1 Thing Matters

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...

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...