THE BLOG
Category
Topic
- Anxiety 2
- Beauty 1
- Bible 4
- Blessings 1
- Body of Christ 1
- Burden 1
- CEO 1
- Christian Living 91
- Christlikeness 6
- Christmas 9
- Commandments 1
- Community 1
- Conflict 1
- Cults 1
- Culture 1
- DDM 1
- Death 1
- Discipleship 3
- Emotions 4
- Eternity 2
- Evangelism 6
- Faith 2
- Forgive 2
- Freedom 1
- Fusion 1
- Gather 1
- God 1
- Gospel 2
- Gratitude 1
- Hebrews 11 1
- Holiness 1
- Holy Spirit 1
- Homosexuality 1
- Humility 1
- Israel 2
- Jesus 5
- Joy 2
- King of Glory 1
- Lying 1
- Missions 1
- Outreach 1
- Pastor Jeff 1
- Perspective 2
- Prayer 7
- Psalm 119 3
- Reading 1
- Salvation 13
- Sanctification 1
- Satan 1
- Scripture 2
Why a Future Focus is a Must
This past Sunday we concluded our summer series on Sound Doctrine: Applying Core Beliefs to Everyday Life. We looked at 11 key Bible truths that are foundational to living the life God has blessed us with in Christ:
Zoeology: Some Basics to Living the Christian Life
This past Sunday we concluded our summer series on Sound Doctrine: Applying Core Beliefs to Everyday Life. We looked at 11 key Bible truths that are foundational to living the life God has blessed us with in Christ:
The Church in 3D
Defined. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The church is not a building, a place, or a meeting. The church is people—people who have received every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), people chosen by God (Eph. 1:4) for His own possession (1 Pet. 2:9), people who by grace have been saved through faith (Eph. 2:8), forgiven people (Col. 1:14), people no longer condemned (Rom. 8:1) but declared righteous (Rom. 5:8). The church is people in whom the Spirit of God dwells (Eph. 1:13), people who imitate God (Eph. 5:1), ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We are the Church!
Thank God for Creating Angels
Did you thank God today for creating angels? I hope you did. Angels are “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). Even as you read this article, an innumerable host of unseen servants are responding to God-given directives to serve us. It’s not something we often verbalize gratitude for, but it is a reality in every believer’s life. Let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of two essential truths about God’s ministering spirits:
Remember The Greatness of Your Salvation
Mel Fisher had a great 64th birthday. A treasure hunter, Fisher owned Treasure Salvoras, Inc., and had been looking for the Spanish galleon (Neustra Senora de Atocha) for 17 years. The ship, loaded with precious cargo, sank in 1622 during a hurricane. It was on its maiden voyage from Havana to Spain. On a July day just before his 64th birthday, Fisher discovered the ship and its treasure about 40 miles west of Key West, Florida. Imagine his joy that day as his divers brought up from the deep an estimated 150 pounds of gold, including 76 gold bars, gold chains, and gold disks! In addition to this find, more than 900 silver bars and 100 gold bars have been recovered. It is estimated that the ship’s fortune may contain a treasure worth more than $340 million. Wow! Can you even imagine?!
Living Hope
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
The tone of the opening of Peter's letter is full of praise to God, encouraging the believers to keep their hopes up! After expounding on our great salvation and the future that awaits believers, Peter declares in verse 13, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).
How Does a Christian View Sin?
After Romans 5, Paul asks a pivotal question of those who do believe in 6:1, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase?” This is an important question for those of us who believe, and I hope, the majority of us who are receiving this weekly CCFW email. How do we view sin once we are saved? We know that it is not a master enslaving us, that we no longer have imputed sin, and that God has created us anew through His Spirit (2 Cor 5:17). But we still struggle with sin, don’t we? Here are a few points that I hope will encourage us to have a proper view of sin now that we are in Christ:
Our Best C.E.O.
This past Sunday we highlighted two overarching ministries of the Holy Spirit in our study on Sound Doctrine. He is the Chief Executive and Chief Enabler of our Christian life. One of the points we stressed is making sure we do not over-emphasize the Holy Spirit (as our charismatic brothers and sisters tend to do) nor under-emphasize His ministry (as cessationists can tend to do). We are totally dependent in every way upon the Presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
As we continue to grow in our understanding and application of the Spirit’s ministry, we want to make sure we are responsive to the eight commands given about how we relate to the Holy Spirit:
Enticing Questions
Summertime always seems to be a greater opportunity to interact with people and engage in gospel conversations.
There’s more light.
There are more people out and about
Environments are more relaxed.
People seem happier and more relational.
