Faithfulness During Political Divisiveness (Matthew 22:14-22) – Part 2

Key idea – We live faithfully in politics by living faithfully for Christ I. Live in Truth II. Live out Love III. Live with a Message An ambassador is someone who lives in a foreign land but represents their own king. Three ways to live with a message: A. Gospel priority B. “Convictional kindness” C. Visible […]

Faithfulness During Political Divisiveness (Matthew 22:15-22) – Part 1

Key idea – We live faithfully in politics by living faithfully for Christ I. Live in Truth A. Recognize that the culture offers a faulty version of reality B. Recognize biases in the presentation of facts (both “liberal” and “conservative”) C. Recognize the complexity of the issues at stake D. Recognize the difference between “straight-line” […]

Peace in a Pandemic (Psalm 131)

Key Idea: A peaceful heart comes from a humble heart that hopes in Christ. I. A Peaceful Heart Starts with Humility Humility (in Psalm 131) is living for God, by living dependent on God. Humility is living for God An anxious heart comes because we live for the wrong things. Humility is living dependent on God […]

Purposeful Suffering (John 15:1-11)

Key idea: We find joy in our sufferings when we embrace Christ’s loving purposes behind them. Four truths to inform and shape our theology of suffering: I. Suffering is not the whole story, but part of the greater story of redemption II. Suffering is not meaningless, but has greater purposes Applications: A. We embrace suffering by […]

Safer-with-the-Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Key idea: The church is essential to us, and we are essential to the church. I. The Church is Essential to Us The picture we are given is that the church consists of believers transformed by the Gospel of Christ (chapters 1-3), united around the person of Christ (4:13), ministering the truths of Christ (4:15), so […]

Parenting – Faithfulness and Faith (Psalm 127)

Key Idea: We must give up the illusion of personal sovereignty I. Faithfulness – giving up the illusion of sovereignty reorients our faithfulness If what we are pursuing for our kids, is not what GOD is pursuing for our kids, God is not in that, and it is ultimately meaningless. Parenting is ultimately about addressing […]

Online Church, Zoom Fatigue, and the Gospel

Key Idea: Perseverance is about hope in Christ. I. Remember the heart Philippians 4:6–7 a. Consider the sins and idolatries that make virtual church more difficult b. Consider how you are training your heart II. Recognize grace Philippians 1:12-13 a. It can create in us a greater longing and a deeper faith (Philippians 1) b. […]

Calling and Comfort (John 14:15-24)

1. Live for Christ by living with Christ – The first Helper/Advocate/Counselor is Christ – The second Helper/Advocate/Counselor is the Holy Spirit – The role of the Holy Spirit (from Dr. Bruce Ware in Father, Son, & Holy Spirit): – The Spirit Assists in Carrying out the Work of the Father – Spirit works to […]

A Christ-Centered Love (John 13:18-38)

Key Idea: to love others well, we must first look to Christ. 1. A Christ-Centered standard of love: A love that imitates Christ A Christ-centered love does not limit WHO we love : from beloved to betrayer A Christ-centered love does not limit HOW we love: from the mundane to the monumental 2. A Christ-Centered […]

In Pursuit of Unfair Relationships (John 13:1-17)

Key idea: Christian love (by its very nature) is the pursuit of what is unfair. 1. We must admit our struggle to love Two truths: Our sin makes it difficult to recognize our own sin Our sin means we will justify sin Two applications: DO see yourself in this story as a disciple who desperately […]