Perfectly Imperfect Together

In 2 Corinthians 3 & 4, Paul shows us how abiding in Jesus and His powerful grace looks differently than a life living under the law. The law is a mirror that reveals to us why we all need Jesus desperately. The law directs our steps to Jesus because He is the Living Water that cleanses that grime from our lives. The mirror cannot cleanse us, only Jesus can. Jesus gives us His redemption, His...

In 2 Corinthians 1 & 2, we are reminded God is the only One who can bring true comfort. As He gives us comfort, we are able to comfort others. God's presence brings comfort. We can rest in His presence through prayer, worship, and spending intentional time in His Word. His promises are secure and eternal. Every promise of God is a resounding "YES!" Even when life feels like it&#3...

In 1 Corinthians 15 & 16, Paul reminded the Church of the simpleness of the Gospel of Jesus. We as humans tend to complicate things and Jesus made it so easy. Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He was raised from death on the 3rd day. If you repent and confess with your heart and mouth that Jesus is your Messiah - your Savior - and that God did indeed raise Him from the dead and because o...

(Hebrews 11) Faith is the assurance of knowing that something God promises is indeed true and real, even if we can't physically see or feel it yet. Jesus gives us every reason to believe in Him with all our guts. He pours out His love for us. He created us. He cares for us. He created this world and all the beauty within it. He came into the world in its fallen state and lived among us. He die...

In 1 Corinthians 13 & 14, Paul warns us that everything must be done and said in and through the love of Jesus. Gifts and service that are forced or done out of selfishness and pride, or to simply check off a "serving" box for the week, can actually cause division and confusion rather than encouragement and edification. We are called to build each other up in the Lord, not tear each...

In 1 Corinthians 11 & 12, Paul encourages us to imitate Jesus. Walk as Jesus walked. Live as Jesus lives. He encourages us to pursue Jesus desperately and encourage each other as one body to pursue Jesus desperately. God's grace and power shine brightest when we surrender our weaknesses to Him and let His glory shine through the cracks. The Love of Jesus works in and through as as we abide...

In 1 Corinthians 9 & 10, Paul shows us the importance of relying on the power and provision of the Lord as we carry out His will on the earth. The Lord will honor our faithful obedience and will meet every need along the way. There's nothing in this life more important that loving God and spreading His offer of saving mercies and grace to the world around us. The Lord directs us to glorify...

In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses whether or not its okay to eat foods sacrificed to false idols. The answer is yes and no. It depends. It is a big deal to do things like eating foods sacrificed to idols or drinking a glass of wine if the person you are eating with has convictions or struggles with such things. Food is a neutral element as is alcohol in and of itself. If someone struggles with th...

In 1 Corinthians 6 & 7, Paul gives direction regarding our relationships within the church and with each other. As a follower of Jesus, we are washed, sanctified, and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God. We have freedom and peace that is only found in Christ Jesus. The Lord wants us to walk in His wisdom and truth through His Spirit within us. He equips us, empo...

(Isaiah 6:1-4; Isaiah 52:13-53; John 20:11-18) The lie that launches most sin is the lie that tries to get us to believe that we are not loved. God loves us so much, He sent Jesus. Jesus sacrificed everything for us, and He stays present with us through everything ever single day. Love sends, love sacrifices, and love stays. Jesus loves us more than we can comprehend. If you want to know you are t...

In 1 Corinthians 5, the Lord encourages us to run from temptations of sin and chase a lifestyle of pursuing Jesus desperately instead. Jesus wants our lives filled with His goodness, His presence, His joy, His peace, and His love. Sin destroys us in every way - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Sin is the one thing that brings forth its own judgment. Jesus won't force us to c...

In 1 Corinthians 3 & 4, we are reminded to display God's glory to the world around using the gifts and talents God has instilled within us. We each have a different role to play all for the same purpose of reaching people with the Word of God's saving grace and saving souls for eternity. We aren't supposed to be worried or concerned with what others are doing. The Lord is using all...

In 1 Corinthians 1 & 2, we learn that Jesus is with us when we humbly surrender to Him. We do not lack any spiritual gifts as we rest in the Lord. God will strengthen us. It is okay to have days that we may feel weak, because it is Jesus who gives us strength daily to be blameless, fully forgiven before Him. God is faithful. Period. No questions about it. We are called by God into fellowship,...

(Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19) God promised to send a Savior who would crus the serpent. The final week of Jesus' life in human form was the ultimate fulfillment of that promise. Jesus' sacrificial journey to Jerusalem was the beginning of the end for Satan. Jesus is our eternal Prince of Peace and restores our peace with God. True faith means we trust and lo...

In Romans 15 & 16, Paul reminds us that it is the God of hope who fills us with joy and peace as we entrust our lives to Him. Hope is a desire or expectation for a certain thing to come forth. We pray, we wait, and we trust the Lord for every outcome because our hope is in Him and He is faithful. We experience the peace and joy of the Lord because our hope is anchored in Him. As we move forwar...

In Romans 13 & 14, Paul reminds us that God desires that all will hear His Word and have the option to repent and receive the Life that only Jesus gives. It's up to us to us to wake up every morning determined to not let pride and fleshly desires get in the way of what God wants to do through our lives. We need to surrender to Jesus every morning and follow wherever He leads trusting Him f...

In Romans 12, Paul emphasizes the fact that God has been overwhelmingly merciful to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Because of Jesus, we are justified by faith in Him. Just as we receive mercies from God, we are to pour out mercy to others - not in our own strength, but in the strength that comes through our daily worship to the Lord. As we worship Him in our daily lives, He renews...

In Romans 10 & 11, Paul explains that the nation of Israel rejected Jesus as God's Son, our Messiah. However, the Gentiles received the message enthusiastically and the Gospel message of salvation continues to spread today. In Chapter 11, Paul looks at Israel's future restoration. God is not done with Israel. If you repent and surrender your heart and life to Jesus, you are spiritually...

(2 Corinthians 9:6-15) Our lives should display the weight of who Jesus is - His glory - to the world around us as we live out His Word in our daily lives, through His power guiding and directing our steps and words. Jesus works within us to make us more like Him. We let Jesus do this work within us by trusting in Him, reading His Word, and praying continually. Noting on this earth will ever compa...

In Romans 9, the fact that the Lord had a plan for the people of Israel from the very beginning is confirmed: they were adopted by God, experienced His presence with them, received the Covenants, the Law, the Temple service, and His promises. The Lord has shown His faithfulness, justice, righteousness, and graciousness. Abraham's descendants are not just his physical descendants. Abraham's...

In Romans 8, we are reminded that there is NO condemnation if you are in Christ Jesus. A mindset focused on Jesus brings life and peace. We need to set our minds and hearts on Jesus and His Spirit every single day. The Lord corrects us gently and lovingly, not in condemnation. When afflictions and suffering come, because they will in this temporary life, as you walk in the Spirit of Jesus - you wi...

In Romans 6 & 7, Paul dives deep into the topic of sin. If you are not living in the will of God for every area of your life, you are falling to sin. Everyone falls short of the glory of God. This is why we all so desperately need Jesus and His offer of righteousness. Everyone worships something or someone. If you choose to repent of sin and turn to Jesus, entrusting your heart and life to Him...

In Romans 4 & 5, Paul speaks of faith and what faith truly is and he uses the example of Abraham as he teaches about faith. Abraham was considered righteous and received justification from sin because of his faith in the Lord. He believed God. He believed God's Words were true. He lived his life out of his belief in God's promises. He received the Lord's righteousness through his f...

In Romans 3, Paul points out that Jesus is for everyone. All have sinned and fall short of God's great glory and all of humanity needs Jesus desperately. Everyone is unrighteous apart from Jesus and His grace in our lives. Jesus doesn't make us righteous, He gives us His righteousness. As we grow in faith and love Him more and more each day, He does a work in us that makes us more and more...

In Romans 1 & 2, Paul writes a letter ahead of him to Rome to encourage the Christ followers in Rome in their faith. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus. The strength and direction of the Holy Spirit within him directed his steps. No amount of persecution or opposition could stop him from the mission of Jesus in his heart and steps. He was on mission to save souls and gives us a huge e...