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....
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. ...
A prayer for parents to pray on the first day of school. ...
When our faith is only lived out in front of others, then the respect and love of others is all we get for it....
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. ...
Lent reminds us that suffering is not pointless, that there must be a death in order to be a resurrection....
Your sin is no match for God’s love. He has overwhelmed and forgiven it. ...
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 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. ...
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....
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 ReadingWe 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 ReadingSome 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 ReadingDo I love Christ purely enough to be saved. Of course not. But his love for you is more than enough. ...
Keep ReadingMaybe 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. ...
Keep ReadingWhat keeps Christians from enjoying the peace God wants them to enjoy? If you understand the gospel, but still do not have peace, I would invite you to go back and examine the gospel again. You are probably resting peace on yourself and not on Christ. In this Chapter, Bonar looks at every reason you might think God rejects you and corrects your understanding of the Gos...
Keep ReadingMany couples assume conflict means they have marital problems. It is truer to say conflict means a marriage exists. By pressing into conflict we learn how to love each other better and move toward the goal of marriage: oneness. ...
Keep ReadingThe resurrection is proof of God's radical commitment to his creation. He loves all of it, and is committed to redeeming it completely. ...
Keep ReadingMy review of Judith Wallerstein's important book: "The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce." On my 45th birthday I have much to be thankful for: family, friends, work. My entire life has been one example after another of falling backwards into grace. Yet with all those blessings, I am still haunted by my parents' divorce. Having deep instability at that point in your life sha...
Keep ReadingThe 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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