Year: 2011

The greatest gift of Christmas

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Matthew 2:11 ( post from 2010 Christmas) Yesterday I shared a message with our community about how all the decorations, and festivities, and the overwhelming busyness leading up to Christmas day – how all these activities – the shopping, the wrapping and the traveling and feasting – as good as they are in themselves – how they are so infinitely less, insignificant and pale in comparison to the awesome and indescribable incarnation of the Christ Child. In deed He is the most important reason for the season. He is also the greatest gift of Christmas. And having him in your life is going to change your life forever. Another important aspect of the Christ being the greatest gift that can change a life stems from two things: The very act of God himself – “He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son. What an extraordinary gift. Also in Matthew 2:11 where it says, “opening their treasures” they lavished him with gifts. I believe God has given us the examples throughout scripture to be givers. People …

Set-up for Success

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I am sure you remember when you were a kid how your teacher would do a timely review before a big test. He/She would say something like “pay attention to this or that, especially page number 7 (for example) because it is coming on the test.” If you ever had a teacher like that – you would understand that he/she wanted you to be prepared so that you could do well on your test. You see, they put us to the test alright – but they set us up for success. How is the Lord setting you up for success today? I would like to share one or two bible verses that I think deals with this topic: Deuteronomy 10:13 and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? 1 Corinthians 7:35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. God is always looking out for our …

Living between two worlds

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Too Busy I believe that every believer has in the back of their mind the notion that when they die they will go to heaven, or at least they expect to see him soon. But I don’t know how many of these believers live in a daily expectation and readiness of that reality. I don’t know how many have that burning desire to see him appear in the sky. The passage of scripture we are looking at today seems to teach that every one of us, on a daily basis need to live with that burning desire. Look at 1 Thess. 1:10: to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come… Wait a Minute The word “wait” is a word that is still used in modern greek today and it stresses a certain eagerness in this waiting. This waiting or looking forward to also implies a state of readiness. Unfortunately, many christians are not really thinking about heaven, they are too focused on the here and the now, too …

Sinner saved by grace

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When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, “Guilty, or not guilty?” When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, “That’ll be ten dollars — a dollar for every mile you went over the limit.” Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. “You have violated the law,” he said. “The fine must be paid–but I am going to pay it for you.” He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! “That,” said Billy Graham, “is how God treats repentant sinners!” via Sermon Illustration

Missionary MO (mode of operation)

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I was listening the other day to a pastor as he shared about the various church plants he and his congregation is involved in. He seemed to be excited about a few of the churches they had planted – but a little bit more excited – or rather ecstatic about just one of the many churches he and his congregation had planted. The growth of almost every one of the other church plants stemmed from people who were already believers moving to the vicinity, other believers looking for a better fit, or curious church goers just looking for a change in what they were getting in their former churches. But when he began to talk about this other church plant – this pastor lit up, something in his voice changed, he became very emotional. He said, percentage wise this new church was the fasted growing in terms of conversions – people meeting Jesus and making His Lord and savior of their lives. He said more people were meeting Jesus statistically were meeting Jesus through this particular church plant compared to every other church …

These Three Remain

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There are a few scripture references in the Bible that have done for us a great job of summarizing and simplifying the christian faith – at least for practical reasons. These scriptures answer the question – what shall we do now we are saved? What’s the bottom line… or the make it easy for me to do. Most of them are penned by Jesus Himself and the others by Paul. The one we are considering today is that of Paul’s and I think it carries the same idea with those stated elsewhere in the scripture.  A common Pauline triad (cf. 5:8; Rom. 5:2–5; 1 Cor. 13:13; Gal. 5:5–6; Eph. 4:2–5). In 1 Thess. 1:3 we find this same summary – work … labor … steadfastness. These are the practical out working of the Thessalonians’ conversion. The “work” the Thessalonians do is a result or consequence of their “faith.” So, too, their “labor” flows from “love,” and their endurance or “steadfastness” comes from “hope.” The Work of Faith The Labor of Love The steadfastness of Hope What do these …

Seven Things Every Christian should do on Halloween

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It is 6:45 pm here on the west coast and I am looking out my living room window watching my neighbor get ready to walk the neighborhood. As a believer or a pastor, I personally do not celebrate Halloween, however my kids this year are dressed up – one like a bee, and the other like a butterfly, and they are on their way to a harvest festival at a local church in the area. I know some of you may be looking for some explanation as to why we should or should not celebrate Halloween but I am not going to enter into the argument about whose right or who’s wrong. I do however, will like to ask that you take into consideration – in some cases the religious as well as the historical and cultural significance of this holiday and use Colossians 3:17, and 1 Corinthians 10:31 both as guiding principles.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through …

The Meaning of Marriage

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There has never been a marriage book like THE MEANING OF MARRIAGE. Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, this book shows everyone-Christians, skeptics, singles, long-time married couples, and those about to be engaged-the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible. Modern culture would make you believe that everyone has a soul-mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. All those modern-day assumptions are, in a word, wrong. Using the Bible as his guide, coupled with insightful commentary from his wife of thirty-six years, Kathy, Timothy Keller shows that God created marriage to bring us closer to him and to bring us more joy in our lives. It is a glorious relationship that is also the most misunderstood and mysterious. With a clear-eyed understanding of the Bible, …

True or False

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The basic premise of religion– that if you live a good life, things will go well for you– is wrong. Jesus was the most morally upright person who ever lived, yet He had a life filled with the experience of poverty, rejection, injustice, and even torture.    ―      Tim Keller