Its not what you know, but WHO you know that matters. As many have information about God and can describe His attributes, only those who have a relationship with God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can testify that they truly KNOW Him.

The power of God has been the single greatest benefit to the believer in the process of sanctification and growing in the transformative likeness of Jesus Christ. Even though God’s law is perfect, we are incapable of living it because through the weakness of the flesh (or sinful nature) the command produces only death. It is through the birth of Jesus that the power of God is revealed and that we now have the joy of encountering the power in our lives.

It is a good thing that God knows better than we do. It is a further good thing that He is in control. Isaiah 11:2 reveals that the Messiah will have the Spirit of the Lord and the “Spirit of wisdom and of understanding.” This message will look at how Christmas reveals the wisdom of God in the sending of Jesus as the Christ, the Godman who will turn the world’s wisdom upside-down.

The Christmas season is the perfect time to reflect on what it really means for us that God became man.  As God chose to empty Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, we are shown what true humility looks like.  There is no better example to inspire us today to give to one another an attitude of meekness such that we might have a singleness of unity and purpose. Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV) 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united […]

The ability for the church to represent God the Father here on earth is not possible from natural man alone. We must have help from the indwelling of the Spirit to transform us and grow us in the image of Christ. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that our union in Christ’s death on the cross has afforded us the privilege of becoming the righteousness of God. This transfer is available only through the sinless life and sacrifice of Christ and the sealing and transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

We, as Christians, are of the most privileged people on the planet, because the blood of Christ has been applied to our transgressions and we have been drawn to God through love. The problem is that even though this is true, we sometimes don’t live as though it is true. Rather than living as those who have been purchased by God, we often desire to continue living for ourselves. We will be “sold out” to God in most areas of our life, but not in all areas. Paul’s admonition to the church is that in light of God’s saving grace, we ought to no longer live for ourselves, but rather learn to live for God alone.

As we look at our world, its all too easy to judge people from the exterior; we base perceptions off of what people look like, how much money they have, or what social status they’re blessed or cursed with. However, once we’re made new in Christ, we have a fundamental change in our vision of the world. Its not about us. Its not about our agenda. Rather, it is about God purpose and plan to see peoples from all nations come to repentance and saving knowledge of Him.

Whether we like it or not, the neighbors are watching.  Once you become a Christian, the entire world becomes your mission field, and ready or not you are a witness to Christ’s work in your life.  Too many of us have for years served as a megaphone showing the world who God is without our knowledge that we were even speaking.  The Apostle Paul shows us that as those entrusted with the message of reconciliation we are speaking for God […]

In the same way we would give priority to caring for our own body (to make sure that all of our bodily members are functioning properly), God is concerned with keeping the “body of Christ” healthy and functioning. As a member of the church we are gifted with the task of serving Christ, and each one has the opportunity to serve for the betterment of the whole body. As the old children’s song goes, “All God’s children have a place in the choir, some sing low, and some sing higher.”

In a “consumer-centric” world where our natural tendencies towards self-centeredness, laziness, and procrastination lead to “quick-fixes” rather than transformative progress, the church can easily fall into two errors. (1) Fixating on entertainment, and/or (2) Disengaging from true discipleship. We must rediscover the true Purpose of the Church.