1 Thing Matters

The right title or name matters. You don’t call pest control when you’ve got a plumbing problem. You don’t google the nearest bakery when the garage door falters. You look to the right title or name to get the job done right. So, when it comes to the matter of salvation, we don’t just look to any old name or title, but to the only name that saves: our Savior, Jesus Christ.

There is so much noise in the world today. So many people have something to say. Most of it is worthless. Some is not. And still some is absolutely essential. How do we tell the difference? We seek out the voice of the Good Shepherd. When we hear it, we listen, for he alone has the words of life.

A host encourages her guest to make herself at home. The deployed service member longs for a piece of something that feels like home. Home is where we belong. But as believers, we aren’t home yet. We are foreigners. We won’t be home until we are finally with Jesus. Until then, rather than living in the world as if we’re trying to make ourselves at home, we stand out as foreigners, following Jesus...

Hope without something on which to anchor it is little more than wishful thinking. But hope that is founded on something real and reliable is powerful and promising. That is exactly the hope believers have through faith in the risen Savior.

What is really important? Sometimes what we consider important is really just urgent. It’s something that needs to get done, yes, but it isn’t really all that important. Other times, what we consider important is really just personal preference for the way something is done. It matters to us, sure, but it isn’t really all that important. So, what is really important? The Resurrection! If Jesus was...

You are going about your daily business. There is a crowd. You are easily distracted by all the activity. It’s a holiday, and there are extra things to prepare. It is easy to focus on your personal task at hand and lose sight of the bigger picture. Focus! Look up! There is a King who presents himself so humbly that you might miss the importance of his arrival. Hail the King - your king - who humbl...

I recognize the danger of death. I am tempted to wonder whether my life was worth it if I do not leave a legacy or live on in the memories of my loved ones after I die. When my soul separates from my body, will I also be eternally separated from God in hell? Jesus promises much better. He promises life. One day I will be reunited with my believing loved ones, both soul and body. I will live with J...

I recognize my deep spiritual thirst. I long for a good relationship with God and for everlasting life. I am tempted to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed to failure. I realize that my thirst is satisfied only by the one who said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” Jesus meets my greatest need. Series: Exactly What I Need

Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God.” Since that includes me, I recognize my need to be saved. Long ago, God declared that we would be blessed by a descendant of Abraham, who turned out to be Jesus. The blessing through him is salvation, which we receive only by faith in Jesus as our Savior. An added blessing? Faith itself is also God’s gift, granted to me through the gospel. Series:...

I think I know what I need. But when I get it, I see more clearly that it was often merely what I wanted. When I call my wants “needs,” my ability to discern what I actually need becomes clouded. When death strikes - whether in my own life or in the news - it reminds me that I really do have an essential need - not just a want. I need a solution to death. And yet, try as I might, I cannot address...

Can you imagine witnessing the full glory of God? No one could stand to - and live. But history does reveal several occasions on which people got to view a muted version of God’s glory. Even that would be spectacular! Good news! We’re still able to take in God’s glory today, provided we’re looking for it in the right place: wherever his Word is at work. Series: Identity Revealed

“Why me?” We may ask that question when we’re on the receiving end of significant news - whether it’s positive or negative. Sometimes we’ll get an answer; other times we won’t. Sometimes the answer is satisfactory; other times it isn’t. If we’ve asked the same question - “Why me?” - regarding our Christian faith, we find the answer not by filtering through our feelings, but in God’s Word. There al...

Many of us wrestle with insecurities of one sort or another. But, since we don’t want those insecurities to become public knowledge, we posture or pretend in order to keep them hidden from others. How draining it is for us to try to deceive others 24/7! God’s Word to us today both stings and satisfies. He tells us what we really were on our own (ouch!). But, more importantly, he also tells us what...

The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as “people walking in darkness.” Then he foretold that a light would shine on them. Enveloped by sin, suffering, and death, we find our minds and hearts clouded. But Jesus is revealed as the promised light. He shines his light by preaching repentance and the good news of the kingdom. Our Savior is the Light of the world, and we reflect his light onto e...

If you continued pouring water into your full water glass at your restaurant table, you’d get more than just odd looks; you’d get a soaking wet table! When something is full, there isn’t room for any more. So where and why are we looking for more when we already have fullness in Christ? Give up your restless search, for it has been revealed to us that when we have Jesus Christ, our Savior, we have...

“Christ” is not the family name of Jesus. It is a title. The Greek word “Christ” and the Hebrew word “Messiah” both mean the same thing: “The Anointed One.” Anointing was the practice of pouring liquid over the head of someone to signify selection for some special task. When the Lord had someone anointed, he also poured his Spirit over them. It was the fulfillment of promises made over centuries,...

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and January 6. What is special about January 6? It is the day when the Christian Church celebrates the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning “reveal.” When the Savior was born, he was first revealed as love’s pure light to Israelites: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds. Today, as we observe Epiphany, we see the L...

Christmas holidays mean family time, often with extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepared, gifts are given, memories are made. But the memories might not all be good. Sometimes there are Christmas hurts or even tragedies. We live in a world still affected by sin. That sin showed itself in the ugliest of ways through a death sentence decreed on all young boys shortly after the Savior’s...

Even in this digital age, we would be lost without signs. Signs warn us of danger. They communicate information to us. Signs help us navigate and let us know when we’ve reached our destination. The most important signs, however, are the ones that point us to our Savior, so that we can be 100% certain of our salvation. This morning and this week of Christmas, we celebrate that throughout history, G...

The Messiah is an important person. “Messiah” is the same word as “Christ,” which means, “Anointed One.” He is someone who has been anticipated for a long time. Now we look at a time when his arrival is imminent! The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the Third Sunday in Advent “Gaudete,” which means “Rejoice!” As we reach the midway point of Advent, we ask Chr...

“Imminent Arrival” series The judge is an important person. You stand when he enters the courtroom. What he says must be obeyed. If you are the one on trial, his determinations make a big difference in how your life will continue. For these reasons, you might be quite nervous if the judge is about to arrive. John the Baptist invited people to turn their nervousness to repentance. He says that the...

“Imminent Arrival” series Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. We begin at the end, watching King Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that he will be killed before the end of the week. The events of Palm Sunday serve as a microcosm for all Jesus’ work, proving the King of the universe was willing to humble himself and endure anything for our salvation. That is pre...

The Church has marked the passing of yet another Church Year, waiting for its Lord to return. How long will we have to wait and watch for Jesus to return? We do not know. Jesus said he would return soon. However, the definition of “soon” for the One who has no beginning or end will naturally differ from ours. Whenever Jesus returns, it will take us by surprise. So, how do believers avoid growing l...

God grants the status of “saint” (which means “holy one”) to every believer. It might appear that status is of little practical value. If you achieve the status “billionaire” or “celebrity” or “senator” your life is going to be vastly different than most other people, most likely better. But if God calls you a saint, just like everyone else, you will struggle with trials, temptations, and sin. Bei...

Gratitude is the appreciation we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. There are two factors that effect the intensity of gratitude. First, there is the deservedness factor. Say you do a favor for your neighbor. A month later, your neighbor does a favor for you. You are grateful, but not overwhelmingly so, because you deserved his help to some degree. However, if you have been an...