Grace Alone Online

Last week we had a guest preacher so I missed a podcast. This week we start a series called "Stop Being Afraid." It will take us through the next few weeks to Pentecost. the most primal emotion we have is being afraid. The most used phrase in all of Scripture is "Don't be afraid!" Wonder why? tune in over the next few weeks and see how you and I are set free from fear to fl...

Raised from the dead, all creation has new life through Him. He restores a New World Order that belongs to God alone and those who place their trust and follow Him.

Christ crucified for the life of the world.

"Take and eat. This is my body given for you. Take and drink. My blood of the New Covenant" of salvation for all through faith in Christ.

When it comes to sermons, I find Christmas, Palm Sunday, and Easter to be the most challenging.  Everyone knows the stories.  How can I approach the text in a new way so that you don’t fall asleep sooner than you usually do.  (pause). So for this Palm Sunday, I’m trying a new approach.  No, I’m not going to have Steve or Jim ride in on a donkey; I want to look at Palm Sunday as I would a parable. ...

The first king of Israel would never have needed a sign over his head at any time saying, “This is Saul, the King of the Jews.”  You would have known it just by looking at him. He was a head taller than anyone else in Israel. He was handsome, strong, and he came from a wealthy family. You would have needed no more than one glance at that exalted head of his to declare, “Now that’s a king." Bu...

While mockery is not strictly making fun of someone, mockery does involve making fun of someone or something.  Maybe you can remember that one kid in your school of whom everyone made fun.  Among children, this happens a lot. Among adults? Yes, it happens every day. Among Chirstians? I'm sorry to say....it's worse. Find out what happens when Christians mock.

It wasn’t until just a couple weeks ago that I found out why TV news reporters kept calling Tom Brady the G.O.A.T. Goat is the anacronym for Greatest Of All Time. Here I thought it was because Tom Brady was the oldest quarterback to have played. And, here I thought it was something Tom Brady’s wife called him due to their recent divorce. The Greatest of All Time. And I guess he is. Retiring this y...

When learning another language, one uses a dictionary to get the meaning of a word. Sometimes, words are synonymous between languages. For instance nación in Spanish means nation in English. Or, crédito in Spanish means credit in English. They’re similar enough. But there are words that sound the same and mean something totally different. For instance, the Spanish word, embarazada does NOT mean em...

In the 14th century, Dante Alighieri wrote an epic poem called the Divine Comedy . The first poem to be read on Maundy Thursday is entitled Inferno . You’ve probably heard of Dante’s Inferno. Subsequent chapters include purgatory and paradise. In Inferino , Dante has a system of “hot” and “cold” for sins as well. He reserves the innermost circle of hell for betrayers. He puts Judas’s soul there. B...

In a matter of a few weeks, the Academy Awards will hand out Oscars in several categories related to the film industry. The biggest one being: Best Picture. I have a couple favorites. But this morning, I want to present you with my own nominee for Best Picture: “The Transfiguration of Our Lord.”

With any conversation, you can’t just jump in the middle.  You risk misunderstanding if you just get the bits and pieces in the middle. To understand and apply Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel You need to consider what He says in the context of all of chapter 5, which we have been talking about since two weeks ago.  To get it right, you need to  get it Jesus-right.  To get it...

“Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for justice, who are merciful, who are pure in heart, who are peacemakers, who are persecuted, who are reviled.” Many people think that the Beatitudes are qualities that they must possess to be blessed. “Yes, Lord, I hunger and thirst for justice….and I’m fairly pure in heart – at least my intentions are….and...

It’s common to hear a turn of phrase used these days: “in a dark place.” What exactly does this mean?  Matthew 4:12-25 quotes Isaiah 9:1 saying, "Those who dwell in darkness have seen a great light."  Was that only at that time?  How do people grapple with darkness in their lives today?  The answers you'll find on the internet either counsel you to wait it out, or, some self-he...

John's declaration as Jesus approaches the Jordan River: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."  Jesus first words in the Gospel of John at the Jordan River as He speaks to the first disciples who follow after him: "What are you seeking?" Need I say more?  Everybody's looking for something.

Simon and Garfunkel released a tremendously popular song in 1970: “A Bridge over Troubled Water”. The lyrics speak to the experiences of every human being. They are a part of our nature. We all experience troubled water in life. When you’re down and out, feeling small. When tears are in your eyes, when times get rough and friends just can’t be found, it truly would be nice to have someone who will...

8 days after his birth, Jesus is circumcised and given the name: Jesus.  A seemingly insignificant event, mentioned only in Luke 2:21.  It is not uncommon that we miss this important link.  This year, however, since New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, we get an "extra" Sunday after Christmas and this is our theme: Jesus' circumcision.  Though mentioned in one verse, this verse ho...

The Luke 2 story of the historic birth of Christ is the annual, go-to story which most of us know all too well.  Many can most likely recite most of the passage along with the Scripture reader on Christmas Eve.  Less known, or read, is the Christmas story the Apostle John writes about in the beginning of his Gospel (John 1:1-14).  Why?  Because while Luke 2 is historical, with...

Tonight, we celebrate the historic birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  The fulfillment of millenia-old prophecies is at last fulfilled by the "zeal of the Lord of Hosts."  the King is born, but no ordinary King - at least not the king Israel was expecting.  Some thing are common among all kings, but what is different about Jesus.  Isaiah tells us here....

As Hansel and Gretel walked through the woods, they left breadcrumbs to find their way out.  It didn't go to well for them.  Having journeyed away from home, they got lost in a treacherous forest.  The breadcrumbs were their only way out.  It was their only link back from where they came.  Our life's journey may take us far away from our roots: our family, our friends, our...

It's just not my day!  We've all heard it.  We've all said it.  We have good days and we have bad days.  The problem in Israel, which the prophet Zephaniah addresses, is a problem of mixing up values.  People only considered the benefits and feeling when they called days "good" and "bad" days were days that things didn't seem to go right.  Logical, right?  But th...

"Don't shoot the messenger."  It's a popular phrase that dates back to something no longer in use in the Western hemisphere.....a messenger.  Messengers were sent to announce the arrival of a king or important dignitaries.  Although mostly bringing good news of victory, and the dispersing of booty to the people of the kingdom, sometimes messengers of the King announced bad things, l...

Our Advent Theme for the next four Sundays is: THE KING IS COMING "Where do you call home?"  In our changing, mobile society, many people move around.  a common question to ask is, "Where do you call home? or "Where do you come from?"  Knowing where your home is not only relates to geographical location or house, but to where you feel at home.  What provides you that needed sec...

It's time to give thanks, again.  Normal statements are, "What are you thank for?" or simply, "I am thankful."  Society has all but forgotten that to give thanks needs an object.  We don't give ourselves "thanks."  We give it to someone else.  So, the question is, "TO WHOM DO YOU GIVE THANKS."  Luck? Your own hard work?  Also, we normally give thanks for "things"...

Have you ever been transferred in your job, housing, life?  Like with sports teams, transferring, or trading, takes place all the time.  There are ups and downs no matter what the transfer is.  good times /  bad times.  But with Christ, all is good.  All transfer is good!  Would you like to be transferred into the Kingdom of His Son?  He'll take you!