FCC Etown Podcast: Recent Episodes
fccetown
Hear all the stories, worship, and teaching from Sunday’s service. Want to connect with us, or learn more about FCC? Visit us at fccetown.com.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon ruled the most powerful empire on Earth, yet his greatest threat came from within his own heart. In Daniel chapter 4, we see how unchecked pride transformed a mighty ruler into a broken man living in the fields. Pride distorts our reality, keeps us from admitting when we are wrong, and ultimately opposes our relationship with God.
How is pride silently controlling your life and relationships today?
How do we keep our faith simple and powerful while avoiding unnecessary rules in our spiritual lives? Paul's simple instructions in Colossians 4:2 remind us to remain devoted to prayer, watchfulness, and gratitude. This vital connection keeps us plugged into God's power instead of running on empty.Are you treating prayer as a first response or a last resort?
Many people struggle with repeating sinful habits and try to fix their behaviors on their own. We often focus on surface problems rather than on our relationship with God. Colossians 3 invites us to set our minds on things above and put on a new identity. How can you practically break old patterns and live out this new identity every day?
Spiritual pride disrupts the simple truth that Jesus is enough. In Colossians chapter 2, Paul warns against the danger of adding human rules, preferences, and traditions to the gospel. When we measure faithfulness by our own standards rather than God's, we turn our relationship with Christ into a burden of external expectations.
How do we break free from the trap of self-reliance and reclaim true, life-giving faith? Remaining solely dependent on Jesus frees you from spiritual pride and transforms your heart.
Be aware of the subtle trap of trying to accessorize our faith with extra rules, traditions, or human philosophies. Paul's letter reminds us that Jesus does not need additions because his redemptive work is already complete.
How do we protect ourselves from being spiritually kidnapped by empty promises and counterfeit truths? We walk firmly, rest fully, and live victoriously in the certain triumph of the cross.
What we believe about God affects everything we do, yet we often struggle to let that belief shape our daily lives. By focusing on Jesus as the sovereign creator of the universe, Cooper highlights how true peace comes when we stop trying to control our own lives and surrender to His authority.
The Apostle Paul's radical transformation from a persecutor of the church to a passionate messenger of Christ illustrates the power of a life redirected by grace. Paul writes to the Colossians to coach them on remaining unified and focused on their mission. He reminds believers that their true identity is set apart in Christ.
How can we develop a coachable spirit that is ready to grow and serve those in need? Remembering your identity, reflecting on God's faithfulness, and embracing lifelong transformation can help your community thrive.
The Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 9, encourages believers to prepare in advance for generosity, emphasizing that it is a planned, joyful, and faith-filled act rather than an accidental one. This intentional giving reflects our trust in God's abundant provision and fuels His ongoing mission.
The common approach to improving marriage typically involves seeking external steps or advice to fix others. However, true marital improvement begins with personal responsibility, drawing a parallel to the Genesis account, in which Adam and Eve blamed others rather than taking ownership. Marriage serves as a sanctification tool, a process through which God shapes individuals to be more like Christ.
Discover why focusing on your own physical, emotional, and spiritual health is the only part of your marriage you can truly control, and how placing Jesus first in your heart transforms your ability to extend grace and love to your spouse.
In Deuteronomy chapter 6, we learn that "priority" is singular: God. This foundational truth calls us to demonstrate "love in action" in our homes, making it the first and last thing our children experience each day.
Parents are to become the primary spiritual influencers in their kids' lives and to prioritize their spouse over their children. How can you align your family's priorities to foster spiritual growth and a thriving marriage, even amidst the busyness of life?
Love is not about personal effort alone, but a commitment to love even when it is not reciprocated, mirroring God's unconditional love for us. Many couples prepare more for their wedding day than for their actual marriage, leading to widespread disappointment.
Discover how this powerful, covenant love can transform your marriage, helping you navigate challenges and grow closer together. What does it take to build a relationship that thrives through every season, rooted in a love that never fails?
God often uses our darkest moments for divine purpose. David spent 15 years in "cave seasons" between his anointing and becoming king, a period that felt like punishment but was actually God's preparation. This time strengthened his character and deepened his faith.
Discover how your own "cave seasons" might be God's way of protecting you, growing you, and preparing you for His plans. Learn practical ways to discern God's lead even in the most challenging times, and find courage to trust His timing.
In moments of fear, doubt, and hopelessness, we often find ourselves in what feels like a "cave"—a dark, isolating place. Jesus understands our weaknesses, sees potential we cannot, and promises to be our strength, transforming our perspective and empowering us beyond our limitations.
Are you currently navigating a dark season, feeling overwhelmed and inadequate? Discover how Jesus shows up in your mess, offering understanding, calling out your true identity, and providing the divine strength needed to overcome any challenge.
Even after a miraculous victory, Elijah finds himself in a "cave" of fear and exhaustion, questioning his purpose. This narrative reveals that God often speaks most clearly not in grand displays of power, but in a gentle whisper, especially when we feel most alone.
Do you find yourself in a "cave" today, feeling stuck or unable to discern God's direction? Discover how to replenish your spirit, confront your fears, and "go back the way you came" by embracing foundational practices that lead you out of darkness.
Barnabas consistently gives freely, believes deeply in others, and forgives graciously, demonstrating that generosity extends far beyond just financial contributions. His story challenges us to consider how we hold our time, plans, and comfort.
Discover how embracing a generous spirit can open your life to receive more than you imagine and transform your impact on the world. Learn to see failure as a moment, not a definition, and extend God's grace to those around you today.
Following Peter's painful denials, Jesus meets him not with condemnation, but with love, asking, "Do you love me?" This encounter highlights how Jesus replaces guilt with purpose, giving Peter a new assignment: "Feed my sheep."
Many of us carry the weight of past failures, feeling disqualified or unworthy. Discover how Jesus calls us to follow him forward, offering forgiveness that cuts the chains of shame and opens a new direction for the future.
Life often feels like a cacophony of noise, with countless voices vying for our attention. Drawing from John 10, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, reveals how his sheep learn to distinguish his calming, balanced voice from the clamor of opinions, fears, and pressures. He calls each of us by name, promising to lead us out of confusion and into a life of abundant grace and protection.
Discover how spending time with Jesus allows you to recognize his voice, trust his guidance, and step into the full, redeemed life he offers, even amidst the loudest distractions.
Jesus often challenged the established norms and expectations of his time, as exemplified by his healing of a blind man on the Sabbath. He broke numerous religious rules that had become more important than people, much like a lifeguard suspends pool rules in an emergency to save a life. Jesus prioritized human well-being and salvation over rigid adherence to man-made regulations, exposing the inappropriate authority and control exercised by religious leaders. Will you follow the rebel worth following?
Jesus asserts his power over death and his superiority over history, and ultimately declares his divine identity by saying, "Before Abraham was born, I am." This statement, echoing God's revelation to Moses, leaves no room for neutrality.
It is important to move beyond merely admiring Jesus to confronting the essential question: Who is Jesus to you? Discover why his claims demand a personal response and how your answer shapes your eternal future.
Jesus said, "I am coming soon." This declaration, echoed three times, calls believers to live with urgency while they wait. Stuart explores the signs Jesus gave in Matthew 24, from false teachers and wars to natural disasters and the global advance of the gospel.
Jesus offers an incredible deal: grace over proving yourself, love over shame, and forgiveness over guilt. Learn why Jesus delays his return and how to accept his offer of living water, ensuring you are ready for the day of judgment.
In Revelation chapter 3, Jesus critiques being lukewarm and challenges self-proclaimed richness, sight, and clothing, revealing their true spiritual state of the Laodician church as poor, blind, and naked due to their pride and self-reliance.
How does pride hinder our usefulness in God's kingdom, and what does it mean to truly walk in dependence, live distinctly, and embrace humility?
Jesus commends the Ephesians for their hard work, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to truth and doctrine. However, he also confronts them for forsaking their "first love." This powerful correction reveals a critical challenge: the church's tendency to prioritize being "right" and taking a stand over the essential, permeating characteristic of love. Discover Jesus' three-step call to remember, repent, and return to that initial, overwhelming love that should define every follower.
The book of Revelation unveils Jesus not as a timid teacher, but as the true King in all his splendor. This powerful imagery reminds us that Jesus is the perfect priest, holy and pure, whose eyes blaze with justice, and whose feet are like bronze, signifying enduring strength against all evil. He stands as judge, ensuring that all injustice will eventually come to light.
Revelation should not be seen as a cryptic timeline, but as a powerful source of encouragement and inspiration for faithful living, from the beginning of our faith journey to its end. Moreover, Revelation speaks to the spiritual warfare around us and the sovereignty of God, offering peace and purpose even in uncertain times. Learn why God's "slowness" is actually his immense patience, and how this understanding transforms our approach to faith.
We are often satisfied with what we have until we see someone else with something we don't have. This internal "money monster" of discontentment is a major source of financial struggles and foolishness. Paul, writing from prison, reveals the secret to true contentment. We can learn how to be content by trusting Jesus, being thankful for what we already have, and cultivating a heart of generosity.
Joseph's foresight in preparing for years of famine by saving during times of abundance offers a timeless blueprint for financial stability and generosity. Discover why saving money is not just a practical choice but an essential decision that protects your loved ones and blesses those around you. Learn actionable steps to cultivate financial peace and understand how these principles connect to a deeper, spiritual freedom.
One of the key principles that shapes our approach to money, stewardship, and generosity as we walk with Christ is the question of whose money it truly is. Similar to those moments when we were kids, and our parents would give us money to use or give us allowances to manage, the money was never really ours; we were managers. What we have, even what we earn, we earn with the talents and skills given to us and blessed into our lives by God himself. It is truly all his, and he has given us the honor of using a vast majority of it. When that becomes our perspective, money, stewardship, and generosity change.
Following the heart and actions of the Magi, we can choose to be intentional givers during this season. Amidst the hustle and bustle, it is sometimes valuable to take a journey from the east and hear our own heart and actions tuned into Christmas.
Day of Thanks is an exciting day at FCC. We set aside an entire morning of worship to celebrate all the wonderful things God has accomplished through FCC over the past year.
There is an illusion that somehow circumstances will produce permanent gratitude if I just have enough good things happen to me. That's fool's gold. The truth is, the root of joy is gratefulness. Joy doesn't make us grateful. Instead, gratitude makes us joyful.
During this series, we have declared: Consistency, Responsibility, Wisdom, Forgiving Spirit, Joy & Generosity. Any of these is a challenge by itself, but all six is a tall order. That’s why Stuart explained that we have to…
- Set your mind because anything worthwhile is uphill.
- Surround yourself with a NO-QUIT TEAM.
- Run for something bigger than you.
Your generosity is a matter of trust that spills all the way into eternity. When we are generous with what God is doing, we trust that He will do more with it than we thought possible. However, the second half of that trust is that we also trust that he will meet our needs, take care of what worries us, and even provide us with contentment that we haven’t been able to find on our own.
Psalm 9:9 says, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Or there’s Psalm 91:2 that says, “I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Joy is findable and attainable and consistent when we remember God is for us and our constant refuge. He did everything he did and left everything he had so he could have you. There’s joy right there—for him and for you.
Sometimes people know how to push our buttons, and we don’t want to forgive them. And we know they have evil intent. And what they’ve done was intentional. And the pain is unthinkable. And you can’t help but feel the bitterness it initially caused. But you’ve been watering that bitterness daily. And when you allow that anger to fester, it grows and it takes root. And it becomes toxic to other relationships in your life. However, when we choose forgiveness, it sets us free!
Perhaps life isn’t unfolding as you had thought it would. Maybe it’s falling apart. And you need wisdom more than you can imagine. And I promise you that God wants to give you wisdom. However, another part of it is that you are hanging around fools. And you keep asking for God’s help. And maybe God is saying. No. It’s up to you to surround yourself with the right people, walking with the wise to become wise.
Who are you blaming? You don't have the power to change that person, but you do have the power to take responsibility for your life. And it's gonna be hard, and it may take time, but I promise God will meet you there. Who are you blaming?
Where do you need to take responsibility instead of casting blame? Taking responsibility is not fun. It can hurt. But it's the only way you can move forward from "why me" to "what now?"
What's one thing you can do to be more spiritually consistent? Read your Bible every day? Pray every day? This seems very simple and very small, but small things done consistently trump big things done occasionally. You can want your life to change, and hope that it changes, or you can get intentional.
Receive it with your ears, read it with your eyes, research it with your hands and mouth, review and remember with your mind, but don't miss the step to respond to it with your actions.
What are you going to do with this book? Is it just collecting dust in your life? Are you really using it? It’s not unreliable history, bad science, or implausible claims. The evidence is too strong.
The Bible is a miracle. Sixty-six books, written by 44 different authors over 1,500 years, yet it tells a coherent story. As amazing as the Bible is, it truly comes to life when we get to know the author.
Are you ALL IN for God right now? Not just when it’s easy. Not when it’s popular. But when it costs something. When it’s quiet, when no one else sees it, God is looking for Daniels. For people who don’t chase power or attention, but chase His presence. People who would rather stand alone with God than blend in without Him.
What do you do when God asks you to do something that doesn’t make sense?” You obey God when it doesn’t make sense. You ignore detractors and keep moving forward. Finally, you maximize opportunities while the doors are open. For 120 years, people had a chance to answer God’s call, but Genesis 7:16 tells us there came a time when God closed the door, and that was it. Learn from those folks and don’t miss your opportunity.
When you feel weak, remember that God sees a warrior in you. If your strength seems small to you right now and the odds seem stacked against you, we have a God of horns, jars, and torches. He is the God who makes walls fall. He makes armies run. He makes the Red Sea part and the sun stand still. He turns water into wine. He walks on the sea. He makes the blind see and the dead walk. That same God is for you.
What if the walls that protect your peace were crumbling, leaving you vulnerable to despair? Nehemiah, who, upon hearing about the devastated state of Jerusalem, is moved to action despite the daunting challenges ahead. He reveals the immense power of prayer, and how we can boldly trust in God, anchored by faith even when faced with adversity.
God gave us this dark horse story of Esther so that we would know that even when we can’t see him on the page, He’s there. He’s right where you are right now. Don’t be afraid; be brave. You are not alone. If we are going to live courageous Dark Horse lives, we have to know that we don’t have to be the hero. The hero is writing the story behind the scenes. We have to say yes to the role he is asking us to play— for such a time as this.
We long for you to experience God’s grace in your life and be free from something you’ve struggled with for a long, long time. We don’t want anyone living with guilt and shame. But that means acknowledging what David acknowledged. That we’re all people who have sinned. And while we’d rather hide it, minimize it, or rationalize it away, owning it is the beginning of real freedom in real life.
We're just a bunch of bad people who have been saved by the only good person who ever lived-Jesus. We invite everyone else to do the same. That’s what the power and grace of Jesus does. He redeems and restores our broken lives. He washes you, sanctifies and justifies you. You are not your affair. You are not your divorce, your porn addiction, your victimization, your sexual immorality, or orientation. That no longer defines who you are. Jesus defines who you are. And he went to the cross so that you can be cleansed and be made holy and be made right with God.
Sex was divinely designed by God before sin entered the world. The same God that created sex loves you, is for you, and doesn't want you to allow this to make you feel further from or separated from God. Here’s something to know for sure about Jesus: Jesus consistently encounters sexual sinners and sexually broken people. And he never shames them, he never scolds them, he never rejects them, and casts them out. And he won’t shame or scold you either. He simply wants to love you, change you, and give you his grace.
You may be dealing with Anxiety or Depression or both, but know this: when that keeps you up at night, there is biology to it that God is fully aware of, because he knows how he made you. And some situations have caused that feeling, that emotion to spin in your brain, and He cares for you and loves you enough to know that situation too. He has provided you with tools and people who can help you hear him. And the beauty of it all is that all of it, all of it, is Spiritual because you are IN CHRIST. And HE DOES NOT go away.
We can’t fathom that he loves us that much but he does. We live with regrets because we’ve convinced ourselves that he can’t love us that much. But He does. He loves lost people and confused people and addicted people and sinful people and immoral people and rebellious people and people who think they are good people. Jesus says, “All of you who are burdened, worried, sleepless at night. Come to me and I’ll give you peace and hope and rest.” Leave your life of regret behind and take one step into a life of forgiveness and grace and love.
Our worries, concerns, and sleepless nights about parenting are greatly reduced when we are serious about fun, trust them with responsibility, discipline them with love, help them see the future, and point them to Jesus. That's what we do during the day, so it doesn't keep us up at night.
Jesus never promised an easy life, but He guaranteed that He would be with us no matter what. So, when the fear comes and we, like Peter, feel like we are drowning, all we need to do is look up and find His hand waiting to pull us up and onto firm footing.
When you've been hurt and there's bitterness and you want to hold a grudge, the way of Jesus is forgiveness. And when it wakes you up at night, the answer is forgiveness. Rest is found in forgiveness. Forgiving someone doesn't mean that you invite them back into your life. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you set yourself up to be hurt again. The whole point of Jesus's way is to move forward, not to keep looking over your shoulder at the past.
There are numerous evangelism styles: In your face style, life story style, serving style, intellectual style, relational style, invitational style. Which style are you? Remember you don’t have to be who you are not. But he has made you who you are so that armed with the power of the Holy Spirit the you that you are will be a powerful witness for him in your Jerusalem.
“Go and do likewise.” Jesus didn’t say to sit and think about what I’ve explained. He said Go and do. From the story of the Good Samaritan, we can take away this reality: Unleashing compassion is almost always inconvenient; it’s almost always messy. See the need and serve. Go and do likewise.
The Person/sinner/Tax Collector Matthew was loved and connected to Jesus. Matthew was not an outsider by his own doing. His career path and actions had disconnected him from his own people. His nationality had disconnected him from a government that paid him. But Jesus made all the connections work in the life of the disconnected.
Timothy is part of the world changers. Paul’s fingerprints are all over the first century, the first years of the church, and the New Testament. Timothy and his generation of leaders are why we’re still talking about it all. Timothy imitated Paul, who imitated Jesus. But some people imitated Timothy, and people imitated them and imitated them. We get to continue this great tradition of the faith.
Maybe you’ve been following Jesus for a long time and you’re exhausted from your fight or you’re struggling with friends leaving you or what people have said about you or you’re dealing with something that is beyond what you can bare, remember that Jesus died so He may be with you in your suffering, and remember that He rose again and will redeem your suffering.
Holy is not a simple word. It’s a weighty word, a heavy word. Holy isn’t just an adjective. Holy means “Set Apart.” When you live for the purposes of God, you are set apart. You may have all kinds of plates spinning and other things that fill your days, but they are all under the umbrella that you have been set apart—you have a holy purpose, one worth living and dying for. And Paul makes it clear. Holy is not something there because of something you are or did. It is all because of Him. God is the one who makes you holy because of Jesus.
Even when there is a separation between how we want to live and how we’ve been commanded to live, even when we disagree with truth, there is love that continues to draw us closer and closer to Jesus. Truth doesn’t call for hatred of those who aren’t following the truth. Truth is a standard set in motion for us to obey. When my kids don’t obey me, I don’t hate them. I love them. I hurt for them, and I may even hurt because of their disobedience, but I continue to speak the truth and believe that the truth is still what’s best.
The ability to look like Jesus doesn't take a program or an organized event. We’re provided with moments, little moments, non-headline moments, to serve others. We are on mission when our lives reflect Jesus. When we serve others like Jesus served others in the little things and in the details of life, we are on mission. FCC seeks to be a place that serves others.
The aroma of love can brush by the senses of the people in the world, and we are drawn to it. Most of all, it is who God wants us to be. We love because he first loved us, and we honor him when we love. That fragrance is not just attractive to the world around us, but it's pleasing to God. This is who we should be.
Why do we love God, Why do we gather to sing songs, learn from his Word, pray to him and worship him in everything we do? From the moment we ever knew him he has been all of these roles for us. He is savior from the moment he is also creator and teacher. Most importantly he loved us first.
What does it mean to be first? Were we first in town? Are we #1? Or is first about service, witness, and mimics of Jesus? Through Jesus' teachings on connection and humility, we begin to see who we truly are and why we truly are.
This world tries to offer us hope through a lot of broken avenues and they all, every one of them, come up short of providing us sustainable hope. God is saying, "I promise I have something WAY better than the stuff of this world! You can't see it, but trust me!" When we think about heaven and think about it, we see the world differently. We start living as citizens of heaven, living for eternity. Heaven is not only our destination but our inspiration, our motivation.
You are already blessed with every spiritual blessing. This is the Christmas Bonus Jesus provided for us all year round. It's not that God will give you what you need, but He already has given you these things. He has already blessed you with every spiritual blessing and it brought Him great pleasure to do so. So, this week, when you look in the mirror, remember how God sees you. Because that is who you really are.
Stop complaining and start delegating. Start letting go. Start leaning into the things that matter and release those that don’t. And in that, you will receive the riches of life. I love this quote by Ben Stein. He said: “I cannot tell you anything that, in a few minutes, will tell you how to be rich. But I can tell you how to feel rich, which is far better. Be grateful. Be grateful about everything, and you’ll feel a lot richer than the billionaires I know who are always moaning about everything that happens. It’s the only totally reliable get-rich-quick scheme."
Who is that person who encouraged, supported, challenged, or lifted you up? If you were to sit down and write a closing to a letter and you wanted to pay tribute and honor to those who you are so grateful for, people who have brought great meaning to your life, who would they be? Think about it. Who would you thank God for? Is there someone out there who would write your name down?
The Word of God is not a burden or a task. When the seed falls on your life, does it take root and grow in you? When you spend time in God's Word -Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control, start to show up in your life. That's the goal. It's not about a quota of chapters or finishing the pages in a certain number of days. It's about letting the seed take root in you, even if it's just for a moment each day.
Ponder the achievement of God. He doesn’t condone our sin, nor does he compromise his standard. He doesn’t ignore our rebellion, nor does he relax his demands. Rather than dismiss our sin, he assumes our sin and, incredibly, sentences himself. God’s holiness is honored. Our sin is punished… and we are redeemed. God does what we cannot do so we can be what we dare not dream: perfect before God. -Max Lucado
Baptism is the culmination of unwavering trust in Jesus. It is going all in with Jesus. After all he's done for you, it is your commitment and unwavering trust in him. This is not just a ceremony or some optional event. This is how Jesus asked us to express our belief in him.
Does forgiveness mean that you step right back into a hurtful relationship? No. Does forgiveness mean that you just forget what you learned from an experience? No. But you forgive because it was modeled for you and you forgive because forgiveness will set you free.
May we live uncommon lives filled with joy that exceeds our current circumstances. May we live uncommon lives filled with peace amid great uncertainty? May we live uncommon lives that cling to hope in the midst of fear? May we live uncommon lives for God's sake to draw a watching world to the hope we've found.
Men and women just like Peter who failed, had flaws and sins, and were shaky on their own, that God started and built his church. So many people just like Peter started to make sure people heard about Jesus, and all these years later, it's because of Peter and people just like Peter who were used by Jesus that the news of Jesus' grace has reached your ears right here at First Christian Church.
Faith in Jesus doesn’t erase hardships. We still cry, we mourn at loss, and we are still saddened by our fallen world. But you can remind yourself that it will be okay. You will still be hurt. You will still be wounded. But we know that one day, our wounds will be healed because, as Isaiah 53 says, “by his wounds, we are healed.” Peter explains that an unshakable faith praises God, has a firm hope, and rejoices no matter what.
To be obedient to God’s calling in our lives, it is essential we allow the big stones, the most important things, to go on our calendar first. Those things are spending time in God’s Word, taking time to pray, being connected in community (Life Group), sharing with others by participating financially, and finally, serving and giving your greatest commodity, your time.
The story of Ruth is a beautiful story that could be an entire series in and of itself. But specifically, the story as it pertains to Boaz's role in her life and her pursuit of that relationship, gets very close to each of us. In the family of God, not only are we accepted, but through Jesus, we are redeemed. What Boaz did in marrying Ruth was more than just a moment of romance. It was a moment of grace.
Solomon’s wisdom is the same wisdom and growth available in our lives. Just like Solomon, we have the opportunity to seek God’s wisdom and allow it to shape every aspect of our lives. Wisdom is not a “static trait,” although it is dynamic in shaping our decisions, relationships, and perspectives. By pursuing wisdom, we too can experience a transformation that impacts not only our personal lives but also those around us.
The four-fold strategy for FCC and how we're going to do anything we're going to do is we're going to pray first, rely on the power of God, Keep our Eyes on Jesus, and Praise. How about that for you? Can you do it? Can you learn from this guy who was in a battle he never chose? Instead of panic, fear, or worry, will you pray first, rely on God's power, keep your eyes on Jesus even when you don't know what to do, and praise him for all he has done?
Liz Curtis Higgs wrote, “If God can turn a harlot into a holy vessel, entrusting her with the very genes that would one day produce the King of kings, surely those of us with a past can leave our shame in the rubble and walk away, fixing our eyes on the One who washes us white as snow.”
Human nature says I will do everything necessary to keep my hands on the wheel because I know what's best for me. But if we can get to a place where we recognize that we don't know best, God knows best, that would be a huge win. You may have to let him dislocate some things and quit pretending about who you are. He will take the real you, who you can be when you take your hands off the wheel and choose His way. He will take you who you are and bless you.
Only you know your complete story; right now, it may seem like you’re headed uphill. You may have something that feels like a no-win situation. Or you're in a wait-and-see moment where it is completely out of your control. You can't see or understand, but learn from Abraham-Faith never runs out of time.
Solomon wrote, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” (Proverbs 4:23-24)
The more often we recognize how unevenly weighted our words are and how heavy our words are to my kids, the better we can avoid saying what we don’t mean to say or letting our intent get lost. Mark Batterson writes in his new book, Please, Sorry, Thanks, “Your words create worlds.” However, we get to determine what those worlds look like.
When we fall into old temptations, our natural inclination is isolation. We hide our mess. We cover our failure, but when we share the secret, the secret loses its power. Is it a risk to share your vulnerability with someone else? Absolutely. Is it even more risky to keep it hidden and let it grow? Absolutely. But this isn't about sharing your secrets with just anyone. It's about trusting people with whom you are in community.
When we believe and trust that God loves us and is for us and has created us, provides for us, and saves us, our Primal Questions can be used to direct our primal role on earth. Once we feel safe, we feel driven to help others feel safe. When we feel wanted, we want to ensure others feel wanted. When we feel successful, we want to help others succeed. When the questions drive us in our role because we know what God says about us, we move out of codependent relationships.
Conflict arises because we don’t have what we want. It is Temporary. The fastest way to change your heart is to pray for the other person. Resolution to your conflict involves softening your heart. It requires an eternal perspective and focusing on the things of Heaven.
You are set up for relational success when God is the center of your relationship and the motivation within your relationship. Remember, every relationship in your life takes risks, effort, and authenticity from you. Good Relationships are POSSIBLE, but they're not PROBABLE. Out of reverence to God and all that he has done for you, as the #1 reflection of God's love for your spouse, submit to one another out of love, respect, and sacrifice.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your kids is their own authentic faith. A faith where they can choose, on their own, how to cling to what is good, how to cling to God when life hammers them, how to hate and turn away from evil, wrong, and what will damage them.
Jesus knew 2,000 years ago that there would be people who were different, people we don't get along with, people in the church who have hurt us or frustrated us, and different churches down the street. His prayer is that we would be like a body, that despite our different parts, differences, and uniqueness, we would work together in the mission of sharing the gospel to people of all nations, tribes, and tongues.
The tyranny of what others have said about you is not what's most important. The words you say about yourself tend to resonate and roll around in your head in those dark moments; what you say about yourself is not what is most important. What God has already said about you is what is most important to you.
The Father of Lies is looking for someone to devour and masquerades as an angel of light so he can kill, steal, and destroy. One way he does that is by getting us to make decisions solely based on how we feel, believe things that we feel are right even when ignoring facts, and base our identity on how we feel in the moment. Real life, however, comes through living life in the Spirit, who leads us to love, joy, and peace.
The Father of lies wants you to believe you are what you've done. He wants to fill you with shame. But Shame has an enemy. And the enemy of shame is amazing grace. Amazing grace lifts our heads. Shame is the language of the father of lies. Amazing grace is the voice of Jesus in the dirt with you telling you you are worthy of love and deserving of forgiveness right now; not later, not after you fix something, not after you prove that you're worthy of love, but right now, in this moment, just as you are.
We have an unseen enemy who wants us to believe things that aren’t true so stay in the struggle. But, our Heavenly Father wants us to know and live in the truth. The truth is He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, and he's the ancient of days, he's the ruler of rulers, he's the leader of leaders, he's the overseer of the overcomers, he's the sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.
Easter is an incredible accomplishment by God. But Easter is a moment of Hope for you. He is offering you a gift—the gift of grace, the gift of hope, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the gift that washes away sin, regret, mistakes, and bad choices and gives you hope for life and death. This is a moment of hope.
Walking around this world can sometimes feel like we have stepped off on another planet or gotten out of a time machine somewhere in the future where nothing makes sense. And we get offended. And we can choose to get offended, draw the lines between us and them, decide that this place is just crazy, and hole up only with people who think like us. Or, we can seek to understand, share to be understood, and speak the truth in love.
The momentum of the church and the Holy Spirit is happening in significant ways and crazy ways and unexpected ways. And it is pretty clear that the Holy Spirit still works this way. But it’s not always according to our plan. It’s about flexibility. The longer we have followed Jesus, the longer we are a church in the community, the harder flexibility is, and the more we have to work at it. But the mission and the message never change. But there are still plenty of spaces and places to be flexible.
Conflict and debate can still lead us to good places. Let's not run from conflict. But if we can all seek to find the best way forward, then we are ready to let the Holy Spirit guide us to the best way forward. Even with the political season ahead and the continued pressure on social issues, I'm not interested in finding the most popular answer or the one that brings the loudest cheer. Stay tuned in to God's Word, Prayer, and the discernment of the Holy Spirit God to guide you forward in the best way.
Christians out-gave the U.S. Government in addressing global poverty in 2022. Built into the fabric of the church of Jesus' followers is a mission of others first and the message that Jesus came for everyone. Our nation will be poorer morally and ethically if that ever goes away.
When the mission given to us by Jesus reached stage three and started to spread to the ends of the earth, the church became the hope of the world. And it still is. We have been called to step into the mission and share the message.
The church has continued to increase all these years and is filled and surrounded by similar people. People who were Stubbornly confused. People who were willingly gracious and people who were encouragingly strong. You're one of those, or your circle may be large enough and diverse enough that you have the potential to be all of those. If you're stubbornly curious about the truth of God, chase that curiosity. If you are prompted by grace, don't let it be reluctant grace but willing grace. And if you have the clout to be an encouraging strength for someone, move and prop them up.
We know stress, and many of us have lived out the damaging way that stress can affect us. But with the Holy Spirit’s strength, presence, and power, we can weather the storms and be resilient. And God can even use those moments to keep us on mission with him.
Physically, emotionally, mentally, and relationally, Jesus was put through it for you and me. He went through it. He didn’t run from it or cheat his way around. This sounds weird to say, but he weathered the storm of death to save you and me.
What we see on display in Acts 2 and 4 as Luke pauses to describe the common activity of the church is special. When the followers participate with the Holy Spirit, we see a Learning Church, a Worshipping Church, a Sharing Church, and a Praying Church, and the result is a Happy Church. They are happy to participate in what’s happening all around them.
Happiness is attractive. Together, they were happy— and people wanted in.
The Holy Spirit gives us discernment and wisdom and allows us to be boldly limitless when it comes to Jesus. We’ve seen it right here at FCC. When we trust in God, stay connected to God, and trust the Holy Spirit, he exceeds what we think is possible. We will be “filled with the Holy Spirit” when we dare to do what could never be accomplished on our own strength, insight, skills, or boldness. He can do immeasurably more than all we hope or imagine. His name is limitless. So be bold!
It all comes back to Jesus. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. And now that the Holy Spirit is part of it, He helps us witness for Jesus, respond like Jesus, and point to Jesus. The unexpected, remarkable, and surprising happen through the Holy Spirit. He still works the same way in your life, relationships, and moments. Sometimes, it is noticeable and recognizable. Sometimes, it’s common and ordinary.
The new part of the story as we enter the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit. He blends with the personalities and passions of disciples to do the extraordinary. The Holy Spirit was Promised, then Present and Powerful through the church. He is exactly that today. So when we talk about serving, sharing, inviting, teaching, greeting, or worshiping, it’s not just what you can do on your own. You are not just you. You, as a follower of Jesus, you are you and the promised, present, and powerful Holy Spirit. If we can get this, it will change how we live.
The Bible is God inspired, true, sufficient, brilliantly written, and trusted by Jesus, and it keeps and moves us forward on the path closer to Jesus. The Bible is also a miracle. One book was written by multiple authors of varied backgrounds and ethnicities over hundreds of years, yet it tells one story without error or contradiction. That alone is a miracle.
Being a parent means your role is always changing. When your kids are small, you’re in the Discipline Years, teaching right and wrong and consequences. As they age and begin school, you move into the Training Years, explaining the why behind all those rules you taught. Then the teen years become the Coaching Years where you seek to connect more than you correct so that when you enter the Friendship Years (18+), you are consulted for input and advice.
When we look back on our lives, there have been some dark hours. We’ve all wrestled with sleepless nights where we wake up thinking, “What if, what if, what if?” But God has shown us how to move from anxiety to peace. Peace is found between the pillars of God’s goodness and His control. That same peace is activated when our prayers move from general to specific.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. And he wants to quiet your mind and settle you down; He wants us all to eliminate unhealthy anger that is poisoning our lives, relationships, country, and world. May we put down our swords and our unhealthy anger and be quick to listen, slow to speak … and take up our crosses and follow our King
There is a Father who loves us – a good shepherd who wants to lead us to green pastures and beside still water and restore our souls. If you are struggling with depression one of the best things you can do is make a list of all the good things in your life. Check out the daily gratitude journal on the What’s On Your Mind page. You might need to schedule an appointment with a mental health professional.
The truth is – you are not alone, you are not hopeless, you are not worthless, you are not helpless. God is for you and is with you.
As far as the Master of Generosity is concerned, as it matters to the one who can protect, heal, rewrite, and forgive, He wants to give lavishly of his unending generosity. This is who Jesus was and what Jesus taught. If you’ve been given the impression that He’s exclusive, He’s inclusive. If you’ve been given the impression that He’s judgmental, He’s forgiving. If you’ve been given the impression that He’s burdensome, He actually wants to lighten your load. He has prepared a table for you in the presence of all that is ugly in this world, and there’s plenty of room for you.
Jesus is fun. It's not like he used to be fun, and now he's not fun. He's fun. He is not stiff and stodgy, and he's not judgmental even though he's the only one who can be. He speaks of his fun nature when he says, 'my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.' He loves you, and he gets you. He did everything possible to lighten the load and pave the way for you to enjoy his joy. But it's still your choice.
Accessing your Best life is about being the person you are because of Jesus now rather than later. Accessing your best life is not about changing anything about you; it's about living out the change that’s been made in you. Holy Spirit God is showing you a path of selflessness because that is how his love is shared, which leads people closer to Jesus.
It is frustrating when the government increases taxes instead of doing the hard work of cutting spending or pushing through legislation we disagree with. However, if we want to bring about change, the best thing we can do is submit to the current governmental system, pay our required taxes, honor the current leaders, and focus our energy on the mission Jesus gave us (Matthew 28). If we do that, we might find more Christ-followers at the polls the next time we vote.
Our ultimate goal as Christians is to become more like Jesus. And that happens through creating healthy spiritual habits and spending time with him and his word. And if we treasure him and desire him above all else and trust in him to do work in us, then we will begin to see ourselves form into the image of Jesus because of the work he will do through us. That is how we access our best life.
You can’t logic, pay your way, or copy your way toward God’s will for your life. His will for your life is specific to you, and if you worship him as an offering, not just here for a couple of hours, but throughout the rest of your life too, his will, will show itself to you.
However, God does not promise that the careless, the casual, and the uncommitted won’t find that they will know and live God’s will by accident. So, Is your life an offering of celebration to God? Is your life different? Are you open to his will for you?
When we all better understand that God is the source who has given a variety of gifts to help strengthen the church, we start to understand better where and why we are wired up the way that we are. But please, don’t go into hiding; we are all needed. Paul says if your gift is this, then do it; if it’s this, then do it. Don’t sit on the sidelines, don’t hide, and don’t check out. None of us can do this on our own, and there’s so much that needs to be done that the staff at FCC is not gifted to do. We are better together.
When fear threatens to take over this time, remind yourself that fear and remind yourself that you have the unbreakable love of God. You have a salty resolve galvanized by the unbreakable love of God. That was where the heroes of faith were before you; bold, brave, fearless fence-hoppers, creek jumpers, and tree climbers of faith. And when your faith follows the Spirit of God, it’s who you will be.
Pay attention to the Spirit. Choose to walk in the Spirit because God has the right, holy, lawful step and path for you in every part of your life. Holy Spirit, God is speaking into your life in the big and small moments. And lots of times, we hear him, but we fail to move. Pay attention to the Spirit and not the world, and then choose to walk in the Spirit and not the world.
Have you accepted God’s gift of grace. The gift is still there and God is anticipating your decision to accept that gift, to take it, unwrap it and accept it as you own. He is still waiting with great excitement for you to believe, repent, confess and be baptized in the name of Jesus. The truth is we, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…but God demonstrates his own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The puzzle pieces are all there, and you can begin putting them together. There is a method that works best that Jesus gave to us. Intentional time spent with God helps us better spend time with people we already know and then time committed to serving people we might not know so well they can experience the Love of God.
Love God, Love People & Serve Others.
Your vision is to lead people closer to Jesus through conversations, invitations, introductions, generosity, and service. Our church has a responsibility to be all about sharing Jesus, but more importantly, so do you. Your 2023 can get a fresh start and a fresh focus — not on something you haven’t done before or something you’re not. Instead, if you are a follower of Jesus and you call him Lord, your vision is to lead people closer to Jesus.
Emmanuel, God with us, left his role as High King of Heaven to enter this broken world. He was emptied of all his prerogatives and rank to stretch out his arms as a servant on the wood of the cross as a substitute for you and me; so that we might have eternal life. The baby we celebrate in a manger today, Emmanuel, is the savior and king, and servant that we couldn’t begin to understand we needed. But because of him, eternal life and joy are available instead of condemnation.”
For that, we praise Him because we all get to say, “Whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
The announcement of the Light of the World was filled with light. “The glory of the Lord shown around them.” The Light of the World was announced with light. He was the Light, and the darkness could not overcome him.
Faith and trust in the Lord require obedience. Mary and Joseph were obedient to the angels who delivered God’s word to them despite facing social struggles, financial difficulties, and the stress of being the parents of the Messiah. They were obedient and faithful that God would provide when traveling the 90-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem through tough terrain and rough conditions to fulfill God’s prophecy from long ago. They had faith and trust when they arrived in an overcrowded Bethlehem where there was no comfortable room for them, where Jesus was born in primitive conditions in a stable surrounded by animals.
Who does God announce the arrival of Jesus to? Not royalty or the highest elected official. The first announcement came to a bunch of lowly outcasts. What does that teach you about your Heavenly Father?
Stuart said, “The shepherds learned through the words of the anthem sung right in front of them that Peace was possible. Not peace through war or diplomacy or signing any contracts or laws. It was peace offered eternally to those on whom the favor of God rests. To those who would accept the present and gift being offered (for throughout history, many have rejected this gift from God).”
Is there something you’re longing for, something for which you’ve been searching for quite some time or maybe just for a few months? Perhaps you’ve searched for a better job, a godly mate or for a closer relationship with God.
The Bible gives us unexpected direction in our search through the story of the wise men. They had been on a long journey and sought guidance as to where to go in their pursuit of the “newborn king of the Jews.” After asking for help upon arrival in Jerusalem, they chose to continue following the star to Bethlehem. Who will you choose for direction in your search—a trusted friend, a co-worker or will you turn to God for guidance?
Day of Thanks 2022 is a Sunday dedicated to sharing stories of God’s goodness and blessing experienced by FCC over the past year.
Keep searching, and don’t give up on a quest to understand more and more, but trust that your God knows it all. Trust because of his past successes, victories, explanations, and evidence. He is in control and has what you don’t get. Only through trust do we move from Disorientation to a New Orientation.
Feelings of orientation, disorientation, and new orientation are all positive and negative feelings captured in the book of Psalms. These moments and emotions recorded all those thousands of years ago make sense because they are experienced in our life too. Moments of gratitude, moments of anguish and pain, and joy have been preserved to help us in all our seasons of life.
When we immerse ourselves in the abundant life, Holy Spirit God will use that commitment to impact people in your sphere of influence. He is the Vine and we are the branches and there are households waiting for those empowered by God to REACH out to them.
A life of community, growth and support is a special thing. Stuart quoted Malcolm Gladwell who called this type of community, “Magic.” Biblical community is so incredible that it seems magical. Experience the magic, join a group today: fccetown.com/lifegroups
Generosity has its foundations in the ability to do more than what we thought we could do. To reuse, renew and recycle what we have for the purposes of others and the purposes of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Worship provides us with the opportunity to focus on our God. And when we focus on him, when we truly see him in comparison to who we are, we are undone. We are met with our inadequacies, his superiority and our fortune to be in a relationship with him. It’s why we worship and why worship. Authentic worship truly undoes who we think we are without him.
We were created to serve. Therefore, when we serve we are fulfilled, and fulfilled people are happy people! Also, how on earth do we show Jesus to our world without serving. How do you present a God who is the ultimate servant to the world without serving in some way?
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. -1 Corinthians 15:58
Serving allows us to express our gratitude and it allows us to invest and be a part of something much greater than ourselves. All of us have 100 reasons to stay in the locker room, but that’s not where the action is. That’s not life-giving. Your faith family needs everyone to be involved.
God wants us to work and has given us gifts and talents to work differently in this world. But, none of us work hard enough or in some unique way to earn our most incredible help from God. God helps those who ask. God helps those who are weak and who are in over their head. None of us have done enough work at any point to earn the grace he has given us. Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning."
The comment of, "love the sinner and hate the sin," puts the emphasis and focus on everybody else and identifies how to view and respond to everyone else. When was the last time you confessed to God or asked God to convict you of any sin?
Money is not bad. Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money. The obsession with money. The stranglehold of money is the root of all kinds of evil. These attitudes toward money are the root of evil, not the inanimate object itself.
The cure for these attitudes is not more money to satisfy us—instead, its generosity.
God will never give you more than you can handle. When we get to the point where we can’t handle it anymore, that’s when God takes over. That’s when HE becomes most visible in me and powerful through me; when I can’t handle it, and I know I can’t handle it, God flexes his muscles and takes over, for when I can’t handle it, he is strong. Because life is more than any of us can handle.
Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. There are some crucial times when words are needed. Sometimes people need to hear the weight of the words that matter, but sometimes the greatest gift you can give in a moment, in a season, into a relationship happens when you remember quick-slow-slow and say nothing.
Receiving forgiveness from God sets us free but saying, "I forgive you," to others, keeps us free.
Forgiveness isn't forgetting something that happened, condoning their actions, and forgiveness is not dependent on someone admitting their wrong. Forgiveness is the willingness to let someone go free. When we make that decision, we often find that the person set free is us!
The more we think we deserve, the less thankful we are. Saying "Thank you" helps us focus on what we have instead of what we don't have. When we're focused on what we do have instead of what we don't, it does incredible things for us mentally and for others. When we say thank you out loud, when we remember to come back and express feelings of gratitude, good things happen to us, and maybe to others too. Best of all, thankful people are contagious people. The grateful attitude is magnetic.
When was the last time you said I love you? When was the last time you said I love you to Jesus?
There are many ways to convey to Jesus I love you. Our baptism is the initial way we say I love you to Jesus. We can say it in our prayer time instead of presenting Him with needs and wants. We can sing it in worship when we lift our voices instead of letting others do it. We have so many ways to say it, but the most important thing is to say it.
Godly sorrow can see, godly sorrow leads to repentance, and godly sorrow always leads to confession. God’s goal is not to make you feel bad or beat you up. Instead, God’s truth helps you see the way, see the sin, confess the wrong, and move away from it. As you will learn, David set a clear example of following these steps, so allow his example to be a blueprint for you. When we confess our sin to our Heavenly Father, he forgives us. Just as important, though, the enemy loses power over us.
We don’t have to be afraid of questions, because God is not afraid of questions. So use your doubt as the way to grow stronger in your faith than ever before. God says bring me your doubt. Bring me your questions. He is big enough and great enough to handle them all. He says, “Bring all of your doubt and your questions so I can show you what is true and real.”
We are to be a light in this dark world, but we are never alone. We are never alone in the conversations we have with others. God has given us the Holy Spirit. His power and his presence live within us to enable us to be a light. We aren’t rolling solo. So, be bold! Be courageous! We live in a world in desperate need of the light of Jesus. God created you specifically for a reason to reach people who can only be reached by someone like you. Be bold. God is with you.
The church is for the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame, the people who have made bad mistakes, people who are not okay. The church includes messy people. The good news is Jesus is not afraid of messy people. Jesus doesn’t run from messy people; he runs to messy people. Therefore the church can’t be a place that says, “Once you become like us, and act like us – then you can become a part of us.” Everything about Jesus echoes his desire to leave the place of security and comfort to go to the dark places or the broken people. As believers, we reflect that attitude and willingness to go to them instead of expecting them to come to us.
Care and courage. Matthew showed care for those he knew and he had the courage to invite them all over so they could meet Jesus. In this message Stuart challenges us all to care enough about someone to daily pray specifically for them, and have the courage to invite them to come to a service or special event here at FCC. Who are five people you know who need the light of Jesus? Pray specifically for these people. Who needs a bold invitation from you? Have the courage to invite because the worst they can do is say no, so invite boldly!
Sadly only 30% of Americans feel fulfilled in their job, meaning 70% of the people we see every day don’t like the thing that most people use to define them. The alternative is to allow Jesus to define us. By doing so, we become known by faith, love, and hope. You have an identity in Christ no matter what has happened, where you’ve been, or who you have been. Jesus died and rose again so you could have a new identity defined by who He is. Therefore, choose to be defined by the eternal, not the temporal.
As the church, we need to one another, one another. How do we do that? We share with one another by giving our time, finances, and empathy. We also share what we know with one another truth, hope and how magnificent our Heavenly Father is. We live in a broken world, unfriendly to the church and desperate for Jesus. Therefore, let us one another, one another to build up the body and show those on the outside why they should be a part of the church.
Leading people closer to Jesus requires action. Inviting, speaking, and loving are all action steps. What actions are you taking to lead people closer to Jesus? Do the people in your life have an open invitation to FCC? Are you gossiping about the gospel? Do you love the unloved and tough to love? We hope that you will answer yes to all of those questions by the end of this year.
Sometimes in the church we forget who our real enemy is. It is Satan, and he is a liar, and deceiver who only seeks to cause chaos in the lives of those who follow Jesus. As a result it is essential that the church follow Acts 2 being fully committed to biblical teaching, fellowship with one another, breaking bread and prayer. However, that is not enough. The church must be willing to fight spiritually because people need Jesus, and our fight makes a difference.
When “home” is more than a feeling, when God takes up residency in our hearts, and our heart becomes his home. What happens when the warmth of Christmas lasts longer than December? What happens to the compartments of our life when Jesus has a home in us? He redecorates, and it changes who we are, how we live, and what we’re living for.
Fear is the thief of dreams and peace and joy. What keeps you from taking a risk, setting aside your fears, and taking a step of faith where you feel called. Trust your Heavenly Father and the plan He has for you, even if it seems risky and even if it differs from what you have in mind.
May the courage of two young kids in the first century who were tasked with bringing the Savior into the world inspire you to set your fears aside and take a step. With a bit of courage and trust, God can do far more than you could ever imagine.
Grace, truth, and time. Who in your world could use one of those from you? Who in your world could use a little grace, truth, and time this Christmas, but for one reason or another, you don’t want to give them anything?
Our hope is that the people of FCC will be givers of grace, truth, and time this Christmas because our world is desperate for all three!
Jesus came to us in an obscure part of this world amid social outcasts, yet a couple of millennia later, it is his birthday we celebrate, not the birthday of the One who thought he was a gift to the world. Instead, the One whose birthday was indeed a gift to the world do we remember.
Therefore, a gift as incredible as Jesus is worthy to share, talk about, and get excited about. We should all take a note from the shepherds. They were so moved and so overwhelmed by what they had witnessed they couldn’t be quiet. Their social status and insecurities were no match for their excitement. We hope that the reminder of God’s goodness seen through the gift of Jesus would overwhelm you!
We live in a world that doesn't like risky. Our culture wants guarantees, warranties, and return policies. God, however, has never called us to any of those things because security, peace, and trust are only found in Him.
When you think about what you want to be remembered for, chances are, the answer to that question cannot be realized without taking some risk and "putting yourself out there," trusting that our Heavenly Father can and will do what He said He would do. Right now, what "step into the Jordan" is God calling you to take that is beyond where you are?
Joshua and Caleb believed God for what was Beyond. They believed God could be trusted while ten other men did not. Which one are you? The challenge is to go against the voice of the majority and choose to believe God will do what you can’t, yet remembering God will not do what we will not do. Trusting God is easier when regularly refresh ourselves with reminders of His faithfulness to us in the past.
God values who he creates. God stands beside who he creates. God stands up for who he creates. Knowing that, why would we listen to anyone or anything else?
Who do you listen to? Do you listen to the one who says you can’t, you aren’t or you never will be, or so you listen to the One who says you can, you are and you will be because I made you, know you and have your back.
The More Paradox convinces us that we have never arrived. As soon we accomplish or acquire we immediately wonder if we could accomplish more or acquire more. What would it look like if we were not focused on more job, more house, more money or more car, but focused on more kingdom, more Jesus, and more serving? What if, instead of our discontent with stuff, we were Holy Discontent. Discontent with people being separated from Jesus. Instead of more stuff, we sought more life-change, more healing of families, more baptisms, and more ministries at FCC? What would that look like?
The phrase, “What’s true for you isn’t true for me,” seems true at first glance. However, it is actually a scary story because that statement is so untrue. If any two people jump out of an airplane the exact same thing will happen. Why? Truth exists. Gravity bends for no one and there is a global truth that applies to ALL people.
The thoughts and opinions of people do not carry the authority to alter the truth. Those who witnessed it wrote about it and taught about it. Peter wrote, “For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes.” Jesus is truth and since He is truth, then what is your response?
John Mark Comer, author of "Live No Lies," wrote, "We just assume that the way to a happy, flourishing life is to follow our hearts, which we often misunderstand to be any authentic desire...Happiness has become about feeling good, not being good. The good life has become about getting what we want, not becoming the kind of people who want truly good things."
There are essentially two options: The truth that does not bend and does not change no matter how many people follow the lie. And the other categorically, sandy foundations are the lies from the father of lies that will not weather the storms and get lost in the fog. Don't follow your heart. Lead your heart to Jesus.
Most Eastern mysticism revolves around the idea of discovering the divine within us, but Paul makes it clear to the philosophers in Athens that their “unknown god” could be known and He is not to be found within ourselves. In this message we will see that God can be searched for and He can be found. In fact, He isn’t far from each one of us.
The church, the body of Christ exists to do many things. It exists to build you up, it exists so that we are built up together as the body, and finally so that the church is built up. The truth is, that moment when people other than the Leaders start doing, start volunteering, start serving, the mission accelerates and the impact goes deeper. The more people who chose to get involved increase the impact of our faith family. More importantly, they increase the Kingdom impact of FCC.
One of the most difficult talking points for any church and any Christian is often money and giving. However, giving isn’t all about following rules, but about what generosity does for the Kingdom and for us. Generosity advances the Gospel, generosity shares Jesus, and generosity transforms you. Generosity is good for the Gospel, it is good for the church, but it is just as good for you.
Life groups should provide fellowship opportunities, learning about God through His Word, and serving in some capacity. Have you joined a life group and found that you enjoy the fellowship and learning about God, but you’re not crazy about that service aspect?
Most of us think of service as a physical activity like mowing someone’s yard or helping someone move when they cannot do it. However, service can be as simple as praying for someone or simply listening to someone share their problems. Even more personally, service may be humbly accepting help from others in your life group during a particularly difficult time in your life. Service is not just a giving process but sometimes, it’s an accepting action on your part.
Fellowship, trust and care are essential elements of biblical community and essential elements of community among believers today. We believe Life Groups create the best environment for developing these essential elements, and the spiritually significant relationships that we all need in our lives. The truth is if Jesus needed community, then so do we.
When it comes to the other parts of your week that don’t show up on your schedule as church time are there times when you approach and spend time with the One who gave everything for you? Do you set aside time so the Father has your full attention, affection, and adoration?
Maybe the first step, maybe the most comfortable step, maybe the most known step of following Jesus these days is the idea of corporate worship. When we sing with others, laugh with others, give with others, learn with others, and commune with others we feel like we have “churched”. This collective effort is a vital part of our effort to be a disciple.
God is big enough to forgive your sins; whatever they may be, whenever they may be and however many of them there may be. But if you deny him, he will deny you. If you wanted his grace and then decide with your life and your words and your heart that you don’t want that grace anymore, he will give you the desires of your heart. So be on guard and live for grace.
It is one thing to be against Homosexuality and to recognize that the Bible rejects the practice of same-sex lifestyles, but it is another to be against Homosexuals and villainize people because they are living a lifestyle that goes against God’s will for their life. We are all sinners. Christ died for all of us because all of us, apart from him, live lifestyles that go against God’s will for our life. Without Jesus, we will all stand before God as sinners. And if you are a follower of Jesus, then you know the grace that covers your sin.
Have you ever run across a Facebook post requesting prayer for an individual and then realize that individual is a child? Does your heart go out to that precious one, even though it's someone you may not know personally? Then do you think about what those parents are going through as they make decisions as to how best to care for that child? These moments expose how broken this world is. Yet, we wonder why a child has to suffer, why parents have to go through such anguish making needed decisions. However, our task is to do what we originally agreed to do when we heard about the child. We need to pray. Instead of wondering why suffering exists, we need to be diligent in prayer.
It is hard to envision a loving God asking the Israelites to wipe out groups of people, including women and children? This can be confusing as well the difference between the God in the Old Testament and the God in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, He destroys, seems angry, and punishes and hardens hearts. In the New Testament, He is loving, kind, and forgiving. How do we reconcile these two portrayals of God?
How will we know/recognize our loved ones once we reach Heaven? Will my grandfather be young, and will he know me or my son when we reach Heaven, and will I know him? For those who truly believe in Heaven. The tougher question is how will we be happy there for eternity if we have loved ones who are not believers? Do were forget them? Why would we be separated from those we love dearly, or have given birth to?
Poetry reigns in the imagery of the Tree of Life. The presence of the tree in the Garden was the picture of God’s want for our relationship. A tree that would need no work or effort from us to survive. Trees are the longest living parts of our earth that do not really need our help to survive. The Tree of Life in the Garden was to constantly be with mankind, but it was coupled with the temptation of the other tree. The presence of this same everlasting, ever-giving tree is so familiar and loving in Revelation. But noticeably absent is the other tree of temptation and sin. There will not be any purpose or presence of that in the paradise of heaven.
In the book of Mark, Jesus curses and allows the withering of a fig tree to teach His disciples that some people can appear religious on the outside but are truly dead on the inside. Jesus encourages true followers of the Lord to be faithful, pray boldly and display the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. There is an emphasis to be attached to the Lord (the vine), so true Christians can bear fruit. Jesus states, in the end, it’s essential for Christians to show the world how to be fruitful, genuine disciples of Christ, mirroring the true character of God.
“Moses spent 40 years thinking he was somebody, 40 years learning he was a nobody, and 40 years discovering what God can do with a nobody.”
-D.L. Moody
Near the end of his 40 years of “learning he was a nobody,” God appeared to Moses through the burning bush. Moses’ willingness to acknowledge God altered the remainder of his life for the better.
There are burning bushes all around us, and our Heavenly Father beckons us to look. God reveals Himself to us all. We choose to notice God as Moses did or ignore Him. Are you willing to acknowledge Him, respond to Him, listen to Him, and allow Him to remodel you for the better?
God is over all, through all and in all. Our Heavenly Father is sovereign. Those little phrases such as, “it just so happened,” are those moments when His sovereignty is noticed.
God is rarely conspicuous, but He is always involved in the details of our lives. He cares about you and me, but the approach of the God of the universe is not one of attention-seeking. His approach is subtle, so we have to be aware, looking for the work of His hands.
God created mankind to have free will. He didn’t want puppets or robots to follow and love him because they had no choice; the man was created to love and serve God willingly. Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect communion with God, but when they ate the forbidden fruit, they separated themselves from God and separated all of humanity from God. We often choose to put other things besides Jesus on the thrones of our lives. Because of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, we have a renewed relationship with our God. Thank you, Jesus, for doing for us what we couldn’t do on our own!
What do our lives and our choices tell people about what matters? What do our lives tell people who are watching us about what’s significant for them to mimic? Ultimately, the question that you have to ask yourself is, "Is Following me, following Christ?"
May we be people who are Christ-like in our patience, Christ-like in our hospitality, Christ-like in our love, Christ-like in our humility, Christ-like in our forgiveness, Christ-like in our peace, Christ-like in our self-control, Christ-like in our goodness, Christ-like in our faith and Christ-like in our kindness.
Our whole mission can be summed up with one question, “Are you for me?” It is that simple and specific. Because when you know that someone is for you, is wanting the best for you and is pulling, for you and have you at the center of the story and not themselves, it changes everything about how you hear anything from them. When I believe you are not for me, it breaks down trust and I start to assume that you are selfishly trying to manipulate me and count me up as a project. Which is all the negativity that our world has towards the church right there.
The people of this planet need to know everything Jesus did was for them because he is for them. Every person who walks in the door of your life is someone whom Christ loves, someone for whom Jesus gave himself. Therefore, every person needs to know we are for them, and they are worth it.
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less," C.S. Lewis.
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the father's humility is often overlooked. The father saw his son in the distance, and his heart went out to him. He ran to him, embraced and kissed him. A prideful father would have stood his ground watching each humbling step, forcing his son to feel the weight of his transgressions. Instead, the father threw off his dignity and pride, not mentioning his son's past misbehavior.
Living Out Humility looks at how we should imitate Christ's humility by valuing others above ourselves, displaying tenderness, compassion, and forgiveness.
Love is a word we often use flippantly. We say we love food, clothes, and cars. But when love is used in the Bible, it’s almost always being used about people.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God (1 John 4:7 NIV).
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13 NIV).
God is clear that we are to love one another. Memorial Day is a special time to remember those who loved us and sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. To be empathetic we must be willing to listen to another’s story, be in their story with them and most of all, don’t look for a way to turn it into our story.
Jesus elevated everyone, every hurt, every opinion, every situation, every choice above his own. The cross is the ultimate picture of that elevation. Part of Empathy is humility that allows the goodness of God to shine through us. It’s as simple as asking, “When someone is hurting, who are you placing at the center?” Is it them, or is it subtly becoming you?
We carry the imprint of God in our souls; we were created in His image, “So God created mankind in his own image….” (Genesis 1:27) Jesus is the perfect model of goodness, and as a church, we are designed to live out that goodness through good works. However, we can’t do this on our own; we have to have Jesus Christ as our Savior because no matter how hard we try, we will fail at some point. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Acts 6:1-4 tells us about a time when the Apostles faced a challenge at the start of the church. The widows were being overlooked. When the Christians were making the rounds to care for some of these women, they were not taking them the food they needed. As a church today we also face challenges. How can we handle all God is calling us to? A phrase we all have heard before is, "Teamwork makes the dream work." God gifts each of us to help build up the church body, not just run the church, but really take care of each other and love each other during this time.
Rising from the rubble is the church that will share the greatest message that the world needs right now. A message of hope, a message of grace and mercy and love that has been forgotten over the past year. That’s the mission the church has been given. The mission has never changed.
The way we accomplish the mission hasn’t changed either. The message of the good news of Jesus Christ was always distributed by the Body of Christ. That’s you. That’s me. That’s we.
You have a role in the Body of Christ. You need to allow the Spirit of God to lead you to your role. Why? The church needs you! We need you so that we can assemble the team that God has brought together right here at FCC to rise from the rubble and revive the world with the Love of Christ.
Do you have these friends in your life? Do you have friends where you feel comfortable revealing the real stuff? Friends, who share and help carry the load? Friends who encourage you and fight for you? Jesus had those friendships and modeled those friendships for us. God intends you to have these relationships in your life. Here is the catch. We will not have these kinds of friends until we're ready to be those kinds of friends.
It takes courage and patience and bravery to be a parent. Parents are brave warriors because parents are on a mission to do more than just fight battles over food, sleep and toys. They are fighting to raise the gifts God has given them to be physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally healthy people. And that is no easy task.
You’ve probably spent more time with your spouse during the last year than you normally do. Most of the time it was good to have that time together but then there were times when it was best to be in separate rooms for an hour or so. Sustained time together can lead to finding faults you never knew existed in your loved one. However, if you took time to think about it, your faults were probably quite evident, too. How do we avoid the “nitpicking” in our marriage relationship? Begin each day praying that God would help you be His love, grace, and mercy to everyone, especially the one He brought into your life because He knew what you needed.
Jesus is alive! Praise God, Christ Jesus has defeated death, and the tomb is empty! Forever He is glorified! He is our resurrected King, and He is lifted high! His followers had trouble realizing and understanding their friend and savior had come back to life. Even today, it may seem impossible, but the reality of Jesus coming back to life is true and the basis of our faith! Hallelujah, Jesus has overcome the grave. Praise God, Jesus is alive!
In Luke 23:39-43, we read about the two criminals that were crucified with Jesus. The first criminal was indignant and hurled insults at Jesus. But the other one was the total opposite. He is concerned about himself, but it's because he knows he's lived a life against God's laws. He's dying, and he's not in a good place with God. He says, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." This criminal saw a king and appealed to him for mercy. He didn't know much. If anyone had nothing more than faith as small as a mustard seed, it was this man. His faith may have been small, but still he cried out to Jesus and it was enough. And it is enough for us as well. No matter what we have done, Jesus give us the same grace and mercy as he gave the criminal that day
As a kid, we're asked what we want to be when we grow up. We answer, doctor, firefighter, pilot, teacher, etc. People aspire to be important, reliable cogs in life who bring benefit to themselves and others.
The disciple Peter was no different. His time with Jesus led him to want to be a dedicated and reliable servant. In fact, he was sure he could be that person. But Jesus recognized Peter (like all of us) was prone to mistakes and protection of self.
We all must realize our human frailties and depend on Jesus to cover for us when we fail in life.
In Mark 14:3-9, we read of a woman who anointed Jesus with fine, expensive perfume. She faced harsh and disapproving looks from those present as she did this and was rebuked for her actions. The stern faces and indignant comments did not stop her from anointing her Savior; she was not deterred. And she worshiped Him.
What stands in your way? What might stop you from worshiping? Could it be disapproval through looks and words? Might you fear the condemnation of others for your worship or the anointing of your Savior with your praise and obedience?
Do not let barriers, real or imagined, stand between you and the one who is the Way and the Light.
Our vision of leading people closer to Jesus has most certainly been blurred in the past year. The connections that facilitate leading others have been disrupted. Closer goes against the grain in a world where distance is the operative word. But nothing in our unusual circumstances reduces our need to worship God, the creator of the universe. Stuart gives us clear and practical thoughts about what we have missed, and what we stand to gain, as we encounter God through worship. It's something we all need to consider.
THE SEVEN LANGUAGES
Have you ever had difficulty trying to learn a language other than English? Or difficulty as a parent trying to understand your young child’s babbling? Or difficulty trying to understand terminology from a scientist or a doctor or a professor? Or trying to discern the ramblings of an elderly relative with dementia?
More importantly, have you had difficulty understanding what God is saying to you? He won’t speak in a loud voice. He may use His Word to instill in you a change you need to make or a new way to serve Him or direct you to someone who needs your friendship or favor. Pay attention to what is going on around you. He uses more than words to help you understand what He wants from you.
Often, when thinking through tools for spiritual formation, Prayer and Scripture are mentioned independently of each other. However, it is through God’s Word that prayer is explained and modeled for us. Praying through the powerful words of scripture because of the greatest key in unlocking the truth and power of prayer.
THE WHISPER SPOT
We live in a world full of noise. Not only outside of us, but also inside of us. We need a break from the chaos and the noise so we can connect more intimately with God. From the beginning of creation, God created us with a need for quiet time. Even Jesus needed this. He was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness" (Matthew 4:1) and He "went up on the mountain by himself to pray, alone" (Matthew 14:23). It's surprising how loud silence can be when we're not used to it. However, the goal of this silence is to hear from God through His word and responding back to Him in prayer. These quiet times of engaging directly with God in the Scriptures and prayer offer strength and will draw us so much closer to Him.
The Power of a Whisper “The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” We live in a world of blaring stimuli seeking to garner our attention. Music is loud, movies are loud and commentators on TV are loud. But each of us has a choice as to what we listen to and follow. Jesus told the parable of the sheep and the shepherd. The sheep only follow the shepherd’s voice. Others may come with loud commands, but the sheep ignore them. We need to choose better to whom we will listen. Tune out the volume and seek the one who cares for you and protects you
Joyfully Content
When we get restless, we tend to make bad decisions. Restlessness often comes from not being content or a lack of contentment. That can spring from not being focused on what we have or not feeling we have enough.Paul speaks directly to this matter, “... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
ENDURING JOY (Philippians 3:12-21)
The race of life is often draining because we’re looking for strength from the wrong source or we’re running at a pace we cannot sustain. In this message, we will look at how to train for the long haul and chase a prize that matters.
Do Joy: Joy in the Effort
Were you told by your parents to be proud of who you are? How you look? How well you do in school? Yet in Philippians, we are told that regardless of our heritage, our upbringing, our good deeds, we are not to take pride in ourselves but only in Christ Jesus.Paul at one time took pride in his past, his nationality and his religious track record of persecuting the church. Yet he tells us in Philippians 3:7-8a (ERV) “At one time all these things were important to me. But because of Christ, I decided that they are worth nothing . . . compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
CHOOSE JOY
As Christians, we have so much to be joyful about! It may seem like the world is crumbling around us but because of Jesus, we have nothing to fear! We have the distinct privilege of partnering with the Holy Spirit to spread the good news of Jesus right here in our own community. It is an awesome and breathtaking responsibility and one we must not take lightly! Paul tells us our lives should be: “bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11)
GOOD RIDDANCE 2020 –WHAT DID WE LEARN?
As 2020 is coming to a close, we all can say who we are as the church. Pre-pandemic, we were a church with one campus. We are now a church of two campuses, in-person and online. We have learned to understand the church isn't a place you go, but it is the people. The stories of how many people we are reaching through our online presence and from the presence in our community as a result of drive-by parades, grocery shopping for our shut-ins, etc. has led to great conversations that will lead people to closer to Jesus. Let's praise God for the ways he taught us to be the church during this trying time.
For children and many older kids and adults, Christmas morning is an exciting time. Christmas can be a time of surprise, mixed with admiration and wonder that is often caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable. This may be how we describe Christmas today. It is certainly describing the first Christmas.
How wonderful and beautiful and inexplicable that first Christmas was…a time when God came to live among his people. In Revelation we read, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
The tradition that God was trying to get back to with us was not a tradition of things or events or ornaments or programs, but a tradition of relationship. A relationship with you and with me. He is not just God and Savior. He is Father, Daddy. He came home for Christmas so that in Christ you would have a home.
Christmas @ First: Peace
This is the time of year when our lives can be filled with busyness, frustration, worry, and disagreements. God’s Word tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. It tells us angels reassured the terrified shepherds by bringing them news of great joy. Why, then, are we worried and frustrated?
Now is the time for stillness rather than busyness, blessing rather than frustration, peace rather than worry, and unity rather than disagreements. It is also the time of year when we should focus on the birth of Jesus because that birth brought everything we need.
Christmas @ First - Truth
The reason for Christmas was for the sake of truth. It was not to rewrite truth or redefine truth. Jesus came for the sake of truth. Now Truth is Truth whether you believe it or not. Truth is truth whether it offends you or not. But the truth is to be shared from a position of love (John 18:37, Ephesians 4:15).
DAY OF THANKS!
On this day when we remember all God has done for us over the past year, this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 comes to mind. It says "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."There are many things to be thankful for. God is still in control. Romans 8:28 is still true: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." God's church is still growing and still leading people to Jesus. God is teaching us new ways to be the church and fulfill our mission, even in the midst of a pandemic. James 1:3-4 says: "Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." May we always focus on these truths!
The call of offerings, tithes and generosity are often attached to buildings or projects happening within the church. Yes, it takes money to do so many of the activities that we love and appreciate. We have an amazing staff that organizes some great opportunities for our families, but those great ideas often require money to accomplish what we accomplish. The wonderful efforts of our Online Campus and the expansion of our Children’s Ministry facility came at an expense. But the payment of that expense is not actually built by the bottom line. It is built by a commitment and spiritual trust in our God as it did in the Old Testament.
FIRST LOVE: Part 1
Every period of time we live in will bring new and unique challenges and opportunities. Today we find ourselves being constrained in our ability to gather and denied the small gestures of handshakes and hugs –small things that mean so much. In the spirit of the church as described in Acts, we find new ways to express and display our love and caring for one another.
It is our church home, First Christian Church, who enables us to think and demonstrate love, even when we are limited in what we once did to show that care. It is in these challenging times we fully realize that “church” is not a building, it is the assembly of believers, whether gathered together or separated into smaller groups. As we read in Acts 4:32, “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”
As we gather, we become more like those before us in the first-century church. “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Acts 2:46-47
The greatest example of unity that can exist in our world, especially at the moment that we are in right now, might just be the church. But only if the church can follow-thru on the prayer of Jesus. That the world may know us not as a collection of democrats, republicans and independents. Not as a group of conservatives or liberals. Not as a collection of political minds but as one. We are united in the most important mission and the existence of mankind.
You’re in a lively discussion with a friend when the two of you disagree on a topic. What do you do? Persist in the discussion by citing references to prove your point until your friend gives up and says you’re right? What if you suddenly realize you’re wrong? Will you admit it? What if you know you’re right, but this friendship is worth more than your being right?
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3-5 NLT, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
The Jews are God’s chosen people, God’s only chosen people before Christ. After Christ, it is those who accept Jesus as His Son and promised Messiah that are God’s chosen people. Peter told Cornelius along with a large group of people, “...I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35) As Christians, whatever we say and do must be spiritually edifying so as not to create barriers to those who have differing opinions.
2020 has been quite a year. From the pandemic to riots and protests and the election coming up, there are many people, fueled by anger and frustration, making decisions and posting statements on social media and in our workplaces. We are blaming, shaming, and unfriending over all sorts of issues. We are quick to respond to opposing views, but we have to remember the words of James 1:19-20, "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." We can also take to heart what the writer of Proverbs 16:32 says: "Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15.
Imagine a person out on the sea after their boat capsized, holding on to anything to stay above water. They’re out there for hours. It’s dark. It’s scary. It feels like it’s only a matter of time before the end. But then in the distance, they see the light from a lighthouse. If they can make it there, they will be saved.
As Christians, we serve as lighthouses to those who are in life and death situations. Shine your light. Search for the lost. Give them words of hope and salvation.
In Matthew 19:13, we read, “Then people brought little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them.” Today, people bring their children to Jesus by bringing them to church, to be among believers, and learn lessons from the Scriptures.
Matthew also tells us, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matthew 19:14). As the children come to church, we want them to be unhindered and made to feel safe, secure, and welcome.
Our Let’s Go campaign brings us another big step closer to gathering children together in a peaceful, spacious, and functional setting.
Your camera roll probably includes pictures showing the happy reactions of people receiving gifts. These are photo-worthy moments. Unwrapping the paper, opening the box, and seeing the gift for the first time creates a memorable experience. It’s much more meaningful than clicking on “accept.” There is joy all around.
God offers each of us an amazing, transforming gift. Salvation through Jesus Christ is freely offered to us all. Accepting this gift is the choice of a lifetime.
Have you ever said something in haste or in anger to a friend and it severed your friendship? The two of you stopped speaking to one another and you now avoid one another. While words can’t be taken back, the friendship can be rescued with a sincere apology from one friend and forgiveness from the other.
Romans 6:23a (ERV) reminds us that “when people sin, they earn what sin pays—death.” Sin can be the death of a friendship or it can be the death of a relationship with God. However, our relationship with God is not permanently severed for there is salvation to be found in one only—Christ Jesus, God’s sacrifice for His relationship with you.
God hates sin and cannot coexist with it. Because Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for us — all of us, from the first person to the last person, our sins are forgiven. If Jesus had not died for us, we would not have forgiveness!
Now, that is a scary thought! Jesus, the Lamb of God, was perfect in every way and was sent to earth to bear the punishment for all our sins. He didn’t deserve it, yet became the ultimate sacrifice for us all. In this, He became our precious and perfect Holy Savior.
Before we can reach the end of the journey, we have to understand the beginning of the journey. The journey for all of us begins with sin. The sin that condemns us and keeps us from the life that we’ve always wanted. Sin is not confined to criminal or evil. Sin is the virus that infects us all.
WAYMAKER: JEHOVAH-JIREH
There was a family who lived on one income and had a tight budget. They rarely went out to eat. One Sunday the mother wanted to treat the kids to lunch out at a restaurant, but she knew they couldn’t afford it. A thought crossed her mind that someone was going to give her money to go out on, but she didn’t expect it.
She never said anything to anyone, but right before the family left church that Sunday, a friend handed her money and told her to treat the kids with lunch. God is so faithful. He not only provides for needs, but he may sometimes reward the faithful with their desires, too.
“If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Reading the story of the prodigal son brings to mind what Gandhi calls “the blackest storm.” How long did the father wait, wonder, and endure? No matter the length of time in waiting or the unknown fate of the son, the loving father waits. The loving father is willing and ready to display the traits we long for in an ideal father… ready to proclaim when we come, “he was lost and is found.”
God created. His creation included time and space. Both were problems for a man lying by a pool in Jerusalem. He had been an invalid for 38 years. Many other disabled people were around the pool. They believed the first person who got in when the waters stirred would be healed. For the invalid, the distance was too great. The time was too long. He could never get into the water first.
Then Jesus showed up. He removed the time and space problems and healed the man. It's hard to understand, and often frustrating, but God's timing is perfect.
In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus gives us a very clear command, "Go and make disciples of all nations." The key word is "Go." It's not a suggestion or optional. As followers of Jesus, He expects us to do what He asked. Our task is to go. The authority to do this was given to us by Jesus himself. Our responsibility is to reach all of the world. The world needs Jesus now more than ever. We have the amazing task of being like Jesus and sharing the good news of the gospel with the world. We must not keep the truth to ourselves. We have to share it!
As babies, we are reliant on others to sustain our lives. So, it is as we journey through our entire lives in relation to our mission and direction. Light shows the path in the darkness. God is our light in this world. He provides the moral light for us to follow. God has a “way” for man. He has a course, a mission for every man. Of this “way” man is ignorant. He is in darkness. Without God’s guidance, we err at every corner. We are called to walk in God’s truth to worship, honor, and obey Him.
Chasing lions—yes you can do it. Lions and fear go hand in hand, so confronting them is scary. The question then is this: Are you going to let fear (the lion) overcome you and run from it or are you going to chase your fear and overcome it? Sometimes what we fear the most is where God wants to use us the most. We need to trust in God and take three steps—pray, prepare and chase that lion
In Genesis, we learn that God created the heavens and the earth; day and night; the sky, sun, moon, and stars; land and sea and all creatures including man and woman. Then He rested. He didn’t just create all these things. He created the way they would work and adapt to their surroundings. Think about the sunflower and how it leans toward the sun throughout the day. During the summer we watch the seeds and bulbs we planted earlier in the year burst through the ground when warmed by the sun and watered by the rain.