pursuing us.
In this message, we are left without excuse as to why we should choose unity and how we might achieve it. Division may be inevitable and impossible to avoid, but Unity is indeed possible with the help of God. And if we want to receive the Fullness of God, unity must be our priority.
What do you think keeps God up at night? Maybe this seems like a strange question, but just consider - If something could keep Him up at night, that would be a pretty big deal don't you think?
We begin a brand new series around this question and looking at the time that Jesus stayed awake all night long, praying about one specific thing. If we are to truly know God and fully make Him know, we must pursue this one thing...
In one of the most overlooked sections of the Gospels, the Disciples repeatedly fumble the ball when given the chance to represent Jesus and lay the groundwork for the Church. Many of these episodes feature their misunderstanding of and contempt for children. They continually miss the point of Jesus' ministry and the desire of His heart.
They aren't prepared and aren't willing to do the work to be prepared to minister to the least and smallest in the Kingdom. They actively work against Jesus' intention to reach and bless the least and the smallest. Jesus is none too pleased, and reserves some of His harshest critiques. He calls them "faithless" and "twisted", says they need to be "converted" and "humble themselves", and rebukes their misrepresentation of His heart.
Across Matthew 17-19, Jesus makes it very clear: The Kingdom belongs to the least and the smallest. The heartbeat of God is for children. His command over us is that the Church share this passion and compassion for children. Our Churches are only as healthy as and obedience as our outreach towards the next generation.
We've all heard those famous words of Jesus again and again: "You must be born again." One of Israel's finest religious scholars came to Jesus by night, hoping to find insight about encountering God and overcoming sin. He never expected to hear these words. Jesus made it clear, that while our sin didn't prevent us from coming to God, we must experience a new birth to enter God's family.
However, Jesus wasn't preaching salvation by obedience. He was proclaiming salvation as a gift. He goes on to say, "The Son of Man must be lifted up...". For God so loved the world, that He gave the world a gift - The Gift of Salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. By trusting in Him, we experience a New Birth, and take on a brand new way of life.
Our New Life is Eternal Life - Rich and Full of God's presence and power. With this new life comes new desires and passions... new "musts". The New Testament goes on to tell the story of how those that followed Jesus totally embraced this new and better pathway. We remember them for more than just their words, for they are known by their works.
In this message, we talk about how we must come to Jesus in order to find salvation. We also realize that if we've found salvation, we must cling to Jesus and allow Him to change our lives. Jesus committed to us with His "must" - Have we done the same? Our actions speak louder than our words, and will ultimately reveal where our dedication is.
In Acts 15, Paul's evangelistic efforts are being criticized and challenged by a certain sect of the Church. This faction is concerned that the Church is being too lenient on Gentiles who are coming to Christ. Were they simply to be entrusted into God's hands, without forcing them to conform to certain religious traditions? Wasn't that a risky thing to do? Was Jesus and His Grace enough?
The Jerusalem Council convened to sort through this controversy. Paul, Peter and James all take the stand to defend the Gospel, and set a precedent for the Church follow. They all unanimously agree that the only thing that will make a difference is God's Grace. They conclude that truth communicated graciously will clean hearts, build faith and change lives. Therefore, the Church must not let anything hinder the grace of God from being communicated and expressed through all that it says and does.
What would it look like for the Church to follow James' ruling in Acts 15:19, that we not make it difficult for those who are turning to God? What would it look like if the Church made displaying and sharing the Grace of God its one priority? In this message we unpack the controversy that almost split the early Church, and discuss how we might remain focused and faithful to Christ and His mission.
When someone gives us their word, they are promising something to us. In that same vein, Psalm 119 tells us that God's Word is His Promise to us. From every historical account to commandment, from prophecies to parables, every Word from God conveys His Promise-Making and Promise-Keeping nature. From His Word, we learn that He is a God who intervenes in our lives, shows us His will and plan, and strengthens us.
David praises God for His Promises, and gives us incredible incite as to how God is always trying to emphasize His Promises as greater than anything else. David sees his afflictions has being purposed and ordained by God to cause his affection for God's Word to grow.
David’s confession in Psalm 119:67 and 71 reflects this conviction. As we are driven from the world to God's Word, we find relief and perspective that we may have never obtained otherwise.
Are you allowing God to teach you and tend to you in your afflictions? The devil wants us to give in and give up, but God calls us to look up. Open His Word today and hear His promises, and receive help and healing. No matter what, His promises to you are unchanging and forever greater than any other word.
Acts 15 is without a doubt one of the most important chapters of the Bible. For new or potential believers, it offers encouragement and hope. For established believers, it reminds us of our salvation and informs us in our evangelism. It also puts into context both Old and New Testaments, giving us clarity and insight in how to read and understand the whole Bible.
You'd think a chapter that does all of this would be more renown and referenced, but that isn't the case. It features the Church is at a place of deep division, with the soul of the movement being on the line. In this message, we delve into the debate between Grace and Religion.
The precedents established in this chapter should continue to guide the Church in our day: From what we rely on for salvation, to how we treat new believers, to how we act towards outsiders. Needless to say, Acts 15 is a required reading for every Christian.
Psalm 119 does a remarkable job at lifting up God’s Word, mainly by telling us that it is the Greatest Resource available and accessible to us. We have more access to and supplements for God’s Word than any previous generation, yet we don’t lean on it enough. David’s writings in stanzas 3-8 make reveal how much more of a mistake that is, by telling us that God’s Word is our Greater Portion.
By definition, a portion refers to a share or an inheritance. Our portion is our piece of the pie, if you will. God’s Word reveals to us all that we have all been assigned and awarded the same portion from God. All of the truths, promises, revelation and inspiration are given to every reader… to every believer.
Sadly the majority of Christians just scratch the surface of what’s been given to us. By reading the Gospels, Jesus calls us to go deeper and wider with our faith. He by no means ever envisioned or endorsed a version of the Kingdom of God where only some believers arrive at their full inheritance. Yet, so many leave joy on the table, and walk away from their greater portion.
Attached is a prayer comprised from this portion of Psalm 119. By confessing these words, our eyes can be opened and our longing can be answered:
“Lord I believe that You are my portion - my great reward. I believe and feel my soul longs for what only You can give. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your Word, and help me to understand and follow it with my whole heart. Incline my heart to your way, not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from vanity, and make me to settle for nothing less than your will. Keep me from regret, remind me of Your promises, ground me in and guide me with Your word.”
Indelible is defined as making a mark that cannot be erased or that is simply unforgettable. It's safe to say that the Church in Acts definitely made an indelible impact on their world. The Apostles were committed to being a force for the Kingdom of God in their generation, and were faithful to the playbook left behind by Jesus.
In Acts 14, we can clearly see that the Church was sticking close to the words of Jesus. As they faced persecution, they endured and refused to allow any rejection to dishearten them or derail their mission. As recipients and bearers of Good News, they had more than enough reason to press on.
In this message, we unpack the Church's evangelistic spirit, and consider how we might learn from and implement their strategies into our own ministries.
Psalm 119 is a love-letter to God's Word. It's a remarkable work of art, utilizing the Hebrew language to express gratitude for God's revealed and inspired truth. Its purpose is to create within us a passion and desire for the Word, and increase our reliance on it.
As a resource, the Bible is the greatest we can ever lay our hands on. Whether leather-bound or on a screen, the Bible is the Breath of God on a page. His Spirit moves from page to person, when we read with an open heart and mind.
In this message, we discuss why we can trust the Bible as God's Word, and why indeed it is the greatest resource available to us. We unpack what it reveals about God and how it can inspire difference in our lives. There is an exclusive blessing for those who trust and obey God's Word. If we want our lives to be best, in every avenue imaginable, we will seek and follow the advice revealed in the Bible.
4%
That's how much of this world's population calls America its home. The blessings we know, are truly extraordinary, and they can be so good that it's easy to forget that few have ever or will ever experience what we do.
This isn't simply true from a material perspective, but from the ideals and virtues we celebrate and have access to. The things that seem self-evident to us - love, value, equality and freedom - are not of this world.
In this message, we trace the principles of our country back to their starting point, and consider how we got here. We come to terms with our great blessings as a people, and our equally great responsibility.
We have an extraordinary opportunity every day to make the most of the virtues and gifts we enjoy each day. Both the words of Paul and Jesus loom large over us today, with a charge to use our lives for the Glory of God and the growth of His Kingdom.
Acts 14 is a major milestone and threshold in Church history. In our series and study so far in Acts, we've witnessed the lead-up to this pivotal moment. For years the church wrestled with their mandate to spread beyond Judea and begin welcoming Gentiles into their community. The church plant at Antioch finally made this a reality, and from Acts 13 onward, the Apostles set course to evangelize the known world.
Alas as Acts 14 begins, Luke tells us that the Gospel was beginning to reach as many Gentiles as it was Jews. The chapter begins by telling us that BOTH a great multitude of Jews AND Greeks were trusting in Jesus. It's hard to overstate how huge this moment would have been. A spin-off of Judaism, led by Jews, preaching from Jewish Scriptures about the Jewish God was now making a sizable impact amongst an audience that had zero context for their message.
This, of course is an obvious testament to the inclusiveness of the Gospel, but also an insight into how God's plans from the beginning. In this message, we discuss why many Jews in fact rejected the Gospel, and why Gentiles were so receptive to it. We unpack our quests for identity in this world, and discover that Christianity is indeed a better belonging for all people.
Our souls all carry wounds that frustrate and hold us back. Every day we are often reminded of these - our minds grow weary and our hearts lose strength. The Bible reveals to us that our souls are all crying out and seeking out a real relationship with God, to obtain true salvation. John succinctly proclaims that Jesus is the Savior we're looking for, giving us Truth and Grace from God.
If we need direction, His truth will guide us. If we need determination, His grace will empower us. If we will follow Jesus, we will find both clarity and conviction.
In this message, we open up about our soul's wounded nature and turn to Jesus for refuge and rest. We look at John's Gospel at a powerful story about our reluctance to admit our true need and the promise that awaits us if we choose to follow Jesus.
In Acts 13, we witness Paul in his element: On the mission field doing whatever it takes to spread the Gospel. Right out of the gate, his team suffers a setback with the departure of John Mark. How Paul responds and presses on gives us a remarkable look at his passion and determination.
In this message, we discuss our individual responsibility to carry out our obedience to the Lord, regardless of how well others may cooperate. Paul is an example of how we should not let others discourage us or keep us from obtaining our blessing from God. We discuss how the world wants to persuade us and how religion wants to burn us out, and how Christ keeps us focused forward.
How hungry are we to follow the Lord and fulfill His plans for us? Are our lives proving to be unworthy of Eternal Life or are we showing ourselves to be appointed to Eternal Life?
The early Church made a tremendous impact on an unreached world, because of their determination and selfless hearts. Beginning in Acts 13, the Apostle Paul took things to a whole other level with his ministry.
Acts 13:9 and 1 Corinthians 9 reveals to us why Paul was truly winsome in his appeal to the Gentile world. He conducted his missions with a "For the world" attitude.
In this message we dive into Paul's approach, and wonder if these same things can be said about us. Are we this driven by the Gospel, for the Gospel? Are we this driven by Christ, for Christ?
May we gain more of Him in our hearts, so that we may win some for His Kingdom.
In this next installment of our conversation about our Souls, we discuss our longing for unconditional acceptance. We hear from God's Word and find in Jesus that God matches our soul's desire for acceptance with a desire for us. God is love, and He fiercely loves us as His own.
Our stories may show that we are prone and known to waste our lives on extravagant and unrestrained sinful living, but the Gospel reminds us that God accepts us with an extravagant and unrestrained measure of amazing grace.
In this message, we discuss our longing for acceptance, and look at a story that captures our struggle to find and show it to those who need it most in this life. Thankfully, we find in Christ that which we long for and need the most.
Jesus promised that He would build His Church - an organized gathering of His people commissioned and empowered to carry on the mission He began. Throughout Acts, we see how the Church becomes more and more in line with His vision.
In Acts 13, we learn how the Church prepared to serve the Lord through worship. We're also taught some very valuable truths about worship in this text. In this message, we discuss how worship is not an attempt to get God's attention, but a response to what God has already done. We find an awesome reminder that God's Spirit has descended to dwell with us, and through worship we set our hearts wholly on Him.
The truth about worship is contrasted to an encounter with a magician, who represents our attempts to manipulate God, rather than surrender to and trust in Him.
We humans are much more than flesh and blood. We are spiritual creatures. We have a soul. The human soul is intangible, yet it's the source of our expressions. It's invisible, yet it what shapes us into who we are. Our souls are well aware that we're part of a much larger universe. Our souls know that we need more than this world. When we're at our weakest, worst, and most wounded, we can feel our souls' cry for refuge that this world can't provide.
Jesus came into a world that had no spiritual refuge, full of wearied souls. Jesus identified that our souls weren't looking for an explanation, but they were looking for advocacy - someone to offer presence, defense and intervention when the world has forsaken us.
Jesus engaged with those at their weakest, worst and most wounded to show that He had come to be an advocate for everyone, in all circumstances. He taught that our weaknesses are not our end, but actually the very place where God can do His greatest work.
It's in our weakness, that we can exclusively experience the power of God. God comes to us in our weaknesses - whether weak or broken physically, emotionally, mentally - and promises us that Christ will always be our advocate. We may feel defined by our weaknesses, but God wants to redefine us with His glory and bring refuge for our souls.
In this conclusion to our series about The Image of God, we engage in our most challenging conversation yet. Opening up to Romans 2 and 1 Corinthians 6, we hear from God's Word on how the First Century Church approached a culture that seemed impossibly far from God and egregiously steeped in sin. The Roman Empire had built its institutions on and around a brand of immorality that would make even the most worldly person of our day blush. It seemed highly unlikely that the Church would ever make an impact on such a generation...
However, the Apostle Paul appeals to the conscience within ever human as the basis for hope and the reason to spread the Gospel of Christ. He confronts Jewish Christians who were quick to judge pagans, by calling them to an even higher standard.
Paul believed and taught that the only way the Church was going to change the world was by holding to and modeling its convictions. It couldn't wring its hands at some things while apologizing for others - especially when it came to morality and sexual ethics. Paul introduced a radical sexual ethic to the world, that would have laughable to most pagans, yet overtime it was adherence to this non-negotiable standard that eventually changed the world.
All of these years later, the moral decay of our generation isn't new and isn't any worse than that of the Roman Empire's. The Church is quick to point the finger to the most heinous examples of immorality, but overtime has accepted and justified many. If we are going to change our world like the First Century Church changed its, we must embrace the teachings of the New Testament. Our Moral Authority is the only hope for our world's moral purity.
In this message we talk about our conscience's sensitivity to God's truth, the true meaning behind the New Testament's teaching on gender and sexuality, and learn what it means to say that our bodies are Temples of God.
We are by nature an ambitious people. We set goals and make plans, and work diligently to accomplish and surpass them. As members of the Church and servants of a Higher Kingdom, we must consider how our ambitions for God compare to those for lesser things. Could it be that we are wasting energy meant for a greater purpose on things that will never be as fulfilling?
As we study the Church at Antioch, among what stands out the most is their Kingdom Ambition. They were a community of God's people who were faithful in serving the Lord and impacting the world for His Glory. We know that from Antioch, the rest of the Greco-Roman world comes to hear about Jesus. God raised up Barnabas and Paul to start this global mission. However, this was after they had spent years serving Him in smaller, more obscure areas.
Jesus taught that simple, every-day faithfulness to God will open doors for greater, sacred opportunities. Only when our ambitions are wired after God's Kingdom will we be able to bypass distractions and overcome the reproach that often comes along with serving the Lord. If we make ourselves available for Him, He will show and give us a life more satisfying than any other.
The Book of Revelation is written to a world in a brand new reality. Yes, the world remains fallen, under sin's curse, but God had just sent His Son, established His church, and provided a cure for sin. Revelation wrestles with this new, dual reality that the world was waking up to. It was written to show the Church that there was a pathway to endure and overcome, thanks to its newfound hope.
Whether it was John's generation, those that came in the aftermath, or today's Church - Revelation provides a relevant word from God about our struggle and our mission. In the text, Jesus introduces Himself to John as "the one who was, is, and is to come". This fittingly frames Revelation has having something to say to every generation which opens it up.
Revelation shows us a picture of the world clutched in the Enemy's grasp, as he seeks to keep us in our fallen state. In this message, we hear God's sobering call over us all to identify the false hopes around us, and seek His help from above.
May we not bow to the beast which seeks to counter, compete for, and capture our allegiance, but rather pursue the way of Christ with faithful endurance, radical devotion and passionate service. Do we bear the image of the beast, or the image of Christ? Ultimately, our thoughts, words and deeds reveal this truth.
The Fall impacted Creation to its very core. The effects on our world, from human nature to society, were truly systemic. There are many symptoms of the curse upon this world, but they all can be traced back to the original sin of Adam.
One of the most underrated texts and illustrations in the Bible is how Jesus directly responds to Adam's rebellion. In John 13, we read and observe how Jesus counters and provides the cure for our fallen, systemic condition. Pointing to His work on the cross, Jesus demonstrates what our lives can look like, reimagined after His image.
In this message, we unpack the example Jesus left for us in John 13, and seek to remedy our sinful nature with this heavenly model of humility and love.
Acts 12 brings a pause to the progression and expansion of the Church, and sees persecution on the rise again. The Church in Jerusalem faces its greatest trial yet, as King Herod arrests two of Jesus' original followers. After it appeared like the days of opposition were behind them, suddenly the Church loses James and is at risk of losing Peter.
This chapter reminds us of the trials that we will face as believers, but it also reminds us of our true hope in Christ. Even though James dies, he did not lose and was by no means less favored. A Christian's hope is eternal life, and confidence that even in death there is victory.
Peter's escape from prison, shows us that God can deliver us from our earthly trials, if it be His will. The Church's surprise at Peter's escape shows us that their confidence was not in Peter, but in God. Even if they lost Peter, as they did James, they knew that God would be with them.
Ultimately this chapter shows us that however intense the trial may be, God's presence will always be greater. Compared to Herod's temporarily glory and eternal loss, both James and Peter knew that any earthly loss can lead to some Kingdom gain.
Both the Bible and world history tell a story of humanity's longing and desire to know and walk with God. There is millennia's worth of evidence of the awareness of our natural separation from God and the yearning to overcome this gap. Genesis sets a tone that is found throughout the Bible, of mankind's drift east, away from where God intended us to be. Thankfully, that thread is countered by God's plan to reverse this trend and restore us to His image.
In this series, we are opening God's Word to seek out His pathway back and to discover His ideal will for us. He designed both men and women to uniquely, distinctively, and complementarily bear and reflect His image. In Genesis 2, in His original commands to Adam, we see how men specifically can begin glorifying God with their every day lives. By God's grace, we can recover what was lost in the fall and realize life to its fullest, after the complete image of God.
After Peter testifies to the universal power of God's grace, the Church sets its sights on a brand new frontier. The story to come in Acts launches from the first church plant in Antioch. It can't be overstated how important this initiative is to both Church and world history, in that the Judaism spin-off finally gets its own identity as a result. God's hand rests powerfully on the Church at Antioch, as more people begin to hear the Good News of Jesus.
The Bible tells us we are made in God's image. What does this mean? In Psalm 139, David writes that his sense of worth and purpose had been elevated by his deeper understanding of God's design of and desire for us. David himself had led Israel in "seeking God's face", in an attempt to get back to truly knowing God and realizing our connection to Him.
In this message, we talk about what it means to bear the image of God, and how sin impacted our relationship. Our goal in this series is to fully appreciate God's plan for our lives, and know how we can glorify Him as unique and distinct human beings.
We take a special look in closing at how David discovers the face of God in an unexpected way and place. As broken-hearted mother mourns the loss of our sons, David catches a glimpse of the endless love of God...
After Peter takes a step into the unknown in the previous chapter, Acts 11 opens the doors on a brand new future for the Church. However, not all of the Jewish Church leaders are comfortable with this reality. Peter realizes that they stand at the precipice of a watershed moment for the Church, and doesn't back down at the rampant criticism that comes his way. He refuses to allow religion and nationalism to thwart this potential growth.
Recounting his experience, which saw him overcome his own prejudice, arrogance and indifference, Peter passionately proclaims that he would never stand in God's way. The Church's health and growth was contingent on their obedience to the Great Commission, especially in how they loved and engaged those that seemed the farthest away from God. From here on, the Church would look and operate much differently than before, with a priority on reaching and welcoming people of all kinds, backgrounds and cultures.
May we take Peter's words to heart, and ask ourselves the same question any time we are tempted to back away from this most sacred mission: "Who are we to stand in God's Way?"
In our series on Prayer, God has invited us to find true life in His pathway and plans, through surrendering to, trusting in and following Jesus. The capstone of the Lord's Prayer confirms why this is the obvious posture we should posses ever day - For to God belongs the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. All things are from Him, all things are for Him, and all things flow to Him.
How blessed we are to be able to live for and contribute to His Kingdom, Power and Glory! No matter what gets us down, tempts us to go astray, or overshadows our path, we remember and are strengthened by this: Jesus is bigger, better and brighter. In Him is hope, help and light.
In this message, we consider the example of Solomon who showed us how life is best when lived this way, while also showing us what happens when we chose an inferior way.
It’s safe to assume the Church had zero intentions of larger expansion post-Acts 8. With Saul's conversion and commission in Acts 9, this is even further implied. God needed an emissary to the Gentiles, and the Twelve show little interest. Yet, God wanted the whole Church on board so Acts 9 swings back to Peter...
Peter picks up where he left off in Acts 5, but then finds himself in Joppa (!!!) and on the cusp of a revolutionary moment in history. They weren’t going to the Gentiles, but God was about to bring them to the Church. Enter Cornelius
Truth be told, the issue was that the church questioned if Gentiles could be saved, but if they should be saved. They knew Jesus was irresistible and His grace powerful. Like Jonah before him, Peter wasn’t doubting God’s grace, he was frustrated by it. (Jonah 3:19-4:3)
Perhaps their negligence of Gentles wasn’t malicious, but the point of this text is that we have no excuse to not be reaching and engaging all people, especially those different than us. Peter confesses he would’ve NEVER gone to Gentiles
Peter proclaims there is no partiality with God and that the church cannot be in active disobedience to God, forgoing its mission to love, serve and share the Gospel with all people.
Overlooked in this text - God could have revealed Gospel to Cornelius by the angel who sent him to Peter, but this proves 2 pillars of Acts:
1) God saves us INTO His Church. In the NT individual revelation is replaced by collective - because God is building His Church
2) Also, this is part of God establishing His Kingdom. Cornelius a Gentile meeting Peter a Jew is a moment of reconciliation which glorifies God, and highlights His Kingdom initiative to bring all nations together under one Name and one Blood.
Needless to say, Acts 10 is a major milestone in our history. For Church and Kingdom, God brings Cornelius and Peter together. For the Gospel, Peter proclaims that salvation has come to all, and we must go to all in love, service, and with Good News.
Who/what leads you into temptation? Do you ever lead yourself into temptation? We all give into temptation and we often try to hide or even dismiss the ramifications of our choices. If we’re being honest though, we become more disappointed in ourselves and less satisfied with life every time we give in.
Thankfully, following Jesus leads us not into temptation. Following Jesus means that we are choosing a Better Way. He calls us to a self-denying, cross-bearing Way, leading us to a life of love. A life of love is the opposite of a life of temptation, as it looks for ways to honor God and submit to others, before temptation gives us an inferior path to take.
If we succumb to temptation, we cross the threshold to loss. But, following Jesus is the threshold to life. By following Him, we have abundant and full life, that shows us how we can do the greatest good for the greatest number of people and the Greater Kingdom of God. Committing to follow Jesus, allows us to avoid temptation and escape the danger that lies behind every sin.
Of course, temptation is very real, and our battles can be overwhelming and challenging. Jesus and the grace He offers us is just as real, and more powerful than every temptation we face. Jesus’ invitation breaks the power and destroys the illusion of every temptation. All of our temptations can bow to His invitation.
The focus in Acts shifts back to the Apostle Peter, who rejoins the mission field after a brief time corroborating with Mark on the story of Jesus. Peter is filled with the second wind of momentum that is sweeping through the Church, and God performs great signs and wonders through his ministry.
However, Peter is not prepared to take the Gospel where God intends it go. More importantly, Peter is not ready to take the Gospel to whom God intends it to go. Filled with God's Spirit and zealous as he was, Peter's heart was actually harboring a great sin.
In Peter's miracles we witness God removing obstacles that were keeping people from life. However, these were merely building up to the moment when God would show Peter the greater obstacle in his heart, and offer to remove it.
In this message, we witness Peter wrestle with this Gospel-inhibiting sin, and come to a place of repentance and surrender. Witness Peter go from skeptical to surprised of what God was able to do, of who God was able to save...
In this conclusion to our Jeremiah study, we take a look at God's final word through Jeremiah to his generation. While the people of Israel, refuse to heed God's Word, God reminds them that He will continue to work towards His redemption plan.
We observe how God is always at work in history and amongst the nations. What may seem inexplicable, is given clarity when we understand that all things transpire to spread the Gospel and prepare the Kingdom. God is always working to exalt His plan of salvation and bring justice to the whole world. His promises are true, and He is faithful beyond end.
In this message, we breakdown Paul's conversion and commission in Damascus. His transformation in Christ sets up the Church for a second wave of momentum, which will lead to the globalization of the Gospel.
This chapter gives us a detailed look at the confidence God instills in Paul upon his conversion. We also are given two great examples to follow in how we should treat and respond to those who are coming to Christ.
The middle of The Lord's Prayer is all about what we should ask for. Jesus tells us that we should ask for two very specific things, for gifts that God wants to give us. In this message we talk about how we should pray and trust God for both provisions and pardon. However, Jesus tells us to pray for just enough of this world's goods, while understanding that God's grace is so unlimited that we must extend it to others.
At the heart of this template of prayer is a challenge to our flesh and natural instincts. By nature, we pray for God to give us unlimited supplies, while giving us limited to little accountability to others. Jesus turns this on its head, because our nature is trying to get in the way of us and God in the long run. This is meant to remind us that we need just enough of this world’s good to survive, but we need all of God’s goodness to thrive.
So may we pray less for stuff, and trust God for just enough. May we more so pray that we might treasure the Greater Gift and that we might share it without limit.
Jesus' Disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, after observing His unique, deep, and intimate connection with God. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us how not to pray first, before giving us a template for approaching God.
Jesus gives greater emphasis to how and to whom we pray, before even getting around to what we should pray for. We learn that prayer is more about concentrating on who God is and who we are in Him than it is bringing our works or wishes to Him.
At the heart of prayer is an act of surrender. We come before Him seeking His Will and His Kingdom. Only in surrender will we ever obtain the freedom available to us in Christ.
If you've ever wondered if you can really trust God, Easter above all else, answers this question. Easter gives us multiple reasons as to why God is unquestionably trustworthy. Though we weren't owed anything, Jesus has demonstrated God's grace towards us.
In His sacrifice, He was judged FOR us, In His death, He experienced separation WITH us. In His Resurrection, we can receive victory THROUGH Him. We can reap the promise and power of Resurrection Life because of His death and resurrection.
No matter our sin, sorrows, or sufferings, we can find help and hope because Christ endured the worst and came out victorious.
Promised and previewed long before, Good Friday provides the exclusive remedy for our sin. One cup was removed, and another was put in its place. What God supplied on the Cross can be applied to every heart that trusts in Christ.
Enjoy this message about the Cross and a song about God's faithfulness ever since.
Before Jesus would die on the Cross, He spent a few days with the Religious Leaders of Israel drawing a line in the sand. His actions in the Temple and conversations with its officials made it clear that Jesus came to end Religion and start something brand new.
Monday through Wednesday of Passion Week highlights and contrasts the difference between Judaism (and all Religion) and Christianity. Mark 11 - 14 gives us a clear view of the failing Temple establishment and the rising Church community.
In this message, we witness the Religious Leaders and even Jesus' disciples miss the point of Jesus' message and ministry, while we get a powerful look at four relatively unknown figures who got it absolutely right.
The Triumphal entry is rightly known for attributing glory and honor to Jesus, but it should also be remembered for what it offers to us. In Jesus' choice of the cross instead of a throne, He opens the door for us to find victory over sin and death. In His death and resurrection, He would initiate a greater kingdom, and all are invited to enter in.
One day, a greater Triumphal Entry will take place, and Jesus will return to do what many expected Him to do in His first coming. In faith, we can look forward to this coming day with hope and confidence. Our triumph now is certain, and our victory to come is even more glorious.
Why did God become a man? If everything that ever has or ever will transpire is ultimately for God's Glory, then one would think that Palm Sunday answers this question. Of course God in flesh would come to rule and reign as King.
However, Jesus' deference to the opportunity put before Him that day, shows that God's plans are so much purer and higher than ours. Yes, Jesus would be adorned with robe and crown later that week, but He would ascend to a cross not a throne.
It was through this work, that Jesus would reveal God's loving heart to us. Jesus' entire ministry was all about revealing God as our Father, and making a way for us to live as His children.
In this message, we talk about what it means to know God as Father, and to be restored to His image. Marvel with us as we consider what it means to be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
Throughout Jesus' three year ministry, it became clear that He indeed was from God. He demonstrated His power over the fallen world, and exerted His authority over the false hopes of the world. Many began to believe that He was the long awaited Messiah. His followers were convinced that the Messiah would set up an earthly kingdom that would bring them power and prosperity. When Jesus began His journey towards Jerusalem, they believed that this Kingdom was at hand...
Along the way, Jesus' actions and sermons made His closest followers a bit uncomfortable. He began challenging their expectations about why He came and for what reason He was going to Jerusalem.
Finally, Jesus decides to address His disciples, clarifying His purpose and correcting their motives. He was absolutely building a Kingdom. He was absolutely establishing a brand new Way of life for the world. However, this would not go how they expected it. Jesus came for something greater, and in Mark 10 He redefines what it means to be Great in the Kingdom fo God.
As we continue to ask, "Why?", this week we consider the subject of suffering, trials and hardships. In one of the earliest narratives of the Bible, Job reveals to us a perspective on suffering that remains the most inspired and insightful.
All of the New Testament teachings use Job's beliefs and experience as the basis for how we should understand suffering. Job believed that God was using his trial for something yet unseen. He had a patient faith in God's plan, in the end of his story.
In this message, we talk about God's sovereignty over our trials and His goodness throughout them. We learn that God does indeed have a Redemptive Purpose for all suffering. Until He chooses to remove the pain, He plans to use it. Ultimately, this will be for our good and for His glory.
Acts features no shortage of miracles, from the Holy Spirt breaking language barriers to disabled people being healed to prison walls falling down. However, the greatest miracle may very well take place in Acts 9.
Luke introduces us to Saul of Tarsus as the one spearheading the persecution against the Church. In Acts 9, we see that he isn't about to allow the Church to regain momentum as it spreads beyond Judea. He is determined to follow the growth and put an end to the movement.
Saul embodies the heart within every human, deceived by sin and dominated by a sinful nature. His only desire was to destroy the Church, out of what he thought was a service to God. He proved himself depraved at heart, worthy of condemnation.
But God had other plans for Saul of Tarsus... We see what happens when the Light of Heaven shines on even the darkest heart. We see how even the greatest obstacle, the human will, can be overcome by the power of the Gospel.
In this message, we have a theological conversation about just how miraculous Saul's conversion was. Join us as we marvel at what God alone can do.
The Church in Acts has entered a new phase, becoming boundless and working towards a global stage. From Acts chapter 8 to 12, we see the Gospel impact people from all corners of the earth, showing the true power of the Gospel.
Featured in Acts 8:26-40 is an Ethiopian Eunuch, who came to Jerusalem searching for hope but left disappointed. Thanks to Philip's readiness and faithfulness, the Eunuch receives Good News in the most unexpected of places. The Eunuch had been told he had no place in the family of God, that he would forever be separated. Ultimately, God's grace would find him and change everything.
Why did God make us? As in, all of us. We believe we are each made for His glory, but are our lives meant to intersect?
Currently there are some 7 billion humans on the planet, inhabiting nearly 200 nations, belonging to one of several hundred ethnic groups. The Bible teaches that all of us were made in God's image. Together we paint the full picture of God.
His desire is that we all love Him, know Him and follow Him. This may sound impossible, but we can all make Him known. His commandment over us is that we validate and authenticate our love for Him by loving one another.
The drift of humanity is to love only those near us or those like us. Our world today is more tribal and divided than ever, especially pertaining to race and ethnicity. Jesus Christ died to destroy this barrier, to cover us in His blood and make us one blood. Everyone is invited, and God's call over us is that we seek to be unity, cooperation and harmony with one another - For their Souls and for His Glory.
Having been defeated and exiled, all seemed grim for the nation of Israel. However, Jeremiah 29-33 reveals that God is not done with Israel yet. The Old Covenant's inability to save has been proven, and a New and Better Covenant is promised.
In Jeremiah 30, we hear how important the nation of Israel has been to God's plan to redeem and restore Creation. Out of Zion, salvation has come. Out of Zion, the Kingdom of God will rise.
Acts 8 is a pivot point for the Church. This is the moment the transition from local to global truly began. What began as a of safety-decision became a Gospel-decision. There would have been many temptations to remain in Jerusalem, but persecution forced them to remember their commission.
The Disciples refused to let idols and idleness get in the way of Jesus and His mission. They remained available for God to use and work through. Their availability is contrasted in an encounter with one Simon of Samaria. Simon was a local magician, who was seeking to make his name great, hoping to capitalize on the power of God for his own gain. He assumes wrongly that the Disciples were working for their own fame.
In this exchange, we are left with an impression of true discipleship and given an example to follow as we seek to serve the Lord.
Welcome to our brand new, pre-Easter series that's centered around a question we've all asked at some point or another: “Why?”
We’ve all asked this simple, yet broad question before. No matter to whom we may be directing the question, or even if we’re just asking it rhetorically, we’ve all questioned the reason and purpose for any given thing. As Christians, we believe that God is sovereign and is the Creator of life and all its details. We can rest assured that everything happens under His watch, but that doesn’t mean that we still don’t have questions.
Filtering and funneling everything beneath God’s sovereign canopy does help produce a better question to ask though: Why did God create the world? More specifically, why did God create this world? Often times we ask “why” in exasperation and doubt that there is an attainable answer. However, the Bible gives us a pretty clear answer as to why God created this world.
We often turn to Genesis 1 to learn "how" things came to be, but a deeper look at the text actually reveals "why" God spoke those words, "Let there be...". God’s loving-passion for His own glory overflowed and resulted in Creation as we know it. He had only the best in mind for humanity, made in His image, and created a perfect world for us to dwell in. Yet, Adam and Eve rebelled, and creation disgraced God rather than glorified Him.
However, God’s plans for Creation were not thwarted and time persisted towards a surprising goal. This would not only explain why God created in general, but why He created a world that would reject Him (and permitted it to persist). Ultimately, it’s all about the Cross. God’s “Telos”, His grand plan, was always to reveal and magnify His glorious grace through the death of Jesus Christ.
Beginning with this message and in the week's to come, we'll unpack just how every detail of Creation was meant to glorify God and how this is finally achievable through Christ.
While it had faced it's share of hardships, the Church was on the cusp of local prominence and security by Acts 6. The leaders had shown boldness against opposition and it was becoming organized and engaged in local ministries. Yet, things change rather quickly with Stephen's arrest and martyrdom.
The Church suddenly is facing an outbreak of state-sponsored persecution. The Disciples are forced to come to terms with their identity and mission in light of this conflict. The Great Commission drives them to maintain their witness, and scatters them beyond Jerusalem. Ultimately, persecution serves to fan the flames of their mission.
However, the Church is driven to the margins of society. The ideas of remaining comfortable and prominent in Jerusalem are challenged by this trial. In this message we learn that that was actually God's sovereign intentions of the persecution they were facing.
Here in the margins they would intersect with a greater and wider audience. They would take on a more sincere and more passionate role, witnessing to people they may have avoided otherwise. The great persecution in Jerusalem produces great joy elsewhere.
Ruth's story is ultimately all about finding a place in God's Story, about her coming to belong and being included in God's Family. From the beginning, there's a sense of unrest in the world, and Ruth particularly is longing to find rest.
Of course, this is what our faith is all about. The Gospel's invitation isn't for us to find improvement, but rather resurrection in Christ. To find rest is to find life. In Ruth 3:18, Ruth receives a promise that her Redeemer is restlessly pursuing rest for her.
This message is all about how our Restless Redeemer went to extravagant measures to find rest for us. The barriers that block us from rest, and the contrary paths we naturally take, all are a result of our fallen world and sinful nature. The Bible tells the story of how God restlessly worked to finish this work of redemption. Christ's work on the cross and resurrection from the grave promises us that rest is available for all who turn and trust in Him.
Jeremiah 29 is one of the best known passages of the Bible, containing one of the most quoted promises from God. Most of us don't realize that that promise is a follow-up to a very important commandment from God.
Jeremiah writes to his brothers and sisters in exile with a message of hope and purpose. In this text, we hear God's instructions for the Jews in Babylon and are reminded that their lives are far from over. While they wait to return to their homeland, they are commanded to seek to serve and honor God in exile.
Jeremiah 29:11 is their incentive and is to be their ambition while they wait. In this message, we discover that it shares a similar role in our faith.
A few chapters into Acts, the Church was going strong. It had established itself in Jerusalem as a force for good and began making an impact beyond the Jewish people. This was a pivotal moment in history, as Jesus had destined the Church to grow beyond Judea.
In many ways, the Jewish opposition that came against Stephen is much larger than just Judaism's critique on Christianity. It speaks of the tendency of religion to become static and remain still. Of course, the Jewish leaders had no interest in reaching the world with their faith. The enemy was hoping the Church would pass on this initiative as well.
This is what makes Stephen's message so profound, as he traces the Christian faith back to Abraham, and remarks that God had always intended on building a global community and dwelling in the hearts of His people. Stephen draws a line in the sand, that Christianity would be different than Judaism (and every religion for that matter). He was building a movement that would always be in motion.
The Jewish leaders rallied to silence Stephen's heresy, with one Saul of Tarsus leading the murderous assault. Little did the world know, that the one fighting to keep God in one place would soon be spreading Him all over the place. The one fighting against the Church would soon be fighting for it. Needless to say, a lot was on the line in Acts 7, and the world as we know it owes everything to Stephen's witness.
The Gospel is on display and detailed in every book of the Bible, but Ruth 2's presentation is especially rich. Ruth came into the land of Israel having heard about the Jewish God, hoping to experience His goodness. However, she never could've expected the favor that was about to be poured out for her.
She meets a one of a kind man, who unbeknownst to her, has the ability to redeem her story for an incredible purpose. Boaz shows Ruth a brand of kindness that is beyond measure, that leaves her speechless again and again.
This of course, is a picture of God's Kindness towards us all, and the love He has demonstrated for us through Christ. He purposely lays handfuls of grace before us day after day. His intention is to get our attention and to capture our affection, so that we would put our total trust in Him.
Ruth is the culmination of so many previous storylines of the Bible. The sin of Sodom, the tragedy of Lot, the thorn of Moab, and years of stumbling out of God's Will, all come together in a surprising and remarkable way.
As the Judges' Era crashes and burns, Israel believed it was on the brink of suffering God's judgment. Many began leaving the land, accepting that Israel's days of favor were long gone. No one could have saw the next chapter of this story coming...
God had another plan in the works. It would redeem some of Israel's past failures and chart a brand new course of hope and possibility. That plan began with the most unlikely of people. However, history confirms that Ruth did indeed change the world.
God's Covenant with Judah was set to expire, due to their unfaithfulness. Turns out, this wasn't just a recent issue, but one that had been festering for nearly 500 years. God was about to place His people in timeout for a season, but He used this opportunity to send a more serious to the whole world.
God showed Jeremiah a cup. This cup was overflowing with wine, symbolizing God's wrath due to all sin. God's wrath burned against sin's curse against humanity and damage being done to and through humanity.
Humanity deserved judgement, yet God's mercy persisted. God desired better for us, yet our sin persisted. Sin had to be atoned for. Only God’s righteous wrath could properly judge and eliminate sin. But if every sinner was made to drink the cup shown to Jeremiah, there would be no human left standing.
Enter Jesus Christ. He preached that both salvation and judgement were imminent. One night as Jesus prayed, He heard Jeremiah 25:15 echo through time, "Take this cup of wine of wrath, and drink it... drink all of it." The next day, He would hang on a cross, where He would drink every last drop of God's wrath. His suffering atoned for sin. His death defeated sin. His resurrection overcame sin. Jesus finished the cup of wrath, and provided us a better cup.
The cup of God's grace. Mercy overflows for us all to receive. Jesus drank our cup so that our sin could be removed. We drink His cup so that our souls could be revived. Where there was wrath, there is now grace. Where there is death, there is now life.
Romans 12 is one of the most important passages of Scripture for a Christian to read, learn and apply to their lives. It invites every unique, fearfully and wonderfully made individual to see their place in the much larger Kingdom of God. Through this text, we are invited to find our way back to where God always intended us to be.
We’re reminded that we are made in the image of God and that we dwell amidst a world of other image bearers. To transform the world, the Christian’s job is to imitate Christ, having been transformed by Him ourselves. Christ sought to change the world by loving the world to the point of self-sacrifice. Are we willing to do the same?
Romans 12:9-21 are not options for us. They are commandments. We are confronted with unavoidable questions in this text: How driven by God’s love are you? Do you seek to outdo others in showing honor? Do you bless those who curse you? Are you willing to walk in someone else’s shoes, in order to help raise them up? Do you respond to evil with good, and only good?
If we all followed this Romans Road with genuine love and devotion, we would reflect Christ’s love so much and so clearly that His Gospel would be constantly preached in all of our lives. If we committed to this, we could help show other image bearers their place in God’s family. One life at a time, we could be image repairers, as God's transformative power worked through us.
As they stood trial for their witness for and commitment to Jesus Christ, the Disciples exhibited remarkable faith in God. When threatened, they put all of their trust in Him. We marvel at this, but in hindsight it should come as no surprise that they were so confident.
After all, Jesus had promised them that God was unstoppable, their hope was unbreakable, and that His Church was unshakeable. For this reason, they truly believed that they could not lose. God was with them, so who could be against them? Death could not stop Jesus. It would not stop them.
They were not afraid, ashamed or too proud to bear their crosses , if and when their suffering was God's choice means of demonstrating His power. They knew that Resurrection was always God's next move. No matter the shame, with no fear of the pain, they were confident that God was working some Kingdom gain.
"Let My People Go!"
This has been God's Word to this world on our behalf for generations. This world reduces us down to categories and labels, and enslaves us to its ideas and standards. It takes our texture away - our God-given depth and individuality.
God wants us to understand that in Him we can find our true identity and find a better belonging. When the Hebrews came out of Egypt, Moses taught them a new name for God: Yahweh Nissi - "The LORD is My Banner". God is our flag and our brand. In Him, we ascend to a higher and purer dwelling place.
What defines you? Where do you find your meaning? How do you fight your battles? If God is your banner and brand, then you will find a security and strength that this world simply cannot give.
As Acts continues, the Disciples continue to prove how serious they took the Words of Jesus, and how crucial they believed their obedience was to the Church's expansion. They also trusted Jesus' assertion that true joy was locked behind total surrender to God's Kingdom.
In Acts 5, we witness Peter and his companions risk everything to preach the Gospel and once again they are put on trial. The authorities were as amazed as they were insulted. How and why would anyone be so bold and brave, knowing their lives were at stake?
Peter's testimony is even more astounding this time, as he gives perhaps his most famous response, "We must obey God rather than men." Here Peter underscores his drive as a Christian. More important than obeying his or anyone else's will, is surrendering to God's.
We all have our "musts", things that take priority in our lives. Where does God and His Kingdom rank on that list? Only when we see our place in Christ as our most defining and most fulfilling, will we see our obedience as our most important.
We are all like sheep, in that in most areas of life we are at the mercy of a shepherd . We follow many shepherds, many that do not have our best interest in mind. Sometimes we're well aware of this, but can't break free. Other times, we don't realize we're being led astray.
In Jeremiah 23, God identifies the many bad shepherds that lord over us in this life and promises to send us a better one. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has come to save, lead and protect His people. Are you follow Him?
In Acts 4, we find the Disciples praying for boldness after displaying an extraordinary brand of bravery. However, as the story continues we find that they were just getting started… In fact, the boldness within their Church community may be the most humbling trait of early Christianity.
Acts 4:32-37 details the selfless and sacrificial heart of the early Church. Perhaps what’s most striking is, that there was no mandate that required this level of generosity, yet every believer was moved by God to follow suit. The Disciples quickly find that giving up all to build God’s Church was far more fulfilling than possessing all the riches in the world. The more they made Jesus everything, the more they realized they didn’t need anything but Him.
If this kind of joy and contentment is available for us, why aren’t we embracing this model? Why do we still yet cling to the ways of this world and hold fast to its views on wealth and fulfillment?
God so desire that the early Church get all that He had for them, He wouldn’t settle for less than an “all or nothing” brand of discipleship. This episode climaxes with a contrast between one who gave up everything against popular sentiment and two who held back on God. The aftermath sent shockwaves through the whole community.
As for our observation of this text all of these years later, whether or not we need to fear similar consequences for our own greed and consumption is only part of the resolution. Rather, we should fear our own nature’s tendency to hold on to things over God, and make sure that we aren’t at risk of missing out on God’s Kingdom and true, eternal riches.
If there is a God, holy and almighty, filled with grace and mercy who is inviting us to follow Him and be filled with His presence - Is there anything more important that pursuing Him and knowing Him?
Yahweh revealed Himself to the ancient Hebrews as the God who can be known deeply and personally. We have the earliest records of His revelation because He first invited Moses into a personal relationship. Moses left the luxuries and riches of Egypt to ascend the mountain of God. He found true salvation and purpose, and God used him to invite an entire generation to know Him.
This same invitation hangs over us to this day. The same world continually lets us down, but the same God offers to heal and lift us up. Yahweh is the God we can know. We may not be able and we may fall short, but I AM is always able and I AM is always enough. He is the God who can heal all brokenness.
We often talk a lot about restoring the Church to its early or original form. We dream of being filled with God's power and used for His glory in like or greater fashion. If we are really serious about this, we must take cues from Acts 4.
After narrowly escaping death, the Disciples return to the Church and have one of the most consequential prayer meetings of all time. Their prayer requests and subsequent decisions come across so foreign to us, which may explain the difference between us and them.
Rather than praying for God to minimize their risk before a threatening regime, they simply entrust the unknowns into God's hands. Their prayer is focused around maximizing their role in God's story. They worry little about preserving their stories, and desire only that they might fully participate in God's plan.
They pray for boldness that they could keep the faith in the face of opposition and pray that God would have His will in their community. The results are nothing short of astounding.
What does bold look like for us? It begins with trusting God with the impossible and focusing on what we can control. We are called to be Christ's witnesses and make His Church a shining light into a dark world. May we begin to pray bold prayers and make bold decisions that allow Christ and His Church to have a bold-print impact on our worlds.
The Bible is full of stories and accounts that paint a cohesive and complete picture of God. Genesis 16 should not be overlooked in our quest to know God and make Him known. It features Abraham and Sarah trying to come to terms with God's will, and shows how Hagar suffered as a result of their mishandling and manipulation.
On both sides, we find people searching for affirmation and validation, and coming up empty. Most unfortunate is Hagar's story, as she was exiled for no fault of her own. Hagar is a stand-in for us all, shown at the end of her rope in disbelief and hurt.
God chooses to shine His light on Hagar's heart, and sends a powerful message to every outcast, oppressed, and lost soul to come. Her encounter in the desert is one that we can all experience, because we serve the same God: The God who hears, sees, and loves us all.
Jesus often talked about the cost that would be associated with following Him. He prepped His followers for the trial that would be ahead of them, foreshadowing the events of Acts.
In Acts 4, the Disciples faced trial before the very authorities that had sentenced Jesus to death. Like Jesus, they did so with an absolute fearlessness. Peter's remarkable defense reveals the power of their faith. They may have been condemned by law, ostracized by culture, and pitied by society, but they were saved by God.
Peter and John were glad to be counted guilty by the world for their association with Jesus. They boldly proclaim that they would continue to serve Him no matter the cost. They would defy any law if necessary. However, perhaps their greatest testimony is that they were willing to defy their own wills in order to honor God's. They had counted the cost, and deemed the greater risk would be to miss out on God's work.
In Acts 3 we get a snapshot of what day to day life was like for the Disciples after the Church launched. Peter and John, filled with a burden and passion to show and share Jesus Christ, set an example for us all to follow.
In this message we examine their patterns and consider what should translate to our own lives. We find a clear reminder that if the Church is going to be the Movement of God and Body of Christ as intended, it all hinges on our passion for our mission. Through presence, persistence, and preparation we can make an impact that rivals or even surpasses that of the First Century Church.
2020 turned many of our assumptions and expectations upside down. Perhaps this leaves us a bit timid at being optimistic at what might be in store in 2021.
In this week's message, we study a single verse from God's Word that seeks to raise our spirits and anchor our hopes in God's Sovereign Plan. We may not completely relate to the story that leads to this verse, but we are absolutely left in awe of the confidence in God that is on display. God invites us to trust Him and possess this same sort of confidence in 2021.
The Church is called "The Body of Christ", which is often understood in a merely spiritual or symbolic way. However, this couldn't be further from the idea.
In the Incarnation, God became a literal, flesh and blood man. Therefore, when the Church is called The Body of Christ, we should immediately think of a literal, flesh and blood gathering of God's people.
In Acts, we see the Church living up to its true identity, and leaving a clear example for us to follow. In this message we consider this sacred definition of Church and consider what Church membership is all about.
Recommended Readings to support and further flesh out this message and its themes:
https://www.amazon.com/Incarnation-God-Foundation-Evangelical-Theology/dp/1433541874
https://www.pastortheologians.com/articles/2020/12/17/incarnation-and-the-church-the-body-of-christ
http://cdn.theologicalstudies.net/71/71.4/10.1177.004056391007100402.pdf
As 2020 comes to an end, it's right that we take time and reflect on the year that has been. If there's one word that sums up 2020 it's STRUGGLE.
We have collectively faced hardships and challenges that have made the year difficult for us all. We look ahead to 2021 with hope and optimism, but in order to be ready for what's next, we must understand that what's behind us has not been a waste.
The Bible teaches us that trials have a redemptive purpose in the lives of believers. God uses them to build our characters and increase our faith in Him. His will isn't always to make a way of escape, but rather show us how to endure.
Elijah the Prophet learns this lesson and more in the midst of a years long crisis. In his story, we find incredible reminders of God's sovereign plans and sustaining grace.
When we're young, Christmas captures our affection and anticipation with a sense of wonder and awe. The season builds and builds, and we look forward to all of the joy it promises to bring. We often are convinced that a single gift could change our world. It may be something so simple to adult eyes and minds, but to a child, it seems to make all things right.
What if we could enter this Christmas with the same sense of childlike wonder of yore? What if we could really receive a single gift that could change our worlds? As adults, we're well aware of what's wrong in the world, and even more burdened by what's wrong in our world. What if Christmas could offer us a solution and bring peace to our chaos and uncertainty?
As children we are primed to believe that Christmas can actually make the impossible a reality. Something in us wants to believe that this is true for every season and scenario in life. What if Christmas does indeed offer us this gift?
The true message of Christmas is one of Good News of Great Joy For All People. The Bible and the Christian message in general remind us that Christmas means that God is now with us. And if God is with us, then He is for us.
On Christmas, God took our side and vowed to save us from our greatest enemies. Christmas is a forever proclamation that unto us a Savior has come, who promises peace and purpose no matter what.
The Gift of Christmas is that we can know God through Christ. This is truly the gift that keeps on giving, as every day we can unwrap a new blessing. Being wrapped in God's presence, we truly experience the most wonderful life.
When observing the early Church, there's a clear embodiment of the joy available exclusively in Christ. In Acts 2, Luke draws a powerful parallel between the joy and atmosphere on the first Christmas to that of the first Church community. They were giving praise to God and they were enjoying the favor from God. As they had been given favor, they also shared it, because a gift that great was too much to keep to themselves.
When the Church began there were no traditions or styles, there wasn't even a finished Bible, and there were no professional worship bands. When it all started on that Pentecost Sunday around 30 AD, the Church in its original form was a movement. The Church was designated by Jesus Christ as The Movement of God that would change the whole world. It would be a movement of God through His people. As He moved, His people would move, and more people would be moved.
Today the Church comes in all different sizes, shapes and sounds. However, regardless of those details, the only thing that matters is this one burning question: Are we still God's movement? Of course, God is still moving, but are we? Are we allowing Him to move through us?
In this vital message about the Church's opening day, we consider these questions and more. May today's Church remember its beginning and stay true to its identity until Kingdom come.
Every generation of believers wrestles with a similar fear: "Is this the end?" No, not the end of days, but the end of our faith. We feel encroached and oppressed by secular society. We wonder about the Church's longevity. We worry about Christianity and its influence being on the ropes.
These rumors and whispers of Christianity's demise are completely unfounded. Satan loves to accuse God's people with lies and to see us walk back in fear. He loves to see us forfeit the joy, peace, confidence and security of our faith for pessimism and dread. He loves to see us fight battles against the people for which Christmas is meant to save.
Since the very first Christmas, Satan has been trying to stop the Good News from being spread. However, all his minions have ever done is spur Jesus' movement all the more. God declared war on Satan 2000 years ago, when he attempted to kill the newborn Jesus. On the cross, Satan was defeated and the war came to an end.
This Christmas, may God's people celebrate our victory with boldness and confidence. May we herald the Good News that is for all people. May we live in and extend the peace and salvation that is found in Christ, which can be unwrapped by everyone today.
We make decisions every day, from minor to major. Behind every decision is a reason, but we make most of them without even considering why. Beneath the surface and influencing our minds is a nature that is so very good at getting what it wants, even if it doesn't have our best interest in mind.
The prophet Jeremiah came to an astounding conclusion regarding human nature after observing Israel's best and brightest make one bad decision after another. His diagnosis of his generation continues to be proven true every single day. In exasperation, he wondered if there was hope and help for people.
In this message, we get to the bottom of why our hearts take us in the wrong direction time after time, and we hear from God about the one and only remedy.
Ever since Pentecost, the world has been changed and constantly impacted by the Presence of God. What were things like before this? And just how different are things now because of the Holy Spirit's involvement and persistence within Creation?
Take a journey through time with us as we study God's interactivity with His choice creation, and humanity's attempts throughout history to approach God.
Have you ever dropped something and wondered if you'd ever find it again? Have you ever made a mess of something that seemed beyond repair? We've all had situations where we wondered if things were too far gone.
If the story of Jacob teaches us anything, it's that no one is ever too far away from God. Mercy is always pursuing us, no matter the mess we may have gotten ourselves into.
Jacob's story sends a powerful reminder: God is wherever we surrender. When we feel too far gone, God is actually not far away at all.
In spite of humanity's constant drift away from God, He has always been working His ways towards us. As fallen as we are, we are not forgotten nor forsaken by God. In the story of Judah, we see just how committed God is to redeeming us all from sin. We see how far He is willing to go in order to bring us back to Him. As a result, we are left with confidence that we have access to approach God in peace and with hope.
We spend so much time and energy chasing after more, but maybe 2020's greatest message to us is to slow down, and appreciate what we already have. As Christians, we cling to God's Promises of blessings and opportunities, but what if there's something even greater to cling to. What if there's Someone greater we can cling to?
May we learn to give thanks in all seasons and circumstances, because no matter where we are, God is with us. His presence is the greatest of His promises. Even if we lose it all, all we really need is Him. Even if everything is taken away, He is enough.
This Thanksgiving, may we find our total satisfaction in Him, so that He might be fully glorified in and through our lives.
The story of Abraham is perhaps the greatest proof of our God's amazing grace. The world was deeply lost in sin, and had no recollection of the one true God. As nations developed and empty religions were established, God decided to start with one man and create His own nation, through which He reveal Himself to the world. God knew that to chart a course for redemption it would require grace upon grace being shown to whomever He chose.
The grace He shows Abraham is astounding, yet shouldn't be all that surprising. This is God's character after all. Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. Where our failures cause a wildfire of consequences, His mercy brings a flood of second chances.
Abraham's story is one of great contrast. We see how damaging sin is in the lives of those it rules. We also see how redeeming God's grace is within the hearts of those He reaches.
God's goodness to Abraham should humble us all, but also remind us all, that none of us are too far gone. Nothing is too hard for God to redeem, not even our complicated, broken lives.
With regards to the vision and mission of the Church, there isn't a more important passage of Scripture than Acts 1:6-11. Jesus has informed His small following that they were on the cusp of a brand new movement that would change the world. They were the only people on earth who knew of the promise and power of His Resurrection. This had to change.
Jesus issues this Great Commission over His fledgling church, calling them to take this Good News of redemption and restoration to every corner of the world. He commands that Evangelism be their daily priority.
Anticipating His improbable command, they suggest that there's too much working against them to make this a reality. The authorities that ruled locally and nationally had presided over Jesus' death, so their own demise was likely. Wouldn't the better option be to fast-forward to the end, and establish God's Kingdom? Was there any hope for the world anyways?
Jesus hears that notion and gives a clear and convicting command, that rings loud in our ears to this day. He tells us to leave the speculation and uncertainties to God, and set our hearts on His salvation. When we allow it to sink in, we will have faith no matter what and know that we have no choice but to get to work.
With great power, comes great responsibility. Having the hope of Jesus and a heart changed by Jesus leaves a tremendous responsibility on our shoulders.
The world's not too far gone. The wrong people aren't in power. We aren't too busy. We have nothing more fulfilling to do. We must tell and show the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing else is more important.
Luke set out to document and preserve the story behind a brand new movement that had taken his world by storm. In his first volume, he writes about a Jewish carpenter who's life and message intersected with both the Jewish and Roman worlds. He tells us how every detail of Jesus' story points to something bigger and beyond anyone's expectations.
Perhaps what's most remarkable, defying even the belief of Jesus' own followers, the story doesn't end with Jesus' death. Reports of His resurrection swept the town, country, and soon after, the world. Acts tells of this story - How the Jesus movement launched after many thought it was dead.
In Acts we learn about the gathering of people which Jesus had galvanized and commissioned to be evangelists, and how they would go on to build a movement that thrives all of these years later.
In this first installment of "The Church", we learn the basic keys to success that catapulted the Jesus movement into the pages of history. We also find that these same ideals remain essential for Christians to follow if we're going to effectively be the Church in our generation.
We often feel detached or inferior to the heroes of the Bible. We think they had something that we could never have. In reality, they were no different than we are. God used ordinary men and women over and over again in Scriptures. The heroes of our faith may be remembered as good and godly people, but they were also fallen people, just like us.
In this message, we take a look at one of the most familiar heroes of Scripture, whose story ends with a rather embarrassing episode. Yet in spite of his fallen nature, God's grace was enough to save and sustain him.
The same goes for us as well. God's grace is always enough. We will never be good enough, but God was always God enough.
This world has a way of stunting our growth and life in Christ. The highs distract us. The lows overwhelm us. Is there a way for us to avoid riding the waves this world sends our way? Is there a better way to live?
Of course there is. The Apostle Paul gives us the secret in Philippians 1.
Jesus spent years campaigning for the hearts of Israel. Yet at the end, His message signaled that He was not building a literal kingdom, but something different. He began talking about the end of Israel and a time of certain unrest to come. Yet within that chaos, He promises that His Kingdom would still be established - not in a time or place, but in spirit. As the ages would pass, empires would rise and fall, but one thing would be certain, Jesus and His Church would persist. His Gospel would impact and change lives for the better much more than anything else.
If we listen to His promises, we understand that His Kingdom has already come and He is the King of Kings. Jesus will never be on a ballot and His rule is not at risk of ending or ceding to someone else. If only we would give Him our hearts, and receive the peace of His rule today.
In our last edition of our "Undeniable" study, we find Jesus seeking to make one final impression on His Disciples. Three years before, Peter and John had met Jesus, and now on the same sea shore, they realize that their faith journey was just beginning. Jesus issues a familiar command to two of His oldest friends, as He shows us all the way one more time.
The Disciples tried to go back to life as usual after Jesus rose from the grave. However, they find out that it would be impossible to do so. They had seen too much and a brand new reality was before them. And as we find out in John 21, why on earth would they want to?
Jesus' most oft repeated commandment reveals the one thing He desires for us above everything else. The single greatest promise of Christianity is found in His invitation to "Fear Not".
What if there was a way around being afraid, even when there was plenty to be afraid of? What if Jesus can help us overcome, instead of being overcome?
Mirror, mirror on the wall, which is the most deadly sin of them all, which gives birth to every other evil thought, word, and deed?
Most likely, we all will agree, yet most assuredly we all struggle against this evil force on a daily basis.
The Resurrection changed everything. John 20 is ground zero for the Christian Faith, for the New Creation.
When we come to know the meaning and impact of Jesus' Resurrection, we won't be able to go back to life as it was before. We will walk away brand new creatures, filled with the peace and power of God.
Every candidate for office tries to win our votes by promising us the best of everything. They cast an especially tantalizing vision concerning how we might find economic prosperity and security under their theoretical rule.
Jesus was no different and in His campaign to win our hearts, He shows us the true secret to financial peace and freedom. However, it's unlike any plan this world promotes. While we often vote for what will give us more money to control and more control over our money, Jesus suggests a better way: Surrendering control of it all.
Yes, Jesus shows us how in God's Kingdom we are not owners, but stewards. To be rich towards God is a much more desirable state than to be rich in this world. This radical invitation may fly in the face of the American Dream, but it leads us into making a Kingdom difference.
We can find true peace and freedom when we learn to live with open hands, leveraging what we have for God's Kingdom. True joy can be found when we learn that giving is better than receiving.
We may scoff at this idea, but are we better off playing by the world's rules? In our efforts to control our money, hasn't it taken control of us? In our grasping for more money, have we gotten closer to God? What if seeking first the Kingdom of God can change our hearts for the better and actually leave us in a much better financial state?
Jesus' body was not buried in a grave. It was planted in a garden. In this lesson, we learn how one verse paints a beautiful picture of our Resurrection hope.
Paul gives a personal, passionate call for all "Spiritual" people to place themselves under the burden of those who have fallen or been weighed down by life. We may not understand or we may be indifferent towards their burden, but as Christians what we should see is a person in need of relief and restoration. As we have been restored by God's grace, and as God has seen a redeeming value in us, we extend this same hand towards others.
Will we allow God’s heart of compassion and mercy to change ours, and be greater than our indignation or selfish ambitions? It’s easy to complain about wrong, be passionate about right, and be indignant towards the world... it’s easy to forget that we don’t deserve the good standing we have. But do you suppose God is pleased one bit with that kind of posture?
“What breaks your heart?” - That’s the question we must ask ourselves. God often allows our hearts to be broken to align them with His own, to shape and direct our response. May God give his people a compassionate concern and a heart for intercession.
God has been merciful to us all. Our salvation is personal and according Paul’s teaching, it should drive us to take every persons need personally. A lofty idea, yes. But it begins with posture before it can ever translate to practice.
Will we bear someone's burden? Will we lend a hand of restoration to someone in need?
This world has us wrapped around its finger and marching to its beat in so many ways. We fall in line, for the most part, because we believe there is some peace, comfort or satisfaction awaiting at the end of each day, season or year.
Time and time again, we put our hope in religion, institutions and rituals, to only come up empty. If only we had a way to something real and truly fulfilling... if only we could trade hope for a Living Hope!
Jesus is this Living Hope and a relationship with Him brings His Living Spirit to our hearts. When we’re known by Him, He makes our hearts His home.
We don't have to continue to be entangled in bondage, because Christ has broken this world's chains. By faith, we don’t have to accept bondage over freedom. No matter how we feel or what we face, our hope is in our God. He has moved in and in Him we can’t be moved. Every day can count by faith and in God's love.
The elements of this world may stand over us, but they don’t live within us. We can stand up to them, because of Him who lives in us.
The world may present many options to us, but there's only one that gives us Living Hope: Walking in the Spirit of The Living God!
John’s Gospel is full of characters who unwittingly play a crucial role in God’s redemption plan. Not the least of these featured people is Pontius Pilate. We all know Pilate’s role in the story of Jesus, but have we ever considered his motives?
John gives us a look inside the mind of Pilate, as he faces tremendous pressure during the trial of Jesus. More so than the weight on Jesus’ shoulders, was the weight on Pilate’s as he mulled over what to do with Jesus of Nazareth.
At first he reveled in watching the Jews beg for his help, but one particular accusation shook Pilate to his core. This accusation, which confirmed assumptions Pilate was already having about Jesus, caused him to face the ultimate decision. Does he remain a friend of Caesar or become a friend of Jesus?
If Jesus was indeed who He was accused of being, and who Pilate was almost certain He was, wouldn’t it be the better decision to take His side?
Friend of Caesar or friend of God? Which hill would he die on?
Apologies about the first 2 minutes of track. The audio is very low, but this was during the Scripture reading from John 19:1-7, so the message should be loud enough.
We often look to Jesus' miracles, signs and wonders to get a full glimpse at His divine power. We often turn to His sermons and parables to hear the clearest of words from God. However, there is perhaps no more powerful portrayal or clearer reflection of the God of Heaven than that of Jesus on trial before Pilate.
As the conversation progresses it seems that Pilate is the one who is truly on trial, as he represents all the institutions of darkness and flesh, trying to cement their power as absolute and unstoppable. Though seemingly in a position of weakness and vulnerability, Jesus proves to be very much in charge, and testifies to God's true nature and plan.
Jesus shows a fearlessness and signals a coming roar from Heaven, as He stares death in the eyes and doesn't blink. His trial, sentencing, and ensuing death may have appeared to spell doom on God's Kingdom ever coming to earth, but in reality this was just the beginning...
The beginning of the end for death and hell, and the introduction of a brand new way and source of life for the world.
Paul shifts from defending his faith to defining the Christian faith in a broad, yet personal way. Paul shows us how we all can have a relationship with God, by highlighting the very first man to enter into an authentic and personal relationship with God: Abraham.
Through Abraham's story, we learn that God has always connected with people by faith. When we trust in Him and His promises, we breathe in brand new life to our souls. Shame, bondage and separation can be replaced with forgiveness, freedom and family.
There's no greater relationship we can forge. There's no greater favor that we can know.
When God reveals to Jeremiah the sin of Judah, Jeremiah is surprised that the blame falls on the religious leaders. However, the picture becomes clear as Jeremiah sees through the gloss of their religious rituals. The Temple was renown as a place of dynamic worship, but there was a vast disconnect between how they worshiped and their ways.
In one of the most convicting chapters of the Bible, we hear Jeremiah call into account the Spiritual leaders of Judah, and challenge their silence and even support of the sin of the land. What seemed to be political and social issues, are made clear to be Spiritual issues.
We hear God call His people to defend the cause of the unborn, children, immigrants, the poor, and oppressed. This conversation may bring discomfort and challenge the status quo, but God's people cannot avoid it. As the New Testament reiterates, we are the body of Christ, His hands and feet. How are we showing this to our world?
Government may off solutions to some of these issues, but any given regime never seems to address them all. So the burden falls on the Church to consider what can WE do to obey God and usher in His Kingdom?
Jeremiah brought a word of judgement against Judah, but it proves timeless and relevant as ever for our generation. Navigating these chapters and this topic requires tremendous grace and patience with ourselves and each other, as it is a heavy subject.
We follow Jeremiah as he arrives at the reasons for God's displeasure with His people. God exposes a disconnect between the vertical and the horizontal in the lives of believers. This conversation brings a lot of opinions to the table, but it's one that we must have as God's people.
God’s greatest contention with Judah was the hostility and division between the poor and the rich, those without much and those with a lot. Though this no doubt requires us to consider politics and economics, the message from Jeremiah is clear: We cannot let the tension in our society created by politics, displace the burden in our hearts created by God’s Word.
Buckle up and dive in to two of the most challenging chapters in the Bible, and allow God to speak to your heart.
This is from a conversational Bible study, so there are pauses and breaks throughout the message that account for when congregation members may have been responding/commenting
John tells an incredible story of how Jesus came on the scene and reveals Himself to the world. The hype builds and builds until it just stops... In John 18 we read about the darkest night that ever fell on creation, and we see almost every disciple fall away. However, though betrayed, forsaken, bound, and taken before a corrupt court, Jesus remains as confident as ever, resolved to continue forward with God's plan.
We see a contrast between Jesus and those that seemingly had trusted in Him, and we are left speechless at how anyone could respond the way Jesus did. We follow Peter stumbling over all that he claimed to believe in and live for, only to curse the day.
This darkest night brought out the very worst in everyone, yet it brought out the brightest and best of the Only One who could save our lives.
This night is ultimate proof that we all desperately need a Savior. It's also ultimate proof that we have a Savior... We have a Savior indeed.
As Paul continues to chronicle his early days as a Christian, he acknowledges that the opposition he was currently facing was not new at all. From the outset of his ministry, there was tension with the Jerusalem Church regarding his desire to share the Gospel with Gentiles. Could people apart from the Law and Jewish traditions even become Christians? Weren't there religious prerequisites that people should be held to? Or, was Jesus enough?
Paul found himself in a confrontation with one of Jesus' number one followers, and boldly defended the true Gospel, knowing that there was only one hope for the world. He lays out truths that the Church often forgets, as it becomes more and more insider focused.
Paul reminds us of the grace that saved us and compels us not to add anything to this foundation. We learn that both our own faith and the potential faith of others is at risk when we rely on anyone or anything but Jesus for hope and certainty.
Paul passionately defends his faith before his earliest disciples and critics. Once a violent enemy of the Church, Paul was saved en route for more blood shed. This encounter with Christ left him a brand new man, with a resolve to tell the whole world about Jesus. Prior to 47 AD, there were just two churches in the world, but because of Paul's passion and burden, his mission to Galatia was just the beginning...
Everyone knows Judas as the one who betrayed Jesus, but have we ever stopped and wondered what let to this moment in history?
It may surprise us to learn that Judas would betray Jesus for the very same reason that he initially followed Jesus. He saw in an opportunity to advance himself, but Jesus proved to not be who he thought he was. Judas wasn't getting what he wanted out of Jesus, so he decided to get away from Jesus, and put Him away for good.
This makes no sense in hindsight. But Judas wasn't acting on the basis of good sense. He had been deceived by Satan's deception, that what he was looking for was always under the next coin.
In the climax of the Gospel's story, we see Jesus and Judas contrasted so clearly. Judas tries to manipulate everything to better himself, while Jesus surrenders for the sake of everyone else. Jesus could have turned the situation against His enemies, but He chose not to.
May we all realize what Judas never did, that our tiny minds cannot imagine nor think of what may actually bring us peace. God has a plan and dreams for us that nothing can compare to. By trusting in Him we allow His best to come our way, and are saved from our worst.
Jesus once stood in front of a fledgling movement and predicted that one day, it would be the largest of its kind. Though it was off most of the world's radar then, one day it would be ubiquitous, and impossible to avoid. One day, its influence and impact would be so far-reaching and wide-spread that everybody would know His Name.
His audience probably thought He was delusional, or just embellishing to get their attention. Little did they know, however, that 2000 years later, Jesus and His Church would have changed the world, taking His message and ideals deep and wide. Though not everyone attends or even believes, it is undeniable that Jesus and His Church have changed the world.
For Christians, we should never lose our sense of awe and wonder about belonging to Jesus and being in His Church. We take for granted what we know and what we've seen, but it is nothing short of the work and wonder of God.
More than anything, knowing that Jesus was right about His Church, we should also understand that He will be right about His Kingdom. It is coming, and this age will end. What we are able to witness and experience now should remind us that we living out His story.
In light of this, how are we preparing for eternity? Are we anticipating His Kingdom? Are the lives we are living full of eternal value? Or are they full of things that will waste away... When we get to Heaven (or when Heaven gets to us) will all that we have lived for be behind us or before us?
What would it look like for you to not waste this life and opportunity that God has given you? To build upon your faith in Christ, to glorify Him in all that you do, with all that you have?
"Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last."
The night before Jesus died, He prayed for one thing. Of all the things we may imagine would have been on His mind, and all the important things to consider praying over, Jesus focuses on His Church.
He had built His Church around His eleven followers, and was sending them into the world to continue the mission He had begun. Jesus prays for the Church to be united together around Him and His mission. He stresses that our Kingdom Impact will always depend on our Church unity.
Jesus leaves us with a strong word: The world will not believe that God has sent a Savior, if they don’t see us united together. So we must unite together in love for Him and one another. We may feel this is impossible, but Jesus tells us that it is imperative to our mission.
Have you ever wanted something that you considered going to extreme measures to obtain it? Or, is there something that has eluded you that you would do anything to have?
The story of humanity is one of an Incredible Longing... a longing and desire for fulfillment, purpose, and peace. We want this happiness so badly, that we spend our lives looking for it in people, places, and things.
Yet, what if there is only one solution for this incredible, inescapable, otherwise inconsolable longing? If Jesus is to be believed and trusted, then there is but one answer. He is that answer.
Do we treasure Him like this is true? Do we value Him above and beyond all that we have? Or do we put weight and expectations on lesser, weaker things that prove to fall short of meeting our needs time and time again?
We will only experience Eternal Life in full when we see Jesus for who He truly is: Everything.
We spend many of our days in the presence of our enemies. These enemies sometimes are people, things, emotions, things around us and even within us. Try as we might to escape them or evade them, they are always there. This shouldn't be too surprising, as our world is fallen and sin works to prevent God's redemptive work.
Yet God's presence is greater and His purpose cannot be thwarted, when we rest and trust in Him. As we face opposition and obstacles, we can take heart knowing that they are actually opportunities for God to make His power known.
In reality, the enemies of God, tremble at the work that He can and will do. Satan works in various ways to roar into our minds and put fear and dread in our hearts, but he cannot take possession of us. After all, we rejoice knowing that God's Spirit has filled our hearts and minds and dwells within us.
So what is the secret to overcoming the enemy? Worship. It can turn enemy territory into Holy Ground. We can rejoice knowing that the blood of Jesus washes us and His Spirit anoints us, and proclaiming these truths disarms and exposes the enemy's ruin.
May we sing louder than ever before, and remind the world that greater is He that is with us and for us, than whoever or whatever wants to destroy us.
On the last night of Jesus' earthly life, He took refuge in a secret garden, to pray. The contents of that prayer are some of the most sacred, enlightening words ever spoken. Thankfully, John was able to hear and transcribe this prayer, for us to hear and learn from.
As Jesus is facing indescribable pressure from the moment, as His suffering under the sin of the world was imminent, He cast Himself under His Father's care. He speaks to the Father about their plan from the beginning, for Jesus to submit to Him, for the salvation of the world.
Jesus prays that He might glorify God, as in make famous and known. He prays that the Father take him to whatever place, that might show the Father's place over all. Jesus was all in on this predetermined plan to redeem creation.
Because of His submission and sacrifice, we can have Eternal Life. Jesus defines Eternal Life as knowing God and having a relationship with Him. Hear we learn that Eternal Life is much more than endless life, but Full Life. Salvation isn't just a future bliss, but a present promise for a better, fulfilled life.
Eternal Life is more than just a clock that doesn’t expire, it’s a heart inspired and on fire.
One of Jesus' greatest and most encouraging promises is found in John 16:20, and the passage surrounding it. He bluntly talks to His disciples about the darkness that was upon them, and the challenges they would often face in this world, but doesn't leave them without hope. Though we face long and grueling nights, we press on, trusting that we will overcome with Christ, knowing that joy comes with the morning.
2020 has peeled back a reality and truth that was covered up by our modern and evolved world. After years of progress, it seemed as if we as a society were bullet-proof, or at least, able to brush off anything. It seemed as if we had a grasp on every aspect of life, able to foresee and defeat any foe with our own ingenuity and expertise. We had become so certain of our own strength and stability, until in an instance, things changed.
2020 has reminded us that the only thing that was truly certain, is uncertainty. We are now confronted and face-to-face with many unknowns, with no definite date on when 'certainty' will return.
Christians, this is our time to shine. This season is Holy Ground, for God is calling us to be lights and leaders in our world. We may not know when things will change, but we know who we can be and what we can do until things change and beyond. Even if things don't change, our mission remains the same.
We don't rely on certainty of this world to rise up to our callings. We rely on the certainty that God is with us, and will always be with us. So we take heart, and pray for strength and courage that we might seize this very important moment in history.
The world is looking for someone to follow, and plenty of false hopes attempt to fill the void. God is calling out over our generation, for new Joshuas to step up and take hold of this moment.
Discover a brand new approach for reading and receiving God's Word. Jeremiah and his contemporaries didn't just hear God's words, but they saw it and felt it. When Jeremiah heard God's voice, he would describe an experience and a vision. When we open the Bible, we can have this same sort of encounter with God.
We aren't just reading or hearing words off of a page, but the Holy Spirit is moving from page to person. He adds another dimension, a depth and layer to the text that proves the inspiration from Heaven that we have in our hands. God uses His Church and messengers to proclaim His Word and take us deeper into it.
The Bible tells us that perhaps our most human flaw is our assumption that our plans are automatically in tune with God's will. If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that we truly have little to no control over what tomorrow holds. But could it be a good, even saving, thing to learn this before it's too late?
For far too we long, we've stood up and told God what our plans are. God's Spirit has been reaching out to us for months now, to surrender and covet His will and purposes. If we are willing to be stretched and be led, we can arrive at a relationship with God like never before.
If we seek Him and His glory, we may be ruined of this world and it's desires, but we will find an out-of-this world, unrivaled and unmatched connection. If we learn to tremble before Him, in total vulnerability and dependence, we will learn that knowing Him is far greater than having certainty or control over anything else.
As much as we want answers and a return to "normal", may we take this opportunity to behold God like never before. Even if no progress and prosperity are in sight, there's always a powerful and perfect God to worship and know.
God is inviting us into His presence to experience this Holy Tremble, where we worship amidst the unknown, praying to know and experience Him alone.
In John 16, Jesus details the role and work of the Holy Spirit in this current age and in our individual lives. We often hear about and pray to be "Spirit-filled", but do we know what this really means?
In this message, we learn that the Holy Spirit wants to do a work within us and through us. He works in tandem with God's Word, to inspire and impress God's Will into our hearts.
As He leads us, sin will be exposed, righteousness will be enabled, and we will be emboldened against God's enemies. As we become more like Christ, the Spirit will further knit us to God's work in our world, and gift us with His power to be a true witness.
This world has made so many of us so unsettled and so anxious, because we’re always trying to find something that won’t fix anything - and actually it just makes things worse.
Our faith is often displaced and our joy and peace forfeited for something less. May we monitor and guard our hearts from being fastened to the wrong things, and lose the one thing we value and want the most.
May we not settle for unsettled, but trust in Jesus. May we not trade God’s favor for this world’s fervor and frenzy. May we not allow this world to choke out your peace and joy - Let Him adorn you with His His grace and glory.
In our look at Jeremiah 1, we build off of our introduction and get to know the man behind the message. In God’s call and commission over Jeremiah, we learn about the universal capacity for passion and purpose in all of our hearts. However, we also see how God has uniquely gifted each of us with an opportunity that only we ourselves can realize.
We all long for our true purpose. This world tries to convince us that it is found by obtaining or arriving at a certain status or place, but God tells us that purpose stems from within our hearts. God wants to use each of us for His glory and He has given each and every one of us unique interests and passions and capabilities.
When we begin to pray that we might leverage those passions for His glory, we will find ways that we can our worlds better and bless those around us. When we acknowledge that God is the one who has formed us as we are, we will begin to see the appointments He makes for us, wherever we are.
God doesn't always lead us away from rocky roads, but leads us down them. As we face trials, we are reminded that Christ bore our pain and sorrow on His cross. His death reminds us that there is purpose in suffering, and that there is a special encounter with God that we will never experience otherwise.
We may be inclined to ask God to help us evade or escape these paths, but to become the Jesus Follower we are meant to be, we must pray for endurance. Only with an enduring faith, will we make it down life's most difficult roads and receive God's greatest blessings.
Jesus gathered His disciples together in an Upper Room and a Secret Garden the night before He died, to cast His vision for the Church. He informed them of their crucial role in its beginning and expansion, by previewing the Greater Things they'd accomplish and the joy they would find in serving. He told them the key to all of it would be by loving one another the way God was revealing His love through Him.
Before this conversation ended, and the night would take abrupt turn. Jesus took a hard left in His teaching, by informing them how they would be hated and suffer for their association with Him. As hard as it would be to endure through this, Jesus' charge to never settle for less than God's way rings loud to this day.
We may be opposed, belittled, and our message may be rejected, but we are to love with the same passion no matter what. Why? Because when Jesus was rejected and crucified, His love only grew for us and was magnified.
When we've understood what God has done for us, we won't question this radical way, but will be driven more than ever to love like God loves. We can never settle for anything less.
Jeremiah tells a story of a relentless love for a rebellious people. Jeremiah, like his God, pursues his people with his whole heart, only to be rejected.
God uses this experience to teach Jeremiah that at the heart of every person is this sinful nature. Jeremiah observes all that is broken and ill about the human heart, while watching the nation of Israel fall apart. All the while, God keeps His covenant with His people, and reveals that a new, better, and greater plan is on the horizon.
In this introduction to this exciting study, we preview the book of Jeremiah and unpack the nature of God's covenant with Israel.
Fruit and fish don't sound like an appetizing or ideal combination, but in this message we find learn that for Christians, they actually go hand-in-hand.
Jesus teaches us that the quintessential Christian fruit is love. Christian love is a special kind of love, namely a selfless, out-pouring, others-first, one-anothering kind of love.
This sort of love from God is how we are saved. This same love through us, is how others can be saved as well.
Following Jesus leads us in the best possible life, but there are plenty of challenges along the way. Jesus actually leads us down difficult paths to prove that He can redeem all things.
Often, we become distracted on some paths rather than remaining devoted. Our faith is snatched away as our attention turns away. In this message, we find out how to remain devoted to God during the most distracting seasons of life.
From Genesis to Revelation, if there is one single theme and intended message from God, it is this: God wants us to know He is our Father, and we are His child. When we understand the Bible - all 66 books, all 35 or so authors, both Old and New Testament - we come to this conclusion: God is our Father and we are His Children. We know this with confidence, because the Bible is more than just a definition of God. It's a demonstration of His passionate love for us.
Yes, sin has separated and disconnected us from God... But God had drawn near to redeem and reclaim us. Sin and shame tells us to look away from God. God’s love and grace bids us to turn towards Him and trust in, rely on and depend on Him Like a child does to their father, knowing that he will always come through. He will go before us. He will fight for us. He will always save the day. He will always save us.
Racism is a choice weapon of the enemy because of how great an offense and affront it is to God. We all are made in His image, and our different colors reflects the many shades of His Radiant Glory.
Hatred of any kind is an offense to God, but hatred towards any aspect of His glorious image is perhaps the most vile offense. That's what makes racism so repugnant and intolerable to God. It seeks to spread hatred to the most possible people, based on a lowest common denominator, using God's glorious reflection as a weapon.
Herein is why Christians must speak up: Because only Christianity can bring an end to racism. Only the Gospel can bring true reconciliation. It is ultimately God’s image that has been disgraced in racism, and Jesus alone restores humanity to our Creator’s image.
Jesus said we could accomplish greater works than His own. Of course, nothing could be greater than His redeeming death and resurrection, but Jesus envisioned a Church that would go deep and wide, and spread His message at a greater volume and scale than ever before.
His commandments are to love, to reach and build up the Father's House. In this time of division, this may seem more challenging than ever. The calling over us is to counter division with an eagerness for peace and unity. As Christ humbled Himself and saved us through kindness, so must we take on this same mind and heart on our mission.
God has made a home for us all in Heaven, but for now we're on an earthly mission. For now, He wants to make His home in our hearts, and use us to spread His Spirit to more hearts. Will we commit to this mission? Will we obey His command to go and be peacemakers and seekers unity?
Both the cry of our soul and the call from God leads to the same place: a posture of worship. In Genesis 35, God calls Jacob back to the very altar where they first met some 20 years before. Jacob had spent years trying to swindle and claw his way to success, mostly leaving his God out of the conversation. It never fully dawned on him though, that it was God who was behind all of his good fortune.
Jacob often said the right things, but his actions revealed a heart that was really only concerned about himself. He often would jettison his responsibilities as a husband and father if it meant preserving himself. His story is full of reminders of our sinful nature and of God's amazing grace. Jacob didn't deserve the favor he was blessed with, but God gave it to him anyways.
It took years for Jacob to realize this, but thankfully because this story is recorded for us in the Bible, we can make a decision today to consider God's faithfulness and stay faithful to Him.
In this message, hear a condensed story of Jacob's life and how he finally came "back to Bethel" in the end. As began to return to our regular routines, may we be sensitive to the cry of both our hearts and the call from our God.
Romans 8 is a victory lap for our hope and salvation in Christ. In it, Paul articulates why we choose God’s way even when it may not be easy or make sense. We believe God is making a way when it may seem impossible, because Christ is our way.
By following Jesus and letting His Spirit move thru us, we are declaring to our world that God is at work. We confess that we are a vehicle and vessel through which He is working thru right now and we that we always defer to His sovereignty to work in ways we remain unable
Yet we ask Him to call us and conform us to Christ to point to what He is up to. We deny our flesh and depend on His Sprit because there is no life apart from Him. There is no VICTORY apart form Him
We signal that Jesus is the only way now and we proclaim that He’s the only way forever and ever to come.
We all know what liberty allows, but we must always ask “what does love require?"
If we don’t “know” what liberty allows, we are always looking for what we have the “right” to do... but what a difference Christians could make if we were more/most concerned about what love required, even if it meant laying our liberty down.
This is the basis for Christianity. In the Gospels, we see Jesus weigh His options: His liberty as GOD vs His love for us. This is what drove the early church and what changed the world, and what can always change the world. Peter, Stephen, and Paul all would follow suit and model this way.
In this divisive and hostile time, it would do us all well to consider this. We know What Liberty allows, but we must always ask what does love require?
In this message we learn not to give up just because the season of life seems overwhelming. Even if the stage of life that we face seems impossible and difficult to accept, it could be that God has set things up perfectly to make His glory known. What seems like a bad situation may just lead to the best destination.
In Acts 3, we see God’s power on display, and we receive an invitation to run into His arms today.
The Church at Philippi was concerned that the trials and trouble that the Apostle Paul was facing would be too great for him. They were worried that his faith would fail. Who could blame them for worrying? Who could blame Paul if he did lose heart?
Paul wrote back however with a word that continues to bring hope and encouragement to every generation that faces trials and hardships. Whether these battles be internal or external, Philippians 1 invites us to lift up our eyes to the God who is greater than whatever we are facing.
Paul teaches us that every believer has access to the full measure of God’s grace and peace, so that we could find endurance and assurance from God. We’re reminded that we are members of God’s Church, partners with Him on a mission to show His glory to the whole world.
We’re told that what God has started, He will finish. We’re promised that what we face is actually an opportunity to advance God’s mission and grow in Christ. If only we would cling to these truths today. If only we rose up every day knowing that, “Today matters, so I’m going to rejoice and be glad in it.” The challenge before me may be great, but the call above me is greater. If we trust in Him, we can receive the mentality and ability we need for times like these.
Yes, we can rejoice, because we are right where we need to be. And God is right here with us.
God has a lot to say to us about our possessions. Contrary to what’s often assumed, it’s not because He wants what we have, nor simply about others that are in need. His Word is full of commands to give, be generous, and remain open-handed. Our initial response to God in this area is usually defensive or skeptical, but we miss out on so much if we close our heart to God on this.
God has so much to say about finances, money, and our possessions because we are so prone to lose the plot in this area. What God meant as a means to an end, so often becomes the end for many. In short, this is why the Bible commands us to give, give, give… why God says our lives to be about giving over and above being about taking, making, saving, spending, and buying. God gives us stuff so that we can make an impact for His Kingdom, not so that we can become controlled and driven by the stuff.
Jesus taught that a Christian’s joy is on the line when we wrestle with obedience to God. If we’re not living in obedience pertaining to our finances and how we view possessions, then we are missing out on so much joy. In fact, the highest form of joy is found when we give to a cause that may not produce immediate dividends (God’s Kingdom, those who cannot repay us), because that’s when we get to experience and share in the generosity of God. God gives us so much, knowing there’s nothing we could do to ever repay Him. He doesn’t expect a payback. He delights in loving us.
Exodus 35-36 is one of many examples of Scripture that offers amazing grace and truth to every one of us. Generosity is the pathway to joy like we’ve never experienced it before. We can’t afford to ignore God when it comes to His advise in this area of our lives. There is too much on the line.
Nicodemus sought out Jesus, wondering "How good is good enough?" Jesus left Nicodemus' head-spinning, but assured him that it would make sense eventually. He implored Nicodemus to keep His eyes on Him...
A little while later, as Nicodemus watched Jesus lifted up on a cross, those famous words would come rushing back... as if Jesus was saying:
"As I die for you, know that the good that you can’t do, I’ve done for you. The bad that you’ve done, I’m undoing for you. So, Trust in me, depend on me, have faith in me, And nothing... NOTHING will ever separate you from God from now on, because you will be born again, and you will see clearly."
The forgotten story of the time God gave room to those who had made no room for Him. The more you read, and the closer you listen, you'll find that this story is your story, and can be everyone's story. By His grace, there's a place for us all in His family.
In honor of my mom, my cousin, and my Savior, who all have birthdays to celebrate this week. They have taught me to be thankful in all things, and to be content with God's perfect will.