Together 4/27/2014

Whether we like it or not Christ has united us all. It's not up to us. It's God's will. Listen to what Paul has to say about this.

Will You Believe? 4/20/2014

Encountering a dead person resurrected from their grave must be incredibly unsettling—to say the least. Women came to Jesus' grave expecting to see a lifeless corpse that they would anoint with spices as was their custom.  

But when they arrived they were ambushed. Their world suddenly turned on his head. The marker of death, gone! And replaced with a frightening, unsettling, idea: The dead body of Jesus was no longer dead.

Christians are those who believe that the book end to our life, death itself, was unhinged by Jesus. His life which began with a virgin birth did end... but then un-ended by a resurrection from death.

For those who say, “Jesus is my one and only God who lived, died and rose from the grave for my life,” for those who willingly say, “I believe it,” for them there is no more fear in death. The entrance into Heaven itself now lies wide open for all who believe.

Would you believe? 

Self-limiting 4/13/14

Are you holding yourself back?  Towards the end of Jesus' life he entered the famous city of Jerusalem. He was so famous by then that they started a parade! And as they were on their parade route, some people began to ask what was going on. "Who is this guy?"  The paraders responded saying, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Galilee."  Prophet? If that's all they said then they had a limited answer. And if our view of Jesus is limited, your very life's story will be limited.  Do you need to enlarge your view of Jesus? A complete and full life is waiting...

God of Miracles 4/6/14

Where was the last time you said, "wow, that's a miracle!"

One of the most intriguing aspects about Christianity is the miraculous. We believe that miracles are possible and do happen. Yet we are prone to get ahead of ourselves here. As we will see in our Bible reading, God often does the miracles in spite of us rather than because of our own faith, or our power, or our etc... If we get ahead of ourselves we end up missing the miracles God is really doing all around us!

Say It 3/30/14

“I don’t know how to pray for myself…no one ever taught me.” -Sandra Bullock in Gravity

We have become highly suspicious of what people say, and particularly when we cannot see how their words are backed by their actions. American Christianity seems to have determined it better in general to preach through actions rather than words. This does feel more comfortable; but, it defies what Jesus told his followers to do. We are to use both words and actions.

We should not waste the wonderful gift of words to communicate the all-important message of Christianity. Use your words, and use them honestly. It is easier if we're honest--if we open up to others about both the positive and the challenge. You can be honest about your church, about your faith journey, etc.

God uses our authentic words like tools to touch the lives of others.

"Upon this rock I will build my community." -Jesus

Risk Getting Soaked 3/23/14

"Lord," Peter said from his safe boat to Jesus walking precariously upon the Sea of Galilee, "If it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

The way to Jesus is out of the boat. The steps we'd take to be nearer to God and His hope, peace, and love lead us to walk on water. To have big-faith we need to risk getting soaked. And even if we fall, even if our faith wavers as we begin to sink, we will but find our selves caught up in the loving arms of the one and only God.

Is it time for you to step out of the boat?

 

 

Your Story = God's Passion 3/9/14

In this message I unpack something that should rightly be hard to believe: Your story is God's passion.

The central pivot of the Christian religion is God showing us this is true through the sacrifice of his very self (this is what we call the Gospel!). Jesus told his disciples that his purpose was to change your story--to change it towards the fulfillment of all you need.

So no matter what you've been told by others (family, friends, co-workers), who you are is so important that God chose to die for you. And there is absolutely nothing you can do to change his mind about you. Ya, that should rightly be hard to believe.