Today we are going to take a close look at a wonderful little story called the Parable of the Talents. It is simple, clear & easy to understand—and its lessons are impossible to miss.

Friends—today the door of salvation is wide open. Someday it will be shut forever. Make sure you are on the right side when that day comes. And before then—point others to that door as well! Amen.

To whatever extent a follower of Jesus experiences persecution, he or she can take joy in the fact that their persecution puts them in an elite group who have done far more to change the world for the better than the persecutors. Jesus says if you want to be more than happy, stay faithful to him even when you're being mistreated.

The Protestant Reformation is all about the great truth that God does indeed justify the ungodly. And he does Sola Fide—by faith alone.

You don’t have to know Greek or Hebrew to understand the Bible. You don’t have to go to seminary. You don’t have to be a pastor or a missionary to be changed by the Word of God. It doesn’t require special knowledge reserved only for a few. But it does require a willing heart.

Jesus said that a relationship with God is like a banquet or some other kind of huge celebration. Jesus is saying that the kingdom of God is a party.

Lift up your head. Be of good cheer.

The Lord is with you. Fear not & Press on!

If we believe that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of God (and we do) & if we believe Christ dwells in our hearts by faith (and we do), then we may believe that in our lives this week the fullness of Christ, the beauty of Christ, the grace of Christ, the mercy of Christ, the holiness of Christ & the kindness of Christ may fill us & drive out the evil—the lust, greed, impatience, unbelief, critical spirit & the angry intolerance that holds us back.

In James 1:16-18, he advances the argument by reminding us that God is good all the time, even during our hardest trials. We can say it this way: God is not on trial during our trials; we are. He uses hard times to put our faith to the test. This passage shows us 3 things we need to remember if we are going to pass the test with flying colors.

Temptation is the common experience of the people of God. We will never escape it as long as we live in a fallen world. But God has given us everything we need to win the battle every time.