Message from James Sumpter on March 12, 2023

Prayer is a core action of the Christian life. We all know that we should pray. We all want to pray. In fact, we all probably desire to pray bigger prayers in a better, more faithful way. What holds us back? What is causing you to feel like your prayer life is stagnant, ineffective, frustrating, and monotonous?

We often view prayer as something that we do, and we try to consistently check it off our list of spiritual disciplines. We think that God’s actions might be in some way based on our ability to pray well, much, or often. I wonder if you (like myself in recent days) need to see prayer more clearly, more Scripturally. We all need a heart of prayer, and it begins with what God’s Word teaches about it.

Message from James Sumpter on March 5, 2023

Like 2 John, 3 John is a letter that is personally addressed. It is brief for the same reason that 2 John is brief. John planned to see these people soon and do most of his instruction in person. In both letters, John gives commendation for good and rebuke for what is bad, and he does it with a loving spirit.

3 John is written to one man, but it refers to three. The description of each man shows us responses to the truth. Truth is the emphasis of the letter, and it is viewed through the lens of love. (vs. 1, 3, 4, 12)

Message from James Sumpter on February 26, 2023

Last week we began a short study on the book of 2 John. We saw that John is writing most likely to an individual. Her response to false teachers is probably what prompted the letter, and John is trying to help guide her to the truth in love. We noted last week that though she seems to have made a mistake, John seeks to encourage her first by

1. Encouraging her in who she is.

2. Giving confidence that the issue can be corrected.

3. Speaking of the permanence of their relationship in Christ.

4. Showing joy in the growth experienced as a believer.

Now, John gives her both commendation and warning. He speaks of her guiding by the truth and her guarding of the truth in in her life.

Message from James Sumpter on February 19, 2023

The Importance of Truth -

The books of 2 & 3 John are the two shortest books in the Bible. They both contain around 250 Greek words. Their brevity has sometimes has caused us to ignore their importance.

Message from James Sumpter on February 12, 2023

In the final chapters of Esther, we see the difficult consequences of Haman’s hatred as well as the rescue by God’s reversals begin to ripple through the empire.