Closer to Christ

In 2009, Facebook added the “like” button. That same year, Twitter added the “retweet” feature. Interestingly, reported cases of depression began to rise sharply in 2010. It is easy to think that the more people like us, the more successful our lives must be. Likewise, it is easy to believe the more people like a church, the more successful that church is. So here is an important epiphany for both...

When you are trying to share some important information with someone, but they refuse to listen or perhaps totally reject what you are saying, it feels like you have failed. This is especially true when someone rejects the gospel! We proclaim the good news because we want others to know the love of Christ. When people are disinterested in God’s Word, we feel like we’ve failed. So, here is this wee...

“Who is Jesus?” For the longest time, people thought the answer to that question was, “Mary and Joseph’s son” or “a carpenter from Nazareth.” While true enough, those answers do not adequately describe Jesus. But when Jesus was baptized, God the Father spoke, declaring Jesus true identity. Jesus was the dearly loved Son of God, chosen to be the Savior of the world. “Who are you?” someone asks. Per...

On Christmas Eve the angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). One wonders if those words struck those Jewish shepherds as odd. For centuries, God had given special attention to one nation—Israel. There were Jewish religious leaders who taught that only members of that special people would be saved. Not according to the Christmas an...

The Son of God took on flesh for two reasons: to be our substitute and our sacrifice. You see, when God created mankind in his image, his desire was that we would live holy lives, full of love for him and our fellow man. When mankind fell into sin, that became impossible. So, the heavenly Father sent Jesus. He is the only human being to keep all of God’s law perfectly. He did that as our substitut...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

“Make every effort to enter that rest.” That’s a strange sounding sentence. Effort and rest don’t usually go together. If I want rest, I don’t need effort. I just stop. Anyone can rest by stopping their effort. But the rest we are talking about today is different. It isn’t a rest that comes from inaction, it comes from work completed. The Christian life is not a life of inaction while we wait for...

The original readers of the book of Hebrews were being tempted to let go of Christianity and go back to Judaism. To them, in their culture, following Moses felt like an upgrade compared to following Jesus. But that would be a downgrade! Jesus is best and far superior to Moses. Following Moses didn’t guarantee entrance to the promised land, and those who follow Jesus have the certain hope of heaven...

Jesus is the Son of God, the ultimate messenger. But if he was only going to be a messenger, he didn’t need to become human. He could have thundered from a mountaintop or blazed from a burning bush. But thundering voices don’t suffer, and burning bushes don’t die. If Jesus only wanted to be a messenger, power would have been enough. But Jesus wanted to do more. He wanted to bring us into his prese...

Jesus is the Son of God, the ultimate messenger. But if he was only going to be a messenger, he didn’t need to become human. He could have thundered from a mountaintop or blazed from a burning bush. But thundering voices don’t suffer, and burning bushes don’t die. If Jesus only wanted to be a messenger, power would have been enough. But Jesus wanted to do more. He wanted to bring us into his prese...

The Advent season reminds us of Jesus’ coming as a baby in Bethlehem, and of his second coming at the end of the world. But, so far, there have been over two thousand years between those two comings! Where is Jesus, now? And why isn’t he talking to us? Jesus promised to be with us always to the very end of the age. He is right here in this room. But sometimes, wouldn’t you like to see his face? Wo...

“Eyes on the prize.” That axiom stresses that when pursuing some good goal, focus is important. You don’t want distractions or a lack of self-discipline to keep you from obtaining whatever that prize might be. “Eyes on the prize.” You summon the willpower to fixate on that good thing. You let nothing divert your attention from obtaining the prize. The prize that we want most is spending eternity w...

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) affects many millions of adults. It is more than shyness. SAD includes an acute fear of being judged. An individual with SAD struggles with everyday tasks like talking to people at work or school because he is terrified that he is constantly being evaluated. Even if you don’t have that disorder, perhaps you have experienced that uncomfortable feeling that others are w...

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) affects many millions of adults. It is more than shyness. SAD includes an acute fear of being judged. An individual with SAD struggles with everyday tasks like talking to people at work or school because he is terrified that he is constantly being evaluated. Even if you don’t have that disorder, perhaps you have experienced that uncomfortable feeling that others are w...

“It will get better.” We say that to try to comfort someone who is having a bad day (or maybe a whole string of bad days). Perhaps tomorrow will be better. But perhaps it’s worse. In this life, there really are no guarantees that things will get better. That isn’t the case with the life that is to come. That life isn’t just going to be better. It will be perfect. Since the seventh century, Christi...

Jesus repeatedly told his followers that living as his disciples would bring hardship. Living life according to God’s Law is going to make one appear odd in the eyes of the world, perhaps even evil. Sharing a message of mankind’s sin and God’s gracious salvation can cause offense. So why not just stay silent if that makes life easier--keeping our faith private? Answer: because we are going to live...

Modern believers are in dire need of the biblical call to suffer well. With modern medicine, pain relief options, and even in some places the option of euthanasia, we have become a generation who fears and runs from suffering. Yet, the Bible repeatedly extols suffering as a tool the Lord uses to refine our faith, like gold in the fire. Daniel’s trial was unjust, unfair, and ungodly, yet he suffere...

The gripping story of a ghostly handwriting on the king’s wall is God’s reminder of his sovereignty over us all.  Those who humble themselves will be exalted, but those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Although God has shown grace to Nebuchadnezzar multiple times through his reign, Nebuchadnezzar continued to fall back in older pride-filled patterns. Finally, his time of grace came to an end....

The gripping story of a ghostly handwriting on the king’s wall is God’s reminder of his sovereignty over us all.  Those who humble themselves will be exalted, but those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Although God has shown grace to Nebuchadnezzar multiple times through his reign, Nebuchadnezzar continued to fall back in older pride-filled patterns. Finally, his time of grace came to an end....

This week our message series delves into the theme of humility in a prideful world, drawing lessons from biblical stories about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, King Nebuchadnezzar and King Herod. The message emphasizes how the loss of humility can lead to downfall, while embracing humility in our walk with the true God is true peace, no matter what.

Daniel and his friends were in a foreign land filled with pagan gods, sinful customs, and unbiblical values. Did they cower and hide? No. Did they compromise their faith? No. Instead Daniel “resolved not to defile himself” (1:8). He leaned into the Word of God and the grace of God so that he could do the will of God. While modern America is far from ancient Babylonia, every believer would be wise...

Green Berets. Rangers. SEALs. Delta Force. These special forces groups are part of the United States military. They are elite: highly trained with unique skill sets. Many of their important missions are carried out in total secrecy. Several weeks ago, we acknowledged that we are in the middle of a massive spiritual war. Today, we thank God that we fight this war with the protection of special forc...

Love can cause harm. Consider the wife whose husband wants little to do with church. She loves him and does not want to upset him. So, when her husband wants her and the children to stay home Sunday morning, she complies without protest. That wife’s love for her husband hurts him, her children, and herself. Or consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everything that...

Love can cause harm. Consider the wife whose husband wants little to do with church. She loves him and does not want to upset him. So, when her husband wants her and the children to stay home Sunday morning, she complies without protest. That wife’s love for her husband hurts him, her children, and herself. Or consider the father who loves his child so much that he gives the child everything that...