Illuminate Community Church

Some people think that coming to Jesus means you change everything about yourself. That's not accurate. Certainly the call to follow Jesus means we distance ourselves from the sin that hinders our relationship with him. Paul says that we are all former somethings. However, we are not called to change our circumstances in life. The Corinthian Christians took things to the extreme. Their ancient soc...

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification : that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God…” (1 Thessalonians 4.3-5) There are very few times in Scripture where God speaks so directly about His will—his expressed desire—his ideal, his plan, his best design...

Are you competitive? Even if you're not chances are you don't like losing. For the competitive Corinthians, life is all about winning and losing. Lawsuits are certainly about winning and losing. So imagine their surprise when Paul makes a most troubling announcement: any Corinthian Christian who takes another believer to court over a trivial matter has already lost. Going to court with a fellow-be...

Sometimes it's hard to believe the evil things people are capable of doing. Can you imagine those things happening in the church? Sadly, it does happen. When a church allows itself to be shaped by the world's culture, it will become lax about sin within its walls. Left unchecked, flagrant sin will destroy the individual and infect the whole church. In his letter to the church in Corinth the Apostl...

Moms and Dads are important. Some are still trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after being raised by abusive, controlling and harsh parents. We were designed to have examples of what to be and how to live. When those examples lead you astray the voice in your head receives mixed messages that can take years to unravel. As Christians, we have been placed in God's family as adopted sons and...

"Scum" probably isn't a word you would use to describe yourself. It sounds self-loathing and demeaning. So why would Paul apply it to himself? Albert Hung explains... Paul was writing to a group of early Christians living in a materialistic, hyper-sexualized culture, much like our own. These Corinthian believers gathered regularly to worship and pray and sit under the instruction of their pastors....

It's great to be back in the land of free refills! We had a special time together in Isreal and Jordan with a great group of folks from Illuminate. To be where Jesus lived and did ministry makes the Bible come to life in new ways and of course to be reminded of the amazing life of Jesus Christ. I missed you. I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I do like savory things. If given the choice betwee...

C.S. Lewis, in one his most memorable essays “The Inner Ring,” describes a place where almost all of us long to be. We want to be in the know—one of the essential people – in the Inner Ring. We want to be part of that tight circle that’s most important, wherever it may be: in a family, a circle of friends, at work, or at church. Lewis writes: “I believe that in all men’s lives at certain periods,...

The story itself was still pretty raw. It was a certainly a touchy subject. Jesus and the cross didn’t have tradition yet. It wasn’t in the fabric of any culture yet. In fact, the message of Jesus was still shocking to most who would hear it. Imagine telling someone an improbable story using unfamiliar words about an event that happened a few years back where the leader died; at the same time, you...

Several years ago I was called by a frantic mother whose 20 year old daughter had just been hit by a car. When I arrived at the hospital, the girl was on life support and the doctors were uncertain about her prognosis. Because she was young she had a good chance to live, but the injuries were severe. I asked what happened and quickly abandoned any thought of discovery. Mom could not bring herself...

"It is finished." Stop and listen a moment. Let the words move through your heart. Imagine the cry from the cross. The sky is dark. The other two victims are moaning. Jeering mouths of the crowd are silent. There is thunder. There is weeping. There is silence. Then Jesus draws in a deep breath, pushes His feet down on that Roman nail, and cries, “It is finished!” What was finished? The history-lon...

This Sunday is traditionally known by Christians as "Palm Sunday." Palm branches were laid before Jesus as he rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. Crowds cheered. Jesus was hailed as the king who saves - "Hosanna!" But people are fickle. By the end of the week some of these same fans will shout, "Crucify him!" What happened? It's all about expectations. People want heroes and champions. They...

In the spring of 1989 syndicated talk show host Larry King interviewed Shirley MacLaine on the New Age. When a Christian caller challenged her view with an appeal to the New Testament, MacLaine brushed him off with the objection that the Bible has been changed and translated so many times over the last 2000 years that it's impossible to have any confidence in its accuracy. King was quick to endors...

Is it possible to be considered "relevant" or "cool" by society's standards and be a Christian at the same time? It's not likely. Many people today do not respond positively to the gospel. Conversely, if Christianity becomes too popular, we had better check to make sure we have not so diluted it that the offense of the cross has been removed. Murphy-O'Connor offers us this reminder, "Any attempt t...

Have you ever walked into a church and felt alone or invisible? It's kind of crazy that as the church gets bigger it can become less personable. You would think that with more people comes greater connectedness. In fact the opposite is true. Sometimes cliques are formed unknowingly. We get wrapped up in being around the people we know. You know who thinks church is friendly? The people who already...

I would like to introduce you to the apostle Paul. No doubt one of the most influential men the world has ever known. He's the greatest church planter of all time. He has a long history of pastoral ministry. The scars on his body bear witness to his devotion to Jesus Christ. Now let me introduce you to the church he started in Corinth. It is a young, small and divided group. It wasn't uncommon to...

I like seeing things through to completion. However, I write with a touch of sadness in knowing this is the last update from our study of John's gospel. It's been a year of personal growth and challenge for me. I know and love Jesus more than when we started this journey together. In my opinion, John puts the perfect bow on his biography of Jesus. For three years Jesus has been leading, teaching,...

Most Christians are familiar with the "last supper". But did you know there was a "last breakfast"? A few weeks after his resurrection Jesus makes a third appearance to the disciples and once again he serves them food. These men are from very different backgrounds and yet they are bound together because of their association with Jesus. The church is to be the same today. Our view of Jesus is incom...

Thomas has a bad rap. His name has become synonymous with those who doubt. In reality this man had the heart of a lion. When Jesus learns of his friend's sickness he travels to Judea - where he's wanted dead. The disciples warn him not to go; except for Thomas. He says, "Let us go back so that we may die with him!" Yet he is most known for his suspicion of the resurrection. Of all the disciples Th...

There was a crescendo moment in all of human history and yes, it did occur in the past. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What happened 2000 years ago has ongoing impact today. Millions of people the world over have come to faith in Jesus of Nazareth. The details surrounding John's account of this supernatural event are unexpected. You see, no one, not even the early followers of Jesus immed...

"Religion is the opiate of the people." Karl Marx.  Marx's view is shared by many to this day. A more modern take is to believe that religion is for people that can't handle the harsh realities of life. You're born, you die and that's it. I must admit that I agree with Marx…about religion. Religion is man's effort to please God and earn His favor. Religion is a form of control over God Himself. It...

Who Is Jesus? For several months this is the question we've been asking and finding answers in John's gospel. Our text this Sunday contains the summary to all that can be said about Jesus. In fact, Jesus said it himself, "It is finished." What is finished? The restorative work God began in the Garden of Eden was completed on the cross. Do you remember why John writes his account?  but these are wr...

"No, Pilate! You must give us Barabbas and crucify Jesus!" These angry words from a hostile crowd bring different words into the life of an undeserving criminal: "You're free to go..." Imagine the scene…Barabbas is awaiting preparations for his death. How much time does it take to prepare the wood and the nails? It can't take long. As he sits within those dark, damp, four prison walls, full of fea...

The Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2016 was 'post-truth' – an adjective defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’. In other words, truth is no longer attached to objective facts but rather truth is determined by how one feels. If you feel something to be true then i...