Wonder Transforms Us | For the Life of the World
With Google, Alexa, Facebook and Netflix the waiting we once had to experience is nearly gone. No longer do we have to visit a library, just search Google or ask Alexa. No longer do we have to wait to see our friend face to face to find out what’s happening in their life, just scroll through Facebook. And no longer do we have to wait a week to learn what’s going to happen next on our favorite television show, just binge Netflix. However, in this new era of no longer having to wait are we losing our sense of wonder?
Blessing as Family | For the Life of the World
Many of us treat our salvation in Jesus like my wife and I treat the church pew that’s in our garage. Recently someone gave us the church pew, and we have plans to use it in the future on our outdoor patio or in our living room. But as for today it’s not being used; it’s just sitting in the garage. Do you think of your salvation as something you will use later, something that has eternal significance but not really everyday significance?
What To Do When The Church Disappoints You
“What to do when the church disappoints you” was the unanimous topic selected from a recent survey we posted on the church’s Facebook page. I think most people would agree, it’s not a matter of “if” the church will disappoint you, but “when” the church will disappoint you. We’ll discover what the Bible teaches about not giving up when we find ourselves frustrated, hurt, or discouraged.
Perseverance | Teach Us to Pray
Those outside the church, and probably some inside, think of Christianity as a stifling religion with a lot of “thou shalt nots” to obey. Not only is this unfortunate, it is simply untrue. As we continue our sermon series in which we are asking Jesus to “teach us to pray,” we will discover an unbelievable invitation Jesus extends to each of us. It is an invitation that can revolutionize our own lives and the lives of those around us.
The Shelter | Jonah
The book of Jonah ends in such a strange way. It’s similar to sitting down and watching that movie you’ve been anticipating, but instead of the superhero saving the day or the man and woman falling in love or the main character coming out on top, the opposite happens leaving you confused and speechless. Despite the strange ending of Jonah, the last chapter in the book provides the opportunity for us to reflect on our own life, and also to decide how its message will influence our lives today and in the future.
The City | Jonah
Imagine waking up tomorrow and the top trending internet story and the headline of every newspaper read: “The people of Parker County believed in God!” This may seem hard to imagine, but something like this actually happened in the city of Nineveh. After Jonah preached in Nineveh, the Bible tells us that the people of the city – from the greatest to the least – turned to God from their wicked ways. Many consider this one of the greatest spiritual awakenings of all time.
The Fish | Jonah
“Who knows better?” is a rhetorical question my wife and I use with our children. This is because sometimes they hear our words or see our actions as a stumbling block to their own plans. Similarly, Jonah saw God’s plan as a stumbling block to his own plan. We will continue to walk through the book of Jonah to see how he discovered through an unbelievable miracle that God’s plan is not a stumbling block but saving grace.
The Ship | Jonah
Summer is here! And to kick it off we are going to spend the month of June studying together the book of Jonah. For many this familiar Old Testament story is a cute, cartoonish tale about a whale that swallowed a man. But the story of Jonah is so much more. It is filled with shock and awe as tragedy, salvation, jealousy, desperation, fear, violence, hate, revival, and anger are all mingled together!
Unique to Serve | Unique
There are special gifts, and yes, there are not so special gifts. I discovered this when I gave my wife a copy of my 350-page dissertation on her 35th birthday (thank goodness for a gracious wife). Needless to say, this qualified as a not so special gift. Today, we begin a series called Unique. Let’s discover what the Scripture calls “special gifts.” So join me to discover these gifts, what makes them unique, and why they matter to you and those around you.
The Local Church | The Story
Last year an article was published entitled, “Meet Those Who ‘Love Jesus but Not the Church.'” It explores adults who say they are Christian but are not part of a local church…and apparently this is a growing trend in our country. Today, as we continue our study in the book of Acts we will see what Scripture says about the Church and this very trend. My hope is that we will discover what God intended for the Church, the greatest global community ever born.
