January 10, 2021: Behold! Living in the Light of Behold

Advent 2020 series message 6

Text: various

The whole Bible pulsates with Behold! statements. The goodness of God, the mercy and grace of God, the power of God, the personal presence of God...all shining brightest among us through Jesus. How should our lives reflect the outrageous propositions in God's Word that are now our birthright? It begins with retaining the sense of being wonderstruck by it all and avoiding the stains of the world. Specifically, being strengthened by the Spirit in our inner being, as Paul told the Ephesians. This Sunday we'll get practical and put feet to our faith in 2021 with our Behold! statements from Scripture.

January 3, 2021: Behold! Jesus Our Man in Glory

Advent 2020 series message 5

Text: Various

In December we saw how the word behold directs, develops and punctuates many key aspects of Jesus' coming and ministry. We're extending our Behold! advent series to highlight our Lord and Savior this Sunday, and then His life in us the following Sunday. This weekend we'll look at  the Son of God past, present and future - from creation to glory and from Genesis to Revelation. Throughout Scripture, the word Behold! prepares us to see something unique and majestic about Jesus Christ long before He appeared in Bethlehem and also through the ages as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Indeed, what better place to start this year than Christology, the study of Christ: the loftiest science, the noblest pursuit and the richest meditation!

December 27, 2020: Behold! Present in the Promise

Advent 2020 series message 4

Text: Various

We've seen the heart of God in the unfolding drama of redemption and we've seen the stunning statements foretold about Jesus' birth and ministry. Even in the light of this, those amazing truths about Jesus can be under-appreciated and lost in the shuffle if we don't see their context. God made a promise, and God kept His promise. And so, the New Testament was formed and written because God is faithful. Behold!...

December 20, 2020: Behold! (Present in the Pathway)

Advent 2020 series message 3

Text: Various

Behold! is a most consequential word in Scripture, absolutely unrivaled in its usage and application. This week and next we'll focus on the Advent roadmap to redemption - so often, the word behold highlights an aspect of Jesus' coming and of the gospel. Last week we saw the heart of God as He literally entered our world - right into our chaos and heartache - to rescue us. This Sunday we'll highlight some lesser known Old Testament passages which speak to the beautifully unique advent and ministry of our Lord.

December 13, 2020: Behold! (Present in the Pain)

Advent 2020 series message 2

Text: Various

In this message and the next, we'll focus on the Advent roadmap to redemption; details of Christ's coming and ministry often follow the path of Behold! statements throughout Scripture.

This week we follow the heart of God as He brings healing to our pain. Salvation is certainly about forgiveness and reconciliation, but Jesus' coming reveals God's tender heart toward the weary and brokenhearted. We'll trace Behold! statements from Genesis to Revelation to see how God meets us in our pain with His great compassion and brings true healing through the gospel.

December 6, 2020: Behold!

2020 Advent series message 1

Text: Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 52:13 - 53:1

"Behold" is not used much these days but, in the past, it was used to arrest attention and point out something significant; something worth of paying close attention. I love how often this word is used in conjunction with the coming of the Lord, His ministry, and the gospel. It's my prayer that, as we highlight the usage of behold! during Advent season, we'll draw strength and again be wonderstruck by the power and uniqueness of the good news of Jesus Christ during a time of pandemic fatigue and stress.

November 22, 2020: Matters of the Heart Part 5

Sermon on the Mount series message 5

Text: Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus continues to give ground-breaking teachings, as He describes inner transformation and Kingdom living. We'll cover one of the most stunning statements in God's Word: Blessed are the pure in heart... The prophetic voices of the Old Testament are set against this notion - who could possibly be truly pure in heart? New Testament theology precludes such a possibility, for we are all dead in our trespasses and sins. However, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Praise the Lord for the new birth and for the very gracious promise He gives: ...they shall see God.

November 8, 2020: Matters of the Heart - Part 3

Sermon on the Mount series message 3

Text: Matthew 5:6-7

In Jesus' first recorded discourse, He drops tremendous Kingdom principles which were entirely counter cultural both then and now. A hunger and thirst after righteousness is a powerful confirmation of the Spirit's gracious work in our hearts - we don't naturally possess that disposition! His call to show mercy parallels Paul's similar call in Ephesians to forgive as God in Christ forgave you.

October 25, 2020: Matters of the Heart

Sermon on the Mount series message 1

Text: Matthew 5:1-6

Jesus spoke to the heart. Knowing and following Him is not about checking off boxes in your religious checklist. Thriving in grace flows from a disposition of the heart. Jesus' first recorded discourse is both profoundly exhilarating and convicting.  During these trying times, we should pay close attention to what He says! 

October 18, 2020: Think About It

Ephesians series message 47

Text: Ephesians 6:21-24

As we wrap up this compelling letter, it's good for us to pause and think about it. Paul gives rich gospel doctrine. He wants us to know who we are in Christ, then he tells us how to live in light of said truths, and then also tells us to armor up in those very truths. A key concept in counseling is to recognize that emotions most often follow our thoughts or beliefs. We'll apply that concept on Sunday. Remember all those verses that tell us to renew our mind, to ponder God's Word, and to think on those things that are excellent? They are there because God knows our mind is the key battleground. We need to replace negative or harmful thought patterns with His life-giving and liberating truths - that which is true about us because we are in Christ. 

October 11, 2020: The Sword of the Spirit and Praying in the Spirit

Ephesians series message 46

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

Our final message on God's Armor will focus on the only piece that is a weapon of offense - the sword. It is tied to the Word of God and thus, aptly named the sword of the Spirit. The power, practice, and preeminence of prayer is the perfect ending to this unparalleled passage on spiritual warfare. The goal is for us to be prompted to skillfully wield the sword of truth against Satan's lies and truly be a people of prayer. 

October 4, 2020: Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians series message 45

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

In this message, we focus on the helmet of salvation. The helmet protects a most vulnerable and important part of our body - our brain, our mind! This is such an important piece of armor, a blow to the head can easily be fatal! We've touched on feelings and emotions, now it's time to talk about our mind - our thought processes (of course, they're all connected). Scripture has much to say about our mind - renewing our mind and how our adversary is a master at deception. Think of the world views permeating society today - most of which are contrary to the gospel. Paul is very concerned that we guard our mind, and he connects this piece to salvation. So much is in view here, and so much is lost when we do not  use the helmet of salvation! 

September 27, 202: The Gospel of Peace and the Shield of Faith

Ephesians series message 44

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

Inn this message we tie together the pieces of armor we are to put on, and those we are to take up. Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace enable me to move in concert with the glorious liberty of the gospel, and the shield of faith extinguishes the incoming flaming arrows from the devil.

September 20, 2020: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians series message 43

Text: Ephesians 6:14

God’s provision to combat the schemes of the devil is intrinsically tied to the glorious gospel truths so faithfully presented in Paul’s letter. The breast plate of righteousness is designed to safeguard the deepest part of who we are in the day of battle, protecting us against profound spiritual maladies encountered throughout our lives.

September 13, 2020: All Decked Out

Ephesians series message 42

Text: Ephesians 6:13

Thus far we have noted the reality of spiritual warfare and highlighted some of Satan‘s common schemes. Now we turn to God’s wonderful provision; His armor. We cannot stand idly by and think that God will just work things out. We have a responsibility to understand what the armor is, how to use it, and to put it all on! We will begin talking about the specifics of the armor. 

September 6, 2020: Why is This So Hard?

Ephesians series message 41

Text: Ephesians 6:10-12

When life is full of difficulties and distractions, sometimes we lose sight of the spiritual warfare that surrounds us. Before we engage God's provision in our passage - the armor of God - let's first talk about the necessary disposition and mindset for every Christian. The New Testament is replete with commands such as be alert, be sober-minded, and be watchful. We must not be aloof in this process, but fully engaged and laser-focused. 

August 30, 2020: The Schemes of the Devil

Ephesians series message 40

Text: Ephesians 6:10-20

As we examine Paul's teaching on spiritual warfare, our focus will be on one phrase: "the schemes of the devil". Sports teams scope out their opponents to prepare for game day, and we should do no differently. As we keep in step with the Spirit, it is so helpful to know Satan's schemes so he doesn't catch us off guard. Yes he is a formidable foe, but he is also a defeated foe: greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!