Posts by Chuck Webster (Page 8)
Too busy
Mary and Martha were like a lot of siblings—they loved each other like crazy, and sometimes they just drove each other crazy. Can you relate? This story about them always makes me laugh—Martha asks the Son of God to help her settle a little sisterly spat. Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet…
Can’t Wait
Jesus might come back today . . . does that thought scare you? It frightened me when I was a kid. I’d hear a loud clap of thunder and think briefly that this might be it. Am I ready? Am I going to heaven? What if I’m not? The Bible has a much different emphasis, though, at least for believers. Notice the thread that runs through these verses: And be like men who are waiting for their master to come…
What matters
I’m not sure why, but we don’t talk a lot about Jesus’ second coming anymore. It might be because it’s often associated with some radical versions of Christianity—long-haired, unkempt men on street corners holding big “Turn or Burn!” signs. Or it could be because we’re pretty comfortable with life the way it is, and comfortable people don’t really long for this world to end. But there’s a reason it’s mentioned over 300 times in the New Testament . . .…
I hate your sin
We don’t hate sin enough, or at least most of us don’t. Well, we do hate some sin, and we hate it with a passion. It makes our blood boil. Like pedophilia, and other kinds of sexual misconduct . . . especially when the weak and vulnerable are involved. We hate that, and we should. It’s been all over the news lately, and I’m glad to see the moral outrage. Maybe America still has a conscience. We hate other sins…
Love God. Love People. Change the World.
Every organization must constantly reexamine its reasons for existing, why it “does business,” so to speak. If it doesn’t, it’ll wake up one morning engaged in frenetic activity that has little to do with its purpose. A company that provides products or services may find itself on the wrong side of changes in the market and may be left behind its competitors. Sales fall off, revenue decreases, and the company goes out of business. A similar problem faces churches. We’re…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on December 27, 2017
Sermon Title: Immanuel: God With Us Text: Matthew 1:18-25 Click here to review the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide. Brief summary (what’s the point of this text/sermon?) The birth of Jesus gets a lot of attention this time of year, and that’s good: Scripture strongly emphasizes it, including a lengthy account in Luke, a shorter one with different details in Matthew, and a deeply theological one in John. When cultures appropriate biblical stories, though—especially with something as commercialized as…
Jesus Christ Was Born
The article below has been edited to fit in our bulletin; the complete original can be found here: http://www.pvcc.org/blog/2016/12/16/christmas/ We are again at that time on the calendar when much of the world pauses to acknowledge that Jesus Christ was born in the world. The date makes little difference. And we heartily agree that some other time of year suits the occasion best, but that makes little actual difference. We also agree that the celebration of a special religious holiday has…
You are Mindful of Us
Our world is unfathomably huge. The sun’s light that bathes the earth today left the sun 8 minutes and 20 seconds ago traveling at about 186,000 miles per second. The distance it traveled—93 million miles—isn’t really that far, though, at least not when talking about the universe. Our little galaxy is just one of millions. I doubt David knew too much about astronomy, but he had looked up into the sky at night enough to know how incredible it is…
When You Can’t Sleep
Some of you couldn’t sleep last night because of worry. You had an argument with a co-worker, perhaps, or with your spouse or child. Maybe you’re worried about your health, your debt, or your job. David had those nights, like we all do. During one of them he wrote this: “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God” (Psalm 3:1-2). Satan loves…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on December 6, 2017
Sermon Title: Please, Lord. When, Lord? Text: Isaiah 64:1-12 Click here to review the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide. Tonight’s Discussion Questions In what areas of life do you find it most difficult to wait on God to act? Below are a few possibilities: In the life of your child (faith struggles, rebellion, etc.) With health problems in your life or in someone you love In response to evil in the world (terrorism, violence, etc.; Why doesn’t God punish…
Mud pies in a slum
I remember taking the kids to the store back when they were young. I’m pretty sure that by the time we left, one of them had asked for everything the store sold, and probably a few things it didn’t. At some point, I would say something like, “Look, please don’t ask for anything else today. You’ve got everything you could possibly need, and you don’t need everything you see.” If you’re a parent, you’ve probably had similar experiences. I wonder…
Cup of cold water
Have you checked today’s headlines yet? Several college students got drunk and started a fight, two of everyone’s favorite celebrities filed for divorce, and the coach is “very excited” about the next game. “We hope to be competitive,” he said. There was a murder downtown, a meth lab exploded, and police are looking for a suspect in a string of convenience store robberies. A professional athlete feels disrespected and unappreciated by his $8 million-per-year offer, so he’ll probably ask to…