Front Porch Confessional

What does the wisdom of God look like?  Well, we can be certain it doesn't look anything like our culture is displaying.  James wants to invite us a deeper understand of not only what it looks like to affirm the wisdom of God, but live in it! James 3:17   But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

There is something deeper going on in each of us, and if we look around and really get honest...we will see a lot of the pain we've created.  It's either wisdom and meekness, or selfishness and envy.   James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

So much of the chaos in our lives revolves around what we root our lives in and around.  The thing under the thing impact all that we do...are we rooted in Christ or in the world.  James, once again points us in the right direction. James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.   This is not the wisdom that comes down fro...

Man oh man...James the brother of Jesus knows how to get right after it.  So many of us have messages, but does our character match it?  For most of us the answer is no!  What do we do?  Look to Jesus...Repent...Live different. James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 

I love this passage, a warning to never stop depending on the Spirit of God to convict you.  But we are a people who trust ourselves, and Paul knows the failure of that.  Trust the Lord and be aware of your humanity. 1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

I love the honesty and the intentionality of this passage...like a father calling out his kids "stop, there is a car coming."  We need to truly be aware if we are practicing a sinful life, and if we are, we're running against the freedom that Jesus died for. 1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason...

We are a helpless people...we are really are!  The sooner we realize that deeper we will grow in our understanding of Gods place in our lives.  James, the brother of Jesus is going to direct us humble ourselves. James 4:10  " Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

We were never promised a good and easy life, and if we know that it should reframe the way we live our lives when hard times come.  Peter is helping us to rethink all the pain that we will endure in this life. 1 Peter 4:12-13  " Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.   But rejoice insofar as you sh...

Sometimes we can be so focused on the threats to come instead of dealing with the ones that are right in front of us.  Jesus is going to lovingly confront us in John 5. John 5:43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

The world we live in celebrates and cheers for retribution, but what does the Bible say about this and how should it change the way we live our lives? 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

This seems to be an issue that Jesus confronts over and over.  It's what puts him at odds with the religious all the time...and that's really important for us to understand.   Matthew 15:3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Man we hate discipline...most of us will do whatever we can to avoid it.  The Psalmist is inviting us into what true blessedness is, but involves something we all resist. Psalms 94:12-13 "Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked."

What does it mean to love God?  What is the evidence of it.  In this episode I will talk about what Jesus says about these things. John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Is there such a thing as good sorrow, according to the Apostle Paul there is and we all need it. 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 

I think so many of us are frustrated about not truly KNOWING God, but Paul is going to invite us into something much more beautiful...do you really want to KNOW God? Romans 11:34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?”

We need help, and until we truly understand that...we will NOT live into the Lords Prayer.   Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

We have been given the gift or forgiveness, but what does that mean?  How should that impact our lives? Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

We need to be reminded who provides for us daily and how that should impact the way we care for others. Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.

Why are we always trying to get out of earth?  Jesus is inviting us into a new way of thinking and living. Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This prayer that Jesus invites us into is a rally cry to live and be different.  It's so much more than a framework to prayer, but rather how to live. Matthew 6:9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." 

I have to say...Jesus sympathizing with me is not a way I have lived most of my life understanding.  How does it change the way we live if we accept this truth?  The writer of Hebrews wants us to deal with that. Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Distraction is all around us. Where doings it come from, how does it distract us? In this loving yet straight forward passage, Jesus corse corrects Peter and us as well. Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

There is this helpless feeling we all get when we can't earn something, this feeling is intensified when it comes to God.  We all would like to earn our salvation, but according to scripture it doesn't work that way...so what do we do? Psalm 51:16-17  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit...

There are so many messages out there, and it's really confusing at times.  Solomon is going to offer us some wisdom on what to do and who to trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We really hate facing ourselves, and if we can face ourselves...we're going to struggle to see and experience the fullness of Jesus' love and sacrifice. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.