First Baptist Church St. Paris: Recent Episodes
First Baptist Church St. Paris
Audio podcast from the First Baptist Church St. Paris located in St. Paris Ohio. Our main podcast speaker is Jeremy Spence our Pastor. Please visit us online at www.fbcstparis.com for more information.
One of our problems: we think of ourselves too much. You can read this statement in at least two ways. 1. We think to highly of ourselves. This would be 100% true most of the time. But the second way is just as important. 2. We think of ourselves too often in general. John wanted to impress on the church…
Roughly 50% of adults rarely or never attend a church service each year. Think about this for a moment. This is gained from many different surveys and I read it often through some of the people I follow. Yet, as a recent Gallup survey I read indicated most people feel the morals of our nation are getting…
What is your most valuable possession? Think about this for a moment. What do you have which has more “value” to you than anything else. It does not have to be financial value but could be. Motives are important. This does not mean just because someone “meant to” or “didn’t mean to” we just brush off…
We are not immune from troubles. I know this is a “captain obvious” statement but we must be reminded I think of this. As I have said paraphrasing M. Scott Peck, “Health is commitment to reality at all costs.” There may be some who promise health, success, fame, fortune for those who follow Jesus but…
Celebrations are important. This past weekend, and really for the week to come in some areas, we as a nation are celebrating 250 years of independence. A great accomplishment and something worth celebrating. For Israel, celebrations took the form of feasts. In Exodus & Leviticus we see God setting up…
What does good leadership look like? This a question I ask myself often. I look to those who I would describe as this way. I also notice how much I don’t measure up. Israel had a history of mixed results with leaders. Maybe this should be encouraging because the same is true today. Israel was longing…
Approximately 500,000 children are born blind each year. The overwhelming majority of those are from impoverished nations and places where sanitary conditions are not great. Yet for many many more cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye disease can rob us of sight. The more we know, the less we…
Our world desires security. National security. Economic security. Security in relationship and the list could go on. This is not necessarily a bad thing but if we are not careful we can place our hope for security in something/someone who cannot provide it. Freedom does not necessarily mean independence.…
What if Jesus visited American churches? Have you ever thought of this question? What his observations be? How would we be challenged? How would we respond? As we come to John 8.12-30 it is easy to take the side of Jesus. We very well may be on His side. However, listen clearly and carefully, we may…
Credentials can be necessary. Credentials come in a many shapes and sizes. Keys, badges, cards, etc. Where did you graduate from? Who is Jesus? This is the primary question of Scripture and our answer should make a difference. As we open up our text this morning the questions is being asked, who does…
Our world is trying to get more efficient. This is not necessarily a bad thing. We must be willing, or at least I believe I should take stock of where I am “waisting time”. I use AI to help be efficient in many tasks. But, when we “save” time in one area we normally “spend” it trying to be more productive.…
Sometimes we must be asked the “hard questions” in order to grow. This is not comfortable nor enjoyable but it is necessary. Many times these questions lead to uncovering the “why” behind the “what” or “how”. Other times they will solidify what we “know” so we can continue to move forward. We live in…
What do you need? A simple yet profound question. Sometimes I ask it like this, “how can I best serve/help you? We must get good at helping people discern what they really need. There are plenty of different models to describe our human needs. Here are some categories: power/achievement, freedom/independence,…
Life has mountaintop experiences. This is when everything is going our way and sometimes, to use a sports analogy, we are in the “zone”. Praise Jesus for mountaintop experiences. Having faith when life is good can be challenging. As we look at our chapter in John this morning we are reminded that Jesus…
Life goes by quickly. One minute we are young and the next not as young. One minute our kids are babies and then somehow they start to grow up and quickly go to college. If we are not careful we will miss many thigns due to the speed of life. We fear missing out on something special. There was a youth…
What is your favorite meal? Just think about this and how your favorite meal may depend on the season. I know we have some favorites in our house. Last week for FFTS I can tell you hamburgers is a favorite, around 340 meals served. All four Gospels tell this story! It was important to all the Gospel…
What is the ultimate goal of life? Notice I did not say the ultimate goal of the Christian life, that is very much different. Why do we exist? This is important to consider. Jewish belief: God is ONE, unique, and there is no other. This is a good belief, a correct belief. We rest on this promise even…
Our expectations of God matter. What do you expect of God? When has God disappointed you? Unmet expectations is a great source of pain, grief, and fighting within relationships. God is active in His world. This world is not “ours”; at least not in the truest sense. We are to be stewards of this world…
Who do you talk with? Jesus talked with many people at many different times. Jesus talked with religious people. John 3 reminds us that Jesus was willing to talk with people who knew the Scriptures but may not have had full understanding. Jesus was willing to challenge those who “sit in the pews”. Jesus…
When do you have your best conversations? What is the setting? For me, I love the evening setting with a cup of tea, yes I drink tea, in my hands. Scripture reveals to us who God is. Remember our passage, and all of Scripture is not meant to teach us about who we are. It is not a self-help book, it is…
Life has mountains. These are the good moments we long to have. Life is filled with valleys. Rarely is live a straight line. Do we believe Christ is interested in more than just saving our souls? Think about this for a moment. Is the church interested in more than just getting people “saved”. Signs point…
Relationships are important and crucial. Even in a digital and AI world relationships are key. Relationships are hard. This second truth is why we sometimes go to the easier ones of digital and AI, they are much easier and “cleaner”. The Gospel is shared primarily through relationships. This is my big…
We are in an identity crisis. Our nation. Maybe our community. Definitely our young people and some older individuals. If we want to share the Gospel we must learn to communicate effectively. This is no easy task. In a world filled with “talking heads” and “noise” we will not be able to compete if we…
We all want to soar to great heights. I know very few of us who do not want to do something valuable and meaningful. I am not talking about greatness as our world defines it, but we want to do more than just exist most of the time. The early Church saw the Gospel of John like an eagle. On the next slide…
The story of Christmas is pretty simple. Baby born to teenagers in a small town out of the way of life. People come bringing gifts and some people “had a religious experience” around this child. Yet, the Christmas is so much more. As simple as it is there is much more there for us to believe and consider.…
The KISS method: Keep It Simple Silly The other day I was watching a show on I think the History or National Geographic channel about hidden messages in the Bible. Scholars from ancietn of times to present look at scrolls and some have said the Pentateuch has predicted many other events based on spacing…
Accountability is a lost trait. This is my person opinion in many ways supported by others and the world. No wonder we have an issue with a lack of integrity. Accountability means I am not always a victim. I cannot blame others, the circumstances around me or that life is unfair. Accountability means…
Our God makes promises. To some extent this is pretty peculiar and unique to the God of Scripture. Some of these promises are known as “covenants”, a binding contract between two parties. I am not familiar with any other god making the promises our God makes, or any at all. Our God keeps His promises.…
The Holidays can be hard. This can be for many reasons but sometimes, as you know about me, I like to point out the obvious. Not everyone we run into this time of year will be jolly, happy, or in the “Holiday spirit”. We live in a world of noise. Sometimes we must remember to turn off the tv, radio,…
Not many of us are naturally wise. We may think we are but wisdom is not, at least Scripturally, something humans naturally have a lot of. Wisdom is not the same as knowledge & education. Wisdom can be gained by knowledge and education certainly but just because someone has the “right” degrees in a field…
There are many “trip hazards” in life. In life there are many things which may trip us up: literally and figuratively. I’m certain you are similar enough to me that you know how true this is. Sometimes we are tripped by major things but at least for me it is the small things. We all worship someone/something…
Our thoughts get worked out into behavior. I am not suggesting we always understand nor intentional in doing so. Sometimes our beliefs are unhelpful but we don’t have the desire to change. I must admit that each year I become more and more aware of my “messed up thinking”. Yet, sometimes, if I am honest,…
How do you “win” with people? What does it mean to have influence with people? How do you gain influence? These are important questions. Some options: demand (typically because of position), manipulate, coerce, bully and shame. This seems to be the pattern of the world. If we are not careful this becomes…
We love information. Maybe that is an overstatement but we seek information and sometimes we seek information which confirms what we already know. This is called confirmation bias. What is the goal of the Gospel? This a question we must ponder regularly. It is a question which may challenge us the deeper…
4 Minutes a day=1 day a year=75 days a lifetime. Any idea what time this is being spent? It is brushing our teeth over our lifetime assuming we live to about 80 and start brushing at 5. We all waste time! None of us will every be 100% efficient. Let me also said this: our world is not going to get more…
How old are you? How mature are you for your age? I am not just talking about chronological age but that may be a start. I am talking mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Is there a crisis of maturity in our world? I wonder this because of what I see. This does not mean we should not disagree with…
We live in a polarized world. This is one major observation I can make from the past 5 years of ministry. “What may polarize the world does not or should not divide the church.” David Garland 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament) i read this quote this week and it really hit…
Who is spiritual? Do certain people have greater access to God and Jesus? Are there different “statuses” as Christians? Not everything that “looks” spiritual is. This is part of the point of the beginning verses of our chapter. What matters is where the destination leads. True spirituality leads to Jesus.…
2025 Goal: Disciples who make disciples. Anyone remember this?! :D We need to think Biblically about all things. Walking through the book of Job we started to try and think through what the Bible really teaches about pain, suffering, hardships and who God is. Vocation-seeing our “jobs” as part of our…
We mean well. Our motives are good. If only we were judged by our motives. How would life change if we judged people on their intentions and motives? Job’s friends did not speak “right”. This is not just about the words they used but the flawed thinking they had of God. We, too, can be like Job’s friends.…
How do you view God? This is a primary question we must answer weekly. I know I asked this question to begin with last week as well. How do you view yourself? Our self-image, that which we think deeply about ourselves, influences how we view God and our path of healing. It is not always accurate nor…
How do you view God? What does God have to do in order to be God for you? What trait do we try to boil God down to? Suffering is complex. There is rarely ever one reason or cause of the suffering you and I experience. As we seek to help others let’s not try to put their experience in a box or simplify…
Pain can become all encompassing. When we hurt our world can become quite small. It colors everything. We want to know “why”. This is admirable but sometimes, or should I say most of the time, we never get a good answer. Job was askign “why” and as we open up our chapters this morning he will get a reply.…
Sometimes our “helping” is actually hurtful. Through this series we have found “fault” with Job’s three friends and we know that sometimes life happens not because of our sin but because of supernatural reasons. Job held onto his blamelessness. Job 31.5-6 helps us to see that even after all the speeches…
What is the most important thing you own? Interseting question to consider. I will give you a couple moments to think but this is a rhetorical question. A lot that sounds good, may not be good. This is why we must pray for discernment. Job 28 -A new voice speaks. I believe this is the “editor”, compiler…
We must be ready to spread hope. Look at the following verses. Hope is powerful, this is why I spoke on it early this year. I try to hold out hope for people because I also believe Jesus can change people, circumstances, organizations, communities and all things. where then is my hope— who can see any…
We all need help. This is not a surprise I hope. Sometimes our motives don’t come through. We all want to help, most of the time, but sometimes it just doesn’t work out well. We must be careful when helping. There is a book out called “When Helping Hurts” and though I have not read it I have had some…
Pain is not always seen. We cannot go around and “see” all the pain someone is in. It would make life easier. At other times it would make things way more complicated. Pain will come out eventually. I believe this to be true because we were not meant to carry the pain silently. If we do not process and…
Our world desire authenticity & community. Though we have a bunch of YouTube stars, social media influencers generally speaking people are quick to point out hypocrisy and “fakeness”. Suffering is inevitable. I wish it were not so. Some of us suffer greatly and others will get through life with minimal…
Listening is hard work. Listening well provides the foundation for healing and hope. This is I think a foundational principle of Scripture and life. But, I don’t believe our world is typically good at truly listening. Listening is hard work! To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. We must…
Life is full of… How would you finish the statement? You don’t need to answer it out loud but think about this. There is a lot of pain, stress, trauma and drama. These four things are absolutely true. Many of us will experience trauma and many individuals including our veterans experience PTSD. Drama…
What is your heritage? Sometimes it can be really neat to know where you have come from. Those who have gone before you and how they still influence your life today. The context: Feast of Tabernacles This was a reminder to the nation of Israel where they came from. It was a reminder of their ancestors…
1 out of 5 adults experience “formal” anxiety. These are those who have a formal diagnosis. These are the ones where a PCP, NP, or counselor has given the diagnosis. This is based on research from 2008 roughly. Up to 50% of adults experience anxiety of some sort. This is a preliminary study form 2023.…
We come to this MOther’s Day and I hope to share this message in a way which honors the ladies of our life but also challenge us to live out the faith our world desperately needs in a counter-cultural way. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. Though this is a commentary on…
Hope during dark times. Think of the darkest times of your life and also think about where hope may or may not have been. Peter is writing to people who need reminded of hope. The same is true of us today. Hope because of WHO Jesus is! I know this is review, but on Palm Sunday this is the point, He is…
Hope is essential. Without it we are just existing. Yet hope is hard at times. There are many of us in this world walking around like the walking dead. We have no life in us. Hope must be grounded in reality. If it is not then we just have flimsy optimism which though may do us well will not create life.…
There is a lot of uncertainty in our world. I have my list of things I wish was a little more clear and “decided”. There are the “big” uncertainties dealign with our world, government and such. Then there are the personal uncertainties which rightfully so become our world. It is hard to live when you…
Maundy Thursday is counter-cultural. This day goes against much of what our culture celebrates. Power. Strength. Possessions. Individualism. Personal Freedom. We need Maundy Thursday in the Church. If we are not careful we can easily slip into the pattern of our world. We need it because I believe Maundy…
Our world is fully of bustle and hustle. Many things vie for our attention. Our world is filled with conflict. Personal and within communities. Our world is filled with expectations. Spoken and unspoken. So did the world of Jesus! This is good news. We are not that much different than them. Israel was…
What does discipleship look like? The past four weeks, finishing today, I hope I have been answering this question. But beyond that how would you answer it. What does generosity look like? How have you been on the receiving end of generosity? Relationships are key for discipleship! As our passage reminds…
Life is not always easy. We know this to be true and yet, we strive to making easier for us. I know I am always looking for ways to simplify and make things a little easier. Work smarter not harder, is a phrase we have that encompasses this. Sometimes easy is not always healthy. It is much easier to…
Change is inevitable. It is not a matter of if things will change but when and how quickly. Traditions can help teach & ground our faith. Traditions are useful in many ways. Sometimes, traditions get in the way of faith. The problem CAN, emphasis on CAN, become that tradition stops faith from growing…
Deja vu-feeling like you have already experienced something but haven’t. Today may be like that. We have a passage that is very similar to our text from last week. But please, don’t check out just yet. Jesus transforms life. The normal way for someone to follow a teacher and rabbi in those days was to…
Personal Ministry Goal: Make disciples who make disciples. Hopefully, unless you are new to our ministry in the past month this phrase is not a new one. This year I want to be intentional, more than usual, at developing disciples in our church. Walking with Jesus is a journey. It is not something that…
What is progress? Greatness? As i finished prepping this morning I read a quote by C.S. Lewis What age is someone “old”? Now be careful if you answer out loud, which I do not recommend. :) “Now I care far more how humanity lives than how long.” C.S. Lewis Genesis 4 & 5 -the blessing is seen. We see mankind…
God is… Fill that blank in to some extent. What are the “key” traits you would highlight? The way we view God will determine how we live and share Christ. It is important we understand this. When, as we will, emphasize one trait over another there are behavioral consequences to those belief. Choices…
Expectations are… How would you finish the sentence. Where do you come from? Once again another tricky question. My answer will give insight into what I thought you were asking. The Biblical world is different than 2025. I know some may want to say “Thank you Captain Obvious” but we must always remember…
Life is a journey! I know this sounds cliche’, and it is, but we must remember this. Developing disciples in 2025 As I stated a couple weeks ago this is a major theme I have this year. It is nothing flashy no edgy and trendy. Yet, it is rooted in the words of Jesus. Then Jesus came to them and said,…
What does a balanced diet look like? This is the time of year we think about diet and exercise. In fact, I believe what is known as quitters’ days as already happened, the 2nd Friday or Saturday in January. We need a healthy diet of Scripture. As we start the year this is my point this morning. But what…
What is your goal for 2025? I am not talking necessarily about new year resolutions, though it can be that, but instead what do you hope to achieve or develop this year. 2025: Developing Disciples As I have done some thinking this past couple weeks about what I am going to try and use as a measuring…
Mary & Joseph-Young, unexpected, confused, tired yet courageous. Mary had not a clue what was going to happen that first night. Shepherds-probably outcasts, nothing special, just doing “their job”. It was supposed to be a normal night. Simeon & Anna-Old and just waiting for prayers to be answered. Faithful…
Becoming a GOAT We all want greatness and our world can pressure us to be a GOAT, or Greatest Of All Time. This desire is not necessarily bad but can be confusing. Who defines greatness? If we want to be great, and I am not opposed to it, then we must ask who gets to define greatness. Christmas gives…
Simple does not equate with easy. We need to be reminded of this truth. Just because a concept is simple does not mean it is easy. Just because someone may “get it” easier does not mean only a few can understand and live it out. We are familiar with cynicism, criticalness and bitterness. These are the…
Many people need help. The needs of our community and the people in our lives is great. This can be overwhelming, trust me I know. The prophets job: comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. This is a line I read from John Goldingay in his Jeremiah for Everyone commentary. Think about this statement…
What “P” words can you think of this morning? Patience, perseverance, pitching, problems, etc. How are we to live in this world? This is a primary question I ask each week as I study the Scripture and our text for hours in order to try and answer. If we do not live out the Word of God it matters little…
How would you describe life right now? What words come to mind when you think of life? We need a word from the Lord. As we enter this week I hope this message will help you hear the Lord. I will try even more than usual to be brief and straight forward. Israel’s world was being turned upside down. The…
God still speaks today. This is, I believe, a fundamental truth we must learn. God still uses the words of old to help us live in 2024. Jeremiah gives us a “parable in action”. The phrase most likely comes form the NIV Application Commentary but when we have this framework it helps to understand the…
Who, and what, is man? I use the term “man” in a very generic sense here; one devoid of gender. Jeremiah in our passage, and those before, is trying to get the nation to see how God answers this question. We too must answer the question. Follow your heart our world says. This is a popular phrase in our…
What is Biblical prayer? Have you ever thought long and hard about this question? Most of us, and for many years I have been similar, the answer is probably not. We know some of the great “prayers” of the Bible but it is the unknown prayers we may want to consider. Having faith when God is silent. It…
Life is unfair! This is a hard truth everyone one of us faces, sometimes weekly and sometimes not as often. Right does not always win. The better team sometimes loses. Why do evil people succeed? Ever wonder this? I struggle to use the word “evil” because it is so easy to see others as being awful, incompetent,…
The future is… How would you finish the statement/sentence? We want certainty and security. Nothing wrong with this and I believe it is one of the primary needs we have as humans. This is why the future can be so scary and we want to look backwards, for the past we already know. This is what the Lord…
We all want independence. This is a basic need but I am starting to wonder we have taken this too far in our present culture. This was not the view of the ancient world We can easily become isolated. This was part of what Jeremiah was telling the nation, look around and learn. Yet in true independence…
We live in a throw away world. As soon as something doesn’t work for us we are sometimes quick to throw it away or put in a pile for “some day”. We want a quick fix. Similar to this is the “silver bullet” mindset. May I call this is the “Amazon mindset”—meaning we want what we want and we want it now!…
Change happens! In fact, I could argue the pace of change has only accelerated in the past 15-20 years. We grasp at anything that will give us security. Some of the things we go towards are not bad, others very much so. We need a voice of truth AND hope! Not just one or the other but both. I am becoming…
We are people of the future. We talked briefly, and will go in much further details on Wednesday morning, about the future and our hope. We cannot forget where we are going! We need to be people with good memories. We are not people of the past per se. We don’t just need to remember. We need to remember…
We all want clarity. In a world where there is chaos, confusion and more of the such we seek clarity. What is the best way to…? This is where in previous sermons I have talked about praying for wisdom. Without wisdom we will never see things clearly. In Jesus’ day there were 613 commands from the OT.…
Who are humans? A foundational question of life. The answer we give will reveal much about how we treat others, ourselves, and the purpose of humanity. Who/What has authority? Tied to our first question but yet distinctly different is the one of authority. Mark asks, “Who is Jesus?” This is one of the…
Over 43 million people are physically blind in our world. A quick search gives us this number from 2020. Some research says close to 33 million of the cases of blindness could be preventable. The world is difficult for those who aren’t “normal”. Physical disabilities, mental disabilities are health issues,…
Why so much evil in our world? We like to ask this question, and sometimes we must. Even this day we have at least two full scale wars going on, a potential for at least a 3rd, and may other calamities. We have children suffering the effects of not having food and many more homeless in many ways. Why…
Our world is confusing. We live in a very confusing time. We need wisdom to live in our world. This should be one of our most prayed prayers. If we pray for wisdom I guarantee God will answer it. Then we must live wisdom out. We need the Holy Spirit! Jesus says in John 14 about the role of the Holy Spirit…
What does greatness look like? This is not a bad desire nor wrong in many ways. By greatness I may also mean we want someone to notice us and what we do. Is greatness a stat like in baseball? Who is the greatest baseball player? This can lead us to comparison. Once again this is not necessarily a bad…
Life is full of ups and downs. I think we all can agree on this point. Who does not love this. In fact, take a quick moment to recall one of your recent mountaintop experiences. Also, if you would like take a moment to remember a valley moment in life. Following Jesus does not take away the ups and downs.…
Fear is constant in our world. Fear is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be very beneficial. However, I am observing that fear is becoming greater and greater in our world to the point that others are trying to use it for their own gain. Our fears can reveal our needs. Fear can be a tool that is used…
How we think, what we believe, shapes our world. Our thoughts and beliefs are very powerful. Our world shapes what we think and believe. Yet, the world we live in also shapes our beliefs and thoughts about things. The location is important. Jesus is in Caesarea Philippi the capitol of pagan worship,…
Bridges are important. As you drive around this week notice how many bridges, of many kinds, you go over. My guess is we will all be surprised by the number. Our text this morning serves as a bridge. As you look at our world what do you see? I think it is important for us to answer this question often.…
We want to be right. No one likes to lose or to be wrong. Failure seems like the worst experience. This goes along with the first point. We do not want to fail and we have started to experience that failure means we are “worthless”. Our culture has become so toxic in this way we have given rise to anxiety…
Who/What gets the last/final word? When determining matters of faith, life, and relationships what gets final say? How do we determine what is right and wrong? How do we determine what is best from good? Everyone has traditions. All of the world has a tradition. Every culture has their own. Every religion.…
A single event can change everything. We know this to be true from our lives. Weddings, births, moves to a new location all change everything. In those moments we may find ourselves no longer “belonging” into the crowd we used to. Now this is even more true when tragedy strikes. The unexpected death…
The journey is over. Can you imagine the relief of knowing the journey you have been on is over? Our text this morning with some of the OT quotations you are used to hearing, if you grew up in church, were those indicating the long awaited journey to Jerusalem and Passover was over. Just because the…
We need reminders. We do not always get things right the first time. We must continue to be reminded of what we should know and do know in order to live out our faith well. Life can be exhausting. As a church we know this to be true right now. We have had a long 5 weeks hosting 4 funerals. Church we…
Who is Jesus? This is the question of the gospel of Mark. We must remember the stories and miracles, the teachings and interactions all point us to an answer. What does faith look like? The point of understanding who Jesus is to illicit a faith response in us and the hearers of the Gospel. This is the…
What is faith? How we define faith will help us understand our passage this morning. For we live by faith, not by sight. We know this passage and we like to quote this passage. But sometimes I wonder if we unintentionally, at least I am almost certain I do, think of this out of context. Faith is not…
“Enemies” are easy to come by. Now I am not necessarily talking about those who are out to get us or destroy us. Instead I am talking about those who we disagree with. We all deal with many pressures. Daily live is filled with pressures. Sometimes it may seem like we are living in a pressure cooker.…
Jesus came to do “new” things. He was bringing new life, new love, new grace. Jesus does “new” things. The Gospel of Mark exists to help us be faithful. We must remember why it was written. Early Christians needed the encouragement on who Jesus is so they could keep moving and living out the Kingdom…
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This is a saying we have in our world. The question becomes, who is my friend. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, The Old Testament revels we must be careful…
We have a trust issue. I hear it in how we talk with one another. I hear it in the complaints of others. Every year the most ethical and trustworthy professions come out. The information is not very encouraging. We have an authority issue. Corollary to our trust issue is then who has authority and ability…
How well do you listen? I am not talking about hearing but listening. True listening is hard work! True listening is not for the faint of heart but only the courageous. Mark is trying to have us hear who Jesus is. He is wanting us to see who Jesus and be transformed. Jesus is doing something new. Teh…
We all long for new beginnings. Most people love things “new” and then when something becomes “normal” or “used” we quickly go to something else. Mark is writing a “biography” of Jesus. Now this is not the same as our biographies today nor is it as simple as this. Yet, if we understand and use this framework…
What does “evangelical” mean? It is a question many people are pondering. Is it political? Is it a religious statement? It is a culture? Churches have problems. Always have. Always will. We need reminders, often. We have short memories. The Gospel is Jesus! Nothing other. Now it is way more complex than…
We are all searching for something. The ads have told us so. Maybe we have been poked and prodded to “make a list”. Our politicians tell us we are searching for their leadership. May I ask this evening, “what are you searching for?” Our world is hurting. We have drugs, disease, division and pain all…
What is Christmas? All the great Christmas stories, movies and songs try to share the meaning of Christmas. The Advent journey ends. Today marks the final Sunday of Advent; the roughly 40 days before Christmas (truly the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas). We have continued to reflect on the age old tradition…
Journeys are important. Sometimes we need reminded the journey is just as important as the destination. Advent is a journey of expecting God to show up in our world. This is part of the purpose we find ourselves in. If we are not careful we can quickly just appear at Christmas, the same with Easter,…
What does peace look like? It is a question our world is asking Advent is hard work. The two candles we have lit so far: peace and hope, are not naturally the state we live in. It is easier, as I was reminded this week, to be hopeless and without peace. The same will be true of the other candles we will…
What is a key ingredient of Thanksgiving? Go ahead and let me know you think. Is it the mashed potatoes, turkey, ham, gravy, green bean casserole, etc? Maybe it is the spices one uses, or doesn’t use. Relationships are key to life. We were created for relationships. From the very beginning of Thanksgiving…
The Holidays can be hard. Lets stop for a moment and just recognize this truth with empathy and grace. Families are not always safe places for people. Sometimes gatherings become a reminder of what or who is not sitting at the table. Joy and thanksgiving are not natural. Yes every person can experience…
What do you know about Thanksgiving? Take a few seconds or so to write down what you know about thanksgiving and how it began. 1621 for the Pilgrims and after the Civil Way when Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday a national holiday in 1863. Goal-To help us grow in thanksgiving year round. As we start…
We want to be independent and autonomous. This is not always a bad goal or need. In fact, to some extent we all have to have some sense of control. The final letter. This morning we get to wrap up our series on the letters to Revelation. Please be encouraged to get on our app or website to review. Laodicea…
A city built on “shaky” ground. Earthquakes and volcanoes. The external pressure from the Jews. This is the main issue for this church. The jews were not only opposing them but making life very difficult. Remember the early church did not initially view itself as separate from the jewish faith but its…
Sleep is essential. One of the most important thing we can do for ourselves is get adequate amount of sleep. Now I admit this is not something I always do well, never had and trying to change that. Reputations focus on the past. This is not necessarily a bad thing and actually is most helpful. However,…
Ephesus-Cold othordoxy; Smyrna-Suffering under persecution; Pergamum-Cheap grace These are rough synopsis of where we have been. Craig Keener in his commentary, NIV Application Commentary , summarizes this way, “Ephesians Christians were tempted by rigidity and lovelessness, Smyrnean Christians by persecution,…
Scooby Doo & Revelation There is a tag line in every Scooby Doo episode; “I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for those ‘meddling kids’.” The Letters to the Churches is like Scooby Doo and the gang: can do a lot of meddling. We need ears and hearts to want Jesus. If we are not willing to have…
We all want to be part of a good church. This was no different in first century. Jesus is the first—preeminent one. As we open up our letter this morning we see this write at the begining. Smyrna as a culture boasted about being of the best, and one of the first to get a temple to one of the Caeasar’s.…
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. The Lord is coming back, soon! I don’t care what one’s view of second coming of Jesus is, to some extent. What is essential for us to remember…
Analogies help the world make sense. In life there are things which are hard to understand because of their uniqueness, complexity Sin has consequences. Hosea 13 makes it very clear that sin has consequences. It may not be immediate but sin always produces negative consequences. The nation will get a…
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. God tenderly cares for His children. As we open up our Bibles this morning we see the first verse of chapter 11. God loving allows us to leave. We know this also to be true by Luke 15 and the story of the prodigal sons. Some leave…
What is relevant? A good question to ask but we must also know its limitations. We trust what and who we know. Trust is a basic principle of life. It is also a precious commodity. Lose it and the struggle to get it back is worth it but very difficult and long. Have it betrayed and the scars can run very…
Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. God is sovereign, in control. Do we believe this truth of Scripture.? Do we believe that God is really in control? We want…
God has been, and is, active in our world. This is a central, foundational, and core truth of Scripture. To be faithful Christians we must remember that God did not just create and then take a “hands off” posture but instead remains active in the world he created. The OT call: Remember! How easy it is…
We are all striving for something. I believe this is a lyric of a song but I am not certain. Basic needs: power/achievement, freedom/independence, fun/enjoyment, survival, and belonging. These are some of our basic needs and sometimes they compete with one another. Sometimes we want what we need. Sometimes…
God’s character is perfect. Who is God? The short answer is-perfect. In every characteristic of God he is just this—perfect. We are imperfect. Though we strive for perfection we will never attain it. God’s goodness is powerful. We have seen this to be true as we sung of it this morning. For the people…
The challenge of being in but not of the world. We are called to be different than the world but if we are not careful we become like the world. Yet, we cannot just escape and isolate—the call of God demands something different. Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is…
What does our world need? We live in interesting times, in uncertain times, in fearful times. How we as individuals and especially a church answers this question will help to determine our future ministry. I do not think there is only “one answer” and definitely not a “silver bullet” that will do. Our…
Learning to live an integrated live. Troubles happen when we compartmentalize things and leave certain areas of our life untouched by others. The word “integrated” is somewhat of a buzzword right now. Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the…
Who is God? This is a great question which every culture that has ever exist or will exist must answer. The answer to this question will then help to answer other questions: where did I come from? Where am I going? How do I treat others? What is required of me in this life? What is an idol? A second…
To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience,…
Our world is ever changing. Whether we are progressing or regressing is a different question and may truly depend on the person but the truth remains our world is changing. We live in a post-Christian culture. This may be one of the biggest changes in the past 30 years. The majority culture is does not…
Where does God dwell? This was an important question in the ancient world. In fact, I think this is an important question for our world today. Where do we go to meet God? As we think through this our answers will determine how we view God, what is “holy” and our role in knowing Him. The answer: in a…
Sometimes forgiveness is hard work. As we complete our series today on forgiveness I think it is important to state the obvious: Sometimes forgiveness is hard to do. Other times it is simple and easy. The greater the hurt the harder it may be. Forgiveness is NOT reconciliation. Though I believe forgiveness…
Bringing peace to our world. This is a very hard task, job, path, journey or whatever other word you would like to use. We know that Jesus is our peace, He is the Prince of Peace. I think of the words of the prophet Jeremiah who said, Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried…
Live produces pain, hurt, and trauma. To live means we will be hurt and have pain. We all have traumas we carry. Some may call this baggage. We eye the evil face to face and we call it what it is. Only realists can be forgivers.-Lewis B. Smedes To forgive we must remember differently. This is the main…
In this world we will have pain. I am not talking about just physical pain. I am talking about the mental, emotional and relational pain as a result of living with others. Community is not optional. One of the ways we could effectively prevent this pain is to not be around anyone. Some here would love…
Mercy=not getting what we deserve. This is very simplified definition. Grace=getting what we do not deserve. A simplified definition though it is way more complex and deep than just this. Forgiveness is based on mercy. Justice demands a payment and mercy says forgiveness can be made by accepting a payment…
Our world can encourage entitlement. Sometimes we feel we are “owed” something. This can lead to pride in some cases and taken to the extreme can lead to what we call “narcissism”. We may feel like we don’t deserve anything. The opposite is sometimes we feel like we don’t deserve anything. To the We…
Things are not as they always seem. Sometimes what we see doesn’t at first make sense to us. This is especially true if we are unfamiliar with a practice of another culture or person. We need to live integrated lives. This is part of what James has been teaching us. As we gather into Holy Week, and I…
We all need hope. Where is your hope? What gives you hope? How do you gain hope? Hope is a very powerful. It is essential for all of life, if you ask me, and you didn’t but oh well. :D James wants to remind us of our true hope. As we come to the end of the book of James we must realize these final verses…
Life is fragile and short. We know this to be true and we, or at least I, do not like to be reminded of this. Our prayer list is filled with reminders of the fragility of life. Also the shortness of life. How will we be different during unexpected moments? To some extent this is the question of James.…
We were created for community. Adam was not created to be alone, this is one of the reasons Eve was created. Together male and female we are created in the image of God. Some have argued God himself lives in community through the Trinity; and with humans and the supernatural. Community is powerful. Over…
We enter the time to plant. As Winter is close to leaving us, maybe and only God knows, we enter Spring. We are seeing the signs of spring all around us: the crocuses, daffodils and other “early risers” are making their way up. If you want a harvest you must plant good seed. Not any seed will do, to…
Two major issues: speech and power. They sometimes go hand in hand and sometimes they do not. We are fortunate we have, at least right now, the freedom of speech. Yet, it is not uncommon for those in power to try and restrict speech and conversation. Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute…
Words matter. Not only does what we say matter but how we use a word matters. Which word we use matters in every day life. We talked about this last week and some of us have been having a little fun with things. Words can be complicated. Especially in the English language. The example of red and read.…
We all like to comfortable. To some extent we try our best to seek comfort, sometimes at all cost. Yet, comfort and the expressions thereof is fairly recent. Historically the only ones which would afforded “comfort” were of a certain social status. The concept of pews and the “wooden boxes”. Church and…
The number ranges from 7,000-10,000 daily: What am I? Stop and think about this for a minute. Kids and teens think through this. Answer: words spoken per day. Granted this is an “average” and it would not be uncommon for those whose jobs center on speaking to be close to 14,000 or more. Now this as indicated…
Who is responsible? This is an important question we must continually answer. Responsibility is a tremendously important concept we are lacking in our world. To sin is human. To blame the divine, or someone else, is even more human. The world of the first century was filled with fatalistic blaming of…
Christ is our anchor. We must be reminded of this truth daily. As mentioned last week anchors serve a very important purpose. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We…
The world can be an unsettling place. There are many pressures in this world. With the advent of 24 hours news we can be reminded of all that is wrong or could possibly go wrong in the next few days and weeks. As weather forecasting has gotten better, we are also “warned” much sooner of impeding weather.…
What are your credentials? How do you introduce yourself to someone else? Mom, Dad, etc. Think about your favorite name to be called, in an endearing kind of way. Our world loves self-promotion. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if it become the goal of life we are missing out. We can feel like…
Christmas is about sharing. We share gifts under the tree. Meals with others. We share what we want to receive and also what we gave. Kids especially will share about their “new toy” and sometimes all their disappointment in the item they did not get. The Christmas story is filled with messengers. Typically…
Seeing is believing. Or at least that is what we like to say. Or another phrase, “I’ll believe it when I see it!” Is this really true? Reality is that if we think we already have things figured out, or unwilling to actually “see” things differently, what happens doesn’t matter. This evening I submit…
Power is appealing. Those who have it don’t want to lose it. Those who don’t have it will try and get it. Power is also very subtle and sometimes we do not even know its influence on us until we stop and reflect. Relationships are powerful. We were created to live in community with others. The role of…
Advent is about waiting. This is a reminder I know but it is an important one. Waiting puts us in the “Biblical” story alongside many others. Exodus 23:20 (NIV) “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Isaiah 40:3 (NIV) A voice…
Life is short. The sooner this powerful, yet simple, truth is grasped the greater the change we can have. Kids don’t stay kids for long. We do not like to wait. Does anyone really like to wait? I don’t at times. We talk about patience being a virtue but the reality is many of us do not want the virtue.…
Darkness is... How would you finish the sentence. Depressing, all encompassing, awful, is good to sleep in, etc. Darkness is all around us. There are many times when I think “this world is pretty dark”. I don’t say this expression because of good things happening but normally in the aftermath of horrific…
Chaos is all around us. No relationship ever truly goes as plan. It doesn’t matter how old you are or are not. Part of the reason for the messiness is because we cannot control the other person, at least not if the relationship is going to be healthy. Transformation flows outwards. We cannot have a transformation…
We are in a mental health epidemic. In fact, we have probably been in one for many many years and are just now starting to break out of the denial. Gen Z is lonely, anxious, depressed, stressed & disconnected. According to Springtide Research: 47% moderately to extremely depressed, 55% moderately or…
What do you see? To some extent this is the question of the day. Change happens! We may not like it but change will happen. We truly cannot stop change. We may be able to influence change but we cannot truly control it. Transformation is a choice! Though we may not be able to choose change we all have…
We live in a world of “quick fixes”. We want the magic pill that will take away all problems and fix anything that is going wrong. Churches are not exempt. Salvation in Christ is a long-term commitment. We do not make the decision as a hope it will all the sudden make things “right’. As we see in this…
Who/what do you believe? We spoke a little bit about this last week. We must careful about who we allow to influence our thinking. The battle is for the mind. How we think will determine how we act. Yes how we act will also determine how we think, it is a both/and approach not either/or. This is why…
We trust those we know. This is why we must be careful about those who are closest to us. Show me your closest “friends” and I can almost show you where you will be in 5 years. Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” This is a Biblical concept not just necessary for our younger members…
What is our purpose? Our answer to this question will determine our steps, especially if we are integrated people, for how we will live. The Westminster Catechism asks this question: What is the chief & highest end of man? This is a question which helps us to think “biblically” about how we live. The…
Our worldview is how we make sense of life. We all have a foundation which will shed light and help us see the world around us. There are many different worldviews but they all do about the “same thing”. God/Jesus has always existed. I believe Scripture makes this abundantly clear. Genesis 1 reminds…
Life has purpose. You have meaning! As we discuss the spiritual battle we all face, the is part of being God’s people, we must be reminded of this truth. Life is valuable. Each person we will ever come into contact with has value and was created in the image of God. We need to have compassion. In a world…
This world can be hard. We know this to be true but sometimes we must state the “obvious”. This world is full of conflict. Some of us, this isn’t me btw, enjoy conflict and can be classified as “fighters”. One of the things I love to do with Sis is act like I am going to “fight” her and then I remark,…
Our brains are wonderful. Have you ever stopped to consider your brain? Despite what we believe it is true that all of us have one, including me. We are able to remember many things. Sometimes we can remember “useless” facts like, you are 2x more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark;…
What is discussed around your table? As you have lunch, dinner and maybe even breakfast what is the topic of conversation? Okay maybe not at your house at meal time but when sitting down for a cup of tea/coffee what happens? In Jesus’ time meals were important social events. We have lost some of this…
What are you an “expert in? Malcom Gladwell in his book “Outliers” suggests that to become an “expert”, in any area we need 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. That seems like a lot but if we think about it, it is attainable for any of us to be an expert in something. Being an expert is living out the…
Darkness is very interesting. Interesting in the fact we don’t really like it nor do we understand it. There are many causes for darkness. Psalm 119 and our Scriptures in general let us know there are many reasons why darkness exists and its causes. We will all experience dark times. This is truth. I…
When have you experienced vitality? Interesting word, vitality. I think of other words: vivaciousness, energized, passionate and thriving. Some times all we can do is survive. This is a legitimate goal depending on the season one may find themselves in. In fact, our Psalm has talked over and over, how…
We all have 168 hours a week. Time is the one thing we all have the same amount of. Yes, some will live longer than others. What is your theme in life? Baseball players typically walk up to the plate with a “theme song”. In fact many theme songs outlive their respective uses to become as popular if not…
God responds to prayer. God is active. I am not exactly sure why but God has hardwired this world to respond to prayer. Prayer changes things! Prayer is a reminder that God is active in our world. This is probably one reason the Psalms are so powerful, or at least they could be. What type of prayers…
We need to be grounded. No I am not talking about having “time-out” though I could go for that sometimes. I am talking about the need to feel centered, present, and “in control”. Question: how can we be blessed? All religions talk about being a blessing and knowing you are blessed by God, or whatever…
Idols are not always “overtly wrong”. I am NOT suggesting that idols are good but I am trying to say that some idols are not blatantly evil at first sight. And idol is anything in place of God. This is the basic definition of an idol. God’s rightful place is first above all other things. This is at the…
Who can you trust? Our world has trust issues. We have had them since the beginning of time but it is truly evident, at least to me, in these past few years. Top 5 trusted professions: nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, elementary teachers, military & police officers. Lowest trusted: lobbyists, car…
Crisis is never fun. An amen goes right there. No one likes a crisis. Crisis is a part of life. We cannot get through this world without a crisis at some point. To survive we must have hope. The reality is many who commit or attempt suicide do not have adequate hope to manage the crisis they find themselves…
Parents are powerful. They shape our view of the world, ourselves, and also our view of God. Adults shape children’s life. Yet, we cannot, must not, nor forget how just a single adult pouring into a kid’s life can change the trajectory. God is the beginning and the End. We read about this in Scripture…
Words are powerful. We know this to be true. Think of the words spoken to you already this day. Which were most powerful? Metaphors are powerful words. Our ability to use words to express emotion and elicit emotion is powerful. Life clouds our ability to interact Scripture. Though we like to state Scripture…
Our world is broken. I know this seems to be a no brainer. But I think sometimes we need to realize and make the obvious known. We cannot deny this fact. I recently read a quote from the LOTR triology where Frodo states, “I wish I did not have to see this.” To which Gandalf replies, “So too all who live…
Our world is full of conflict. We see this in almost every area of life: relational, political, geographical, and even spiritual. Our world is more polarized. Here is what I mean: there is very little room for middle ground. We have become an either/or society. We have a choice! We are never powerless.…
We need eyes to see! I realize this is a pretty “duh” statement to make this morning. We do not always see well. There many reasons for this I believe. Just like with our physical eyes there are many causes to not being able to see well. Some simple and some complex. We do not see because we are not…
Life is puzzling. We do not have answers for many things, or at least I do not. I still do not know exactly why there is a war going on in Ukraine, but I understand the devastation. I do not fully comprehend why abuse happens, though I know the results. Yes, I know the real answer is “sin” and I am not…
We all have expectations. You came to this time with us with expectations. As we gather for hearing the message you have an expectation about what will happen. I do as well. Life is full of expectations. Sometimes we are disappointed in life. Life does not go as planned. We are disappointed. We may feel…
Let Me Say It Again This evening we take some time to stop and reflect about the meaning of Easter. Tonight I want to draw, briefly, our attention to some of the final words of Jesus as found in John 15 . It begins with the 7th and final “I AM” statement of Jesus I am the true vine. The imagery of being…
Life is about endings. We may not like it but all of life is about endings. John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus alone saves; anyone & everyone! This is the book of Galatians in a very…
Could I be wrong? Everyone say it in their mind. It is a very interesting question to ponder; or at least it is for me. For some of us we think about this more than we ought. Others, I wonder if it every comes to mind. In our current cultural climate I think we must ask this more often. This will lead…
We live in an angry world. Rage is the style of our world. Anger is the primary motivation, emotion, and expression of though it seems this day. If you don’t take a stand, someone is angry at you. If you do take a stand, someone is angry at you. If you comment about a situation someone will turn things…
Who do you know? One of the ways we stick out in this world is by who we know. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What do you know? Related to the first but sometimes more important. Sometimes knowledge leads to passion. We want what is familiar. This is a constant struggle of humanity. We want what…
Life is about timing. Timing is important in many aspects of life. We all ask, “why”? The proverbial “why”. Yet, this is important. It is a fundamental question. Sometimes we get an answer. Are you a child or an adult? Interesting question isn’t it? Yet as we come to our text this morning it is important…
We all have faith. Everyone of us has faith in something. The issue is rarely if we have faith but, “what is our faith in”? Faith is the foundation of life. This is true regardless of our faith. Faith is the core of life. To change is hard work. This is what we all know to be true and this is why growing…
Life is full of experiences. From the moment we are born to the day we die we will have experiences. Experiences are powerful. This is extremely important for us to understand. to some this is a “no-brainer”. To others experiences are a necessary evil. Experiences can shape us for the good or be very…
Is God approachable? Though many of us, at least in this place, do not think about this question I think it is important to sometimes bring to the forefront what we may just assume as a “simple, easy” answer. God is approachable to all. This is I believe the answer of Scripture. How do we approach God?…
Who are you? I know I have asked this question at many times from the pulpit and in other settings. It is an important question. Identity is complex. Answer the question I started with is not always “simple”. There are nuances based on many factors of life. Race, socioeconomic status, religion, geography,…
Life is full of challenges. Each week provides an opportunity to learn to persevere. Yet, this is hard work. I am reminded of the words of Paul in Romans, Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.…
What is essential? Early on in the pandemic we had this question posed many of times; did we not? It was frustrating and liberating, at least to me, with some of the answers. Yes, it meant some of the things which were “important”, “crucial” and I would call “essential” ended up not being as essential…
What am I to do with my life? This is an almost universal question asked by all throughout their whole. Kids talk about what they want to do when they grow up. Teens talk about what to study in college. College students ask this in regards to employment. Parents who now have children. The person looking…
What is the best way to communicate? Have you ever thought about this question? Most of us to some extent have done so. Yet, it really all depends. Some of it depends on generation and capabilities. It also depends on the goal of the communication. Information does not always lead to transformation.…
Who gets final say? The basis of authority in our world is changing. Generally speaking we do not trust others nor those who we used to. Our world continues to change. Now that we are in another pandemic year this is even more evident. Does anything stay the same? This is what we may be asking. What…
The Christmas story is about journeys. We know this to be true. It starts with Mary and Joseph heading to Bethlehem. The Magi come and journey for probably up to 2 years to see the Christ. Yet, if I am honest this is where I see things essentially stopping. The Christmas journey is over. Christmas ends…
Word of the night: Present How do you say that word? What do you mean by the word? Wherever you are—be all there. Jim Elliot Yvette shared this quote with our teens this past week. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him…
The 4th Sunday of Advent: love & Magi. This is the 4th and final Sunday in Advent. As I have mentioned earlier the candle is for love and/or the Magi who came to visit him. We need to remember foundational truths. These are the things which do not change, regardless of everything else. The message of…
What do you fear? The other week Daniel and I stayed up late and watched the next movie in the Harry Potter Series: The Prisoner of Askaban. In one scene the students are given the task to face their fears. They can only face their fears when they acknowledge them. Some fear sickness and death. As I…
Advent is here. Today marks the 1st Sunday in Advent. For churches that follow a liturgical calendar it is also the “new year” for them. Advent looks back. We look back to the birth of Jesus. Advent looks forward. We look forward to his coming in the manger but also His coming in the clouds at the end.…
What are you grateful for? Take a moment and start to list your blessings. Those of you online chat them in so we can share together this morning. Being thankful is hard. Let me state this at the beginning. Respect those who do the ministry. This is not just about respecting leaders, though we must,…
Life is a journey. We say this in our world for a reason. Life has its highs, the mountaintops. Mt. Carmel, drought Life has its lows, the cave moments. This is where we pick up the story of Elijah. Be careful what we say. We can unintentionally be like Jezebel as we hear what God has done in other people’s…
Where are you looking? This is an important question. Where are you looking for love, hope, truth, grace, relationships, authority, perspective? We go where we look. We will become like that which we look at. For some we look in the past. This is the “good old days”. This is appropriate and we at times…
Two ways: positive thinking or resignation. These tend to the be two ways of handling pain, suffering or evil in our culture. If we can just think happy thoughts the pain will go away. If I just act as if it is not really happening I will be okay. Or this is just who I am. Look at my pain. Look at what…
How do we handle pain, suffering and the evil around us? This is the question we have been exploring the past couple weeks. I am hoping to wrap up by the beginning of November our series on suffering. Joseph experienced a lot of pain and suffering. Some of this was because of his choices and many times…
The connection of suffering with grace. Have you ever stopped to notice the connection between God’s grace and those in suffering? As you read through Scripture do you notice some things about God’s character because of the stories of suffering and evil in the world? The Lord said, “I have indeed seen…
Last week: sin causes suffering. This was a major, if not THE major takeway from last week. Because of the sin of humanity, starting with Adam & Eve, suffering, unbearable pain, and evil is part of our world. The Bible does not teach Karma. In a concept very similar, from what I can tell, to Karma the…
Our world is broken. This much most of us can agree on. In our journey of evil and suffering we must be reminded of this truth from the beginning. Sometimes we say things like, “why do bad things happen to good people” which can undermine we are all broken. I don’t mean to minimize the statement because…
20 years ago life took a turn for the worst. At least that is true of our nation. But for many people life was already at a pretty low point. But it was a day when we say close to 3,000 people die, without any warning. The big problem: evil, suffering and a “good God”. This is the number one reason why…
Tiredness takes on many forms. We can be tired physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. We seek relief in many forms. Addiction and all of the above forms are still true. We spend more money, try to make more money. There are three commands in these verses. We will look briefly…
What worship song or hymn is meaningful to you right now? The songs we listen to and sing, whether publically or in the shower matters. Worship matters. Public worship matters. Private worship matters. We see in our text this morning the important of worship. The importance of being faithful in worship…
In the Hebrew layout of Scripture the book of 1 Samuel comes right after the book of Judges. For this week, and possibly next week, we will be in these introductory chapters of 1 Samuel before having a special Labor Day message. After Labor we will start a new series on Evil, Suffering, and the People…
Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. A refrain of these last chapters. A refrain of our own day, if you ask me, but then again you didn’t. And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.…
What is right? Interesting question and for some here in person and those of you online you are already answering the question? Sometimes the answer is not always easy. Sometimes there is no “right” answer; as in do you want spaghetti sauce or alfredo sauce? Other times it is clear and unchanging: Jesus…
To be in but not of Judges (Reflections: Samson and Culture Wars, Then and Now) The people of God have always been tempted to reflect culture instead of transforming it, but perhaps the temptation is greater in North America today than at any other time or place in the history of God’s people Jerry McCann…
We all love stories about heroes. This is part of who we are I think. The epic battle between good and evil, hero/heroine vs villain. Sometimes we want to think about what superhero power we would have if we could be one. In fact, there is much to learn from movies and stories like this. But, while reflecting…
Words have meaning. Everything we say means something. However, the original meaning of a word, or what someone thinks a word means, doesn’t always equal how we mean to use the word. This is what makes communication hard. Even harder in cross-cultural/cross generational communication. Words have power.…
What is the greatest threat to the Church? Have you ever sat down and thought about this question? It may seem odd for me to even pose the question to us this morning. Sin is everywhere! Scripture constantly shows us this truth. Listen to these words from Paul in Romans There’s nobody living right, not…
What are you afraid of? I know this is a strange question. For some, you quickly told yourself something like, “I’m a Christian I not allowed to be afraid”? Or, “I don’t fear because of Jesus.” Both very true statements but may be what we say, think or try to live out in order to not have to answer this…
What are our most pressing issues? Cultural? Relational? Financial? Organizational? Political? Spiritual? Economy/Job Market? The reality is we have many issues and depending on how you look at the world, and given your circumstances, the answer may be different. Everyone sees the “same” world. Though…
God is faithful. Both are rooted in Scripture. Take a look at these words from Deuteronomy Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. But those who hate him he will repay…
Problems happen when we forget. This is true of many things in life. It is especially true when we forget our priorities and the essentials of life. The major things need to stay major and the minor the minor. This weekend has been set aside by our nation to stop and remember, lest we forget, that freedom…
Major issues of life: domestic abuse, terrorism, war upon war, child abuse, moral decline, the collapse of society, how to treat those who believe differently, abuse of power, lack of leaders, a relative concept of truth, practical over principle. Oh you thought I was talking about 2021, didn’t you?…
Questions are powerful. It is great to be the one who asks them. It is not so great when you are the one being asked. For some of us we are great at asking questions, typically of ourselves, can be discouraging. This morning I believe I will ask more questions than provide answers. I apologize in advance.…
Why don’t you do something ? A common question asked in our world. It can be asked of: governments, churches, parents, kids, other leaders, ourselves, and at times we ask this of God. We need hearing aids . Jesus says at the beginning of the first parable of the kingdom, to listen up. He also says it…
Jesus is King . This series on the Kingdom of God is built upon this premise and truth. But we may ask the question: What does the Kingdom look like? We want to know what it looks like right now. Or is the Kingdom strictly future oriented. I believe the Kingdom is both present right now but the culmination…
Life is a journey . As with all journeys there is a beginning, middle and end. There are high points and low points. Sometimes even in the same day. A journey indicates movement, motion, energy, and to some extent vitality and “newness”. Everyone is on a journey. Jesus accommodates people. Jesus meets…
The struggle is real. Are you struggling this morning? Or maybe the better question, what are you struggling with this morning? Is your marriage? Depression? Anxiety? Parenting? Addiction? School/Career? With faith, Christianity, the Church, etc? We have a need of power . This is one of the basic needs…
Where is God ? There is so much happening in our world that I often ask this question. Maybe it is just me. The country of Myammar. The shootings we experience it seems each week. Angry people yelling. Media trying to dictate what we are to believe. Power. Abuse. Is God only to be found in Scripture/Stories…
In these next view moments what are you expecting? Do you believe that your life can be changed by what we are sharing together this day? How do you view the world ? This is a tricky question. The expectations of the world is probably what we will see. We must be careful that we do not tend to any extreme…
Sermon texts for tonight are: John 13.1-11 ; Matthew 23.25-28 ; Matthew 27.24 The week of Passover was one of flurry of activities and preparations. Very similar to what many are doing these days as we prepare for Easter. In fact, a friend of mine made the astute and accurate comment about this week…
We live in a post-Christian nation. This has been the case for many many years but I think it is important to understand where we are in 2021. Generally speaking the culture around us looks more different than the Bible. There is also no longer a general sense that someone is “Christian” just because…
The problem of suffering . This is a major issue in our world. There is so much suffering. Just this past week I had conversations with different people and groups concerning suffering. The question/statement is something like this, “If God is good, they why do we suffer?” We see the suffering of our…
Does it matter ? The question we ask, even if not out loud. Does it matter how I live? Does it really matter what I do? Does what I do really influence and effect others? Closely connected is the question: Does anyone notice? Depending on how we answer this question we may start to wonder... Do I matter?…
Questions to consider while preaching/teaching this passage: -What does a sincere heart mean? -Guthrie indicates it means to be genuine, loyal, and real. Martin Rowe, 6 years old, lived on a small farm in rural Georgia. One day while riding on a tractor with his father the unthinkable happened; the tractor…
We desire perfection . Many of us are perfectionists at heart, including myself, and it can be terrible at times. We are also looking for the “perfect” product. Nothing and no one is perfect . No person can reach what we typically think of perfection. Perfect also means wholeness, complete, accomplished…
Change is hard . Even for those like me, who typically like change, it is hard to pull off. Negative consequences rarely motivates change. This seems counter-intuitive but research has shown this to be true. Alan Deutschman in his book titled, Change or Die, reveals this is not the case. Most of our…
We are comfortable with the known . This is a fact of life. What we know is typically better than what we do not know; at least in our heads. Sometimes we need a paradigm shift . This happens not because what we are doing is “bad” but that something “better” is on the scene. We have seen this when Henry…
What is true of individuals can be true of churches . This seems “natural” to me because churches are made up of individuals. What is true of us personally can be the truth of the church. Some traits are double-edged . They have both positive and negative qualities to them. Two qualities: contentment…
We all need someone. We cannot go in this world alone. Many of us try but it just doesn’t work. What is Christ up to now? This may be a question some are asking. Maybe we ought to be asking this question. We read in the Gospels what Jesus was doing on Earth but after the resurrection we do not always…
We are surrounded by bad news . It is everywhere we want to look. As I just read the headlines of the news from many sources each day I can be drawn in, not by the good nature of things but the eye catching negative story. Our thoughts become actions. Given enough time the thoughts which we think become…
Deep and lasting transformation is possible. We must remember and begin here. We become what we focus on. Be careful what you pay attention to, and who you pay attention to. The Gospel is essential . Thus being required, certain, and so forth. The Gospel is real . Jesus was a real person who spoke the…
Is it worth it? An interesting question and one that we may not want to ponder long. Will it be better or worse than 2020? A powerful question that may save us from much shame and failure. As I have reviewed 2020 and other years I want to encourage you teens, and adults alike, to ask this question more…
We have survived 2020. This is good news as we are just days away from turning the calendar to a new year. The Lord has seen us through this year, as He has in every year prior. The world is different . 2020 has changed the world in many ways. Some of which we will only realize as we look back in 10plus…
We all love, love stories . We may not want to admit it but deep down we like the love stories of life. Now that doesn’t mean we will all watch a bunch of Hallmark this week, but love stories can be compelling. What is your favorite love story? I know a love story which starts like this…(tell a portion…
A couple weeks ago I asked about our favorite Christmas songs/carols. This season I have been paying more attention to the lyrics. Though the words are not new to us I am finding hope, peace, and even this day joy in them. I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and…
What is your favorite Christmas song/carol? As we enter into this new season let’s give some of our favorite songs of the season. The season of advent is upon us. This is a great time of year; especially for the Church. It is a season of expectancy. A season of looking forward to a new year. How fitting…
Whom do you identify with? This is the question of the day, if you ask me. Who or what group do we “belong” to? We think this is a question for young people and teens, and it is, but the reality is all of us must ask and answer this question on a regular basis. The book of Esther is built upon the answer…
We live in uncertain times. This is the overall sentiment today of many. To some extent I am in this category. We don’t know whether the economy will continue to rebound, what will happen politically, or how the pandemic will continue to play out. We can be unsure of many things. The unknown typically…
Life stinks sometimes. M Scott Peck states, “Mental health is dedication to reality at all costs.” This is one of those “easy said than done” concepts of life. Throughout all of Scripture we see the people of God, whether individuals or groups, who are committed to God and this principle. In fact, I…
The world was is not what it is “supposed” to be. The sense of moral direction is lacking from the leaders of the world down to most of the commoners in the street. People are being used for another persons gain. Fear seems to be common and thus anxiety and tensions are high. It is definitely not the…
We need to think differently. This is part of our call as Christians. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed…
How to live faithfully ? This one of the fundamental questions Scripture tries to teach throughout each book and chapter. What does it look like to faithfully love God and love others. Faithfulness is a broken world. We live in a broken world which is not ideal in many regards. Our world is messed up.…
Part of the background of this is found in John 6.15 where the crowds were going to force Jesus to publically proclaim his kingship. This helps to see the contrast of what is taking place. The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, “This is the Prophet…
What was your first job? We live in a world where many people are looking for jobs and many are hiring. My first job was a janitor of a church. I mean I have done many things in my life: referee for soccer, yard work stuff for others, but the first job was janitor. My second one was working in a fast…
The Bible is... Take a moment to think about this beginning of a statement. The Bible is a philosophy book. Like the philosophers of old: Aristotle, Plato, Immanuel Kant, etc. The Bible is a “how to” book. Like Chitlon’s manual for working on cars, a recipe, or the like. It is a manual to follow The…
It is the turn of the century, 16th century that is. the 1500s . A time of upheaval in the world. There was conflict in many different arenas of life, not excluding in Christianity. Where is God? A foundational question our world is asking. Maybe not in these clear cut words, but they are asking none…
Effectively, Jesus believed the promise of Psalm 91 without requiring proof of its veracity. The aim of Psalm 91 is to encourage all God’s people to employ a quiet and simple trust in him, regardless of how threatening our circumstances may feel. Psalm 91 is not the poetic meditation of a spiritual kamikaze;…
Life is meaningless . What a statement. At first glance it seems hopeless. But yet, there are moments in life when this very well may be our outlook. However, I believe this is also a statement of hope. We are in the midst of a pandemic. A plague like no other. among so many plagues, there is none more…
Whom do we trust ? A fundamental question we ask, whether we know it or not. Character matters. This is true always but definitely true in matters of trust. To trust without character is to set oneself up for pain. The past matters. The greatest predictor of the future behavior is past behavior. Yes…
What do we do when nothing seems certain ? When things seem to be constant changing, what and where do we turn? We are broken . As a world. As a nation. As a state. As a community. As a church. And as individuals. Is there any hope ? This is the natural question which comes to my heart and mind. Where…
This is an acrostic poem, meaning it has each letter of the Hebrew alphabet at the start of each new stanza.It is a wisdom Psalm. Everyone has faith ! The question is: in what? A secondary question is: How will faith be seen in life? Maybe it is “what difference will your faith make?” The way we live…
Is there value in sin? Thought provoking question. Or at least it was for me as I read it this week in one of the commentaries I was studying from. The answer: it depends . Sometimes the truth is absolutely not. Other times it may be a tentative “yes”. I am NOT encouraging anyone to sin, but instead…
The placing of this Psalm of Moses seems to be intentional. Book 3 talks and prays to be taken out of exile and back “home”. The nation wants to go back to the way things were prior to their current situation. Book 4 becomes the response to those prayers, starting with a call to go even further back…
We all want power . Sometimes this is the need to feel in control. Sometimes this is asserting our own way. This is not necessarily a bad thing but if we are not careful we can get caught up in power. As we enter into Summer and then fall we as a country are going to struggle with those who want power,…
The poem by Robert Frost Two Roads in the Woods The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps…
Reminder: Life is unfair . I don’t like. You don’t like it but it is true. This is one of the fundamental realities of the world we live in. What do we do when our expectations are not met? This is a key question we must ask ourselves often. What role does suffering play in our faithfulness? This is…
Are we there yet? A dreaded word on any trip or journey. Yet, it is a question we ask many times in life. Whether it is our education path, career, family, personal goals. We ask have I accomplished this! Our world is looking for signs of safety . When can we go out. What does this world look like now?…
Some call this chapter the “inner sanctuary” of all of Scripture. The climax of Paul’s theology. One of the greatest words in all of the New Testament, apart from Jesus’ own words. What is freedom ? As we engage in this Memorial Day weekend it is natural to ask and reflect on this question. We live in…
Other Old Testament Passages concerning the Holy Spirit: Exodus 31.3 ; Exodus 35.31 ; Judges 14.6 , 19 ; 15.14 ; 1 Samuel 10.6 ; Judges 3.10 ; 6.34 ; Ezekiel 36.26-27 We forget easily. This is a recurrent theme of life, and definitely Scripture. When things are good we forget the cause and attribute…
We are a connected world! We have learned this truth more so these past couple months than we ever would have dreamed of. Right now we are connected, albeit virtually, in 6 different ways: in person, on our website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Vimeo. Some are seeing me face to face, others from a…
Is this our moment ? Some of you are going, maybe. The Spirit is Christ-centered . The spirit will never highlight what He is doing but only who Jesus is. This is important for us to remember. It is something I must constantly be reminded of. The Spirit is a witness . It is almost as if the Spirit becomes…
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest…
The world is changing . This is not necessarily a bad thing. But this means we must be at least aware of this fact. How will church respond? This is a question which keeps my brain moving. Hopefully also yours. Our call is to be faithful . This is our calling. Yet, faithfulness does not mean unchanging.…
We live in interesting times. Because of this we wonder at times, is there is any hope? Can I do this as a Christian? How do we live in a world which is not ideal, nor always understandable? Use God’s power . Paul says “be strong” in God’s mighty power. In chapter 1 he talks about us knowing the power…
We are to be controlled by the Spirit. We must remember the Gospel . These are the two main points of Ephesians 5.3-20 . Not the only points but some of the main points. Main Point: Submit to one another. Submitting is a choice . It cannot be forced or mandated. Submitting is done out of love . Submitting…