Law -- Words You Thought You Knew
The law goes far beyond our outward, bodily actions. We must keep the law from our hearts or we do not keep it at all. ...
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Prayer for the First Day of School
A prayer for parents to pray on the first day of school. ...
Sermon Follow-up: Resources To Go With the 7th Commandment
The 7th Commandment not only prohibits adultery, it also prohibits all sexual immorality and it commands all efforts towards purity and love. Sunday's sermon was not long enough to cover the many topics that spring out of a discussion of this commandment. Here is a beginning list of resources for further growth in grace....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #9
Today we look at the new covenant instituted by Jesus, and how it is the fulfillment of all of the other covenants in the Bible....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #8
The covenant with David is about how God rules and protects His people....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #7
Today, we look at the covenant God made with Moses and Israel surrounding the Ten Commandments and the law of God....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #6
This week, we learn about the covenant God made with Abraham, and what circumcision has to do with God's promises....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #5
This week, we look at the third covenant in the Bible, the covenant God made with Noah (and the animals)....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #4
Today we look at the covenant that God made with Adam....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #2
A deeper look at the different parts of a covenant, and why Abram fell asleep before the ratification of God's covenant with him....
Theology Tuesday- Covenant Theology #3
God created the heavens and the earth in a personal, covenantal way....
Next Year in Jerusalem
Celebrating Holy Week during social distancing makes us feel a pronounced longing. We long to be together, and to have God make all things right. ...
Movies For Holy Week
My recommendations for films that will help illustrate the meaning of Holy Week events....
Pastoral Letter: March 24 2020
What do we know? We know that we have each other, a church body that cares for us and misses us. We know that Jesus, the true Son of God, is a light that shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overwhelm us. We know that our God has promised to walk with us through the valley of dark shadows, so we fear no evil. We know that Jesus was raised from the dead, so we have the hope of life eternal....
Jesus has Overcome the World
This world is not what we expect it to be. Sometimes we do everything right, but still get run over. Jesus knew that was coming. He lived a perfect life, and got run over worse than any of us. But that is not the end of the story. He overcame the world. His victory gives us hope. ...
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Your Father in Secret
When our faith is only lived out in front of others, then the respect and love of others is all we get for it....
The Final Four: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell
Join us for the next four weeks as we take the journey every church must travel. We will study death, the judgment, heaven and hell. We will answer our questions, feel our fears, and emerge more ready to enjoy life than ever. ...
What Is Lent and Why Can't You Eat Chocolate?
Lent reminds us that suffering is not pointless, that there must be a death in order to be a resurrection....
On Guilt and Anxiety
Your sin is no match for God’s love. He has overwhelmed and forgiven it. ...
Church Should be Easy - new
According to Harold Best, God created worshippers. We were created pouring out worship. Each member of the Trinity continually worships the others. God created us in his image. We were created to pour out worship upon the Trinity, but since we are fallen we worship created things rather than the creator....
Awakenings, Revivals, and RiverOaks
Awakenings occur within the church. People who have continued to come to church for years realize that they have never known Jesus, never felt his love, never hated their sin, never really believed. ...
What is Holy Week and How do I prepare for it?
The last week of March, starting on Palm Sunday, March 25th, and culminating on Easter Sunday, April 1st, is known as ‘Holy Week.’ Some consider this week the most important week in the entire church year. During this week, we follow the timeline of Jesus’ last week before His resurrection. You can read about this ‘final week’ in all four of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, with each gospel writer giving slightly different perspectives on the events of the week....
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The Sobering Realities of Hell and Self-Deception
Jesus teaches that many who will eventually receive God's wrath will be shocked. They will not believe that they deserve it and will assume until the moment of judgement they are safe. That teaching should force us into some serious self-reflection. Don't judge yourself by your own assumptions. Would an objective by-stander say you are on the pathway of life or the pat...
Keep ReadingWhy does it have to hurt?
Sanctification always hurts, because we must continually face what we cannot do. Only then do we repent and fully embrace the love we have in Christ. ...
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Positive Thinking and Remembering the Gospel
We need to remind ourselves daily of who we are in Christ. We need to train ourselves to believe that we are dead to sin and alive to Christ Jesus. Is that the same thing as positive thinking? Are we just supposed to stand in front of a mirror and tell ourselves how beautiful we are until we believe it? No, we are not simply boosting our self confidence. We are reminding o...
Keep ReadingSin: Words You Thought You Knew
We must stop thinking of sins like potholes we need to avoid. Sin lives within us like cancer, and we need the power of the Gospel to remove it. ...
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