One more for the kingdom
“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 English Standard Version). How do gates “prevail”? After all, gates are not offensive. They...
Always leftovers
“They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Matthew 14:20). “What are we going to...
Jesus is the difference
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage,...
In the name of Jesus
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived” (Luke 2:21). What’s...
A breathtaking Christmas
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”...
Jesus is our joy
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Where do you seek joy? Fleeting happiness Perhaps you seek joy in your loved ones—with...
Paradise restored
“The one who was seated on the throne said to me, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ ” (Revelation 21:5). What do you see? The crumbling ruins of an aging...
Paradise lost?
“Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed” (Genesis 2:8). Follow me to an overgrown garden. We cannot...
The death of death
“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever” (Isaiah 25:7,8)....
Help from the Mountain Maker
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1,2). There are few...
The need for a bold confession
“Everyone who confesses me before others, I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny before my...
More than enough
“ said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so...
Faith
“Faith is being sure about what we hope for, being convinced about things we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). “If we have faith in each other, we will win.” A...
Ambassadors: Help them see Jesus: Part 4
Ask questions before you confront When Michael first walked through our doors, I wonder if he even knew what he believed. One thing was certain, his search for answers...
Ambassadors: Help them find Jesus : Part 3
When we share our faith, every situation—and every person—is different. “If your God is so almighty, why is there poverty in Africa?” I was a new pastor...