Holy Week Devotional | Monday

/
Holy Week Devotional | Monday

On this day, Jesus made his way to Jerusalem to visit the Temple. On his way, he saw a fully leafed fig tree and, in his hunger, went to examine it for fruit. However, the fig tree, appearing by its leaves to have fruit, was fruitless. In his disappointment, Jesus cursed the fig tree. The next day the disciples noted and marveled that the fig tree had withered under Jesus’ word of judgment (Mark 11:20). In this event, Jesus is not simply “hangry” – that condition we are all familiar with of being so hungry you are angry. No, Jesus is performing a prophetic act. He was expecting fruit from Israel and her leaders, but upon examination, he has found her fruitless. She was invited to repent and to bear fruit in keeping with her repentance, but she, following her leaders, persisted in unbelief. They would eventually experience God’s judgment for their rejection of Jesus and their unfaithfulness.

Read More

Scripture Memory

/
Scripture Memory

Internalizing Scripture and locking it into your memory is one of the surest ways to grow in holiness and in one’s capacity for a conversational relationship with God. If you want to consistently hear God’s voice in your life, memorize Scripture. Those who meditate on his law day and night, and delight in His word are promised blessing, wisdom, and fruitfulness (Psalm 1; Psalm 119:1, 97; Joshua 1:8). Memorizing Scripture is one of the greatest and most fruitful disciplines you can give yourself to...

Read More

Personal Impact of Ephesians Series

/
Personal Impact of Ephesians Series

Our community recently wrapped up 41 weeks in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. I enjoyed teaching through the letter and hope you were built up from hearing it preached as much as I was built up by preaching it. It was a rich study for me personally. Ephesians has always been one of my favorite books in all the Bible and preaching through it only increased my delight in it. I don’t want us to close the letter and move on to the next series without reflecting a bit on all that we have walked through.  Here are eight truths that encouraged, challenged and strengthened me in my study that I hope you will hold on to...

Read More

Prayer: Not a Sentimental Gesture

/
Prayer: Not a Sentimental Gesture

If we would see God move in our lives, our families, our communities, our nation, we must be committed. Committed not simply to the idea of prayer, but to the act of prayer. If we want to see God heal the sick, renew relationships, save the lost, call home the prodigals, ...it will be by his power activated by faith-filled prayer. It is not enough that we affirm the necessity and power of prayer; we must give ourselves to the discipline and duty of prayer.

Read More

ISIS and Peace on Earth

/
ISIS and Peace on Earth

We must pray for our enemies and desire their salvation. Christians need to renounce the spirit of Jonah who wanted the destruction of God’s merciless enemies and hated the thought of those enemies receiving mercy from God. But, God does not delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11) and desires that all people come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). If that is God’s heart, should it not be ours? Should we desire the destruction of the wicked? Death to all of God’s enemies? Our call is to follow the command and example of Jesus who told us to love our enemies and pray for them, and who himself laid his life down for his enemies, even praying for their forgiveness as they killed him. Again, if we are calling for missiles but not praying for missionaries, we have lost touch with the heart of God...

Read More

Great Intercessors

/
Great Intercessors

This is the power of our Pray 30/20/10 initiative. We are becoming a praying people through the act of praying. We are learning to cultivate a praying habit so that we might have a praying heart. By taking 30 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes during the day, and 10 minutes at night to seek God in his Word and in prayer, we are learning to look away from ourselves and to look to God. This season of prayer can be a turning point in our lives. We might very well be on the verge of some new works of God as he responds to our persistent prayers. If you have not taken the Pray 30/20/10 challenge, I encourage you to take it up today. Make it a part of the regular rhythm of your life. Join us as we strive with God’s help to become a church serious in its intention to be a praying people.

Read More

Staying the Course in a Shifting Culture

/
Staying the Course in a Shifting Culture

On June 26, 2015, The Supreme Court of the United States handed down a ruling that made Same-Sex Marriage a constitutional right for all Americans. Those who hold to an historical view of marriage and a biblical view of human sexuality are faced with a great challenge as to how to respond to our culture in a way that holds fast to the Words of Jesus while also modeling the Way of Jesus. Below you will find several resources that we believe will help you as you develop biblical convictions over this issue and will empower you to faithfully respond in grace and truth...

Read More