Jesus and Peter's post-resurrection conversation teaches us about our own hearts. Jesus asks Peter "do you love me" and responds to Peter's answer with an invitation to put his confession of love into action.
If an angel showed up to speak to you today, what would they say? One phrase repeated by each of the angelic visitors in the Biblical Christmas story was "do not be afraid." This was repeated not just because sometimes angels show up and…
With the crowds debating who Jesus was, Jesus asks his disciples "who do you say that I am". Peter responds with his first confession of Jesus as Christ and son of God. But what follows his confession is Jesus making his own declaration…
Have we missed it? Each week we gather and hear sermons, listening for God's word to impact our lives. We hear, are stirred, and then leave with what? Do the messages lead us to respond in action or do they just become things we consider…
Jesus invites us to a life of simplicity, free from worry and anxiety. His invitation involves letting go of covetousness, a craving more prevalent and powerful than we might first admit. But rejecting covetousness and embracing generosity…
What are you looking for? John 1 tells the story of some of Jesus' first disciples becoming his followers. Some are told about him and tell their friends about. Some he seeks out and invites them to follow him. But his first words in John…
Mark 10 tells of Jesus' approach towards Jerusalem. While on the way, two different scenarios develop, yet he asks a common question in both. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asks. Just imagine Jesus asking you that question! What…
Jesus as a lame man if he "wished to get well." The correct answer is "yes", but if we put ourselves in the story, there may be some other questions to consider before we just say "yes." What is standing in our way from the life Jesus…
Questions are good for the soul. They help us examine and process what is going on in our lives and hearts. The questions Jesus asks in Scripture affected the people he first asked them to but can also serve an additional purpose as we ask…
Questions play a huge role in the way we communicate and process information. As people seeking God and His ways, there is a healthy role that doubt and questioning play in our journey. Yet many of us are afraid to ask questions and others…
Should Christian's celebrate Halloween? What are the origins of the modern practices we see today and how do they influence our decision to participate or not? How do we hate evil and also be lights in the world? A look at these and other…
What's the point of hearing what God wants you to do and be if it doesn't lead to action? We can often find ourselves hearing God's work but not acting on it. Today is a great day to act on what you hear God calling you to do!
Christians are called to BE the church not just GO to church. It's easy for forget that sometimes and think our lives as Christians are all about the Sunday meeting or when we gather with other disciples. But the church is God's great plan…
We often hesitate to commit our lives to follow Jesus wherever he may lead. We come close but don't go all in. We must consider which path is really worth it all - living for ourselves or living for God. Don't say on the sidelines, don't…
Glimpses in to God's glory are life changing and pale in comparison to the best humanity has to offer. Yet we are tempted to exchange the glory of God for the temporal allure of this world. God's "glory" is more than a light from heaven or…
Faithfulness requires waiting. We wait from when God makes His promise to when it is fulfilled. We wait from when we first pray to when the answer comes. We wait from when we step out in faith and when God works powerfully. Some days are…
Faithfulness is a mark of God's people. Some days we experience His wonders and power and some days we are just called to do the next thing.
The children of Israel were committed to the LORD they had just encountered one day and worshiping a cow the next. How does this happen? They lost the fear of the LORD. As followers of Jesus, we're called to live with fear and trembling…
Christians are strangers and pilgrims in this evil age, waiting for their hope to be realized at the return of Jesus. How do we live as lights in this dark world? One way might surprise you, yet when discovered makes perfect sense. Paul…
Daniel 11 tells us of tough days that are coming for God's people. Trials and trouble will fill the earth. But we have purpose in those days, as the people who know God we have insight into what's really going on and the good news of what…
Daniel 10 is intense. It gives us a window into what is really going on in the world and clarity on what we call the "spiritual battle." It also helps think deeper about why things might be the way that are in our lives. There is a lot…
We all know we've been called to love. But what does it look like for us to love? Love isn't a consumer based relationship, nor is it a competition style relationship. Jesus like love is about commitment. A look at what love is not with an…
Since Adam & Eve's expulsion from Eden, humans have been longing for their home, living as exiles away from God's original desire. This theme runs throughout Scripture with glimpses of restoration and countless examples of humanity's…
Daniel in the lion's den is one of the most beloved and well known stories in Scripture. And for good reason. We can glean a great lesson from this story: faithfulness. Facing threats and trials, Daniel was faithful. Faithfulness isn't the…
After all the Nebuchadnezzar had seen and experienced of the LORD, one would think he would have made the LORD his God. Yet, Daniel 4 reveals that Nebuchadnezzar had trusted in his own strength and only acknowledged the true God when it…
The pressure of the world around us is heavy. The push of this age is to get Christians to compromise, even slightly, and not stand for God and His ways. Living in Babylon was a similar climate, yet Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego chose to…
Daniel is threatened with death and stays steady and faithful. How did he do it? The lessons we learn from his life in Daniel 2 can teach us how to live as Christians today waiting for God's kingdom to come. Part 2 of our series on the…
How do we live as Christians in this evil age? The story of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah provides some tremendous examples. These four men were living as exiles in Babylon yet made up their minds to honor God. Part 1 of our series…
Jesus calls us to come to him, so that we can hear his words, so that we can act upon what we have heard. To be a disciple is more than just knowing the words of Christ, it is to do the words of Christ. Part 11 in our series "Things Jesus…
It may be a surprise, but Jesus actually spoke a lot about money. Money is such a central part of our lives and so following Jesus should impact our finances. But what is the call of Christ regarding economics, greed, and money?…
We are living in an increasingly partisan time. In the lead up to what is sure to be an intense political season, should we jump into the fray? Avoid things all together? In the 9th part of our series "Things Jesus Didn't Say", we look at…
Do you feel that by doing good things you will earn God's love? Perhaps you think that when you do bad things God loves you less? Jesus often clashed with the Pharisees who, though very religious missed the heart of God for they thought…
Jesus was always pointing people towards an eternal perspective. He knew there was more to live for than just what this life offered and appealed to the world to live in light of the coming kingdom. Living in light of eternity is what it…
The world around us likes to imply that "life is gray" - ignoring the black and white truth of Scripture. Society works hard to be "politically correct" and encourages people to find "your truth." This isn't the way of Jesus. Jesus always…
God calls us to live a victorious life. But this is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. The followers of Jesus are given another helper to enable and empower them to be who God calls them to be. This truth is so profound…
We often say "I'm always going to be like this" or "this is just who I am" but when it comes to sin in our lives, those confessions aren't true. With the power of God at work in our lives and through the work of Jesus Christ, we can be…
We've heard "life isn't fair" since we were kids. Yet there often remains a part of us as adults that still thinks or at least hopes that it is. Jesus is direct when he prepares his disciples or whatever life will bring. In the end, God…
Sometimes the tough times in life get the best of us. Pressure, trial, or suffering often leaves one frustrated, angry and empty. Yet Jesus endured more than we can imagine and his verbal response points us to a better way to get through…
The world around us puts an emphasis on the outward appearance. This pressure can subtly creep into the church too. Jesus never said that "it's the outside that counts" instead he showed a new way to live and worship God - one that starts…
Jesus meets people where they are at to bring them to a place of life and hope. Even in the midst of death and despair, Jesus steps in to show us that there is more to this life. This message isn't just for funerals or on Easter, its a…
Just as a branch must stay connected to a vine to remain alive and ultimately produce fruit, so the disciple of Jesus must remain connected to Jesus for life and spiritual fruit. Using this metaphor Jesus teaches us what it means to be his…
Jesus comforts his troubled disciples as only he could. He calls for them to believe in God and trust in him, for their futures are safe in their hands. He tell them that though he will leave them for a short while, it is only so he can…
Jesus is the good shepherd and oh how our soul rejoices with this news! To have a guide for life who loves and cares for us, who will call to us as we wander! John 10 outlines the role of this "good shepherd" and it leads us to ask - "are…
Jesus is the door to the sheepfold. There is a lot of meaning within this phrase. The sheepfold was the place of protection from the dangers threatening the sheep. In a similar way, Jesus is the way to find salvation from the evil of this…
Jesus is the light of the world. Following him is the way to God, the way of light, truth and freedom. The Pharisees were enslaved to a path of darkness and deception, thinking they were pleasing to God. Humanity can still choose which way…
The crowds followed Jesus for the things he could give them to improve their lives now. The disciples of Jesus follow him for the eternal life he brings. Which group are you? Jesus doesn't just give bread for your life, he is bread of…
One of devil's main objectives is to stop God's people from living on purpose and fulfilling God's mission. He's working hard to keep the world in darkness and bondage and we must stay vigilant to help bring light and freedom to the world…
Do you know what you're up against in this world? What are the devil's go-to moves against God's people? Looking at how Jesus overcame temptation in Luke 4 can help us see some of the common ways the devil works, so that we can be ready to…
For a football team to be successful, each member must do their job. For the players on the field, knowing the "playbook" is of utmost importance. This book contains the way each team member must function in the game. And yet there are…
The early church was led by some dynamic and notable figures. However, it was many of the simple and unknown disciples that moved the gospel and changed the world. It is those same men and women the Lord is calling to serve Him today!
The church of Jesus Christ is a diverse group. Men and women from every nation, tribe and tongue. With that diversity can come challenges. But if we keep our eyes on the goal and love each other, those differences can bring glory to our…
If you want to see your life change, you've got to go straight to the source. We often deal with symptoms and side effects when we need to get to the heart of the issue. If you want to see change in your life, start at the heart.
God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. We are not. Though we wouldn’t claim to be God, we may struggle with doing everything, being everywhere and knowing it all. When we surrender to the truth that we’re realize that we’re not…
There is no doubt that God blesses us, but did you ever think about how you can bless Him?!
We often set out to make change at the start of a new year. Many of us are already discouraged before we begin due to previous failures. Yet a missing key to change just might be making a plan to change that can help you stay on track and…