When we try to make our salvation about what we have done to attain it, we start relying too much on what we think we can do to get it and to keep it, But we are not able to and when we think we can, we start thinking too much of ourselves.

Some people think that, in the Church Age, God is done with the people of Israel. But a closer look at Romans 9 shows us that He still has plans and a purpose for His chosen people.

God has the sovereign right, as the Potter, to mold His vessels into whatever He pleases, whether for honorable use or dishonorable.

Paul tries to answer questions that people may have before they ask them, such as - is God fair? Is God unjust to exercise His sovereign choice? Why then does God still seem to blame us?

As we look at God's sovereignty, it shows us that justice does not demand mercy. God's righteousness demands mercy, but in His sovereignty, He provides mercy.

Some people wonder, with the focus being on the Church now, is Israel no longer important. Paul, in Romans 9, shows us that Israel was and is still important to us and God.

As we get back into our study of the book of Romans, we see that Paul did not say that God abandoned the Israelites, as some people think. They are still God's special people and he still has a plan for them.

As we finish this summer series looking at "Why Church?" and what makes a church healthy, we look at maturity, stability and being willing to serve.

One sign of a healthy church is humility and being willing to surrender - thinking of others more than you think of yourself.

As we take a final look at the verses surrounding John 6:29, we focus on who Jesus says He is.