The Bible is the lens that we must look through in order to understand the world around us—life, meaning, hope, and truth. But what lens can we use to understand the Bible? Let God be true but every man a liar.
Read MoreThe Bible isn’t going to do us any good unless we open it. We have to put it in our head, in our heart, it has to be on our lips and guiding our steps if it’s going to make any difference.
Read MoreGod uses the time we spend together to prepare us to do the work He’s calling us to do. It’s like the gym—we don’t go to the gym so we can be better at going to the gym. We want to be stronger and healthier for the rest of our life. It’s the same with church, we’re here to learn how to worship Him, to be able to love and serve our neighbor. Let’s make the most of our time together so we’ll be ready for whatever happens when we’re out there in the rest of our lives. He promises to go with us, wherever we go.
Read MoreYou're never too young or too old to be faithful to God and do the most important thing you'll ever do. This is a message for the young, to encourage them in the calling Jesus has for them. It's also a message for the old, because it's important to finish strong.
Read MoreWhy does Santa give presents at Christmas? Did you know that Santa once hit a heretic in the face defending Jesus' divine honor? Some people get Santa and God confused, so this sermon sets out to clear up any confusion. It's an important message—it's also a lot of fun.
Read MoreThe way Americans celebrate Christmas is a pretty good picture of the Gospel in action. Because it's not enough to simply have faith, we also have to be faithful. We have to actually do something with it—it's not the thought that counts. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. We have to actually sing the song. Not just listen to it. Not just hear it. Not just learn it. The Gospel according to Buddy the Elf.
Read MoreWhat can we learn about the the Gospel from The Grinch? Quite a few important things actually. Christmas is about new life coming into the world and changing us from the outside in. We need to stop and gather heart to heart and hand in hand to celebrate what God has done for us in Christmas. In Christ.
Read MoreEven the secular, commercialized Christmas industrial beast points us to the Gospel of Jesus Christ—if we just look really close. For example, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has quite a lot to say about Jesus. God has chosen you to do something that only you can do in this world. Never believe your part isn’t significant. The way we use our spiritual gifts to love each other, serve the world, do our vocation, has lasting eternal value. Even if you have a radioactive nose.
Read MoreWhatever we’re not thankful for, we’re at risk of losing. And when we’re not properly thankful for the things God gives us, we’re gonna grow discontent, and it’ll ruin what we have. Everything good flows from being thankful.
Read MoreSpiritual warfare. How many different kinds of demons are there? How dangerous are they? Kemper Crabb talks about the reality of such creatures and what we, as the body of Christ, can do about them.
Read MoreWe’re the body of Christ, Christ and the church are one, and this is how Jesus—if He was a wife, or a husband, or a father, or a child, or a slave, or a master—this is how He would treat people. It’s how He wants us to treat each other. We are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Love each other out of reverence for Christ. That’s what it means to be a “Christian.” Wives are to submit to their husbands. Husbands are to love their wives sacrificially. Children are to obey their parents. Fathers are to discipline their children without making them angry. Slaves are to obey and respect their masters. And masters are to treat their slaves the way God treats us, without partiality. Healthy relationships submit, love doesn’t dominate.
Read MoreA study of Ephesians. If we want a healthy body we have to: 1.Eat healthy. 2.Get regular exercise. 3.Lose weight if you're overweight. 4.Protect your skin. 5.Practice safe sex. 6.Don't smoke or use tobacco. 7.Limit how much alcohol you drink. Pastor Frank talks about the connection between doing the things that promote health in our physical bodies and how they relate to our spiritual health as the body of Christ.
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What is it? Is there a literal devil? What about demons? Take a few minutes to read this post. You don't have to be afraid.
Read MoreWe should stand out in this wicked dark world enough that people will notice there’s something different about us and ask us what we’ve got that they don’t have. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. When they see light, that’s when they’ll be interested in hearing about our hope in Jesus.
Read MoreJoy is a byproduct of our faith. It’s not that part we do. We don’t make our own joy. The deal is this: we remember who the Lord is and what He’s promised us. We remember that God is God and we’re not. Our worrying doesn’t do anything good for us, and is actually really bad for us. Bad for us, bad for the people around us. We have to learn how to lean into our faith.
Read MoreJoy isn't the same thing as happiness but it's not completely different either. Joy is what happens when we rejoice in the promises of Jesus. We don’t make our own joy, our joy comes from what He’s done for us and in us. One of the best ways to remind ourselves of where our joy comes from is by having the same attitude Jesus had — We humble ourselves and serve each other like He humbled Himself and served us—humility is the path to joy.
Read MoreThere’s no problem we can’t make worse by fighting with people we’re supposed to love. You might be overwhelmed but don’t take it out on other people. We have to show people mercy for the past, grace for the present, if we want to have hope for tomorrow.
Read MoreWe love to watch people get what’s coming to them. Until we’re the one who’s got it coming. We don’t want justice when we’re the one who’s guilty. We want to get away with it. Mercy and grace isn’t the way the world works, but it’s the way God works in the world because of Jesus.
Read MoreIf you find yourself doubting the promises of Jesus, because you don’t like the way things are going in your life—then you need to come back to Jesus. You need to remember that He’s …
Read MoreWhen we’re overwhelmed, Jesus doesn’t tell us to try harder. To get over it. To take a nap, or a pill. He says to come to Him and receive rest.
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