The LehmanCast

Doubt is a necessary part of almost every faith journey, but it can be crippling. Consider that almost half of people (46%) that experience spiritual doubt respond by quitting church altogether.

Our churches need to know that doubt is okay – even the disciples doubted at times. But we also need a game plan. What do you/we do when a crisis of faith hits us?

James 1:5-8

God has called us according to his purpose and has plans for us. Jesus saved us and called us to live a holy life. Simply stated, most of us long for purpose and meaning.

As it turns out, this longing is reflected in the Bible verses we turn to most often. Of the ten most popular Bible verses on Bible Gateway, more than half possess themes of purpose and meaning.

The analogy is clear. We are to have deep roots when it comes to living in Christ. If we will be deeply rooted in Christ, we can then be built up in him. The Colossians were those in the midst of receiving false teaching that was not according to the Gospel. For this reason, Paul insists that those rooted and raised (built-up) in Jesus would be able to withstand this false teaching, and overflow with thankfulness for what God has done.

Colossians 2:6-19

After a statement of who Christ is, Paul speaks about how we are reconciled to him. It is the centrality of the cross that gives us hope. Because of the cross, we are made holy and blameless before God. But we should be careful to remain that way. Let’s not drift away from the Good News we have heard, but continue to stand before Christ without fault through what he has done.

Colossians 1:15-28

How do we live lives that honor and please the Lord? When we are filled with the knowledge of the will of God and when we have spiritual wisdom and understanding. These things are what Paul and others prayed about for the Colossians. If we want to live worthy lives, lives that produce good fruit, and we want the same for others, then our pursuit should be that of knowing God better and better as people pray for us and we pray for others. A worthy life is one lived according to the will of God.

Colossians 1:1-14

It can be difficult living life as a Christian. We live our lives differently than the world. But we harvest what we plant. If we choose to live life according to the world with its selfish ambitions, we will reap decay and death. But if we don’t give up in doing what is good, we will reap a harvest of blessing. What will it take for us to keep on keepin’ on? Whatever it is, that’s what we need to do!

Galatians 6:1-16

Franklin D. Roosevelt envisioned four basic freedoms after the war ended:

freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

The  Holy Spirit can give us the fifth freedom - freedom from sin and self.  He enables us to fulfill the law of love, to overcome the flesh, and to bear fruit.

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

When we look at the story of the Prodigal Son, the focus is usually on the son or on the son, the father, and the older brother.  Pastor Nancy focuses here on the father.  The key to understanding the power of this story is to get a sense and feel for God's grace.  At the heart of this story is the grace of a loving father.  Of course, the nature of God's love is grace.

Luke 15:11-31

Paul suggests that we should always be joyful because of what Christ has done for us. Peace and joy should abound as we claim our faith. But even if everything isn't just the way it should be in our lives - even if there's trouble - we should be joyful all the more, for trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope that does not disappoint. Even in trouble, the result is joy because of what God has done!

Romans 5:1-5

In short, because of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts. All those sings and wonders are just the start. The very spirit of Christ now lives in us. The very same God the disciples knew when Jesus was with them is now part of them, not just with them. Think of what that means for us as followers and believers in Christ. We will do signs and wonders, dream dreams and see visions and prophesy as well as we trust in the Spirit of God. Because of Pentecost, God’s will is realized in us, and we can share that will with the world – that salvation is in his name. We are never again without God in our lives.

Acts 2:1-21