How Are We Saved?
Salvation is a major tenet of Christianity while many aspects of it are debated within the Church. Without a biblical description of our salvation, we are in danger of sharing a faith of which we do not understand.
When God Puts a Plan Together
Nehemiah 2:1-20 – Nehemiah risked his comfort to evaluate the work required to reestablish the people of God. When God puts a plan together, we see how He uses people and processes to accomplish something great.
Common Royalty
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the world comments on her impressive accomplishments as well as her family’s unfortunate dramas. No matter how much protection any of us have from outside threats, no one can protect us from ourselves.
Naked & Unashamed
To have a healthy marriage, you must consider numerous components. One area that is rarely discussed from a scriptural perspective is the role sexual intimacy is intended to play. We must reorient ourselves to God’s perspective.
Will All People Encounter God?
While I wish that all people would submit to God’s design and directions, I often feel hopeless because I constantly witness how truly rebellious we are. Will all people eventually encounter God before it is too late?
How Is the Church Divided Over the Holy Spirit?
While Scripture is clear on the work of the Holy Spirit, Christians have debated specific roles based on assumptions or experiences. We must be careful not to alter His role to fit our expectations.
Nehemiah
During Nehemiah’s day, God’s people were discouraged and directionless. Met with significant challenges, they continued to press on to the work assigned to them.
When It’s Not What It’s Supposed to Be
Nehemiah 1:1-11 – Once Nehemiah heard the condition of God’s people, his brokenness led him to prayer. When our circumstances are not what they are supposed to be, do we approach God for His help?
God Wants to Forgive Us
If your version of God portrays a begrudging being forced to be kind to us rather than eagerly willing to be gracious to us, you are not envisioning the God of the Bible. God actually wants to forgive us!
The Background of Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah is set in a pivotal time in the history of God’s people. To better understand the content of his message, we must comprehend the context in which he ministered.
Leave & Cleave
Marriage cannot work if someone has a higher priority than the spouse. There must be a thorough yet healthy leaving of one’s initial family and a complete and eager cleaving of one’s unique spouse. It is essential.
Nehemiah [Series Overview]
During Nehemiah’s day, God’s people were discouraged and directionless. God raised up a leader to inspire other leaders to reinstate God’s people by uniting together for God’s original purposes. Met with significant challenges, they continued to press on to the work assigned to them.
Overview: Ezra-Nehemiah
As I prepare to preach through Nehemiah at our church, I wanted to share some initial resources with you to understand the nature of the book. This resource by the Bible Project succinctly summarizes the message of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Faith Without Wetsuits Is Dead
Plenty of people felt bad for the lady who lost her wedding ring in the ocean, but only one man did something about it. Our core beliefs ought to spring us into action rather than just cause us to comment.
Helpless & Alone
God designed marriage to provide a helper because He knew that, even before sin, we needed someone to walk beside us in life. We aren’t wired to navigate life alone. In our need, He offers us a companion.
“What Do You Say?”
God has showered us with numerous blessings that our nudging our souls. You can almost hear these gifts questioning us, “What do you say?”
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The role of the Holy Spirit is essential in the life of the Christian, yet we often neglect Him to our detriment. Once we know who the Holy Spirit is, we will better understand the power He brings into our lives.
God Doesn’t Owe Us Anything
Matthew 20:1-16 – In The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard, Jesus confronted an entitled religious mentality that thought those who had been around longer deserved more. We must never move past the reality that God doesn’t owe us anything.
Premarital Consideration
God did not invite us to embark upon the journey of marriage unprepared without the instructions required to bring it safely onto the shore. The Bible provides the knowledge we need to succeed in marriage.
Formed & Filled
You were created by God for a certain purpose. And every person in this world will either encourage you to fulfill that purpose or discourage you from that calling. Out of all your relationships, there is none more serious than your spouse.
Ministry “Retirement”
While some ministers dream of a day when they don’t have to work anymore, the Bible gives an example of what ministry retirement should be like. It’s not the same type of work, but it’s just as important.
Introduction to Systematic Theology II
The study of God is the essential discipline to get accurate during our lifetimes. This course will study four significant doctrines: pneumatology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology.
Too Forgiven to Be Unforgiving
Matthew 18:21-35 – In The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus answered how many times we should forgive another person who has wronged us. If you realize how much you have been forgiven for in your life, it should not be a stretch to forgive others as well.
Premarital Caution
If God created marriage, we should assume His perspective would be superior to the wisdom of an expert or any amount of experience. You can avoid specific marital issues by simply learning and applying the truths of God’s Word.
How to Use Just (About) Married with Premarital Counseling
Just (About) Married is a premarital resource to help individuals study, couples discuss, and then a counselor unpacks the concepts to prepare for marriage. I pray it can help your upcoming marriage or counseling ministry.
Engaged & Unprepared
Next to your decision to follow Jesus, there is no more critical of a decision than if and who you will marry. While you may find yourself lovestruck at some point in your life, it is essential that you have considered God’s role in your potential marriage.
Just (About) Married Is Now Available
I am so happy to share with you that Just (About) Married, a premarital book for intentional couples, is available today. I’ve had a burden for years to develop a resource that would assist couples in our church to better prepare for marriage, and it is finally complete.
The Unwelcomed Are Welcome Here
Luke 14:12-24 – In The Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus taught to welcome those who are typically unwelcome. Those who think they deserve God’s presence rarely experience it.
Advice for Church Shoppers
If you are church shopping, let me give you some important advice: Do not come to a new church and expect it to operate like the one you just left. Perhaps the thing you miss might have contributed to its collapse.
Evaluating Margins
If you are at the place in your life where you have so much to do that you don’t know what to do next, it’s probably because you aren’t doing the important work of evaluation. You must ensure that you can step back to get a handle on your chaos.
Waypoint (Fall 2022)
As a church, we’re not there yet, but we are getting there. Check out this video update of the progress we are making as a church family.
The Church and the LGBTQ+ Community
As our society continually explores and emphasizes sexual variations, the Church must consider staying faithful to God’s Word while remaining loving to all people. As representatives of Jesus, we must display grace and truth to our closest relationships and the culture at large.
Seeking the Worst Seat
Luke 14:7-11 – In The Parable of the Wedding Feast, Jesus encouraged His followers to avoid pursuing places of privilege. Exaltation is not attained by proving greatness but by relentlessly prioritizing humility.
Dead to Sin
Theologically speaking, we are dead to sin, but that doesn’t mean we are free from daily struggle. How are we supposed to die to sin in our daily lives?
Redirecting Anxiety
So many Christians feel tremendous guilt for the level of anxiety they struggle with on a daily basis. You need to realize that you haven’t sinned when anxiety hits, but you could sin by the way you address it.
Words Will Never Hurt Me
While the world was shocked that Will Smith struck Chris Rock at the Oscars, we can’t overlook the fact that words led to that moment. Our speech has great power as well – how are we using it?
Securing the Church
With the rise of gun violence and sexual abuse cases, it is important to know what we do as a church for precautionary measures. While no steps can guarantee the avoidance of such a tragedy, we seek to be diligent to minimize the possibilities.
You Can’t Take It With You
Luke 12:13-21 – In The Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus taught how unreliable our possessions could be to forming and completing our lives. Live for something that outlives you.
Does Belief in God Make a Difference for Americans?
In 2022, Gallup reported that 81% of Americans believe in God. If you consider that majority number, do you notice that many people living their lives according to a biblical faith?
Just (About) Married – Chapter Breakdown
Just (About) Married is a book intended to guide a couple to prepare for more than a wedding. In these 8 chapters, driven by concepts in Genesis 1-3, a couple or a counselor can better prepare the upcoming marriage.