LONGING FOR PEACE

While all desire peace, peacemakers actively seek reconciliation. Luke 2:14; Isaiah 2:1-5

THE QUESTION OF DESPERATION

When the crises moments visit our life, we desperately reach out to touch Jesus or ask him to touch us. Mark 5: 21-43

THE QUESTION OF INFLUENCE

Identifying and naming your enemy is the first step to deliverance from your enemy. Mark 5:1-20

THE QUESTION OF WHY

While many resources are available to answer our questions of what, where, and when; we are haunted by the question of why. Matthew 27:46

THE QUESTION OF PRAYER

Most prayer is a preoccupation with oneself. Mature prayer is characterized by a preoccupation with God. Matthew 26:-36-46

THE QUESTION OF A WORSHIPFUL HEART

When a worshipful heart is realized, everything else follows—missions, giving, works of mercy, and a life of service. Matthew 26: 6-13

THE QUESTION OF JUDGEMENT

Last words leave a lasting impression. Thus, the last words of Jesus’ public teaching ministry should not be missed. Matthew 25:31-46

THE QUESTION OF PREPAREDNESS

The return of Jesus and the consummation of the age is a central doctrine of the New Testament. This future hope carries present day implications. Matthew 24

THE QUESTION OF WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT

If the Sermon on the Mount highlighted how we ought to live then the Sermon of Woes teaches us how we ought not to live. Matthew 23: 13-33

THE QUESTION OF LIFE AFTER DEATH

To the rational mind the resurrection of the dead is an absurdity. For the person of faith, however, it is the affirmation and culmination of the redemptive purposes of God. Matthew 22: 23-24

THE QUESTION OF POLITICS

Church and state both have their place. The challenge is to keep each in its rightful role. Matthew 22:15-22

THE QUESTION OF BIBLE STUDY

Though $400 million is spent annually on some 450 different translations and paraphrases of the Bible there is a great deal of ignorance in regard to the message of scripture. Matthew 21: 33-46

THE QUESTION OF WHAT PEOPLE WANT FROM JESUS

The most significant event in a person’s faith journey is when they stop pursuing the God they want and turn, instead, to the God who is. Matthew 20: 29-34

THE QUESTION OF AMBITION

Longing for something greater is common to all. Jesus redirects these instincts to something greater than we ever imagined. Matthew 20:20-28

THE QUESTION OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE

Peter’s question, “What’s in this for us?”, exposes the human tendency to make salvation into something of our doing. Matthew 20:1-1

THE QUESTION OF A KINGDOM VESTED LIFE

Kingdom life isn’t a call for unrecompensed poverty. By faith we are called to redirect our investments with the expectation of dividends. Matthew 19:16-26

THE QUESTION OF MARRIAGE

Jesus answers the question of divorce by questioning our understanding of marriage. Matthew 19:1-10

THE QUESTION OF GREATNESS

Jesus neither denies or diminishes human ambition; he simply redirects its energies and focus. Matthew 18:1-14

THE QUESTION INABILITY

The equation of faith is that if we expect much, God will do much. By faith, inability is transformed to possibilities. Matthew 17:14-20

THE QUESTION OF COSTLY DISCIPLESHIP

Any discipleship other than costly discipleship cheapens the grace God has offered in Christ Jesus. Matthew 16:24-27

THE QUESTION OF IDENTITY

Your response to the question posed by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?”, defines who you are and what you will be about. Matthew 16: 13-23

THE QUESTION OF SIGNS

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign” may be the lyrics to an old rock song, but the same can be said of the presence and working of God in the world.

THE QUESTION OF TRADITION

Jaroslav Pelikan stated it best—“Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” Matthew 15:1-20

THE QUESTION OF DOUBT

During the seasons of doubt that inevitably come, there are proactive steps we can take to weather the storm. Matthew 14: 22-33

THE QUESTION OF THE FATHER’S WILL

The Father is pleased when right beliefs are translated into right actions. There is always a moral/ethical side to the equation of a faith rightly understood. Matthew 21

A QUESTION OF UNDERSTANDING

All philosophical speculation regarding the nature of God is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. It is the very thing he longs for us to understand. Matthew 13

THE QUESTION OF FAMILY

A favorite description of the Church is family—as defined by Jesus a term that goes beyond biology. Matthew 12: 46-50

THE QUESTION OF JESUS’ RELATION TO THE SPIRIT WORLD

The work of the Holy Spirit is undeniable and cannot be ignored. Matthew 12:22-37

THE QUESTION OF THE SABBATH

Jesus dares to exalt himself over three cherished realities--the sanctuary, the sabbath, and the scripture; not to cancel them but to protect them from abuse. Matthew 12:1-21

THE QUESTION OF EXPECTATIONS

The expectations we have of God and others often have no biblical basis and reflect the influence of selfish desires. Matthew 11

THE QUESTION LIBERATION

Faith in Christ is a liberation from ritualistic, institutional religion. Matthew 9:14-17

THE QUESTION OF NECESSITY

The resurrection is the most necessary event in the redemptive purposes of God. Luke 24:13-35

THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY

Forgiveness is that for which we so desperate long; yet, it is the very thing we most often withhold from others. Matthew 9:1-8

THE QUESTION OF FAITH

Faith Confronts Our Loyalties, Faith Challenges Our Independence, Faith Calls Us to Join In
Matthew 8:19-27

THE QUESTION OF ASKING

The focus of prayer is never our asking “much” but the Father’s “much more.” Matthew 7:7-11

THE QUESTION OF SELF-AWARENESS

We are to be a discerning people and not a judging people; a people who err on the side of grace. Matthew 7:1-5

THE QUESTION OF PRIORITY

The worries that choke and strangle life from your day are but a reflection of how one’s life has been prioritized. Matthew 6:25-34

A QUESTION OF DISTINCTIVENESS

The distinctive nature of God’s people is found not in their religiosity, piety, or the knowledge of scripture but the love that they have one for another. Matthew 5:43-48

A QUESTION OF PURPOSE

While it is from nothing (grace) that we have been saved it is not for nothing. Matthew 5:13-16

THE CHOICES BEFORE YOU

Deuteronomy 30. Free-will exercised toward the paths of righteousness is one of the most God-honoring of all freedoms, but it does require that choices be made.

A PRAYER FOR YOU

Even in the shadow of the cross and his own death, Jesus is thinking of you and the ongoing work of the Father. John 17

A CHURCH WITH DIRECTION

The title is a play off of verse 5. Paul's desire is for the heart of the church at Thessalonica to be directed to the love of God and steadfastness in Christ. This doesn't just happen in the life of a congregation. From the passage we can glean some things that are necessary for this to become a reality. 2 Thessalonians 3

KEEPING YOUR COMPOSURE

While many frantically speculate regarding the future return of our Lord, our focus should be in the moment. II Thessalonians 2

PRAYER: The Means to the End

The end desire of prayer is for a life that points to the Father and brings glory to him. II Thessalonians 1: 11-12

WHAT ISN’T SO PLAIN

While it is plain that our endurance in the face of suffering is an affirmation of our faith, and that justice will eventually be meted out at His coming, what isn’t so plain is the details of this event. II Thessalonians 1:5-10

WHAT MAKES A PASTOR PROUD

Paul’s pride in the church at Thessalonica is a representation of those qualities that every proud pastor should look for in the life of their church. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

WHEN BLESSINGS BECOME CURSES

We speak often of the blessings of God while forgetting the responsibilities that accompany them. Matthew 16: 13-28