Last week we looked at a negative character – the simple/naïve – and this week, we’ll look at another negative character – the wicked:Prov. 6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers; 14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. 15 Therefore his calamity will ...

Thank You that You love us and we are your beloved.  We recognize that our sins don’t cause You to love us less – and we are grateful for that.  As we continue in our worship – speak to our hearts – may we know, deeply and intimately, Your love for us and our position in You – that in You we are victorious.Proverbs 7:4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call ...

Lord, thank You that You have blessed us.  Our sins are forgiven and we come before You clean in every way – there is no guilt because You have paid for our sins.  You make all things new.  You healed our brokenness – you took that upon You.  You want to conform and transform us to Your glorious image.  As we sang – You work all things together for good that we might ...

When we have put our faith in Christ, we have been made right with God and can approach His throne – and nothing can separate us from that.

If you’re like me, you read Proverbs and pull out the great verses and memorize them… but it is not meant to be a dry self-help book.  There is a literary quality to the Book of Proverbs.  These dynamic statements and powerful verses that are ...

Lord, thank You for who You are. Yes, Lord, we want to give You our hearts. Speak Your wisdom into our lives today. Allow me to speak freely – with confidence and yet humility – that we could come before You prepared to hear what You would say.Last week we had an introduction. The Bible is composed of many different forms of genre: narrative, Law, poetry, parables, epistles/letters, and prophecy literature. There are so many ...

Epiphany is a celebration of the Christmas story being revealed to the Gentiles – with the Wise Men.  Moving into this series on how to live wisely in our world.  Luke puts a bridge between the Christmas story and Jesus’ adult ministry.  It happens when Jesus is 12.

 40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Mary and Joseph were in ...

Heavenly Father, thank You for this year – we want to look back and give thanks – help us to be grateful people.  It has been a big year in so many ways – but through it all, You are always present with us and Your grace and mercy are available to us.  You died on the cross for our sins and we are grateful that we are forgiven – completely clean because of what Jesus did ...

According to the Church Calendar – this is the 4th Sunday of Advent.  Advent means ‘coming’ and is actually the beginning of the church calendar year.

Tonight we will light the Christ Candle because Christ has come – and then there are the twelve days of Christmas culminating on Epiphany on January 6.

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This ...

The original Christmas story in the Gospels was in part a witness against, or a protest voice – a speaking out against – the Roman Empire and what was going on in the Jewish world.  We are going to look at Mary’s song – her Magnificat – it is almost like the 60s song – We Shall Overcome.  Of course it is different from that, but Mary speaks against the evils of her day.

Mary speaks in ...

Today we are going to look at 2 pregnancies – how they contrast and compare:

Luke tells it in the greatest detail:

Luke 1:  5 During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the ...