When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:10-11 Christmas is not just about acknowledging Jesus but adoring him. It is not first about our witness to the world but about worship…
One of my favorite Christmas carols is Joy to the World. It is an upbeat hymn and one that, right from the beginning, celebrates the coming of Jesus and calls us to worship. The hymn was written by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and was published in 1719. While Joy to the World has been sung during…
In a season often marked by a frenzied busyness, Advent is an opportunity to set aside time to prepare our hearts. The term advent is a version of a Latin word that means “coming.” The four weeks before Christmas are set aside as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus’…
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?Matthew 6:27 Oh, no! Something’s coming. What now?? Doesn’t it always feel like something is causing us worry and concern? Maybe it’s financial or work-related or health-related or something bad or the 3point internet is messed up again! And…
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 Question: Do we really need the church? If so, what exactly is the church? I guess that was really two questions, but they have both been on my mind a…
As I prepare my sermon each week, I spend time in prayer and wrestling with what God is saying to me and what I believe He wants me to say to you. Often, this leads to a lot of material. Since I am immersed in the text, the points seem obvious to me. However, I…
Among the possessions we have, there are those we treasure more than others. It may be something that has little monetary value but it holds great sentimental value – that vase that came from your grandmother, that now sits on your mantel. It’s a treasured possession. You may have a special bond with a loved one.…
Steve and I just experienced a wonderful trip to Poland to worship with Mirek and his church. We have supported Mirek since our church began and have watched him grow from an itinerant preacher to a minister of over 800! It was amazing to see what God was doing in the life of his church…
One of the most repeated commands in the Bible is to “fear not.” Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry about tomorrow. And Paul assured the Philippian Christians, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And…
Tina Turner once sang, “What’s love got to do with it?” I would counter that love has everything to do with it. As we continue to study the Book of James, he mentions the royal law (James 2:8). This law, he goes on to explain, is to love our neighbors as ourselves. In fact, he…