Spiritual disciplines like praying, giving, attending church, and fasting can't change us in and of themselves, but they can put us in position to better know and embrace the heart of God. When we view religion as a list of things we should or shouldn’t do we either fearfully follow the crowd or pridefully try to convince others we’re someone we're not. So, what's the healthy approach?
Read MoreWe all have people in our lives that, well...we simply just can't stand. They might be co-workers, pesky neighbors, or even members of our extended family. Contrary to our human instincts, Jesus says we are to love those people. But why? And equally as important, how do we go about loving our enemies?
Read MoreGenerally speaking, there are two types of people when an injustice or hurtful word is hurled our way. Hard, impulsive people that seek revenge and retaliation. And, soft, gracious people that absorb the blow and seek to build rather than destroy. Which are we? According to Jesus, which should we be?
Read MoreWe live in a time where you have to read the fine print on everything. Often nothing truly means what we think at first. Sometimes telling the truth can be painful. But Jesus says if we want to be like Him, we need to be willing to tell the truth no matter what.
Read MoreNo one gets married with the expectation of getting divorced. And yet, marriages still end all the time. But what does Jesus have to say about divorce?
Read MoreSexual lust burns like a fire. We were created with sexual urges, and in the right context that's a good thing. Like a fire, when our sexual desires are in the wrong place it can cause destruction. Fire is a good thing in the fireplace. It’s not, when it’s not.
Read MoreWe all get angry from time to time. But left unchecked, a festering anger has the power to destroy relationships. To deal with our anger we must move towards forgiveness and if possible, reconciliation and restoration so that what is broken can be mended.
Read More2020 took a lot from us. Whether that was adjusting to the discomforts of life in a pandemic, or increasing social tensions from political and racial divide. There’s no doubt…we’ve been frazzled. And it’s easy to lose sight of our mission in Christ amongst all the chaos. It’s time to rebuild. We need to rebuild.
Read MoreThe one thing we all want is a fresh start. We all have a yearning to go back and do things a little differently. When Jesus walked out of the grave, he walked out with the promise of real change, in real time, for real people, with real regrets. Resurrection means we can stop regretting, and start living a different kind of life.
Read MoreOn Jesus’ journey to resurrection, one of his final stops was his crucifixion. While it wasn’t his final destination, it was the most important moment his time on earth was leading up to. We cannot be confronted with his sacrifice and do nothing because love always goes the next step. When we truly understand his love and his sacrifice, then and only then, will we truly begin to change.
Read MoreThere’s a lot of things that happen along this journey in life that are difficult to swallow. Things that are simply unfair. On Jesus' journey to the cross and resurrection He’s abandoned by His friends, arrested by His enemies, and sentenced to death, although He’s done nothing wrong. Jesus is not a stranger to injustice and shows us how to deal with the injustices we face on our own journey.
Read MoreAlong our journey in life, we will be tempted to compromise and lose hope that God is still with us. Yet no matter how difficult the road is ahead, God has provided everything we need in Christ to make it through. But what do we do if we're losing our battles? What do we do if we're sinking spiritually? How do we bounce back from failure?
Read MoreAs Jesus prepares to face his crucifixion, his mind is flooded with doubts. Yet, even in his darkest hour, Jesus prays. He's overcome with a seemingly unexplainable peace and shows us that if we’re going to endure times of testing, we need to pray honestly, persistently, and submissively.
Read MoreEvery journey has its challenges and we need to be prepared for what may come along the way. How do we prepare ourselves to walk through a difficult journey? Well, what did Jesus do before he went to the cross?
Read MoreThere’s something about time and familiarity that causes us to become complacent. Over time, if we’re not careful, our worship can become like this. Our fellowship can become like this and our faith can become like this. It can become religious and routine. Let us seek the one who first sought us. Let us love the one who first loved us. Let us recover our awe of Christ.
Read MoreWe're all prone to messing up. After all, we're human. Yet even in our darkest times, God's love never fails us, and always welcomes us back.
Read MorePrayer has the power to do amazing things in our lives and the lives of others. Even miraculous things. Maybe you have prayed before for sick loved ones to get well, but those prayers just didn’t seem to yield the results you were hoping. Is there a correct way to pray? In short, yes...at least James seemed to think so.
Read MorePeople love money. Now, there's nothing particularly wrong with money. It can be a great and necessary resource. The problem arises when we become obsessed with it. Money doesn't last forever, and it can't actually fulfill us. But we can use money to make an eternal difference.
Read MoreJesus promised that one day he would return to once-and-for-all renew and repair our broken world. In the meantime, we wait and continue to endure the hardships of life. And only one thing can get us through it...patience. But how does the hope of Jesus' return help us gain a new perspective on life, and give us the ability to react to extreme trials with patience?
Read MoreLife is one decision after another. Most decisions will have very little long term effect on our lives. But some decisions chart the very course of our future and impact the lives of others. No one wants to make bad decisions. So, how do we make good ones?
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