Everything in David’s life seemed to be coming together. He was instantly a national hero after defeating Goliath; his career was about to skyrocket as he's chosen by God to be the next king of Israel. He was an overnight sensation. Yet, not everyone was excited about all of David's success. Sound familiar? We live in a society fueled by envy, but like in David's life, nothing can derail God's plan for our lives when we pursue His heart.
Read MoreThe story of David and Goliath is a familiar one, and it's an important lesson on how to face life’s most difficult challenges with courage. But what really is courage? Where does it come from? And why is courage still as relevant to us as it was for David when he battled Goliath?
Read MoreThe Bible calls David, "a man after God's own heart." And yet, at times he was brutal, faithless, and a lousy father. He was an adulterer. He was a murderer. And still, "a man after God's own heart." Sometimes God chooses the most unsuspecting people to do His work in the world. So what is it that God is looking for in the people he chooses?
Read MoreThere are two ways to live with hurt. The way of revenge and the way of forgiveness. In "The Power Of Forgiveness," Gerard DeMatteo, Lead Pastor of Rutherford Bible Chapel, breaks down Jesus' teaching on our response to getting hurt by others. One way leads to death and the other leads to life.
Read MoreA man desperate for answers, approached Jesus seeking an answer to the question, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus' response..."Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor..." Why did Jesus respond this way? What does selling everything you own have to do with receiving eternal life?
Read MoreMatthew 5 begins with a teaching from Jesus in which he makes a startling statement: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you..Rejoice and be glad..." Why would Jesus say that the persecuted are blessed?
Read MoreVision Sunday. It’s the time of year when we lay out the vision for the upcoming year. To give a grand picture of what will be, of what could, or maybe even should be. But we are living in strange times. Maybe our Church needs, more than anything else, a personal vision of the change that God wants to bring in our personal lives. A vision of change in us.
Read MorePrayer is hard. Like anything else, it’s something you learn with time and guidance. It doesn’t come natural to us. Often times, we don’t have from God because we don’t ask or we doubt that He really cares. In Luke 11, Jesus offers 3 ingredients to pray effectively.
Read MoreHave you ever wanted something so desperately that you'd do anything to get it? Once you are captured by a vision of what could be, you will do whatever you have to do to make it all come about. According to the words of Jesus in Matthew 11, we should have the same desperation about the kingdom of heaven. But, what exactly does that look like?
Read MoreEveryone at some point in their lives is searching for purpose. We want to know why we’re here. We want to belong and know that our lives have meaning. Jesus' response in John 6 to this longing, at first glance, is bizarre to say the least. He essentially says, "eat my flesh and drink my blood." Is Jesus speaking literally here? What does this have to do with finding life's purpose?
Read MoreIn Mark 3, Jesus mentions that there is a sin, so severe that once a person has committed it, they can never be forgiven. Never be forgiven?! Doesn't Jesus forgive all sin? What is this unforgivable sin? And what do we do if we're guilty of it?
Read MoreOur culture is filled with things that try to divide us. Everything from politics, to social issues, to stances on masks and vaccinations in the midst of a pandemic. In "Facing The Fire," Bishop Doug Adams from JOY Church of God, teaches us how to face these fires of division to refocus our attention on what truly matters and seek the unity found in Christ.
Read MoreWe've all heard the saying..."Finders, keepers. Losers, weepers." In "Finders, Keepers" Otis Buckley, lead pastor of Highpoint Bible Church in the Bronx, NY shares how we can find rest in knowing our God is faithfully at work in our lives. Because the God who finds, is the God who keeps.
Read MoreIn Matthew 7, Jesus refers to people who have convinced themselves and others that they will one day see the kingdom of God. They appear in church wreathed in smiles and part of the celebration, but there is no personal life that leads up to it, or out from it. Is it possible that these people are not actually Christians? How can we identify this in someone, or more importantly...ourselves?
Read MoreSuccessful people are often relentless people. But success at anything, always comes at a cost. In the same way, Jesus calls us to be His disciples, and it's not without cost. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26) Being a follower of Jesus will cost us something. But do we really need to hate our families?!
Read MoreAny builder worth his salt knows that the most important part of any building is the foundation. The strength, stability, and endurance of the building is completely dependent on the foundation. The same is true for our lives. When the storms of life come, the foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether or not we will endure or, one day, collapse.
Read MoreAny builder worth his salt knows that the most important part of any building is the foundation. The strength, stability, and endurance of the building is completely dependent on the foundation. The same is true for our lives. When the storms of life come, the foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether or not we will endure or, one day, collapse.
Read MoreToward the end of his Sermon On The Mount, Jesus mentions two paths or approaches we can take in life: one that leads to a full, vibrant life and one that leads to destruction. The path we choose to take during our short time here on earth will have eternal consequences. Which will you choose?
Read MoreAs we become parents, we're not always prepared for all that parenthood entails. We do our best to prepare ourselves by reading books, or seeking advice from friends and family about how to raise our children. But the mark of a good father, or parent, stems from the heart. Thankfully we have the model of our perfect, loving Father to show us the way.
Read MoreAs life goes on, we tend to accumulate more, and more, and more things. Not only that, but our things begin to become increasingly important to us. They can begin to exert a kind of power over us. Left unchecked, that power can mess with our perspective and our priorities. How do we avoid being consumed by our stuff and stay focused on what is actually important?
Read More
