“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
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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
The Sweet Exchange of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
There is not a better prayer that beautifully speaks of the mysterious, sweet exchange that takes place when we repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Love Lustres at Calvary My Father, Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, Supply words that proclaim ‘Love lustres at Calvary.’ There grace removes my burdens … Continue reading The Sweet Exchange of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Receiving & Giving Neighbor Love
Jesus is the Great Samaritan to whom the Good Samaritan points... Before you can give this neighbor-love, you need to receive it. Only if you see that you have been saved graciously by someone who owes you the opposite will you go out into the world looking to help absolutely anyone in need. — Timothy … Continue reading Receiving & Giving Neighbor Love
Prepare Your Heart for Worship
Here is a simple prayer to pray through and reflect upon as you prepare to worship God personally and with others. It is based upon the beautiful hymn: "May the Mind of Christ My Savior." Almighty God, may my worship of you cause the mind of Christ to be more fully present in me this … Continue reading Prepare Your Heart for Worship
Cultivating a Healthy Marriage: Clothed with Love
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). Love is that piece of clothing in your spiritual wardrobe that will hold your entire marriage relationship together. It serves sort of like a safety belt for your marriage and also every other relationship. God's Design for Passages Like … Continue reading Cultivating a Healthy Marriage: Clothed with Love
John 13 & The Distinguishing Mark of a Christian
In his booklet on John 13:34-35 entitled “The Mark of a Christian,” Francis Shaeffer called love ‘the final apologetic.’ The love of Christians for one another should be the distinguishing mark by which the world recognizes us as followers of Jesus. Such mutual interest in and concern for each other will arrest the attention of unbelievers. This recognition from the … Continue reading John 13 & The Distinguishing Mark of a Christian
Good Friday and Three Truths the Cross Enforces
When the Apostle Peter discovered that Jesus would experience humiliation and suffering, he exploded, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." Then, Jesus' offered a devastating rebuke: "Get behind me, Satan, you are a stumbling block" (16:22-23). Jesus reminded him and us that the son of man came to give His life. This … Continue reading Good Friday and Three Truths the Cross Enforces
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