What is a key ingredient of Thanksgiving? Go ahead and let me know you think. Is it the mashed potatoes, turkey, ham, gravy, green bean casserole, etc? Maybe it is the spices one uses, or doesn’t use. Relationships are key to life. We were created for relationships. From the very beginning of Thanksgiving…

The Holidays can be hard. Lets stop for a moment and just recognize this truth with empathy and grace. Families are not always safe places for people. Sometimes gatherings become a reminder of what or who is not sitting at the table. Joy and thanksgiving are not natural. Yes every person can experience…

What do you know about Thanksgiving? Take a few seconds or so to write down what you know about thanksgiving and how it began. 1621 for the Pilgrims and after the Civil Way when Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday a national holiday in 1863. Goal-To help us grow in thanksgiving year round. As we start…

We want to be independent and autonomous. This is not always a bad goal or need. In fact, to some extent we all have to have some sense of control. The final letter. This morning we get to wrap up our series on the letters to Revelation. Please be encouraged to get on our app or website to review. Laodicea…

A city built on “shaky” ground. Earthquakes and volcanoes. The external pressure from the Jews. This is the main issue for this church. The jews were not only opposing them but making life very difficult. Remember the early church did not initially view itself as separate from the jewish faith but its…

Sleep is essential. One of the most important thing we can do for ourselves is get adequate amount of sleep. Now I admit this is not something I always do well, never had and trying to change that. Reputations focus on the past. This is not necessarily a bad thing and actually is most helpful. However,…

Ephesus-Cold othordoxy; Smyrna-Suffering under persecution; Pergamum-Cheap grace These are rough synopsis of where we have been. Craig Keener in his commentary, NIV Application Commentary , summarizes this way, “Ephesians Christians were tempted by rigidity and lovelessness, Smyrnean Christians by persecution,…

Scooby Doo & Revelation There is a tag line in every Scooby Doo episode; “I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for those ‘meddling kids’.” The Letters to the Churches is like Scooby Doo and the gang: can do a lot of meddling. We need ears and hearts to want Jesus. If we are not willing to have…

We all want to be part of a good church. This was no different in first century. Jesus is the first—preeminent one. As we open up our letter this morning we see this write at the begining. Smyrna as a culture boasted about being of the best, and one of the first to get a temple to one of the Caeasar’s.…

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. The Lord is coming back, soon! I don’t care what one’s view of second coming of Jesus is, to some extent. What is essential for us to remember…