Sin. We don’t like to talk about it. We don’t like to think about it. And yet we know that God takes it seriously. Jesus died to save us from it. But how do we walk the line between legalism and licentiousness? How should a Christian approach sin without ignoring it or becoming overly preoccupied…
2020 has been the hardest year in recent memory. COVID has upended our world in so many ways – physically, emotionally, relationally, and even spiritually. As we look to 2021 and pray for a new day of healing and hope, the apostle Paul gives us a beautiful reminder of how to start this year on the right foot. It’s not a bunch…
The apostle Peter declares, “If you suffer for righteousness’ sake you will be blessed.” In our age of immense suffering, what does it mean to suffer y, and what are these blessings God promises? In today’s passage Peter not only shows us ‘how’ to suffer righteously, but he also gives us the ‘why’ – the…
We know that God loves a cheerful giver. However, if I am honest with myself, my giving is often guilty, grudging, and grumpy. What’s the matter with me, and how can I change? Fortunately, God doesn’t leave us hanging but provides the solution and antidote for grumpy giving. Stay tuned… This sermon was given…
We are living in a time of great loss, stress, and uncertainty. In such times it can be easy to hunker down, protect what we have, and live out of a sense of fear and scarcity. However, this is not the way of the kingdom of God. In today’s passage Jesus offers us a new…
We are always looking for ways to enhance our lives, ways to be happier, more peaceful, and more content. The self-help industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. In the gospels we see that Jesus also has our flourishing in mind, and invites people to abundant and eternal life. However oftentimes going to church, praying, and…
In the throes of rampaging viruses and in a nation aflame with violence and rage, we are faced with many questions, but few simple answers. What is the solution? What is the antidote? What can we do to make things better? What is God saying to His church? In a clandestine, nighttime meeting with one…
Waiting is hard. Especially in a pandemic. When will this thing end? When will our lives get back to normal? When will they find a cure? When will I go back to work? When will the kids go back to school? When will my loved one get home from the hospital? Waiting is hard. This…
When we’re in a crisis like the Coronavirus and feeling overwhelmed, it often feels like the walls are closing in, like the light is growing dim, like there’s no way out. In today’s passages from Isaiah and Luke, this is the condition people find themselves in – darkness, confusion, and bondage. Fortunately though, for God’s…
We are familiar with wars and rumors of wars being the birth pains of the last days, with blood moons and falling stars heralding the end. But in the very last verses of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi offers one surprising and encouraging prophesy about the end times. It is exceedingly practical and has everything to do with family dynamics. This…