In today’s sermon, a story was shared of three young men who went to Israel living carelessly…but everything changed when they reached the Jordan River. What happened in moments leading up to a sacred moment of baptism transformed not just their lives, but their entire families' futures. Could the same life-changing power that marked Jesus' ministry be waiting for you? The promises God makes in baptism are unbreakable - and they're still available today.
Read MoreAs we enter a new year, the celebration of Epiphany offers us a profound question that cuts to the heart of our faith: What do we do when Christ's light appears? This ancient feast commemorates the manifestation of Jesus to the world, particularly through the visit of the wise men from the East. But more than a historical remembrance, Epiphany challenges us to examine our own response to the light of Christ.
Read MoreWhat if the very moment your life falls apart is when God is preparing to do something extraordinary? The Christmas story shows us that God often works through disruption, not despite it. Joseph and Mary faced impossible circumstances, yet their simple yes to God's plan changed everything. When life gets turned upside down, are you willing to trust that God might be up to something amazing? Sometimes our greatest setbacks become the setup for God's greatest work in our lives.
Read MoreJohn the Baptist, despite being filled with the Holy Spirit and recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, experienced profound doubt while imprisoned and facing execution. From his prison cell, he sent disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the one they were waiting for. Jesus responded not with disappointment but with evidence, pointing to the miraculous signs that fulfilled Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah's coming. This story reveals that doubt is a normal part of faith, even for the most spiritually gifted people. Rather than disqualifying us, doubt can redirect our focus to seek God more earnestly and discover that His kingdom often looks different than our expectations.
Read MoreIn our chaotic world, true peace feels impossible to find. From family tensions to global conflicts, we long for something deeper than temporary calm. Jesus offers a fundamentally different peace than what the world provides - one that passes all understanding and can't be taken away. As the Prince of Peace prophesied by Isaiah, Christ has already given us His peace through the Holy Spirit. While we wait for His complete kingdom, we can experience this peace now through prayer, worship, communion, and being peacemakers ourselves. This peace comes with the reality that Christ will return as both Prince of Peace and righteous Judge, calling us to daily repentance and fruitful living.
Read MoreWhile the world counts down shopping days, what if we counted down to something eternal instead? Advent isn't about holiday cheer - it's about holy expectation for Christ's return. In Noah's generation, only one man found favor with God through faithfulness. As Jesus looks upon our world today, does He find the same faithfulness in us? This Christmas season, will you be like Noah building an ark of faith, or like everyone else who forgot about God while pursuing good things?
Read MoreAll of the Scripture readings that we ponder throughout the church calendar year culminate in this magnificent Sunday… that Jesus Christ is the King of the universe. He is the Alpha and Omega and so he’s unlike any other king. Every earthly king takes from their people ... Jesus Christ, our King, GIVES… and gives all of himself on the Cross (as we see in our gospel text today in Luke 23:35-43).
Jesus is the promised Righteous One (Jer. 23)—the holy, just, forgiving, merciful, loving King that we all need in our lives … Why? Because we were made by, through and for him (Col. 1) —for his glory and for our ultimate good.
Read MoreJesus shocked His followers by declaring that the magnificent temple would be completely destroyed. While they focused on when this would happen, Jesus redirected their attention to how they should live while waiting. This pattern of destruction and renewal runs throughout Scripture, from Abraham's sacrifice to the Passover lamb to Jesus' death and resurrection. The earthly temple had to come down because God was building something greater - a living temple made of believers with Christ as the cornerstone. Rather than focusing on God's timing, we should ask how we can live faithfully today under the protection of the Lamb of God.
Read MoreDo you not remember? This question from Paul hits different when you're facing overwhelming circumstances. We all struggle with forgetting God's faithfulness when bills pile up, health scares hit, or prayers seem unanswered. But here's the truth: your identity in Christ never changes. You are loved, chosen, and called - no matter what you're walking through right now. The same God who raised Jesus from the dead is working in your story today.
Read MoreWhen someone calls you a "saint," what's your first reaction? Most of us would probably laugh it off or feel uncomfortable with the title. After all, we know our own struggles, our moments of frustration, and our daily battles with sin. Saints are supposed to be spiritual superstars with halos, right? People who never lose their temper or struggle with doubt. But what if everything you thought you knew about being a saint was wrong?
Read MorePaul's final letter to Timothy offers profound wisdom for anyone struggling to maintain faith through life's challenges. Writing from a dark Roman prison, facing his own death, Paul shares essential truths about how Christians can finish their race with faith intact.
Read MoreIn a world where truth seems increasingly relative and faith is constantly challenged, how do we maintain our spiritual footing? The apostle Paul's letter to Timothy offers timeless wisdom for believers navigating uncertain times.
Read MoreThe story of Naaman the Syrian offers a powerful lesson about the limits of human achievement and the transformative power of humility. This Old Testament account reveals why even the most accomplished among us must sometimes look beyond ourselves for healing and hope.
Read MorePaul's final letter to Timothy, written from a Roman prison while awaiting execution, demonstrates remarkable faith in the face of adversity. Despite his dire circumstances, Paul focused on the promise of eternal life rather than his impending death. He emphasized the importance of deep spiritual friendships, like the one he shared with Timothy, where believers pray for each other and remind one another of God's promises during difficult times. Paul's priority was protecting and passing on the Gospel, showing that we are defined not by our circumstances but by our identity as children of God. Through remembrance of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can endure any trial.
Read MoreIn the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus from Luke 16, Jesus teaches us about the consequences of indifference toward those in need. The rich man lived in luxury while ignoring Lazarus, a poor man covered in sores who sat at his gate daily. After death, their positions were reversed—Lazarus found comfort while the rich man suffered, separated by an uncrossable chasm he had created through his lifetime of choices. This powerful story reminds us that our treatment of others matters eternally. We still have time to see the 'Lazaruses' at our gates and respond with compassion, creating margin in our lives for divine interruptions.
Read MoreAre you building a beautiful house with cheap materials? Jesus' parable of the dishonest manager reveals a shocking truth: the corners we cut when serving money ultimately hurt ourselves. What if your bank statements and calendar revealed your true master? Discover what happens when we choose between serving God and wealth, and how this choice shapes everything about our lives.
Read MoreWhen was the last time you rejoiced over someone finding faith? God's heart beats fast for the lost—even those who seem most undeserving. In a world of violence and division, are we willing to trade our righteous anger for God's compassionate pursuit? Discover how having God's heart for the lost can transform both us and our broken world.
Read MoreJesus challenges the crowds following Him with shocking words about discipleship, stating that anyone who doesn't 'hate' their family and even their own life cannot be His disciple. This isn't literal hatred but a Jewish idiom emphasizing that our love for Jesus must surpass all other relationships. True discipleship requires bearing our cross—dying to our old self and sin—and counting the cost before committing. Unlike casual fans who follow when convenient, genuine disciples remain faithful regardless of circumstances.
Read MoreAre you constantly comparing yourself to others or seeking the highest seat at the table? In Luke 14, Jesus flips our understanding of honor upside down. The way up is down in God's kingdom! Like musicians trusting a conductor's placement, our role isn't to push for prominence but to trust the divine Conductor's wisdom. Where is your gaze fixed today—horizontally at others or upward toward God?
Read MoreAre you striving to enter through the narrow door, or just assuming you're already inside? Jesus warns that many who think they know Him will one day hear, 'I don't know you.' Casual Christianity won't cut it. What evidence is there in your life that you're truly following Christ? #NarrowPath #AuthenticFaith
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