A New Year's Makeover

While will-power and sheer determination will bring about the fulfillment of most New Year’s resolutions, the makeover God desires for us requires that we become a new creation. Isaiah 65:17-18

The Irony of Humility Under a Star

Though he was born under a star and future playwrights would call him a superstar, his glorious life had an inglorious beginning. Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2; Philippians 2: 8-9; Luke 14:11

A Pilgrim's Journey: Work Matters

Monday is for many is the most difficult day of the week. Monday is associated with work. Yet, our faith comes to say that Monday matters.1 Peter 2: 17-20

A Pilgrim's Journey: Citizenship Matters

Citizenship is not simply a right to be claimed but carries with it a greater responsibility of duty to others. 1 Peter 2:13-17

A Pilgrim's Journey: Facing The New Morality

The new morality that shapes western thought and ethics is, in reality, the old immorality with a more sophisticated face.1 Peter 2:11-12

A Pilgrim's Journey: Rolling Stones/Living Stones

The proverbial statement, “A rolling stone gathers no moss” refers to those who are always on the move to avoid responsibilities and cares. In contrast, the church is made of “living stones”; rooted, planted, growing, changing, never static. 1 Peter 2:4-10

A Pilgrim's Journey: Huddling Together

For a transitory people moving toward a promised land; living in communal dependence along the way it is an essential element of our survival that we huddle together. 1 Peter 1:22-2:1-3

A Pilgrim's Journey: How Then Shall We Live?

Recognizing the conflict of its content and the world in which we live, “How shall we then live?” becomes the burning question for those who read God’s word through eyes of faith. 1 Peter 1:17-21

A Pilgrim's Journey: Getting Your Act Together—Personal Preparation

A journey involves far more than a beginning and a destination. Personal preparation is required before the first step is ever taken. There is a certain frame of mind that must be attained if the journey is to be rightly planned and performed.1 Peter 1:13-16

A Pilgrim's Journey: An Overview

If you have ever been struck by the sense that you just don’t belong or fit in then 1 Peter will offer words of encouragement to you and your fellow pilgrims of faith.
1 Peter 1:1-9

A Training Regimen For Faith And Life

If the life of faith is a race to be run, how do we do so with efficiency and success?

Hebrews 12:1-3

Your Future: Past And Present

In speaking of the new life that is to be found in Christ Jesus, Paul challenges us in that if we have been raised up with Him there are certain implications of the life of the believer.

Colossians 3:1-4

Breaking The Shell Game: Proving the Will of God

Nowhere is the adage, the proof is in the pudding, more true than in the life of faith. Our desire to see the will of God played out in the world is proven not by the things we say but how we live.

Romans 12:1-2

Breaking The Shell Game: God's Will-Right Here Right Now

Listening to the popular religious rhetoric of the day can lead one to believe that knowing the will of God is veiled, confusing, easily missed. The fact is there is nothing more crystal clear than the will of God for his children. Behind the supposed agonizing, hand-wringing quandary associated with the will of God isn't the knowing but the doing.

James 4:13-17

Haunted By The Permanent Record

The haunting thought of a permanent record keeps us from moving into the future that God would have for us.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

The Difference A Sermon Can Make

Can a sermon make a difference?  Have you ever thought about the true value of a sermon? Is it something to just be endured?  Is it just another element of the service that you sit through each Sunday? Can a sermon make a difference? That’s up to you.

Matthew 7:24-29

Exponential Discipleship

The late Peter Drucker, a renowned management consultant and outspoken Christian, once said, “"An organization begins to die the day it begins to run for the benefit of the insiders and not for the benefit of the outsiders”—a truism that is especially applicable to the church and her mission.

II Timothy 2:1-2

Being You, Being Me, Being Us

Every person, while created in the image of God, is unique; possessing a distinctive personality and gifts.  God is honored and the church is most effective when these distinctive roles are embraced and developed.

 1 Corinthians 12: 1-26

Bandwagon Christianity

The “bandwagon effect”, also called the “herd instinct” is the observation that people often do and believe things, even without examining the merit of a particular thing, because many other people do and believe the same things.  It occurs in the spiritual realm as well.  Jesus challenges the crowds to count the cost before jumping on the bandwagon.  

Luke 14:25-33

Good News For Broken Hearts

John 14

Making Sense Out of Suffering

Having a cross as the symbol of our faith, you would think that Christians need little explanation on suffering.  Yet , even the most righteous man who ever lived, Job, searched for an answer to the atrocities he suffered.

Job

Where Is God In All This?

With the prevalence of evil and the atrocities committed against humankind there are inevitable moments when we are left wondering about the presence of God.

Genesis 1-3, Mark 1 

Is Today The Big Day?

The history of the church is littered with the tombstones of apocalyptic speculators and doomsday predictors; those whose prognostications of the end of the world came and went.  In regard to last things it is our Lord who offers the final word.

Matthew 24-25

ON HYPOCRISY: Toxic Religion

With reverential demeanor, a stained-glass voice, the occasional use of religious jargon such as “eschatology” there is nothing easier to fake than the Christian faith.  Some of the strongest words of Jesus were directed toward those he deemed as hypocrites.

Matthew 23

On Community

The biblical idea of church extends far beyond today’s notion of an architectural structure.  The church is a community of faith living not only in special relationship to God but intimately with fellow believers.

Matthew 18

On Mission

We should not be surprised that as Jesus tells his disciples to pray regarding workers to go out into the harvest, he immediately begins mobilizing them as an answer to is own prayer petition.

Matthew 10

The Agonizing Prayers of a Resurrected Life

Embracing the agonizing prayers of Jesus on the cross is the beginning of the resurrection life.

Mark 15:34; Luke 23:34,46

Finding Faith in a Cup

Even the most ordinary of things and events become extraordinary metaphors to our understanding of the Kingdom of God. 

Matthew 26: 36-46

THE REAL LORD’S PRAYER

In John 17 one discovers a prayer meeting like none other. Here, in the shadow of the cross, is revealed the innermost concerns of Jesus for his followers then and today.

John 17

REDEFINING GLORY

The glory of the Lord is often imagined in terms of splendor and majesty. Jesus redefines it in terms of lowly service and sacrifice.

John 12: 20-28

SPONTANEOUS PRAISE

Most praise and thanksgiving to God is offered under certain conditions. Jesus teaches us to offer prayers of praise even when circumstances are less than favorable.

Matthew 11

WHERE RELIGION ENDS AND CHRISTIANITY BEGINS

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it there is no hope for life here or the hereafter.

1 Corinthians 15

WHO WILL RULE OVER YOU?

As the “Travel Narrative” comes to a close and Jerusalem looms on the horizon, we find ourselves at the crossroad of deciding who will rule over us. Luke 19: 11-27

AMAZING UNGRACE

Helmut Thielicke was correct in his assessment that “the sulphurous stench of hell is as nothing compared with the evil odor emitted by divine grace gone putrid.”

Luke 18: 9-14

WHEN GOD’S POWER ISN’T ENOUGH

Matthew 14: 13-21

Unless we give ourselves to the Father in obedience, allowing ourselves to be his instruments, then not even the omnipotent reality of God’s power is enough to accomplish his purposes.

How Much More?

Luke 18:1-8

Persistent and not casual, flippant, cursory prayer opens the door to better understanding the nature of God’s Kingdom and his work in the world.

THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE

Luke 16: 19-30

How much of our world do we really see?

UNEXPECTED GRACE

Luke 16:1-9

When it comes to understanding the nature and character of God most think in terms of judgment. Thus, grace comes unexpectedly.

THE DEADLIEST DISEASE OF THE CHURCH

Luke 15

Because hospitals are places we go to get well, we are surprised to learn that hospital acquired infections kill 80,000 people a year. The church is a place people go to find spiritual health. Tragically, some leave in a worse condition than when they entered.

THE PARADOX OF MOVING UP HIGHER

Luke 14: 1-14 The Kingdom of God stands in paradox to ours—the first shall be last and the last shall be first; you become strong by becoming weak; you become great by becoming least; and, in the darkness of the cross the Light of the world was crucified.

THERE IS STILL TIME

Luke 13:6-9

In one of nine parables that concludes without an explicit explanation or resolution, we are left at a crossroad of decision.

Arbitrating the Secular and the Eternal

Luke 12:13-21

While Jesus refuses to arbitrate on legal matters, he is the ultimate arbitrator between the secular and the eternal.

Three Friends and a Prayer

01/18/2009

Luke 11:1-13

Through a model prayer, a parable, and comments integrating both two truths emerge regarding prayer and the life of a disciple:

1. Prayer Language is Deeply Personal

2. Prayer is Both Assumed and Foundational

The Good Samaritan

1/11/2009

From simple conversations can great spiritual truths emerge.

A RITE OF PASSAGE

Luke 14:1-13

Perhaps the most significant rite of passage in the life of faith is when we embrace the God who is instead of living with the frustration of a god who isn't living up to our expectations.