April 30, 2020
by Jacob Navey
| Tags: sin, Jesus, Grace, God, bible
All of humanity is born with the innate ability to blame others for their problems. We are capable of surveying any problematic circumstance and finding someone or something to blame. Even if outwardly we profess ownership of a problem, we can find a way to justify our action or inaction inwardly. Perhaps it is not difficult for you to remember some recent issue that arose...
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April 23, 2020
by Steve Braun
|
Category:
Christian Living
| Tags: hope, Christ, culture
When the world seems to be falling apart, people seek hope. They are looking for something to hold on to, anything that will help them get through their crisis. They are looking not only to weather the storm but to find themselves in an even better place than they had been. Hope is a powerful motivator and comfort, enabling us to survive and endure while we wait for the be...
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April 14, 2020
by Jacob Navey
| Tags: love, Heart, Idolatry, Christ
Our affections are important to God. The affections we have will be determinative of our actions, both today and for the remainder of the lives we have been granted here on earth. This is why, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus quotes from the book of Deuteronomy. “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall ...
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April 11, 2020
| Tags: gospel, cross, Jesus, easter
Yesterday was Good Friday. Tomorrow Jesus is going to rise. But Saturday he’s in the tomb. What is the significance of today? There’s many answers. Our God is a God of beautiful design and reasoning. This gospel plan...
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April 9, 2020
by Steve Braun
| Tags: easter, Jesus, Relationships, cross
For many people, family ties are very important. The connection that we have with our parents, our siblings, our children, or other relatives is one we do not want to lose. Even where the whole family isn’t very close, we usually have one or two family members with whom we share a special bond. When a family relationship is broken, we are devastated. If we are able to re...
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April 8, 2020
by Jim Quigley
| Tags: gospel, salvation, Jesus, hope, easter
These verses contain two of Jesus’s last seven sayings as He hung on the cross. They are the shortest of the sayings, consisting of only five words combined (and only two words total in the original Greek). But do not mistake the brevity of these sayings with having a shallow meaning. Rather these two words from Christ have profound meaning and implications....
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April 7, 2020
by Jacob Navey
| Tags: gospel, cross, Jesus
On the cross, suffering for the sins of the others, Jesus never forgot his mission. He came to fulfill the promise that had been given to Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:15), the words that had been given to the prophets, and the hope that had been in the hearts of God’s people. Jesus, speaking to Zacchaeus, spoke clearly about his Father-mandated mission, “For t...
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April 6, 2020
| Tags: salvation, hope, Heaven, Jesus
Our Lord’s words here tell a precious promise. A guilty, crucified criminal is heading to Paradise. The same day he’s punished for his crimes, he’s promised by his Creator to be in glory. How did such a drastic change of destinations come about for this thief? Why did Jesus say what he did?...
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April 3, 2020
Will Our Marriages Become a Casualty of the Coronavirus?
As we have seen on a daily basis, the threat of the Coronavirus is not just medical, not just financial, not just emotional, but if not prayerfully and humbly addressed, this threat could also become marital as well.
While we pray against any casualties in our battle against this Coronavirus, we need to also pray o...
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April 2, 2020
by Steve Braun
| Tags: Rebellion, gospel, good friday, easter, hope
In preparation for Good Friday, I have been looking over the readings for the Tenebrae service. The first reading is from Psalm 2. It is a psalm that in its historical context referred to the rightful Davidic king of Israel, but has been seen throughout history as referring to the Messiah. To some it seems out of place on Good Friday, with its insistence on the right of Go...
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April 1, 2020
by Jim Quigley
| Tags: Jesus, resurrection, Death, Life, Old Testament
We see over and over how people or symbols in the Old Testament point to a greater fulfillment in Christ. Some person or object in the Old Testament imperfectly exhibits a characteristic, office, or function that foreshadows its perfect realization in Jesus. For instance, the first created man, Adam, was always pointing to the last Adam, who is Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45-...
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