Audio: Text 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. […]
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There will be suggestions that more funding and resources need to go to stimulus funds and mental health counseling. For some, those can be the thing that makes the difference and helps them maintain their physical and meant health.
Advice to anyone considering seminary
Four years ago today, I graduated seminary with my Master of Divinity degree. I picked a highly academic seminary where I was blessed to study under world class professors. But as I reflect this year, […]
Fruit of the Spirit – something we can’t produce
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS,23 GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL; AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW. -GALATIANS 5:22-23 In the Book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul talks about the […]
When we want the savior but not the Lord: the great disciple mistake
Our society likes to emphasize God’s love and forget that he is also just and that he has wrath towards sin. We like the easy message. We like the easy gospel of “yeah you’re not perfect but neither is anyone else and God is a God of love and he forgives you.”
We make faith about a vague ascent with Christ, a loose agreement, hearing “you can be forgiven,” and then saying “sure, I’ll have that,” like it’s someone asking if you want to share an order of mozzarella sticks at a restaurant.
But the danger of an easy gospel is losing sight of Jesus and his call to discipleship, his call to live life in the light of what he has done.
Sermon: That all may honor the Son – John 5:19-24
Audio only:
Transcript:
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Prayer
Our heavenly Father,
We praise you that you invite us into a relationship and that you have made yourself known. The heavens declare your glory, and you have revealed yourself through your son.
Lord, may we be growing in this time as your followers and disciples.
Lord, as we discuss matters today relating to your divine nature and the relationship with your Son who came into our world, I pray that you guard the words I say as being faithful to your scripture and honoring to you, O Lord.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Lord, on Mother’s Day, I want to pray for the mother’s in the church.
We pray for the young mothers who still have children at home and I pray for you to lead and guide them in the monumental task that they have of raising children.
Couldn’t God just forgive us? Why was the cross necessary?
A person might look at the crucifixion, look at what the Lord did on the cross, and wonder “Why was that the only way? Why was that necessary? Couldn’t God simply forgive us?”
No.
This is an idea I’ve heard from Tim Keller before, and it’s an important idea on having a theology of forgiveness.
