John 21:15–17 Three times Jesus commands Peter, “Feed my flock.” This repeated charge restores Peter to apostolic service after his fall and teaches a lasting lesson to the whole church: love for Christ is proven by usefulness to others. True devotion is not loud profession, impulsive zeal, or dramatic action, but steady, patient, sacrificial care … Continue reading Love Made Useful
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A Love that is Born of Grace
JOHN 21:15–17 A true Christian loves Christ because of who He is and what He has done. Jesus suffered in our place and died for us. By His blood He has freed us from the guilt, power, and penalty of sin. He has forgiven all our sins. He called us by His Spirit to repentance … Continue reading A Love that is Born of Grace
The Rewards of Devoted Love
John 20:11–18 Mary Magdalene’s devotion at the tomb shows that those who cling to Christ with steadfast love receive the sweetest privileges from His hand. While Peter and John went home, Mary stayed. She didn’t know where Jesus was or what had happened to Him, but love kept her near the last place she had … Continue reading The Rewards of Devoted Love
A Prayer of Confession of Sin – On Beauty
Beautiful Savior, You died to make me beautiful — one who was marred and made beastly by sin. Late it was that I loved you, beauty so ancient and so new, late I loved you! Thus, I vacillate between a monkish contempt of physical beauty and a worldly addiction to physical beauty. Unlike the patriarch … Continue reading A Prayer of Confession of Sin – On Beauty
Pray and Bless Your Enemies – A Needed Word in Our Day of Increasing Polarization.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. PROVERBS 16:7 A Confederate soldier was on sentry duty on the edge of a wood. It was a dark night and very cold, and he was a little frightened because the enemy was supposed to be … Continue reading Pray and Bless Your Enemies – A Needed Word in Our Day of Increasing Polarization.
Love Stoops to Conquer – Worship Reflections for John 13
The foot washing episode of John 13 serves as “a rebuke to the disciples’ ambitious strife, far more powerful than words could have spoken: Such a rebuke that never again do we see a hint of the old question, ‘Who should be greatest?’ It was Christ's answer to their unseemly conduct, and a lesson to … Continue reading Love Stoops to Conquer – Worship Reflections for John 13
A Well-Ordered Heart
“What does it mean to have a well-ordered heart?” To have a well-ordered heart “is to love the right thing to the right degree in the right way with the right kind of love.” Christopher Hall, Living Wisely with the Church Fathers (p. 221). Westmont, IL: IVP Academic. Quoting John Ortberg in the book The … Continue reading A Well-Ordered Heart
We Love God’s People
Membership Vow #5 Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, promising to promote its purity, peace, and unity? Core Value: CONNECT Core Value: We believe that the gospel creates a nurturing community where love rules every relationship. Outcome: All who come into our church family will experience genuine friendship and … Continue reading We Love God’s People
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…
One Powerful Lesson for the Church
On November 18, 1978, at the direction of charismatic cult leader Jim Jones, 909 members of the People's Temple died, all but two from apparent cyanide poisoning," including over 200 murdered children. Mel White, a Christian writer and filmmaker and adjunct professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, set out to investigate the causes of the Jim … Continue reading One Powerful Lesson for the Church
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