Well, week one of 1 John is in the books. I hope an overview of the whole letter helps makes sense of the pieces. John gave his audience a three part test to assure them that they had eternal life. The test of belief is all about believing in and confessing the right Jesus, the […]
Continue ReadingAs we look back on our May series on Mercy and look forward to our time in the First Letter of John, I would like to bring to your remembrance how Pastor Toph ended his message this past Sunday, May 28th. It is extremely helpful to us as we read commands in the Bible. We […]
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All real love is substitutionary sacrifice. That is a profound statement that Pastor Russ dropped on us this past Sunday. Take a moment and think about the many definitions of love that are shouting like street preachers on the corners of our culture. Ask a unbelieving friend or coworker to define love for you. See […]
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I hope that what Pastor Toph said on Sunday is still swirling around in your heart. Mercy is the apex of the glory of God. That is an amazing statement to ponder. Think about the various aspects of the glory of God. He is glorious in holiness. He is glorious in strength. He is glorious […]
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It seems odd that we won’t be in the Gospel of John on Sunday. What began in the fall of 2015 with the eternality of the Son, finished with the portrait of him as the majestic servant. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, […]
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Majesty and meekness. How does the glory of majesty meet the glory of meekness in one person? We know of no one who displays this type of multifaceted glory like the one who John’s gospel calls us to believe in for eternal life. Pastor Dieudonné’s application point was directed at two groups. The first group […]
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What a celebration we had on Sunday! From our slain Passover Lamb to our Risen Lord and God, we had much reason to sing with all that was in us, to listen intently to the greatest story our hearts were made to hear and to go back out into our communities joyfully as people who […]
Continue ReadingThe true Christmas Spirit is a gift that keeps Giving. The true Christmas Spirit is a Spirit. I’m not talking about some nebulous, gooey thing out there. I’m talking about a real spiritual being. Pastor Russ told us last night that there is a thief among us, steeling all our Christmas joy. This thief uses […]
Continue ReadingJudgment is a sobering reality, but it too can point us to purpose in life. Abraham had returned to his tent after hearing the Lord say that for the sake of ten righteous people (those who keep the way of the Lord), he would not destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Surely, in the midst of […]
Continue ReadingThe wind that was whipping the rain against our screen house seemed almost hurricane-like as Mitchell and I braced ourselves in the corners and tried to keep it from flying away. Our shouting back and forth mimicked the disciples in the boat as the waves seemed ready to destroy the boat and their lives. “Lord, […]
Continue ReadingMy little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by […]
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From my experience, moving from wrestling with to resting in the tensions we come across in the Bible and the Christian life have proven very fruitful over the years.
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