December 13, 2015 | Luke 2:1-14 |
What would move you to “fall on your knees” in worship today? Many of us have lost the wonder and worship of Christ’s coming. For some the holidays are a reminder of the empty chairs at the supper table this year. Or of the trials that challenge us to fall short of our expectations for the perfect Christmas season. But the carol, “O Holy Night”, inspired by Luke’s gospel, invites us to contemplate the story of Christmas anew
December 6, 2015 | Matthew 1:18-25 |
In Matthew’s gospel, he showed that the birth of Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament’s promises. Writing to a predominantly Jewish audience, he desired to give them the hope that they had long awaited. We too can experience this hope that we have been truly searching for. In today’s passage we will study the fulfillment of God’s promise to send His Son who is Emmanuel, God with us. Today we will see three ways to experience “God with us” in our lives.
November 29, 2015 | Colossians 3:15-17 |
This past week we celebrated a national holiday called “Thanksgiving.” It is intended for us to celebrate all that we’ve been given and be thankful for our families and for God’s provision. Yet, we often have a hard time with this mark of being Christian. We struggle with ingratitude. We complain. Instead of being thankful, we’re often filled with a heart of ingratitude.In the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he told them that the result of having Jesus as their Lord and Savior was a heart of thanksgiving.
November 22, 2015 | Acts 1:6-11 |
In the book of Acts Jesus gave final instructions to His disciples about their mission in the world. That’s what the book is about. “The Acts of the Apostles” – It’s how they began to be and do what Christ commanded. And what did He command? “Be my witnesses.” Christ told His disciples that they were to be witnesses of the good news about Jesus to the whole world.
November 15, 2015 | 2 Timothy 3:16-17 |
Don’t you wish there was a spiritual “Swiss army knife” to equip us to survive in this sinful world? God has given us His Word, a kind of spiritual survival equipment for the soul. In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he told Timothy that the Bible had everything he needed to be fully equipped as a Christian. We can be fully equipped with everything we need as Christians through God’s Word.
November 8, 2015 | 1 John 4:11-18 |
Jesus promised that those who received Him would experience abundant life, full and overflowing. Are you experiencing this life today? Or do you ever feel empty and powerless? Do you dream of living a life of fulfillment, a life filled with passion and purpose? In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could abide in Christ by being continually filled with His Spirit. We can experience the abiding life of Christ within us by being continually filled with His Spirit.
November 1, 2015 | 1 John 1:5-2:2 |
Do you ever feel distant from God? Does the shame and guilt of sin ever make you feel this distance? As if God is far away? Who do you think moved? What do we do as Christians when we sin? In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could know and experience God’s ongoing forgiveness as those who were adopted into His family. We can know and experience God’s ongoing forgiveness in our lives.
October 25, 2015 | 1 John 5:11-15 |
Do you have proof that you are a citizen of heaven? Do you have confidence that you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom? Many people struggle with doubts in this area. Wouldn’t you like to be sure? In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could have assurance of salvation by receiving and believing in Christ Jesus. We can be sure of our salvation by receiving and trusting in Christ Jesus.
October 18, 2015 | Matthew 20:25-28 |
In the book of Matthew, the mother of James and John asked Jesus for seats of authority for her sons on either side of Jesus. Jesus told her and all the disciples that following Him was not a call to be great in the way the world sees things. He said that the greatness they were called to was called servanthood. He told them to follow His example of service by being willing to contribute all that they had in serving God. Jesus gives us the same charge to be servants and contribute to His Kingdom. In today’s message we will see in God’s Word three commitments in order to contribute to His Kingdom.
October 11, 2015 | Romans 12:4-5 |
In the book of Romans the apostle Paul told the Roman Christians that even though they had followed Christ by an individual decision they must recognize that in following Him they had become one body, connected to other believers. When we follow Christ we must make an individual decision to follow, but that leads to a corporate identity. We become the body of Christ connected to every other believer.