Resurrection Credentials
We’d all prefer to call the shots and be in charge of our own lives, but the resurrected Christ is King of all, including your life and mine.
Lordship
Discerning the Work of Demons
Mature Christians understand the spiritual battle we are in, always assured of the enemy’s defeat and the foolishness of trusting in anything less than the Sovereign Christ.
Bethlehem’s Honor: God’s Kingly Village
The birth of the Eternal King in the humble village of Bethlehem should drive us to think about our values and recalibrate our lives in light of the countercultural Lordship of Christ.
Christ’s Resurrection: Why It Matters for Eternity
Living in submission to the lordship of Christ may cost us now, but the eternal benefits purchased by his life, death, and resurrection far outweigh the value of living for ourselves.
Unashamed of God’s One Way
God has promised and we should expect his Spirit’s strong support in our efforts to promote his Son as the indispensable and exclusive means of the forgiveness of our sins.
Declaring the Blessings of Obedience
As messengers of the gospel we must fully appreciate and clearly communicate, not only the eternal benefits of salvation, but also the present benefits of being a follower of Christ.
Telling the Truth
We must be careful in our evangelism to be painfully honest about the universal problem of human rebellion against God always keeping the focus on Christ and his power and not ourselves.
The Invincible Lord of His Church
The Church should always and forever be about Christ – devoted to his teachings, confident in his sovereignty, hoping to share in his resurrection, and striving to be obedient to his commands.
Idolatry
The challenging New Testament letter of 1 John ends with the poignant summation to “keep yourself from idols” (5:21). While our minds may revert to flannel graph images of…
Giving Gifts Fit for Royalty
We must understand and always thoughtfully consider that our Christian financial giving is an extension of our loyalty, love, and submission to the King of kings.
Submitting to His Sovereign Authority
We must be very careful that we do not evade our responsibility to submit to Christ’s lordship by seeking excessive information or unneeded confirmation when the application of God’s word is sufficiently clear.
Embracing His Unexpected Majesty
Jesus fulfilled prophecy when he presented himself as the Kingly Messiah in Jerusalem – an event that should motivate us to respect God’s prophetic word and wholeheartedly worship and serve our King.
Loving God’s Invisible Kingdom
Though the arrival of Christ’s visible kingdom is yet future, his kingly reign has begun over his people now, and so we must endure the present age with anticipation, devotion, and an evangelistic drive.
Today's Opportunity for Economic Reform
Because the heart’s central loyalty will have eternal consequences, we must heed the warnings of Scripture and ask God to rewire our hearts to value him above any and all other treasures.
Anticipating Christ’s Ultimate Arrival
Christ came as victor over our sins to provide us peace with God, he will come again as victor over sinners to bring peace to the world, and in the interim he is able to instill peace in our hearts in any and every situation.
I Can't Lord, It Will Damage my Relationships
Following Christ requires clarity regarding who Jesus is and how his Lordship must not be supplanted by any earthly love or loyalty.
Awaiting the Defeat of Death
Jesus shows that he has power over death, not as a representative of God, but as the Lord of life – an ultimate role that requires our allegiance and submission as his disciples.
Understanding Obedience as Christ Does
Obedience to the word of God is a fundamental duty of the Christian life – one that is forsaken at great personal cost, and one that is ultimately rewarded with lasting benefits.
Bethlehem: The Epicenter of a Divine Revolution
God’s choice of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah should stir up in our biblical memories a number of remarkable reasons why God graciously sent Christ in the first place.
Our Struggle to Say "Any Time"
We must be flexible with God’s sovereign timing in our lives because he knows when everything is ready for us to make the impact he desires.
Our Struggle to Say "Any Place"
Because we are transient in this world, called to advance Christ and his kingdom, we must live nimble lives, ready to reside any place God directs without idolizing a specific geographic area.
Our Struggle to Say "Any Thing"
Because Christ is the sovereign Lord knowing best how our lives should be invested, we must resolve to love and trust him enough to willing do anything he might ask of us.
Curiosity & Real Conversions
We cannot afford to miss the eternally significant distinction between being simply being interested in Christ versus being truly converted to follow Christ.
Jesus, Son of David: Confident in a Faithful God
God has shown his faithfulness to his good promises, as well as his faithfulness to his just judgments by the way he provided Jesus from the lineage of David.
Why "As You Are" Can't Stay that Way
Christ is coming to set up his rule on earth and calling us now to prepare by turning from sin, receiving his forgiveness, and living our lives for his glory.
Learning from the Perfect Twelve-Year-Old
We must get used to the tension that results from keeping God & his agenda supreme in our lives while attending to this life’s legitimate obligations & responsibilities.
Responding to the King of Kings
Jesus possesses absolute authority over our lives, so it is critical to be mindful of his commands & commissions, and it behooves us to be diligent to do them.
Following the Good Shepherd
God’s promise of provision and his track record of care in our lives ought to be ample cause for us to confidently trust him no matter how difficult or painful life might be.
Forecast for a Rebellious World
We should gladly submit ourselves to God’s only sanctioned Savior and King, mindful of the grave consequences of opposing or rejecting his loving leadership.
And Some Unlikely Princes and Princesses
Though Christ’s first coming appeared less than victorious, and his followers less than impressive, we can anticipate a complete vindication when Christ comes again.