Way more love
Some things you just can’t have too much of. Like ice cream. Or time with family. Or kisses from your three-day-old little girl. Of course, Paul wasn’t talking about any of those things in Philippians 1, though I doubt he’d disagree with me. Here’s what he says: And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for…
I don’t have time
I don’t have time. I say those words a lot, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with them. All of us have to make choices with our time. I think the issue is what we say those words about. And whom we say them to. Paul addresses the principle here: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). How we spend our time…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on April 11, 2018
Sermon Title: Look at the Mess We’ve Made Text: Zephaniah 1:2-18 Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s printable study guide Brief summary (what’s the point of this text/sermon?) The problems and issues of life are many. Most of the time, the major problems we face are self-induced. It can be difficult to accurately identify and analyze the root causes when we are not honest with ourselves. Also, identifying root causes is often difficult when we…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on April 4, 2018
Sermon Title: He was Raised Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20 Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide Brief summary (what’s the point of this text/sermon?) This past Sunday was Easter, of course, and millions of people around the world commemorated the resurrection of Christ. Of all the events in Jesus’ life, none is more significant or more life-changing than the empty tomb. He died on Friday, but that death would have been meaningless had…
He Lives
This week is the time of year when many people throughout the world think more about Jesus Christ than almost any other time, second only to Christmas. In contrast to Jesus’ birth, however, there is more confidence about the timing of his death, burial, and resurrection, since he was crucified during the weekend of the Jewish Passover. It is encouraging to see an increased interest in Jesus, especially when this annual interest leads people to pursue a relationship with him…
He Knows Just What I Need
It is interesting that we don’t really recognize any of the prophets, who lived during the divided kingdom of Israel, up until Elijah, who served as a prophet during the reigns of Zimri, Omri, and Ahab. About Omri, it was said that he “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him” I Kings 16:25). That sounds really bad, but Omri’s son, Ahab who succeeded him “did more to…
Fear
The longer I live, the more I realize the huge role fear plays in our lives as Christians. Do you ever worry? About your health, your kids, your future? Most of us do, and worry is just another word for fear. Why do we fudge the truth? Probably because we’re scared of what’ll happen if we don’t. Why do we sometimes fail to say what needs to be said? Because we’re afraid of confrontation, or the effects of confrontation, or…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on March 21, 2018
Sermon Title: One Sinner Who Repents Text: Luke 15:1-10 Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide Brief summary (what’s the point of this text/sermon?) It’s not very PC anymore to talk about “sin.” We talk about diseases and disorders, but not disobedience. In a world that thinks less of God, it’s no surprise that many think hardly anything about some higher objective moral code to which a sovereign God will hold us accountable.…
Consecration Ceremonies
The idea of formally setting apart certain things, people, days, and times was an important part of Old Testament worship. Take a look at Exodus chapter 29 where we see a detailed process by which priests were to be consecrated so that they could serve. It involved a special anointing oil, ceremonially laying hands on the animal to be sacrificed, sprinkling the animal’s blood, and a number of other steps. Similar processes were followed for consecrating the temple’s contents. Among…
People like you
Sometimes it’s easy to see the good stuff that God is doing in other people’s lives. Maybe that preacher or writer or godly stalwart of the faith at church—we can see what God is doing there. But in us? In me? We’re all-too-conscious of the ugly things we’ve shoved into one of our closets to think that God might be doing something significant in us. But listen to Paul: And I am sure of this, that he who began a…
Resources for Discussion Class Hour on March 14, 2018
Sermon Title: Obey: Because We Love Him Text: John 14:15-31 Click here to listen to or watch the sermon Download tonight’s complete study guide Brief summary (what’s the point of this text/sermon?) In this sermon , e explored another facet of our 2018 theme (Love God. Love People. Change the World). It’s easy enough to say that we ought to love God—we all agree with that—but what does that mean? What does that look like practically? In some circles—probably because…
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