“Say what you mean, and mean what you say.” “An ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words.” “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.” These phrases and others like them indicate that God has wired humanity to practice infidelity and honesty. If a person says they’ll do something, we expect them to follow through. Everyone wants honesty—we all do. If we’re honest though, none of us keep this standard perfectly, resulting in a world full of broken promises. This rampant infidelity brings pain to both those making promises and those expecting them to be fulfilled.

Kingdom | Fidelity | Matthew 5:31-37

On a scale of one to ten, chances are you think you’re a seven. You’re not alone! Truth is, we all tend to think pretty highly of ourselves. For example, in a classic 1977 study, 94% of professors rated themselves above average relative to their peers. Another study found that 30% of software employees believe their performance is better than 95% of their colleagues.

Likewise, drivers consistently rate themselves above average, even when a hazard perception test shows them to be, in reality, quite awful. These data point to a startling, yet pervasive, reality: when compared with others, we all think we’re pretty good people.

Kingdom | Good, Better, Best | Matthew 5:17-30

Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French mathematician and Christian philosopher gave us keen insight into the deepest longing of humanity when he said the following:

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves (Pensées, #425).

No matter the way we go about achieving it, the basis of every one of our actions is the desire to increase our happiness, whether that is pleasing others (because it increases our happiness) or causing harm to ourselves (we believe the harm will ultimately make us happier). But while it is true that we all want to be happy, the question we must honestly answer is, Do we ever really find it?

Kingdom | Counterintuitive Blessing | Matthew 5:1-16

What is God's disposition towards the marginalized? How about the poor and the fatherless? In Psalm 146 the Psalmist gives a clear insight to the character and action of God towards those our society deems as less worthy. In addition, we are given an insight into our role as His disciples.

In keeping with this scripture Renovation Church has begun a partnership with Compassion International. Join us as Pastor Léonce goes further into what our role with Compassion will be. vime

A world awakened to the wonder of God and His transcultural church.

Do you have the desire to be apart of something bigger than yourself? As a people, we are designed with an innate desire to make a positive impact on the world around us. But how can we fulfill these desires? What is the best way for us to engage the world around us in a way honoring to Jesus?

This past week, during our bi-annual vision Sunday, Pastor Léonce spoke on what it means to be engaged in the life of Renovation Church. Renovation Church is to be A City On a Hill; a light in a world filled with darkness.

"I'm just not sure if I believe." This phrase has been present in everyone of our lives. Whether we are investigating the claims of Jesus for the first time or if we have been a disciple for many years; doubt has been part of our story. The question that plagues us during these times is, "If I doubt, have I abandoned the faith?"

Thomas who had been with Jesus for most of His, was doubting whether the resurrection was real. Jesus answers his doubt directly, and what we discover in this interaction can forever change our view of doubt.

John The Final Chapters | La Vida | Doubt | John 20:24-31

The resurrection of Jesus was the single most important event in human history. So important in fact, that the church father Paul wrote, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." Yet, if we’re honest, we don’t live as though Jesus resurrected from death. Not consistently. Not confidently.

For those of us who say we believe Jesus, how are we so unaffected by His beating death? Jesus isn’t dead , and that fact alters all of human history, and should alter the faith and focus of any who believe.

John The Final Chapters | La Vida | Resurrection (I Have Seen The Lord) | John 20:1-18

There is a common question that surfaces among all people and cultures. Entire religions and philosophies are created around answering this question, and the question is, "What are we to do with our wrongs?" Absolution, penance, and sacrifice are all measures of dealing with the weight of our wrongs.

Christianity is starkly different in it response to this question. Join us as we look at how the blood and water of Jesus offer us distinctly unique answer to this question.

John The Final Chapters | La Muerté | Blood & Water | John 19:31-42

If you are in tune with what is happening around us, the current injustices has created a vulnerability of sorts that allows us to share a common narrative, and lament the realities of it, even with perfect strangers. We can share our fears and feelings liberally, though the only thing that may be connecting us is the common feeling that This world seems like it keeps getting worse, without purpose. If we’re honest, at one point or another, even now, we’ve felt just that way.

Humanity does not seem to be progressing as the scholars of old predicted. And because of this, there almost seems to be a collective PTSD, causing reactions ranging from numbness to panic.

What then, do we do? May I submit to you that in the midst of the chaos remember , Jesus died on purpose; Jesus' death is the down payment on an unbroken world. Jesus’ death was not incidental nor individual. His death came at great cost, and bore with it great purpose and promise.

The Final Chapters | La Muerté | It. Is. Finished. | John 19:17-30