O Father, Jesus Christ is among us as our peace, but we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. We long for the end of hostilities in our families, with our friends and in our world. We confess that we are often anxious and angry over … Continue reading A Prayer for those Facing Conflict and Dissension
The Power of Trusting God
From a true and lively sense of God’s attributes, there is bred in a person’s heart a love, awe, and confidence in God... if therefore, you do believe that God is almighty, why do you fear devils and enemies and not confidently trust in God?... If you believe that God is the sovereign good, why … Continue reading The Power of Trusting God
Praying Scripture | Psalm 23:6
Lord, open my eyes to your good and merciful heart today and speak to me so that my soul might be happy in no one else or nothing else besides you! AMEN. Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house … Continue reading Praying Scripture | Psalm 23:6
Finishing Well – Five Essentials
Here is a five-part series I have taught recently that is based upon an article I read a number of years ago by Jerry Bridges. His article is chapter one in this book: Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints Finishing Well - Essential #1 Finishing Well - Essential #2 Finishing Well - … Continue reading Finishing Well – Five Essentials
Prepare Your Heart for Palm Sunday
No matter where you are tomorrow, Jesus continues to ride on in majesty and mercy to the door of people's hearts, and he wants to come and reign unrivaled and supreme on the throne of your heart. Our celebration of Palm Sunday, which is the beginning of Holy Week, helps us to do just that. … Continue reading Prepare Your Heart for Palm Sunday
Prayers of Confession for Palm Sunday
Prayer Sample #1:Holy Father,long ago the crowds with incessant hallelujahsgreeted Your dearly loved Son,but how quickly they mockedas He went lonely to the cross.Forgive us for the ways that we, too,have welcomed Him only in wordsand resisted His kingship.Subdue our restless and rebellious heartsso that we might serve You faithfullythrough Jesus Christ our Lord,who is … Continue reading Prayers of Confession for Palm Sunday
Can a True Believer Fall Away?
This coming Sunday we will hear again the story of how one of Jesus' original disciples fell in his spiritual journey. In light of this study, It is vital that we remember what we believe about the perseverance of the saints. Listen to what our Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 17, Points 1 & 3 … Continue reading Can a True Believer Fall Away?
Because You Love Jesus…
Jack Miller served for years as a writer, pastor, seminary professor, and missionary. He constantly and uncomfortably asked probing questions of those who read his books. Here’s one that fits well with this Sunday's sermon text (John 21:1-23) from his book Outgrowing the Ingrown Church: Have you done a single good deed recently simply because … Continue reading Because You Love Jesus…
The Riches of Divine Friendship for Ordinary People
How often we want to be extraordinary and live radically for Jesus. Yet, if we are honest, we feel our extreme ordinariness every day. Look around the charcoal fire that Jesus starts in order to feed his hungry band of struggling followers: "These are ordinary men whom Jesus invited to his table of fellowship that … Continue reading The Riches of Divine Friendship for Ordinary People
Ashes on Ash Wednesday
Friends, today is Ash Wednesday on the church's calendar. It starts the season of Lent that is a forty-day preparation period for Easter Sunday. Count back forty days from Easter (excluding Sundays) and you will arrive at this Wednesday… exactly seven weeks before Easter. This forty-day period corresponds to Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness … Continue reading Ashes on Ash Wednesday
