God’s Severity Is for Our Good
“Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’” -Jeremiah 35:17 It’s true that the God revealed in the Bible is the quintessence of love, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, and longsuffering. Yet he can show a severe side that is designed
What About Jesus? 5 Questions from Our Youth Group
Did Jesus really exist? I'm not sure. Did Jesus really come back to life? Or is it like a metaphor? Is Jesus the only way to God? What does it mean to have Jesus in your heart? What does a relationship with Jesus look like and feel like in my everyday life? These great classic questions from the youth in our church go back to the heart of what we believe. Off the top of my head, the only other question that ranks with these is,
Hosanna in the Highest
Through Christ’s sacrifice and suffering, we are awed by the abundant gifts the Father grants us through Jesus’ physical resurrection—a lavish, abundant, beyond-all-expectations life that never ends. That’s the life-giving, hopeful, joy-bringing message of the Gospel. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ( Romans 8:32) This above passage cuts right to the heart of the New Testament. It puts us in
From the Pastor: Discouraged, Disheartened, Emotionally Drained? Hope in God!
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. -Psalm 43:5 Beginning with Palm Sunday, lies, false witness, denial, slander, scheming, injustice, rejection of truth, hypocrisy—human sin and daily life are played out vividly in the events of Holy Week For many, it has been that and even more. It has been a year since we embarked on a journey that
Ash Wednesday: Be Reconciled to God
A Time to Turn An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, 109-110): The Lenten journey from the ashes of death to resurrected life begins on the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday, which signifies a time to turn around, to change directions, to repent. This first day of Lent reminds us that unless we are willing to die to our old selves, we cannot be raised to new life with Christ. The first step of
From the Pastor: Real Love
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. -1 John 4:10-12 We love because God loved us first. It’s not that we loved God, searched him out, and
Jesus Is Lord
No matter where we go or what we do, we need to remember that we don’t exist for ourselves, but for a higher will and greater purpose than our own. For this reason, God never intended us to set off on our life journey by ourselves. He is very aware of the powerful forces surrounding us and how inadequately prepared we are to stave them off. So he promises to be our Helper and our Guide. In short, then, the
The Importance of Doubt
The curate's search had already greatly widened the sphere of his doubts. But if there be such a thing as truth, every fresh doubt is yet another fingerpost pointing toward its dwelling. -George Macdonald, The Curate's Awakening A few days ago, I was in conversation with someone who, although raised Christian, had too many doubts and had walked away from the faith. He felt that since he had so many doubts, he couldn't be considered Christian. For most, faith and doubt are
Join Us! Weekly Invite – 16 May 2021
Join Us on Zoom @ 16:00 hrs for Worship! Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." -1 Peter 1:13-17 Many of our
Our Righteousness: Absolutely Worthless Credit
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ come righteousness that comes
