No Earning Power (Romans 4:9-25)
Bridging the gap between Jew and Gentile, the Apostle Paul shows us that we cannot somehow earn our way into God's favor. He uses Abraham as his example who was put in an impossible situation and saw God come through in ways he could not have imagined. We have no earning power with God. We only have our faith.WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Mar 5, 2023No Earning Power (Romans 4:9-25)
No Earning Power (Romans 4:9-25)Bridging the gap between Jew and Gentile, the Apostle Paul shows us that we cannot somehow earn our way into God's favor. He uses Abraham as his example who was put in an impossible situation and saw God come through in ways he could not have imagined. We have no earning power with God. We only have our faith.
- Feb 19, 2023The Power of Siimple Belief (Romans 3:27-4:8)
The Power of Siimple Belief (Romans 3:27-4:8)
When God levels the playing field no one has the greater advantage. God is the God of all. He is not a God who plays favorites. We are introduced to the fact that the path to a relationship with God is found in believing God as he has revealed himself to us. There is power in simple belief. - Feb 12, 2023Only One Place To Turn (Romans 3.9-26)
Only One Place To Turn (Romans 3.9-26)
Paul reveals to his friends in Rome that in and of ourselves all of us, regardless of our heritage, backgound, good deeds, or religious rituals are not enough to earn God's righteousness. So God makes it possible for us. - Feb 5, 2023The Folly of Being Religious
The Folly of Being Religious
In this section, Paul continues his critique of the Jewish believers; the "spiritually privileged." He reveals to them, and to us, the fact that religious knowledge, rituals, and practices are empty if they are not turning our hearts to Christ. If my behaviors are not the result of deep heart change, then they are just empty actions. - Jan 29, 2023Fault Lines (Romans 2:1-16)
Fault Lines (Romans 2:1-16)
It is easy to point out the faults and failures of others. We see those very clearly. But it is more beneficial to consider our own faults. God is a God who holds us all to a high standard and he will call us all to a divine review of our lives. We are reminded that it is best to self evaluate and change as opposed to just pointing out the faults of those around us. - Jan 22, 2023No One Gets A Pass (Romans 1:18-32)
No One Gets A Pass (Romans 1:18-32)
The problem with sin is that it infects and destroys everyone and everything. In a very hard and disturbing section, Paul points out that humanity has constantly been moving away from God and his righteousness. While some may want to highlight specific verses, the fact is all are guilty of sin and there are no levels of importance to sin. Sin is sin, and God must deal with it. One way he chooses to deal with it is to sometimes allow humans to have what they think they want. - Jan 15, 2023We all need gospel all the time (Romans 1:1-17)
We all need gospel all the time (Romans 1:1-17)
Paul loved the Roman church and wanted to spend time with them. He wanted them to know how much we all need "gospel." Needing gospel is more than just the basic news of Jesus dying for our sins, it is the life after that initial belief. We all need to discover, daily, how to live out the faith that we claim to have as a result of the good news of Jesus. - Jan 8, 2023Beginning at the End (Romans 16)
Beginning at the End (Romans 16)
It seems odd to begin at the end. It is the stuff of “spoilers.” Ancient letters listed their greetings at the end of the letter. Following the advice of one New Testament scholar, we begin our study of Romans by looking at the people to whom the letter was written. Having descriptions of real people in mind will help us think about this letter in terms of a practical theology. So, in this sermon, we begin at the end - Dec 18, 2022Come Home to Love (1 John 4:7-21)
Come Home to Love (1 John 4:7-21)
Why do we give gifts? Hopefully, it is one way to express our love for one another. In fact, a gift given for any other motivation is not really a gift at all. Home is supposed to be that place of acceptance and love. We discover at this time of year that God loved us and gave to us before we even asked. God initiated his love for us. When we come home to Jesus we come home to perfect love and we have nothing to fear. - Dec 11, 2022Come Home to Acceptance (Psalm 103)
Come Home to Acceptance (Psalm 103)
There are certain people who have a unique quality of making others feel welcome and accepted. They are rare, but they exist. In a hymn of praise, David describes God as one who has freely bestowed his benefits. This is a psalm that reminds the reader that when we come into a relationship with God, we come home to acceptance and we discover that God is active and we are merely the recipients of his grace and mercy. - Dec 4, 2022Come Home to Hope (Isaiah 40)
Come Home to Hope (Isaiah 40)
We look at hope as an expectation or even a wish. I hope I get that present I really want. I hope we all get along at Christmas dinner. I hope Aunt Susie will make it this year. But God offers us so much more. Hope in our God is a confidence. When we put our faith in the Christ of Christmas, we have a confidence and a trust that is a sure thing. All God's promises are certain and we see them in the birth of Christ. When our hope is in our God there is a comfort and a confidence that is undeniable and incomparable. - Nov 27, 2022Come Home to Rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
Come Home to Rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
Coming home. We come home from work and we just want to take a break and put our feet up. We come home from school and we just want to have a snack and unwind. Home is a place where we should be able to rest. Home is a place where we should get a break. Jesus offers us the ultimate rest for our soul as we enter our faith relationship with Him. Come Home to rest in Jesus today. - Nov 20, 2022Leftovers…Again (Malachi)
Leftovers…Again (Malachi)
The temple is complete. The walls are built. The people are secure. And God for some reason is not as important. That seems to be the human condition. We tend to want God when we are in trouble, but when things are good we tend to drift. In Malachi’s prophecy, God calls His people out for their complacency and then promises to visit them in a powerful way. - Nov 13, 2022Ancient Words…Future Focus (Zechariah 12-14)
Ancient Words…Future Focus (Zechariah 12-14)
One of the difficult realities that people who have a sense of what may be coming in the future is that they are not always believed. As humans, we tend to focus on what we think we know, and what we think is a sure thing. From a survey of biblical history, we can tell that Zechariah’s final oracles were not heeded by the people of Israel. Maybe we can do better. - Nov 6, 2022The Leader You Have Always Longed For (Zechariah 9-11)
The Leader You Have Always Longed For (Zechariah 9-11)
Dr. John Maxwell said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” There is much truth to that statement. Whether we are currently in a leadership position or are in a place where we are being led, we have a sense of what good leadership is about. In this section of Zechariah, we are introduced to one who will be the perfect leader. Our task will be to discover how we can emulate the leader we have longed for.