Have you ever experienced a moment of truth so powerful that it left you speechless? There were no more arguments or answers - just awe. Lee Strobel, a journalist for the Chicago Tribune, Yale Law student, atheist, and skeptic wrote a book about just such a moment in his life. Using his skills in investigative journalism and legal depositions, he sought to vanquish the Christian faith by disproving...  Read More

If you could choose the greatest challenge to unity in the church, what would you pick? What stumbling-block or sin separates us the most? Is it an action or an attitude? 1 Corinthians deals with both. Winning people from our culture gets messy and problems manifest themselves at times within the church. We complicate it with our contentions. But he starts with arguably our greatest challenge: Self-will. (From 1 Cor. 1:10-18)  Read More

If you’ve ever been around someone who sensed a “call” upon their life and took it, you know how influential their testimony is. They were living a certain way, struggling with some challenge, viewing life through a distorted lens… Then came the call, they answered it, and everything changed! The Christian’s calling changes everything too! We’re called to radical transformation via urgent evangelization while in a continuous state of spiritual development, all by the power of the same indwelling Spirit of Jesus Christ and His word. It started when we answered the gospel call (From 1 Corinthians 1:1-9)  Read More

If I asked how messed up can a Christian be and still be saved? Or does God plant a church in a society captivated by sin, wealth, religion, immorality, indulgence, and idolatry, to bring light amid darkness and order among chaos and entrust her to graciously serve there? What book gives the answer and the antidote? What might that church look like today and how would it manage the tension created by uncritical acceptance of cultural influences, clashing views, values, lifestyles, and levels of spiritual growth yet saved by the same grace? (From 1 Cor. 1:1-11).   Read More

If you could bring only one thing to the house of God, what would it be? What if you knew that security was so tight that whatever you bring would be revealed before you entered? Would that change your choice? Well, what one thing did David bring to the house of God when things got personal, and he knew security was tight? A clean heart. And it started with a committed “morning routine” (From Psalm 5:1-12):  Read More

In my years pastoring I’ve seen many running from God. They might be angry about some hurt or hardship in their life. Or they’ve experienced injustice and blame God. Others get entangled in sin and are ashamed. For some, they know what God wants, refuse to do it, and so they run. The prophet Jonah feels God is asking too much and runs. In the process he gets himself and others in deep peril. He’d rather die than do what God wants. Ever been there? (From Jonah 1:12-3:3):  Read More

Do you ever talk to your troublemakers? There’s a conversation in your head, or upon your bed late in the night, and your trouble is as real in that moment as if you were living the actual experience. It becomes hard to tell if you’re talking to yourself, God, or the troublemakers, right? Embarrassed? Don’t be. King David did it too! (From Psalm 4). (Disclosure: The night before I prepared this message, I experienced it - two hours of wrestling before the rest returned! Can you relate?)  Read More

What would you say to God if you had to flee in fear from someone very close to your heart? If one in your own family built a coalition and convinced many to turn against and trouble you what kinds of emotions and thoughts would flood into your heart and mind and affect your mood? Songs are often born of circumstance and David is having a time. What is one against so many is his cry! (From Psalm 3)   Read More

Did you ever overhear someone ask a question that really made you think? Have you ever been given good advice only to choose another option then later regret it? Who here hasn’t been told what pain and problems the future holds if you continue on some preferred path only to dismiss the prophecy and then fulfill it?' Friend, be careful what you seek to accomplish in this life, you just might get it! God asked a good question in Mark 8:36-37. Makes you think, doesn’t it? When God asks questions, we should pay attention. In Psalm 2 the Godhead is talking among themselves about those made in their image and ask a question we should pay attention to (From Psalm 2)   Read More

t should not surprise us that the first Psalm to worship in spirit and truth is a song of warning. The heavenly hymnal starts with a negative: You’re blessed if you don’t! It contrasts two courses of life: One is blessed; the other is barren. Which are you on? Wisdom plots but the fool plods on. (from Psa. 1:1-6). The New Testament reminds us of the purpose of the songs we sing (Col. 3:16). It should be no surprise that the book of Psalms begins with teaching and admonishing about the blessed man and the wisdom he seeks and sings about.  Read More

The essence of the Christian life is fellowship because of the essence of the gospel: Forgiven, forever changed, and placed into the family of God! But what is the essence of fellowship? The essence of Christian fellowship is powerful love revealed in compassionate community. A compelling community of believers (the local church) is the place where love is displayed not just discussed because those who assemble are Christian by virtue of regeneration, not mere religion. The new birth (not just beliefs) gives evidence of God’s life in us because of our committed love one to another. Believers one-another well because they are committed to living in unity, fervent charity, and growing in maturity - genuine fellowship built around healthy relationships. Biblical Christianity then is made manifest by demonstration (not mere declaration) of what love is and does. (From 1 John 3:10-19):  Read More

If I were to ask you what is the essence of the Christian life, what would be your answer? What is the essence of our life together as followers of Christ? When the “disciple whom Jesus loved” took up pen and parchment to write about what it means to be “Christian” he did not write about what the gospel says, he wrote about what it does. If the gospel does anything, it profoundly changes one’s life and approach to relational health, because it turns on the light, reveals the problem, and rescues us from what hinders our life and relationships: Sin! So, what is the essence of the Christian life? John argues for fellowship (From 1 John 1:3-7)  Read More