November 3, 2017 |
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” – Galatians 5:6 (ESV). “Neither moral exertion nor moral failure counts. Period.” – Tim Keller, Galatians For You The apostle Paul wrote that the only thing that counts is “faith working through love.” Neither circumcision [representing legalism, which
September 1, 2016 |
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4 NKJV). “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30 ESV). Have you noticed that we tend to celebrate what we love
April 29, 2016 |
“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19 ESV). What is a “sojourner?” The dictionary defines it as “one who resides temporarily in a place.” Other Bible versions translate it as “stranger,
January 15, 2016 |
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind… Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:1-2, 5 ESV).
May 15, 2015 |
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have
March 21, 2014 |
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10 ESV). The Bible teaches us to honor God and to honor one another. This is an expression of the kind of love that God both commands and instills. We cannot keep the command to love and honor one another without God’s empowerment.
April 5, 2013 |
“Just as Christ was crucified between two thieves,” so the gospel “is ever crucified between two opposite errors” (Tertullian, early church father). “If our gospel message even slightly resembles ‘you must believe and live right to be saved’ or ‘God loves and accepts everyone just as they are,’ we will find our communication is not
March 8, 2013 |
“But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (Luke 10:29 ESV). The expert in the law who sought to test Jesus found himself tested instead. By asking Jesus the question, “Who is my neighbor?” perhaps he thought to limit the extent of the law’s demand by limiting those who
February 28, 2013 |
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NIV84). “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. …I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might
May 13, 2012 | 1 John 4:7-21 |
Pastor Gary Combs continues his sermon series “Authentic Christianity” with this 6th message from the book of 1 John. In the first epistle of John, he wrote that authentic Christians are marked by a perfecting kind of love, a love that comes from God, making us complete in Him and showing the world what perfect love looks like and therefore revealing God to the world.