Forgiveness Involves Three People

Last week, we shared how Jesus rocked the disciple’s understanding about God’s kingdom.  They just didn’t understand it.  They viewed Jesus as the Messiah who would take out Rome with an army and establish a new Kingdom.  They thought Jesus would be next King and they would have the key power spots around Jesus.  Because of this they argued with each other about who was the greatest.  Remember we explained how they wanted power, position, and statues? They . . . Read More »

What The World Thinks Is Great Doesn’t Transfer Into The Kingdom

God’s kingdom is in complete conflict with the kingdom you and I live in.  In our world, our understanding of greatness is only available to a few.  It’s based on money, achievement, education, power, beauty, title, or followers on social media.  In God’s kingdom, it’s radically different.  Greatness is available to everyone.  It’s based on the condition of our hearts and how we love and serve others. This is why as a Christian; you can feel conflict as . . . Read More »

I Used To Be Excited About God, Now, Not So Much

Have you ever wondered why people respond so differently to God?  For example, why would five kids in the same house with the same parents in the same church have five different reactions to God?  One may grow up and be deeply in love with God and walk with humility.  One may grow up and be okay with God on Christmas Eve and Easter but nothing more.  One may grow up and walk completely against how they were . . . Read More »

Thee Unapologetic Vision

Today, we are 20 years old. I wanted to briefly walk through how we got here and then I wanted to talk about what matters most, the heart of who we are as a church. To share some fun facts with you, I need to start and say, a couple families are still with us twenty years later.  We couldn’t get rid of them – lol.  These families were with us day one when we stood behind the . . . Read More »

Fighting Limits is Fighting God

Here is today’s big point.  We all have limits in our lives. If I’m younger than 16 years old, I cannot drive a car.  Why?  Because the State of Pa said it’s illegal.  I have a legal limit. I will never be an elite NFL wide receiver.  Why?  Because I am barely athletic enough to bring home the groceries let alone being in the NFL.  I have physical limits. If I have children in diapers, I will be . . . Read More »

To Be a Disciple of Jesus: Choices

If you have been walking with us this summer through Colossians, this will make a ton of sense.  I want to recap this letter so far.  Paul is writing the church in Colossae and basically says, what you are doing is hard work and it can feel very ordinary.  I pray that God anoints you with His glorious power so you as a church can live out Christianity with passion and power.  To keep God’s passion and power . . . Read More »

Anger: Why you are angry and what you can do about it

My daughter and I were coming home from flute lessons.  To be clear, I don’t play flute.  We noticed two cars going really fast and cutting in and out of traffic.  As they passed us, it was clear they were mad at each other.  Have you experienced road rage?  About a mile down the road, I knew there was a red light.  Sure enough, the closer we got, the light turned red.  This means, these two jack weeds . . . Read More »

When The Christian Heart Go Bad… what does it look like?

Today, how do we take God’s grace into this harsh world? We are in I a series called ‘Redeemed and Forgiven.’  In this series, we have spent over a month talking about God’s grace.  Why?  Because we believe that it is hard to fully grasp and be fully transformed by God’s grace.  Before we move on, let’s stop and think about that for a second.  I just said, it’s hard to fully grasp and to be fully transformed . . . Read More »