My No Good, Rotten, Awful, Week
The truths of the gospel do not shield us from the harsh truths of the broken world we live in. However, they do give us a framework for accepting them and grieving them while maintaining our hope. ...
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Why Our Children did not Descend into Hell
Exactly two of you asked me why we “edited” the phrase “He descended into Hell” out of the version of the Apostles Creed that our children learned. I figure for every question I receive, there are ten of you who wanted to ask but didn’t. So, for the twenty of you who are wondering, here are our reasons. ...
Why Did Jesus Die?
We have many theories for why Christ had to die for us. They are all correct and even more. Here are a few. ...
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....
The Power of Love to Change You
Do you know what it feels like to be loved? Do you really trust yourself to someone that you know loves you? If you do, then you know love has power. It has the power to change you. You may not understand it, but you know it is there. That is the power that allows the Christian to live in freedom without fear and without pursuing sin. ...
Keep Reading5 Things a Depressed Person Wants You to Know
A friend helped me put this list together. A non-depressed person does not understand what depression feels like, so it can be very hard to help. Sometimes when we try to help we only make matters worse. Here are a few tips to help you love someone struggling with depression or anxiety. ...
Keep ReadingWe Do Not Trust God's Love
We will never have peace until we trust God's motives toward us. God's hatred of the sin is not hatred of the sinner. Nay, the greatness of his sin seems rather to deepen than to lessen the divine compassion. At least we may say that the increasing misery which increasing sin entails calls into new intensity the paternal pity of the God of the spirits of all flesh. "It gr...
Keep ReadingDon't Confuse the Order and Priority of the Truth
When we confuse the order and priority of biblical truths, we often lose the good news. ...
Keep ReadingConfusing the Spirit in You with Christ For You
When we look at the slow process of growing in holiness, sometimes we get discouraged or even doubt our salvation. Remember the work of the Spirit in you does not alter or take anything away from the finished work of Christ for you. Christ's work for you is the ground of your peace. ...
Keep ReadingIs the gospel a new law?
We easily get led astray into thinking of the gospel as a new law. Now all we have to do is believe and be saved. Not only is this completely untrue, but it is unhelpful. This idea just throws us into the never ending loop of wondering whether or not we have believed sincerely enough. Jesus did not come to make it easier for us to save ourselves. He came to save us. ...
Keep ReadingMy Repentance is not Complete Enough
Some may protest: I do not deserve peace. I am a sinner and I have not repented fully enough yet. If you did repent fully enough wouldn't you be a proud piece of work. Then you would have to repent of all that pride. Stop trying to please yourself with your repentance and be pleased with Christ. ...
Keep ReadingMy Love is Not Pure Enough
Do I love Christ purely enough to be saved. Of course not. But his love for you is more than enough. ...
Keep ReadingMy Faith is Not Strong Enough
Maybe you have no peace because your faith is not strong enough. Much more likely, you have no peace because you are looking to your faith to give you peace instead of looking to Christ alone. ...
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