Galatians 4:4-7 Every parent has had this thought: “I wish my kinds understood how much I LOVE them.” What do you do if you’re GOD? Galatians 4:4-7 (pg. 1,813) v.4: “When the SET TIME had fully come, God sent His SON, born of a WOMAN, born under the LAW, to REDEEM those UNDER the Law…” […]

Why does Matthew begin with a GENEALOGY? The Son of DAVID The Son of ABRAHAM Phil 2:10-11 The way to read the genealogy is to notice things that are UNUSUAL. v.8 and v.10: Does Matthew make a MISTAKE? Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba are UNLIKELY names for such a list. Matthew wants us to realize […]

Luke 5:1-11 Church: An ASSEMBLY of Jesus’ followers who gather together because they have embraced Jesus’ VIEW and His MANDATE. Jesus’ view: “The Son of Man came to SEEK and to save the LOST.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus’ mandate: “To MAKE disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son […]

Psalm 78:1-7 v1: “Hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.” Did you HEAR me? v1: “I will utter hidden things, things from of old…what we have heard and known…” When you become a follower of Jesus, you become a part of a bigger STORY. v4: “We will not hide them from their […]

Being GOOD FOR PEOPLE makes us GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. Good for the Community: Where we LIVE, where we WORK, and where we PLAY. God make me the same person OUT THERE as I am IN HERE. Paul’s life MIRRORS the life of Jesus Christ. Paul EMBRACES HIS FREEDOM to live in a way to […]

If you want to get more OUT OF something, you need to get more INTO it. Romans 12:1-8 God gives all of His gifts by GRACE. We receive them by FAITH. God’s MERCY doesn’t automatically produce OBEDIENCE. Augustine: “Without God, we can’t. Without us, God won’t.” RELATIONSHIPS are the way lives are CHANGED. Where is […]

Matthew 16:1-4 Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees see Jesus as a THREAT so they devise a plan to TEST Jesus. Matthew 16:5-12 Sometimes we just don’t GET it. “The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees…” There are those who claim to know the SCRIPTURES, yet might lead you astray. There are those who have […]

Luke 6:27-38 BE Good. DO Good. Luke 6:27-38 (pg. 1,601) v.27: “LOVE your enemies, and do GOOD to those who hate you, BLESS those who curse you and, PRAY for those who mistreat you.” v.29: “If someone SLAPS you on the cheek, turn the other also. If someone takes your COAT, do not withhold your […]

Luke 3:1-14 Why does OUR church do this? Why should EVERY church do this? Everybody in America thinks something when they hear the word, CHURCH. God’s extravagant generosity towards US, compels us to be extravagantly generous towards OTHERS. “A new COMMAND I give you: I want you to LOVE one another, as I have loved […]

1 John 3:11-19 When you read the New Testament, when it comes to following Jesus the ESSENTIALS are incredibly SIMPLE. MEMORABLE and ACTIONABLE. “A new COMMAND I give you: I want you to LOVE one another the way that I have loved you. By this EVERYONE will know you are MY disciples, if you LOVE […]

Titus 3:1-2 Our obedience is FIRST to Jesus, then to the authorities God has placed in our life. Are you ready to do WHATEVER is good? Titus 3:3-7 The shift isn’t we finally got our act together, the shift comes when the KINDNESS and LOVE of God appeared. Titus 3:8 “So that…” EXCELLENT and PROFITABLE […]

People are WATCHING, live like it. Titus 2:1-3 The households of followers of Jesus should look DIFFERENT. Titus 2:4-8, 9-10 The household codes aren’t what they first APPEAR What was the world that Paul lived in? How do Paul’s household codes DIVERGE from the views of the day? Are we assuming a 21st Century American […]

Acts 20:35, Matthew 6:21, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 “Remembering the words the Lord JESUS Himself said: It is more BLESSED to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35 The Principle of the HARVEST You reap WHAT you sow. You reap MORE than you sow. You reap AFTER you sow. Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul viewed […]

Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 6:24-34 Luke 5:1-11 pg. 1,597 v.1: “One day as Jesus was standing by the sea of Galilee the people were CROWDING around Him and listening to the WORD of GOD.” Where ever there is an active, outward facing Church that embraces the tone and the posture of Jesus, doing what Jesus calls […]

Luke 6:32-37, 1 Chronicles 29:9-16, Matthew 16:18 Jesus brought with Him a Kingdom and an Ethic: Do GOOD for those who CAN’T return the favor. Do GOOD for those who WON’T return the favor. Bring JESUS into every relationship Inspiring people to FOLLOW Jesus at every age and stage of their life. PEOPLE get better. […]

EVERYTHING starts with BELIEVING. The FIRST generation DIES because of their FAITHLESSNESS. The NEXT generation LIVES because of their FAITHFULNESS. Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing: “Zelophehad’s daughters exhibit humility and faithfulness. They’re prompted not by selfish desires but by the desire to do what’s good for families, tribes, and the nation.” The daughters of Zelophehad show […]

The Wilderness is the place in-between PROMISE and FULFILLMENT. We are not where we HAVE BEEN, and we are not yet where we WILL BE. When you’re in the wilderness, SEEING is not BELIEVING. Twelve men went to spy on Canaan. TEN were bad. TWO were good. God is FAITHFUL, and He will let His […]

1 Peter 3:15, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 8:18-21 v.15: “Always be prepared to give an ANSWER to everyone who asks you to give the REASON for the HOPE that YOU have.” Why is my HOPE in Jesus? Following Jesus does NOT result in a PAIN free or PROBLEM free life. Good is all GOOD. God is […]

1 Peter 3:15, Luke 1:1-4 v.15: “Always be prepared to give an ANSWER to everyone who asks you to give the REASON for the HOPE that YOU have.” Why is my HOPE in Jesus? The GOSPELS What is the EVIDENCE? What is the most PROBABLE explanation, not what is a POSSIBLE explanation? Luke 1:1-3 (pg. 1,587) v.1: […]