Rolling Hills Community Church // Columbia Campus: Recent Episodes
Rolling Hills Community Church
This podcast is dedicated to the Sunday morning teaching series happening each week at Rolling Hills Community Church in Columbia, TN.
Our God is able to do miracles. God works through the power of His Holy Spirit to transform lives for His glory. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christ-follower. God is constantly working in us and through us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are conformed to the image of Jesus, and we are used to impact others. As Christians, we must learn to live by the Spirit. God is always speaking and working – the question is: are we listening and obeying? God is able.
Our God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Yet, so often, we settle for so little. We think only about what this world can offer, and we forget about the power, grace, and love of our great God. Jesus still does miracles today. As we stay faithful to Him, we are able to see and experience the beauty and power of God. Invite Jesus into your heart and daily life, and watch Him transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
We all face challenges in life. Everyone is fighting a battle. When challenges come, we can choose to fight on our own, or we can pray and invite God into the battle. There is power in prayer. God answers every prayer we pray. Many times we are scared to pray because we don’t know how God will answer. But, as we grow in our relationships with God, we learn to love Him enough to trust Him with the answer. Will you put your trust in God today? Pray bold prayers and then watch God do what only He can do. Our God is able.
We have arrived at the conclusion of our Masterclass series on the book of Romans. What an incredible series it has been, as we have been diving deep into this powerful book of the Bible and seeing God’s righteousness and reconciliation for us today. Our God is a God of love, and His redemption extends to each of us through the gift of His Son, Jesus. Through Jesus, God draws us to Himself and reveals how we, as Christ-followers, should live. Romans establishes us in sound doctrine and in the amazing goodness of our great God. I pray Romans will bring revival in our hearts, our families, and our world today.
It can be easy for us to get things out of order, mix up our priorities, and put secondary things, like personal preferences in the primary spot where they don’t belong. It happens at home, at work, and just about anywhere you can imagine. The problem is, when our passion for our preferences becomes primary, we get distracted from what is truly important, and this is where the cracks of division begin to form. Paul’s instruction to the Roman believers is just as important for us today. Don’t dispute the dispute, let your passion be for the Gospel, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus for that is of primary importance.
Our submission to God is evident in our capacity to love others and pursue holiness. By reflecting God's love and character, we bridge the gap between ourselves and the world, demonstrating God's true nature and revealing His love, grace, and authority to those around us.
In Romans 12, the apostle Paul, the author of Romans, turns the corner from the beautiful theology and deep doctrine of Romans 1-11. Romans 12 is the hinge of the letter. This begins the fourth section of the book of Romans, which is God’s will. God’s will is for Christ-followers to live out their faith in their everyday life. A Christian’s walk should equal their talk. We are called to put into practice the teaching God pours into us. May we live out our faith and impact the world for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God sent His Son, Jesus, to bring salvation to the world. In the Old Testament, God called out a people for Himself through which He would reveal His character and ultimately send His Son, the Messiah. Salvation is not based on what we do or where we are born. Salvation is found in Jesus alone. Paul always had a heart to share Jesus with others – first for his own people, the Jews, and then for all others, the Gentiles. The call comes to each of us today to accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior and then to share Him with others. May God find us faithful in sharing His heart of salvation with others today.
Romans 8 is one of the greatest chapters in the entire Bible. The chapter begins with the freedom we have through Jesus Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin and death, but as Christ-followers, we are truly alive in Jesus. Then, we see God’s sovereignty in how He is always working in our lives. As Christians, we should be living and looking more like Jesus. This should bring boldness into our lives. We don’t have to live a defeated life, but we can live victorious through the grace and goodness of God. We are never separated from His love!
Let’s not skip over Thanksgiving on our way to Christmas. May we stop and remember all God has done for us this year. Let’s truly be thankful. First and foremost, let’s be thankful for Jesus and the grace and salvation we receive in Christ. Then, we can be thankful for so much more – family, friends, church, health, etc. What are you thankful for today? What is your story of Thanksgiving? Give the Lord the praise and thanks He deserves this Thanksgiving. Our God is so good to us. Thank You, Father!
Living an Intentional Life means joining God in His agenda. We first identify His call on our life. Then, we invest in what matters - what is eternal. After this, we begin to intercede - pray for others and ask God to do miracles in our lives as well as in the lives of others. Next, we inform those around us about God’s Good News and finally, we invite others to Jesus and to be a part of His Church. Let’s not become distracted in our noisy world today, but let’s be bold and live intentional lives for the glory of our great God!
We have this call to share our faith, but many times we simply don’t know how. We know God wants us to, but how are we supposed to present the Good News to our children, our friends, our neighbors, and others? What do we say? First, we share God’s story by using the Bible and specific verses. Next, we share our story. We tell others what God has done in our lives. Sharing our faith does not have to be intimidating, but it can be so exciting and freeing, as God allows us to step into that holy moment and inform others of His great love. Aren’t you glad someone shared Jesus with you? Now, let’s intentionally share God’s love with others.
Jesus’ call is for His people is to live intentionally. And how do we do that? We invest in what God values, and God values people. The Apostle Paul made it clear in his letter to the Thessalonians that he came not just to share the Gospel, but to share his life with them as well. As followers of Christ, we have a high calling to invest our lives in others for eternity's sake…to invest through empathy and compassion, sharing our faith, living an example of Christ, and through speaking words of encouragement. Ultimately, our investment in others should be rooted in God's call to love our neighbors.
There is a difference between the temporary and the eternal. So often we spend our time, energy and money investing in things of this world that will not last. But, God calls us to invest in things that are eternal. When we do this, we begin to live an intentional life. As Christ-followers, we have this amazing opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with others. When we do we can make an eternal difference. This is what Jesus calls us to do, so let’s be intentional.
Gentleness is not something that many aspire to in our day and culture. Gentleness is seen as weakness and therefore marginalized in our “win at all costs” society. However, the gentleness found in Christ is strong, deep and rich. Gentleness is “strength under control.” It is learning to harness our God-given abilities under the Lordship of Christ. When we do this, lives are impacted. People are drawn to gentle people. Gentleness brings incredible power and influence. Jesus was a gentle giant, so may we all grow in gentleness.
In a constantly changing world, our God calls us to be faithful. The call is to be a people who are faithful to our God, faithful to our family, and faithful to our calling. We tend to become so easily distracted, but we must always keep “the main thing the main thing.” As we grow deeper in Christ, what emerges is a life of steadfast faithfulness. This calling to be faithful comes from a God who is faithful. God’s love for us never changes. He is faithful, and He invites us into this kind of relationship with Him. Will you be faithful?
We live in the middle of an epic battle of “Good vs. Evil.” Even secular culture acknowledges this struggle. While the world does not call us to be “evil,” the world definitely tries to sell us a cheap imitation of “goodness” and invites us to conform to a nominal Christianity that is really no Christianity at all. However, God calls us to be filled with the Spirit and to live in goodness. God calls us to be good and to do good in His Name and His Glory. This can only come when we are planted deep in Christ and growing in our relationship with Him. The great news is – good wins! In the end, God triumphs over evil, and those who are in Christ will experience His goodness forever!
The world can sometimes seem toxic, combative, and even unkind. The question as followers of Christ we have to ask is, “What is our contribution to that cultural conversation?” As apprentices of Jesus, we are called to be people marked by compassion, kindness, and forgiveness. When we are kind, we show people God’s kindness. When we are compassionate, we show people God’s compassion. When we are forgiving, we are showing people God’s forgiveness. Kindness is more than random acts; it's the way of Christ.
Patience is a challenge for us because of the world we live in today. Our society is based on speed. We want it all, and we want it now! Yet, God has a bigger plan for our lives, and His best requires patience. Patience is trusting in God’s timing and not our own. Patience is seeing the bigger picture of God’s holy work in our lives and in the world. God’s desire for us, as followers of Christ Jesus, is to be conformed to the image of His Son – and this takes time. May we demonstrate fresh fruit in our lives as we respond to those closest to us as well as to the world. May we live with our eyes fixed on Jesus and with patience in our hearts knowing that God has a good and perfect plan for us.
Peace...we all want peace. But oftentimes our definition of peace is cloudy and instead of peace, we get a temporary escape (spa, beach, Bose headphones, etc.). Temporary escapes are sometimes good if they do not replace the real need that we have for eternal peace that lasts throughout all circumstances. That everlasting peace can only come through and by a relationship with Jesus. Now, to continue to live in the peace of God we have to do things that allow the Spirit of God to flourish (Bible reading, prayer, worship, counseling, etc...) God has given us tools for us to experience peace even when living in chaos. What are steps you can take today to continue to live in the peace of God? And what are ways that you can present the peace of God to those around you?
We all want joy in our lives; however, many times we settle for what the world offers and pursue happiness. There is a big difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is based on circumstances, while joy is based on Christ. God longs for all of us to live life with joy. There is spiritual depth and maturity when our hearts are built on Christ who never changes. As you focus on Jesus, you experience this Fruit of Joy. Jesus said, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). Let’s choose to embrace Jesus and experience the joy of the Lord in our hearts, homes, work, church, and lives every day.
In our new series, we are diving into how to live as followers of Jesus. Through Jesus, we have the Spirit of God in us. The Fruit of the Spirit reveals our faith. The world tries to sell us a cheap imitation of the life God has for us. The world offers lust, happiness, power, and position. Yet, God calls us to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God wants us to have a great life, so I pray we grow deep in Christ and live out His will. This is where life makes sense and where we truly come alive! Is your fruit fresh? Are you demonstrating the Fruit of the Spirit? Let’s start with love.
The Gospel of Mark climaxes with Jesus conquering death. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the defining moment of the Gospel of Mark and of all history. Jesus being alive means through Christ each of us can have eternal life. Death is no longer the end. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection made a way for you to be forgiven, to be redeemed, and to spend eternity with God. Praise God for our risen Savior! Will you receive God’s grace today? Then, will you boldly share His Good News with others? He has risen!
We hope that each we have communicated that nothing is more needed or urgent than seeing Jesus clearly and understanding who He is. How you answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” changes everything. We find that Jesus is the most surprising and compelling person in history.
But here’s the other question Mark wants to help answer in Mark 14: How do you respond to who Jesus is? Mary understood full devotion and realized devotion to Jesus would cost her financially, socially, and some criticism. Judas directly opposed due to personal interest. And although Peter failed Jesus, he humbly received His grace.
Of course, God's desire is for His people to be fully devoted. But He also wants us to know we don't have to be stuck in our failure, we can receive His grace and move forward in gratitude.
Let's move forward in grace and step into people who fully devote their hearts and lives to the person of Jesus.
Passages that address the end times are often hard to understand and difficult to apply to our daily lives. Jesus in Mark 13 tells His disciples these tough things not so they will start trying to predict when they would come, but so they would be ready when they did. Jesus is calling them to vigilant discipleship through the hard times and to be faithful ‘til the end. He encourages them to be faithful by being watchful. Watchfulness is the spiritual discipline of guarding our hearts and minds in the word, in prayer, and in community faithfully until He returns.
Any number of things can hold us back from experiencing the life Jesus yearns for us to have. From an attitude of superiority to focusing on myself more than focusing on God and others! Not to mention how tightly I hold onto my gifts and talents as opposed to bringing them to God for His plans and purposes. Throughout the Gospel of Mark, the authority of Jesus is central to a true understanding of who He is and what He has done for us. When we understand His sacrifice, our response is to naturally and thankfully, praise, worship, serve, and give all for His name and His glory!
Many of us have become very skilled at putting on a show. We know the right things to do and say in order to convince other people we have it all together. We try really hard to follow our own agenda, to never need any help, and to call the shots for our own life. The harsh reality, however, is that God never intended it to be this way. He wants us to come to Him because we find salvation in Him alone. His Kingdom is all about trusting God and serving others, as opposed to trusting myself and making sure all of my needs are met.
Jesus teaches what it means to be His disciple. The call for us is not to live like the world – simply for wealth, power, and success. The call is to know Jesus and to serve. When we commit to follow Jesus, then our lives should change. Healing comes in Jesus. Hope comes in Jesus. Life comes in Jesus. Live in Jesus this week and bring Him into your marriage, money, and ministry. Experience the spiritual sight and follow Him, as His disciple, with your life.
So often we live for the temporary. We spend so much of our time focused on the things of this world that will not last. We become consumed with money, shopping, sports, and more. And, while these things are not bad in and of themselves, they can take our eyes off of the bigger picture. Jesus wants us to focus on Him. He gives us glimpses of the eternal that really matters. There are only three things that are eternal: God, His Word, and people. Where are you investing your life? As a disciple of Jesus, invest your life in what will last forever. Focus on Jesus.
The call to follow Jesus is an invitation to faith. Many choose to stay in the crowd. It is comfortable in the crowd. It is easy in the crowd. But, Jesus longs for us to be disciples. To be a disciple means to engage with Jesus. It is a call to trust and to follow. There will be challenges along the way, but the journey is beautiful, deep, and rich. The call to faith means turning your life over to God’s agenda and experiencing joy and peace in Him. Following Jesus is where you see the miracles and truly live the life you were created to live.
We are continuing to learn from Jesus in Masterclass. In Mark 7, Jesus encounters religious opposition, a desperate mother, and a hearing and speech-impaired man. Through these encounters, we are encouraged to come to Jesus for healing. Jesus heals our hearts, our families, and the world, as we respond to the Good News and make Him known.
Jesus calls us to a life of faith. So often we think this life is only about what we can see, but the spiritual realm is unseen. Yet, this is where the miracles happen. When we “live by faith and not by sight,” we are able to “see” with our spiritual eyes the great things God is doing. Never lose the awe and wonder of what God is doing in your life, in His Church, and in our world. Only Jesus can change a heart, heal, redeem, and restore. Our God is at work. Place your life in His hands and trust Him to do great things through you for His glory. Live by faith.
Are you needing some area of your life that needs an overhaulin’? Do you have an area of your life that needs fixing up? Maybe in your marriage, perhaps you are in need of healing of some sort, or maybe you may need something to happen in your relationship with God. Mark Chapter 5 reminds us that Jesus is in the business of restoring hearts, souls, and minds. Ultimately, Jesus not only restores our lives, but he wants to resurrect them. He wants the dead to come to life. He wants to remove the condemnation of sin through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. Will you allow Jesus to transform your life?
As disciples of Jesus, we are called to sow seeds. Many of us struggle to share our faith with non-believers because it can be really hard or just plain awkward. It is our duty as Christians to share God's Good News with others. Without us sharing Christ with them, they won't even have the opportunity to grow or choose to follow Jesus.
So, rather than us seeing sharing our faith as something that's simply challenging or even, at times, frustrating or disappointing, let's choose to see it as a means of bringing the Gospel to those who need to hear it. Our job is to scatter the seeds and let the Holy Spirit do the work.
Has it ever bothered you that the people who should’ve known Jesus the best seemed to know him the least? That’s definitely the case for his family in Mark chapter 3. People in Jesus‘s hometown exclaimed that he must’ve been crazy or possessed. Those who share your deep seeded beliefs in Christ are really your truest and best family. We all need that kind of family to maintain our walk with Christ. Consider the challenge, though, when those of us who are supposed to know and follow Jesus best, question him and represent him the least. Incredible takeaways this week as we seek to be a people, as part of the family of God, who trust Jesus and live lives that express our faith in him.
Your faith has such significant implications for others! The man we read about in Mark 2 who was paralyzed had brothers around him who believed Jesus would do what He said He would do. They did not allow the obstacles, the fear, the uncertainty, or the challenges to get in the way of the faith they had in Jesus. How about you? Do you have a community like this who will lift you up when you are down and who will carry you to the feet of Jesus? Do you seek to show your faith to others in this same way? May we all grow deeper in our faith, deeper in our community, and deeper in our understanding of all that Jesus yearns to do in our lives.
The Gospel of Mark gives us a window into who Jesus was, what He did, and what it means for us. As He called His first disciples, He calls us to follow Him. He wants us to follow Him not just by verbally saying He is Lord, but living as if we believe He is Lord. This means as we read Mark, we actively spend time with Jesus and in turn let the Holy Spirit transform us into His likeness. This transformation forms us into a new person who now can begin to live as Jesus lived.
God is inviting you into His Easter Story. He is drawing you to Himself and asking you to make Easter personal. God is not simply interested in religion, but He wants a personal relationship with you. Not your parents’ faith or your church’s faith, but your faith – a committed relationship with the God of all creation through His Son, Jesus. Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the relationship you can now have with God for eternity as a part of His forever family. Easter allows you to come alive in Jesus’ unconditional, transformational, and eternal love. Receive God’s gift of salvation today and live in His love forever. God loves you!
Jesus’ sacrifice changes everything. Jesus willingly took our place. He laid down His life so that we could be redeemed in our relationship with God. His gift is for all people - regardless of nationality, gender, or socio-economic status - Jesus gave His life for you. Jesus’ sacrifice shows us the depth of God’s love and how we are called to live in relationship with God and with others. Let’s live our lives for the glory of our great God because His Son gave His life for us.
Jesus’ death matters. It was prophesied and purposeful. The wages of sin is death. In the Old Testament, there was the sacrificial system. In this system, there were animals that were killed for the atonement of the sins of the people. Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice. He lived 33 sinless years, then died on a cross to pay the price for our sins. It was our sin that put Jesus on that cross. But, Jesus conquered death and made a way for us to be forgiven and to have eternal life. Praise God for His grace and mercy. Jesus died for you, so now let’s live for Him!
Jesus stood trial before the Jews and the Romans for claiming to be the Messiah – the Son of God. Pilate, the Roman Governor, knew Jesus to be good, but he was scared to make this declaration. Pilate tried to remain neutral, even washing his hands of the entire situation. However, no decision is a decision. Pilate, “wanting to satisfy the crowd,” handed Jesus over to be crucified. What do you believe about Jesus? Is He truly the Messiah – the Son of God, or is Jesus a liar or lunatic? Every one of us must give an answer about Jesus. How will you respond to Jesus’ claim this Easter? Is He your Savior? If so, follow Him for all your life.
Pride is a sin that is often difficult to detect in our lives. Pride always keeps the focus on “self” and rejects our need for God. The closer we move towards intimacy with God the more we will understand what it means to “deny ourselves” and live in the fullness of the freedom we have in Christ. Through Christ, we understand what true humility is, and it is in that humility we become better leaders, family members, co-workers, and neighbors.
Envy literally robs your life of joy! Jealousy puts me in a position where I am intentionally choosing not to be grateful for what I have, or where I am, but rather it’s a yearning for what I do not have. Jealousy, like all sin, creates a false narrative that I can find contentment and joy in the things of this world. May you seek to find peace and life in the true source, the only source, Jesus Chris!
Anger is a sin we all deal with. Sometimes anger and wrath manifest in outbursts and other times they simmer below the surface. If we don’t deal with anger, then it will destroy others, and even ourselves. Anger comes when we don’t get our way; therefore, we harbor bitterness, frustration, and resentment. Yet, as Christ-followers, we are called to love – to love God and to love others. This means when the anger comes, we have a responsibility to forgive and to offer grace. Will you deal with any deep-seeded anger and give it over to God today? Don’t let Satan get a foothold in your heart with anger. Delight yourself in God’s grace and trust in Him.
Greed is to money as slothfulness is to time. We all have a certain amount of time, so the question becomes: are we investing our time in things that matter? There is a temptation in our culture to desire only things that make us comfortable, but if we are to grow spiritually then we must get out of our comfort zone. We must push past laziness to grow deeper and stronger in our spiritual journey. Spending time in prayer and reading God’s Word takes effort as does sharing our faith and serving others. God calls us to “work out” our salvation - not to “work for” our salvation (because it is by grace we are saved), but to “work out.” Let’s give our best to God!
Greed is a struggle for all of us. We live in a materialistic and capitalistic society. Everything around us is about money and more – more money, more stuff, more things. Greed is when we desire money or power more than God. Greed is a sin. The antidote to greed is generosity. God longs for us to know Him and to trust Him as our Provider. God took care of our salvation by giving His Son, so there is nothing God will withhold from us. Let God be enough for you. Find your contentment, joy, and peace in God through His Son, Jesus. God will provide for you.
We live in a culture marked with excess. We have what seems to be an infinite amount of food choices, 24/7 access to email, unlimited capacity to spend, travel, buy, and invest. As good as all of these things are, we have to be careful to keep them in their proper place. Without discipline and self-control we become conquered and captivated with food, entertainment, and all of the other things we have in abundance. Where is your heart today? Are you chasing after food in a gluttonous manner, just because you can? Are you scrolling 24/7 because you actually enjoy it and it brings meaning to your life, or just because it is there? God desires to do more in our lives than we most likely even realize! Join Him today in allowing Him to refine your life!
When it’s all said and done, lust seeks to satisfy self without covenant commitment. That’s why love is the remedy. Lust is common to all but possibly overcome by few. The enemy is content to rip a person apart as he or she seeks to satisfy their desire and also to bury someone alive under the weight of guilt. Only in Christ can we overcome temptation and move beyond the shame of past sin. A daily commitment to Christ and sacrificial love for others is the covenant tools we need to avoid the trap and win the war.
Mental health is at an all-time low in our nation today. So many people suffer from hopelessness, fear, worry, uncertainty, and more. Yet, in the middle of all of this, there is a God who longs for us to be healthy mentally. This comes when we place our full faith in Jesus Christ, and He renews our minds for His glory. We move away from allowing the thoughts of this world to have dominion over our minds, and we take captive every thought. Even in this world, through Christ Jesus, we can truly experience His peace and share this with others. Let’s advance mentally today.
Money is a big part of our life. Money can bring joy, but it can also cause worry and stress. How we manage the money we have been given is important to God. Everything we have comes from Him, and He longs for us to be good stewards of what He has entrusted to us. We all can succeed in this area! You can win at money if you do it God’s way. How do you plan to advance financially in 2022? Do a budget? Get a will? Sign-up for Financial Peace University? Live by Biblical principles? Above all, trust God with your finances! Let’s learn to be rich.
You were created for relationships. First, your relationship with God impacts everything else in your life. A relationship with God only comes through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, His own Son, on the cross. Committing your life to Jesus then calls you to live differently in your relationship with others. As Christ-followers, we are called to a life of love, grace, and forgiveness. Will you advance in your relationship with God and with others in 2022? Make a commitment today to grow in your relationship with God and with those around you.
We are beginning a new year and a new opportunity for spiritual health and discipleship. Many make New Year's Resolutions but few keep them which leads to disappointment and frustration. With the help of God and each other, there are resolutions we can accomplish. Day by day we can be resolved to grow into the likeness of Jesus. Today we look at the word of God concerning our physical health. We will see that salvation involves not just the souls but our bodies as well. With the help of God, we can use our bodies (which God lives in and owns) to display His glory.
Together, let's live as Christmas people, not just during the holidays. Let's live like Christ when we walk into our workplaces, when we interact with our families, when we enter our kids' schools and are a part of their activities, and when we get to know our neighbors. Everywhere we go, let's make a difference and live with an eternal perspective, knowing and trusting that we're in Christ – and He's made us new.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17
This Christmas Eve we will light candles to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the World. The Light has come into the world, and the darkness could not overcome it. May the Light of Jesus fill your heart and home this Christmas. May Jesus’ love and joy shine bright in you. “Emmanuel” means God with us. Jesus is here for you!
Merry CHRISTmas!
The Magi traveled over 1,600 miles to be with Jesus. Their joy, generosity, and sacrifice still inspire us today. The Magi realized that even though they were wealthy in a worldly sense, they knew there was still more to life. They longed to experience what God was doing in the world. In the process of meeting Jesus, they worshiped Him. We are the supporting cast today. Will we meet and worship Jesus this Christmas? Will we bring Him our best? O, come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.
Faithfulness is so incredibly important, and valuable when it comes to our relationship with Christ. Yet, faithfulness is often not looked upon so highly by our culture at large. From a societal perspective, we are always looking for the next thing. We always want the plans for tomorrow to be available yesterday. If something is not going the way we think it should go, it is easy to just quit and move on. However, something happens when we remain faithful! We begin to realize life is really not about us and that our job is to stay the course and allow God to work. We realize that no matter what happens, God can be trusted and that through our faithfulness He grows us in ways we could never have imagined!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas - the decorations, presents, carols and more. Sometimes the trappings of Christmas can become the focus for us. This year, let’s prioritize the CHRIST of CHRISTmas. When Jesus first came into the world, there was a man named Simeon who saw Him. Even though there were thousands of people at the Temple that day, Simeon saw Jesus, the Savior of the world, and worshipped Him. May this Christmas we behold the One who gave His life for us and may we worship Him. May this Christmas be about Jesus.
We all have a family tree. We all have people who have gone before us who have impacted our lives - some good and others not so much. We can’t control what has been passed down to us, but we can control what we pass on to others. God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect plan. If you are in Jesus, then you are a new creation. You are not defined by your past, but by the One who loves you. Focus on Jesus this CHRISTmas season. Find your worth and value in Him, and then pass Him down to the next generation. It’s all about Jesus!
Over the past several weeks, we have learned so much from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica. This church was a joyful, prayerful, and thankful church. And, this is God’s desire for each of us. God wants us to enjoy life always, to grow in our prayer life, and to develop an attitude of gratitude. This Thanksgiving we all have so much for which to be thankful. Take time this week to truly express your gratitude to God as well as to the family, friends, and church family God has put around you. Let’s be joyful, prayerful, and thankful every day.
The apostle Paul encourages the church in Thessalonica to do three things: to be sanctified (holy), to grow in their love, and to live in light of eternity to come. As Christ-followers, our goal is to be conformed to the image of Jesus. This means saying “No” to the ungodliness of this world and saying “Yes” to living for Christ. We do this by loving God and others more, and the things of this world less. We must remember, through Jesus, we have eternal life in heaven. The best of our life is still to come. Always live with the hope of Jesus. Even in the tough times remember Jesus loves you, and He has an eternal home for you. Celebrate His goodness every day!
We all need encouragement in our lives. Many times we can feel down or discouraged. But, God comes to stand with us and by us in the challenges of life. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and then to conquer death in order to make a way for us to have eternal life. God is with us and He is for us. Whatever you are facing today, keep going forward in Christ. God has a great plan for you and for His Church. We are a part of something very special. Live each day in the encouragement and grace of your great God.
Cultivating a life of gratitude in a world that is fast-paced, filled with instant gratification, more division than ever before, and uncertainty can be difficult – especially when there is suffering. The Apostle Paul reminds us that even in the midst of suffering we can celebrate the goodness of God. When we know Jesus personally, experience His radical grace, and view life through the lens of eternity, it changes our perspective and allows us to see purpose, even in the pain.
As we look back over our lives, we can see how God has been there every step of the way. As a Christ-follower, we are called to stay in the center of His will and to be a part of His Church. We live our lives for His agenda and not our own. When we follow Jesus, then we see God do miracles. In the journey of life, it is important to follow, to trust, and to celebrate. How often do we stop and give God the glory for the great things He has done in our life? God’s goodness is so evident to all of us. When we actually give Him the praise He deserves, it changes our attitude and draws us close to His heart. Our God is so good. Let’s celebrate and live in His goodness!
In our life, there are times we struggle with fear. The worries and stress of this life can overwhelm us at different times and in various seasons. Yet, as we fix our Eyes on Jesus, what results is peace. God longs for us to experience His peace which surpasses all human understanding. Even in the storms of life, we can know for certain that God is our Rock and our Anchor. Where are you trying to find peace in your life today? Don’t just medicate yourself with temporary solutions. The only true peace comes from Jesus. He alone can bring us peace with God, peace with others, and peace with ourselves. Will you focus your Eyes on Jesus today?
We live in a culture increasingly defined by stress, anxiety, and chaos. How can we flourish as followers of Christ in such a world? Scripture gives us clear ways on how to manage stress and not be managed by it. Jesus gave a perfect example of how to handle stress and live in such a way that is not defined by chaos, but by peace, courage, and confidence.
We all deal with worry. It is a part of our everyday life. Yet, at some point, worry can start to consume us. Worry and fear can begin to control our lives. Ultimately at the heart of all worry is a desire for us to be in control. We think we know what is best for us as well as for others. It is important for us to plan and prepare, but we must always focus our Eyes on Jesus. He is sovereign, and ultimately in all control. As we trust in our Heavenly Father, we grow in our faith. If we focus on our problems, then they get bigger. When we focus on Jesus, our faith grows stronger. Where are your eyes today? What are you focusing on? Put your Eyes on Jesus.
In a world riddled with fear and anxiety everywhere we look, now more than ever it's essential for us to keep our focus on things other than what this world has to offer. It's essential for us to keep our eyes on Jesus. In this video, you’ll hear from our campus pastors and family pastor to kickoff our new series, “Eyes on Jesus.”
Our very own Lead Pastor, Jeff Simmons, has written a book on this topic of fear and anxiety, addressing it from a biblical perspective. In it are challenging questions and topics for us as Christ-followers to dive into as we look to Jesus for peace and healing in today's world. “Eyes on Jesus, Psalm 23 - A Guide to Overcoming the Worry and Stress in Our Lives and Culture.”