Prayer Service || As 2019 draws to a close and we prepare to ring in 2020, we spent an extended time in prayer on our last Sunday of 2019. During this prayer time, we used Romans 12 to guide our prayers.

Behold the Lamb of God (Advent Series 2019) || In John 1, John the baptizer proclaims ‘Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ The sacrificial lamb, the Savior that God promised back in Genesis 3, has finally arrived. But as we see in Luke 2, rather than arriving with much pomp and fanfare, the Messiah arrives as a baby, born to a virgin and a lowly carpenter, whose cradle is a manger. But isn’t it fitting that His arrival is first declared to shepherds? Reminding us that this Lamb of God will one day take away the sin of the world through His sacrifice, and His salvation is made available to all.

Behold the Lamb of God (Advent Series 2019) || As God’s people waited in anticipation for the arrival of the Messiah, God would send prophets to proclaim who this Messiah was, what He would do, and how we could know it’s Him. One of these prophets was the prophet Isaiah, who lived roughly 700 years before Jesus. The book of Isaiah contains several prophecies that are very popular to put on Christmas cards (Isaiah 7:14 & 9:2-7). But as we continue our Behold the Lamb of God series, we spend time studying another very: Isaiah 53. This text that may not seem as ‘Christmasy’ as the others, but it’s in this text we are reminded the Lamb of God ultimately came to be lead to slaughter on our behalf.

Behold the Lamb of God (Advent Series 2019) || God put the man and the woman in the garden with the command to produce life and have dominion over creation. Instead, they were ‘lured and enticed by their own desire’. And this desire gave birth to sin, which brought forth death. Through their rebellion, mankind would now experience the sting of death and the crushing weight of sin’s oppression. But the LORD God would also proclaim a promise. One day a boy would come from the line of this man and woman. And though the serpent would strike his heel, this boy would crush the serpent’s head. Mankind needs a Savior, and this boy, God promised, would be just that. Before sending them out of the garden, the LORD God clothed them in the skins of animals. A gruesome reminder that the blood of the innocent would need to be shed to cover our guilt and shame. A beautiful reminder that the LORD God would provide. Throughout Scripture the lamb, one of the animals sacrificed countless times to atone for the sins of Israel, would be used to represent the promised Messiah. The Lamb of God. In this Advent series we will spend time exploring the scriptures and the Lamb promised, proclaimed, provided, and praised.

Rejoice - A Study of Philippians | As we conclude our study in Philippians, we've seen Paul reference the theme of joy throughout this book, which is remarkable considering the fact he’s in prison when he writes this letter. In the closing verses of this book, Paul shares how that joy is possible. He tells us the secret of life. And the secret is contentment, which is unconnected to our circumstances, is learned, and comes to those who are in union with and reliance on Christ.

Rejoice - A Study of Philippians | At the beginning of Philippians 2 Paul calls for believers to be unified and have the mind of Christ. In chapter 4 we find that there were some in the Philippian church who were divided. So in vs. 6 Paul, just as a loving parent training their child, tells the Philippians, and us, this is the problem, and here's what you need to do instead. And what was the problem? It was their anxiety. Their anxiety was disrupting their mindset, which was disrupting their unity. And he then proceeds to explain 3 things they, and we, should be doing instead in order to combat anxiety and pursue unity. And ultimately he concludes with the promise of a reward.

Rejoice - A Study of Philippians | In the opening verses of chapter 4, Paul addresses 2 women in the Philippian church and urges them to pursue reconciliation with each other. He then shares 3 commands on how to live in unity with our fellow saints, with the promise of God’s peace guarding our hearts.

Rejoice - A Study of Philippians | In the closing verses of chapter 3 Paul discusses the theme of citizenship. As 21st century Christians this theme doesn’t strike us as bold or controversial, but to 1st century Romans, Paul’s use of words like ‘citizen’, ‘Lord and Savior’, and ‘gospel’, are exactly that. How then do we live as citizens of both an earthly kingdom and a Heavenly one? By looking to and imitating the humility and self-sacrifice we see in Christ and Paul.

Rejoice - A Study of Philippians | In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul cheers the Philippians on and urges them to continue pressing on towards the goal. And what exactly is the goal? As we forget what lies behind, and strain forward for what lies ahead, we’re not pressing on for the goal of perfection, but rather, the prize of knowing Christ more.

Rejoice - A Study of Philippians | In the opening verses of chapter 3 Paul reminds us the goal of Christian living is to know Christ. Therefore, as we see in these first 11 verses, we must flee from anything that seeks to obscure Christ, by continuously rejoicing in the Lord and reminding one another of the Gospel.