I had the privilege of growing up in a town in eastern North Carolina sort of like Mayberry of Andy Griffith renown. My family lived in a big house on Main Street owned by my maternal grandmother. In fact, we not only lived in that house, we lived with her. Obviously, she had a huge … Continue reading A Simple Prayer Learned from Grandmother Rose
Give to the Winds Your Fears
In the seventeenth century Paul Gerhardt and his family had to flee Berlin because of his convictions. As they fled, they stopped at an inn and tried to understand why God was allowing this to happen to them. Gerhardt's wife was especially concerned about what might lie ahead for their young children. Gerhardt read Psalm … Continue reading Give to the Winds Your Fears
Thoughts on Preparing for Your Baptism
Why be baptized? Adults like yourselves who seek membership in the church based upon their profession of faith in Christ and who have never received baptism are privileged and urged to receive this sign of the covenant upon their public profession of faith and reception as members of the church (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38). We … Continue reading Thoughts on Preparing for Your Baptism
Thoughts on Preparing for Communion
Come not because you are strong, but because you are weak. Come not because any goodness of your own gives you a right to come, but because you need mercy and help. Come, because you love the Lord and want to experience more of His love. Come, because He first loved you and gave … Continue reading Thoughts on Preparing for Communion
Homo Unius Libri – A Man of One Book
The rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus was not condemned because he was rich, any more than the poor man was justified for being poor. The issue was not whether these men were rich or poor, but whether or not these men believed the Scriptures and trusted in the Redeemer … Continue reading Homo Unius Libri – A Man of One Book
When You or Your Teenager Deal with Doubt
This morning I came across this helpful blog post from Christianity Today that helped me in my parental calling. I thought I would pass it along to you. Steve Jobs, Back to School, and Why Doubt Belongs in Your Youth Group Curriculum
Learning to love like Jesus – Who?
John 13:34a says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another." Who we are to love? One another. The love of Christians for one another should be the distinguishing mark by which the world recognizes us as followers of Jesus Christ. Love is one of the key terms in Jesus' Upper … Continue reading Learning to love like Jesus – Who?
Learning to love like Jesus – How?
John 13:34 traces two great movements of grace -- 'just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.' Jesus calls this his "new commandment." What makes this commandment new? In a nutshell, "Just as I have loved you" “New” (kainen) implies freshness rather than simply “recent.” The word in the original Koine … Continue reading Learning to love like Jesus – How?
Learning to love like Jesus – Why?
Jesus says in John 13:35: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Why is it important that we learn to love like Jesus? The obvious reason is that the Lord commands it. But this text offers us two vital reasons why… Fulfill our mission. Learning to … Continue reading Learning to love like Jesus – Why?
Confessing Our Sins Together – based upon Luke 16:19-31
AFFIRMING JUSTICE AND MERCY “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” - Amos 5:23-24 He has show you O man; What is good and what does the Lord require … Continue reading Confessing Our Sins Together – based upon Luke 16:19-31
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