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Philippians
Christ-Centered Contentment
June 20, 2021
Contentment is an elusive thing. As soon as we think we are content, it quickly vanishes. Is contentment even possible? In Phil. 4, the apostle Paul says that it is. In fact, he says that he has learned to be content no matter the situation.
Philippians
The Peace of God
June 13, 2021
"The Lord is at hand" is the governing reality of the passage. And when the nearness of God is the governing reality of our lives, we can experience the kind of peace that Paul is talking about.
Philippians
The Gospel and Conflict
June 6, 2021
When God is at the center of our conflict, it isn’t a fight or flight moment. It is an opportunity to be transformed by his grace.
Philippians
Pressing on Toward the Goal
May 30, 2021
The grace that brings us to Christ now stirs our hearts to know him more.
Philippians
Righteousness in Christ
May 23, 2021
Everyone is trying to build their resume of righteousness through work, politics, kids, and even religion. Paul counts it all as loss compared to knowing Jesus and having his righteousness.
Philippians
Gospel-Centered Change
May 16, 2021
Everyone in life desires change. And yet, the realities for change are often more complex and challenging than we realize. What we need is a biblical understanding of how change works in our lives.
Philippians
The Christ Hymn
May 9, 2021
This hymn tells the story that’s at the center of any healthy church. It’s the story that shapes everything we are and everything we do. It’s the gospel story of Jesus. He’s the hero. And he is unrivaled in both his humiliation and exaltation.
Philippians
Gospel-Centered Community
May 2, 2021
The gospel-centered life is a shared life. We are not looking for community. We are a community, looking to Jesus.
Philippians
To Live Is Christ
April 25, 2021
In this passage, Paul gives us a glimpse into the mindset that governs his life. It’s the mindset that every Christian and every church should have. Then Paul tells us how this mindset manifests (how it shows up in his actual life).
Philippians
Church Planting DNA
April 18, 2021
God’s plan is to fill the earth with his people through ongoing expansion and renewal of the church.
Mark
He Eats With Sinners
October 6, 2024
No one liked tax collectors, but Jesus befriended them and dined with them. This story teaches us that Jesus draws near to those who know they need him. Whoever thinks he is doing fine will keep him at a distance.
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Mark
Son, Your Sins Are Forgiven
September 29, 2024
Four men bring their friend to Jesus, presumably to fix their friend’s biggest problem, his paralysis. But Jesus has an even deeper healing in mind.
Mark
The Authority of Jesus
September 22, 2024
We generally resist any authority but our own. So, what does it take for people with “authority issues” to come under the Lordship of Jesus? We must see that he has authority over everything, and that he uses his authority for our good.
Mark
His Message and His Method
September 15, 2024
As Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, Mark immediately shows us the message of Jesus and the method of Jesus. And both of those things are more radical than they seem on the surface.
Mark
The Beginning of the Gospel
September 8, 2024
Mark begins the story of Jesus in the wilderness. He is preparing us for a new exodus and a new covenant. If you want to see the real Jesus, you gotta go into the wilderness. It is a place of redemption, repentance, and renewed sonship.
Philippians
A Vision for Change
September 1, 2024
We all desire to change. And yet, true and lasting change can be quite difficult to achieve. What we need is a biblical understanding of how change works, which is exactly what we find in Philippians 2.
Psalms
Bless and Be Blessed
August 25, 2024
The Songs of Ascent have taken us on a journey upwards toward Christ. And here at the end, Psalm 134 tells us the point of the whole journey. It tells us what we’re made for. We’re made to bless God and be blessed by God.
Psalms
Celebrating Community
August 18, 2024
We were made for community. It seems hard to come by, but this psalm assures us that it is possible because of God's blessing and grace through Jesus.
Psalms
Rest for the Restless
August 11, 2024
Many of us journey through life at full speed, trying to accomplish big things, setting our sights on achievement and success. David says genuine rest can't be had that way. It comes, instead, as we embrace our limits, rest like a child, and hope in the Lord.
Psalms
God’s Promises Are Greater
August 4, 2024
The first half of this psalm is a prayer of the people based on David’s oath to God. The second half is filled with promises from God based on God’s oath to David. And as expected, God’s promises are greater than our prayers.
Psalms
Out of the Depths
July 28, 2024
What do we do with our guilt? Psalm 130 teaches us to cry out to, trust in, and wait for the Lord. With him there is forgiveness, steadfast love, and plentiful redemption.
Psalms
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
July 21, 2024
During uncertain and unstable times, the thing we need most is to be reminded of God. This psalm is thoroughly God-centered and each stanza points us to something particular about him. When it feels like the world is falling apart, we can trust him.
Psalms
Unless the LORD Builds the House
July 14, 2024
This psalm addresses two aspects of human life that people have always cared about: work and family. It shows us that, without God, those things end up being pointless and fruitless.
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Mark
He Eats With Sinners
October 6, 2024
No one liked tax collectors, but Jesus befriended them and dined with them. This story teaches us that Jesus draws near to those who know they need him. Whoever thinks he is doing fine will keep him at a distance.
Revelation
The Tolerant Church
May 12, 2024
The church in Thyatira was a vibrant and fruitful church, but they had a serious problem of tolerating false teaching that led people into immorality and idolatry. We can be part of a church that is doing so well in so many ways, and yet, perhaps there are things that we have learned to live with that Jesus wants to shine a light on.
Psalms
Why We Go to Church
June 16, 2024
Christians voluntarily gather for worship every week, all over the world, as they have for 2000 years. Psalm 122 answers the question why: we go because we belong to God, and we belong to God's people.
Revelation
Enduring Faithfulness
May 26, 2024
The church in Philadelphia is described as having "but little power." And yet, out of all these seven churches, it is this weak and vulnerable church that is held up as the one that is loved by Christ. This letter to the church in Philadelphia teaches us an important lesson about what God values in the lives of his people.
Revelation
Compromising the Truth
May 5, 2024
How should the church respond when pressured to compromise its beliefs about what is true to better fit in with the culture? Pergamum was standing firm against pressure from the outside. But they had a problem on the inside.
Psalms
The LORD is Your Keeper
June 9, 2024
The Christian life is a pilgrimage, a long obedience in the same direction. And on that journey, the LORD is your keeper. But what does that mean and how is it possible?
Revelation
Unveiling Persecution
April 28, 2024
The church in Smyrna was being persecuted for their faith, and Jesus tells them that things will get worse. In order to conquer fear and doubt, these Christians needed the same thing that we need today: to catch a glimpse of what Jesus is doing in the midst of suffering. Only then will we find the grace to remain faithful.
Revelation
Resting in Reputation
May 19, 2024
The church at Sardis is the first church that Jesus doesn’t praise in any way. Which is surprising, because they have such a good reputation. But Jesus sees into their spiritual reality, and it doesn’t line up with their reputation.
Revelation
The Lukewarm Church
June 2, 2024
In the last of the seven letters to the seven churches, Jesus delivers the harshest rebuke yet. They are lukewarm and in danger of being rejected. But then, he makes the most incomparable offer: he invites them into intimate fellowship. This letter shows us what kind of relationship Jesus wants with us and how that can turn our whole life upside down.
Psalms
God Restores His People
July 7, 2024
Psalm 126 speaks to us in the desolate places and invites us to sing a song of hope that God will turn our desolate place into a harvest. We can lean into that truth as we remember God's restoration, request it now, and sow in hope God's coming restoration.
Psalms
Confidence in God
June 30, 2024
If we trust in ourselves and our resources, we will eventually falter, but those who trust in the Lord cannot be moved. They can rest secure in his sovereign love.