After The Candles Are Lit
As we consider the posture of our waiting, we learn at least three things from Anna and Simeon in Luke 2 about the proper way to wait for God to move.
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- Dec 27, 2015After The Candles Are Lit
After The Candles Are LitChristmas is past. The presents have been unwrapped, but we still find ourselves waiting ... not for the infant king of Bethlehem, but the soon and coming king.As we consider the posture of our waiting, we learn at least three things from Anna and Simeon in Luke 2 about the proper way to wait for God to move.
- Dec 20, 2015The Shepherds’ Candle
The Shepherds’ CandleJesus’ arrival made a community of the common, the outsider, the alone—and as his followers, we are called to do the same.
- Dec 13, 2015The Angel Candle
The Angel Candle
The third advent candle is the Angel Candle. The angel candle represents that message that the angels shared the night of Christ's birth. Part of that message was the message of God's universal appeal of grace through the Christ child.
- Dec 6, 2015Small Time, Big Promise, Missed Opportunity – The Bethlehem Candle
Small Time, Big Promise, Missed Opportunity – The Bethlehem CandleBethlehem's by all accounts was insignificant ... the smallest of the small. But God included Bethlehem in God's biggest promise, the promise of the Messiah. The power of the promise was in what kind of Messiah would come from this insignificant place (MIcah 5).Why would God choose an insignificant village to unveil the Messiah?The tragedy is that it appears that all but a few shepherds missed out on the fulfillment of God's promise. The tragedy is also that we are often so busy with our Christmas plans that we miss out on the reminder of the Messiah, or our lives are so hectic that we miss out on seeing what God is doing.
- Nov 29, 2015God’s Guarantees – The Prophecy Candle
God’s Guarantees – The Prophecy CandleChristmas is often approached with wishful thinking, a time of hoping for the best. However, we often find that our dreams and desires for the holiday fall short of our wishes.When God is engaged in Christmas it is not wishful thinking, but a time of faithful promises found in the prophetic message. Isaiah shares at least for promises that God guarantees will be fulfilled in the Advent of the Messiah.
- Nov 22, 2015Where Giving Begins
Where Giving Begins
Conversations on giving seem to always start in the wrong place. They always seem to begin with the questions “how much” or “where”. But when we start our conversations with that question we begin in the wrong place. A better set of questions would be “how” and “why”.Giving begins in the heart of God, and flows from our hearts as an expression of appreciation. - Nov 15, 2015It Is God’s Will
It Is God’s Will
All Christians have a desire to know God's will.However, we often attribute God's will to things that are not quite so clear, or are sometimes even antithetical to His will.God does have a will, a plan, and a purpose for our lives. But it not found in the details of specific decisions. It is found in applying the principles of His will presented in the New Testament. - Nov 8, 2015God Must Be Punishing Me
- Nov 1, 2015God Wants Me to Be Happy
- Oct 25, 2015All Sins Are The Same
All Sins Are The SameSatan is the Father of lies, however, often his lies are not of the variety that makes us quickly dismiss them. Sometimes the lies are a subtle distortion of the truth. Satan's greatest victory may be getting us to believe these lies.The today's message is based on the statement "All sins are the same," and it's counterpart, "All sins are not the same."Which side is right? Are all sins the same as one side says. Or is the other side correct when they say, "All sins are not the same". Perhaps, it is not as simple as choosing one or the other. Perhaps, both are only partially true, and are a lie in their own subtle way. This message from October 25 exposes the truth behind the "All sin is the same" myths. Sins are the same, but they are also different, and it is those differences that make all the difference.
- Oct 18, 2015One Hope
One Hope
Paul closes the book of Galatians with his own hand. In five verses, he warns the believers not to exchange their new life for the bondage of the old. Why would someone exchange life for that which is dead?This newly created life is a life that brings about transformation ... a life rooted in the one thing that really matters ... the life changing cross of Christ. In that cross we find we are ONE. - Oct 11, 2015One ANOTHER
One ANOTHERAs a Christian community of the Cross, the church is to be a place of oneness defined by love for one another. However, this love is not a generic feeling. Nor is it love as our world defines it.Love in this Christian community is a self-sacrificing demonstration of the Holy Spirit's presence. It seeks the redemption of those who are fallen, and offers support to those who are burdened.There is no room for viciousness or other actions that destroy one another within the community of the cross.