Jesus challenges us to do things that are sometimes far beyond what we believe we can do. The disciples are concerned that many people are still listening to Jesus’ teachings while it gets late. Their reasonable suggestion to send the people away to allow them to get something to eat results in Jesus responding, “You…
We’re asked to prove who we are multiple times every day. Whether in the form of passwords, asking who is at the door, or just having our ID checked at the grocery store, we know what it’s liked to be asked to show identification for who we are. Jesus approaches the disciples by walking on…
What does it take to follow Christ? Aaron takes us through Luke 5:1-11 and explains that the disciples were not called because they had it all together, had incredible qualifications, or even because they totally understood the message. Additionally, we are challenged to live our lives as followers and not mere observers or fans of Christ.…
Ecclesiastes 7:8-10 Acts 1:6-8 Matthew 28:16-20 John 4:27-38 Our mission is quite simple. We are to be witnesses. A witness is only responsible to tell what he knows. We are to tell the story of how Jesus has changed our lives. I believe our best days as a church lie ahead of us. I believe…
Read: Ecclesiastes 7:8-10 II Corinthians 13:1-10 Ephesians 5:11-16 Philippians 2:14-15 Philippians 3:7-15 Romans 12:1 Romans 6:12-14 Romans 6:19 Matthew 5:13-16 Some of you can’t wait for the good days you are confident lie ahead. In two and a half days, you will joyfully welcome in a new year of possibilities, and you can’t help but think ahead. But, what makes us think…
Read: Matthew 2:7-12 Luke 2:15-20 Consider: Interestingly, the detail Matthew focuses on in the story of the magi, beyond the star that they followed, is the moment of gift giving. Notice that the gifts are called “treasures” in Matthew 2:11. They were very expensive gifts! Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These wealthy, learned men, who had…
Read: Luke 2:1- 18 Micah 5:2 I Corinthians 1:26-28 Consider: “It came about in those days…” These are real events, not a fairy tale. This timing is so very interesting. Not only did it need to coincide with events in the cosmos for the magi to travel as a result of a star in the…
On this second Sunday of Advent, we look at the Angel’s appearance to the shepherds, the arrival of the Magi, and the power of Christ’s entrance into the world. God can sympathize with our pain, because He has been tempted like us. While Christ was worthy of a much larger entrance, He gave up his…
Read: James 4:1-3 Matthew 2:-13 Numbers 24:17 John 6:14-15, 26-27 John 6:35-40 John 3:16-19 John 7:37-38 Consider: Have you noticed that by and large people often really want the wrong things? Or at least we tend to overly value things that really aren’t important? We really struggle with not only…
An important message about remembering to be thankful in the midst of circumstances, and not necessarily because of the circumstances.