1 Thing Matters

SERIES: Cause and Effect Before we buy something, we assess whether or not we are willing to pay the asking price. If it seems reasonable to us, we may decide to make the purchase. If it seems overpriced, we likely won’t buy it. When we give gifts back to God through our offerings, it doesn’t work the same way. We don’t focus on the amount of the gift without taking an assessment of what we’ve bee...

What do John D Rockefeller, King Solomon, Henry Ford, and Joseph Stalin all have in common? Two things. First, they are all on the list of the twenty wealthiest individuals who ever lived. Second, they are all rotting in the ground. While the blessing of money can do a lot of things, it cannot prevent death or buy one’s way out of it. Jesus’ words this week warn against allowing anything - whether...

There are more than 2,300 Bible passages that speak about money. Why? Money is a master Satan frequently tempts us to serve. In fact, out of all the masters competing for our service besides God, money is probably at the top of the list. Money provides us with a false comfort and sense of security. Money serves as a source of pride. This week, Jesus’ sharp words identify the impossibility of servi...

SERIES: Wounds that Heal They are some of the most difficult words in the world to speak: “I forgive you.” But as hard as they are to speak, what follows them can sometimes be even harder. To reassure, comfort, and love repentant sinners - especially when we’re the one sinned against - is not an easy thing. But it is a possible thing, made so by the Jesus who first speaks words of forgiveness to u...

SERIES: Wounds that Heal This week Jesus’ sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. Jesus explains that following him will be hard. Jesus’ disciples will be called to let go of things they love and embrace things we naturally loathe. Jesus promises that discipleship comes with crosses—a unique type of pain. So, Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of follow...

SERIES: Wounds that Heal Everyone knows that humility is a positive trait and pride is a negative one. So, why bother talking about what we already know? Because in spite of that knowledge, we still helplessly fall into the trap of pride. We all desire acclaim, recognition, and praise. Jesus’ sharp words this week teach us that seeking exaltation in futile and fleeing ways will only result in rece...

SERIES: Wounds that Heal When it comes to the uncomfortable topic of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, it is natural to want to avoid the issue. One way we do that is to direct our attention to more theoretical questions. “What is heaven like?” “How old will we be there?” Today someone asks, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” Jesus brushes all such questions aside. Instead, he answer...

SERIES: Wounds that Heal You’ve seen it stated, “no Jesus, no peace,” in contrast to “know Jesus, know peace.” But would Jesus himself even agree? Not according to his words this morning, he wouldn’t. The world’s idea of peace is a pipe dream. Jesus’ idea of peace is a reality. What happens when those opposing ideas of peace clash? Division. Nevertheless, only in Jesus can that division be reconci...

Why do we worry? Because worrying changes anything? Because worrying is good for us? Because maybe God won’t actually provide for us like he promised? Nope, nope, and nope. Worry is not rooted in any of those things, but in something else entirely. And the good news is that you already have the antidote to worry. The antidote to worry is not merely paying lip service to our greatest treasure - Jes...

Things need to be renewed all around us. Car registrations. Subscription services. Insurance. The list goes on. But it isn’t just stuff that needs renewing - so do we! This morning we celebrate our 60th Anniversary. What, exactly, are we celebrating? That God has used this congregation of believers to proclaim the certainty of the Resurrection and to facilitate the renewal that accompanies those w...

“Pray for What Pleases God” (1 Timothy 2:1-7) Series: Undivided Attention In a sense, prayer comes naturally to us. We want so we ask. We hurt so we cry out. We are frustrated so we vent. We are blessed so we give thanks. Natural! What does not come naturally, however, is a proper understanding of the privilege of prayer. Prayer is a privilege, based entirely on the unique and unearned relationshi...

Series: Undivided Attention Sometimes circumstances have to be just right for something to be effective or to work properly. Sometimes, though, even when something is effective or working properly, we can’t tell. A recipe may turn out exactly the way it’s supposed to, but if we don’t know what the finished product is supposed to taste like, how can we tell if the recipe was a success? If a play on...

Series: Undivided Attention There are likely paths you would pursue right now in whatever season of life you’re in if not for limitations. Those limitations might be physical. They might be financial. They might be time-related, or any number of other factors might cause them. Whatever they are, how would your life be different if those limitations didn’t exist? We have freedom in Christ. Complete...

Series: Undivided Attention In recent weeks we learned that everyone who has seen the grace of God will, whenever the opportunity arises, serve as a witness for Christ. However, Scripture teaches that there is also a need for individuals for whom gospel proclamation is their full-time focus. There are many different terms for these workers: shepherds, pastors, teachers, ministers, missionaries, et...

Series: Undivided Attention There are different types of fans. There is the type of fan who follows his team if they make the playoffs. Then there is the type of fan who, regardless of his team’s record, watches every game and knows the stats for every player. There are also different types of followers: the half-hearted versus the committed. Jesus is uninterested in followers who pay attention to...

A father doesn’t typically take his lead from his son. Doing so could be disastrous! A son lacks the necessary experience and wisdom to know what’s in his best interest. But in one area - which also happens to be the area that matters most! - fathers need to take their lead from the Son. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and as he works in perfect harmony with the Father and the Spirit, t...

SERIES: Because He Lives Jesus’ ascension marked the fact that his work was complete. However, in another sense, it also marks that his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world. This is our mission, as we saw last week. But, since the Church consists of people like us who are often timid and weak witnesses, Jesus promised to send us h...

SERIES: Because He Lives Jesus’ ascension marked the fact that his work was complete. However, in another sense, it also marks that his work is just beginning. Through the Church, Jesus now proclaims forgiveness of sins throughout the world. This is our mission, as we see this morning. But, since the Church consists of people like us who are often timid and weak witnesses, Jesus promised to send u...

SERIES: Because He Lives If someone saved you from a horrible death, what would you do to thank them? Probably just about anything they asked, because that’s how grateful you would be! Jesus not only saved us from eternal death in hell, but he won for us an eternity in paradise. What shall we do to thank him? He asks for just one thing: love. He asks us to demonstrate to others the same selfless l...

SERIES: Because He Lives “Listen to your mother.” Whether those words are spoken as a soft encouragement or a stern warning, they are words of wisdom. When children ignore their mother, they often learn lessons the hard way. When they listen, they are usually blessed because of it. What is a general truth regarding mothers is an absolute truth when it comes to our Good Shepherd. Listen to his voic...

SERIES: Because He Lives Doubt can serve us well. In scenarios that involve uncertainty, doubts cause us to pause and consider the possible risks and dangerous outcomes of our actions. Such doubts can keep us from making a poor decision. But doubt can also cripple us, causing us to freeze up with fear and fail to move forward. Too much doubt can stifle progress and limit us in life. Doubt, especia...

SERIES: Because He Lives If Jesus remained dead, all he would provide is an example of a beautiful life. Therefore, if Jesus remained dead, the mission of his followers would simply be to share advice. “Here is how Jesus would want us to love one another. Or “Jesus would want us to think about money like this.” Or “This is how Jesus would pray.”  But because he lives, his followers now have a mean...

SERIES: Because He Lives In the darkness before dawn, the women walked to the tomb with heavy hearts. Jesus was dead. His mission was over. In their mind, they were feeble followers of a failure. All that was left to do was finish embalming the corpse and then try to move on. Yet, Jesus wasn’t dead. And because he lived, they were not followers of a failure at all. They were disciples of the one w...

SERIES: Open Door Policies As we begin Holy Week, we see Jesus bury humanity’s endless attempts at seizing power. In our world, power dynamics are almost always in play. Those who don’t have power want it, often more than anything else. Those who have power are willing to do anything to keep it. In contrast, Jesus—who possesses all power as the Son of God—willingly surrendered his power and placed...

SERIES: Open Door Policies If you are able to read this, you are likely fortunate enough that you don’t have to dumpster dive for your next meal. When the wastebasket in your home is full, you don’t pick through it hoping to find some valuable treasure - you take out the trash. When it comes to much of what we value and treasure in life, is it really anything more than trash in the grand scheme of...