Have you noticed the rising sense of instability that characterizes our culture today? Don't fear, friend-- God's Word not only foretold the uncertainty of our time, but offers a strong encouragement to those of us who will look to the Rock that is Christ.  He is a firm and sure foundation, on Whom we can always depend, no matter our circumstance!

Some people just seem to have it all together-- while the rest of us realize that if we ever did get it all together, we'd likely forget where we put it!  Our text today reveals a couple who were doing everything they knew to do in life, but had a challenge that only God could fix.  Good news-- Jesus' coming is not just for those with perfect stories.  Christmas is for the rest of us, too.  He is truly the gift that meets all needs-- in the case of our Savior, one size fits all.

Have you ever considered that you were created for more?  In our continued consideration of the story from Luke 17.11-19, Pastor Ellingsworth encourages us to move from the healing power that Jesus offers to stop sin and sickness, on to the fullness of wholeness that He calls us to, in righteousness, obedience, and gratitude.  That's the path that's open to all who are willing to identify with the one and obey the One-- don't you want to make that journey?

Augustus. Herod. Jesus. Three kings whose stories collided two millenia ago.  Two wore crowns of metal; one would wear a crown of thorns. Two would be lauded and fawned over during their lives, but death would come to them because of the curse of sin. One would be mocked and railed on during His life, but would come to death to overthrow the curse of sin. Oh, what a King we serve--this matchless Lord Jesus!

In the kingdom of man, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  But in the kingdom of God, things that sound too good to be true--mercy, grace, healing, and reconciliation-- are actually too good to be untrue, because they flow directly from the Author of goodness Himself, our gracious King.  Living in light of that reality, with gratitude, transforms the tone of our existence, and brings us in harmony with others as we lift our thanksgiving to the One who deserves it most.

Have you ever wanted to be a better 'pray-er?'  There's no secret formula for getting God to do what we want all the time--that would be sorcery, not sanctification.  But the Bible does reveal an approach to God that ensures that we are petitioning for His best to come into our world, to transform all things small and great.  In this episode, we unpack the story of Elijah (and the commentary on it from James the apostle) to reveal principles of prayer that are timeless and effective.

What if gratitude wasn't just enshrined in a holiday, but made its way into our everyday?  What if thanksgiving became thanksliving?  Paul stated unequivocally that it's the will of God for every Christian to be thankful in every situation.  That places gratitude outside the realm of circumstance, and into the reality of providence; it moves our thanksgiving from the tyranny of our scarcity to the freedom of God's abundance.  Let's take a journey, friend, to a better way of living-- thanksliving.

In this inspiring conclusion to our four-sermon series on the the Kingdom of God, Dr. Jackson explores three illustrations that Jesus uses to challenge our system of value.  When we see life through the lens of God's riches that are made available to us through identification with the new covenant in Christ, it all begins to add up.

A farmer plants seeds and falls to sleep, weary but hopeful.  A mustard seed is planted, barely visible to the naked eye, but destined for greatness.  A lady hides a pinch of yeast in measures of dough, and presto!  Everything rises.  Don't you see the pattern?  Our efforts, small and feeble in our estimation, come to fruition in Christ with a weight of glory.  His kingdom is rising-- don't you want to be a part of that story?

Jesus came to inaugurate the kingdom of God on earth, and was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to allow you and me to be citizens of that kingdom.  His teachings of the kingdom of heaven, not surprisingly, point us to a stark reality-- no sacrifice that we make to become and remain a joint-heir in that new reality is too great.  When we receive Communion together, we are acknowledging the price He paid for our translation into that kingdom, and looking forward to the day when He will return in power and glory to reign forever.