After twelve incredible weeks in Hebrews, the Pastor ends his message with four things to love and one to resist the urge to love. Hebrews 13:1–6 calls us to love those around us in a way that shows a watching world that followers of Jesus wear a different jersey: the jersey marked by love.
Read MoreHow do you have the strength to live faithfully today in light of eternity? Jeff Parker unpacks the last verses of Hebrews 12 and reminds us not to forsake your spiritual responsibility, forget your spiritual blessings, or refuse Him who speaks.
Read MoreDiscipline can be a harsh word. Some of us think of a hard coach or being sent to our room. But Godly discipline is a wonderful thing. Like a parent caring for their child, God disciplines those that he loves. He corrects, guides, trains, and leads his children in the way and path they should go. God's discipline is designed to help his children grow as they draw near to them.
Read MoreWe are all running a race called life. It is unique before you and has its joys and struggles along the path. So how do you run this race with endurance and finish well? As we jump back into the book of Hebrews, we see the primary pioneer and perfector of our faith running the race and empowering us to run as well. So let's look to Jesus, who has run his race and now running with us on our own.
Read MoreHe is Risen! Welcome to Easter Sunday as we celebrate the risen Lord Jesus. From the moment he rose, people responded differently to the reality of the resurrection. Some thought it was a crazy story, and others were just confused. But when people truly encounter the risen Lord, the only proper response is to be fully committed. He is risen. He is risen indeed. And that reality now impacts everything about us.
Read MoreWhat motivated Jesus to endure the cross? What if I told you it was joy? For the joy set before Christ, he endured the cross. In complete obedience to the Father's will, Jesus suffered, died, and was buried. As he walked forward to the cross, Jesus looked beyond it to the joy of eternity with his Father and with his people. In his joy, we find out joy. Jesus endured his suffering so that he might joyfully join you in yours.
Read MoreWhat was on Jesus's mind when he entered Jerusalem? From the beginning to the end of passion week, Psalm 118 was on the soundtrack of Jesus's mind. It was sung when he rode in on the donkey and as he closed out the last supper. We think of what he thinks, and we see that Jesus entering Jerusalem was him declaring the steadfast love of the LORD has come for his people. He has come to them, and he has come to us this Palm Sunday.
Read MoreGod calls us to use our gifts and talents to glorify him for the good of others. This week, we glimpse what the LORD is doing in and through our church body. There are amazing opportunities to get engaged and stay engaged. God wants to use you. So how are you joining into what the LORD is doing?
Read MoreWhat is your legacy of faith? Who came before you in your story to be the next link in the long chain that connects back to Jesus Christ? As we close our Hebrews 11, we see the legacy and lineage of faith. As we cling to Christ, we become the faithful who carry the message of Christ forward and impact others in his name. You may have a strong legacy before you, or you may not. But in Christ, you can be the link between Jesus and your family, friends, and others as you impact the world for him.
Read MoreAs we continue through the hall of fame of faith, we see "father Abraham," often called "The father of faith." But Abraham was more of the "Father of growing in faith." Faith is a journey of ups and downs, courage, and missteps. The life of Abraham shows what it looks like to have faith and grow in it on the journey with Jesus.
Read MoreDoes your faith mark your life? Faith is not wishful thinking, but an assured conviction of things hoped for but not yet seen. Faith is the fundamental way we approach God and walk with God. This is because faith and trust are the bases of any good relationship. So let's walk by faith and not by sight until our faith becomes our sight.
Read MoreHow do you stand strong in your faith? There are certain things God gives us to anchor us amid hardships, the right relationships, the gospel, and our future with God. When we keep the right focus on these things, we are able to strengthen our faith no matter the circumstance.
Read MoreWe are experts in creating rituals, checklists, and rules to make sure we are "ok" with God. Yet, as we live under those old systems, we are only left exhausted and reminded that we are not perfect and still in our sins. When Jesus came, something utterly different was offered. He has ushered in a new relationship as he sits supreme and invites us into an intimate relationship with him.
Read MoreYou may have heard it said, "Don't be so heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good." That phrase is simply unbiblical. We are called to be so heavenly-minded that we deeply impact the world today. Those with their minds fixed on things above end up making the most of their lives. As we continue our series in Hebrews, we see how Jesus has entered the heavenly temple, how his sacrifice has eternal significance, and that his second coming is assured. When we think of these things, it changes how we live our lives today.
Read MoreWe are in a middle of a section in Hebrews talking about how Jesus brings in the better covenant. A covenant is a binding promise between two parties. We are taking several weeks to walk through this all because there is SO MUCH that God is gifting us in this covenant. This week we get to celebrate the better inheritance we receive from God through his Son, Jesus Christ. This was purchased by his blood (i.e., his death and sacrifice). In his death, we receive an inheritance. In his resurrection, we receive.
Read MoreWhere do you feel the most 'at home'? Where is that? What does that feel like? The Hebrews had a word for this, "Shalom." This word meant "the way it should be." The Hebrews felt most at home in the Temple of God. It was here that they were reminded of God's provision as they walked in God's presence. These were hints of heaven and shadows of something greater to come. In Christ, we do not just get the shadow, we get the full substance of the way it should be. This creates in us a longing now as we anticipate what is to come.
Read MoreWhen something new has come, the old becomes obsolete. The people of God were a part of an old system of how they viewed themselves, the world, and how they related to God. But something new has come in Christ. A new way of seeing God, yourself, and others. Sadly, we can drift back to our old ways before Christ. But something new has come. A new promise, a new system, a new covenant between God and man. When the new comes, the old becomes obsolete.
Read MoreBefore we jump back into Hebrews, let's remember the heartbeat of Hebrews: don't drift away; draw near because Jesus is better. It can be easy to begin to drift, but drifting always leads to destruction in our lives. The pastor of Hebrews calls us to draw near to who Jesus is and what he has done because Jesus is simply better. When we focus on these two realities, who he is and what he has done, the only proper response to know and follow him with our lives. Welcome back to Hebrews. We are only halfway!
Read MoreWhen was the last time you realized you needed to change? We are either moving towards Christlikeness or away from it. We do not get there by trying harder but by training faithfully. In 1 Timothy 4:6-16, we see the priority, plan, and progress of training for righteousness. So as we continue in the new year, let's train ourselves for Christlikeness.
Read More'Tis the season for resolutions. It's the new year, and across the world, people are thinking about who they want to be and how they will get there. As we launch into this year, let's pause and look at what God wants us and how we can get there. It's not by willpower but by walking by the spirit and following God's will. Here's to the new year, and here's to being transformed by the word and will of God!
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