How does our Heavenly Father inspire hope within us? (Romans 15:4 & 5)  From last week and inspired by In Touch Ministries: 1. The Spirit of God encourages us with the Word of God. (Psalm 119:68) 2. God's Spirit comforts us through prayer. (Philippians 4:6) New for this week:3. God encourages us through Christian music. Many hymns remind us of God's [...]

Before I jump into our conversation this morning, I wanted to affirm (as many already know) that my family will be moving to Tennessee at the end of this month. My wife and I are excited about new opportunities for our family. Both of our children and grandchildren are moving as well. I am uncertain [...]

Blasie Pascal was correct. The Christian life is the only one worth living; it is the "safe bet, the smart wager" for now and for eternity. However, we would all agree that at times it isn't easy. But as children of the Most High God, in the midst of the good and bad times we take comfort [...]

Last week we examined the passage from Luke 12:54 & ff where Jesus admonished us to be interpreters of our times; to "discern the winds". The winds of a gospel-centered life foster the principles of the Kingdom of God, winds not rooted in the gospel, foster principles of the kingdom(s) of the world. We left off last [...]

Jesus said in Luke 12:54 - 56, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is... You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is [...]

Recently, I read an article from the Denison Forum concerning Ascension Sunday. You can read the entire article off their website (referring to the date of 05-13-24). Any given year we can calculate that date by counting forward from Easter Sunday; this year, Ascension Sunday was May 9. The author comments: "This event is typically celebrated more by liturgical Christians [...]

There are 100 New Testament commands concerning how we are to relate to "one another" within the Body of Christ, i.e. The Church. Last week we shared six "one another" commands on how NOT to treat one another, this week I want to share the positive phrasing of these specific commands; how are we to treat "one another". INTENTIONAL men [...]

Continuing from the last two weeks concerning living for "one another" within the construct of the Church. The phrase "one another" is derived from the Greek word allelon which means "one another, each other, mutually, reciprocally." It occurs 100 times in the New Testament. Approximately 59 of those occurrences are specific commands teaching us how and how not to relate [...]

Over 100 times in the New Testament we are admonished to live life with one another = (believers) in profound and practical ways. Let's take a took at several of these commands: 1. We are to "encourage one build one another up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  Fellowship in the church isn't just greeting each other or sharing potluck meals (although [...]

I am a Preachers Kid (PK). I literally grew up in the local church, and all these years later I am still "at church" every day. I have been so very blessed and privileged to be a part of a local congregation my entire life. Life in the church can be comforting and refreshing, or uncomfortable, puzzling, difficult, [...]