FLESHING OUT CHRISTMAS - John 1:1-18

 That the word became flesh and dwelt among us is evident for all to see, but is overlooked by most.

#FleshingOutChristmas

ZACCHAEUS WAS A WEE LITTLE A MAN - Luke 19:1- 10

 12/18/2022

A JOYFUL TRIFECTA - Philippians 4:4-6

Joy is not circumstantial. Being a fruit of the Spirit, it is expected in all circumstances

#AJoyfulTrifecta

PEACE: A Dream of Reconciliation - Matthew 1:18-25

 Sometimes you can only dream of a peace that comes from the reconciliation of things that seem irreconcilable.

#DreamPeace

A NEAR COMMUNION OF HOPE - Acts 17:16-34

 The hope of faith is so near it can easily be missed.

#NearHope

THE ESCAPE FROM HYPOCRISY - Romans 12:9-21

 A person may not always live what they confess, but they will always live what they believe. Between these two lies the land of hypocrisy.

#EscapingHypocrisy

THE PROPER USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS - Romans 12:6-8

Knowing that the blessings, grace, and gifts of God are not merited, deserved, or earned, the only appropriate response, in having received them, is to return them all in kind as an offering.

#GraceGifts

HYPE OR HOLINESS? Think Again - Romans 12:3-8

 Spiritual is such a ethereal expression, utilized in everyday language by so many various groups, that it begs for definition from scripture.

#SpiritualThinking

SINGING TO A DIFFERENT TUNE - Romans 12:1-2

 While closing out the most theologically rich section of Romans with a hymn of praise, 11:33-36, Paul now holds forth expectation that God’s people are to sing to a different tune.

#AnExpectedTune

A PEOPLE OF DESTINY - Romans 11

 When things seem to be darkest, being a people of destiny have the assurance of God’s prevailing plan.

#ADestinedPeople

JESUS IS BETTER - Hebrews 8

 #JesusIsBetter

WHY BE ON MISSION? - Romans 9:30-10:21

 As Paul drills down on the faithfulness of God in the fulfillment of his covenant promises, there is keen awareness of our role as the people of God in his redemptive purposes.

#WhyBeOnMission

A NATION, A MESSIAH, AND US - Romans 9

Whether it is political biases or personal prejudices, each of these must be set aside if one is to truly hear the voice of Paul, and his appreciation for the role of Israel and the expanded understanding of God’s salvation.

#BeyondPoliticsAndPrejudice

THE WHO OF OUR CONFIDENCE - Romans 8:31-39

 “If God is for us, who is against us?” Your answer will determine a life of faith rooted in either an unwavering confidence or a questioning uncertainty.

#That’sWho

THE GROANING REASSURANCES OF SUFFERING - Romans 8:26-30

 It’s inevitable that the seemingly protected islands upon which we live will someday face a category of storm never that is beyond the comprehension of destruction ever experienced. When it occurs, it is not answers we desire but reassurances.

#ReassuringGroans

THE WEIGHT OF SUFFERING - Romans 8:18-25

 From the positive message of the Spirit-empowered life afforded the children of God, Paul shifts to the sufferings of this present age; a reality that does not negate the promises of God regarding the future.

#ASufferingHope

IMPERATIVES OF THE SPIRITED-LIFE - Romans 8:12-17

 Having introduced the theological realities of what the Holy Spirit is accomplishing, and making possible, in ways that the Law never could, Paul now moves to the implications of these realities in daily life.

#SpiritedImperatives

THE SPIRITED MINDSET - Romans 8:5-11

 To walk by the Spirit does not occur involuntarily; it occurs with a determined and intentional mindset.

#TheRightMindset

THE SPIRITED LIFE - Romans 8:1-4

 Having been set free from the law of sin and death, Paul now turns his attention to the law of the Spirit; the domain in which we now live our lives as the followers of Christ.

#TheSpiritedLife

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL - Romans 7

Despite the assurances from Paul that, as believers, we have been crucified, buried, and resurrected with Christ; that sin no longer has dominion over us, why is it that we, intuitively, think otherwise in our own minds.

#TheStruggleIsReal

A FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL LIVING - Romans 6:15-23

  Paul is forceful in his rejection of the notion that because of grace behavior doesn’t matter.

#EthicsMatte

WHERE GRACE INCREASES - Romans 6:1-14

 Beyond the favorable view of God, grace is a transformational power that makes possible an obedient faith.

#GracePower

WHAT REIGNS RULES - Romans 5:12-21

 Something dominates each of our lives and, as such, sets the guidelines for how we live and where we will end up.

#WhatReignsRules

BUT IS IT REALLY? - Matthew 11:25- 30

 Matthew 11:25- 30

A CELEBRATION THROUGH AND THROUGH - Romans 5:1-11

 Having revealed what God has accomplished through Christ Jesus, he asserts that there is much to celebrate.

#CelebrateFaith

A BROKEN REMEMBRANCE - 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

 We often lack an awareness of our brokenness until life finally breaks you.

#GoingBroke

TRACING THE DNA OF FAITH - Romans 4

 We too often fail to appreciate from whence we came, and the significant, but unexpected, relationships we had along the way.

#AbrahamAndYou

Doubting John - Luke 7:18-22

 Luke 7:18-22

WHERE ARE YOU NOW? - Romans 3:9-31

 The law of God is wonderful teacher but an uncompromising prosecutor. As such, it’s vital we understand its role in the life of faith.

#WhereAreYouNow?

A PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS - Romans 3:1-8

 After the news of God’s impartial judgment, those whose hopes have been pinned on some exclusive, ethnic birthright, need the opportunity to come up for air.

#MakingThingsRight

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS DANGERS - Romans 2

 Who would ever imagine the hidden dangers of growing up in church?

#MemberOrFollower

Be Careful What You Wish For - Luke 7:36- 50

 Luke 7:36- 50

TICKLING THE DRAGON’S TAIL- Romans 1:18-32

 In a day when the term sin is absent from any discussion regarding the plight of humanity, Paul holds it forth not with a pointed finger, but a mirror.

#YesYou

PARROTING THE GOSPEL MISSION - Romans 1:14-17

What gives vitality and distinctiveness to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ isn’t the calendaring of entertaining programs and activities, but disciples committed to the mission of the gospel.

#RomansForDummies

RIGHT REASONS FOR GOING TO CHURCH - Romans 1:8-13

 Church attendance should never be done just out of habit, nor just when convenient, but always for right reasons.

#RightReasons

COMMISSIONED LIVING - Romans 1:1-7

 In writing the church at Rome, a church he did not establish, Paul’s purpose is motivated by a missional intent.

#MissionalIntent

WHEN JESUS GOES TO CHURCH - Matthew 21:12-16

 When Jesus goes to church it is with the expectation that certain things will be found. Does he find them here?

#RemodelingByJesus

WANTING MORE THAN WHAT YOU WANT - Matthew 16:24

 Only by wanting more than you want right now is it possible to be a follower of Christ.

#WantMore

SEEING BEYOND YOUR BLINDNESS - Mark 10:46-52

 Our handicaps need not hold us back. An overcomer named Bartimaeus teaches us how they are overcome.

#EyesOfFaith

A THRIVING ENDURANCE - Philippians 4:13

  Philippians 4:13

COMMUNION: Not A Good Time To Be Alone - Genesis 2:18; Luke 22:15

 Only the misinformed, or deliberately disobedient, would ever make the statement, “The only thing that really matters is being part of the church universal.” In the New Testament, and in real time, however, ecclesia, church is played out in local communities of believers.

#Participate

THE SECRET ESCAPE FROM CIRCUMSTANTIAL JAIL - Philippians 4:11-12

 While life seeks to imprison all humanity to a cell of negative emotions, Paul reveals a secret escape.

#SecretEscape

PEACE: The Talking Listening Self - Philippians 4:5-9

 Peace is what we want but anxiety is what we experience. How do we flip the script?

#PeaceTalks

Occam Was Right - Mark 12:28- 34

 02/20/2022

WORKING OUT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS - Hebrews 12:1-17

When it comes to  battling the  negative emotions of life, have you considered that the very root of this issue may be frustration or disappointment with God?

#TrainingDiscipline

 A SALVATION BIGGER THAN YOURS - Romans 14:1-15-13

 Scripture challenges us to envision a salvation so much larger than how you have chosen to define it. We don’t dictate to God how his salvation is to be defined.

#UnityIsn'tUniformity

A DISTRESSED FAITH - 1 Peter 1:3-9

It seems contradictory to boldly confess of one’s faith, while at the same time having distress and great anxiety. However, it is something altogether different.

#DistressedFaith

DIAGNOSTICS OF SPIRITUAL DEPRESSION - 2 Peter 1:4-11

 Are you depressed? Discouraged? Filled with doubt? You’re in good company. The roll call of church history is filled with those who have battled through such seasons of life.

#DisciplinedDeliverance

AN UNEXPECTED DEPRESSION- Galatians 6:9

 While not surprised by those despondent over a world gone bad, what’s unexpected is those depressed by doing all things good.

#UnexpectedDepression

TRIGGER WARNING: Life’s Hard - James 1:1-4

If, by definition, a trigger warning is a notification that what follows may cause psychological distress or physiological reaction, then what James says about suffering should be counted as such.

#TriggerFaith

TRANSFORMING YOUR SELF-IDENTITY - Romans 8:15-17

A corrupted self-identity can steal away the wellness God desires for you.

#IdentityDefined

RESOLVING WHAT MATTERS- Philippians 3:4-19

 #Resolving2022