Blog (Page 13)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ~Hebrews 4:14 This past Sunday Pastor Dave shared with us another name of Jesus; one which describes a specific role He came to fulfill on our behalf. That name and role was “The Great High Priest.” By the time you reach chapter 4, the writer of the book of Hebrews has already argued and proven…

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name ~Philippians 2:9 Starting a new sermon series is always exciting and this one is in particular because of the opportunity to learn more of Jesus. Pastor began the series by preaching from Philippians chapter two and focusing on verses nine through eleven. I love this passage because it is the text God used in my own conversion when He saved me. When I…

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. ~Galatians 6:1 Last Sunday Lucas Bair was our guest preacher for the morning service and he asked an important question. Why is it so hard to respond to sin in other’s lives with the goal of restoration in view? Here in Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, he exhorts believers to…

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. ~James 5:13 One cannot read this passage from James (5:13-20) and not notice the importance given to prayer and the prevalence it should have in the life of a Christian. One of our Growth Group questions asked us to record how many times “prayer” is mentioned in these eight verses. Our group noted there were at least seven direct references to prayer and at least…

  Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. ~James 5:7 In the previous passage (Chapter 5:1-6), James described the sinful attitudes and wrongdoings of rich oppressors who were taking advantage of poor and hard working Christians. These unnamed greedy oppressors were hiring Christians to work in their fields then withholding the wages…

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. ~James 4:13,14 James has been giving us a variety of ways to test the authenticity of our faith. So, is the faith we confess a real…

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ~James 4:11 Our corrupted and sinful nature is expressed in many forms and in many ways, but perhaps none are so widespread and prevalent slander and evil speaking. To defame and tear down others with…

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~Romans 5:1 In the fifth chapter of Romans, Paul points out some benefits and results of being justified by faith; not the least of which is we are at peace with God. He goes on to explain how we also have access into the grace of God (v. 2), we now rejoice in the prospect of sharing in God’s glory (v. 2),…

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. ~James 4:1,2 This letter written by James has been a call to examine your life for evidence of true salvation. The title of the sermon series Pastor chose couldn’t have been…

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? ~James 4:1 Part of James’ purpose for this letter is to call professing Christians to test their faith to see if it is a genuine saving faith. It is also a warning for true believers against worldliness creeping in and influencing their lives. The issue James addresses in these opening verses of chapter 4 are an indicator of the…

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. ~James 3:17,18 Mankind is capable of great intellectual accomplishment, but seeing through the cloud of our own desires, biases, presumptions, and sin comes not from within, but without; it takes wisdom. Wisdom is being able to see from God’s perspective and then using…

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ~Romans 2:23,24 When once our hearts are awakened to the truth of our own sin against God and our need for salvation, understanding we can be made right and reconciled to God as a free gift certainly comes as “Good News.” Salvation and forgiveness of sin is indeed a precious gift…

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ~James 3:8 There have been times when I have said something which I immediately regretted. Every so often my old sin nature will rise to the surface and in the heat of the moment I will say something that I must apologize for later. How is it the same tongue which we use to praise God and to read aloud the Holy Scriptures…