Reflecting God’s Inexpressible Gift
God has set the ultimate example of selfless and sacrificial giving that should be diligently followed by all of his disciples – especially at Christmastime.
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Juicy Morsels
There is little debate that “there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Even the most godly Christians are quick to concede that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). Thankfully, when it comes to imperfect people engaging in imperfect fellowship the Bible tells us “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Unfortunately though
The Lord is My Strength
We should always be characterized by strength and courage because Christ has secured our favored place with the Father and the Holy Spirit will see us through until the coming of the kingdom.
God Hates Pride
While it may not be vogue to ponder the things God says he hates, it would do us well if we are to be people resolved to please him. It should not be hard for most of us to recall the repulsions at the top of God’s list. For the Creator has repeatedly
Life In Perspective
In light of our utter dependence and inherent weakness as human beings we should enthusiastically and thoughtfully give credit to our gracious God for his kind and sovereign provision in our lives.
The Anticipation of Our Resurrection
Our forthcoming resurrection in God’s new and righteous world can be confidently and joyfully anticipated because of the finished work of Christ and the faithful promises he made to us.
How the Righteous Respond
Responding rightly to Christ’s redemptive work should result in a growing love for God that produces good works, love for people, and a desire to obey the Bible’s commands.
Serving Like the Angels
The angelic beings who directed the shepherds at Christ’s birth provide us with a challenging example of humble service to Christ’s people for Christ’s sake.
Pain and Temptation
The triune God demonstrated love for us in the most costly transaction imaginable; in response we ought to eternally thank him and sacrificially obey all that he commands.
An Unsung Christmas Hero
Joseph provides us with a relevant and compelling example to imitate, demonstrating a courageous and obedient faith amid confusion, fear, and disappointment.
Questions & Answers 2017-Part 1
Pastor Mike answers questions on the Bible, God and Christianity Questions in this service: 1. How do we now think biblically about the Jewish people scattered around the world? 2. What is the difference between the 4 and 5 points of Calvinism? 3. How do we strike the biblical balance between doctrine and love? 4. …
Loving God’s Challenging Work
We must be continually mindful of the unique and exceeding authority of the Triune God we were created and redeemed to humbly serve.
Loving God's Flawed People
We must remember that our friends’ sanctification is flawed, just like our own, and so we must continue to graciously forgive them when they sin and be wholeheartedly restored to them when they repent.
Loving God’s Holy Standards
If we love Christ we will love what he loves and hate the sins for which he died and which cause such great damage to the body of Christ.
Caring for the Wandering Sheep of Your Church
God would have us be vigilant about those who wander away from the teaching and practice of the truth, concerned enough for the ramifications of their falling away to lovingly go after them to bring them back.
Providing Godly Encouragement to Your Friends
We have a God-given responsibility to care for our Christian friends in the church, by humbly being used by God to encourage them as they follow Christ.
Rejoicing in a God Who Saves
Understanding something of God’s greatness and our sin, we should always be joyfully and humbly thankful that the Triune God would seek and save us.
Worldly Comforts & Godly Sacrifices
Jesus, with every right to establish the terms, makes clear that to be on his team we must give up the worldly norms of managing our own lives and putting our own interests and loves above his sovereign leadership.
Worldly Religion & Godly Priorities
We can do a lot of self-serving and self-promoting in a cloak of religion, but true religion seeks to sincerely please God and will always drive us to give ourselves for the good of other people.
Patience & Forgiveness
Because for now our Christian friendships will be periodically marked by insensitive actions and sinful transgressions, we must for Christ’s sake resolve ahead of time to reflect God’s patience and forgiveness.
Kindness & Encouragement
Out of sincere love for our Christian friends we ought to regularly engage in strategic acts of kindness that benefit their lives, and communicate thoughtful words of encouragement that build them up.
Acceptance & Hospitality
Because we are made in God’s image we all were designed to be openly sharing our lives with a select group of friends who are pursuing the same spiritual goals.
Looking to the Future
Healthy and productive churches must be resolute about living out God’s truth without compromise despite the threats or opposition from a hostile culture.
I Can't Lord, I Have to Put Family First
While our biological families can be a great blessing to our Christian life, we must be prepared because they can easily pose a challenge to us keeping Christ as the unrivaled Lord of our lives.
When the Task Seems Impossible
We should learn from Christ’s compassion and selflessness, confident that he will provide what is needed when we sacrificially step up to face the challenges he providentially sets before us.
The Hallmark of the Spiritually Prepared
To be prepared for the arrival of Christ’s kingdom we must be sure that we have grappled with the gravity of our sin and are trusting exclusively in Christ for our forgiveness.
Exceptional Love with Exceptional Motives
Jesus calls us to decide to sacrificially love others (as God himself does) without thought of what we might get or not get in return.
Jesus as Deliverer
Christ’s compassionate acts of supernatural healing proved that he was God’s credentialed Deliverer sent to free us from our ultimate problem with sin.
