Christ and the City

Joash had a misplaced faith ... in Elisha instead of the God of Elisha. As a result, he had little faith for victory and received little victory. Let's stop acting like beggars at the Throne of Grace and instead come boldly, seeking for all the fullness of God. Instead of a small blessing, let's seek a double portion of the faith of our fathers!

God is seeking our attention as He invites us to experience His grace. God calls, He offers us a covenant relationship, He commits, and He guarantees the consequences. Thank God for His gracious invitation!

The God of all comfort, grace for all circumstances, and good from all calamities.

A blind man hears a crowd nearby. He asks, "What does it mean?" He has no idea how the answer to that question will change his life.

We shall be like Him.

Mixed with faith.

"The invitation is to draw near as you are, say what you will, and ask with confidence for what you need." -H. Orton Wiley

Jerusalem's walls were crumbling. Her defenses had been breached. Who would stand between Jerusalem and judgment? "I sought for a man..." The priests and prophets had succumbed to the allure of the world. The political leaders were corrupt. Even the people oppressed the poor and the sojourner. "I found none." But, thank God, when no human could be found to stand between us and judgment, God sent His Son into the world. In a world fast heading for certain judgment, our security is found in Christ alone.

On their way to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus spoke to His disciples about Heaven. He gave His troubled disciples three assurances that today's believers can take comfort in: We have hope, we have a home, and we have Him.

"Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you." (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

Holy living.

Meet a king ... who learned Who was really in charge of things.

How should believers survive oppression and persecution?

A Father's Day message with a message for every follower of God.

Luke 24

Nehemiah saw his broken city from a burdened heart. His prayer to God for Jerusalem included a recognition of God's power, a confession from God's people, an appeal to God's promise, and a surrender to God's purpose. We do hope for better things in eternity ... but we also pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in Heaven." As we see the brokenness of racism and injustice, let us appeal to God with humility, honesty, and faith -- and our burden bearing may turn into wall building!

God's chastening is designed to bring us to His purpose for us. We learn from the children of Israel that the redeemed life, though not free of God's chastening, is a supplied life, a sojourning life, a significant life, a safe life, and a singing life.

Jesus asked a general question - "Whom do men say that I am?" That was followed by Peter's personal confession of Christ. Many of us answer the first question. We must also grapple with the second: "Whom say ye that I am?" A correct answer will lead to the Church, the cross, and a crown.

Covid 19 was spread to the world by a few people and has resulted in thousands of deaths worldwide. This message looks at the deadly spread of sin throughout the human race from one person, and the cure for sin.

We can rejoice in temptation because God uses it to make saints and promises an eternal reward to those who endure. Here are six Biblical techniques for passing the Temptation Test.

The fiery trial is a normal Christian experience, and one you can face with confidence. What is the fiery trial? What does holy living look like in the trial? And, how should believers approach the trial?

Arm yourself, guard yourself, and offer yourself. These three commands from 1 Peter 4 show us our responsibility to die to sin and self and to live to God.  This is the way to Biblical holiness and usefulness in God's Kingdom.

Meet a hero of faith who was used by God to write hymns, preach the gospel, and impact the world. He was heavenly-minded AND made a great impact in our world.

Holy at Home

A Roman jail warden asks two prisoners a life changing question.

How should we respond to people and a culture that is hostile to our faith? We can FLEE, we can FIGHT, we can build a FORTRESS - or we can be FAITHFUL by sharing and showing the gospel to a hungry world.

The most important question to ask ... "Is my name written in Heaven?"

God calls us to desire the "sincere" (pure) milk of the Word.

The pursuit of holiness involves a sincere life, sincere longing, sincere love, and sincere labor.

A holy life is God's expectation for His people. Peter gives us three reasons we should aspire to holiness: out of childlike obedience to God, to reflect the character of our Creator, and because we've been redeemed.

Do you know anyone who seems incapable or unwilling to come to Jesus on their own? Let's follow four men who brought their friend to Jesus and learn from their example.

From the life of Moses, we find lessons about the importance of having God's personal presence in our lives. God has promised to be in the lives of His people, we should cultivate a passion for His presence, and we can know He is with us.

Many of us look for shortcuts ... when we travel, when we are achieving goals, and even in our spiritual lives. When God became flesh, He did not take the shortcuts.

God gave us a valuable gift at Christmas, yet many people do not recognize its value or even open the gift. What is this gift? Why don't people unwrap it? And what happens when you receive this gift?

There are two kings in the Christmas story -- King Herod and King Jesus. The first represents a strong and attractive earthly empire; the second, a yet-invisible and meek Kingdom. The first comes in outward majesty and power; the second came as a Baby in a manger, emptying Himself of the trappings of royalty. The first comes to rule by force; the second comes to rule by love. Which King will we serve?

What is Christmas all about? To answer that question, we go to "highly placed sources" - the angels who serve in the presence of God who made the official announcement of the Savior's birth.

Happy Thanksgiving! God gives us His peace in the storm as we pray gratefully, think positively, and live faithfully.

"If the Son therefore shall set ye free, ye shall be free indeed."

Paul's supreme passion was to know Christ. In this message, we consider the value of knowing Christ ("I count all things as loss"), the virtue of knowing Christ ("the righteousness which is by faith"), and the victory of knowing Christ ("the power of His resurrection"). Do you know Him?

Are you prepared for eternity?

Satan fights with accusations, afflictions, and advice. But God is not silent. He is setting boundaries, vindicating His people, and reversing Satan's work. This message ends with an encouragement to keep your faith!

Christ is the great Example of the Christian life. Consider His humility, identity, and obedience ... and follow in His footsteps.

In a wicked world, Enoch stood out. His walk with God was a walk of faith, a witness, and finally victorious.

The Apostle Paul and his circumstances.

Paul's attitude toward the congregation at Philippi is instructive. He expressed gratitude, confidence, and hope to them.

Jesus showed Himself to His disciples ... when they were ineffective, when they were hungry, when they had failed, and when they were distracted by others.

This episode explores three themes that run through the story of Joseph: The sovereignty of God in Joseph's life, faith in God that produced faithfulness in Joseph, and Joseph as a type of Jesus Christ. We can have victory through the vicissitudes of life if we live with an eye on God's providence, a heart for God's purity, and a love for God's people.

Joel

Why did the disciples "leave all" to become students of Jesus? They recognized that He was the Savior of the world, a Good Teacher, sovereign, omniscient, and the divine Son of God.

God and Jonah looked at the same city and saw different things. Sometimes we're quick to label those with whom we disagree, but God sees beyond the label. The book of Jonah calls us to examine our attitude toward the lost, the gospel message we communicate, and the power of the gospel.

Are you struggling? This message attempts to find the Scriptural answers to these questions: Where is God when I struggle? and How am I to endure the struggle? You can triumph by His grace!