RockPointe Church

Biblical Reasons for Community

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 17:30:19 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Community sermon above.

It is Your Nature:

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)

We are created to mirror, reflect, and to show who God is. Fellowship is a communicable attribute of God; an attribute He shares with His creation.

It is God’s Design:

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

For Encouragement:
“Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (Thessalonians 5:11)

For Accountability:
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)

*Biblical Example of Accountability: (Ex 18:17-19).

For Growth:
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

*Spur = to stir up, to provoke, to entice, to motivate

For Guidance:
“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” (Proverbs 27:9) “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22)

For Healing:
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)

Additional Biblical Reasons for Community

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 17:34:58 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Community sermon above.

Christ Modeled Community:

Jesus himself lived in community with His disciples, demonstrating close, supportive relationships. 

Using Gifts for Common Good:

Believers are encouraged to use their spiritual gifts to serve one another and build up the church (1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:4-8).

Effective Ministry:

Community allows for coordinated efforts in evangelism, discipleship, and charity (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Demonstrating Christ's Love:

Loving one another within the community is a powerful testimony of God’s love to the world (John 13:34-35).

Deep Relationships:

Genuine fellowship fosters deep, meaningful relationships that reflect the love and unity of the Trinity (1 John 1:7).

Shared Joy:

Community allows for shared joy and celebration in life's blessings and milestones (Romans 12:15).

Corporate Worship:

Gathering for worship magnifies the praise and adoration given to God (Psalm 34:3).

Evangelism:

Our relationships are the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful - Christian community is the final apologetic (John 17:20-21).

Hypocrisy vs Honesty

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:37:57 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Community sermon above.

The Danger of Hypocrisy in Community

“Hypocrisy is a part of our sad heritage of sin, but in our day, it is aggravated by our whole way of life. Advertising is largely based upon this habit of pretense - appealing to the victim’s desire to shine at a party. Books are sold, clothes and cosmetics are peddled, by playing continually upon this desire to appear what we are not. Artificiality is one curse that will drop away the moment we kneel at the feet of Jesus; then what we are will be everything; what we appear will take its place far down the scale of interest for us. It is only an evil desire to shine that makes us want to appear other than we are.” A.W. Tozer

How to Move from Hypocrisy to Honesty?

The Answer is Jesus – Realize and remember you have forgiveness of sin and a new identity, you have purpose and belonging through Jesus Christ. You can confess anything because you are not defined by what you have done.

The Answer is Honesty - Take off the mask, stop pretending and get gut-level honest with at least one person.

What do you need to confess? What do you need to reveal? It is with great joy Jesus will present you blameless before the Father. But you must move from hypocrisy to honesty.

What if we don’t move beyond hypocrisy to honesty regarding OURSELVES?

Keeping up an image and appearance is exhausting. In the best-case scenario, you fool everyone into believing a lie while you and God still know the truth. In the worst-case scenario, you crumble under the weight and pressure of pretending.

What if we don’t move beyond hypocrisy to honesty regarding OTHERS?

In a survey done by Barna Research when outsiders, non-Christians, were asked what they thought about Christians, 85% replied with this word “hypocrite”. Those outside the faith, 85%, look at believers and say they are fake, hiding, dishonest, and pretending to be something they are not.

How do we advance the gospel if 85% of non-believers see through our facades? How is that evangelistic? Would you respect someone who tries to hide their flaws pretending to be something they are not? Would you listen to their advice or even hear them when they talk about faith? Your genuineness is not only better for you, but it also makes a bigger impact for the kingdom than pretending to be perfect.

How to Foster Biblical Community

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:41:06 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Community sermon above.

Find a Few  

Invest in a handful of people. Intentionally participate in the lives of others using your giftings and resources to positively impact them and their needs. Be willing to love and support others as you would appreciate being loved and supported.

Consider those around Jesus. He had one person very close to him (the disciple whom Jesus loved), a small group of three (Peter, James, and John), and a larger group/community (the disciples).  

Meet Regularly  

Community is not achieved by attending a service at church for an hour each week and casually talking with those sitting around you. It takes consistent effort. Commit to participating in regular gatherings with others. Whether it is a small group, Bible study, or something more organic/casual, make it a priority on your calendar. Biblical, Christ-like community is not passively received, it must be actively achieved. Oftentimes, it is in the doing that you receive what you need.

Be Genuine

The difference between community and biblical community / friends and fellowship is honesty. 

Path to Honesty

Access: Be present, do life, and commit your calendar to the community you invest in. Allow the people around you to be a priority.
Accountability: Be transparent. Be willing to truly share your life (ups and downs, pristine corners, and hot messes). Do not settle for a community façade; be willing to be ugly honest and grow deep roots. Do not settle for less than God’s best for you.
Confession: Confess your sin to at least one other trusted person. In confession, the breakthrough to community takes place. Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive the power of sin. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed, it poisons the whole being of a person.

Find your community, commit to fully engage, and reflect the love of God to the watching world.

Why Study the Bible?

Sat, 29 Jun 2024 14:12:23 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Bible Intake sermon above.

Why Study the Bible

Why should we cherish, love, delight, desire and long for the Bible?

Why Bible Intake?

It is God's self-revelation.

There are 66 books, written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, on 3 different continents telling one story. The Bible is a God-breathed, Holy-Spirit inspired, miraculously preserved, precisely accurate insight into who God is.

It is how we know truth. 

It is unmistakably clear that it is not just the truth, but the knowledge of the truth that sets us free .

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

It answers life's ultimate questions.

Where did I come from? (origin)
Who am I? (identity)
What is the purpose of existence? (meaning)
What’s right and wrong? (morality)
Why does evil exist? (evil)
Is there any hope? (hope)
What will become of me when I die? (destiny)
Is there a God? What is He like? What does He require of me? (deity)

It is true and reliable. 

“All scripture is inspired by God…” 2 Timothy 3:16

We believe that these writings were without error in the originals and are of supreme and final authority in the lives of believers of any age.

For more on biblical veracity check out Pastor Destin's sermon, "Can I really Trust the Bible?"

It helps us live for God.

“ How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119: 9, 11 

“ All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We come to the Scripture to be changed, not to amass information.

It helps us not be swayed by false doctrine. 

“ Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 

Scripture can be misused and abused (i.e.: Satan’s temptation of Jesus, pharisees, synchronistic).

It brings conviction.

“ For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.   And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

It is an atomic habit for missional living.

An atomic habit is a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do but is also the source of incredible power. Daily time in Scripture leads to other positive habits: regular accountability, praying for others in need, living out the gospel as a disciple maker and knowing God’s character traits well enough to distinguish His voice.

The Bible came at a high price.

People like John Wycliffe and William Tyndale gave their lives for the Bible to be available in English. Just because we now all have a digital copy of the Bible in our pockets, does not lessen the original price people paid with their lives for us to have it.

What Prevents Bible Intake?

Does not seem to apply to my life

Feels old, archaic, and out of date

Don’t know how to study

I am not a professional

Don’t have time

Not sure it is even true

Can seem boring

“We fail in our duty to study God’s Word, not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy.” - R. C. Sproul

Bible Intake is Like Eating Food

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:15:17 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Bible Intake sermon above.

Studying Scripture

“No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a steady diet of the milk and meat of Scripture” (Donald S. Whitney). Regardless of how busy we become with “Christian things” we must remember that the most transforming practice available to us is the disciplined intake of Scripture.

Bible Intake is Like Eating Food

“Don’t settle only for spiritual food that’s been predigested by others. Experience the joy of discovering biblical insights firsthand through your own Bible study!” (Donald S. Whitney)

Bite

Hear and read scripture. (Romans 10:17 and 1 Timothy 4:13)

“The Bible is not meant to be cake for special occasions, but bread for daily use.”

(Suzanne Woods Fisher)

Chew

Examine scripture; break it down piece by piece. (Ezra 7:10, Acts 17:11, John 17:17)

Savor

Memorize, meditate, and pray scripture. (Psalm 119:11, Eph 6:17, Psalm 1:1-3, and Joshua 1:8). Direct your mind repeatedly and regularly toward thoughts about God. Meditation is absorption.

Digest

Applying scripture; it is fuel for living. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Joshua 1:8, and James 1:22-25)

One of the greatest travesties of our time is that many of us are biblically educated well beyond our willingness to obey. “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-26

The Discipline of Studying Scripture

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 14:18:23 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Bible Intake sermon above.

The Discipline of Studying Scripture

The discipline of study first demands a humble spirit, recognizing that the chief end is not merely to amass information, but to experience it, learn from it, and be changed by it.

(Richard J Foster)

Repetition

Repetition regularly channels our minds in a specific direction, thus ingraining habits of thought. Ingrained habits of thought can be formed by repetition alone, thus changing behavior, even if we do not understand what is being repeated.

Concentration

Concentration centers our minds. It clears away the clutter of a thousand stimuli and forces us to focus on only one thing. This focus allows us to be truly present where we are.

Comprehension

Understanding catapults us into a new level of growth and freedom. It brings insight and discernment.

Reflection

While comprehension defines what we are studying, reflection defines the significance of what we are studying. Reflection allows us to see things from God’s perspective.

Foster, Nathan.  The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual Disciplines. 

How to Study

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 14:21:57 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Bible Intake sermon above.

Pray for Guidance

Begin with prayer, asking God to open your heart and mind to His word and to guide you in your study.

Choose a Translation

Choose a translation you connect with and find easy to understand. The English Standard Version (ESV) or another essentially literal translation of the Bible would be a great place to start.

Select a Study Method

There are many ways to study the Bible (topical study, character study, book study, verse by verse etc.). Choose a method that suits your interests and goals.

Start with a plan

Decide on a method and then stick with a plan and schedule.

Read with a Purpose

As you read, ask yourself questions: What is the main message of this passage? What does this teach me about God, humanity, or myself? How does this apply to my life?

Use Study Tools

Make use of concordances, commentaries, study Bibles, and online resources to deepen your understanding of the text. Consider historical contexts, original languages, and cultural backgrounds of the scripture you are studying.

Reflect and Apply

Take time to consider how the passage of scripture applies to your life. Reflect on how you can live out its principles and teachings.

Journal

Keep a journal to record your thoughts, insights, and prayers. Write your reflections to help process and remember what you are learning.

Seek Community

Bible study is often more enriching when done with others. Join a small group or Bible study where you can discuss with and learn from others.

Be Patient and Persistent

Studying the Bible is a lifelong journey. It is okay to take your time and revisit challenging passages and concepts. Be patient with yourself and trust God will continue to reveal His truth as you study His word.

SOAP Method for Studying Scripture

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 14:23:58 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Bible Intake sermon above.

SOAP Method for Studying Scripture

SOAP is a simple method for reading and applying God's word.

SOAP is easy enough for a new believer in Christ to apply, and deep enough for a seasoned spiritual veteran to grow. It is very practical and replicable. You can use it whether you are in the book of John or studying Deuteronomy. You could type it on your phone while in an airport or write in a journal in your home.

Scripture

Read a short Bible passage aloud and then write it out several times to get the essence of what it is saying and take note of words and phrases used and/or repeated.

Observation

Strictly observe the text without jumping to any conclusions. Ask some questions.

Who is the author? Who is the intended audience? What is the purpose? What is the cultural or historical background? What words or phrases are repeated? What do certain words mean? What does this reveal about God? What stands out?

Application

Make note of the main message of the scripture or what truth you have discerned from it, then determine how you can apply it to your life.

Prayer

If the Lord has revealed anything to you, or any truth has been discovered, write a prayer about it. Thank God for His revelation and ask Him to help you apply it to your life. Share anything else you feel you need to with Him in this prayer.

Bible Study Resources

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:28:16 GMT

The following notes are meant to be supplementary sermon content to go along with the Why: Bible Intake sermon above.

Logos Bible Study Software 

https://www.logos.com/

Online Resources

https://www.blueletterbible.org/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/

Basic Bible Study Tools

A Study Bible (ESV or NIV) 

Scripture paired with additional notes and resources to assist with comprehension

Concordance

An alphabetical list of words found in scripture (especially important ones), usually accompanied with passage citations

Bible Dictionary

Encyclopedic entries containing definitions and background information on key terms found in and related to the Bible

Bible Atlas

Descriptions of biblical character movements, trade routes and battles and information on archaeological excavations, illustrations of artifacts, and a comparative chronology of early civilizations that relate to the Bible

Commentary Sets (from least to most technical) 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 

The New Testament for Everyone Series

God’s Word for You Series

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary

NIV Application Commentary

The New American Commentary Series

New International Commentary 

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

Counterpoints Series

https://zondervanacademic.com/products/category/counter-points

Free Online Classes
https://courses.dts.edu/collections

Death Has Been Conquered

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:11:03 GMT

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

- John 11:25-26 (ESV)

On the first day of the week, early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.   While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.   In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?   He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” - Luke 24:1-7 (ESV)

Jesus has risen! On this day, Easter Sunday, the Church celebrates the event described as the “hinge upon which the door of Christianity swings.” For it is the resurrection that sets Jesus apart from any other teacher, prophet, or historical figure. It is the resurrection alone that serves as the final proof of all Jesus’ claims. Not only does Jesus have power over life, shown in the many miracles He performed throughout His ministry, but Jesus has power over sin and death.

When Jesus promised in John 11 that “ the one who believes in me will live, even though they die,” He was making the claim that He has power over the grave, over the eternal destination of every living soul. It must have dawned on the women who went to the tomb of Jesus that since “He is not here; He has risen!” Jesus proved that death had been conquered.

The word “conquered” is an intentional word choice. Death has not just been beaten. A country beaten in war can always cause trouble again; but a country conquered is forever changed. Death was not merely beaten once with the resurrection of Jesus, death was conquered. It has no power over those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ. So, celebrate! Sing with joy for He is risen! We have a proven hope that by believing in Jesus we have an eternity secured in Heaven, for Jesus has authority over sin and death.

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Lord, grant me hope in the reunion that is coming while celebrating the life I have in You. Give me joy in Your power over death, that by believing in Jesus I will not die. Help me share that joy with those around me. In celebration with fellow believers and with excited invitation for those who have yet to believe, Amen.

Image by Freepik

Triumph Despite Trouble

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 04:02:38 GMT

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

- John 16:33

My wife and I are currently expecting our first child. As of now, we have about 5 months until our daughter is born. With all the change that has already happened in our lives, and all the change that is to come, an example God’s grace is that He gives 9 months to prepare for a child! Imagine if it all happened in a day – if in the morning you had to process becoming a parent and that very night navigate an infant’s (notoriously difficult) sleep schedule. God is gracious that He gives us time to prepare for certain challenges in life. This passage of scripture is no different; Jesus is giving His disciples, including us, time to prepare for great challenge.

Jesus just finished giving His disciples mixed news. On one hand, He told them He was going to send the Holy Spirit to empower every believer, but on the other hand Jesus said the time of His departure was imminent. Not only was Jesus going to leave, but Jesus promised His disciples they would be scattered, that Jesus would be abandoned during His most demanding trial, and that in this world the disciples should expect trouble.

One of the guarantees of the Christian life is trouble – but Jesus has not left us without hope. In fact, He tells the disciples and us to have peace in Him. Tomorrow, we celebrate the event that cut a path of hope through the thicket of despair – the resurrection of Jesus.

You can have lasting hope because of Jesus Christ. It is a hope that sustain through sleepless nights, screaming toddlers, and moody teenagers; it is the only hope that will last through trouble, that has conquered sin and death, and that cannot be shaken no matter how we may feel. Trouble will most certainly come; do not be caught unaware. We have been warned, and we can prepare by leaning upon the everlasting victory of Jesus.

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Lord, remind me that I can take heart because You have overcome the world. Help me prepare for the challenging times You have promised by learning to lean on Your victory today. Thank You for the promise of new life and for the hope You have given me. Please ground my life in the truth that Jesus has conquered the grave. Amen.

Trusting in Divine Providence

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 03:57:25 GMT

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

- Deuteronomy 20:4

With age comes wisdom - at least that’s what they say. I have come to find that the older I get, the more ways the Lord finds to teach me, humble me, and keep me following His plan. It is easy to forget what this verse in Deuteronomy so plainly teaches us. The Lord goes with you to fight for you and against your enemies to give you victory. That is a powerful verse! The God of the universe has a perfect plan for our lives, is with us, and wants to give us victory. But so often our sinful nature kicks in and instead of standing with God to fight those enemies, we fight against God Himself to satisfy our own fleshly desires.

Last year, I had the opportunity to take on some speaking engagements in the public sector, which IT people like me don’t often get. After my sessions, I was approached by several folks, both from my company and other companies, who told me how well I did and how they thought I could make a lot of money if I wanted to go into the public speaking circuit. My mind started wandering in so many different directions about how much money I could potentially make, what amazing places I could go, and what sort of a name I could make for myself. It was mesmerizing. As I was wandering through the outdoor garden of the hotel getting lost in all the possibilities, I heard an audible voice break through the noise. It simply said, “NO.” It stopped me in my tracks. I knew it was God speaking to me, and my flesh did not like the answer.

Then came that fighting back against God I mentioned earlier. I found myself answering with things like “But, God, think of what I could do for You with that kind of audience” and “But I work hard, I deserve this.” God simply replied, “I have you right where I want you. You were not put in this world to make a name for yourself. You were put here to glorify mine.” That was a massive wake up call for me.

I looked back at my life at all the times in my life I operated in my own sinful, fleshly desires. Desires to make a name for myself instead of glorifying His name. All the times I turned around and fought against, instead of with, the One who was ready to fight for me. I was ashamed. God has a perfect plan for each one of us. It is so much better than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves, despite what our flesh may say.

So how are you going into battle today? Are you standing side-by-side with God and His perfect plan for your life or have you turned the sword on Him in favor of your own fleshly and sinful desires?

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Dear Lord Jesus, we come before you today knowing that our sinful and fleshly desires are strong, and at times, they seem impossible to resist. But if our desires do not line up with Your plan for our lives, give us the strength to resist them and to trust You and Your perfect plan for our lives. Help us to remember that You, the God of the universe, is willing to fight for us and give us victory over our enemies. In Jesus name, Amen.

Under Grace

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 03:50:38 GMT

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

- Romans 6:14

As I read today’s scripture from Romans, I am filled with gratitude that as believers we are blessed to be living on this side of the cross in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and no longer living under the Mosaic law like the Israelites. The Mosaic law was a list of commandments given to the Israelites in the Old Testament that set a standard no one could fully meet; it highlighted humanity's sinfulness with a requirement of perfection. In contrast, God’s grace is unmerited favor and love bestowed upon believers in Christ regardless of worthiness. Paul's point is that Christians are not under the old system of trying to earn righteousness through obeying the law, but we are instead under a new system of grace where righteousness is a gift received through faith in Christ – a gift we did nothing to earn. God poured out His immense love on us applying it freely to anyone who will accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Sin still exists. We live in a fallen world. We need to be mindful of our own temptations, habits, and hurtfulness. We will still struggle, stumble, and fall, and grace is not a license to sin, but our relationship with God is not based on laws or a list of dos and don’ts. Our relationship is based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Sin no longer has power over us; it is not our master, and we are not condemned by it. Because of the love and promise of forgiveness through faith in Jesus, we are set free from the chains of sin. We are empowered to live a life that is pleasing to God while being led by the Spirit. We can live confidently in freedom provided solely by God’s grace. Freedom in Christ means we are no longer under the penalty of sin and Jesus gives us the power to love others and be filled with His peace and joy. We can be in relationship with God, free from guilt and shame, experiencing a deep richness because we are now under grace.

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Dear Father, thank You for your lavish gift of grace that You have bestowed upon us. Help me to pursue holiness and live a life that pleases You daily. Amen.

Through Christ

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 04:46:32 GMT

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

- Philippians 4:13

As a momma of a child who played competitive sports most of his young life, I had the opportunity to see a variety of ways that parents and coaches encourage their kids to “give it their all,” “never give up,” or “expect nothing less than success.”

One way of doing this was by imprinting this familiar and well-loved verse in abundance on ball caps, gym bags, inside catcher’s mitts, monogrammed on wristbands, and used as the catchphrase on profiles. Interestingly, it is not a verse particular to only Christian athletes but branches out to those who just need a phrase that will inspire encouragement, perseverance, and fortitude.

And yet, the power of this verse lies not in the first part of the verse “I can do all things…” but instead in the next phrase “through Christ”—the ONE who GIVES power. It is not about what we can do. Rather, it is what Christ can choose to do in us BY His power.

To experience that power, we must first have a relationship with Christ Himself. If we miss that component, we miss everything. “Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, and He was buried and rose again on the third day.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

If you desire to draw upon the strength that only Christ can give for all that He will ask of you, you must first start by giving your life to Him. To talk to someone about starting a relationship with Christ, reach out to us at rpc.fm/rpcconnect

If you are a Christ-follower and have given your life to Him already, I challenge you to use this verse in Philippians, not as a means of getting your own desired result but instead opening your hands fully to what Christ wants to do in and through you by His power alone.

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Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose three days later, defeating death, and establishing His role as our Savior. Thank You for the strength that Christ provides in my daily life, as a Christ-follower, enabling me to do all things You have called me to do. Amen.

More than Conquerors

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 04:41:47 GMT

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

- Romans 8:37

More than conquerors. The word conquerors here is the Greek word “nikao,” (we get Nike from it), and it means “to conquer, carry off the victory, and come off victorious.” In a war, the nation who conquered not only won the battle but carried off the spoils of war; They not only survived, but they gained gold, treasure, overthrew the enemy king, and carried him off as a prisoner. Today, when we think of winning, we think of going home with a trophy and eating a celebratory dinner because we scored more points than the other team. Conquering meant so much more; To win meant not to die.

When Paul says we are conquerors, he is saying the devil and death themselves have been overthrown. The devil has no authority, and we are no longer slaves to sin. In this passage, Paul encourages the church of Rome through their persecution and struggles. He reminds them who they are in Jesus. Right before Romans 8:37, Paul gives a long list of possible obstacles Christians may have to go through in their lives. He poses a question, “What can separate us from Jesus? Can persecution? Can danger, hunger, or fear? Can even death separate us from what we have won in Jesus?” That is the set up for Romans 8:37, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Paul fires back at the question he posed. No way! In famine, we have Jesus. In danger, we have Jesus. In pain, we have Jesus. In every single situation, we have Christ’s love! Even in death, we have Jesus! It is the same for us today. Can anything separate you from Jesus? Can the loss of your job? Can turmoil in the nation? Can sickness? No! Nothing can separate us from Jesus!

If Paul said conquerors only, that would have been enough, but he didn’t. He added to it. He said we are more than conquerors. More. We are amazingly above and beyond conquerors. Jesus did not just barely beat the devil; He utterly destroyed the devil’s power. It was an embarrassing loss for the devil, not an even match. Think of a dark room. When the light switch is flipped, does the light struggle to push out darkness? Do you have to cheer it on, encourage it to usher up strength for the battle? Absolutely not. It is not even a battle. The switch is flipped, and the war is over. Light completely devours darkness. It is not even close.

Jesus unreservedly removed the power of darkness from our lives. He smashed the devil’s power on the cross, and now, through Jesus, we are more than conquerors. Let us be voices of victory calling people to the One who already defeated it all. When the world is trembling, may they see us at peace, resting in the victory of the cross.

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Lord, I am so grateful nothing can separate me from you. Enable me to live from a place of victory, to be a light in the darkness and a person of confident peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It Is Finished

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 04:37:55 GMT

"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

- John 19:30

As we journey through the season of Lent, we are reminded of the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the Gospel of John, we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, witnessing the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry. In the midst of agony and suffering, Jesus utters three powerful words: "It is finished."

What does Jesus mean when He says, "It is finished"? These words resonate with profound significance, encapsulating the completion of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Firstly, Jesus' declaration signifies the fulfillment of prophecy. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets foretold of a Messiah who would come to save His people. Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, fulfills these ancient promises, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word.

Secondly, "It is finished" marks the completion of Jesus' mission on earth. From His humble birth in Bethlehem to His final moments on the cross, Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the will of the Father. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus atoned for the sins of humanity, reconciling us to God and offering the gift of salvation to all who believe in Him.

Furthermore, Jesus' words remind us of the victory over sin and death. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered the powers of darkness, offering new life and hope to all who trust in Him. The cross, once a symbol of shame and defeat, becomes the emblem of God's love and grace, inviting us into a restored relationship with our Creator.

As we contemplate the significance of Jesus' words, "It is finished," may we find comfort and assurance in the finished work of the cross. Let us approach this Lenten season with hearts of gratitude, remembering the immense love that compelled Jesus to lay down His life for us. May we embrace the transformative power of the cross, allowing it to shape our lives and draw us closer to the heart of God.

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Lord Jesus, thank You for Your finishing work on the cross, for fulfilling God’s promise and defeating death. Enable me to live each day with the cross in mind, remembering Your immense love for this world and allowing that truth to draw me closer to You. Amen.

Reliance on the Lord

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 02:39:17 GMT

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

- Matthew 6:34 ESV

A top-three-most-anxious moment for me was in the spring of 2020. Not only was there immense unknown about the growing pandemic, impending shut down, and swirls of misinformation, but I was also in my final semester of seminary and preparing to move my family from Austin to the Flower Mound area to become part of the staff at RockPointe.

Though we started the interview process in late 2019, the landscape had changed significantly. Questions, even doubts, flooded my mind. Would our home in Austin sell? Would we find a place to live in our new town? Will church be online for six weeks, six months, or six years? Am I going to be able to finish school? Even bigger questions came up. Were we truly following God’s will? Was this His plan for our lives to leave our church and city in a tumultuous time to go to a new place with no friends or family? Was this even the right thing to do financially?

That season taught me more things about Matthew 6 than I was anticipating. More than just spiritually, reliance on the Lord alone became the forefront of my thoughts and actions. In those unsure times, we realized we were only able to pack one box at a time. I could only read one page at a time for school or listen to one lecture at a time. We would drive one mile at a time on moving day, and then unpack one box at a time. Day by day, meal by meal, and moment by moment the Lord was teaching me about His constant providence and my deep need for Him.

Are you suffering from anxiety today? I can tell you from experience, through prayer, true reliance on Him, and accountability through intentional community, I have seen the Lord work wonders in my life. Let us know how we can pray for you at RPC.fm/pray .

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Almighty God, we come before You today as people who need You so deeply. Anxiety and obstructions to mental health are so prevalent in our world. Remind us today to slow down and spend time with You. Remind us to be mindful of the ways You are moving and working in our lives. Comfort us today, Holy Spirit, and use the church and community around us to do the same. Thank You, Jesus, for Your finishing work on the cross. Thank You for saving us by grace through faith and thank You for providing us assurance in the Holy Spirit. It is in Your name we pray, Amen.

Be Still

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 02:34:52 GMT

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

- Exodus 14:14

I don’t know that I am super great at being still. Don’t get me wrong. I can absolutely enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning quiet of a clean house or sit by the pool in the warmth of the sun, but I don’t know that I am very good at sitting still when my world is in chaos. I tend to race about trying with all my own power to fix, smooth, and resolve even if my efforts are futile. I scurry around exhausting myself not improving the situation, focused only on the practical solutions I can create. And even when I am physically still, my mind is racing, working through scenarios, marinating in agitated and anxious thoughts.

The Israelites in this chapter are pinned between Pharaoh’s approaching army and the Red Sea. They are complaining to Moses that it would have been better to die in captivity than in the desert. They had their eyes on their future freedom only to now be trapped with no solution in sight. They are afraid and anticipating their end. Moses encourages them to stand strong; “the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

While most of us are not being chased by enemies, we do regularly face difficulties and challenges; we know what it feels like to be stuck without a way out. In those moments, it is super tempting to fixate on frustrations and impending disaster. We see the army on one side and the sea on the other and we cannot figure out our next step. That is when we need to fix our eyes on God remembering all the ways He has fought for us in the past, how He has moved, and trust Him in and with our current struggle. When we have done everything we can do, we need to trust God with what only He can do.

Exodus 14:14 declares God is in control. Always. Even when things look unfixable, God is still able. Even when He has not worked within a preferred timetable, He is still working. We can trust God will fight for us; we need only to be still.

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Lord, I trust You. I trust You with my chaos and with my mess. I trust You are in control, and You are working in ways I cannot. Calm my thoughts, fix my eyes on You, and remind me You are bigger than the sea and stronger than the army. May my life be filled with battles You win while I am still all for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lead Me to the Rock

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 02:32:00 GMT

“From the end of the earth, I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

- Psalm 61:2

David wrote Psalm 61 while he was far from home and far from comfort and most likely running from his son Absalom who sought to take his life. David had been here before; running away from a hunter, wandering in the wilderness alone, calling to God for help in his moments of weakness.

David was not a defenseless man. He was a king with an army. He was an experienced fighter who had killed lions and giants and conquered his enemies. David had power in his own hands, but even this king knew that he required the true King’s help when he was in need.

How do you respond when you find yourself in danger, in anguish, or in need of help? For years I struggled with depression and anxiety. I couldn’t make it through a day without hours of sleep or hiding away from my family when I returned home. I turned to my own power, trying to protect and rescue myself. It was not until I surrendered and cried out to the “rock that is higher than I” that I found help and healing. God used those around me to come to my aid and provided tools to help in my recovery. That was all the work of God alone, not anything I could have done on my own.

What weighs on your heart in this season? How might you be trying to be your own refuge when God is a strong tower ready to defend you? Would you allow Him to provide refuge for you under His wings and lead you to safety?

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Jesus, you are my rock and my salvation! I give my troubles to you and trust you with my heart. Please protect me from harm and comfort me in hard times. Amen.

Times of Trouble

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 02:24:45 GMT

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

- Psalm 9:9

When I was a young working adult, I often had to travel to other states alone. Sometimes my travel involved arriving late in the evening to an unfamiliar place. Looking back, I realize God had His hand of protection over me. There were many times I could have run into trouble or been in unsavory situations, but He was always watching over me for which I am grateful. As this verse states, God is a stronghold in times of trouble. He is our refuge, our shelter. King David knew God to be worthy of praise as he wrote Psalm 9:9. He was thankful for the victories God granted him over his enemies; he knew God as his refuge and strength.

We too can honor God for the protection and power He places over and in our lives. When we are confused, broken, and weary we can trust and lean on Him. Sometimes His protection comes to us as a form of peace and strength when we are in despair. Sometimes it is physical protection from danger or harm. He can even protect us from paths or desires we have for ourselves that are just not His best for us. As believers, we know God has a plan for our life and nothing can separate us from His love. We can have assurance that He walks before us and beside us in any trial we face; We just need to cling to Him.

Whether we are oppressed, attacked, or unjustly treated, we can look to God and know He will never leave us or forsake us. The Lord is our refuge, a place of shelter, protection, and safety. A trial may not always end the way we want it to, but He sees the big picture and will be with us through it all.

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Dear Father, thank You for Your daily protection. I know that You are always there for me, and I can confidently trust You. Please help me to be an encouragement to others who may be facing trials, encouraging them You are a source of power and strength. Amen.

Made Perfect in Weakness

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 02:20:57 GMT

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

If you have ever attended our Parker Square campus, you have probably noticed that the front door is a little heavy compared to the average door. The most comical experience with this heavy door is during kindergarten basketball practice hosted in the gym. As expected, these little tikes are ready to get their b-ball on and that often means running to the front door before mom or dad have made it halfway to the entrance. The five-year-old pulls with all his might, shuffling his feet in an attempt to pry open the door, but he just can’t manage it on his own. It is only when his parents catch up, take ahold of the handle and open the door with ease that the little one can finally come inside for practice.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul shares with the Corinthians his weakness. He recounts how he asked God to take away his ailment. The Lord tells Paul that He will not take away his condition for where Paul is weak God is powerful and will work where he cannot.

Maybe you have come to God with a similar request. Many are burdened by sickness, weakness, temptations, and heartaches. Many have cried out to God for relief and have been told “no” just like Paul. Have you considered that God wants to help you in a greater way than you might think? Our weaknesses remind us that we are in need of a mighty God who can do more than we can; He makes up for our shortcomings with His great power. 

Like the child who is too weak to open the door on his own and benefits from adult assistance, we too can turn to our Father who has greater strength and can accomplish what we cannot in our own efforts. Let us boast in our weakness that we may praise God for His strength.

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God, Your grace is sufficient for me. Your power is made perfect in my weakness. Would You take over where I am lacking; Draw me close and fill me with your strength. Amen.

Deliverance in Distress

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 02:13:34 GMT

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”

- Psalm 107:6

My Dad flew helicopters for 45 years. Half of his career was skipping from oil rig to oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and the other half was zipping from hospital to hospital in Kentucky and Texas. One night while high above the Gulf, his aircraft experienced engine failure. He called “Mayday” over his radio along with his coordinates and splashed into the pitch blackness of the water. Before the waves tipped him over, he bailed out into the dark, inflating his life jacket and realizing no one had confirmed receiving his emergency call. And there he bobbed. The fish nibbled and he wondered how big they were and if nibbling would turn into gnawing. He lost his boots, his watch, and his wedding ring before a rescue light came bouncing over the waves. It felt like hours. He says the hardest part was waiting in the dark and trying to quiet the inner scream, “no one is coming.”

We all know that voice that seems to get louder in moments of distress. Eugene Peterson says suffering is pain plus: pain plus fear, plus anger and resentment, plus anxiety that no one hears, and help is not on the way. The writer of Psalms 107 is enduring one of those painful moments, but surprisingly is not squinting at the distant horizon for God to ride to the rescue. He quiets the panicked voice and softens the stress by looking backwards. Surely your love endures forever. How does the writer know? Partly because God has loved so well many times before, but when you are half-sinking in the gulf of distress, it is easy to forget.

So, as he waits for God to deliver THIS time, he keeps his head above water remembering God’s amazing rescues in the past. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story: He rescued us from foes, lead us from wastelands to secure homes, He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Remember? He did it for others and if we are honest, He has done it for us. He will do it again because He is faithful, and His love endures forever.

With gratitude and an honest memory, desperate wishing turns to living hope. The word “hope” is derived from the same English word as “help.” You can still find folks in the Appalachians who ask, “Can you hope me out?” God does hope us out by reminding of His help in the past. We will add our stories to Psalm 107 where the rescued shout, we cried out to the Lord in our trouble, and He delivered us from our distress. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

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Lord Jesus, enable me to hope in You even when life looks bleak, when waters rise, and my view of You is clouded. Be my strength and my peace, and may I remember all the ways You have rescued. Thank you for delivering me from my distress. Amen.

Thirst

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 01:58:13 GMT

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

- John 19:28

Jeff Crosby, author of The Language of the Soul , introduced me to the Portuguese word saudade (sow-dodge-ee). The word is hard to translate but appears repeatedly in samba, jazz, and bossa nova music and has its own Spotify channel. What does it mean? Linguists say it is untranslatable, but a consensus describes it as a soul deep desire, a yearning for something other than the present. Another way to say it would be a “soul thirst.”

The man on the middle cross says, “I thirst.” Of course he does. His exhausted, tortured body hanging in the midday sun is beyond parched, but is that all he means? He has been thirsty His whole life; a thirst that led him to the Temple in Jerusalem at age 12 when his family was caravanning back to their small town. When his mom and dad finally tracked him down, knee deep in Scripture scrolls and deep discussion with seasoned rabbis, they asked,” Why did you wander off?” He was thirsty for Someone; He explained He needed to be in His Father’s house.

When He grows up His thirst drew Him away from Nazareth life, beyond small town expectations and family obligations and took Him to John the Baptist preaching on Jordan’s shore. Jesus plunged in head-over-heels, baptized into God’s call for His life, something bigger than a carpenter’s shop and more than faithful synagogue attendance. That thirst pushed him into the wilderness for 40 days as He wrestled with how to quench that “soul thirst” with God’s will and ways. He walked out of the desert having tapped into “living waters” that he then poured out for anyone thirsty enough to ask for it. “ If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within him” ( John 7:37-38).

One of our basic needs is to stay hydrated; We are creatures who thirst. But there are deeper thirsts and desires, God-given and God blessed, that must be addressed too. Thomas Aquinas states that every sinful behavior is rooted in a legitimate God-given thirst. The most important question we ask in our struggles and stress is what am I really thirsty for? Am I attending to that soul-thirst or spritzing a superficial craving?

C.S. Lewis confronts our tendency to serve our self-destructive sweet tooth rather than satisfy the yearnings of our soul. “ We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

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Jesus, I invite you to uncover my true desires. Enable me to trust Your guidance on how to best quench that thirst. As the deer pants for water, so my soul longs for you O God (Psalm 42:1). SAUDADE! Amen.

Even When I Don’t Understand

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 01:57:05 GMT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

- Proverbs 3:5-6

There are things in our life that will never make sense from an earthly/temporal perspective. It may be something smaller like a potential job falling through, your child not getting the scholarship they needed for college, or your car breaking down. It may be something bigger like a spouse’s infidelity, financial hardships, or a death of a loved one. We all encounter things in our life that do not make sense. These hardships may even test your faith. Whatever it may be, it is not for nothing. God is bigger than any hardship or mess in our lives. I say this not as a platitude but as a testimony.

At the age of five, I was sexually abused. For years I did not understand 1) the magnitude of its effects on my life and 2) why such evil things happen in this world. For 25 years, I kept the horrible events in my life a secret. This secret darkened my perspective on the way I saw myself, my relationships, and my view of God. It was not until one evening at a women’s ministry retreat in March 2014 that I surrendered all my hurts, questions, and shame to God and found unwavering trust again in Him. God took a wound, opened it up, cleaned it out, and healed it so my focus shifted from the hardships and pain to His good plan.

In the years to follow, I found a renewed strength to trust Him fully and freely. It was only after I surrendered to His plan, that He called me to ministry. My story is a big part of who I am and where God has placed me to serve. God can redeem anything, if we only place our full trust in Him - even if we don’t fully understand.

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Lord, thank You for Your sovereignty and Your plans for me. Help me to keep my eyes on You so I can place my full trust in Your wisdom. There is no hardship or pain that is too big for You to redeem. Thank You for Your steadfast love and provision. May my hope be fully anchored in you. Amen.

Contentment

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 01:52:14 GMT

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

- Hebrews 13:5

Growing up, what mattered most in my household was appearance and possessions, which led me to believe at an early age that my parents’ 3 houses, 5 cars, boat, and membership at the cricket club was what was important in life. I clearly remember working hard as a 15 year old just to buy a new Benetton sweater so I could measure up to the rich girls’ standards. I felt pretty for a moment, but I quickly realized I still felt empty and worthless. I kept looking to the next new thing for comfort only for it not to last. Outwardly we appeared as a family who was put together and righteous, but inside, behind closed doors, we were full of hypocrisy, rage, and lawlessness.

During my freshman year of college, I went on a mission trip to Harlan, Kentucky, the poorest county in the USA. The foreman of our team and his family of four lived in a one-bedroom house. He worked 12-hours, six days a week, and then he and his family would lead worship around a campfire every night with humility and joy that was contagious. His truck was rusty and falling apart. His job barely covered the bills, and he had never been on a vacation. He shared Jesus everywhere we walked and praised God for clean water, the old clothes on his back, and the leaky roof over their head.

When our “mission week” ended, we were overwhelmed with how little we valued the possessions we brought with us. Our cute boots, trendy backpacks, and shiny tools were freely left behind. We had experienced true joy and deep contentment that surpassed our belongings and was rooted in knowing Jesus and making Him known. Our brothers and sisters in Kentucky were the happiest people I have ever met; they taught me that Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

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Father, every good gift I have is from You. Please forgive me for my discontentment with Your provision. Thank You for always being with me and for giving me everything I need for life and godliness through Christ. May the things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of Your glory and grace. Amen.

Do Not Fear

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 01:48:09 GMT

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

- Joshua 1:9

Today’s verse in Joshua tells us we should be courageous because God will be with us wherever we go and in any circumstance. Oftentimes we can focus on f alse e vidence a ppearing r eal (FEAR) and become overwhelmed with unknowns, what we cannot control, or the details of hard experiences. Courage is moving forward despite our fears knowing we may not be promised a life without difficulty, but we are promised God will always walk with us.

My precious mother passed away several months ago after a difficult battle with cancer. My father and mother had not only been married for almost 60 years but were inseparable: Whether it was a trip to the grocery store or a trip to see their children, they were together.

My dad has spoken on more than one occasion about the day he watched the helicopter airlift my mother from their hometown to the nearest hospital 2 hours away. He talks of the overwhelming emptiness and fear he had when they were not together. This experience was like no other; He couldn’t go with her, and he did not know what the future held. With a peace and passion that only God can elicit, he describes that moment as one where he was forced to trust God with my mother—to trust Him with her absence—and to lean into God for his comfort and guidance. A light comes into my dad’s eyes when he talks about that day. The light is not because everything turned out okay. It is from the fact that in the moment of potential fear and discouragement, God showed up and my dad embraced it. God walked with my father then. And He walks with him still.

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Father God, I pray that you will give me the strength and courage to have faith and trust in your promise; the promise that you will be with me in any circumstance life sends my way whether good or bad. I pray you will give me joy and peace despite my circumstances, resting on the knowledge that you see me, love me, and are with me wherever I go. Amen.

The Names of God

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:38:55 GMT

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!

- Psalm 9:10-11

Names are powerful. How many names or titles do you go by? Outside of my given name or any nickname, I have also been given the title of husband, dad, pastor, or my personal favorite “music guy.” These are identifiers for the people around me. They remind those I am in contact with who I am and what I stand for.

Did you know that God has many names in scripture? Each of these are describers that can get us more acquainted with many of His attributes. Familiarizing ourselves with these adds power to our worship of Him. It gives Him more of the honor and glory that He is due and reminds us of not just what He has done but who He is.

Here are just few of God’s names laid out in scripture:

EL SHADDAI [el-shah-dahy]: “God Almighty,” “The mighty one of Jacob,” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5)
YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH [yah-way / ji-hoh-veh]: “LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) 
YAHWEH-JIREH [yah-way-ji-reh]: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) 
YAHWEH-NISSI [yah-way-nee-see]: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15)
YAHWEH-SHALOM [yah-way-shah-lohm]: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24)
ELOHIM [el-oh-heem]: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33)
YAHWEH-RAPHA [yah-way-raw-faw]: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26)
EL ROI [el-roh-ee]: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13)

God loves the praise of His people. When we proclaim His name and know His name, it blesses Him. In your worship this week, consider these names of God. Use these names to sing the praises of God- for those who know His name and put their trust in Him will not be forsaken.

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El SHADDAI, You and You alone are God. Yaweh-NISSI, be the banner over my life. ELOHIM, remind me of Your power. El ROI, do not leave me or forsake me. My trust and my hope are in You and You alone. Amen.

Always at Work

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:30:29 GMT

“…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

- Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

Recently, I have been thinking about moments in my life in which the Lord has used me, moved through me, and moved around me. I know God is fully present at all times and in all places, but I am not always great about recognizing when God is at work. I get caught up in the day to day, the mundane, in rituals, and I forget that God is with me. I especially have a hard time remembering that not only is God always at work, but that He is constantly operating in a way that is glorifying to Himself.

I have thought about this sentiment quite a bit now, and have selfishly asked myself, “What am I to gain from a God who is at work for Himself?” In a consumer world that tells me to seek all that satisfies ME and brings ME happiness, it is easy to make faith…well, all about me. But God, in His goodness and gentleness prompted me to ask this question in a slightly different way, “What DON’T you gain from Me?” And as quickly as I spiraled with questions of “what’s in this for me,” I became filled with gratitude as I thought about all the ways my life has flourished under the works of the Lord.

As I surrender my life to the Lord, allowing Him to work in and through me, I experience freedom. It seems counterintuitive to find freedom in a life surrendered to someone else, but it is in this exact surrender that I have been able to experience a deeper joy, peace, and purpose in my life. Knowing that God is in control and that there is nothing I can do to mess that up, has given me the freedom to live life more peacefully, boldly, confidently, and joyfully. He works for His good pleasure and purposes, and it is not up to me to get it all right. All I have to do is say yes and let the Creator work.

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Dear God, thank You for using me and my life for Your good purposes. Thank You for the freedom You have brought us in being a good, sovereign, and perfect God who lays the path before us daily. Help me to live a life surrendered to You. Continue to use me all the days of my life. In Your son’s name, Jesus, Amen.

In the Trench

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:25:11 GMT

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

- James 1:2-4

Remember the Pixar movie Finding Nemo? A young clownfish, Nemo, is whisked away from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and his father, Marlin, sets off to find him. Along the way, he comes upon a school of fish that directs him on how to get to Sydney. In those directions, the school says that Marlin will come upon a trench. The school warns him that he will be tempted to just swim over the trench rather than passing through it. What the school did not reveal is that there was a smack of jellyfish (yes, that is the collective noun) waiting above the trench. Marlin chooses to swim above the trench and nearly dies after being stung so many times.

I think the trials of life work in this way too. The trench, when you are standing there looking at it, looks terrifying. But it is promised in Psalm 23 that the Lord is with us even through the valley of the shadow of death. Other Psalms call God a shield about us, even a mighty fortress.

As seen in Job’s trial, the Enemy works to take our eyes off the one who is our shield and fortress. In these moments of vulnerability, in the trench of a trial, the Enemy beckons us to just get out of it ourselves knowing he has set up entrapments like sin, doubt, and deeper despair all around us. For us, swimming above the trench could look like checking-out and numbing emotionally; it could be selling-out spiritually or giving into our most invasive and intrusive thoughts.

But through God’s providence He reveals His presence in the trench. I remember when my daughter was sick. Her condition required open heart surgery and immediately the church surrounded us in support and care. God used His people as a shield; through care, prayer, and constant words of support and kindness. Our trench revealed the Lord’s presence to us in our lives in a whole new way. He gave us a sense of peace- even joy - in the midst of the darkest uncertainty we had faced as parents. Part of the testing of our faith comes in our willingness to stay in the trench and look for Him there. Sometimes you just have to stay in it to see where He is at work in it.

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Lord today, no matter the size or scope of the trench I am in, let me find You there. I want to seek and know in such a way that Your presence is always evident to me. May my heart believe and my mouth confess that You are Lord over every mountaintop and every valley. Amen.

He Has Not Forsaken

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:20:05 GMT

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

- Matthew 27:46

Picture this: You are five years old. Your mom agrees to take you on her grocery trip. You promise in the car that you will hold on to the cart and not wander away. However, the inevitable happens, and as you find yourself entranced by the beautiful array of cereal boxes, you look up and Mom is gone. She left you, and you are all alone! She is supposed to always be close and watch over you! She is supposed to be with you. In your despair, you cry out for her longing to be reunited.

This example is a faint illustration to the experience Jesus had on the cross as He experienced a longing for His Father. God had “forsaken” and “abandoned” Jesus. The Father turned His face away as the Son took on the sin of the world. Jesus was alone on the cross, taking His final breaths in anguish.

What we usually miss in this moment in scripture is the hidden message behind Jesus’ words. More than a cry of anguish, Jesus was pointing everyone around Him to Psalm 22 where David wrote the same words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The teachers of the Law and the readers of the Word would have recognized this phrase and begun to consider the rest of the Psalm where David prophesies about the crucifixion including events like Jesus’ public mocking and ridicule and even the gambling for His clothes. The Psalm ends by praising the Lord for rescue and victory. The crucifixion has the same end three days later with the resurrection of our savior. God dons a banner of victory over death. The life surrendered to the will of the Father becomes a life renewed. 

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Father, thank You that Your plan is bigger than me. I know I can have hope for my future when I read Your Word and see Your promises. No death or defeat lasts forever for You will redeem and restore all things. I surrender my will to You and trust You. Amen.

A Friend's Love

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:20:57 GMT

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

- Proverbs 17:17

I don't know about you, but I have different kinds of friends. Some friends are acquaintances that I am always happy to see and can easily make small talk with. Other friends are just a lot of fun, always willing to grab a meal or plan an entertaining activity. But my real friends are there for my 2 am phone calls, the ones I lean on when something unimaginable happens. These friends I reach out to with the deepest longings and fears of my heart; the ones who cover me in prayer, always.

A Proverbs 17:17 friend is a friend that loves you despite your flaws or indiscretions. It is a true, unconditional love that is not splintered by time or circumstance. These friends are the lifters of your arms when the burdens of this life weigh them down. They are the friends that can know your every indiscretion and yet love you the same. It is easy to find friends when things are good, light-hearted, and fun, but it is not so easy when the storms of life are tossing you around. It takes a special friend who is willing to climb into that storm-tossed boat with you and hold on for dear life next to you.

When I read the second part of this verse, "a brother is born for adversity," I am reminded that for many of us our families of origin can be a tender place. If that resonates, let me encourage you; This Proverb is not saying that all friendships and families look this way. It is describing the people who stick by your side no matter the circumstance or inconvenience as your brothers and sisters. Blood is not the only thing that makes you family; showing up and sitting in the trenches and fighting the battles of this life together does.

If you do not have a friend like this, the absolute best way to get one is to be one. Be the brother born for adversity not a fair-weather friend. Be the brother or sister that climbs into the boat and prays for someone through their storm. When you are the friend who shows up for someone in hard times, you might just be surprised who shows up for you when your storm comes.

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Lord, thank You for the gift of friendship. Open my eyes to those around me whom I can love and support, and in times of trouble, provide the friends I need to lift me up. Thank You for all the ways You enable us to connect with others; may I care for those in my circle well. Amen.

Greater Love

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:17:45 GMT

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

- John 15:13

Imperfect people befriending imperfect people is complicated and hard, but Jesus assures us it is possible to love each other as He loved us. Jesus came to earth, love incarnate, on a mission to define love, walk out love, and die out of love for us. He taught selfless love, agape love, a love that is pure, sacrificial, and seeking the good of others. It is the product of the very character of God, who is perfect love.

This type of love calls us to lay down our lives, as Jesus did, not necessarily on a cross, but through what we carry to Him daily. We submit our pre-conceived notions and societal expectations for His will in our lives; We lay down our selfish desires for His purposes. It is putting our own plans, personal gains, and needs aside, to allow God to use us in the lives of others. It is actively participating in the world God has purposefully placed us in knowing our lives and our relationships are intentional. When we notice who we are among, through the filter of Jesus, we are empowered to love them as God has called us to do; to listen, encourage and value those around us more than our schedules and agendas.

Greater love is possible through Christ, alone. We serve a God who loved us more than we can properly honor or glorify. But as we live our lives within the love of Christ, God will faithfully adjust our perspective to see ourselves, and others, through the filter of greater love. 

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Lord, thank You for Your amazing love that You have lavishly poured out. May I live my life aware of and willing to love those around me. May I be able to set aside my own schedule and felt needs to be available to those you place in my life, to love them well reflecting your character and greater love. Amen.

Patient in Spirit

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:12:17 GMT

“ Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools."

- Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

The need for patience meets us afresh each day as we live within a fast-moving culture always orienting us toward the next thing. It is hard to be patient when we can have about anything we desire at the click of a button and culture values what we produce far more than who we are. Yet, this is the exact reason we must continually seek God before all else. This is the reason we are to dedicate time to Him daily and live in counter-cultural ways valuing relationships and character above production. When we engage in this way, we combat the ever-increasing speed of culture and instead place the focus on what matters most, relationship with God and others.

It is interesting to note the close correlation between impatience and anger here in Ecclesiastes. I know I tend to gravitate toward anger when I am overwhelmed; In those moments, I do not feel as though I have time to be patient, there is a need to be continually moving forward and anything additional is a hinderance. Yet, God calls us to a different type of living. He calls us to live a life in which our primary goal is to love God and love others, which requires an abundance of patience and control of our anger. When we lose track of the overall mission and purpose of our lives, we begin to drift into impatience, pride, anger, and foolishness. The reality is that we live in a culture that is continually orienting us toward such a drift. The beautiful thing is that we have the antidote in Jesus.

When we take time to connect with God and live in communion with Him, we quickly realize that we are not honoring Him if we produce more yet reflect Him less. I have never once in my life regretted taking the slower approach to conflict, but I have regretted reacting in anger or pride. We are called to a different way of living that is predicated upon relationships rather than results. May we live at a pace of grace in which we care more about how we honor God and treat others than what is produced.

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Lord, thank You for Your patience even in the midst of my sin and foolishness. Thank You for extending grace when I least deserve it. Please capture my heart; may it reflect You well. Take my pride and anger and replace them with Your patience. May I be full of Your peace, grace, and wisdom. Amen.

Stay Curious

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:08:21 GMT

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

- James 1:19-20

My husband poses this challenge with his clients when he is coaching them to be better listeners:

“Stay curious three questions longer.”

In today’s passage, James is addressing the body of believers and sharing jewels of wisdom as he “coaches” them on the interpersonal disciplines that most honor God and cultivate a righteous life. In the gospels, Jesus is recorded as asking 307 questions. What if instead of rushing in with our opinions, solutions, or criticisms we instead disciplined our tongues to first gather more information - at least three questions worth? What new insights and understanding might be gained? How much more would we look like Jesus when we respond with a thoughtful question instead of an uninformed statement?

Our day to day is filled with all sorts of relationships. From friends and co-workers to a spouse or children, how would our relationships benefit from increased curiosity? When we slow down and ask meaningful questions, others are valued, they feel seen, and they sense they matter. Even strangers are impacted by our genuine interest in who they are and how their day is going. It may be one of the easiest adjustments to make with simply a little intentionality.

What questions can you ask your family today that go beyond the basic, “How was your day?” How might they feel encouraged by your genuine curiosity? There are plenty of opportunities to apply this coaching. See if you can slow down and find the opportunities to invest in others by staying curious three questions longer.

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Father, help me lead with my ears, follow up with my tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear (MSG). May my desire for understanding others be greater than my desire to be heard and understood. Help me through the power of your Spirit to live the righteous life you desire. Amen.

Let's Take a Walk

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:02:06 GMT

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Growing up I was a softball player. As a competitor, I was always really hard on myself. When I was a sophomore, I was the starting catcher at my high school. I was so excited for one of my first varsity home games, but my nerves got the best of me, and I played awful. At the end of the game, I was walking back to the dugout to take my gear off when my coach came up and said, “Let’s take a walk.” I thought for sure I was going to get a chewing for my less-than-stellar play; I was certain I had disappointed her. Instead, I was met with a loving arm around my shoulder and words of encouragement that were like balm to my soul. She put her arm around me and walked me to the outfield fence and back, taking time to speak life and truth into me. I can tell you that 20+ years later, I still remember that walk like it was yesterday. From that point on, I held my head a little higher and played with a little more confidence all because she chose to encourage me when she could have easily chosen to tear me down and focus on all the things I did wrong.

Jesus was so good at this. He met the outsiders who lived ostracized and marginalized lives where they were and spoke life into them. As followers of Christ, we should be eager to encourage someone and be a bright spot in their day. We are to build each other up and encourage one another just as Jesus did. Jesus wants us to be in a community of believers for this very reason. We were never meant to walk this journey alone, and having brothers and sisters to encourage us along the way makes the hard days a little easier.

I don’t know if my coach remembers “the walk.” But I have never forgotten it. It was a simple gesture that made a world of difference. Put your arm around someone today and offer them a word of encouragement. You never know the impact it may have.

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Lord, show me where I can be an encouragement to those around me. Allow me to see those who need a kind word and prick my heart to be the one to offer it. Help us spur on one another in love. Amen.

The Power of Love

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 23:57:26 GMT

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

- 1 Peter 4:8

In the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible, “love” is mentioned 686 times. This is compared to “kindness” mentioned 126 times, “patience” appears 32 times, and “hospitality” appears 20 times. Love is also included in the two greatest commandments, to love God and love your neighbor. Now, we should not always measure the importance of something by how many times the Bible mentions it, but we do get a sense of its significance from how often God includes it in His Word.

Where can one find the energy and the heart to give so much love? By the end of the day, you have probably greeted those you live with, interacted with the barista at your coffee stop, put on a happy face at school or work, made small talk with that acquaintance in the hallway, exchanged pleasantries with the cashier at the grocery store, called the doctor’s office back, caught up with your people over dinner, and fell into bed exhausted.

According to 1 John 4:8, God is love. When we abide in Him, God’s love for us gives us a heart to love others. His Spirit dwells within believers and fuels us with a desire to pour out love upon those we encounter. And even when days may be too long or filled with too many to-dos, we have the capacity through the Holy Spirit to love others well and to love them regardless of our circumstances; This kind of love is anything but artificial or shallow. When we love out of the overflow of God’s love for us, we are empowered to see others as God sees them, to have the bandwidth for kindness and selflessness that can truly make a lasting impact on the people around us from the barista to our dear friends.

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God, thank You for Your love for us! May Your rich and selfless love overflow from my heart into the relationships and encounters I have with others. May I love others well, and may that kindness and compassion point them back to You. Amen.

Savior and Son

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:54:41 GMT

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

- John 19:26-27

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a perfect child? Can you imagine a child who never threw selfish tantrums, never scowled at the meal put on the table, or never missed curfew? Even if you had a perfect child, life in this world is still hard and parenting would still be difficult. Mary had a perfect Son, but her life as a mother was still filled with hardships and sadness, and like all of us, she still needed a Savior to rescue her; In her case, her Savior was her Son.

In today’s scripture, Jesus speaks so affectionately from the cross as he utters love and expresses awareness of his mother’s needs. Not only was Jesus enduring great physical torment, but he was also suffering from a sense of spiritual desertion as he experienced God’s wrath on our behalf. Yet even in His suffering, He kept a compassionate eye on the crowd and lovingly considered His mother. Mary had loved Him, prayed for Him, followed Him during His ministry, supported Him through severe opposition, and even worried about Him (Luke 2:48). With a quick glance toward His disciple John, Jesus spoke to His mother: "Woman, behold your son!" To John He said, "Behold your mother!” Jesus was giving a new son to His mother to replace Himself. John, the only disciple present, indicating his loyalty, courage, and faith, was the best son Jesus could give; John was the disciple Jesus loved and He gave His mother to John so she would be well cared for.

Jesus' love toward His mother in this moment reminds us of His great love for us. When you and I are struggling or in pain, our thoughts tend to turn inward, but Jesus directs His thoughts toward those He loves. Just as He was mindful of His mother's needs, He is equally aware of ours. He looks at us with deep love and compassion. We can trust Jesus with our worries, guilt, struggles, and pain knowing His love for us is greater than we deserve and His compassion more loving than we can comprehend.

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Jesus, thank You for loving me so deeply and carrying for me so well. Remind me You can be trusted with all that I am walking through. May I live my life from a place of gratitude, showing others Your love and compassion, and may I always remember You are faithful to see me and my needs. Amen.

The Work of God in Me

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 02:03:27 GMT

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

- Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

It was always God’s intention to bridge the great gap between His holiness and our sinfulness. He is not surprised by our great need: Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross was never Plan B. With the full knowledge that each of us would go our own way, choosing the path that leads to separation, He still created us with free will, desiring us to desire Him. God’s perfect faithfulness stands in contrast to our brokenness.

In His expanded paraphrase of this passage, Eugene Peterson explains it like this:

“Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next, to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” (TMG, Ephesians 2.7-10).

This work He is doing in us is far better than the inevitable result of our prior pursuits. As Romans 6:23 reminds us: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” One expression of His work in us is sanctification. Derived from the Latin word sanctus , sanctification can be defined as the process of being made holy, set apart for a special use or purpose. This is not an instant process: it is a lifetime pursuit. Although the promise of perfect and eternal life is ours at the moment of belief, sanctification is a daily process. What is the work He is doing in your life today?

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Today, I confess again You are El Moshaah, the only God Who Saves. Thank You for rescuing me from the separation caused by my sin. As I give myself to the work You are doing in the world, reveal anew the work You are doing in my heart. Amen.

Good Works

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 05:01:43 GMT

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit”

- Titus 3:5

We live in a work-based culture which technically is not a bad thing in and of itself. If I study hard, I will achieve good grades. If I work out and eat nutritious foods, I benefit from a healthy body. If I come up with a new idea or new product, I could earn financial or even societal gain. If I work, then I get.

But there is no amount of work that can lead to our own salvation. We cannot be good enough. We cannot work hard enough. We cannot gain a way to God by our own efforts. We cannot work away our sin. So, in God’s great mercy, He saved us. He did the work we could not do alone through His Son on the cross. Salvation comes only from God, and only through God’s mercy.

At the same time, the Bible still encourages good works. We are to feed the hungry and care for the sick. We are to share the gospel and serve those in need. Jesus even says that whatever we do for the least of these we actually do for him (Mathew 25:34-45). Our good works are simply practical acts of love that meet the needs of others; not anything capable of saving us from our sin.

May our good works come from a place of overflowing gratitude and adoration for Christ in response to a saving relationship with Him. May we truly invest in that relationship, drawing nearer to God growing in both our understanding and our appreciation for all He has done.

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Lord, may I not grow weary of doing good (Galatians 6:9) while still remembering it is not my good works that cause You to love me; You love me simply out of Your goodness and mercy. Help me to remember that my faith in You is the foundation for my house, and my good works are merely the actions inside it. Thank You for the salvation You worked out for me; I am forever grateful. Amen.

Like A Tree

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 04:56:28 GMT

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

- Jeremiah 17:7-8

Other than people, trees are mentioned more than any other creation in the Bible; from the first page of Genesis to the last page of Revelation. God Himself planted trees in the garden and scripture uses trees as a metaphor for our spiritual life. Jesus frequently uses nature to teach principles of His Kingdom. It is fascinating to notice that every significant event in the Bible has a tree associated with it. The first Psalm encourages us to be like a tree flourishing in a dry climate.

I love trees perhaps because my father was a forester and taught me all about them. Perhaps because I grew up surrounded by lush tall trees and beautiful gardens. We are all grateful for a tree when outside in a Texas summer (their shade provides a much cooler space to be). Looking out my front window, I see a barren Vitex tree, a Shumard Oak that has lost all its leaves but has an abundance of acorns, and a Buford Holly that is shiny green, a tad prickly, but full of berries - the most productive of all. Most trees are just skeleton silhouettes now, providing not only open sunset views but also food and refuge for cardinals, doves, wrens, and sparrows. But this week, the Lord sent us sunshine and warmth, and we can see signs of new life and growth appearing on trees around us.

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Lord of the Harvest, thank you for the gift of life, thank you for planting us where we are in this season. Remind us that we are trees and not machines. Help us to abide in You today. Examine our hearts and reveal to us anything we trust apart from You. Remind us that when we put our trust and confidence in You, we are blessed with Your peace and presence. Deepen our roots through adversity and strengthen us in our weakness. Teach us to rest in Your timing and trust in Your power at work. Refresh us with streams of living water. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Way

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 04:52:52 GMT

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

- John 14:6

Growing up, I lived in a very rural area sometimes called the “sticks.” The back of our property led to a swamp that we frequently would go in on foot and by horse. We had a horse named Frank who was born a few years before me, and he had always lived in the back part of our property leading to the swamp. He knew the area so well that my father was never worried about me getting lost or hurt as long as I was with old Frank. I was told if Frank did not want to go in a certain direction, I should trust him, and if I were ever lost, I should simply let go of the reigns and Frank would bring me back home. I could trust Frank; there was not anywhere I could go that he had not already been a hundred times. Frank would take me where I needed to be. He was the only horse that ever had my full faith like that.

Jesus asks us to put our full faith in Him; to trust Him completely understanding He knows the way. In fact, in John chapter 14, Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the way. We don’t need to figure it out, wander around looking for the way to God, or try to figure it out on our own. We don’t need to remain lost. Jesus is the way. And Jesus is not saying that He is one of the ways to know God, He is saying He is the only way; HE is God! We can have full faith in Jesus as our savior and our salvation which is the only way to receive the life God has promised.

Do you believe that truth? Have you transferred your faith and trust to Jesus as your savior? Give up the reigns and trust the only one who can give you life everlasting. And if you know this truth, does your life reflect it? Do you let Him keep the reigns you have given or are you always trying to regain control? Relax your worries and release your struggles. Remember He knows how to bring you back home. You can trust Him.

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Lord, I want to live a life of faith trusting You with the reigns. Show me where I need to release control and remind me You are faithful. You are the way, the truth, and the life, for which I am so thankful. May I live a life that shares this truth with others. Amen.

The Only Name That Saves

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 04:48:37 GMT

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

- Acts 4:12

While preaching in the street, Peter shares this message with a crowd of people and a group of Sadducees that have also gathered. In this crucial time in the earliest days of Christendom, Peter stood in boldness to proclaim the name of Jesus above every other name in front of any and all who would hear from average passers-by to temple captains, priests, and Sadducees.

This election year, perhaps more than ever, we will see candidate signs in yards, stickers on bumpers, ads on television, sponsored posts on social media, billboards, and more; each with relatively simple designs: a bannered last name and a pithy promise nestled underneath in a bold san serif font all draped with red, white, and blue. This design formula exists as a proven method that goes beyond all party-lines or political ideologies. These names and attached promises stir in us specific emotions based on our convictions. These could be feelings of hope, confusion, excitement, dread - the list goes on.

Over any last name or promise that could be displayed in our front yards, there is a name that is above every name. This name comes with an eternal promise of salvation and life eternal for all who believe in Him. His name is Jesus. 

This year, with the same boldness as Peter, let us share the name of Jesus with our friends and neighbors more than we share the name of our preferred political candidate for there is true salvation in no one else but Him.

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Lord, give me the opportunity to be bold for You. Grant me moments to share Your Gospel with family, friends, and neighbors. This year there will be so many opportunities for division and disagreement; Make me a unifier in my neighborhood, for Your namesake and Your glory. Amen.

Trusting God

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 04:44:14 GMT

“God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord gives me power and strength; he is my savior.”

- Isaiah 12:2

The book of Isaiah is filled with gloom and doom. Israel had not been faithful to the Lord God and their covenant with Him. They were worshipping and serving other gods and social injustice was rampant. As a result, God was going to bring foreign armies against the nation of Israel to destroy the nation and carry of its people. The picture Isaiah painted was bleak. But then, we find this ray of light in Isaiah 12:2.

Even amid the bleak future Israel faced and the disaster to come, Isaiah trusted in the Lord, and he expressed his confidence in the Lord’s salvation.

Such an expression of faith is easy to make when circumstances around us are good. But what do we do when life gets hard; When God feels distant, relationships are struggling, or circumstances are just too difficult? Does confidence in the Lord’s provision evaporate? Do we question His faithfulness? Or do we stand firm, trusting the Lord will see us through it? Are we steadfast in our faith?

When we are fearful, it can be an opportunity to learn God is always faithful. When we are struggling, it can serve as a reminder of God’s strength. Isaiah’s trusted God: he was not afraid.

God will enable us to endure, and as believers, we can have confidence He loves us more than we could truly comprehend. And even though we may not be able to see how He is working or fathom how our situation could improve, He is absolutely in control. He is our savior and our salvation when life is both good and when it is a struggle.

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Lord Jesus, remind me that You are my strength and my defense, that I can trust You when life gets hard. You are my salvation, and I need only remember Your love for me. Thank You for your grace, compassion, and never-ending faithfulness. Amen.

Last-Minute Faith

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 04:18:26 GMT

“And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

- Luke 23:43

Last-minute decisions have always sent me into a panic. Usually, last-minute decisions happen because I was not aware a decision needed to be made or I gained last minute pivotal information right before the finish line. It can be stressful to make last-minute decisions because without enough time to review details and information there is the possibility of making the wrong decision or at least not the best decision.

Right before these words spoken by Jesus in Luke 23, the criminal on the cross next to Him made the biggest last-minute decision. He proclaimed the truth of who Jesus was and told Him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus assured the criminal that he would indeed join Him in heaven.

We can respond to the criminal on the cross next to Jesus with criticism. We can question the fairness of a man being saved in the last moment of his life when others have lived lives of faithful love and devotion to God. But the good news and the truth is we are never too late or too slow to be counted under God’s grace. Like the vineyard workers in Matthew 20 who are hired at various times throughout the day but all receive the same wage, people who come to Christianity later in life, even if it is a last-minute decision, will still be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.

We cannot earn salvation through good deeds and decades of dedication. It is through Christ alone that we are saved, and not through years of relationship. No matter what we have done or how long we have lived without Him, He wants to know us and for us to know Him. Jesus wants us to receive His gift of eternal life, to welcome us into His arms as His child.

It is not too late to make that decision of faith, even if it feels last-minute.

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Father, thank You! Thank You for accepting me in my brokenness and for wiping the slate clean. I pray for those who do not know You, especially those needing to make a last-minute decision of faith. May they experience Your saving grace and make You Lord of their life. Amen.

The Work of Grace

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 04:06:30 GMT

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

- Ephesians 1:7

When I was 16, I asked the father of a girl from my church if she could go with my family to celebrate my birthday. I was shocked when he said no, but I was floored by his reason. He said I was a nice boy, but he did not think I was a believer. I proceeded to tell him exactly who I was and how awesome I was and that he should be honored to have his daughter go out with me.

A few weeks later when I had calmed down, he invited me to their house for dinner after church. Certain that he was going to tell me the error of his ways and ask for my forgiveness, I accepted. After dinner, he invited me into his study where we started going through the book of Ephesians. For the next two months, we got together every week and went through God’s word. I was an angry, cocky, lost boy and he had every right to turn his back on me, but instead he chose to pour into me. Because of his kindness, I was prepared to receive the invitation to submit my life to Christ. Bill and I continued to meet every week for several years until I moved away.

Because Bill was willing to put aside the way I initially responded to him and extend grace to me, I was able to comprehend what Christ did for me. Christ shed His blood for the forgiveness of my sins not because of anything I did or because of how awesome I was but because of who He is, a loving God full of grace.

“The motive of grace is the infinite, compassionate love of a merciful God, but the work of grace was the death of Christ on the cross.” - Billy Graham

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Father, thank You for sending Your Son to pay the price for my trespasses so that I may have a restored relationship with You. I repent of times when I tried to earn Your approval and forget that it was Your grace and kindness that made a way for my redemption. Please help me to forgive like You forgive. In the gracious and holy name of Your Son, Amen.

How Many Times

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 03:55:01 GMT

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

- Matthew 18:21-22

Peter, wishing to appear especially forgiving and benevolent, asked Jesus if forgiveness was to be offered seven times. By offering more than double that of the Old Testament teachings, perhaps Peter expected extra commendation from the Lord. When Jesus responded that forgiveness should be offered four hundred and ninety times, far beyond that which Peter was proposing, it must have stunned the disciples who were listening. Although they had been with Jesus for some time, they were still thinking in the limited terms of the law, rather than in the unlimited terms of grace.

By saying we are to forgive those who sin against us seventy times seven, Jesus was not limiting forgiveness to an exact number. We are to have forgiving hearts not limited by the number of times we forgive and extending as much grace the thousandth time we as we do the first. Such forgiveness seems impossible, but as believers the Holy Spirit lives within us enabling us to have a forgiving spirit. And although we are called to live in the spirit of forgiveness, this is not a call to remain in unhealthy situations or relationships; healthy boundaries sometimes need to be drawn even as we forgive. There will be situations, circumstances and people that are harder to forgive than others, and there will be times we struggle to let go of repeated wrongdoings against us. It is in those times we need to cling to God for peace and strength to forgive because forgiveness is not to be distributed in a limited fashion; it is to be abundant, overflowing, and available to all, just as the measureless grace of God is poured out upon us.

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Lord, teach me how to freely grant forgiveness out of a deeply rooted gratitude for Your forgiveness of me. Remind me it is not a feeling or an emotion; it is a decision. And sometimes it is a decision I will have to make repeatedly. Give me the strength to forgive, enabling me to share the fullness of your love with others. Amen.

Forgiving Others

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 03:39:43 GMT

“ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

- Mark 11:25

When I was student teaching in the public school system, I was careful about how I shared my faith with the teenagers in my classes. I allowed them to be the ones to initiate personal conversations and ask questions. My cooperating teacher, on the other hand, was very open with his agnostic and worldly views. On one occasion he set up a writing prompt inspired by a recent personal event in his life- a stolen car radio. After listening to the teacher give a detailed description of what he thought was an appropriate punishment, the students were asked to write how they would exact revenge on someone who stole from them.

The world tends to work from this angle often; payback is more commonly understood and unforgiveness fairly acceptable. But the Bible gives us a very different command on how we are to treat wrongdoings against us. Mark 11:25 says if we hold anything against anyone, we are to forgive them. Anything, no matter the offense, and anyone, no matter who it is. That does not mean it is easy to forgive or that it is not important that we have been wronged, but what it does mean is that we are called to work through unforgiveness and not hold on to offenses which will grow into heavy burdens of bitterness. If we lean on God for wisdom and strength, we can navigate forgiving others; He has not commanded us to do anything He will not help us do.

God worked in the heart of my cooperating teacher. The day after the car radio writing prompt, he must have felt convicted for being so forthcoming with his anger and ideas of revenge, that he told the class my beliefs were quite different than his. He told them that I was following the rules by not openly sharing my views, and he wanted to give them an opportunity to hear from me, so he encouraged them to ask all sorts of questions. That day I was freed up to not only share the gospel, but all sorts of Biblical principles including how it is always better to forgive than be burdened with the weight of unforgiveness.

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Lord, thank You for forgiving me. Please show me where I might be harboring unforgiveness. Enable me to let go and forgive regardless of how long it has been. I trust you for strength and wisdom to work through it and grow from it. Amen.

Lord, Open My Eyes to Sin I Need to Confess

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 03:34:20 GMT

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

- 1 John 1:9

I love confession. I love the opportunity to let go of what is heavy and hard, and I am grateful for the perspectives God has shown me. But I haven’t always felt this way. Confession is difficult, it’s messy, and it’s an ongoing process.

I could tell you stories of all the times God has healed me from anxiety through confession. For every person I have learned to forgive and ask for forgiveness from, my heart feels lighter, and my mind feels clearer. Or I could tell you how each time I confess my anger, bitterness, and apathy to the Lord, or surrender my idols, there is a true feeling of reprieve. The weight of my guilt and sinfulness loosens, and I feel closer to Him. The distance I felt in my sinfulness closes in, and once again, I am reminded that He has never drifted from me.

Confession gives us a front row seat to watching God at work. We often talk about God’s goodness, His faithfulness, His perfectness, and all the -nesses, but maybe not as much about His forgiveness. You see, God’s forgiveness implies we have done something that needs to be forgiven. But when we confess, we get to experience who God is and see Him at work in our own lives. When we surrender to Him, we get to experience more of His character and nature. We get to step into an opportunity where we are a part of what glorifies Him and not just witness it. Confession glorifies God and surrenders to more of who He is and what He can do than when we hold onto to it.

He is faithful and just to forgive. He WANTS to lighten the load and offer us freedom, we need only to step into it.

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Heavenly Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. Lord, we ask that You would daily shed light on our sins and give us more opportunities to surrender to You. We ask for boldness to confess our sins and the ability to trust in You more. In Your son’s mighty name, Amen.

Putting Up with People

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 03:27:06 GMT

"Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

- Colossians 3:13-14

When I was growing up, my two older brothers often had to “put up with me” hanging around them. As the youngest, I struggled to keep up, but as older brothers they were obliged to bear with me as I learned to follow in their footsteps. They tolerated my silly questions, my slow pace, and my lack of understanding. I was part of the family, and family members sometimes need to simply bear with one another. 

In these verses, Paul tells the church at Colossae to bear with one another and forgive each other. In a church family, there will always be people that do things out of immaturity, ignorance, or inability to keep up. And as it is in any family, it is our obligation to be patient and bear with them.  Every group of believers has a variety of ideas, opinions, and perspectives. It is all too easy to allow such multiplicity to create division or even frustration. We cannot permit our individual uniqueness to obscure the love we have in common; love that has been given to us through Jesus.

Our bearing with one another highlights the gospel to both each other and to the watching world. We bear and forgive others because Christ has forgiven us. If we are unwilling to bear with others, why expect God to bear with us? If we are unwilling to forgive others, why expect God to forgive us? When we put on the love of Christ, we bear with one another and forgive one another. Instead of thinking about the struggle of having to put up with one another, we need to focus on the precious opportunity we have to magnify God’s love and highlight the gospel.  God bears with us in our fight against sin, so we also must bear with others in their struggle with sin.

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Lord, help me not to harbor bitterness towards others but instead extend grace as I patiently bear with fellow believers. Enable me to put on love as it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7) and may that bearing and enduring love bring unity. Amen.

Be Kind

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 03:22:11 GMT

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

- Ephesians 4:32

As the youngest of nine children with four older brothers, it seemed I was constantly annoying someone. I routinely heard my parents telling the other kids to be nice to me; “He’s younger than y’all.” At the time, I really appreciated the sentiment, but it was always their retaliation when mom and dad were not around that helped me understand how my brothers really felt.

Being nice is not what Paul is talking about here. He says to be kind. When we are nice, we are trying to keep the status quo. We don’t want to make waves and we are primarily concerned with how the situation might make us look to others. Nice can allow us to act one way externally regardless of how we feel inside.

When we are kind, it is always with the other person’s best interest at heart. When we genuinely want others to be blessed, we treat them the way we would want to be treated. When Paul says to be tenderhearted, he is calling us to be compassionate and sympathetic to the circumstances of those around us.

Being kind and compassionate is a decision. It’s a choice. Just like forgiveness.

Naturally, when we are showing compassion toward others, we are led to forgive, and when we are only concerned about ourselves, our heart is ripe for fostering unforgiveness. To guard against unforgiveness, we need to seek to genuinely be kind and tenderhearted to others just as God is with us.

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Lord, may I be more concerned with being a blessing than with how I may feel or look to others. Show me how to be genuinely kind and tenderhearted toward others, putting their needs and interests above my own, and may I always be filled with compassion and willingness to forgive. Amen.

Forgiveness Upon Forgiveness

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 02:50:30 GMT

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

- Luke 23:34, NIV

Amid unimaginable suffering, Jesus spoke one of the most profound statements in human history: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." These words mark the first of seven recorded statements spoken by Jesus from the cross, each worthy of contemplation.

How is it those involved in the persecution of Jesus did not know what they were doing? At the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, the act of crucifixion itself was a gruesome but familiar sight in the Roman-occupied world, a brutal form of execution reserved for the worst criminals. Surely the Pharisees who had orchestrated Jesus' trial and demanded His death were aware of the gravity of their actions. The crowd, influenced by the religious leaders, cried out for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Even the Roman leaders, who found no fault in Jesus, ultimately consented to His crucifixion.

What makes Jesus' plea for forgiveness so remarkable is that it comes on the heels of compassionate ministry to the residents of this very city. Despite spending three years of teaching, serving, and performing miracles, Jesus' message was often misunderstood, even by His closest disciples. They walked with Him, witnessed His miracles, heard His intimate instructions, and yet they did not fully grasp the depth of His mission.

But it is not just those present at the crucifixion who are implicated in Jesus' plea for forgiveness. It is each one of us. Like the Pharisees, we often choose our own desires over God's will. Like the crowd, we can be swayed by popular opinion instead of standing for truth. And like the disciples, we may fail to fully understand the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and the extent of His love for us.

Despite our shortcomings and sinfulness, Jesus offers forgiveness freely to all who repent and believe in Him. His sacrifice on the cross was not just for those who stood before Him that day, but for all humanity, for all time. During the very act of atonement for the sins of mankind, Jesus was offering forgiveness for this specific transgression. The enormity of the gift of the cross makes Jesus' plea for forgiveness all the more astounding.

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Loving God, impress on us the depth of Jesus' love and the magnitude of His sacrifice. May we humbly seek your forgiveness, knowing that we are redeemed and reconciled to God through Christ's death and resurrection. Amen.

The Fruit of Mentoring

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 03:58:50 GMT

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to live and good works. Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

- Hebrews 10:24-25

Hope is a beautiful thing. A believer's hope is confidence in God’s promises and the assurance of His faithfulness. When we say our hope is in what God can and will do, it is not like throwing a coin in a well and making a wish. Wishing is a person’s desire for something to come true. Hope is confident expectation in God’s faithfulness.

When I was younger, I had a head full of hopes. I hoped I could get out of my small town. I hoped I would see the world. I hoped I would marry my prince charming. As the years went by and my faith in God grew, my hopes became prayers. I prayed for God to make me a better wife, mom, and friend. I prayed for wisdom, discernment, and strength. I prayed for doors to open and my gifts to be used for His glory. The difference between my youthful hopes and my quiet prayers had to do with the people God placed around me, mentors who invested in me.

In my mid-twenties to my early thirties, there were mentors in my life that helped shape me into the woman I am today. They poured their time and love into our relationship and encouraged me to learn God’s word. They corrected me when I made mistakes and loved me through hardships and grief. They took the time to invest in me; their faith grew my faith; their hope influenced my hope.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for the people He put in my life, for those who have mentored me. I, in turn, look for opportunities to invest in the next generation, to call out gifts I see in others and encourage and equip them to use those gifts for God’s glory. My experiences, wisdom, and discernment should not end with me but be shared with the next generation. My prayer is that the church takes time to invest in one another. My hope is that I will see the Lord move through the younger generation in big ways.

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God, you are my beacon of hope! I have seen all the wonderful things You have done, and I look forward to the great things You will do. Help me to see others through your eyes. Give me opportunities to invest in those around me and spur others on to do good works. Let me not waver in my faith for my hope is anchored in You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Humble My Heart

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 03:54:54 GMT

“But whoever desires to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you must be the   slave   of all.”  

- Mark 10:43-44

When I was fresh out of college with a teaching certificate for a state I was not living in, I was hired to do an office job temporarily. In my great immaturity and self-righteousness, I truly felt the job of filing and organizing was beneath me since it did not use my acquired skills or recently earned degree. And as much as I would love to be able to say that I did whatever was asked of me with a positive and cheerful attitude, that just was not the case. In fact, in a conversation with my supervisor, I remember behaving with an edge of arrogance for which I was reprimanded.

I believe the question that precedes this verse in Mark may have had a similar edge of arrogance. James and John asked to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus. The disciples were appalled at the selfishness and lack of humility. When I read this account, I am always initially shocked at the ego on display as well, but eventually, God nudges me and lovingly suggests looking a little closer to see where I might find myself in this story. Do I seek recognition? Do I want to be special at the expense of others? Would I benefit from a little humility?

Jesus is clear in His words and His actions that we all are to humbly serve. “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) It may take some effort to quiet the noise of the world that suggests certain responsibilities are too low to be picked up. It may take some practice putting the needs of others first. But whenever I work and lead with humility for God’s glory, nothing is beneath me. When I humble my heart and serve with love and compassion, I look more like Jesus, the greatest servant of all.

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Lord, humble my heart and open my eyes. Help me to quiet the world and focus on You. Show me where my priorities need to adjust and what needs may need to be placed above my own. Use me to love and serve others with humility and make me more like You for Your glory. Amen.

Love

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 03:07:19 GMT

“…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”

- Ephesians 4:2

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

- John 13:34

Valentine’s Day is February’s celebration of love with overpriced flowers, chocolate strawberries, and a giant selection of greeting cards. And as much as people may embrace this love holiday, love is so much more than Valentine’s Day could ever be. Love is both an action and a feeling. We can feel love for someone, but usually loving someone goes beyond how we feel and requires action, typically selfless action. It is easy to show this kind of love to people we like, but what about the people who are difficult? What about the people who use hurtful words, have a critical spirit, or are just mean? We are called to love these people “with all humility, gentleness (and) patience” as well. These are the people Jesus left the 99 to pursue, and we are to love them as He did.

I will never forget a phone call I made years ago to someone who was struggling through a hard season. My motive was a friendly check-in, but unfortunately, I was met with immediate irritation instead. I was caught off guard and needed to catch my breath; it felt as though I had been punched in the gut. I had to remind myself the purpose of the call was for her to feel seen and know she was in our prayers; to love her regardless of how I was received. My hope and desire are to love others well with compassion and intentional kindness modeled by the way I have been loved by God and those He has placed in my life.

It might be easier to love my favorite people; it would take less effort. But it is equally important to show that same level of care and kindness to those in my life that are hard to love. Jesus never shied away from loving the seemingly unlovable. In fact, some of those unlovable people made some of the most incredible impacts in spreading the gospel. I never want to miss an opportunity to be more like Jesus in the way I love others.

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Heavenly Father, thank you for the indescribable gifts you have lavished on me. Please open my eyes to those who need my love and attention; May I never shy away from sharing the kindness and compassion I have been given even with those who are hard to love. Make me more like You each day. Amen.

Forgiveness: Embracing Divine Compassion

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 03:03:41 GMT

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

- Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)

“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” That is a big assignment! In Paul’s wisdom, with direction from the Holy Spirit, he begins with a list of desirable actions and attitudes: kindness, gentleness, patience. OK, this is a palatable list. Then he increases the difficulty, instructing the reader to forgive grievances with someone else. Finally, Paul culminates with a reminder (and challenging commandment) to forgive as the Lord forgave us. This last section requires reflection: how did the Lord forgive me?

When I was far from God, He was pursuing me. My attitudes and actions were offensive to His very nature. Yet he sacrificially loved me, forgiving my transgressions. Wiping out my debt. Calling me a child of God.

Forgiveness is not merely a transaction; it is a transformation. It requires a deliberate choice to embody the qualities of Christ in our interactions with others. The gospel reminds us we are dearly loved by God, and out of that love, we are to extend forgiveness to those who may have wronged us.

In our relationships, forgiveness does not dismiss the pain or justify the offense; rather, it releases the grip of bitterness and resentment on our hearts. Just as the Lord forgave us, we are called to forgive others. It is a radical act of mercy that reflects the divine compassion we have received.

Let us, therefore, clothe ourselves in the attire of forgiveness, adorning our hearts with compassion and humility. As we navigate relationships, may our hearts be quick to forgive, allowing God's love to flow through us, redeeming brokenness, and exemplifying the transformative power of His grace.

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Heavenly Father, empower me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. Clothe me Your compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. May my life be a testimony to Your redemptive love in my own life. Amen.

Mindful of our Mouths

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 02:59:47 GMT

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

- Ephesians 4:29

There is one word I would never be described as, athletic. Not only do I not possess the physical giftedness of an athlete, but I also do not possess any athletic vocabulary or athletic intelligence. However, in God’s infinite wisdom and humor, He blessed me with a son who loves sports, especially basketball.

I appreciate the reminder in Ephesians 4:26 to be mindful of our mouths, that our words make an impression regarding the condition of our hearts. I will confess it was not apparent I knew this verse during any of my son’s basketball games as I seemed to enter some alternate universe where the opposing team was the enemy to be cheered into defeat. Within all my noise, what I mostly complained about usually was not even accurate to the game's rules or timing (a fact my loving husband continually pointed out).

After no one would sit by me at the games (or at least they considered it), it occurred to me that these games were opportunities to witness and remind those around me that we were all children of God; that my words and actions needed to be evidence I was a follower of Christ. I did not get a pass on that responsibility simply because I was at a basketball game. Every student on the court and every person in the gym is loved by Him and focusing on making half of them my enemy for 90 minutes would never introduce them to Jesus.

Moving forward, I did my best to contain my misplaced and overzealous passion for winning, but I still had setbacks. I am so incredibly grateful for the grace God poured out for me in those moments and for the work He did in my heart. I still love to watch my kids play sports, but I try to keep in mind that each game and every moment is an opportunity to show others Jesus.

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Heavenly Father, thank You for the wise counsel to remember the power of my words and how those words can invite others into the loving truth of the gospel or can deter them from that truth. Please forgive me for the times that my words do not glorify You, and please grant me additional opportunities to show others Jesus. Amen.

God’s Ownership: Understanding Stewardship of Wealth

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 03:39:57 GMT

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”

- Psalm 24:1

God is not just our creator and maker; He is also the owner of everything in the world. He created everything, and He owns everything. All our property, possessions, and even our life itself belongs to Him. Although we are not owners, we are to be good stewards managing all “the earth and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” We are to manage all of God’s creation in a manner that honors Him and furthers His kingdom. As we fulfill our role as managers, we are to respect and honor His creation and recognize it as a beautiful blessing and a gift.

Part of being a good steward is learning how to manage finances well. I grew up learning to work hard and save for the future. I also learned how essential it is to always give back to God. Living and working on my own taught me the importance of managing my money well and that included tithing. And although there were some challenging times when I was not sure if I would have enough money for the month, I knew I could not shortchange God because ultimately it all belongs to Him. I trusted God with what I needed, and He never let me down; there was always enough money for what was necessary.

It becomes easier to give to God when we realize it is all His in the first place. If I recognize that all I have is just on loan for me to care for, and not mine to white knuckle, then I can more freely offer it to Him. God cares for me and my needs just as He cares for everything else in creation, so I am free to honor him with the resources He has entrusted to me.

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Father, please help me to always remember that everything I have comes from You. Help me to be faithful to continue to use Your blessings wisely to glorify You and help further Your Kingdom here on earth. Thank You for loving me and thank you for all the blessings you so richly give. Amen.

Flourishing in God's Word

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 03:34:34 GMT

"That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers."

- Psalm 1:3 (NIV)

If you are a farmer, Arizona may seem like an odd location to try growing produce. About half of the state consists of deserts. The soil of that same area has a natural concrete-like substance called caliche . Not to mention Arizona is one of the hottest states in the US! Yet among other commercial crops, the largest date plantation in the world is in the hostile environment of Arizona. The key to making this desert bloom is a system of canals or “streams” connecting to major water sources like the Colorado River. Over thousands of years, residents have tapped into this life-giving source to make farming possible.

You have heard the old French quote, “Bloom where you are planted.” Have you ever felt as if you have been planted in a desert? The imagery of a flourishing tree stands as a powerful metaphor for the life rooted in God's Word. Psalm 1:3 paints a picture of one deeply connected to the Lord, a person who is like a tree planted by streams of water. Roots reaching through fertile soil tap into a consistent and life-giving source. In the same way, our lives, when rooted in God's Word, are anchored in the eternal streams of divine truth and wisdom.

Being firmly planted in God's Word yields a life marked by resilience and fruitfulness. Just as the tree bears fruit in its season, a life nurtured by scripture blossoms in due time. The fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) become evident, reflecting the transformative power of God's Word.

Despite where you may be planted, the Psalm assures us that the leaf of this tree does not wither. Sustenance drawn from God's Word ensures a resilience that defies circumstances. The individual rooted in scripture finds strength even in times of drought, standing firm when external pressures seek to wither away hope and joy.

As we immerse ourselves in the scriptures, we experience spiritual fruitfulness and stand resilient in the face of life's challenges. Whatever we do in alignment with God's will prospers, not in the world's fleeting standards, but in the eternal perspective of God's kingdom.

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Giver of Life, may our lives be like trees planted by streams of water, deeply rooted in Your Word. As we meditate on Your words, may we bear fruit in season and stand resilient through life's challenges. Amen.

Investing in Your Sphere of Influence: Strategies from Nehemiah

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 03:30:20 GMT

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. 

- Nehemiah 2:17-18

God gifted Nehemiah with a wide and impactful circle of influence: from tradesmen to district rulers, to the king of Persia. Nehemiah used the influence God provided through his secular position as cupbearer to the king to successfully lead a group of Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall. 

The book of Nehemiah opens with his personal account of mourning, fasting, and praying on behalf of the Jewish people (Nehemiah 1:4). In a moment during his daily service, when asked by King Artaxerxes “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? What is it you want?”, Nehemiah’s immediate internal response was to “pray to the God of heaven and  then  answer the king” (v 4). The wisdom to first seek and depend on the Lord in the moment resulted in the king granting Nehemiah’s requests for provisions, protection, and time to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. 

Nehemiah was a layman, not a priest or great ruler, yet his heart’s desire was to use his influence to preserve and restore stability and hope to the Jews. He continued to seek God’s direction as he led the people through the building process. Nehemiah refused the temptation to claim glory for himself and used every opportunity to publicly credit the Lord for his successes. He recognized that all his skills, talents, opportunities, and influence were generous gifts from the Lord.

Chuck Swindoll said, “God uses all manner of people in all manner of places doing all manner of work. Do you feel you must be ‘in ministry’ in order to serve God? Be encouraged; He is not limited by your vocation. In fact, God has placed you where you are for a purpose. Have this attitude about your work: ‘Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father’ (Colossians 3:17).”

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Father, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name (Nehemiah 1:11). Grant us favor that we may be effective, faithful, and obedient stewards of the spheres of influence you have entrusted to us. May the motives of our hearts and the work of our hands always come from a place of worship and desire to bring glory to your name. Amen. 

Seeking God’s Guidance

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 02:53:00 GMT

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

- Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)

How does the world define success? If Proverbs 4 was written today as a reflection of contemporary American culture, we could consider several options. Prepare for a distinguished career. Become influential. Save early, but it is ok to spend some on yourself. Though it cost everything, get happiness. Be true to yourself.

Proverbs 4:7 invites us to instead prioritize wisdom and understanding, recognizing their immeasurable value. The pursuit of wisdom is not a quick-fix or one-time endeavor, but a continual seeking. It is an intentional surrender to God's wisdom, acknowledging that true understanding comes from aligning our choices with His perfect plan.

How do we seek wisdom in our daily lives? Other verses in the chapter give a good starting point. “Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commandments” (v.4). God’s will never contradicts His clear teaching. “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil” (v.14) because “the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble” (v.19). This reminds us of the promise in Psalms: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105).

In the finished work of Jesus, God has revealed Himself as a loving father. He knows what we need and wants the best for our lives. And in His wisdom, He has provided His counsel and commandments that we may not stumble along the path He has laid before us.

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Heavenly Father, I seek Your guidance. Grant me the wisdom to discern Your will and the understanding to align my choices with Your purpose. Help me to prioritize seeking You above all else, even when the cost is great. In the pursuit of Your wisdom, may my decisions bring glory to Your name. Amen.

Cultivating Your Territory: Growing God’s Kingdom

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 02:49:15 GMT

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

- 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

The mission field is the place between your own two feet at any one time. I remember the first time I heard this listening to Jill Briscoe many years ago. At that time, it was earth shattering to me because when I thought of missions, I immediately associated it with long term missionaries in unreached parts of the world. Aren't missions something God calls specific people to do? Scripture says otherwise. In the Great Commission, Jesus calls all believers to “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus is commanding us, all of us, to share the gospel, disciple believers, and equip others to do the same.

God called Paul to go and plant churches. This is typically how we traditionally think of the mission field, to go elsewhere and share the gospel. But God also called Apollos, who was discipled by Paul, to use his gifts of teaching where he was planted. Paul’s mission field was Antioch, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus, Athens, Rome and beyond. Apollos’ mission field was the people of Corinth. Both were called and both helped grow God’s kingdom. They were fellow workers, laborers, and disciples. God called one to plant churches and the other to build up the church that was planted. Both are needed and both are commanded by God.

Your community is your mission field. It is your place to make Christ known, to invite your neighbors to church, mentor new believers, to serve those in need, and to invest in your gifts. We are called to grow God’s kingdom. The gifts God gives are varied and needed to labor for His glory, to fulfill His purposes. Look at where you are planted. Step into your gifts. Invest in your community. Your mission field is the place between your own two feet.

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Lord, open my eyes with a refreshed outlook to see where you have planted me. Show me how I can serve for the purpose of growing your kingdom. Give me the words to tell others your good news. Allow your gifts, which flow through me, to be used with wisdom and discernment for your glory, honor, and name. In Jesus name, Amen.

Love One Another

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 03:21:53 GMT

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

- John 13:34-35

The commandment of God that His people are to love one another is not new. The “newness” of this command is the standard by which God’s people are to love one another. We are to love in the same fashion as Jesus. But how did Jesus love His disciples?

First, Jesus spent time with the disciples. When He appointed the twelve disciples it says in Mark 2:14-15 that He did so “that they might be with him.” Jesus did not just call them into ministry, but He wanted them to be with Him, to watch what He did, to listen to what He said, and to enjoy His company.

Secondly, Jesus loved them with great patience. The disciples were not prepared for leadership, but Jesus committed to helping them grow spiritually, and He did not allow their immaturity to undermine His determination to love them well. His love for them was incredibly patient.

Jesus also loved through His unwavering commitment to the disciples. Although not one of the twelve was ready or prepared for leadership when Jesus called them, He was committed to helping them grow up spiritually. Jesus persevered through their faults and failures which never lessened His affection.

Finally, Jesus loved His own by teaching them the truth, even when it might be offensive or hard to grasp. He never hid things from them but clearly instructed them on what being His followers entailed: persecution, slander, imprisonment, rejection, perhaps even martyrdom.

If we are to love one another as Jesus loved, then we need to deeply invest in those around us- giving of our time, filled with patience and enduring affection, and teaching His truths.

(Sam Storms, “What’s New about the New Commandment”)

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Jesus, show me how to love like You. Quiet my heart and open my eyes to whom I should invest in with my time. Fill me with patience and enduring affection so I can love others well. Enable me to be deeply committed to how You might use me in the lives of others. Amen.

Impactful Leadership in your Territory: Following God’s Example

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 03:17:19 GMT

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

- Mark 10:42-45

There are two types of people in these verses: those who seek positional power and those that seek to serve. Both are categorized as leaders, but only one type of leadership is modeled by Jesus Himself. There is a stark contrast between what the world would have us chase and what scripture encourages, and I am reminded of an eye-opening and soul-growing experience during my first years of marriage.

My husband, young in his field, was working to prove himself in the corporate world surrounded by people that could either help advance his career or those who could do nothing for him. There was a man who worked in the warehouse connected to his building. Due to a past criminal record, this man struggled to find adequate employment to provide for his family. My husband intentionally chose to spend his time engaging with this man, giving him a Bible, buying clothes for his children, and even visiting him in his home on several occasions instead of focusing on those who could further his career. I can remember, even though it was 20 years ago, the inner conversation I had with myself about my husband’s desire to go out of his way for someone who could do absolutely nothing for him. Quite frankly, such a choice could even have caused leadership in his company to inaccurately judge his character or look down on him simply because he was associating with this man. Such thoughts revealed selfishness in my own heart, and it reminded me Christ clearly commands us to selflessly serve others and give our lives away rather than seek our own gain or glory.

I learned a valuable lesson watching my husband honor Christ through this situation; He modeled the value of humble servant leadership over attention-seeking authority. As you move through your day, watch for ways Christ might be asking you to practice the boldest of leadership moves- serving others with a Christ-like heart.

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Heavenly Father, would you create within me a passion today to serve not for outward glory but for an inward opportunity to become just a little more like You? Help me to value those around me regardless of what they may be able to do for me. Move in my heart so I may reflect your servant leadership. In your precious name, Amen.

Influence and Impact

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 03:11:52 GMT

“Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm[a] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.”

- 1 Chronicles 4:10

As we read the prayer of Jabez, there are elements we could apply to our own prayer life to live an above average life of faith doing great things for God.

Jabez prayed to do something significant with his life and asked God to bless him and enlarge his territory.   Jabez left it up to God to decide what the blessings would be and where, when, and how Jabez would receive them. Jabez was not asking for more real estate, but instead, he wanted greater influence, more responsibility, and more opportunity to make a mark for God. He wanted to excel and expand, and he was not afraid to ask God for his blessing and success. He wanted to invest his life in God’s big dreams, and he could envision God providing.

Jabez also prayed for God presence, for His right hand to be with him . Jabez knew that to live large for God would take more than his own strength.  It would require God’s power in his life to accomplish God’s bigger vision.

Finally, Jabez prayed for God’s protection over his life, to be kept from harm . As we seek to expand our influence, impact our community, and serve God, we become a threat to the devil. Jabez prayed to be kept safe; to not be prevented from making an impact.

We could easily miss opportunities to live an above average life of faith pursuing great things for God. It is easier to keep our dreams manageable and our expectations low, to focus on what we know and stay in our comfort zone. But we could pray like Jabez, confident in the power, presence, and protection of God, and boldly seek to expand our territory and influence for His glory- knowing “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

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Lord, I pray for your blessing in my life. Enlarge my influence for your glory. Show me the dreams you have for me and grant me the courage to step out of my comfort zone. Please be with me in all that I do and keep me safe. Amen.

Honoring God in our Decisions

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 04:44:49 GMT

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

- Matthew 6:10

In our quest to champion our Christian walk, we can sometimes get stuck on daily decisions. This can be rooted in good intentions and the desire to please God or even a need to be perfect. We want to choose the right job, the right friends, or even the right church, and we find ourselves unwilling to proceed out of fear of disappointing God. This scenario plays out when God asks Moses to be a vessel to deliver the children of Israel from the Egyptian’s stronghold. Moses, not feeling qualified and not wanting to fail, offered God multiple reasons why he was not the right person for the job.

On the other hand, there can sometimes be a temptation not to pause to seek God’s will because we may not like the answer. We hesitate to pray about certain decisions out of fear that God may ask us to make the harder choice or go a different direction than we desire. Like the rich young ruler who walked away not wanting to give up his earthly riches, it can be a struggle to let go of our own plans and sense of control. Instead, we would rather decide on our own and ask God to bless it later.

But in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Praying, “Your kingdom come,” means we desire for His sovereign rule over our lives, and we submit to His authority and yield to His control. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” is asking God to bring about His heavenly purposes on earth while using us to do His will. Jesus did not teach us we need to be perfect or that we are capable of being in control. He modeled a prayer that serves as a reminder that God is Lord of our lives, trustworthy and faithful to lead and guide us according to His plans. We only need to ask.

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Lord, I pray Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life. I submit to Your authority and trust You with decisions I need to make. Grant me Your wisdom and guidance as I seek to live a life that gives You glory. Amen.

Unity is Not Sameness

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 02:59:30 GMT

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”

- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

In this day of great divisiveness, “unity is not sameness” feels like a powerful statement. We do not have to all be the same to be unified in our love and service to God. Sometimes we may assume God wants same-looking, same-thinking, same-skilled believers all working in perfect tandem for the Kingdom, but the more I read about the way God has empowered His Church, the more I realize that is far from His desire. God has given us a variety of gifts and a variety of ways to serve Him and His Kingdom. We are unique yet unified.

In Ephesians, Paul reminds the church at Ephesus that God “gave the apostle, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13). These are all unique gifts with one purpose, to benefit believers and build up the church. The gifts vary, but they are all needed.

God has gifts and purpose uniquely prepared for each of us as we participate in His bigger plan. We are not all the same (nor should we be). Maybe you need to remember that today. You may not be a teacher, preacher, or worship leader, but what are you doing with the gifts God has given you? Are you organized or encouraging? Do you find joy in caring for others? Do you have a way with words? How can your gifts be used to serve God and benefit His church Remember “ you are part of something immense, something that began before you were born and will continue after you die. God is rescuing fallen humanity, transporting them into His kingdom, and progressively changing them into His likeness---and He wants you to be part of it ” (Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands ). What can you start doing today that uses your gifts within this bigger plan?

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Lord, show me the places You have chosen to equip me to build up the body of Christ. Forgive me when I am jealous or judge those who You have equipped differently than me. Draw me into an attitude of unity for Your Kingdom. And thank You for loving me enough to include me in Your plans and purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Talent and Faithfulness: Diligence in Using God’s Gifts

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 16:50:50 GMT

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

- Luke 16:10

In 5th Grade, my father gave me a $2 bill with a caution to cherish it and keep it for myself because they were so rare that I would probably never get another one. Being an anxious kid, I instantly hid it away in my Velcro wallet for safe keeping. A few days later, I saw a $2 bill on the playground during recess. Worried that I had lost mine, I swooped it up right away to put it back in my wallet only to be surprised that the original $2 bill was still there.

For the last 40 years, I have carried both of those $2 bills in my wallet as a reminder that at an early age the Lord used them to teach me a valuable lesson. God is my provider, and it is all His. We can live in fear or by faith trusting He will supply all our daily needs. I have never had a lot of money but what He has given me I have learned to surrender, to further His kingdom.

I have always heard Luke 16:10 in the context that if I am faithful with a little money, He will give me a lot of money. Well, that has never happened. But what He has blessed me with is countless opportunities for my wife and I to be the hands and feet of Jesus by seeking to steward our time, talents, and treasure for His Kingdom, not ours. And even through some very difficult seasons, we have never gone without.

It is easy to think we would give more if we had more but that is not true. John MacArthur says it well, “Circumstances don't determine faithfulness, character does.”

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Father, thank You that You are always faithful even when we are not. Please forgive us for the ways we have not been good stewards of what you have given. Whether we have little or much, take our eyes off temporal things and open our hearts and hands to faithfully steward everything we have for Your kingdom. Amen.

Talent and Calling: Embracing God’s Purpose for Your Life

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:43:23 GMT

“[God], who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

-1 Timothy 1:9

I remember the feeling I had when I was first “called” to play on my high school’s golf team. One day on the course, at the end of my 8th grade year, I had my clubs out for the first time in a year. I just happened to be on the driving range, when a man (my future high school coach) walked by. He stopped, he got my attention, and he introduced himself. As he held out his hand, he said words that spoke purpose and a new calling into my life: “I would love for you to play on my team. What do you think?”

On that day in 8th grade, I felt the joy of being invited into a team and a coaching relationship that I did not deserve. Much like my coach graciously reached out his hand and invited me to join him, God graciously reaches out His hand, through Jesus Christ, and invites us to join Him: “ I would love for you to play on my team. What do you think?”

As we “Invest” this year as the body of Christ, what has God given us to steward for His Team? As Paul told Timothy, “God has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” We must steward every bit of our resources—time, treasure, and territory—to bring praise to God. He has reached out His hand and invited us into a life alongside Him.

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Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for holding your hand out to me. Before the ages began, you had a plan to save me, and call me into a greater purpose with You. I know this is not because of my works—it is because of Your grace. Thank you so much for that grace. I love you and give this day to you. Amen.

Identifying Talents: Recognizing God’s Unique Design

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:36:04 GMT

“ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;    the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

- Romans 12:6-8

God has gifted each of His children in ways that will give Him glory and point others to Him. In Romans 12:6-8, Paul gives examples of some of those gifts: generosity, leadership, service, teaching, prophecy, mercy, and exhortation. Note that all these gifts are most beneficial when used to serve others. Mercy is extended to, teaching is shared with, and generosity is received by others. We have various giftings given to us by God intended to benefit others and to give Him glory.

Recognizing how we are gifted and then committing to using those gifts in serving others is a large piece, but we also need to learn to lean into Him for direction, wisdom, and discernment on how to apply our gifts. Listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit, prayerfully considering opportunities to use our gifts, and honestly looking for ways to fill needs all take practice. Sometimes we may feel unprepared or unqualified, but God will equip us with what need to serve in the ways He has called us; we just need to take some first steps. Being used in the lives of others magnifies the wonder of God and emphasizes how thoughtful and detailed He is.

It can be a life changing experience to fully realize we are created with a specific purpose and given unique attributes designed for His specific plans. Even when life is at its hardest, God still has purpose for each of us and He still wants us to make an impact. He is invested in each of us personally and that should drive us to glorify Him in every way we can while also investing in others.

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Lord, show me how you have uniquely gifted me and how I can use those gifts to serve others. Thank you for investing in me so intentionally; May I in turn invest in others. Open my eyes to your plans and purposes so I can lean on you as I seek to bring you glory. Amen.

Maximizing Talents: Flourishing in God's Purpose

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:31:05 GMT

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

- Ephesians 2:10

We are His workmanship. We are crafted with skill and for a purpose. When we accept Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, we agree to be a vessel He uses for His glory and His plans. He is the artist who promises to be the "author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). We can trust Him; He is responsible for our design, our gifts, and our results when we participate in His plan.

As His workmanship, we are created for good works. Good works do not grant us salvation, they are not our ticket into heaven, but they absolutely are a result of our salvation. In response to God’s gift of salvation, we surrender our own plans for His purposes. Practically speaking, this could be as simple as adjusting our attitude from what we “have to do” to what we “get to do,” looking for ways where we can be a light to others in the things we are already doing. It could be more difficult like reprioritizing our schedule or choosing to no longer do certain things to create time and opportunity to be used by God. Regardless of changes we may make, we should prayerfully ask God for direction and discernment regarding where we place our energy and efforts.

God prepared good works for us to do in advance according to His purposes. In advance. On purpose. How wonderful a truth it is that our design and giftings are intended to participate in what God wants to do in the lives of others. Just like any artist or inventor, there is intentionality on how it all comes together. God did not create us and then decide how we might be used; quite the contrary. God gave us purpose in our very design just as everything in creation has been assigned purpose. Our works become an investment that can create a return hundredfold for God’s kingdom, something He designed in advance for us to do.

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Lord, help me to see how I am your workmanship. Open my heart to the good work you have prepared for me to do, granting me wisdom and discernment to see where I can be a part of your plans. May I be able to bring you glory in all that I do.

Talent and Humility: Using Gifts with Servant Hearts

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:21:43 GMT

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

- Philippians 2:3-4

Christian community is one of the greatest gifts the church has to offer. We set aside what may be best for ourselves and instead look to what is best for the entire body of Christ. There is not one single person in the church who can do everything on their own; we all have different gifts, opportunities, and resources. We need one another. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to remind them that division and selfish ambition will keep them from being like Christ and from furthering the mission of God. It is only in humility that we can serve others.

Christ took on a posture of humility and modeled servant leadership as He gave up his divine nature to fully love and serve others. To be like Christ, we need a similar radical humility, a genuine and significant overhaul of how we view our own importance. We need to prioritize making more and better disciples over our own ambitions, having a Christ-like heart for serving others.

There are countless opportunities to use our giftings for ourselves. We can be tempted to seek praise, find value, and inflate our own ego as we pursue meeting our own needs. It is when we set this temptation aside, recognizing God gifted us to serve others, that we uncover not only the blessing of serving but the sense of satisfaction that can only come from being used by God for His purposes. It can be easy to volunteer or use our skills at church to just check a box; We need to understand serving is about placing the needs of others above ourselves and furthering God’s purposes. It is about coming alongside others, in humility, for God glory.

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Lord, hear the hope in my heart as I come to You today. I desire to serve You without selfish ambitions or boastful pride. Make me more like Christ. Help me to serve in humility and out of love for others. Reframe my thoughts to focus on You alone. I thank You for never giving up on me as I walk this road of sanctification. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Discovering Your God-Given Talent: Unveiling Hidden Gifts

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 01:04:38 GMT

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

- 1 Peter 4:10-11

Have you ever had an aha moment where God made it abundantly clear you were exactly where you were supposed to be? This has happened to me on more than one occasion, but it is always most clear when I am looking back on the sovereignty of God over a period in my life.

I have always been an introvert. My preferred way of doing anything is always out of the spotlight. But God has a funny way of pushing us out of our comfort zones and revealing things about ourselves that we never would have dreamed. As I began my seminary journey 6 years ago, I had no idea where God would lead me. I was just being faithful to the next step He called me to.

Through years of studying God’s word and learning under the leadership of those ahead of me in ministry, God stretched me. After multiple seasons of serving where I was always behind the scenes and comfortable, God challenged me with other plans. When I was asked and hesitantly joined a teaching cohort, I started teaching adult discipleship classes and helped write curriculum for our children’s ministry; things I never would have anticipated doing.

Leadership and shepherding were not gifts I saw in myself, but God continued to grow these skills and talents and others in leadership allowed me to cultivate them. And even though it was scary and hard, it was completely worth it. My love for the Lord deepened, and my dependence on Him strengthened.

When our dependence and strength rest in God alone, His name is glorified. The gifts He asks us to steward are to serve His church and further His mission, and it is in the ways we use our differing gifts that others see the beauty and power of God. I encourage you to not put limits on what God can do in your life or how He can use you for His glory. Be willing to get uncomfortable.

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Lord, please unveil the hidden gifts you have given me and grant me courage to grow them and use them. Give me strength to say yes to my part in your plan and help me seek your will and not mine. May I discover who you created me to be and how I can bring you glory.

Investing with All Your Heart

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:59:26 GMT

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

- Colossians 3:23-24

This verse is on the wall above my children’s laundry hamper. As an optimistic parent I was certain such a décor addition would ensure happy hearts while going about household responsibilities. The truth is, I need this reminder more often than I would like to admit.

Life’s responsibilities and obligations can often feel like they are on a graded scale of importance and value; taking out the trash is not as significant as leading a meeting, after school pick up not as noble as ministering to a friend. In that sliding scale, we often match our effort level with the degree a task is valued, working harder and sacrificing more when there is an obvious benefit or certain level of praise.

There is also a large temptation to seek appreciation and approval from others about the things we do. We want the world to acknowledge our work and be grateful for our efforts; to say thank you and good job. This verse is a gut punch reminder that whatever we do, we ultimately do it as if we are working for the Lord, so it should always be done with excellence. And it does not matter how it may or may not be valued by friends, family, or co-workers, it is the Lord we are serving.

If we work at what we do with all our heart, thankful to God for our gifts, talents, and opportunities, we are operating from a right mindset. And when we recognize everything we do is not for man’s approval but for God, then all of it is important and all of it has value. We can fully invest in the work we do knowing regardless of how it is received God sees us and He will reward us for a job well done.

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Lord, help me to give my best effort in everything I do as if it is just for you. Remind me when I feel frustrated by the mundane or overlooked by others, that you see me, and your approval is all I need. May everything I do bring you honor and glory.

Finding Rest in God: Balancing Work and Sabbath

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:54:48 GMT

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

- Exodus 20:8-11

No matter what your biblical expertise is, you are probably familiar with today’s passage about honoring the Sabbath. To set the stage, God is giving Moses a list of commandments for His covenant people. But why does He include Sabbath rest in the list?

We live in a 24/7 culture of never-ending noise and busyness. Making space for Sabbath rest can seem unproductive and useless. You may think, “I don’t have time to waste resting.” But God not only insists on rest, but He also reminds us that this ‘rest day’ has purpose: this Sabbath day is to be “dedicated to the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:10).

A few years ago, after finishing a handful of triathlons, I decided it was time to take on a BIG goal; I signed up for my first Half Ironman triathlon. That is 70.3 miles of swimming, biking, and running. My goal was to finish strong. When I got my first glimpse of the training plan, I was shocked by the number of “rest days” built in. How could a DAY OFF prepare me for a strong finish? My coach explained that a rest day was not “a day off.” It was an intentional part of the plan to recharge and rebuild when I was worn down and depleted.

The same is true about God’s command for our Sabbath rest. He knows that we are systematically depleted, overworked, and desperately need to unplug, slow down our pace, and rest with Him. Eugene Peterson once said, “Sabbath is that uncluttered time and space in which we can distance ourselves from our own activities enough to see what God is doing.”

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Lord, forgive me for trying to control my “training plan” without building in rest days. You know what is best for me. Help me mark and create margin for “uncluttered time and space” to discover You in a deeper way.

Maximizing Family Time: Biblical Principles for Stronger Bonds

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:47:25 GMT

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

- Deuteronomy 6:6-7

I love the new year! While the execution does not typically pan out, I love the intention behind New Year’s resolutions. I love a good chance for a reset to start something new.

Last June, my wife and I had our first child which means every day is new (and certainly an adventure!) as we learn all about being a family. With this newness, I have an opportunity to set my household's spiritual climate. For example, we can set an expectation that bedtime is always accompanied by scripture and prayer. And as my daughter discovers music, bright colors, and the smell of bacon on the griddle, we can choose to teach her about God’s design in all things as our creator. We can prioritize teaching about God when we walk, when we lie down and when we rise.

Maybe you have been on the same course for a long time and introducing something new into the household routine, like prayer or scripture reading, might feel jarring and awkward. I encourage you to lean into the awkward and trust the Lord will show up. Believe He will bless your efforts and honor the time you are choosing to give to Him as a family. Some days will go better than others, and that is okay. Lamentations 3 tells us that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, and His mercies never come to an end.” In fact, those mercies are “new every morning; great is [His] faithfulness” (v 22-23). I challenge you to pray about something new you could add to your current routine that will draw you and your family closer to the Lord. Persevere through the difficulties and awkwardness allowing God to truly bless you as you seek to diligently teach your children all about the Lord.

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Father, thank you for your steadfast faithfulness. Thank you for not holding my shortcomings over me, giving me new mercies each day. Show me where our family can start something new that honors you, adjusting the climate of our household for your glory. May my family be led by faith, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Time Well Spent: Nurturing Spiritual Gifts

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:41:55 GMT

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

-1 Peter 4:10

Around eight years ago, I had just finished facilitating a table discussion for a women’s Bible study when one of the staff members asked if I had ever thought of attending seminary. She had heard a few of the weekly discussions and thought I had gifts that God could use in the church. I remember staring at her in disbelief. She knew I had a 6-month-old baby and two elementary aged kids at home, and she also knew I was in the process of healing from a childhood trauma. This was not the season to take on something like seminary, nor was that even a plan I had for my life. I had never even read the Bible all the way through. In my mind, I was a “baby Christian.” In fact, I had only recently returned to the church after years of being away, and I was just doing Bible study hoping to learn more about God. I certainly did not think I had any gifts to use for the church. I was just a mom surviving one day at a time. How could God use me? Surely, there were others with more experience and greater gifts. I was confused and honestly scared. I did not understand yet that God uses every single person and every single gift.

In 1 Peter 4:10, God’s word teaches us that our gifts are to be used to serve one another according to His purposes stewarding His grace. He has specifically chosen, in His wisdom and goodness, to grant each of us skills and abilities for His purposes and plans. These gifts are not just for us to enjoy on our own nor do we have the freedom to just cast them aside. And it would be just as tragic for us to focus on what we lack or how we are not gifted like others. We need to remember God gives gifts intentionally, and we should be just as intentional with how we use them. Every time we say ‘yes’ to stewarding the gifts God has given us, we are cultivating and growing His kingdom, participating in His plans, and embracing the opportunities we have to serve others.

Cultivating gifts is a process. Growing and nurturing anything takes patience, support, and the right environment. If someone has pointed out a gift they see in you, pray, and ask God how to use it for His glory. Ask others for practical ways to grow in your gifting. It takes time, but all good things take time. May this year be the year you say ‘yes’ to investing in your gifts and finding ways to use them to serve others.

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Lord, give me insight on how you have gifted me and how I should steward those gifts for your kingdom and glory. Take away any fear or doubt that gets in the way so I can serve you and grow in my love and knowledge of you.

Time as a Gift: Understanding God’s Eternal Perspective

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 02:58:20 GMT

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

- Psalm 90:12

Holding a newborn baby can stir overwhelming gratitude for the gift of life. Looking into the eyes of a little one or watching him peacefully sleep can cause a sweet warmth of God’s goodness to wash over us. We often envision all the life that is ahead, the places he will go, the things he will do, and the man he will become one day.

We do not, however, gaze into that sweet small face and consider the finite existence of his being. We do not contemplate or have conversations centered around how long his lifespan will be. That would feel not only unnatural but just plain wrong. And yet, the Psalmist in this verse is asking God to help him do just that.

He implores of God, "teach me how to use the days I’ve been given. Help me make the most of the time that I have.” Why does he do this? Because he understands that time is a precious commodity. We must be wise in how we spend our days, choosing to invest in the pursuit of wisdom, goodness, and the kingdom of God.

As you reflect on today’s passage and the days God has gifted, pray that He will make His plans for you clear allowing His divine purposes to shape the choices you make. Resolve to be about the business of gaining a “heart of wisdom,” using each day as an opportunity to look more like Christ in what you do, where you invest, and how you love others.

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Heavenly Father, I know Your word tells me that “all the days ordained for me were written in Your book.” Thank you for the specific plan You have for me and my life. As I prepare to step into today, grant me the grace to walk boldly and confidently in your plan as I seek to look more like Christ in all that I do.

Stewardship Lessons from the Parable of the Talents

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 02:53:43 GMT

“…well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.”

- Matthew 25:21

“How did you decide to start writing and teaching Bible studies?”

This question came from a new friend who feels certain God is preparing her for a writing/teaching role. We were meeting together so I could help her “hone her craft” a bit.

My answer? “I didn’t. God did.”

I did not go seeking His plan for my abilities and gifts. Honestly? It never even entered my mind. I randomly took a college class called “technical writing” and soon realized writing and teaching processes, procedures, policies, and user’s guides was my jam. As married life and kiddos came on the scene, my husband and I decided I would step away from my writing career and step into my mom-career. I jumped in with both feet, but never lost my love for writing and teaching words.

After years of volunteering at church, I was asked to “prayerfully consider” teaching the Bible to the women of RPC. I was petrified. I am not a theologian. I am a former technical writer/stay-at-home-mom! But God was perfectly preparing me for a role I never saw coming. He had entrusted me with “talents” to use for His purposes, not just mine. As of today, God and I have written 14-ish Bible studies and are raising up future writer/teachers together.

Are there abilities and gifts He has given you that you have buried in the ground instead of growing and pursuing God’s perfect plan?

He has given us all gifts and abilities to use for His greater plans. Jesus talks about this very idea in Matthew 25; He reminds us to steward the gifts God has given. Writing user’s manuals and training teachers was cool. Writing Bible studies, teaching His Word, and raising up others was God’s plan all along.

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Lord, where am I holding the gifts and abilities You have given me with tight, closed fists? Show me how to open my hands and let go of control so I can get in step with your greater purposes. Show me how I can be faithful with what You have given me.

Investing Time in Discipleship: Growing Together in Christ

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 02:46:58 GMT

"What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."

- 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

During a recent trip to California, I took my children to see the Sequoia National Forest. The scale of these giant redwoods was amazing, but they did not get that way overnight; each grew from a tiny seed, nurtured by the right set of circumstances. Disciples grow in the same way.

In a fast-paced world, discipleship stands out as a powerful act of love and service. Discipleship is not a single event; it is a long-term journey of walking alongside one another, sharing what we know, and offering support. It can be as simple as a casual conversation over lunch, a shared Bible Study or simply listening during a tough time. In these seemingly ordinary moments, seeds of truth are sown, watered by encouragement, and grown by the warmth of biblical community.

But why invest our time in discipleship? The benefits are substantial. For mentors, it's a chance to deepen our own understanding of faith through teaching and reflection. By guiding others, mentors solidify their own grasp on the truths we hold dear. And witnessing someone grow in their faith, overcome challenges, and embrace God's purpose for their life is a reward beyond measure.

For the disciple, the benefits are equally transformative. Receiving guidance from a seasoned believer provides direction, encouragement, and accountability. A mentor’s wisdom can help navigate life's complexities, fostering spiritual maturity and a deeper understanding of God's word.

Remember Jesus' ministry. He did not just deliver powerful sermons; He poured his life into His disciples, nurturing their faith through personal interaction, practical instruction, and even gentle correction. He understood that true transformation happens not just through hearing, but through intentional and personal discipleship.

Whether you are a seasoned believer or still young in your faith journey, there is always someone who can benefit from your wisdom and experience. Every act of discipleship, however small, contributes to the flourishing of God's kingdom. As we nurture one another, we cultivate a vibrant community of faith, where everyone reflects the beauty and transformative power of Christ's love.

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Heavenly Father, thank you for the mentors that have invested in my spiritual life. Bring my attention to the people you have placed in my path and guide my efforts to make disciples as you lovingly modeled in your earthly ministry.

Redeeming Time: Making the Most of Every Opportunity

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 02:35:15 GMT

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil."

- Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)

By default, it is easy to be consumed by endless tasks and obligations. While today’s obligations may not qualify as evil, they can certainly be mundane. Heavy. Maybe even draining. In the middle of these demands, what is in your control? Or better yet, how can these obligations be surrendered to God’s control? Perhaps we simply need to pause and appreciate the significance of each passing moment, taking a few minutes to reflect on undeserved blessings. Using some discretionary time to show care for others and allocating our time thoughtfully, acknowledging it is precious.

Consider obligations to actually be opportunities - opportunities to not just accomplish a task but to connect with others, extend kindness, exemplify the fruits of the Spirit and embrace meaningful interactions. We can engage differently with our family, friends, co-workers and in our community when we intentionally go beyond mere obligations.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but what if we purposefully shift our perspective? How can our day look different if we viewed time not as a sequence of tasks but as divine appointments waiting to be seized?

If our obligations are aligned with God's purposes, we can more easily redeem them as opportunities to reflect His love and grace making each moment count in accordance with God's wisdom.

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Lord, As I create space for prayer and reflection, change my perspective. Remind me every moment is a gift from You! Help my heart cherish opportunities and redeem them for Your glory.

Seeking God’s Kingdom First

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:07:42 GMT

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

- Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

A new year is upon us. We’ve wrapped up the Christmas season and (probably) put away the decorations. The beginning of a new year invites changes. With the closure of the holidays and endless pajama time, our old routines are starting to kick back in.

At RockPointe, the beginning of 2024 ushers in some exciting changes. After spending a year building a foundation of prayer, we now shift our attention to investing in the Kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is expansive and includes the ways we use (spend) all God has given us: time, influence, abilities, relationships, and yes, even our financial resources.

In a world with increasing distractions and demands, the call to prioritize God's kingdom might seem elusive. Matthew 6:33 illuminates a timeless truth: when our priority becomes seeking God and His righteousness, everything else falls into place. It's a divine principle with an enduring promise.

Prioritizing God's kingdom isn't merely a task on our to-do list; it's an orientation of the heart. It's about aligning our desires, intentions, and actions with God's will. Seeking His righteousness means pursuing His ways, conforming our thoughts, attitudes and actions to His divine standards. It's an ongoing journey, a conscious decision to put God at the forefront of our lives.

This certainly isn't a call to neglect responsibilities or disregard needs. Instead, it's an invitation to reorder our priorities. It's an assurance that when God takes His rightful place in our lives, when His kingdom becomes our primary pursuit, He graciously attends to our needs. It's a promise of provision, not just of material things, but of peace, contentment, and spiritual fulfillment.

Let's start 2024 and each day in it by seeking God's kingdom first.

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Lord, as we prioritize you in our hearts and decisions, may we experience your abundant blessings, knowing that in seeking you we find everything our hearts truly need.

The Sovereignty of God

Jay.Hough@rpcstaff.org (Jay Hough) — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:29:22 GMT

Isaiah 46:9-10

Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there Is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’

In this current season, I have been constantly dwelling on the sovereignty of God. He is in control. He is in charge. He holds the entire universe in His hands. Can I find rest for my soul in this?

I’m reminded of the story of Jonah. Jonah 1:3 says, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” (emphasis added)

At a point of conflict, instead of following God’s instruction, Jonah “tried” to flee from the Lord’s presence. In my head, I chuckle at this. Doesn’t Jonah know he can’t flee from the presence of God? Did he not learn from Adam and Eve when they “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). As I’m chuckling to myself, the Holy Spirit then convicts my own heart.

Am I trying to flee from the presence of the Lord? Is the Lord asking something of me and instead of running to Him, am I running from him?

As the story continues in Jonah 1:17, we know that Jonah is unable to hide from God’s presence: “And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

After those three days and nights, Jonah cries out to the Lord. I love his prayer from the belly of the fish in Jonah 2:2-9:

² “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.
³ For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
⁴ Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’
⁵ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head
⁶ at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
⁷ When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
⁸ Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
⁹ But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

May we all, myself included, be reminded that God’s sovereign plan cannot and will not be thwarted (Job 42:2). Instead of trying to run away from our Father, we should be running to Him. Desiring His presence. Seeking His presence. Going to Him in prayer constantly. Asking for His will to be done. May we continually seek to make prayer a habit in our lives.

Written by R. Taylor (RPC Creative Team)

Pray Without Ceasing

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 02:33:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered what is the best time to pray? Or did you even know that there is a best time to pray? There is! The best time to pray is NOW. When Paul was writing to the Thessalonians he said, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

This idea of praying without ceasing means that we can talk to God all day, every day. We can talk directly to Him in a conversational way. We can talk to Him in song. We can talk to Him in our thoughts. We can talk to Him out loud. We can even be talking to someone else and if we keep God over and through our words, we are praying. We are building our relationship with Him. Prayer keeps us considering God all day long when we follow Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing.”

Recently, I was sitting at the dinner table with my kids waiting for my husband to get home from work. We thought he’d be home by now and as we wondered if we should start eating without him, the phone rang. I heard my husband’s shaky voice on the other end of the line, “I’ll be late, I just got pulled over for speeding.” “It’s ok,” I said trying to reassure him, “I’ll pray the officer has grace.” Often, that’s how we respond to such situations. We say we’ll pray.

Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we think just saying “I’ll pray” feels like enough and that God heard our hearts. Sometimes that’s true! Then there’s times that God tugs at our hearts to follow-through in a bigger way. On this particular day, I hung up the phone, looked at my kids and felt the Holy Spirit speak through me. “Dad got pulled over for speeding. Can we pray for him?” My kids looked at me with big eyes and big nods. We closed our eyes and prayed that God would work in His supernatural ways and allow the officer to be full of grace. As soon as I said Amen, I got another ring. On the other end of the line, my husband said, “He was super nice and gave me a warning, I’ll be home in 5 minutes.”

A speeding ticket isn’t that big of a deal, but it can put a damper on your day. Not every prayer ends with the answer we are hoping. But getting in the habit of stopping and praying in the moment, a habit of praying without ceasing, will allow us to be a part of what He’s doing, show us more of His heart, and guide us in learning His character. May we all remember that the best time to pray is now, and that having a posture of prayer is keeping God at the center all day!

Written by A. Flood (RPC Creative Team)

Patiently Waiting

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:40:00 GMT

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12, emphasis added)

If we’re being honest with ourselves, oftentimes when we pray, we want God to say “yes” to our prayers. Who wouldn’t want to get what they asked for, right? But we know that our heavenly Father is not a genie in a bottle who is going to grant all our wishes and desires. However, it is important to know that our prayers to God never go unanswered; they just may not be answered in the way we may hope.

God will answer our prayers and do so in one of three ways: yes, no, or wait.

For me, personally, the latter response is the least desired of all the responses. I would prefer a straightforward answer of yes or no. Don’t we all? But, of course, my current “big” prayer is being answered with the response of wait . Whether it’s waiting on the next house, the proposal, the next big career break, a new addition to the family, or Christmas, we’ve all had seasons of waiting.

I’ve asked God several times if He is sure the answer is “wait” (because who enjoys being patient and waiting for something), and He continually tells me to wait. And I can’t help but wonder if after all my waiting, what if He answers with no. And yet, in God’s goodness, I am then reminded that I can’t play the “what if” game and am pointed to scripture. James 1:6 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” I can’t let my doubts so easily waver my heart, soul, and mind. I must trust and not doubt. Why? Because God is good. He has my best interests at heart. He is all-knowing. He knows what is best for me. Even though my sinful self wants the answer right now, and selfishly wants the answer to be “yes” in the end. I must continue to believe that no matter how God answers my prayer, He is still good. Even though. Even still. Even if.

While in the waiting, God has continually led me to the book of James, specifically chapter 5.

James 5:13-18
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

Elijah prayed fervently – earnestly, enthusiastically, diligently, vigorously. Am I praying with this same zeal that Elijah prayed? All while being patient?

A quick Google search for a definition of patience yielded the following: “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Accept delay? Without getting angry? Patience is not an easy quality to possess, especially with hearts bent to sin. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis added) And, as someone who has the Spirit inside me, I want to bear this fruit and have patience as I continue to pray and seek the Lord. Asking Him to align my desires to His will.

So, here I am. Waiting. For an unknown amount of time. For an unknown final answer. Yet, as Romans 12:12 says, I will remain constant in prayer as I am patiently waiting.

Why Pray?

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 15:53:00 GMT

We are over 150 days into the year 2023. This also means we are over 150 days into our prayer emphasis. New Year’s resolutions have come and gone. But what about your prayer life? Are you continuing to pursue a habit of prayer by talking to God for at least 3 minutes every day (if not longer)? If you’ve been reading along with us in Scotty Smith’s book, Everyday Prayers , then you have already spent over 450 minutes in prayer this year with our Lord. That’s great news. Especially considering that Americans spend, on average, over 2 hours a day on social media alone.

If you are still on the fence about why we should even pray, then here are some reasons why prayer is so important in our life.

Why should you pray?

Here are a few additional points to consider.

So, the question you should be asking yourself isn’t “why pray?” but “why would you not pray?”

Praying for the Unbeliever

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 15:42:00 GMT

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

Now that Easter has come and gone, are we to move on with our daily lives without reflecting on what Christ did for us on the cross? Certainly not. In the weeks leading up to Easter, we seem to be focused on inviting those who may not regularly attend church to come visit with us and to hear about Jesus. But, what about now? Do we have this same fervor and desire to share Jesus with others? Or do we even have a desire to pray for those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior?

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, it is written: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people , for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6, emphasis added)

Are you praying for the lost in our world? Are you actively seeking ways to minister to and serve those who may not know Christ? What would it look like if we viewed every Sunday morning church service as if it was Easter by fervently inviting people to church, talking about the sacrifice of Jesus, and sharing the Gospel with others? We encourage you to pray daily for your family members, neighbors, coworkers, and community members who do not know Jesus.

Pray for…

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Even If It’s Just to Speak Your Name

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:26:00 GMT

It had been a long, trying three-day weekend. A beloved family pet crossed the rainbow bridge, and I was heartbroken and exhausted from the endless stream of tears rolling down my face for several days. Yet, life must go on and I had to drive to Uptown Dallas on a busy morning for a one-day conference. Traffic is not my friend. I thoroughly enjoy being able to work from my cozy home office without having to drive to work every morning. But, nonetheless, here I was. To make matters worse, I was driving my husband’s truck so he could play chauffeur to our kids for the day. Why is driving my husband’s truck a bad thing? He has a broken radio antenna. So, in addition to driving in traffic, I also had to do so without being able to listen to my favorite morning radio show. My day was not off to a great start.

Flashback to November 2021 when my husband and I attended a marriage conference known as Weekend to Remember. One of the keynote speakers was Matt Hammitt, the former lead singer of Sanctus Real, most notably recognized for the song “Lead Me.” It was an incredible weekend of reconnection and growth for our marriage and my husband enjoyed listening to Matt during the sessions. “Lead Me” was a very popular song early in our marriage, so with our wedding anniversary coming up, I purchased my husband the “Best of Sanctus Real” CD which included the popular song. Because the only CD players we have are in our cars, the CD made its way to my husband’s truck.

Traffic. Broken antenna. No radio. CD from over a year ago. Do you see where this is going?

Let’s fast forward back to my radio-less, morning drive when I hit play on the CD option without knowing which CD was in there. The all-familiar songs of Sanctus Real started playing through the speakers. We have listened to this CD hundreds of times over the course of the past year, as there aren’t many other options in the truck. However, on this drive, a song came on, that even though I’ve heard it countless times, struck me differently that morning. I tuned into every word. And eventually listened to the song on repeat until I reached my destination almost an hour later.

God’s plan and timing are perfect considering that our church emphasis for the year is prayer. The words to the song (below) rang louder and truer than ever before, especially after a rough weekend.

Despite my broken heart and inability to know what to do or say or even what to pray to God, this song reminded me of the importance to pray, even if it is just to speak His name.

Pray (Sanctus Real)
I bow my head to pray
I don’t know what to say
I’m not sure how to fix
The things I’m dealing with

I’m in a desperate place
I need to share the weight, but I just don’t know how
To let it all pour out

Though I’m silent
My heart is crying
Cause I was made to come to you

So I pray
God I need you more than words can say
Right here in this moment

You know my heart
You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it’s just to speak your name
I’m gonna pray

I fail to find the time
But you’ve been calling now
I let the days go by
As if I could live without, but it’s gotta be hearing now

I won’t be poured away
Cause it’s just you and I
So let the world around us fade
As I pray

God I need you more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart
You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it’s just to speak your name
I’m gonna pray
I’m gonna pray

Father…
I’m in a desperate place
Father…
I know you can bear the weight
Father…
Take me in your arms
As I speak your name

I lift my hands and pray
I lift my hands and pray

You know my heart
You know my need
And every single part of me
So even if it’s just to speak your name
I’m gonna pray (You know my heart, you know my need, you know every part of me)
I’m gonna pray (All the words, you are my life, take it as an offering)
You know my heart, you know my need, you know every part of me
All the words, you are my life, take it as an offering

Unity in Relationships

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 02:48:00 GMT

In one way or another, we are all part of a relationship, whether it be family, coworkers, friends, or our community. From the very beginning of creation, relationships existed:

Then God said, “Let US make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
– Genesis 1:26-27 (emphasis added)

“Us” in the scripture above references the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. God himself resides in community. Being designed in God’s own image, we are created for community and relationships.

One important factor in relationships is unity. God does not desire us to have division among each other. He desires unity. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul begs his readers to lead a life worthy of their calling and to make every effort to keep themselves united in the Spirit, binding themselves together with peace. Paul goes on to write, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Many years ago, I was in a broken relationship. I was not making every effort to be united in the relationship, much less have peace with the person. I was angry. I was bitter. I was unforgiving. I wanted out. Despite having been in the relationship for more than 14 years, I was done. At a complete loss for what to do, I hit my knees. At first, my conversations with God weren’t really conversations at all. They were demands of God to change the person and “fix” them. Only then would I be willing to allow the relationship to continue. After all, in my mind, they were the one who were sinning, the one who was causing me to hurt, and the one who needed to change. Not me. I felt like I had invested and given all I had in the relationship. It was their turn to do their part. Not mine.

But God, being God, didn’t “fix” or change them. Guess who He changed? Me. Yep. I didn’t see that one coming. Through much prayer and petition with God, He revealed to me my self-righteousness, my unrepentant heart, and my bitterness. I wasn’t living according to Paul’s words. I wasn’t being kind, I wasn’t being tenderhearted, and I wasn’t forgiving. I was bitter and I was content in my bitterness. That was until God revealed to me my sin that I had been turning a blind eye to for far too long. Did you know bitterness is a sin? I certainly didn’t until God gently pointed out the words in James 3:14-18:

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Ouch.

I hit my knees again. This time begging the Lord to forgive me for my sinful heart, my selfishness, the bitterness I had been holding on to for years, and my failure to be living a life that represented Christ. Through my prayers, I was changed. Then, my relationship was able to be restored and is continuing to thrive…going on 20+ years now. Praise be to God.

No matter what type of relationship you are in, pray for and seek unity in the relationship. If you are struggling with unforgiveness and bitterness, ask the Lord to release you from it and forgive others as Christ has forgiven you. God did not create us to live life outside of relationships. So, we need to be intentional in every relationship God has placed us in, for our good and for His glory.

Written by R. Taylor (RPC Creative Team)

Looking for ways to be intentional in your relationships? Text UNITY to 97891 for daily encouragement and tips.

What is Prayer?

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:10:00 GMT

With the start of 2023 comes our churchwide emphasis, or theme, for the year: prayer . Our main desire with this emphasis is for you to develop a habit of prayer in 2023.

What exactly does that mean to you? Let’s start with some basic definitions.

The word habit is defined as “a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up,” and prayer is spiritual communion with God, or more simply, talking to God.

Therefore, we want to equip you and guide you in developing a regular practice of talking to God . Our desire is for you to start this habit in 2023, making it part of your daily rhythms so that you can continue in this habit in the years ahead.

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We all know habits are difficult to break. At the same time, they are even more difficult to start. It takes multiple repetitions of the same behavior before that behavior becomes a habit.

So, where do you even begin to have prayer become a daily habit?

A great place to start is the book “ Everyday Prayers” by Scotty Smith . This book is highly recommended by Pastor Ron and is a collection of 365 Scripture-centered prayers that allow you to dive into God’s word and develop a more intimate relationship with God.

Not a book reader? That’s okay. Another option is to sign up to receive a daily text with a prayer prompt from January 9 through January 31.
Text DAILY to 97891 to opt-in to receive this daily prayer prompt to jump-start your prayer life.

Not a fan of either of those options? Then, visit rpc.fm/pray for additional resources to help you get started.

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Now that you know where to start, you may be asking, how do I pray? Even Jesus’ disciples asked the Lord to teach them how to pray in Luke 11:1.

Jesus’ response to their question is known as the “The Lord’s Prayer.” Praying this prayer to our God daily will help you get into a rhythm of talking to Him.

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

⁹ Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

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In addition to equipping you to have daily conversations with God, we also would love to pray for you. You can submit any prayer requests at rpc.fm/prayer . It would be our joy and honor to pray over your requests.

Prayer is one of the primary ways that our spiritual life is nourished. When we cease to pray, we start to shrivel spiritually.

Let’s start 2023 by praying to our Almighty Father.

Why Do I Keep Sinning and How Can I Stop?

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:50:00 GMT

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room. We ALL sin. Maybe that’s something you’ve never heard before and you’re surprised by it – or maybe you’ve heard it so often that you’ve become numb to the idea of it. Either way, it’s an inescapable truth about our humanity. We are ALL sinners. The Bible tells us as much in Romans 3:23 “ALL have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” So regardless of your ethnicity, nationality, gender or social status…if you are human, you have sinned.

If we are all sinners, WHY do we sin? The simple answer is that it’s in our nature to do so. Adam and Eve made a conscious choice to disobey God’s instruction in the Garden of Eden and when they did humanity’s relationship with God was forever changed. That choice allowed sin to become a part of human nature and separate us from God. Generations later, humanity is still sinning. Many of us have even fallen into sinful patterns where we commit the same sin over and over and over again. God is calling us all up to a higher standard, but is that a standard we can even achieve? We know that throughout the course of human history, only one person has ever been able to achieve living a sinless life – Jesus, God’s son. That’s a pretty high bar. Is there even hope for us?

If you’re looking for an instant and magical fix, there isn’t one. But, yes, there is hope.

The first and most important thing we can do is to fix the broken relationship we have with God. How? Through Jesus. Remember, Jesus is the only person who has ever lived a sinless life. That is REALLY important. You see, the Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that the consequence of sin is death. Since Jesus never sinned, He didn’t deserve death. But He died anyway and rose 3 days later — and here is the key — He didn’t die for HIS sins, but for YOUR sins and the sins of all the world. When we admit that we are sinners, believe that Jesus died for our sins and confess Him as our Lord and Savior, not only do we have the promise of everlasting life, but He wipes away our sins in the eyes of God. Through Jesus, we are able to be back in relationship with God the Father the way it was intended in the beginning, because when God looks at us, he doesn’t see our sin — but the perfection of Jesus.

A decision to follow Jesus is the most important decision you can make in this life – one that has eternal ramifications. However, it doesn’t fix the brokenness of your humanity. That’s going to take some work. A true change in your heart should change your desire away from WANTING to sin, to NOT WANTING to sin – but it doesn’t mean you’ll never sin again. Sin is something we will always struggle with in our humanity. Many Christians struggle daily with habitual sin and wonder what can be done to break the pattern. Maybe that’s you. Maybe you’ve read books, watched videos or Google’d the subject using every keyword you could possibly think of to no avail. You’re at the end of your rope and you don’t know what to do next.

This is where re:gen comes in. You can read all about WHAT re:gen is here , but let’s talk about HOW re:gen can help you break the pattern of your habitual sin. In re:gen, we’re going to teach you HOW to meet with God daily and learn new things about the sin that you struggle with. You’ll learn HOW to bring that sin to God in a healthy and healing way. More importantly, it’s HOW you gather in safe and confidential groups where you will find freedom in knowing that you are not alone in your sin. You’ll work together, weekly, as a group to work on HOW to overcome and get to the best God has for you. It won’t always be easy. Confession, especially of our deepest and darkest sins, can be painful and embarrassing…but what if this is your moment to turn it around and experience freedom and power like you never have before? Isn’t that worth a shot?

Learn more about re:gen at RockPointe >>

What IS God’s Plan for Me? (Jeremiah 29:11 with Context)

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 02:39:00 GMT

But when it comes to theology, one-liners won’t really cut it. When it comes to Biblical truth, the most important factors are similarly repetitive – context, context, context – and they take a little longer to unpack.

So what does that mean? How does one determine the context of a passage of scripture written centuries ago in faraway lands?

At the bare minimum, it’s necessary to read the verses before and after the passage in question. There’s also a simple STOP method to investigate further and get a clear view of the context.

S – historical S ituation
T – T ype of literature
O – O bject of the text – who is it for?
P – P rescriptive or descriptive?

A clearer picture begins to emerge once the historical situation, type of literature, object of the text, and the prescriptive or descriptive nature of the text have been identified.

Take for example a verse often quoted at milestones from graduations to grand openings: Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, a plan to prosper and not to harm you, a plan to give you a future and a hope.

If it says that God is going to prosper you, what happens when you don’t prosper?

If it says that you won’t face harm, what happens when you’re harmed?

Does that change who God is? Does that change His plan? Does that change His love? Does it change the truth of the Bible?

Confusion or even “spiritual malpractice” can occur when statements are made as Biblical truth without proper context.

The Prophet Jeremiah enters the scene at a time when Israel is a divided kingdom thanks to the rule of harsh, oppressive kings – not an ideal situation, but one largely of the Israelites’ own making because of their choice to seek their own desires rather than God.

Jeremiah is given a dual purpose mission: justice and mercy. There are many warnings and cries to repent from the prophet. When the people resist, Jeremiah’s message changes and God begins to use even leaders who don’t follow Him to enact His judgment. It turns out the punishment for generations of rebellion is a 70-year timeout in Babylon under the rule of the Babylonian king.

The nation of Israel is now a nation in exile.

And it’s then, in the midst of judgment and exile, that Jeremiah pens this verse that’s often found on coffee mugs and laptop stickers. Plans, prosper, future, hope…. It’s a strange juxtaposition against this contextual backdrop of exile and oppression. Exile and oppression aren’t exactly things one would typically offer as encouragement to a graduating senior or someone aspiring to reach new heights or opportunities.

But, these words are exactly what God said, through Isaiah, to His people in exile.

He first tells them to build lives in this strange land. It’s not the place they are from and it’s not the place they think of as home, but it is where God has brought them and where God intends to leave them for quite a while – for 70 years, the Bible says. There will not be a quick return or a momentary reversal of fortune.

Even then, there were false prophets who were preaching and promising a quick and easy way out of exile. That was a popular message as it was certainly an easier one to stomach than the message of Jeremiah. That’s human nature – we always want to believe what we perceive is in our best interest, and that perception tends to be clouded an awful lot by what we want.

What’s actually best for us, though, is to become good stewards and obedient followers of God. That’s His design for us. That’s our purpose.

With all of that backstory told, if you begin just one verse before Jeremiah 29:11, in Jeremiah 29:10, the meaning is a little more powerful.

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

The people of Israel are going to go through a lifetime of exile. At the end of 70 years it is unlikely that anyone hearing Jeremiah’s message in real time will still be alive or in any condition to return to the homeland. That’s why the earlier verses instructed the people to make a life – and a good one – in Babylon. But the Israelites as a people group would indeed return.

God’s plan for a future and a hope look a lot like current generations of Israelites making the best of their time of judgment – because God does have a plan for them, but nothing indicates it’s a plan they would choose for themselves.

And that hope for a return to the homeland? It will come to fruition in another lifetime.

And in the meantime, God has a lesson for His people to learn – and He spells it out in the verses following Jeremiah 29:11.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. Jeremiah 29:12-14

There’s a nice, neat happy ending. The people do return from exile. But it doesn’t happen in verse 11 and it won’t fit on a coffee mug. Following God doesn’t work that way. It’s more involved than coffee mug theology. But, dare we say, it offers a greater reward than a cup of coffee.

Parker Square Update

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:43:00 GMT

It’s not every day that a church willingly takes on two major expansion projects at once -- and even more rare for that same church to find itself unexpectedly engaged in a third at the same time! But that’s exactly what happened for RockPointe in 2020.

Why We Celebrate Juneteenth

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 03:54:00 GMT

Growing up in Florida, which has a heavy Northeastern influence, Juneteenth simply didn’t take center stage like holidays commemorating my West Indian friends and schoolmates.

In fact, learning about it reminds me of the first time my wife told me about Sweetest Day which is more of a Midwest thing (she’s from Ohio). It was just another thing to do but didn’t really hold any weight.

Next year marks my 10-year residence in Texas and will become the longest-tenured state I’ve lived in my entire life yet, I’m still assimilating to the culture including Black Texan culture.

One way to do that is by realizing that Juneteenth is not just a day we throw some ribs on the grill and dance to Frankie Beverly & Maze’s “Before I Let Go” or Marcia Griffiths and Bunny Wailer’s “Electric Boogie” (the song we do the The Electric Slide to). It’s a time to reflect on the freedom that our African-American fathers’ fathers couldn’t and show them respect. It’s a time to rejoice in the freedom that we as African-Americans do have today despite still having a long way to go.

Juneteenth was first recognized as a holiday in the state of Texas in 1980 and in order for all of God’s people to embrace this holiday that’s not recognized nationally but is in 45 states and Washington, DC, we must first learn about its significance that has previously been a footnote in American history.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is an annual holiday celebrating the day that slaves were told they were free in the United States. This declaration took place in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, which is why many African-American Texans celebrate it with so much zeal in addition to other brothers and sisters around the country.

A misconception is that slaves were freed in January 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln initiated the Emancipation Proclamation. However, Black people actually didn’t become free until Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate States of the south surrendered to the Union States of the north to end the Civil War in April 1865. Union Gen. Gordon Granger and troops traveled down to Galveston, Texas, to tell enslaved African-Americans that the war was over and that they now had their freedom with the support they needed to actually live it out. The date that this happened was on June 19, 1865, hence the name “Juneteenth.”

Celebrating Juneteenth took a backseat for many years as public school began to focus more on President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to represent the freeing of slaves instead of Juneteenth, which is the true independence day that’s recognized in Black culture, especially in the state of Texas. July 4th is also close in time which further pushed Juneteenth out of sight out of mind.

Originally, Black families –that were torn apart– and communities would come together and pray giving God thanks for delivering them from their oppressors. This regularly took place on church grounds. As time has gone on, the celebration has taken on true form similar to Independence Day (July 4th) as we know it today. You can expect parades, large gatherings to fellowship within communities, lots of food at barbecues, and an overall great time celebrating one of the greatest moments in U.S. history. Moreso, it’s a time to pass on family traditions and stories that tend to get lost over the years.

Today, Juneteenth is seen as a celebration of not only the freeing of enslaved African Americans, but achievements within the community dating back centuries. The state of Texas is an integral part in the history of African-American freedom and should be celebrated.

How We Can Celebrate Juneteenth Today

My wife and I have never really relished in the holiday as we should but as we see our daughters growing up away from family and they’re natural born Texans, we no longer can let another Juneteenth pass without reflecting and rejoicing in our heritage.

Recently, I’ve had conversations about the Black experience well before I was born. Listening to my grandmother share stories about going to school with her cousins as a child during the summertime because they had to pick cotton the rest of the year in rural Mississippi was surreal to me. Us discussing the frustration in my grandfather’s voice when he was alive and would talk about Coach Adolph Rupp not allowing Black basketball players on the University of Kentucky’s basketball team in a state where basketball is the most coveted sport. Hearing from a friend’s father how Brown vs. Board of Education ruled segregation unconstitutional only to desegregate schools instead of integrating schools. This forced Black schools to shut down and their students to attend White schools and not the opposite.

These are stories that we can’t find in history books but must be passed down from generation to generation to know where we come from and where we’re going as God’s people and Juneteenth is a great day to do that on among the other 364 days in a year.

If you’re interested in ways to learn more about, contribute to, or celebrate Juneteenth, please see some resources below.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html

Source: https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

Juneteenth Flag

Guest post by Eric Patrick, RPC Volunteer

Tips on Choosing a Bible Translation

Thu, 21 May 2020 17:33:00 GMT

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive revolve around understanding and navigating all of the different translations of the Bible.

Which translation is best?

Which translation is easiest to understand?

Which translation does RPC recommend?*

All great questions…no simple answers.
Here is an article from Christianbook.com that outlines and explains some of the most commonly used and known Bible translations.

So what if your budget and/or bookshelf can’t accommodate ALL of these translations? There are a variety of wonderful online resources and apps for you to check out.

Here are a few of our favorites:

BibleGateway.com (also has an app)
BlueLetterBible.org (also has an app)
YouVersion.com (also has an app)
Logos.com (free basic membership – also has an app)

* Pastor Ron preaches from the ESV version

Remember, the Bible is God’s Word to us and for us. It was created to be a useful tool in growing is in our Christ-likeness. The important thing is not getting bogged down in choosing the best or right option — that may vary for a lot of different reasons. The important thing is choosing the version you will read with a heart to understand and be transformed by the Author and His Word.

Meet the Powells

Wed, 13 May 2020 23:33:00 GMT

Tacos.

“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.”

What could these things possibly have in common? What story, what author, could weave these together in a way that is meaningful or makes any sense at all?

To answer that question, we’ll have to travel back in time to an elementary school church camp at Lakeshore Camp and Retreat Center in Tennessee, where a young boy had that last-night-of-camp experience and came to know Jesus as his personal savior. Years later, in 2010, that young boy was a college student working as the music director at that same summer camp when God called him to ministry.

And at RockPointe, we’re thankful for the God who issued that call, and for the man who answered: our new Worship Pastor, Austin Powell.

Favorite songs are a good way to get a feel for a worship pastor’s style, both all-time favorites as well as current playlists. “All-time anything is so tough to me!” Austin said. “I think I would say ‘How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,’ or ‘In Christ Alone.’ My current favorite is probably ‘God So Loved’ by We The Kingdom.”

Austin grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, raised in the Methodist tradition. He attended college there as well, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of Memphis in 2013, while also serving in his home church. It was there that he held his first full time ministry position.

Along the way a friend had a somewhat unusual suggestion, “I know this girl you should sing with,” the friend told Austin.

“We were living in different cities at the time,” Austin explained. “So we recorded a side-by-side YouTube video together.”

The other side of the “we” Austin mentions in that side-by-side video was Leah.

“It sparked a friendship,” Austin continued. “We began dating in 2013. This month, we’ll celebrate 5 years of marriage.”

At RockPointe, we’re thankful too — thankful that a man who began talking with RPC months before coronavirus was on anyone’s radar was willing to accept a call and move his family in the middle of it. That’s not an easy move. In May of 2019 Austin and Leah welcomed their daughter, Ellie, to their family, so the move included their young family of three as well as their two dogs. And it meant finding and buying a home sight unseen – that’s a lot of trust in God’s faithfulness and a realtor’s expertise! It’s not something everyone would be willing to do.

A move like that would require a strong foundation of trust in God, which is the thing upon which the Powells built their family. It began with the truths learned in Austin’s Methodist background and Leah’s Presbyterian upbringing. Another layer of spiritual development was added through Austin’s education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he recently earned his Master of Theological Studies degree. These components all came together to create the solid foundation on which the Powells live and from which Austin will lead RPC’s worship ministry. “RockPointe is a gospel powerhouse,” Austin said. “We are so excited to be here and contribute to the Kingdom impact that is already in place.”

In spite of the unusual circumstances of the mid-quarantine move, it is exciting to be in the center of God’s will. There are, though, a few creature comforts that make a place feel like home. Austin and Leah have some favorites. “Tacos, mostly!” Austin said. “In all seriousness, we hope to unpack and settle into our home fast, find community quickly, and dive into local restaurants and find favorites.” he explained.

The same God who writes a story in which tacos, a home purchased sight unseen, and a good rendition of How Deep the Father’s Love for Us are all integral parts will indeed provide exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine, according to His power. Interestingly enough, that comes straight from Ephesians 3, which happens to be Austin’s favorite chapter of scripture because, as Austin says, “It’s so rich. It reminds me of eternal purpose and the greatness, goodness, and grace of God.”

Fill the Truck Fridays

Tue, 12 May 2020 19:43:00 GMT

When the idea for Fill the Truck Fridays first came about, the RPC Missions team just set out to fill a truck with some supplies to help support two of our local ministry partners: Christian Community Action and The Salvation Army Lewisville. Knowing that everyone in our community was facing uncertainty and dealing with scarcity of some basic items, the team wasn’t sure what to expect. Because they believed that because God laid this idea on their hearts, they trusted that He had a plan, and felt certain their obedience would help meet a need.

They were right – God did use their obedience to help meet a need. He actually did so much more than they even dared to hoped. Because of the generosity of our members and the community, you – the people who are faithful to donate each week – are consistently filling multiple trucks! God is using your faithfulness to make and ever-increasing impact!

We’ve been able to serve not just CCA and The Salvation Army, but also First Refuge Ministries and LovePacs.

These ministries expressed tremendous gratitude. The Salvation Army gave out 175 boxes of food in one day last week. That is the equivalent to TWO FULL TRUCKS of donations! Many of the recipients are new clients, each with a story of sudden hardship. Because of your gifts, these clients are met with love and generosity!

To date, we have filled 11 trucks (well, 10 trucks and the church van). To put it in perspective, one truckload supplies a ministry with enough food for one day of for donation. CCA provides 5 days each week. The Salvation Army is providing drive-through food donations twice each week. So, in total, our ministry partners are giving away 7 truckloads each week.

This Friday, May 15, we have added items to make Frontline Hero Encouragement Bags. Our medical missions team leaders, Jason and Kassidy James will be assembling gift bags to distribute to the heroes on the front lines. Next week we will collect donations for Cornerstone and the Union Gospel Mission in South Dallas. In the last week of May, our collection will benefit the Airborne Angels, providing them with items to send to our military serving overseas.

If our ministry partners still need assistance with supplies after May, we may continue hosting Fill the Truck Fridays through June. The food is flying off the shelf as quickly as it is being put on, but our God is so faithful to provide and we’re thankful for Him and for you – you are the vessel He is using to meet these needs. This isn’t just a story of some people collecting some food and supplies for some other people somewhere. This is your story of how God is using you and your church to meet needs in our immediate area and beyond. This is your testimony. #TestimonyTuesday

If you would like to participate in upcoming Fill the Truck Fridays visit rpc.fm/fillthetruck for all the details.

Oh Praise the Name

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:27:00 GMT

According to the authors, Hillsong Worship, this song almost never existed. Portions of a single verse and melody ended up in their “may not finish” basket after they struggled to craft a song conveying the message of the Gospel while acknowledging the timelessness of the hymns that came before it. But when tasked with writing a new song for Easter 2015, Hillsong writers revisited their unfinished work and this time, the words flowed to paper much more freely.

So how did it go from “may not finish” to widely known? Specifically, how did it become our RPC anthem for Easter 2020?

“We know the world doesn’t need another really cool music video,” RPC Worship Arts Pastor Austin Crosby said. “What the world needs – at Easter and every day – is the Gospel.”

An annual Easter music video has become part of the RPC calendar, but no one on the Creative Team or the Worship Team wants to produce something just for the sake of checking off a box. The song choice – whether to cover a known song, introduce a new cover to RPC, or write something original – is an important first step in determining if the video will happen each year.

“This song has been one of my favorites for a long time,” RPC Worship Director Matt Byrd said. “It portrays the whole gospel: God’s redeeming love, the hope of the resurrection, and the new life Jesus brings.” Knowing they wanted first and foremost to share the gospel and make much of Jesus, the team decided this song was the right one for this time and place.

While the song choice was clear early on, there were more details to iron out. “I knew this was the last video I would do with RPC,” Byrd said. “So I really wanted to use our own people and do something that would share the gospel, but also would be special to the worship team – the people who are able to be part of the production of it.”

It hasn’t always been RPC’s own people in the video. In previous years, hired musicians have supplemented the team to deliver the end product. “It’s a testimony to what RPC Worship has grown into under Matt’s leadership,” Crosby explained. “In the past we needed to hire musicians, but this time our own people were able to bring the same quality and excellence we would have paid for.”

One of those people is Joe DeProspero, bass player, and an integral part of RPC Worship. Joe hadn’t had the chance to record in a studio before. “It was very exciting on a personal level,” DeProspero said. “It was great to do a Christian song in an environment that was not necessarily Christian, and I hope it had a positive impact on the workers.” That’s the heart of our RPC Worship team – not afraid to soak up the joy of a fun new experience, but quick to use that experience for the glory of God and the benefit of others. The team in the video (and playing and singing on Sundays) is a team whose goal is always to bring us to a place of worship, not entertainment. “I hope this video is God honoring and a unique blessing to our congregation and others in this time of live streaming,” DeProspero explained.

In recent years Dillon Chase has become something of an honorary member of our RPC Worship team, providing spoken word for worship services and special events, so there was an idea to consider including him as well.

“So I called him,” Crosby said, “And told him what we were thinking, and he said, ‘Yeah, I’ve already got a piece written to insert into that song,’ so we felt like this was just coming together in a really cool way that was going to showcase the Gospel and reach a lot of different people.”

“From the beginning of the project, the presence of God was evident in bringing this group together,” RPC Worship Team Member Cale Young said. Cale played the dulcimer in this video. “I believe God gave us the gift of music for the purpose of lifting up His Name and drawing our attention to His presence. There’s something about when the people of God are called by God using the gifts of God for the purposes of God that gives you a glimpse of the Kingdom that is to come.”

Looking back, this video – like the song itself – almost never happened, but no one knew it at the time. The video was captured just days before schools began to announce closures and churches moved to online services to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Had the session not happened when it did, there wouldn’t have been another chance to capture the video before Easter. But timing being what it was, RPC Worship was able to share the hope of Jesus with our RPC family and with all who encounter the video online.

Hannah

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 02:59:00 GMT

And in the midst of all of these things, we see that Hannah turned to prayer. Not to Facebook. Not to her phone. Not to wine or other substances to dull the pain. Not even to her husband, who did try to comfort her. Hannah ran to God. And prayed.

“I’ll pray for you,” or “Can we pray now?’ might seem like short, trite, church-y answers in the face of life’s hardest moments, but to Hannah, it was more than a trite answer – it was a game-changer.

So why should we pray? What does Hannah’s experience show us about reasons to pray?

It’s a privilege to pray. The freedom to approach the Lord God Almighty, creator of the universe, the rescuer and redeemer of all mankind, isn’t something to be taken for granted, and it’s not something to be overlooked. It’s what Hannah does – and we’ll see that it makes a difference.

God is Sovereign. In every situation, God’s hand either caused or allowed the experience you’re facing. And what He caused, He can change. God allowed Hannah’s womb to be closed and barren. God can open her womb and provide a child. John Piper said, “When I pray, I only pray for the impossible. If it’s possible, I just go do it.” God is sovereign, He can do the impossible.

Life can be tough. When life is tough, why wouldn’t we run to the person who knows us best, who cares more than anyone about us than anyone else in the universe?

We pray because we have a godly desire. Hannah’s Godly desire was children, a family. And she took it a step further, pledging that she would give that son right back to God, promising a Nazarite vow on his life. While our nature might be to cling to the child, her heart was to release him right back to the Lord.

Because we are in a relationship with God. Why should we pray? Why should you talk to your spouse? Your children? Your co-workers? It’s what you do when you’re in a relationship. You talk. You share. You encourage. Our relationship with God should be characterized by this even more than our relationships with the people in our lives. Hannah recognized her relationship with God, referring to herself as a servant, His servant. She referred to God as the Lord God Almighty, the Lord of Hosts, and it’s worth noting that she was the first person to reference Him that way in her prayers. Her relationship caused her to pray, and her pain caused her to recognize Him for who He is – it made her a theologian.

We should pray. That’s clear. But how should we pray?

We should pray with passion, not concerned about polish. Hannah’s prayer was so passionate the priest, Eli, mistook her for a drunken woman as she poured out her soul to the Lord.

We should pray based on our real feelings, not searching for the right words. Hannah acknowledged her anxiety and vexation – she didn’t try to present herself as having it all together. She was honest and authentic with God in her prayer. Romans 8:26-27 tells us, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” This should be an encouragement to us to pour out our heart to God, not concerned about the vocabulary or the grammar, or Sunday School phrases. The Spirit makes it clear to God what is in our hearts – our words aren’t God’s focus, and they shouldn’t be ours, either. And the Spirit takes it a step further, aligning our prayer with the will of the Lord.

Prayer is about calibration, not cooperation. Prayer isn’t about getting God to do what we want, but aligning our hearts and minds with God. Sometimes our situation changes as a result of our prayers, and that is a blessing to celebrate. But sometimes our hearts and minds change instead – something no less worthy of celebration. We don’t pray to change God, but the change ourselves, to become calibrated to God, His thoughts and His ways.

Prayer is about connection, not change. When we pray, the goal isn’t simply changed circumstances, but a greater connection with God. God is our joy and our strength, our savior. Deepening our relationship with Him is the purpose of prayer. Circumstances that lead us to pray, lead us to a deeper relationship with God.

Prayer is about faith, not a formula. Whether or not you begin with “Dear Heavenly Father,” and end with “In Jesus name, I pray,” has nothing to do with the power of your prayer. The power of our prayer comes from our faith in the one to whom we pray. No formula guarantees our prayers will get us what we want. But prayer is an action we take based on our faith in God, that we trust Him to hear us, that we believe He will act on our behalf, for our good and His glory.

Prayer is about persistence, not pragmatism. We can see from Hannah’s story that she had prayed for years, not just about this, but in every situation. Hannah didn’t wait for a need to arise to talk to God, she spoke with him – prayed to Him – regularly. That’s why it seemed normal for her to pray in this painful time, and to pray so wholeheartedly, leaving the priest with the impression she was drunk.

What should we expect when we pray?

Peace. We see this in Hannah’s story. She finished her prayer and the scripture says she was no longer sad and she was able to eat. At this point, nothing has changed. She still isn’t pregnant, she still has no children, she’s still treated well by her husband and poorly by his other wife. The situation is no different in verse 18 than it was in verse 9, but Hannah is different because of the time she spent with God in prayer. Her prayer brought her peace in spite of her circumstances.

We’ll also gain perspective. We’ll begin to see things more as God sees them. God sees the bigger picture. He knows what’s coming next. Prayer causes us to recognize that He knows better than we do.

There is always potential for our prayers to be answered. It was God’s grace that allowed Hannah’s prayer to be answered. And in this case, the answer was one that would echo for generations. Hannah’s son, Samuel, was the final Judge in Israel, and he went on to become the Priest after Eli. Samuel went on to be the successor to the very priest who mistook Hannah’s heartfelt prayer for drunkenness. Samuel also went on to anoint Kings Saul and David. Samuel was the transitional, pivotal piece between the Judges and the Kings. God didn’t have to answer her prayer the way she asked, and he doesn’t have to answer ours the way we’d like him to. But He can, and there is always the potential that He will.

When we pray, we can expect to walk out in praise. Hannah’s name for her son, Samuel is an example of this. His name literally means, “God hears.” That’s an act of praise, acknowledging God for who He is and what He does. And just as she promised, when Samuel was weaned, she took Him to the temple and turned him over to God, where she offered her song in 1 Samuel 2, in praise and worship to God for the gift of her son – a song that was later mirrored by David and by Mary.

Hannah understood her story wasn’t about a woman getting what she wanted through an answered prayer. Her story was the theme of 1 and 2 Samuel: There’s a sovereign Lord who can reverse the fortune of humans. Her story is the theme of humanity’s story – we’re spiritually barren, our enemy mocks us and seeks to destroy us, but God gives us life.

How’s your prayer life? How is it changing your story?

Samson

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 17:32:00 GMT

Much like our culture, Samson’s was rife with hedonism – a mindset in which the highest purpose is the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. A mindset not in line with what God asks of His people – as believers, and Samson’s, our highest value should be the glorification and honor of God, even (especially!) in the midst of a hedonistic society.

From birth, Samson was intended to be different than the culture around him. Samson’s story is another part of the familiar cycle of Judges and Kings: rebellion, retribution, repentance, and rescue. A cycle that looks a lot like The Big Gospel Story: God’s creation, man’s fall (rebellion), man’s repentance, and God’s redemption and restoration (rescue) through Christ.

The people of Israel were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, pointing them to Yahweh God. And sometimes they were. But they found themselves in a cycle of shifting their focus from God to the culture around them, pursuing things the culture offered, things that were not of God. That’s how they consistently found themselves in rebellion, then facing retribution, and finally repentant as they realized their need for God’s rescue.

The Israelites again find themselves oppressed. This time by the Philistines. But it’s not the harsh, violent oppression they had faced under other regimes. The Philistines were happy to have the Israelites prosper and profit – they recognized the value the Israelites could bring to their economy and wanted to capitalize on it. The Israelites could have been peacefully absorbed into the Philistine culture, with virtually no pain or heartache. But that wasn’t what God wanted for His people. God intended for the Israelites to be set apart, different, a light to the gentiles.

It’s at this point that Samson appears on the scene. Before the people are even crying out to God rescue them from the oppression, Samson’s birth is announced by an angel. This announcement of a barren woman carrying a child becomes a foreshadowing of an announcement we’ll later see in the New Testament, the announcement of Christ’s birth. This angel, which many scholars believe is Christ Himself, announces that this baby boy will be a Nazarite from birth and will save his people from their oppression. Samson was born to be a deliverer, the leader of the nation and a judge who will throw off the oppression of the Philistines. Even though Israel wasn’t trying very hard to be delivered from this oppression.

It wasn’t common to be a Nazarite from birth. The Nazarite vow was something people would keep for up to 40 days at a time in order to be set apart and closer to God. But Samson was to keep this vow from birth. He wouldn’t cut his hair. He would face increased dietary restrictions including the avoidance of strong drink. And he would never touch a dead body. If you’re Jesus, fully God, this might seem easy. But if you’re merely a man who is a foreshadowing of Christ, living in a hedonistic culture, this is a tall order. And one Samson didn’t keep.

Samson engages in a series of rebellious behaviors, taking advantage of his tremendous strength provided by the Spirit of the Lord, but neglecting almost all of the instruction the Spirit provided. In all of this, though, he never did cut his hair. He honored that part of the vow.

His disobedient actions put his people in great danger, to the point that the Philistines set out to go to war with Judah, the men Samson was born to protect and deliver. They caused the people to rise up in rebellion against him, and to deliver Samson to the Philistines to save themselves. Just as Christ’s own people turned him over to be crucified.

But Samson wasn’t killed. His strength allowed him to rescue himself, which startled the Philistines, causing them to leave the people of Israel alone and ushering in an era of 20 years of peace. In that time, the Philistines never stopped hoping for an opportunity to take down Samson and rule over the Israelites. And after 20 years, Samson’s sinful and self-absorbed choices lead him to Delilah, who leads to his demise.

Samson’s strength came from the Spirit of the Lord, which had come upon him at birth. He was aware of his strength and utilized it at every turn, but he was reluctant to credit its source – the God he was born to glorify. At this point in his life, after breaking other parts of the vow with regularity, it’s likely Samson’s pride caused him to doubt the importance of his hair or his vow. So when Delilah asked him the source of his strength in an effort to help the Philistines overcome it, Samson probably didn’t think to tell her was a risk. He likely believed the strength was an intrinsic part of him, not beholden to God or vows. He didn’t think he was endangering himself by telling Delilah it came from his hair, the one part of the vow he had kept.

But Samson didn’t realize the Spirit of the Lord had departed him. Samson had gotten so accustomed to doing things his own way, with no regard for the direction of God, that he didn’t notice the absence of God’s spirit. That is, until it was also the absence of Samson’s legendary strength, allowing the Philistines to easily subdue him.

The Philistines were able to gouge out his eyes and blind him, they were able to bind him, and they left him imprisoned, grinding at the mill.

Sin will always take you further than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay. Sin cost Sampson his strength, his sight, his freedom, and his integrity. That’s the story of Samson. It’s a harsh story. But it’s one that plays out regularly in our world. Sin causes us to lose everything that matters to us when we allow it in our lives. It binds us, it blinds us, and it grinds us. It makes us lose sight of our highest purpose: living our faith and glorifying God. Instead, we’re focused only on our pleasure, a focus our culture readily affirms. As believers, our focus must remain on Christ.

Samson failed to honor his commitment to God. And he failed to guard his heart and mind. He was relentless in his pursuit of pleasure, which caused him to waste his capacity. These are all things we’re susceptible to as well. These are all traps which will ensnare us if we let them. Samson didn’t set out to fall as he did. If we want to avoid the same struggles, we must set our eyes on Christ, actively working to keep our commitment to God, to guard our heart, to pursue the things of God rather than pleasure, and to use our strength and capacity for things that glorify God and point others to Him.

The good news for Samson, and for us, is that even after falling so far, redemption is available.

The story doesn’t end with Samson at the mill. The Philistines took him to their pagan temple, where they expected Samson to entertain them as they celebrated their victory and his defeat – a victory they attributed to their pagan god. They placed Samson between the pillars of their temple. After a while, Samson asked if he could be allowed to touch the pillars, to lean on them for support. And as he stretched his arms, from one pillar to the other, Samson began to pray, offering a prayer or repentance, and begging God for strength. God granted that strength, and it was enough to allow Samson to break the pillars, causing the collapse of the temple and the death of everyone inside, including all of the leaders of the Philistines and Samson himself. With his final breath, he prayed. And with his final act, he rescued his people by destroying their oppressor with his outstretched arms.

Interesting, isn’t it, that just as Christ was delivered to his enemies, who bound him and mocked him, so was Samson… And just as Samson delivered his people in his death, so did Christ.

Gideon

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 17:09:00 GMT

Gideon was an underdog. No one believed in Gideon’s ability. And unlike some of the great underdog stories we know – Rudy comes to mind – Gideon doesn’t even believe in himself. Not exactly a great starting point.

But in chapters 6 and 7 of Judges, we see Gideon go from zero to hero. And we’ll see the thought process – the faith process, really – that he went through as the transformation happened.

The people of Israel are back to rebellion and evil. In spite of their covenant with God, they continue to work their way through a cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, and rescue as they repeatedly break their covenant, seeking the pleasure offered by the pagan idolatry that was popular in their culture. Because of their rebellion, God again removed his hand of protection, leaving them this time to face retribution from the Midianites.

The Israelites are stuck hiding in their own land in an effort to find safety from Midian as the Midianites robbed them of the produce of the land and all forms of sustenance – all prophesied results of the broken covenant. Their difficult situation caused them to cry out to God for help. And God answered by sending a prophet to remind them of their covenant, and to let them know their situation was a result of their disobedience, their broken covenant. He reminded them of all the times He delivered them and of all the victories He provided. And He reminded them of their sin.

An Angel appears, who many scholars believe is Christ himself. The angel speaks to Gideon, telling him to go and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Gideon was skeptical, his lack of scriptural teaching from his father left him not realizing that the situation in which he and the rest of the Israelites found themselves wasn’t a failure on God’s part, but failure on their part because of their sin which resulted in a broken covenant. The angel calls Gideon to do what he can, and trust God with the rest. But again, Gideon is a skeptic. His tribe is small, and he is smaller. There’s no logical way for him to defeat the Midianites. Wanting to believe, he asks the angel for a sign that the angel is indeed bringing a message from the Lord, and the angel delivers.

Gideon recognizes the sign and decides to follow as the Lord leads, tearing down idols and making a sacrifice to the Lord. Tearing down the idols angered many of the residents – they were Jews who should have known better than to worship other gods in addition to Yahweh, but the culture had influenced their thinking. They were upset by Gideon’s destruction of their idols.

Gideon asks again for a sign from God, mainly because he really doesn’t want to fight the Midianites, he’s hoping to get out of this calling. God had already spoken and given him his sign. But God knew Gideon was raised by a father who had not taught him the scriptures, and who had allowed idols to have a place in their belief system, so God mercifully complied, giving Gideon another sign, assuring Gideon that God indeed intended for Gideon to go and save Israel. And God expects him to do it with even fewer people than Gideon anticipated.

God instructs Gideon to address his army of 32,000 men and send home all of the men who don’t actually want to be there to fight the Midianites – and 22,000 left! God wants Gideon and everyone else to recognize the victory doesn’t come from strength or might but by God’s power. God instructs Gideon to send home, even more, shedding more troops, leaving him with only 300 people to fight the Midianites.

From the start, Gideon was aware there was a problem: The Israelites were in hiding and many were dying as they were oppressed in their own land because of their rebellion. God called Gideon to lead the people out of their suffering. It was a challenge, in the face of such turmoil could Gideon – would Gideon – step out in faith at the Lord’s leading? He had a decision to make.

Ultimately Gideon decided, after hearing from the Lord and seeing His signs, that he would take this step of faith.

And then the opposition began. Things were indeed bad, but the thought of change, of stepping out in faith to fight a scary enemy wasn’t something most people found comfortable either.

And in the midst of opposition, God caused shedding. Once Gideon recognized the challenge, decided to follow the Lord’s leading, and stood firm even in the face of opposition, God told Gideon to dismiss the vast majority of his army. It required another step of faith, but Gideon took that step. God put Gideon in a position where victory was truly impossible, where only God could bring them to victory, and where only God could get the glory.

That’s what created the impact. Gideon’s faithfulness and obedience led to a victory that could only point to the power of God.

What is God challenging you with today? What decision do you have to make? Where will you face opposition when you choose to follow God’s leading in that challenge? What things will you have to shed before you can move forward in God’s leading? What things will you have to leave behind to see the impact of God’s power? Because our goal is to make a difference for His Kingdom, for His glory. And to do that, we have to be willing to follow Gideon’s faith process: Challenge, Decision, Opposition, Shedding, Impact. We have to be willing to become the underdog.

Deborah & Barak

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:48:00 GMT

When we step into the story in chapter 4 of Judges, Israel is in rebellion against God. The Lord has removed His protection and allowed the people of Israel to fall under the oppression of Jabin, the King of Canaan. He had a mighty army, led by Sisera, and equipped with 900 chariots – the equivalent of tanks in our time. Israel had none of these things – no king, no real army, no chariots. There was no way for Israel to overcome its dominance.

We’re quickly introduced to Deborah. She was a prophetess (one who is divinely inspired by God to speak truth) and a judge. As the judge for her tribe, it was Deborah to whom people came for direction and judgment. Some would say Deborah only rose to authority because no man was willing to lead, but that doesn’t fit with what we know about people, then or now. When God raised Deborah to a place of authority, she became one of the best leaders in the history of Israel.

Much Like Golda Meir is considered the Mother of Modern Day Israel, Deborah is known as the Mother of Old Testament Israel. What lessons on godliness and leadership can we learn from God’s decision to turn societal norms upside down when He called Deborah to lead His people?

Deborah summoned a man named Barack, who the Lord had called to confront Sisera. The Lord had promised to draw out Sisera and give him over to Barack. This didn’t seem possible given the strength of Sisera’s army. Deborah reminded Barack of this word from the Lord. Barack was not eager to go, and only agreed to go if Deborah would go with him. Barack wasn’t demonstrating tremendous resolve or faith in the Lord’s promise. And he wasn’t acting as a leader. Deborah submitted to Barack’s request and agreeing to go because sometimes leadership looks like submission. Deborah pointed out that because she went, Sisera would fall to the hand of a woman and Barack would not get credit for the victory – that was a prophetic word.

They made their way, with Deborah reminding him with each step that it was the Lord leading them into this battle and the Lord who would supply the victory, which He did. And He did so in miraculous and supernatural ways.

After the victory, Deborah offered a song of thanksgiving and victory to God. Her song gave the glory to God and shared the leadership role in the victory with Barack – even though she had to push him to answer the Lord’s call each step of the way.

Throughout their journey, Deborah demonstrated the qualities of a leader. She was submissive – mutual submission, or teamwork, is essential to leadership and success.

She showed herself to have a servant’s heart and mind. She was faithful to the tasks she was given. She was in a small tribe, and she was faithful in that small arena, rather than striving for a larger platform. That’s leadership.

Deborah embraced the pain. She didn’t hesitate when she was called to go with Barack to the battle. Leaders embrace pain for the sake of others and for the sake of the call.

Deborah was always learning. She continued to seek a deeper understanding of God. She was a woman of conviction – she did not hesitate to take action when God spoke. She was not afraid to do what the Lord commanded – even when it was hard – to free her people from oppression.

She was a woman who demonstrated self-control. At many times she could have chastised others for their fear, or faithlessness, or disobedience. She could have criticized Barack, but instead, she simply agreed to go with him.

She was a woman who blessed generously, sharing credit with Barack and giving thanks to God after the victory.

And she sought the Kingdom of God. She considered what was best for the Kingdom first, for the people she was called to lead second, and for herself third. That’s not popular and it wasn’t any more common in Deborah’s day than it is now. But that’s what she did. And that’s what leadership looks like.

Are you a Deborah? Do you walk with the Lord, submitting to Him and His will, placing Him and others before you, walking boldly in His leading even when there’s pain involved, sharing credit and giving thanks? You’re called to be. It’s who the Lord created you to be.

Givers and Takers

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 16:40:00 GMT

The Kingdom of God is about giving. God is a being of giving.

Interestingly enough, for a company to be successful, research shows that the top employees must be givers. Adam Grant, in his book Givers and Takers, studied 3500 businesses over a period of 7 years and determined three things that make an organization successful. Grant determined businesses must be profitable and growing. He also determined employees had to like working there, that the company must have a culture that employees would recommend to friends. And they had to believe in what they were doing.

Grant also says there are three kinds of people: givers, takers, and observers or matchers. Givers and takers are self-explanatory terms. Observer or matchers are those who sit back and watch what’s going on, only giving when there’s reciprocity. Most people are observers or matchers. But according to Grant, in successful companies most people who work at the top of the company are givers. And most people at the bottom of the company were also givers. Those at the bottom tended to give out of fear. The largest groups are takers and observers, made up the mid-levels of the company. And the givers at the top gave intentionally. And while they are the smallest group, intentional givers make the largest impact on their company.

Interestingly, all of this comes out of a secular book and yet lines up perfectly with what Jesus taught. Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and then all these things will be added. Jesus talks about strategic, wise, intentional giving.

Who are the intentional givers in the Bible? The widow who gave her mite. She didn’t give emotionally or to be seen. Phoebe is a giver who Paul thanks In Romans 16 for her support. We don’t know much about her, but we know Paul thanked her first in his list of people, and we know she was intentional in her work as a deaconess in the church. Boaz and his giving to Ruth, and Ruth’s giving to her mother in law are recorded in the Old Testament. And the woman who anointed Jesus with her costly perfume as an act of worship was a giver – she believed Jesus was worthy of the most valuable thing she owned.

And who are the takers? Judas is an obvious example of a taker. He was angered by the woman who anointed Jesus with her perfume, wondering aloud why that wasn’t instead sold and the money given to the poor. Judas actually had no intention of giving to the poor – he was only interested in getting his hands on the value of that perfume. Takers aren’t always straight forward about their motives. Cain was also a taker, taking from Abel because he was jealous. The rich young ruler was unwilling to sell what he had to follow Jesus. He didn’t want to give up his possessions; he was a taker who just wanted to add Jesus to what he already had. Ananias and Saphira were also takers. In Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira claimed to give all they had, but they didn’t. They only gave a portion of what they received from the sale of their land while claiming they gave it all.

The story of the Good Samaritan is one of the best-known stories in scripture. It has a lot to tell us about givers and takers. From the beginning, we see the lawyer who wanted to trap Jesus and justify his own thoughts through a series of tough questions: what is the greatest commandment, and who is my neighbor? Regarding the greatest commandment, Jesus answered as expected. Regarding the neighbor, his answer took a different direction than they expected. Jesus began the story of the Good Samaritan. From the start, we see takers – those who robbed the man. And then we see the priest who passes the man an does nothing. We might expect a priest to be a giver, but in this instance, the priest was an observer. The next person to pass by was the Levite, a man almost certainly from the same tribe the lawyer who asked the question. And the Levite also passes by on the other side. The Levite is also an observer. Finally, a Samaritan is mentioned – that was unexpected. Samaritans weren’t well respected. The Jews hated the Samaritans. There were tremendous prejudice and animosity between the two groups. And the Bible tells us that the Samaritan had compassion on the man. The Samaritan was a giver – givers have a spirit of compassion. He acted on his compassion, bandaging the wounds, placing the wounded man on his animal and walking alongside, taking him to an inn and covering the cost of his care even to the point of sacrifice.

The Samaritan gave at a cost to himself. That’s what givers do. When the gospel takes root in our heart, we quit worrying about how we will “get this back” when we give something. We give because it’s what God leads us to do because we carry the image of God.

Jesus turned the question back to the lawyer, asking which of these men was the neighbor. And the lawyer answered correctly but did do in a way that showed his heart. “The one who showed mercy,” he said, unable to bring himself to even say the word, Samaritan. And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Go and do likewise. We’re called to give. Not to be a doormat. But to give. That’s the gospel. Jesus looking out for those who are marginalized.

In our life today, how can we check our heart, our attitude, and our actions? Here are a few simple comparisons. Givers are considerate. Takers and observers engage in neglect – just as the priest and Levite did. Givers have a spirit of grace, while takers are legalistic. Givers practice forgiveness. Takers don’t. Givers want to live in peace, while takers create disunity. Givers have an attitude of servanthood. Takers have an attitude of entitlement or privilege – if they give, it’s to receive a position of favor or increased power.

We’re called to model the heart of Christ, the image of God. An intrinsic part is living life as a giver, giving out of an intentional heart. If you’re not sure which you are, ask your friends. And be prepared to ask the Lord to help you make some changes if the answer isn’t one that reflects Christ. His heart is to bring your heart in line with His.

Giving Incognito

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 02:56:00 GMT

At RPC, we exist to love God with all that we are while making more and better followers of Christ. We offer four simple steps to grow our relationship with God, and we call this the 4Bs. It’s taking the first step to believe God is who He says He is, and to accept His free gift of salvation by grace through faith, as we make Him Lord of our lives. And then choosing to belong in a community of believers who encourage our faith. This leads us to become more like Christ and the person He created us to be as we pursue fellowship, discipleship, and accountability. And finally, it moves us beyond ourselves, maybe even beyond the walls of this church or the edge of our comfort zone, to minister to others as we pray for them, invest in them, and invite them to believe … A simple cycle and a clear path to making more and better followers of Christ. We’re here for Him, and for those, He places in our influence.

As we seek to live out our mission of loving God and making more and better followers of Christ, as we try to live out the 4Bs, as we commit to Pray, Invest, Invite, we have to remember this: It’s not about us, it’s about the spirit of God and the life transformation He brings into people’s lives. We’re just what he chooses to use to point others to Him.

Loving God, More and Better, 4Bs, Pray Invest Invite – all good things, all bringing about great results for God’s Kingdom. It might lead us to ask, what’s next – what does God have ahead for us, and for RockPointe?

A promise was given to the people of God through Abraham. God gave him the vision of what the Promised Land would be for the people of God. It was a long journey that involved travel, slavery, God’s deliverance, wilderness and waiting. And in all of that, trusting God and His promise – even when the promise seems impossible.

In Numbers 13:2, God eliminates any ambiguity when he tells Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel.” God says he is giving this land to His people. Very straight forward. Nothing to question.

After 40 days, the spies returned with the fruit of the land – fruit that was large and ripe. And they reported that the land flows with milk and honey – the land is fertile, grass grows, milk-producing animals thrive in this land, fruit and vegetation are plentiful. This was a stark contrast to what they endured in the wilderness journey that led them to this place. But… After God spoke to them and declared His intent to give this land to His people, after the scouts reported on the bountiful nature of the land, the next word is but. And that shifts the focus to a problem. The people who dwell in the land are strong, the cities are fortified. And the scouts are concerned.

Caleb spoke up, suggesting they go at once and occupy the land. It was logical to Him – God had spoken, promising the land to them. The land was desirable. Life there would be good. Caleb was ready, believing God would enable His people to overcome any obstacle in the path.

But the other spies resisted. They insisted it could not be done. They insisted the people in the land were stronger. And they were giants. They were certain the land could not be claimed. As a matter of fact, they reported to their people that the land would devour those who tried to claim it and that some of the people in the land were so large the scouts felt like grasshoppers by comparison. The scouts allowed their fear to exaggerate the size and the strength of those in the land. The report they offered moved from the truth – that there would indeed be obstacles – to a fear-driven exaggeration of land that would bring about certain defeat.

This left the people of Israel upset and disappointed. Grumbling and complaining took root. The Israelites who were once excited to follow Moses and to receive this gift from God now resisted Moses’ leadership, rejected the gift, and lamented that they had not died in Egypt or in the wilderness – the very places from which they had asked God to deliver them, the very places from which God did deliver them. But now, as they were being asked to step out in faith, they let their fear drive them back to desiring the familiarity of the places from which God had already rescued them. They even asked for a new leader – in their fear they no longer wanted a leader who heard the voice of God; their fear had out-shouted His voice.

Moses and Aaron cried out to God on behalf of the people. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes in distress. They reminded the people of the miracles of God as He brought them this far – the water, the Red Sea, the deliverance. They assured the people that God would fulfill His promise of this land, so long as God delights in them. And what would cause God to delight in them? Repentance. Obedience. Walking in faith, not fear, and trusting God’s promise. That was hard for the people. It can be hard for us as well.

But as we see in Numbers, only those who were faithful entered the Promised Land. The others didn’t.

When our time in the wilderness leaves us weary, it’s important to remember God’s promise. Fear makes the problems seem larger than the promises, larger even than the God who makes the promises. But when we focus on loving God with all that we are, on believing in Him, we find the faith to trust Him when He speaks — when He speaks to what’s next for us, what’s next for RockPointe.

God speaks to us when we’re pursuing His heart – when we’re believing , belonging , becoming , and going beyond ourselves to pray for, invest in, and invite others to believe . Once He speaks, we have a choice. We can step out in faith, or we can wander in the wilderness. It’s our hope that we will be people who step out in faith, a church that steps boldly to the place God is leading. A people who step boldly into what’s next for us, what’s next for our church.

Immigration

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 02:29:00 GMT

The Kingdom is the effect the gospel message has on our hearts and our actions. The gospel divides people into three groups: those who reject its message outright, those who are willing to take some of the forgiveness it offers but give nothing of themselves, and those who humble themselves completely in light of God’s grace and forgiveness to make Jesus the Lord of their life.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us he will separate the sheep from the goats – those whose hearts were truly aligned with the gospel from those who were not. The sheep will inherit the kingdom of God. The goats will be told to depart. It’s a hard truth.

The sheep are those who took action when Jesus said, feed the hungry. Feeding the hungry doesn’t cause you to be a sheep, to be a Christian. But the effect of being a Christian, being one whose heart is truly changed by the truth of the gospel, is that you want to feed the hungry.

When the gospel penetrates your heart, you’re going to love what God loves and hate what God hates. You’re going to feed the least of these, you’re going to clothe them. The effect of being a Christian is that when a brother or a sister has a need, it’s a Kingdom need, and those in the Kingdom rise up to meet it.

Jesus tells the sheep, “When you did it unto the least of these, you did it unto me.” But it didn’t occur to the people who they were ministering to – they didn’t acknowledge they were ministering to the least of these. They saw a need in the Kingdom and they met it. Because that’s what their hearts longed to do.

The goats simply didn’t answer the call to meet Kingdom needs. They didn’t recognize the least of these as worthy of their effort. As a result, they failed to minister to Jesus Himself.

Matthew 6:33 tells us we’re to do more than recognize the Kingdom – we’re called to seek it: But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Jesus promises that when we seek His Kingdom first, then our needs will be met.

There are a lot of ways to seek His kingdom first – whether it’s working with the Men of Nehemiah, or meeting needs in the current immigration crisis, there’s no shortage of opportunities to seek the Kingdom, to meet the needs of the least of these.

Contact Missions to see how you can mitigate the suffering of the least of these among us and at our border. See how you can minister to the heart of God Himself.

Why Would a Good God Allow Bad Things to Happen?

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:28:00 GMT

You don’t have to watch the news very long to realize bad things happen. While our area might be a bit of a bubble, one newscast shows us the daily barrage of evil all over the world, sometimes hitting close to home – sometimes too close for comfort.

Where is God in this? He’s good and all-powerful, so why do bad things happen? We’re not the first to ask this question – more than 200 years before Christ’s arrival on the scene in Bethlehem, the ancient Greek philosopher, and avowed atheist Epicurus wondered the same:

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

Bad things, evil things, have occurred since time began. Job, Habakkuk, and David’s account in the Psalms also tells us that.

For just as long, man has tried to find a way to explain these things, and God’s role in them. Transcendentalists teach that evil is an illusion or karma. Naturalists call is bad luck, assigning it no meaning or purpose. Some theists view it as something ordained by God. But as Christians, we can’t align our belief and our knowledge of our good, holy and righteous God with any of these views.

God didn’t create evil. And He didn’t ordain it. But He did create man. And He gave us free will. A byproduct of man’s free will is evil – by allowing man to have free will, God allowed for the possibility of evil. Evil is simply the absence of goodness. When man’s free will runs contrary to the will of our holy God, goodness is absent, so evil is the result. It’s the result of God’s love so true He allows us the freedom to make our own decisions.

God’s will isn’t something that can be defined in one phrase. There are four distinct ways His will can be categorized.
Sometimes God actively desires and actively causes things to happen. A good example of this is creation.

Sometimes He actively desires something but doesn’t actively cause it. The best example of this is our obedience. God wants that, but he doesn’t force it. It’s a matter of our free will, which He gave us at creation.

There are also things God does not desire and actively prevents – like Daniel’s certain death in the Lions’ den. It didn’t happen because God intervened and prevented it.

And finally, there are things that God does not desire, but does not actively prevent. Our sin falls into this category. For our free will to have meaning, God allows us to make choices that He would prefer we didn’t make.

Satan’s influence, our own free will, and the fallen world that results from our free will combine to allow for a series of bad things, sometimes even evil things, that God never desired. John 10:10 tells us that the thief, that’s Satan, comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Adam and Eve’s decision to eat from the tree – an act of their free will, with a little encouragement from the enemy – ensured that this life would end in death.

Fortunately, we have a God who loves us. He sent His son to suffer for us, and His Holy Spirit to comfort us. He is with us in the suffering we endure when bad things happen, and He can redeem that suffering when we allow Him to work in us and through us.

We know that bad things weren’t God’s original intent. Genesis 1:31 documents the goodness of God’s creation. God desired perfection.

We also know evil isn’t God’s present pursuit. Not only is it not fitting with His unchanging Holy nature, His word tells us that Jesus, who knew no sin, took on our sin so that we could take on His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). And Genesis 50:20 tells us that He uses for good even what man means for harm. And in chapter 21 of Revelation, we are assured that evil, suffering, all manner of bad things will not be part of God’s final product – He will again establish perfection and eradicate evil.

Today, though, bad things and evil are part of our reality. Epicurus didn’t get it right. He should have said, If God were all good He would destroy evil. If God were all-powerful He could destroy evil. Evil has not yet been destroyed. So the conclusion Epicurus should have reached is this: Evil one day will be destroyed by our all-good, all-powerful God.

Lost or saved, we’re likely to find ourselves longing for that time when evil is destroyed and perfection is re-established. That’s a longing for Heaven. C.S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” And indeed, we were. Even those who don’t claim a relationship with Christ, even those who don’t profess a belief in God, were created by our holy and perfect God, for fellowship with Him. Even as our free will leads to acts of disobedience, our innermost being recognizes we were created for a world without evil.

There are a few truths we can hold on to when we experience bad things, or when we want to offer hope or an explanation… And they’re alphabetical, A through I, to help us remember them!

These thoughts won’t put an end to evil or the suffering it brings, but they can help us maintain a perspective that allows us to rest in God as He redeems our suffering.

Depression

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 03:34:00 GMT

There are many myths surrounding depression – that a Christian can’t experience it. But the Bible shows that sometimes, Christians do. Even good Christians.

True Religion

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:06:00 GMT

The dictionary defines religion as “the service and worship of God.” That changes the meaning of those phrases that have become so common in our culture. People surely don’t mean to say they don’t worship, and don’t serve, the very God with whom they claim a relationship.

So, in today’s world, in today’s church, what is true religion – what does it mean to truly worship and serve God?

The book of James is viewed as the practical book in the New Testament – sort of the Proverbs of the New Testament. James 1:27 defines religion pretty clearly: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

You’ve no doubt heard and read many sermons on the importance of keeping oneself unstained. It’s important, or James wouldn’t have mentioned it. True, undefiled religion requires us to live clean, but also to care for others – specifically widows and orphans. It is the combination of both clean living and care that is the manifestation of a real relationship with Christ, of true service and worship of God.

In society today, the church’s definition of widows and orphans should include those whose husbands and fathers are not necessarily deceased, but absent.

In some cases, we are faced with orphaned or abandoned children in need of adoption. And that should resonate with us. If we’re believers in Christ, we’re adopted. Ephesians 1:5 reminds us that it is our adoption into the family of God that allows us to have a relationship with God, that enables us to live out the definition of true religion. And that’s true because of the heart of God, not because of anything we have or do.

We also see prominent examples of adoption in the Bible: Moses, who faced a death sentence for being born in the wrong place at the wrong time, was adopted into the family of the King and lived to become a great prophet of God. Esther was adopted and because of that was in the right place at the right time to preserve the nation of Israel. Even Jesus, the Son of God, was raised by Joseph as his own. The impact of that can’t be measured. Adoption, the boldest way to care for the fatherless, transforms lives – and not only the lives of those who are adopted, but the countless others whose lives are improved thanks to the ripple effect of that adoption. Even within our RPC family, and in our Pastor’s own testimony, we see the impact of adoption and foster care. We see the transformational power it holds.

There are also many who can be identified as widows and orphans who benefit tremendously from actions other than adoption. A quick read of Matthew 25:34-40 reveals this truth.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

What are we doing with our religion today? Are we serving and worshiping God? How do we serve the God of the universe, who needs nothing? Matthew 25:40 is clear, by serving the least of these, we serve our almighty God.

It’s time to ask ourselves a few questions. Who are the children God has put in my life? Who has God placed in my path for whom I can make a difference? What is the call God is placing on my life to make a difference for someone who cannot do it on his own, someone who is the least of these? How am I being used by God in my religion – my service and worship of God? In the answers to these questions, we find our true religion.

Things Every Christian Should Learn

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:02:00 GMT

Often in services at RPC we’ll recite together the words of the Creed. Sometimes called the Apostles’ Creed , or the Roman Creed , we use the oldest known version. Other churches utilize similar verbiage, so it may be familiar, or you may notice a different word or phrase. The heart of it is the same – it’s a statement of what we believe to be true about God.

Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Church, the communion of believers, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Another is the Lord’s Prayer . This is the model prayer, given to us by Jesus to teach us how to pray.

Lord’s Prayer
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

We should also know the Big Gospel Story , or as it’s called in our children’s ministry, the Big God Story. This teaches us about creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration.

Creation : In the beginning was God, and He created all things, including man.
The Fall : In God’s design of man, man was given free will, the power to choose his own way. It was man’s choice that led to the fall.
Redemption (Also called Reconciliation): Jesus offered Himself to pay man’s debt for the sin, the fall. Jesus redeemed man with His blood.
Restoration : Because of Jesus’ payment, man can be in restored fellowship with God now, and will be restored with Him in eternity.

Once we know the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and especially the Big Gospel Story, we want to share them. And we should, according to The Great Commission . This statement contains an imperative verb – it’s a command given to all believers. It’s also where we get a portion of our RPC Mission Statement: Loving God with all that we are while making more and better followers of Christ – it’s The Great Commission that leads us to make more and better followers of Christ.

Great Commission
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus was asked which commandment is the greatest, and He was clear in His answer that all of the other commandments hinge on the two He noted as greatest. These Greatest Commandments also shaped our mission statement, specifically the portion in which we commit to Loving God with all that we are.

Greatest Commandments
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
— Mark 12:28-31

Christians should also learn the Ten Commandments . A recent study of 12-22-year-olds revealed that more than 25% of that age group cannot point to what defines right from wrong. Realizing that we can’t look to culture for that definition, because the culture is ever-changing, and we can’t look to the legal system for the answer because often moral, or immoral, issues aren’t addressed by laws, we’re right to point to a Biblical answer to the question of right and wrong. A good starting point is the Ten Commandments. While Jesus did away with the civic, dietetic, and ritualistic aspects of the law, He reiterated the relevance of the law regarding moral issues.

God designed the Ten Commandments to reveal His nature and the way He designed us to live. They were never meant to be restrictive barriers, but guides to enable us to live within His character and His word. They set us, God’s people, apart from the world, to live as God intended for us. They don’t bring salvation, but they are a response to His salvation – Jesus told His followers, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
To do this, we have to know the commandments. The first five of the Ten Commandments guide us in how we are to love God, and the last five are guides to loving others.

10 Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall make no idols.
3. You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
5. Honor your mother and father.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet.
— Exodus 20:2-17

Knowing these provide a foundation for our faith. Knowing, and living, these truths will enable us to walk with God and live the way He intended, continuously increasing in our faith and knowledge of Him.

And the Winner is…

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 12:18:00 GMT

Acting like a child… That description gets tossed around, and rarely as a compliment. But Jesus, as He’s known to do, really turned that idea upside down in Mark 10.

In the Jewish world, children weren’t considered to be under the law until they reached the age of 13. A child younger than that wasn’t bound by the law, but also wasn’t given any real standing in society. Jesus, though, came to turn the ritual and regulation of the Jewish law upside down, and this is an example of Him doing exactly that.

Parents brought their children – and by the language, we know this refers to those younger than 13, not yet bound by the law, but also not seen as valued citizens – to Jesus, hoping a touch from Him would impact them.

As we’ve seen them do before, the Disciples reverted to their religious ways, acting out of allegiance to societal norms or a religious default in their thinking, not acting in accordance to what Jesus was teaching them. That this happens in Mark 10 shows us how ingrained that religious and societal thinking was, as Jesus had just spoken to them about children in the preceding chapter. Jesus’ righteous anger toward the Disciples comes out once again as He explains how children are to be seen.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Children are to be seen as an example – an example of how to receive the Kingdom of God. Jesus says we need to act like a child, or we will not enter the Kingdom of God.

Well then, how do children receive things? How can we apply this lesson to our life? It’s pretty simple, really. Children teach us that the best way to live is to:

1. Recognize we didn’t earn and don’t deserve God’s gifts. To do this we have to confess our pride and set it aside. A quick look at Ephesians 2:8-9 reinforces this truth. Then we can accept God’s gift of a life of fullness in place of the life of loss the world offers. Kids do this naturally. For us, it might take some work.

2. Receive God’s gifts with enthusiasm and thankfulness. One way to remap our thinking (so we don’t default to old patterns as the disciples did!) is to begin a daily journey of gratitude. It’s not just a trendy self-help idea, it’s Biblical – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us this. There’s very little that compares to the enthusiasm of a child receiving a gift – let’s quit letting societal norms temper ours!

3. Respond to God in faith. We’ve got to trust Him with our life, holding nothing back. Matthew 7:7-11 reminds us of this – earthly parents generally work to give good gifts to their children. Our Heavenly Father does this even better. His power and authority can be our resting place. Kids model this well – and we can learn from that example.

4. Run to God with reckless abandon. A child running to greet a parent gives us a picture of how we should run to Jesus every single day, with every single celebration or concern. As adults, we often throw ourselves at everything but God, but Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that throwing ourselves at Jesus gives us the peace our lives crave.

5. Remember who our Daddy is. This world gives us an array of idols to worship and thank for our success, to look to for guidance. It’s time we toss those aside in favor of our Heavenly Dad who loves us. He doesn’t just give us stuff, He gives us Himself, His love, His attention, and His affection. Nothing and no one in this world compare to Him.

Children do these things well. And they do them naturally. As we grow up the world does its best to creep in and replace our childlike thinking – our childlike faith – with thought patterns society accepts as mature, or wise. But real wisdom, real winning at life, is found when we act like a child.

Learning the Peace (and Power) of God

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:55:00 GMT

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.– Philippians 4:4

According to Paul, whose life is a guide to us in this very matter, it starts with remembering who we are and where we belong. Hint: it’s not here. Looking back to Philippians 3:20, Paul reminded us that this world is not our home. We’re not meant for this place. Our citizenship is in Heaven. We’re just here as visitors and ambassadors. The things that happen here shouldn’t make sense to us, and shouldn’t always feel right to us, because, for the Christ follower, this is foreign soil.

Paul points that out, and then in Philippians 4:1, Paul begins with the word, “therefore.” So he’s saying with that truth in mind (the fact that this isn’t our home), here’s what we do next. We stand firm. Well, glad you cleared that up, Paul. That will be easy. Just think of home (Heaven) and stand firm, and rejoice. Got it.

But if we keep reading, Paul gives us a little more insight – insight that can be listed as Thanking, Thinking, and Practicing , which will lead us to Rejoicing .

Thanking: One thing that stands in the way of rejoicing is being anxious. But Paul tells us not to be anxious. He tells us instead in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)

Approaching our situation by praying to God, sharing our need, and giving thanks — this follows the ACTS model that is often taught in studies of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. We should approach God in a state of adoration (also called praise) and confess our need to Him (the He is God, and we are not, and we are wholly dependent on Him). We should follow that with thanksgiving, thanking God for what He has done and what He is going to do. And then we move to supplication – humbly and earnestly asking God to provide what we need, or want. It’s in this mindset that anxiety is diminished – when the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus(Phil. 4:7) . As peace is present and anxiety is diminished (which happen as a result of our thanksgiving) our capacity for rejoicing increases, moving us one step closer to our goal of rejoicing always.

Thinking: In verse 8, Paul tells us how to think: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things . Rather than focusing on the problems in our lives or the elements of our circumstances that are discouraging, we’re told to turn our eyes to other things. Practically speaking, we should turn our thoughts to the gospel, which is all of these things. Or to our thankfulness for the power of God, or the beauty of Christ, or the hope of our future thanks to our salvation. If our thoughts are on things relevant to one whose citizenship isn’t on this earth, we’ll be much more focused on the hope Christ brings, and that will greatly increase our ability to rejoice. It’s easier to rejoice in all circumstances when our thoughts are not focused on our temporary circumstances, but on eternal truths about almighty God.

Practicing: Paul points the people of Philippi to the things they have learned. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (verse 9). The use of the word “learned” tells us this wasn’t an instant process for Paul, and it won’t be for us. That’s why we have to practice. Paul wants us to practice doing the things we’ve seen him do, which are the things God’s word instructs us to do. Three key things to practice are forgiveness, faith, and contentment.

Earlier in the passage, Paul mentioned Euodia and Syntyche. These two women who were known to be strong Christians, laborers with Paul and the church, were in a disagreement. He’s urging the church to help the ladies come to a place of forgiving one another. A lack of forgiveness will lead to a lack of peace and an inability to rejoice. Faith and contentment are also key disciplines to practice if we want to live a life of rejoicing. Those go hand in hand with remembering we’re citizens of Heaven and trusting God that we are indeed who we are supposed to be, and we are where we are supposed to be– trusting His sovereignty in this ambassadorship to earth. Paul’s words in verses 11 through 13 provide an excellent example of this: for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

When we follow Paul’s example practicing faith and contentment, we’re able not just to do all things, but to rejoice in all things – to sing and pray and praise in any circumstance as our heart overflows with joy. When we’ve learned to do that, we’ve taken hold of the peace and power of Christ, and our lives will give testimony to that power within us.

Living the God-Intended Life

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:37:00 GMT

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own– Philippians 3:12

In Philippians 3:12, Paul reminds us to pursue our purpose, regardless. His words, “to make it my own,” are a reminder to reach out, grab, lay hold of what God has for us. We’re to be proactive in our salvation and our purpose. And when Paul speaks of perfection, he isn’t seeking sinlessness, but maturity in Christ. He tells us that because Christ made us His (Christ saved us), we need to live out that salvation and the purpose attached to it here on earth. Our lives are intended to have significance – Kingdom significance – before our eyes ever see the Kingdom of Heaven.

And if we back up to the beginning of chapter three, we’ll find Paul also tells us how to do this, how to live the life God intended.

“Look out!” In verse 2, Paul says this three times. It points to an urgency and a danger – a danger that might present itself so subtly it goes unnoticed if not for the warning to look out! It’s because of the dangers society presents – the ones for which we must look out – that we should build our lives on Biblical truth, as it was presented to us by God.

Paul’s ministry was plagued by Judaizers – those of the Jewish faith who couldn’t stomach the grace Jesus offered and Paul preached to the gentiles. It had turned their beliefs upside down, and they worked to bring new converts more in line with what was familiar to them. Not a doctrine of grace alone as Christ offered, but grace plus the Jewish custom. It wasn’t biblical, but it was what they knew and it made them more comfortable.

In our church life we don’t face Judaizers. But our society is riddled with secularists and post modernists – those who would have us to alter our faith and doctrine to line up with their world view. The problem with this is God doesn’t change. And neither does His word. They’re the same yesterday, today and forever. Rather than let society shape scripture, if we’re going to live the life God intended we’ve got to let scripture shape us and our beliefs. When it might be tempting to decide on a belief that is comfortable in today’s culture and then seek scripture to back it up, that’s backwards. Instead, comfortable or not, Christians who seek the life God intended should seek scripture first, and let it’s teaching shape our belief and worldview.

As we search and study the scripture, it should be more than a quest for information. If we’re trying to live the life God intended for us, our goal should be intimacy with Christ, knowing not just about Him, but knowing Him. This comes from experience – and aligning our experience with scripture, not feeling. In verse 10, Paul speaks to this, sharing his desire to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection and to share in Christ’s sufferings. While we might think we want a life filled with power and free of suffering, we don’t. Not if we want to live the life God purposed for us. It’s in knowing God’s power that we’re changed, just as Jesus was moved from death to life through the power of the resurrection. It’s there that we begin to see what God can do, and how He wants to display His glory. But often it’s the suffering that becomes the vessel to share the gospel. And remember, without the suffering of the cross, the power of the resurrection would have never been seen.

Those moments of victory in Christ and suffering with or for His cause begin to shape who we are and become part of our history, our story, our past. It’s easy to hold on to our past – or feel bound to it. But in verse 12, Paul cautions us against that, telling us to leave the past behind and press forward. To live the life God intends for us, we can’t let ourselves be controlled by our past, and we can’t define ourselves by it. Everyone’s past has accomplishments, wounds, and failures. As exciting as the accomplishments might have been, we can’t rest on them – we’re called to press forward. And as hurtful as the wounds and failures were, they aren’t meant to be carried into tomorrow. We’ve got to invite God into our wounded places to heal us and then step out in faith, overcoming the fear of failure our past wants to use to create paralysis.

In verse 17 Paul points out the need to live our lives in community with other believers. If we’re going to living our God-intended life, we should surround ourselves with those who model Christ, those who are what we’re seeking to become. This provides accountability and encouragement, helping us to stay true to our purpose and providing fuel for the journey. Of course we’re called to interact with those who don’t (or don’t yet) believe, to be light to their darkness and share the gospel that provides hope! Our time alone with God and our time in community and fellowship with other believers are essential to making those efforts fruitful.

Finally, verse 20 reminds us of our identity. We’re not primarily Texans (though that’s a great thing to be, no doubt!) we’re citizens of Heaven, and we should represent ourselves accordingly. To live the life God intends we should be a visible expression of Heaven, living for eternity while we impact earth. We’re ambassadors of Christ, called to represent Him and His kingdom while we’re on this foreign assignment.

It’s through a life defined by Biblical truth as presented by God, a life that seeks intimacy with Christ, a life that presses forward to the purpose of Christ, and a life in community with believers who encourage us and hold us accountable in our walk, that we’re able to live out that ambassadorship. That’s what allows our ambassadorship to change the culture around us without being swayed by the winds of culture. That’s living the God Intended Life.

Unity of the Church

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 13:44:00 GMT

Vain conceit. What is that? It’s seeking empty glory to uplift self. And selfish ambition, being concerned about self regardless of others – only caring about others to the point that it encroaches on my needs. Paul tells his friends to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Nothing. That’s a tall order. In a world focused on self-promotion, personal gain, and making time for me, it would be much more likely to do everything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit than to do nothing in that manner.

Pastor Matt Byrd assured us that this is a universal struggle, but reminded us that through sanctification as we learn to follow Christ more closely and walk more fully in His love, that the depth of the struggle is minimized in our lives.

In a world where the self is celebrated, how can we know if we’re accepting Paul’s charge, or contributing to the darkness? There are some questions we can ask ourselves to sift through the condition of our hearts in response to Paul’s challenge.

So how does Paul love this way? And how does he expect us to love this way? Even at our most loving, we’re prone to love according to our own preferences and desires – how do we completely set aside all traces of selfishness and vanity?

Verse 5 answers that question. Paul reminds us to look like, act like, in all ways to the best of our abilities to resemble Jesus. And then Paul recounts Jesus’ actions that are the truth of the gospel.

Renunciation: Jesus, fully God, un-created being, chooses to veil His deity and give up all He is entitled to in Heaven, in pursuit of us, though we had nothing to offer Him in return. He was already entitled to all the riches of Heaven. He didn’t need us.

Incarnation: He becomes fully man, remaining fully God, living a perfect, sinless life among us, pursuing us, knowing He will gain nothing from His acts of love toward us. And still, he desires a relationship with us that will span eternity.

Crucifixion: Jesus’ obedience didn’t end when it became inconvenient. Nor did His joy in serving us. They both continued to the point of, and throughout, His humiliating death on the cross, dying in our place so that we could live in fellowship with Him now and forever.

How can emulate this, and where do we start?

Renunciation: From what do we need to walk away? What do we need to set aside? We have no deity to veil, no place in Heaven to exit. What selfish ambition are we pursuing instead of Christ? What vain conceit do we seek over His glory?

Incarnation: In Christ’s incarnation He served us. Who can we serve? Where, and how? How can we set aside vain conceit, serving others, counting them greater than us, and seeking Christ’s glory?

Crucifixion: Christians in 21st Century suburban America aren’t likely to be martyred for their faith. We’re not likely to literally die for anyone’s salvation. So what does this look like for us? This is where we set aside vain conceit, serving others, counting them greater than us, and seeking Christ’s glory. This is where we die to self and live for Christ. Verse 13 tells us we do this by allowing God, the Holy Spirit, to work in us, and to work through us; and by asking Him and allowing Him to strengthen us in His ways, sanctifying us, equipping us to live this call. It all starts with fixing our eyes on Jesus, walking with Him and learning from Him. He empowers us as we surrender to Him.

It’s in obeying Jesus that we find joy. It’s also in our obedience that He is glorified. We live the gospel (Renunciation, Incarnation, Crucifixion) to point others toward the gospel. We become the light Paul mentions in verse 15 when we love radically, as Jesus did. When we fix our eyes on Jesus we let the Holy Spirit show us the ways we can live out the gospel portrait (Renunciation, Incarnation, Crucifixion), with each round of asking bringing us into closer fellowship with Jesus, remaking ourselves less in our own image and more in His likeness. Each attempt to live out the portrait of the gospel enables us to live in greater unity, with less selfishness and vain conceit, better emulating the mind of Christ.

It’s a tall order and a daunting challenge for sure. But it’s the very reason we were created and the means to the life of meaning our hearts crave. It’s the only thing that will allow us a spirit of joy when we find ourselves in chains and the only way to unity with others nothing like us. It’s the greatest source of light for this dark, dark world.

The Choreography of God

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 11:26:00 GMT

In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul gives us a picture of a mature believer, living out the steps the Lord choreographed, exactly as He wrote them, not doubting the purpose in each circumstance.

Ten years before writing this letter, Paul had a plan. He was preparing a journey eastward when God gave Paul a vision of a trek to Macedonia, to Troaz and Philippi. That wasn’t what Paul had planned, but he adjusted course and followed where the Lord led. In all of his other missionary journeys, Paul had been able to go to a metropolitan area, find the synagogue, and begin conversations with Jewish people that allowed him to tell them about Jesus and the gospel.

Philippi was different. It wasn’t a thriving metropolitan area – it was largely gentile and under the heavy rule of the Roman government. This would require a different approach. He hadn’t been in town long when Paul met Lydia and shared the gospel with her. Paul also encountered a young girl, enslaved by men who wanted to profit from her ability to foretell the future – a “gift” that came from a demonic spirit. Paul freed her from the oppression of that spirit, angering those who had been living off her earnings, but the girl was grateful and excited about the gospel Paul shared.

Paul’s good deed landed him on the wrong side of a power struggle, and he found himself in prison. When an earthquake shook the prison and released the chains that bound the prisoners, the prison guard was troubled to the point of taking his own life – but Paul intervened and assured the guard that no prisoners had escaped. The guard was grateful and quick to listen to all Paul had to say… and Paul seized the opportunity, sharing the gospel of Jesus.

And it was those three unlikely comrades who were the beginning of the church at Philippi.

Years passed. Paul continued his missionary journeys, sharing Jesus and planting churches, and sometimes ending up in prison. And it was 10 years after the founding of the church at Philippi when he found himself imprisoned in Rome, appealing to Caesar to spare his life, under the care of the most elite force of the day (Caesar’s Imperial Guard), that Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi, this letter called his most joyous letter.

It would have been easy for Paul to lament his circumstances. It would have been easy for him to question his choices, or to doubt the Lord’s hand. But instead, he begins writing a letter of thanks – the first seven verses of Philippians are verses thanking the church for their partnership and support in his missionary journeys. How many people do we reach out to, offering thanks, when our circumstances are crummy? We can learn a lot from this example.

In verse 8, Paul shifts his course from thanks to encouragement. It was a hard time to be a Christian. Nero was in charge of the empire and he was regarded as the harshest leader, the one most opposed to Christianity. In reality, few people in Rome liked Christians. They wouldn’t worship Caesar. In a society where Caesar was seen as Savior, Christians didn’t fit in. And so, Paul, from prison, sent a note of encouragement to the church.

(It might have been among the first great works written in prison, but it was far from the last. Christian leaders throughout the centuries have found themselves in chains, and great works from Pilgrim’s Progress to the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr. were penned behind bars.)

In verses 9 through 11, Paul shares his prayer for this church that is so dear to him: that their love would abound and that their knowledge and discernment would increase – what a great prayer to pray for anyone we love and intend to disciple!

And then Paul turns the attention to his current imprisonment. Many of us would write this differently, but Paul writes of the purpose of his time in chains, sharing that he was placed there, by God, for the benefit of the gospel message. He was chained, round the clock, to a member of the Imperial Guard, and Paul wasn’t one to overlook a captive audience. That time was spent sharing the gospel. It didn’t take long for word of Paul’s testimony to spread through the entire Guard. Paul’s witness emboldened fellow believers and enabled the spread of the gospel.

In verse 19 Paul points to the reason that his time in prison is fruitful: prayer and choreography. He says that the prayers of the church at Philippi and the help of the Holy Spirit are the reasons for the spread of the gospel and his hope that his appeal will be honored. “Help,” in that phrase is the Greek word that gives us the roots of our words chorus and choreography – Paul’s time in prison was not a mistake or a detour, it was exactly the way the Lord wrote the story.

And then Paul writes verse 21: For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. In a society (much like today) where life is synonymous with gain, and if Christ is considered it’s only in conjunction with death, Paul turned their common phrase, and common thought, upside down. Paul’s declaration that to live is to walk with Christ and glorify Christ, pointing others to Him, and to die is to see the true gain, the gain that has an eternal value that nothing we gain in this world can provide.

When it doesn’t look right, it doesn’t feel right, and it doesn’t seem right, the best (and often the hardest) thing a believer can do it continue to trust God. It might be that we’ve been placed in a situation to allow our circumstances to glorify God and spread the gospel. But it might be that we can’t see it as we walk forward in those circumstances. It might be, as Kirkegaard said, that it will only make sense when we look back and see what God’s choreography created.

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Hands Across the Community

Mon, 27 May 2019 11:41:00 GMT

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Silence…
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“I guess it was something I said,” Rob Dilts explained as he held his phone. Rob is a team captain for RPC’s Hands Across the Community event. He’s tasked with leading a team of volunteers to complete a project in a few hours one Sunday morning in May when RPC suspends church services to go be a church of service.

“Me llamo Roberto y soy de la iglesia RockPointe Church en Flower Mound.” Rob introduced himself in broken Spanish when he called to begin planning the project in mid-April, but Emiliano didn’t want to talk.

Some suggested looking for another project, but Rob is a little more stubborn than that. There was already a pair of small group leaders, Paul and Karen McDonald, who had chosen this project for their small group to work on together.

Instead, Rob reached out to RPC’s International Missions Pastor, Randy Riggins. He knew a team had recently gone to Cuba, and he had heard that most of them spoke Spanish. He hoped Randy could connect him with someone whose Spanish was less broken than his own and hoped it was the language barrier that caused the homeowner to hang up on him.

Rob was put in touch with Ofelia Gabel whose Spanish is flawless, and who happens to be a member of the McDonald’s small group. They visited Emiliano, who was much more receptive in person, with a fluent Spanish speaker. They were able to explain who they were, why they were there, and find out from him what they could do for him.

Plans were again in motion. But the curveballs wouldn’t stop coming. Key volunteers had a last-minute situation arise that took them away from the area on the day of the project. Rob wasn’t sure there would be enough people or enough hours to complete their tasks.

And the weather… this whole spring has been rainy, and HAC weekend was forecast to be no exception. Would the team even be able to assemble at the site and do the work?

The weather and the available volunteers didn’t seem to match up with the list of things to do:
·      Clean the inside of the home
·      Pressure wash the home’s exterior
·      Paint the exterior siding
·      Mow the yard
·      Remove the existing (heavily damaged) porch cover (plywood, shingles)
·      Scrape off old tar where the porch cover and mobile home were tied together
·      Replace plywood, install drip edge, felt, shingles and tie new porch cover to mobile home

There was some anxiety, and there was some prayer. And then another call came – other members of the small group who planned to be out of town would be here after all… and so would their truck. And their tools. Things were looking better. And so was the weather forecast. Saturday would be wet and stormy, but Sunday was forecast to be a beautiful spring day.

By 8:15a it was clear the team would have all the hands it needed to do the work, and there wasn’t a cloud in the beautiful blue sky.

The team circled up in the driveway and asked Emiliano and Maria to join them as they prayed and thanked the Lord for providing the hands and the weather to get this project started, and asked for His continuing provision to allow their work to be done, and to be a visible, tangible representation of the love Christ has for us.

Ofelia, the only Spanish speaker on the team, deals with pretty severe springtime allergies, so she was tasked with working indoors to clean the house. If you’ve met Ofelia you know her gentle spirit and her inviting smile – and isn’t it just like God to make sure that’s the person who ends up inside the house?

As the morning progressed the outside team had little interaction with anyone inside, other than opening the door to plug in extension cords or power tools. When Ofelia finished cleaning and came outside to leave, she had a miraculous report for the team. Not only had she been able to work on things inside the home, but the Lord was working as well. Ofelia was able to strike up a conversation with Maria, sharing a little more about what she was doing – and why. In telling about RPC’s HAC weekend, Ofelia was able to share the good news of Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection, and the offer of salvation that comes with it. Once the ladies had talked, Maria was eager to give her heart to Jesus – becoming a new creation in Him! On HAC weekend, Maria didn’t just get a cleaned-up home and a new porch cover, she became a new creation! Emiliano was sleeping, worn out from his dialysis and the condition that necessitates it, but she planned to share the good news of Jesus with her husband once he was awake.

That stormy weather returned just days after HAC, but the home was clean, the repairs were made, and the porch cover didn’t leak. The Lord truly provided shelter from the storm and we know He’s not finished yet!.

Parker Square Vote

Wed, 15 May 2019 19:05:00 GMT

Through God’s sovereignty, a crazy story played out – that’s one for another day and a lot more words. It’s a story that allowed RPC to purchase more property than we should have been able to afford given fair market value, in a better location than we should have been bold enough to consider.

We built on this property and built some more. Each time, it was our children’s ministry that would reach capacity first, and each time it happened faster than demographic trends would have predicted. Clearly, it was God’s hand growing our church, not population booms or great marketing.

Every step of the way, we’ve trusted His hand and walked in His sovereignty. And here we are, in the same situation again. Our children’s areas are overflowing. Our student areas are as well. And their overflow has left us with no room for the adult programs we value.

Over the last several years, RockPointe Church experienced an average of 11% growth year after year.

Five years ago, we moved in to 30,000 square feet of new space. Recently, our ministry leaders have sought any creative and efficient uses of space, on Sunday morning and throughout the week. We added parking places and parked cars on the grass. But none of these are nearly enough. We regularly run children and student rooms beyond maximum capacity, limiting our options to “make more and better followers of Christ.”

Last fall we assembled a diverse team tasked with strategically assessing available expansion options to respond to our need for additional space. Suggestions evaluated were building on our current land, renting and renovating a vacated grocery store building, and building new on land nearby. A tremendous opportunity presented itself only three miles down the road at Parker Square. This opportunity would quickly double our space allowing us to invite more people, and provide more space for classes and equipping opportunities.

RockPointe has always been a receiving church. It’s the heart of who we are to welcome new people — people new to the area, people new to church, people new to faith in Jesus. And we’ve always considered that the first step – not the final goal. Once you’re here, you’re family, and we want to equip our family to do all the things Jesus is calling us to do — as a church and as individuals. And once equipped, it only makes sense to use that equipping to impact our community and beyond with the truth of the gospel.

And, quite frankly, we’re out of room to do those things. We can’t continue to receive because we don’t have any more parking spaces. We can’t improve on our equipping because we’re out of space in the building. That makes it increasingly hard to impact, and to send. It makes it hard to invite those we’ve committed to pray, invest, invite.

We need more space. And, we have what we believe is a God-inspired plan to provide that space at 500 ParkerSquare.

This space will allow us to do all the things we currently do, for all the people we currently serve, and to do more things, for more people.

We’ll finally have space to make our Special Needs ministry what it’s clearly becoming. Its growth exceeds the space we can give it, but the need is there, and many of the laborers are, too.

We would have space between two college campuses. The largest unreached population in the church is the 19-25 year olds. Again, we have people with a heart for this ministry, we would be in a location filled with this demographic, and we would have space to host them, which we currently lack.

We’ll have room for all the adult classes we want to offer.

God has opened another door for RPC.

What will we do with it?

It’s time to consider the information and decide whether we’ll move forward in God’s leading.

We held a vote in services last Sunday, and the preliminary results for the Parker Square Project are in. At this point, 518 members have voted to take this step, and 24 have voted against, meaning about 95% are in favor.

For any member who was not able to vote in person, we established an online, absentee voting mechanism. We ask that you send an email to info@rpcstaff.org . In the email, you must include your name and whether you are in favor of or opposed to the resolution brought forth by the Elders. This must be submitted by May 18 at 11:59 pm.

If you know of any member who was unable to vote, please let them know that the absentee voting information is on our website and is also being sent to all members via social media and email.

The church’s vote will be tallied on May 18, 2019, at 11:59 pm.

Before you vote (if you haven’t already) please make sure you’ve taken the time to look into the matter and have all your questions answered. You can visit our website for all the details.

The Effective Church

Mon, 13 May 2019 17:01:00 GMT

It’s possible for our spiritual condition to mirror our physical one. We can get spiritually locked up, spiritually tight. That can lead to injury that locks us up and makes us spiritually ineffective. But not if we make it a point to stretch ourselves to stay spiritually limber.

Matthew 5 gives us a couple of ways to make sure our spiritual flexibility stays intact, even when our human nature might steer us another direction.

Jesus had just returned from being tempted in the wilderness when He noticed a crowd had gathered. His disciples approached Him, and Jesus sat down before them to deliver what we know today as the Beatitudes, or the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus went through a series of truths about actions and attitudes the Lord finds pleasing, things that will be blessed. Then Jesus told them two very specific things about themselves. It’s important to note that both of these are definite statements. Jesus says, “You are,” not “You could be,” and not “You should strive to be.”

Jesus tells His listeners they are the salt of the earth. The salt. Not some salt. Not kind of like salt. The salt.

He also says they are the light of the world. Again, the light. Not a light.

These things are an inarguable part of our identity in Christ. We are the salt and the light.

But what does that mean? And how does that keep us spiritually limber and effective?

Salt had a lot of uses in Jesus’ time. It still does. Scholars believe Jesus called His followers salt precisely because of the breadth and depth of its use and beneficial influence on the world. Most commonly, salt was a preservative, used to arrest corruption or slow down the process of decay.

In the salt shaker on the dinner table, salt’s effectiveness isn’t obvious. Its value isn’t clear. But separated from the shaker and applied to something in decay, its benefit becomes visible and measurable. There’s a visible impact.

Jesus addresses salt that has lost its saltiness. That’s chemically impossible. Salt, sodium chloride, NaCl, is a stable compound. But in Jesus time it wasn’t uncommon for salt to become contaminated with traces of other materials. When that happened, the salt was no longer salty and no longer useful. Jesus encourages us: Stay salty and be used for kingdom business; allow yourself to be mired in impurities and lose the inability to be used for anything. Impure salt doesn’t fight decay. Purity in our walk, in our thoughts, in our theology is important not just for us, but for those we hope to impact. That’s why Matthew 5:8 celebrates the pure in heart, saying they will see God.

Light also had a number of meaning and applications in Jesus’ time. He focused on two aspects of light: the city on the hill and the lamp on the stand. Jesus made it clear light is most effective when it can be seen. It’s ineffective if it’s hidden. It’s of little value in a place that’s already well lit. Likewise, our Christianity makes little difference if no one knows we’re followers of Christ, or if we don’t get out of our Christian circle and interact with those who don’t know Jesus. If we’re surrounded by other light are we there for illumination, or are we there for decoration? But in a dark place, even if our light isn’t all that bright, it makes a tremendous difference.

One aspect of our light is our good works. The goal of good works is that they would be visible, and through that visibility bring glory to God – while being careful not to steal that glory for ourselves.

To be effective, we have to engage those who do not Christ – we do that by being light. And for our engagement to make a difference it has to be distinct – not salt that has been contaminated by impurities, but pure salt that slows down the process of decay.

Ministry is messy. To arrest decay, salt has to come into contact with things that are in decay. To light the darkness, the light has to be brought into that darkness. Doing these things will stretch you. And stretching will keep you spiritually limber. And being limber helps you remain effective.

You are, we are, the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Let’s not lose what makes us salty or hide what makes us light. Let’s take it boldly to those who need the grace and truth Jesus offers.

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The Call

Sun, 05 May 2019 23:37:00 GMT

Invitations are funny things. When invitations are given, we all want to be included, even if we don’t want to fulfill the responsibilities associated with the invitation. When we don’t receive an invitation, we wonder why we weren’t included. And when we do receive the honor of an invitation, sometimes we find ourselves regretting the obligation.

Oddly enough, that scenario of accepting an invitation and then regretting the obligation shows up in Luke, chapter 14.

It was at a banquet. Jesus was there. He had been invited by Jewish leaders – probably in the hopes he would say or do something they could criticize, as the host and his friends were certainly not followers of Jesus.

Things had barely gotten started when Jesus was already healing people and teaching in parables. He imparted wisdom about who to invite to a banquet – not the people who were high society, but those who were marginalized – and He mentioned the resurrection of the righteous, an event in which Jewish men placed hope. When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Now, just as certain statements in our culture elicit a standard response, like “thank you,” and “you’re welcome,” their culture had an expected response for this statement. Usually, the response would be, “May we be counted among those who will sit with the renowned of the day.” That’s a rather presumptuous response and one that conveys an air of superiority. That was never Jesus’ style – He emphasized the value of humility. So, instead of the expected response, Jesus launches into another parable. This was typical of Jesus – and it’s still His style today. He shatters cultural norms, and He works outside the accepted frameworks.

You might be thinking this is where the invitation regret set in, but it wasn’t Jesus, or anyone in attendance at this feast, who embodied that regret. It was the subjects of his parable.

Jesus told of a man planning a great banquet. Many people had been invited. As was customary, the man’s servants had extended invitations and recorded responses. When preparations were nearly complete, the servants revisited those who had expressed their intent to attend to let them know it was time to come to the feast.

And displaying the worst manners, those who had planned to come, now made excuses – and rather poor ones – as to why they could no longer attend.

When the servant reported back to his master, the master was angry at the arrogant displays of poor etiquette. He insisted that his servant go out and invite the poor and the crippled off the street so the banquet table would be full. Turning cultural norms upside down, the master extends his invitation to those who were normally overlooked by society and who many believed to be cursed by God because of their lot in life. But the servant had already done that.

‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

And the master sent him out again, instructing his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who was invited will get a taste of my banquet.’

In this parable, the banquet is the Jewish concept of Heaven, the feast in the Kingdom of God. The master is God. Those who initially accepted the offer, but later declined to come – they are the ones who have heard the gospel, but they have let their blessings get in the way of life with Him. Their blessings are keeping them from worship. Their comforts are keeping them from a commitment to God.

We are the servant. We’re doing the business of inviting others to the Kingdom. And God sends us first to those nearby – those who are physically close, people whose paths cross ours on a regular basis. This might be other Christians who are without a place to belong or friends who don’t yet know Christ. And then he sends us further out, to strangers, to those whose lives aren’t like ours, to those whose paths wouldn’t naturally intersect ours, either because of physical distance or social chasms. God is aware that the feast has been prepared, that the price has been paid, and he wants to fill the banquet hall. In other words, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for all, and God wants as many as possible to reap the benefit of it. And He sent us to invite them.

If we profess Christ, we have accepted His invitation. And now, He asks us to continue extending that invitation to others. All the others. It’s the best invitation there is, and if we accept what He’s offering, it’s an invitation we can enjoy with no regrets.

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Miracles • The Resurrection

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 18:49:00 GMT

The greatest miracle of all is the one we celebrate each year on Easter, the resurrection. The resurrection proves Jesus is who He says He is. But how do we prove the resurrection?

Well, first, His body was never found. For years, then decades, centuries, even millennia, scholars and atheists would have been glad to put an end to this story of a resurrected savior. All they needed was a body. But in spite of armed guards and a stone weighing more than 3,000 pounds in front of the tomb, no body could be found. Because that body rose from the dead and walked the earth, and then ascended to Heaven.

And then there’s the Disciples and other followers of Jesus. They had given up their lives to follow Jesus, believing He was the prophesied Messiah and expecting Him to establish a kingdom. (Which He did, but not the earthly kingdom they hoped He would establish to overthrow the Roman Empire.) After the crucifixion they scattered. They went into hiding. They had already given up much, and they now feared for their lives. But once Jesus appeared to them (Luke 24:35) all that changed. They emerged from hiding and boldly proclaimed the message of Jesus and the news of His resurrection.

There are also eye-witness accounts. More than 500 people are on record as having seen the resurrected Jesus. If someone sets out to prove a sequence of events true, he looks for an eye witness. In the case of the resurrection, eye witness testimony is so plentiful it would take days and days to comb through it all.

So with the truth of the resurrection, and therefore the identity of Jesus not in doubt, what does it all mean?

Well, we can believe Jesus is who He says He is because of the resurrection.

The resurrection isn’t just the signature event of Christianity. It is that, as prior to the resurrection Christianity didn’t exist. But it’s also the hallmark event of human history.

To whom did the resurrected Jesus first appear? He first appeared to two women. That’s a game changer. That upsets some cultural norms. In that culture, women weren’t valued as equal members of society. Their testimony wasn’t considered legally relevant. But Jesus didn’t seek to show Himself to someone society saw as relevant. He didn’t operate that way.

When He appeared to His Disciples, he deconstructed more cultural beliefs. Thanks to the proliferation of Greek thought, the disciples did not immediately recognize Jesus as a resurrected person, with flesh and bones. They reverted to the popular thinking of the day as taught by philosophers from Aristotle to Alexander the Great: the belief that when a person dies, their spirit is free to roam. The Disciples initially thought Jesus was nothing more than a freed spirit, not a resurrected King. He dispelled that thought quickly when he asked them for food – spirits don’t require the nourishment our human bodies require!

And then he reminded them of what they already knew. He walked them through the prophecies from scripture that foretold His coming, His life, His death, and His resurrection. He brought them to the most important point, that because He is the fulfillment of the prophecies, He is here to offer forgiveness from sin and repentance.

The resurrection is the key to understanding Christianity. Without the bodily resurrection of a crucified savior, Jesus’ followers would not have proclaimed the gospel, would not have offered salvation and eternal life to those all over the world. Many of Jesus’ followers, and all of the Disciples died painful deaths because of their efforts to share the gospel. Many were imprisoned. Choosing to share the story of Jesus didn’t provide any earthly gain, as a matter of fact, it brought about much loss and suffering. And yet, it spread. These people would not have gone through that suffering for a lie, they would not have died or faced prison time to spread a story of a resurrection that didn’t happen. Maybe Chuck Colson, Former White House special counsel during Watergate, a convicted felon, and born-again Christian said it best :

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”

But because there was indeed a risen savior, Jesus’ followers did share their story, enabling the Christian faith to spread throughout the known world and providing for it the foothold it needed to persevere for all of time.

The resurrection is the hope of all who follow Christ. It proves to us the power of our God. It enables us to trust Him for all things in this life. And more importantly, it tells us that this life is not all there is. It guarantees that those who believe, who place their faith and hope in Christ, who trust in Him to deliver them to eternity, will experience a spiritual and a physical resurrection. It assures us that while we get small tastes of His goodness and glory in this life, that the best is indeed yet to come. It promises an eternity of joy unspeakable. And that promise is available to everyone. To all who believe. It requires only that we move our trust from self to Christ, moving our souls from death to life.

Watch Week 9 of Sermon Series • Miracles

Miracles • Faith

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 18:41:00 GMT

We see Jairus. He’s mature in his faith. He has to be – he is one of the rulers of the synagogue. His faith is not new, it’s mature and familiar. He’s known and respected by others because of his faith. He has a status in society. And in the midst of this life of privilege and notoriety, tragedy strikes. His little girl is horribly ill and is dying.

And we see a woman. She doesn’t appear to have much faith or much of anything. She is unnamed, which is a glimpse of how society saw her. She has no money. She has no status. She has no family with her. Even what little she may have had at some point earlier in her life was used trying to overcome the one thing she did have – a bleeding issue.

Jairus approaches Jesus boldly. He falls at Jesus’ feet reverently, but he is unreserved in asking for His intervention. Jairus wants Jesus to come to his home and lay hands on his little girl. These actions and requests tell us Jairus knows that Jesus is likely the promised Messiah. Knowing that we can only imagine the relief and the hope Jairus felt when Jesus agreed to go home with him. Jairus faith was in what Jesus could do.

On the way to the house, there was a distraction and a slowdown. It’s the moment when this woman appears on the scene. Her blood issue made her unclean, which meant she couldn’t go to the temple. She couldn’t interact with people. She certainly couldn’t touch people. It’s putting it mildly to suggest she wouldn’t be welcomed if she was spotted in a crowd.

But she has heard about Jesus. And her actions lead us to believe she knew at least a little bit about the scriptures. Malachi 4:2 tells that one is coming who will have healing in his wings. Wings was a term for the tassels in the hem of a garment. Almost like a monogram on today’s attire, these tassels, or wings, would identify the person wearing the garment. In the case of Jesus, these wings would provide healing, identifying Him as the Messiah.

With that in mind, the woman’s decision to approach Jesus in a crowd, from behind where she was less likely to be seen, and then to reach out and touch the hem of His garment suddenly seems much less arbitrary and much more intentional. And the Bible tells us her intentions were realized – it says she immediately felt her bleeding stop.

Immediately. That’s how the Lord sometimes chooses to heal us. Whether in physical healing or in healing a relationship or a situation. And it’s the healing we almost always hope for and prefer.

But the woman’s immediate healing caused Jairus to have to demonstrate the maturity of his faith, to trust in Jesus’ timing. Jairus might have wondered why and even been bothered when, Jesus stopped on the way to the house to ask who touched the hem of His garment. This was a huge crowd. Anyone could have touched the garment – even by accident. And if this was indeed the Son of God, wouldn’t He already know the answer to that? And why did it matter? Jairus may well have been trying to find a way to get things back on track and hurry on to the house. But Jesus wouldn’t be hurried. He stopped and engaged with the woman.

The woman was healed, and that seems like it should have been the end of her part in the day’s events. But Jesus called her out and required her to identify herself. He’s guiding her to what will become an example to all believers of giving testimony. And He’s showing her that her healing didn’t come from touching the garment, but from her faith and belief in the identity of the one who wore the garment. Jesus wants her to understand the source of her healing, and He wants all of us to understand the power and importance of our testimony. She recognized the hopelessness of her condition, she learned enough to know how to find healing, she sought the healing by stepping out in faith, and grace was given to her – very similar to the lost coming to saving faith in Jesus.

In the midst of the fuss over this woman and her immediate healing, word comes that Jairus’ daughter has died. Can you imagine the sudden hopelessness Jairus might have felt? He is on his way back to his house with Jesus, certain that Jesus will be able to heal her, only to experience this delay and the find out they are too late. Jesus is too late. From hope to hopelessness, with nowhere left to transfer his faith.

But Jesus. He reminds Jairus not to fear, only to believe. Jesus knows the power of resurrection, and He knows the pivotal role that will play in all of our testimonies. He isn’t rushed. He isn’t concerned. He isn’t surprised.

When Jesus (finally) gets to the girl, she is indeed dead. The others in the home are wailing. Their grief is real and palpable. But Jesus isn’t bothered – he knows to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. He knows death has no power over a believer.

Jesus approaches the girl and says to her in Aramaic, not a formal and proper Hebrew phrase, but one from a common street language, “Little girl, arise.” A phrase that indicates endearment and familiarity. But also a command.

One day all believers will hear that from Jesus when we leave this body and are called to be present with Christ. The girl arose, from death to life, thanks to the power of the resurrection and the belief that Jesus is the Messiah. Her healing wasn’t immediate – and that delay caused tremendous pain for those who loved her. But then they saw something much more powerful than they would ever have imagined when Jesus called her back to life.

Jairus, a man of a mature faith, was forced by circumstances to trust in the timing of God’s grace, to rely on His sovereignty, and he saw the resurrection. His only other choice was to abandon his faith, which was his only hope, the only power strong enough to see his daughter healed.

God still heals today. Through the power of the resurrection, He heals the sick, He heals relationships, and He heals marriages. Sometimes those healings are immediate. Sometimes they happen more slowly on a timetable that might only make sense to the Lord. And sometimes healing is brought about through the ultimate healing of passing from this life into eternity with Christ. As different as each type of healing may seem, they have this in common: They happen because of our faith in Jesus, that He is who He says He is, and our trust that He will do what He says He will do.

Watch Week 6 of Sermon Series • Miracles

Miracles • Miracle Workers

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 18:33:00 GMT

In Mark 6, we see the Disciples, the first people Jesus anointed to perform miracles in His name, approach Jesus. They’ve come back from doing work in His name and they want to tell Him all the did and all they taught. They’ve been busy. And it has all been good stuff. Except for the beheading of John the Baptist, that was hard – there’s pain in following Jesus. Our walk with the Lord, even when we’re doing great things in His name and for His glory, will have moments that feel like they will break us.

Jesus saw the excitement in the Disciples, but he also saw the exhaustion. He was aware that many times while serving others in Jesus’ name, the disciples had been without time to eat. He saw their need for a break. Miracle workers need rest and need to exhibit compassion, and Jesus knew that the Disciples were low on rest. This can be true for us, too. Jesus tells us to rest in Him daily, to get away with Him to pray, to read, to sing, to journal, to rest in Him, to let Him remind us that He is God and we are not, and to help us remember that the Lord of the work is far more important that the work of the Lord.

Without rest, rest in Jesus, we won’t see this world, and the people in it, the way God does. And when we don’t see this world through His eyes, we won’t exhibit the compassion He calls us to demonstrate.

But rest can be hard to come by, even when we’re walking with Jesus. As Jesus led the Disciples to get in a boat and get away, crowds of people were waiting to connect with them. Some in the crowd recognized the direction Jesus was leading the disciples and found a way to head them off on land. As Jesus led the Disciples to seek rest, the crowd did what they could to thwart that – the crowds weren’t concerned about the need for rest; the members of the crowd were concerned with their own needs they wanted to bring to Jesus.

Jesus let the disciples stay in the boat as He approached the crowd. The Bible doesn’t tell us why He did this, but it does tell us He showed compassion to the crowd, leading many to believe it was an opportunity for Jesus to model for His Disciples what compassionate ministry looks like the importance of rest, and its impact on compassionate ministry.

When the Disciples did come out of the boat it was late – and they clearly still hadn’t had the rest they needed to be compassionate. They told Jesus to send the crowd away for the night, suggesting the crowds should go into town and buy themselves dinner. They told Jesus what to do with the people. Read that again. They looked at a situation and told Jesus what to do. Miracle workers extinguish excuses and pride. The Disciples weren’t doing that. Instead, they were trying to eliminate what they saw as a problem in their own logical way. These men have been performing miracles in Jesus’ name and in His power, but when they encountered this situation, they didn’t look to Jesus or His power. They told Him what to do. And He answered them, saying, “You give them something to eat.”

Now, a good church member reading this today probably wants to believe he (or she!) would simply reply, “Yes, sir!” and go about the work Jesus had prescribed. And maybe he (or she!) would. But that’s not what we always do, and that’s not what the Disciples did. They challenged Jesus. They worried about the feasibility and the cost of feeding this crowd. They were standing with a man who carried with Him all the power of Heaven, and they made excuses when their own power and resources weren’t sufficient to solve the problem.

Jesus could have let the Disciples have their way. He didn’t have to push them to let Him be the solution. That’s a risk we always run when don’t look to Jesus; He might let us continue in our own power. But this time, He didn’t. And because He didn’t, we have a record of a remarkable miracle, the feeding of more than 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish from a lunch a young boy had brought from home.

This miracle gives us a simple formula that holds true in every circumstance: x+Jesus=more than enough. My failure+Jesus=more than enough. Your insuffieciency+Jesus=more than enough. An impossible diagnosis+Jesus=more than enough. A bad financial situation, or a crumbling marriage, or a difficult situation with a child, any of that, plus Jesus, equals more than enough.

Because the Disciples relented and trusted Jesus, a boy’s lunch+Jesus=more than enough. But the point of this miracle wasn’t to have enough food or to fill empty stomachs. John’s account of this miracle shows us that it opened many eyes in the crowd to the truth of Jesus’ identity – they saw that He really was the prophet.

Jesus again modeled for the Disciples (and us!) what to do after a big miracle. The temptation might be to take credit, to bask in the glory meant for God. But Jesus sent the disciples ahead of Him in the boat and He retreated to the mountain alone, to pray.

Even though many in the crowd were convinced by the miracle that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, and even though the Disciples had given up their old lives, had been working in His name, healing people in His power, they still had their moments of doubt.

As Jesus was on the mountain praying and they were back in the boat, a storm at sea caused the Disciples panic. When Jesus appeared to them, the didn’t recognize Him. They didn’t even think the image they were seeing was real. But once He spoke to them, their hearts saw what their minds were struggling to understand. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

So, to spell it out, Isaiah 61 prophesied that Jesus would come and free the captives. Then in Luke 4:18 Jesus arrives and performs miracles. In Mark 6:12 Jesus brings the disciples in as miracle workers themselves, anointing them to perform miracles for His glory, in His power. And finally, in John 14:12 Jesus tells the disciples this anointing goes beyond them, and He grafts us, all future believers, into His line as miracle workers

We’re in the line of miracle workers. Miracle Workers exist to GLORIFY GOD by the POWER OF GOD. Therefore, we exist to GLORIFY GOD by the POWER OF GOD.

God is inviting us to be still, to listen, and to be part of His miracle-working ways.

Are you ready to live the life of a miracle worker this week?

Watch Week 7 of Sermon Series • Miracles

Miracles • Courage

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 18:21:00 GMT

Bravery is more than optimism in uncertainty, or stoicism in hard circumstances. And sometimes humans exhibit bravery that doesn’t come from honorable motivation. But lasting, long-term bravery, the kind that causes a person to be labeled by others as brave, comes from faith. Biblical bravery is saying, “Because of Jesus, who He is and the power He provides, I will follow Him, even when it’s hard. I will do what’s right, regardless of the cost.” Biblical bravery comes from faith, and faith is doing all we honestly and ethically can and leaving the rest to God.

Lasting bravery and courage are based on scripture. They develop in our lives when we recognize:
God’s Forgiveness (Matthew 9:2)
True Righteousness (Proverbs 28:1)
Trust and Hope Rooted in God (Psalm 31:24)
God’s Promise (Joshua 1:9)
God’s Strength (1 John 4:4)
The Power of Prayer (Psalm 138:3)

In Matthew 14 we see a picture of courage. The scripture tells us that immediately after Jesus fed the 5000 Jesus made the disciples get on the boat. This isn’t the same boat outing we read about in Matthew 8. This time Jesus puts them on the boat, and He heads off to pray.

One can’t deny that the Disciples are exactly where Jesus wants them – it was Jesus who made them get on the boat. As the night wears on, this trip across the sea that should have taken about two hours was taking more than three times that as a storm brewed in the sea. As Christians we tend to assume if we are in the center of God’s will, we’re out of the path of the storm, but that simply isn’t true. Scripture teaches us that obedience doesn’t shield us from the storm, and sometimes it’s our obedience that leads us into it.

And here are the Disciples, aware that Jesus put them on the boat, growing tired and afraid as the trip doesn’t progress as they expected it to. The mythology with which they would have been familiar because of the pervasiveness of Greek thought in their culture found its way to the forefront of their minds. As the waves seemed to turn against them, they found themselves fearing the angry sea. And because of this, when Jesus appeared on the water, in the midst of the storm, instead of recognizing Him, they assumed He was a ghost – mythology was coloring their thought and leading their minds astray. How often do we let our minds wander from the truth of God’s Word, causing us to mistake His hand for something else?

Jesus announced Himself to them, and the words He used carried deep meaning – “It is I,” a variation of “I Am,” a reference to God anyone who knew the Jewish scriptures would understand, a proclamation that Jesus wasn’t just the guy these disciples had been following, but God incarnate.

Peter, impulsive Peter, hears Jesus, but he needs more encouragement. Peter asks Jesus, if it really is Him, to call Peter out of the boat. Whether you see Peter as the only disciple brave enough to call on Jesus and get out of the boat, or you see Peter as brash and disrespectful in his request, he is inarguably with Jesus. Peter provides a solid blueprint for us: We see Peter exercise the courage to believe Jesus, obey Jesus, follow Jesus, and then lose his focus on Jesus and get scared all over again, prompting Jesus to reach out to Peter. Peter held on to Jesus as they got back in the boat. And when Jesus got in the boat, the scripture says the wind and waves died down.

A night on the stormy seas, which were stilled when Jesus got into the boat, was enough to remind the Disciples of what they were learning time and again. They worshipped Jesus, proclaiming, “You truly are the Son of God.”

Miracle after miracle points to the same thing. The miracles aren’t about healing the sick or raising the dead. They aren’t about feeding the hungry or calming the seas. They’re about showing Jesus to be who He says He is, the Son of God. And in this particular miracle, we learn that sometimes we have to have the courage to allow Jesus to lead us into the storm to really know who He is.

Watch Week 8 of Sermon Series • Miracles

Miracles • Satan & Demons

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 15:05:00 GMT

Historically, church fathers chose to mock Satan’s appearance as an attack on his pride. This approach led to his depiction as little more than a horned creature in red footed pajamas with a pitchfork in his hand – something not easy to take seriously. Unfortunately, that led many to believe Satan and demons aren’t a force with any power, just imaginary creatures.

But the Bible tells us Satan is real, and that he’s a slanderer and the god of this world, intent on leading us astray. Is society right – that evil doesn’t exist, that everyone has his or her own truth and own choices? Or is evil real, and does it permeate parts of our world?

In the Bible Mark 5, gives us the most detailed account scripture offers of an exorcism – the casting out of a demonic spirit. It’s important to note that demons can, and do, possess people, but not believers in Christ. Being a believer in Christ doesn’t stop demons from oppressing or influencing a person, but it does shield one from demon possession.

Pastor Ron reiterated that the chief purpose of Satan is to discredit God and the person of Jesus and to destroy His creation. That’s why this demon possessed man in Mark 5 was found living among the caves and tombs, an outcast from community. He wasn’t fit for polite society with the supernatural strength he was using to destroy himself, even cutting himself, all because of the demons within him.

When this possessed man saw Jesus, he ran to Him. Even in his possessed state, he recognized Jesus for who He was. In the book of James, we’re told that even the demons believe in Jesus and tremble at the mention of His name. We see that demonstrated when this man falls to his feet in a posture of worship and cries out to Jesus. The demons within him call Jesus by name, asking Jesus not to send them into the abyss. We learn in their exchange that the demon goes by the name Legion, because there are many, perhaps thousands of demons, inhabiting this man. The demons are speaking through this man, begging Jesus not to send them out of the country. They fear Jesus, knowing He can put an end to their possession of this man, and even an end to their existence.

And then an interesting twist – a herd of pigs not previously mentioned, is feeding on the hillside near Jesus and this man. The demons begged Jesus to send them into the pigs. And Jesus did. The pigs, inhabited by the demons, ran down the steep bank, into the sea, where they drowned.

Why did Jesus let the pigs die?

In this setting, Jewish people are oppressed by what they called, “gentile pigs,” Roman soldiers who had sailed into their land, taken over, and who commanded high taxes and inhibited the freedoms of the Jewish people. According to historical accounts of rabbis and priests, Jewish people at that time longed for a day when the Messiah would come, and would, in their words, drive those gentile pigs back into the sea from which they came. While at first glance the pigs on the hillside seem to be random players in a split-second decision by Jesus, they were actually a very bold proclamation of Jesus’ power and identity.

The presence of pigs, unclean animals in the sight of the Jewish community, also tells us this happened in a predominately gentile area. That’s significant, because Jesus who had done most of his ministry in Jewish areas, has just shown up and healed a man. This also pointed to what the people of the time believed about the coming Messiah: that he would heal the sick and set the captives free. The message that Jesus is the Messiah is being proclaimed not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles as well – essentially inviting all, Jew and Gentile alike, to follow Him and be impacted by His power.

This tells us that Jesus values everyone, of every background.

Once the pigs had drowned, Jesus told the herdsmen to share this story. People came to see what the crazy herdsmen were describing. They saw the man, no longer possessed, no longer cutting, now clothed, and in his right mind, sitting with Jesus. Just as we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ when we believe in Him as Savior and Lord.

Jesus told the man to go back to his home, his family and friends, and tell them what Jesus had done for him. He knew word of this encounter would be enough to open hearts and minds to His Lordship.

Clearly, Jesus took seriously the existence of demons and their ability to possess, oppress and influence people. And because of that, we should, too. But we need not fear them, because there are things we can do to be protected, or delivered, from Satan’s influence in our lives. Demons are indeed real. But so is Jesus, and His saving power. And that power supersedes the influence of the enemy every time.

Deliverance from Satan’s influence:

Resources:

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Angels and Demons, R.C. Sproul (RightNow Media)
The Invisible War by Chip Ingram

Watch Week 5 of our sermon series, Miracles.

Miracles • Beyond Belief

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:50:00 GMT

In week four of our Miracles series, RPC’s International Missions Pastor Randy Riggins walked us through 4 steps to living Beyond Belief – and if you’ve been listening to “contemporary Christian music” long enough, you might have been inclined to sing along when he referenced Petra and their lyrics:

And from faith to faith we grow
Towards the center of the flow
Where He beckons us to go
Beyond belief, beyond belief

Leap of faith without a net
Makes us want to hedge our bet
Waters never part
Until our feet get wet, whoa, whoa

There’s a deeper place to go
Where the road seems hard to hoe
He who has begun this work
Won’t let it go (let it go!)

Petra “Beyond Belief”

If we want to live beyond belief, first and foremost, we can’t forget our needy condition. In Luke 17, Jesus encounters a group of lepers, society’s outcasts with no hope in anything at all. They asked Jesus for pity – for healing and hope. They may not have known He could heal them. They had no reason to believe He would heal them. But their condition was so desperate, they had nothing to lose by asking. They weren’t risking their social status or their reputation. Those things were already gone. They had nothing to lose by crying out to Jesus. So, they shouted their need in hopes He would show them mercy. Do we do this? Or do we hide our need, hoping others will believe we’re doing ok, that we have it all together?

The next part of living beyond belief is living by faith, not feelings. Our faith tells us God is enough, Jesus is able, our situation is in the hands of the creator of the universe. Feelings tell us there’s no hope, there’s no solution, we’re not worthy of a solution even if it does exist. Faith tells us all things are possible with God. Feelings tell us resolution is impossible. Faith allows us to believe God will do what He said He would do. Feelings tell us what he said is illogical, even ridiculous. In Luke 17:14 Jesus told the lepers to go show themselves to the priest, and as they went, they were cleansed. Lepers weren’t allowed near the priest or anyone. To take that first step was to walk in faith, not feelings. What Jesus told them to do was not allowed, and it was not logical. But believing – maybe because their faith in Jesus was strong, but more likely because they had no other hope and nothing to lose – they took the first step. And the Bible tells us it was as they walked in obedience that they were healed. God has a step for us to take. What step is it? What circumstances are we allowing to make us feel like we can’t take that step?

The third aspect of living beyond belief is staying focused on Jesus, fixing our eyes on Him. This always includes praising Him and thanking Him. Luke 17:15-16 tells us one of the lepers did this. He went back, and he praised God loudly, and he threw himself at Jesus’ feet, thanking Jesus for the healing. This leper was appreciative of the gift but more appreciative of the giver Himself. That’s a strong example. Jesus saw this man – and He saw that it was only one of the 10 who did this. And this one, Jesus points out, was a Samaritan. This leper, healed by Jesus, was of a race thought inferior by society. Jesus could not have made it any more clear that His gift, His salvation, His healing, is available to all who believe. That’s good news for us.

Finally, to truly live a life beyond belief, we have to go… In Luke 17:19 Jesus tells this leper to “rise and go your way…” This leper had cried out to Jesus, asking for healing. He had walked in faith when Jesus gave him instruction. He had returned to Jesus to offer praise and thanks. And now, Jesus tells him to go, because in going his way, others would see and be impacted by the faith of this leper and the work of Jesus. Once we’ve stepped out of the shadows and admitted our need, taken the step of obedience Jesus prescribes, thanked and praised Him for His healing, if we want to truly get beyond belief, we need to go out into our world and share the truth of Jesus with others. That’s going to look different for each of us, but to those who see us, it will look like Jesus, the hope they may not even know they need.

Watch week 4 of our sermon series, Miracles.

Miracles • Misplaced Faith

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:28:00 GMT

In Mark 9:14-29, there’s a story of a father who brings His son to Jesus, hoping Jesus can cast out the demon that torments this boy. In week 3 of our series on Miracles, RPC Worship Pastor Matt Byrd reminds us that Jesus has already cast out demons. This isn’t new, or newsworthy to those who were following Him. The Disciples had already been part of the casting out of demons. The power to heal had already been granted to them. So, this shouldn’t be a noteworthy interaction.

But when this story begins, Jesus is atop the mountain, communing with His Father. The father of the demon-possessed boy encounters the disciples, without Jesus, hoping they can point him to Jesus, so Jesus can heal the boy. The Disciples, knowing they’ve seen this done before, don’t hesitate to tell the boy’s father that it can be done, and in fact, they can do it. Themselves. Right now. Without waiting on Jesus.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t go well. The boy is not healed. His father, who clearly had hope when he met the disciples, is pretty hopeless, and the crowd isn’t all that impressed.

Then Jesus shows up. And everything changes. That bold faith the disciples displayed was redirected to Jesus, not themselves. And then, the little bit of faith the boy’s father had, was enough. It’s not the amount of faith. It’s where that faith is placed. Need more info to make this make sense? Hear all the details in Matt’s sermon in part 3 of our Miracles series.

Miracles • Faith & Doubt

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:21:00 GMT

Doubt arises when we look at a problem and don’t see a solution. Or when we see a solution, but that solution seems impossible.

Jesus recognized John the Baptist as the greatest man of God. He was the forerunner to Jesus himself. But imprisoned for his faith, John the Baptist faced a moment of doubt. It was when Jesus performed a miracle of redemption that John’s doubts were put to rest.

Our doubt often causes us to look for a rescue – for the relief that we believe we’ll find by escaping the problem that exposed our doubt. But in week 2 of the Miracles series, Pastor Ron t explained the redemption God planned for us will always outweigh the perceived relief of simply escaping our struggle. As Christians, we don’t seem to struggle to believe that God will restore our losses in Heaven. But could it be that while we pray for, plead for, or bargain for relief from difficulties, challenges and unpleasant circumstances, God actually wants to redeem – right here on earth – those things we see as curses, for our good and His Glory? It’s what He did for a leper. And a Centurion. And many others throughout time. Listen to week 2 of our Miracles series , where Pastor Ron explains the role of faith, and doubt, and redemption and restoration in the miracles Jesus performed for the Leper and the Centurion.

Miracles • Wedding at Cana

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 00:24:00 GMT

But what is a miracle? And why are they such a big part of our vernacular?

Whether you go with a dictionary definition or a theological one, it boils down to something that can’t easily be explained away. And historians – Christian and atheist alike – agree, Jesus performed them, and they still occur today.

In our Miracles series, Pastor Ron will unpack a number of miracles, leading up to the greatest miracle of all: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In his introduction to this series, Ron explained the four reasons Jesus performs miracles: Miracles are performed for glorification, revelation, salvation/redemption, or restoration. Every miracle is intended to glorify Jesus. Each one is also usually intended to either provide revelation about Jesus, bring about redemption (also called salvation), or provide restoration.

In week one, Pastor Ron looked at the Wedding at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine. This first miracle was aimed at revelation. At the time Jesus performed the miracle, there were very few who actually knew who He was. His mother knew – and that’s clear in their exchange when the need for wine came to her attention (vv 3-5). But the disciples had only been with Him a short time at this point. They may have been hoping. They may have been trusting. But they could not have yet known Jesus is indeed the awaited Messiah. After this, though, they knew He was who they hoped He would be.

Want to know more? Take a listen to message 1 in RPC’s series on miracles.

When Sin Seems To Rule You

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 01:12:00 GMT

You might see that, even in light of God’s call on your life to obedience, you are struggling with sin, over and over. You know in your mind what is true – God wants us to hate what is wrong and to love what is good. But what do you do when that isn’t easy to do? What happens when you truly want to obey, but still fall prey to your sin? What if you long to make a kingdom for yourself, rather than serve the Kingdom of God? Christians at large have developed a bad habit of putting up a front, and for some reason, everyone feels like they have to pretend like they are okay. But we have to be honest with ourselves when it comes to the heart. The most dangerous thing we can do is not acknowledge the true condition of our hearts. We must always tell it like it is. Sometimes it’s true that you feel apathetic to the things of God. Sometimes you may even enjoy your sin, and deep down you don’t really care about what God says. Sometimes you may just feel like you can’t shake your sin. This leads to feeling trapped. As the Spirit of God works in our hearts, refining us and sanctifying us, we often find ourselves in an inner battle. We mustanswer the question: What do you do when your sin seems to rule you?

Look To The Cross

The Unwavering Love Of God

If you can grasp this reality – because of the cross, you stand before God perfect and blameless – it will change the way you see things. The more you can believe that your sins are crucified an d buried, and the less you can believe that your sins are incurring evidence against you, the more free you will become and the less shame you will carry. We must never believe that our behavior somehow tips the scales of God’s affection this way or that way. Because of the great love of God ( Ephesians 2:4 ), evidenced by Jesus going to the cross, and because of the righteousness that was purchased for you on the cross, God sees the righteousness of the Son when He looks at you. He doesn’t see your sins, but rather He sees the blood of Jesus that covers your sins. This is the unwavering love of God. This is how you can know He loves you. He doesn’t just tolerate you, but He rejoices over you and sings over you ( Zephaniah 3:17 ). God’s love is truly magnificent! It does not ever dwindle or grow faint. God is not shaking His head at you, waiting for you to get better. But rather, He delights in you . The cross is the megaphone that joyfully announces, “Paid for!” to the crowd of accusations that could ever be made against you. Though your sins were great, much greater was the love of God.

Look To The Bible

Not-So-Heroic Heroes

Another person you can look at is Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles, who denied Him three times. He was also rebuked by Jesus in the Bible. He stumbled about and never seemed to have enough faith. Yet, we see God’s unwavering love in that He never loved Peter less . The stories of the people in the Bible teach us that God surrounds Himself with and accomplishes His purposes through broken and sinful people. If you feel like your sin is out of control, look back on people who loved Jesus but also loved sin at certain moments of their life, and know that God extends grace. Don’t give in to guilt and shame, but look around you and see that nobody has ever carried a perfect track record. God is faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to Him. This is the Gospel, and this is why we celebrate. God’s faithfulness and love towards us is not predicated on how we perform, but rather predicated upon His faithfulness. And His faithfulness is perfect. Believer, rest in the truth that God has seen you and all of your brokenness from the beginning until now, and He still loves you.

Look To The Church

Community Among The Saints

The church is the place where discipleship happens, and it’s also a place where you can find help putting your sin to death. Community with other believers accomplishes two things. The first is being known. It’s too easy in our culture to attend church but not know the church. The consumerist approach to evangelicalism is deadly, where entertainment and intake become the goal, rather than being changed and shaped by the one true God. We show up on Sundays, demanding a comfortable experience where the music isn’t too loud and the lights aren’t too bright. A lot of us fail to take seriously our calling to serve the church and be known by the church. The idea of being known is simply this: Let others in to your walk with God. Be honest about your sin struggles, and be honest about the posture of your heart. This goes against the natural pride of humanity. Most of us feel that, to admit weakness, is somehow to admit that we are inadequate in some way. But sin festers and grows in the dark. If you don’t confess your sins, they will only grow and grow until they destroy you. The only way to kill sin is to drag it into the light. Strive to be someone who shares everything. You will start to see the effects and power of sin becoming loosened around your neck when you simply tell someone . Allow your brothers and sisters in Christ to rally around you, seeking the Lord on your behalf and walking with you. Don’t dig your heels in. The cross humbles us all. We are all inadequate.

In addition to pride, we must also be careful not to drift into isolation. Satan loves to make you feel alone and make you feel so ashamed of your sin that you’re too afraid to share. He wants you to believe that you’ve gone too far, or that others would be shocked by your confession. But when you confess your sins, the opposite effect actually takes place. You will find freedom there. You will find the joy of seeing that other believers will begin to feel safe to confess their sins too. And you will feel a sense of peace when you are reminded that all of us are sinners, yet God’s grace abounds . Community helps you see that you are not alone in your struggles. Others who have gone before can help counsel you. Someone you know may be going through something similar, and you can rally together and work through it. Find someone and ask them to hold you accountable. Meet with someone regularly and share what is going on in your heart. If you don’t have any kind of Christian community, find a local church and reach out to someone on staff. Email someone here at RockPointe. Be known by someone. This is the way to life.

All sin takes place in a moment where one believes that something other than God will give ultimate satisfaction. It’s in those moments where we must believe the truth about sin. It’s costly, deadly, and it will rob you of joy. For this reason, we take action by putting to death our sinfulness. We do this by marveling at the cross, not drifting towards guilt or shame, but rather having confidence that our debt was paid in full, freeing us from the weight of a moral code that we could never keep. Embracing the fact that we’re weak will yield immense freedom. We don’t have to hide from the accusations from the enemy, because the cross declares that we are, in fact, guilty. We are, in fact, in need of rescuing. Praise God that He made a way! Jesus’ blood has ransomed us. In addition to the cross, we look to the Bible, where the brutal honesty about the human condition gives us hope. This should embolden us as we pursue Christ because we are reminded that we all struggle. Lastly, we pursue community and accountability. We want to be open and honest about where we are with the Lord. We ask for prayer. We diligently seek to put our sin to death, before it swallows us.

We are called to live lives that are in submission to the word of God. But that submission is not to be grudging and reluctant, but rather eager and earnest. The weight of the call of holiness on our lives is a good thing, because it leads to life. It leads to joy. It leads to what God intended for us. We will find life when we lose ours ( Matthew 16:25 ). Conquering sin is not a call to try to behave better, but rather to believe better . This simply means that we trust the words of the Father when He tells us what is good, right, and true. And we can rest with complete confidence because we know that the Father is, indeed, trustworthy.