Saul was quick to make up his own plan when it was difficult to follow God’s. poHe had a hard time even recognizing that he was off course. Where have you made your own plan? Where do you need to surrender to God again regardless of how scary, or difficult, or unpopular your surrender may be?
Is your life full of prayer? Do you pray with intention and depth or do you just have “filer” prayers? Do the people in your church pray for each other? In church, right on the spot, and throughout the week? Let’s examine Samuel’s heart for prayer to examine our own.
Most of our disappointments in the pursuit of love come from the quest itself. We elevate love, marriage, bff’s to believing the perfect mate or perfect friend will satisfy us, even complete us. But our mates and friends actually prove to be imperfect, even selfish!! And then the turbulent wave crashes our hopes,…
Samson, known for his immense physical strength, teaches us a powerful lesson: without God, even the strongest are weak. This reflection on Samson’s life, drawn from Judges 13-16, shows that true strength lies in our relationship with God. Although Samson was unique—set apart by a Nazarite vow and filled with the Spirit—his downfall came when…
What does it really mean to “Be strong and courageous” as Christians today? This week, we’ll dive deep into the ancient world of Joshua, Judges, and 1 Samuel to explore the incredible value placed on courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Through the lens of ancient warfare, we’ll unpack rarely preached texts that reveal…
We explored Deuteronomy 11 through two perspectives: Moses’ speech to the Israelites on the verge of entering the Promised Land, and King Josiah’s rediscovery of the Deuteronomy text during a period of spiritual decline in Judah. Just as Moses’ words prepared the Israelites for their battle to claim the Promised Land, centuries later, these same words fuelled Josiah’s reform efforts.
In this message, we’ll explore the profound meaning of forgiveness in our relationships with God and with others. This sermon guides us on how to seek forgiveness, extend it, and experience the transformative power of mercy in our lives.
We are called to worship God in spirit and in truth. Therefore, truth matters because our thoughts about God must be true to qualify as worship, and without truth, our worship is hollow at best. It’s not about our truth, it’s about God’s truth. And the greatest truth we can bank on is this: God did not spare his son but gave him up for us.
When we look at a map of a place we’ve never been, it has little meaning to us. But as we travel the roads and experience the place, we add dimension and depth. We take a flat piece of paper and fill it with memories and meaning. The Lord’s Prayer is just a handful of verses; seven thoughts. But if we are brave enough to pour ourselves into each section and set our souls on discovering each place, the Lord’s Prayer can become like the map of our favorite vacation destination.
One of the things that God forms in his people in the wilderness is culture. Israel’s culture was multifaceted and revolved around family traditions, priestly rites, and days, weeks, and years of celebrations centered around fasting and feasting. As we continue to read Scripture, we see that these festivals were more than just vacation days on the Hebrew calendar. They become a part of God’s cosmic calendar, with each celebration taking on greater meaning in the life of Jesus and the church.
