Rejoice in the Lord...Always!

July 2, 2023 . . . I John 2:7-11 gives us a greater understanding of the love that we have been given by God through our savior Jesus Christ. Love is a word that is often thrown around carelessly. There are four types of love, but Agape love is the type John is talking about. Jesus gave us the commandment to love God and to love each other. This was an old commandment. John tells us that we can li...

June 18, 2023 . . . Life is full of choices. What choices have you made? If we compare the choices of Abraham and Lot, we can see how choices can change our lives for the better or worse. In Genesis 12 , beginning in the first verse, the Lord gave Abraham a commandment as to what he should do and he immediately chose to do it, and Lot followed him. In Genesis 13 , we see that Abraham and Lot had b...

June 11, 2023 . . . And again, I say, “ GOD IS LIGHT .” That’s the main idea that John writes to the Christ followers in his time, but it also applies to us today. Sometimes it feels like we are stumbling through life as if there is no light. But, in I John 1:5-2:2 we are reminded that Jesus can pull us back into the light if we will let Him. As God is Light, so is Jesus Christ. In Chapter 1 verse...

June 4, 2023 . . . (Note: This is the first part of my sermon on I John 1:5 to 2:2 . The second part will be next week and I hope you will join us for that follow-up.) The apostle, John, is writing to teach Christ-followers some very important aspects of being a true Christian. In I John 1:5-7 , he makes a huge point of letting us know that GOD IS LIGHT . God created light on the first day of crea...

May 21, 2023 . . . John had a lot of experience and Christ followers need to KNOW a few things. The world that John lived in was as chaotic, confused, and un-Godly as our world is today. In I John 5:19 , he writes that we KNOW we are of God. Christians are God’s children. The world is of Satan. Being OF GOD tells us that we are distinct from the world. We are placed here and now by God to complete...

May 14, 2023 . . . Today is Mother’s Day and I would like to recall some of the women in the New Testament who can help us remember those in our own lives that have made a big difference to us. In Luke 10:38-42 , we find Jesus at the house of Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha. Mary chose to sit with Jesus and listen to Him while Martha busied herself with preparing a meal and feeling that Mary shou...

May 7, 2023 . . . II Samuel 9:1-13 tells of a time when King David showed grace to one of King Saul’s descendants, a man named Mephibosheth. Grace can be said to be undeserved divine love or getting something good that you do not believe you deserve. Mephibosheth was the disabled son of Jonathan who was Saul’s son. Mephibosheth came from a disgraced family, he was poor, doomed because of Saul’s si...

April 30, 2023 . . . Have you ever experienced limited vision? In Psalm 73:1-28 , we read a psalm written by Asaph, a singer and musician of David's and Solomon’s era, that gives us a lesson in how to deal with restoring our faith when it falters. Asaph says that he was envious of the wicked and wealthy people. His conclusion was that following God is hard and in vain. The good are challenged...

April 23, 2023 . . . Let’s take a closer look at Matthew 28:16-18 where Jesus tells His disciples that they are called to make more disciples.  In Verse 16 , the disciples have gone to a mountain where Jesus told them He would meet them.  Then in Verse 17 , we are told, “ And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him: but some doubted .”  So, in Verse 18 Jesus reminds them that all power has been give...

April 16, 2023 . . . A thorough study of I John 1:1-4 gives us a much greater understanding of what it means to be a Christian and the truth of the Gospel.  The Big Idea:  We can be sure concerning Jesus and the Gospel and because of this assurance, we have a secure foundation to navigate the coming years.  John defines a Christian in several verses.  In I John 5:1 we are told that we are born of...

April 9, 2023 . . . Mark 16:1-8 . . . What a difference a day makes!  A lot can happen in 24 hours.  Joy to sadness, rich to poor, life to death.  But on the morning when three women went to the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ to anoint His body with sweet spices, they did not find what they were expecting.  He was gone!  Instead, they found an angel who explained that He had risen.  The women were...

April 2, 2023 . . . Reading Luke 19:28-44 , we find Jesus telling two of his disciples to go find the colt upon which He will enter the streets of Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday.  If asked, they are to say that the Lord needs it.  Why would a king ride on a donkey?  A donkey is a sign of peace.  A humble way to  enter. As He enters the city, the people lay down their clothes for the anim...

March 26, 2023 . . . As we revisit Isaiah 6:1-13 , we find a way to understand our act of worshiping God.  Every time we come to church, we come to worship.  So, let’s take a closer look at how we should worship.  I use the acronym W.O.R.S.H.I.P. to help us remember some important points.   W=Worthship . . . We come to give praise and glory to our God who is worthy of our praise.  We need to be le...

March 19, 2023 . . . What you do if God suddenly showed up in church one day?  Isaiah 6:1-13 tells of a time when he went into the temple and saw God sitting on a high throne with His train filling the temple.  There were also angels with Him who proclaimed the glory of God.  What would it be like for us if God came to our worship service one day in a similar manner?  Isaiah felt unworthy and most...

March 12, 2023 . . . Isaiah 1:10-20  tells us about the vision that Isaiah had from the Lord when He tells the sinners of that time to listen to Him because He was no longer going to tolerate their vain worship. God let them know that He had become weary with the way they had turned their worship into worthless acts of empty faith. He details all their mindless acts of sacrifice, feasts, and...

February 26, 2023 . . . Read Joshua 14:6-15 where you will find that Joshua fulfills a command given to Moses by the Lord. Caleb, who was from the tribe of Judah, was seeking the land of Canaan which had been promised to Judah. He was granted the land because he had “ wholly followed the Lord my God ” throughout his life. Even at the age of 85, Caleb was ready and strong enough to finish the job o...

February 19, 2023 . . . “ Therefore ” is a transition word and Paul uses it three times in the book of Romans to let us know the outcome of living our lives in a Christ-like way. First , in Romans 5:1 , Paul tells us that, “ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  We are justified by our faith and as such are declared not guilty. But remembe...

February 12, 2023 . . . At the end of I Peter Chapter 5 Verses 8-14 , Peter gives a last piece of advice and instruction to the churches. He reminds them that spiritual warfare is real and constant. They need to be sober, vigilant, and watchful for the ways the devil will try to destroy their faith in God and Jesus Christ. There are so many ways in which Satan will try to pull a Christ-follower aw...

February 5, 2023 . . . In I Peter 5:1-7 he gives advice and instruction for those who have been called to be leaders in the church. And as important as those words were to the elders of his time, they also have meaning to all of us today in the way we conduct our lives as we lead others to Christ. In John 21:15-16 , Jesus told Peter, “Feed my Sheep.” Being an elder in the church puts one in the po...

January 29, 2023 . . . Suffering is not something that anyone looks forward to, but it happened in first century A.D. and it happens today. In I Peter 4:12-19 , the apostle Peter continues to teach the Christians that were scattered abroad. Previously, in Verses 7-11 , he explained how to serve. Now, in Verses 12-19, he explains the type of suffering that will ultimately come as a result of their...

January 22, 2023 . . . I Peter 4:7-11 tells us how to live as if the end is near; the time when Jesus Christ will return and judgment will be given. When you read these verses, you will see instructions on how you should be living your life to give glory to God. Remember, God’s time is different from our time. We all have an end to our life and it could be closer than you think. Peter says to be s...

January 15, 2023 . . . In I Peter 4:1-6 , Peter reminds the church that they must put on the mind of Christ, thereby arming themselves against the pressures of the world. Peter suggests five ways in which to do this. 1.) We must die to ourself . Jesus died so that we might live, even though He was lied about, suffered physically, was betrayed, and faced unbelief. 2.) We must make a commitment to s...

January 8, 2023 . . . Sometimes, life feels like you are paddling a boat upstream. Stop feeling sorry for yourself because you are not alone . God is with you. In I Peter 3:18-22 we read that Jesus Christ died once for all to be saved. He never sinned, but he died for sinners. Throughout time, mankind has turned their back on God and in some cases suffered a terrible fate. For those who ridiculed...

December 18, 2022 . . . Luke 1:57-80 gives us the birth of the son of Elisabeth and Zacharias, John, who would one day prepare the way for the Savior.  The Holy Spirit filled Zacharias and he spoke the prophecy of the coming Savior and how his child, John, would prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. Christ’s coming provides salvation, fulfills prophecy, gives us purpose and blessings....

December 11, 2022 . . . In Luke 1:39-56 we continue the story of Mary’s faith in the Lord and the task that He gave her, that of becoming the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. We can only imagine the JOY that filled her heart as Luke tells it. The JOY of the Holy Spirit, of the fulfilled promise, and of God’s presence. In Verses 46-55 , we find what is typically called “Mary’s Song.” When you read...