CHRISTIAN HOPE IS LIKE A ROPE Christian hope is not like the world’s hope. It isn’t like saying “I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend.” For that hope is a mere wish built on nothing. Christian hope is like a rope, anchored in the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ in the past, taken hold
FOUR WORDS FOR WORSHIPING THE LORD There are four words for worshiping the Lord given in the first two verses of Psalms 105. Do you see them? Let’s name them: 1) THANKS – Give God your gratitude for everything. 2) PROCLAIM – Proclaim the greatness of God in Christ Jesus. 3) SING – Sing
WHO ARE THE WATCHMEN FOR OUR TIME? God called Ezekiel to be a prophet and a “watchman” for Israel. A “watchman” was to keep watch over the camp during the night to sound a warning should danger appear. Ezekiel’s “watchman” duties however, were to keep watch to warn his people of sin and judgment, and
OUR CHANGE OF STATUS AS GOD’S CHILDREN Receiving Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins we are made children of God. This spiritual transaction changes our status in at least three ways: 1) Righteousness – Christ took our sin upon Himself and the Father counted His righteousness as ours for our justification.
THE LORD HIMSELF IS MY INHERITANCE The prophet Jeremiah cried out to God for the fallen city of Jerusalem, and for his own homelessness and suffering. Yet, in the midst of this sorrowful lament, Jeremiah looked to God for his inheritance. Rather than look to worldly things, he looked to the Lord Himself as his
BE WARY OF PREACHERS THAT GIVE FALSE HOPE Jeremiah lamented the failure of Judah’s prophets to preach God’s Word and to call His people to repentance of their sin. Instead they filled the people with false hope. The last days of Jerusalem before its fall to Babylon were marked by a people with “itching ears”
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED IN CHRIST ALONE Be careful not to judge unbelievers as if you are better than they. Remember that God saved us not according to us, but according to Jesus. We have not earned salvation, nor are we able to work at keeping it. It is the mercy and grace of God which
DOES YOUR WALK MATCH YOUR TALK? Paul taught his spiritual son, Titus, to be careful that his way of life was consistent with his teaching. Certainly, this would’ve been an even more important concern for a younger man like Titus. Two traits were commended to him: 1) Integrity – wholeness of character that matches
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THOSE WHO PREACH THE WORD Paul gave his son in the faith, Titus, a list of qualifications for elders, in order to establish the church on the island of Crete. He concluded the list with three traits concerning the handling of the Gospel and of the Word of God. These three traits for
FULFILLING THE MINISTRY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU As Paul faced the real possibility of execution for preaching the gospel, he gave final instructions to Timothy. He wanted Timothy to be unafraid of suffering and willing to work hard for the sake of the Good News. Like a captain issuing orders to one of his men,