Facing Opposition: Romans 8
In one of the most iconic passages from the book of Romans, we’re hit with several non-rhetorical questions. It starts off with, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” And the answer is simple: lots of people! The reality is we face all kinds of opposition …
Rethinking My Faith: Bible Study in Philippians 3
What you think matters! It has a profound impact on your faith and just about every area of life. The Apostle Paul talks about our thinking in several of his letters — but it’s in Philippians 3 that he makes 14 specific references to our minds — what we think, …
Love-Informed Wisdom
One of the most memorable promises in the New Testament is found in the first chapter Philippians. We’re told that God will carry on to completion the good work he began in us. That’s great news — but what exactly does that look like? In the following verses, Paul actually …
Empowered by Love: Ephesians 3
In a powerful prayer captured in Ephesians 3, the Apostle Paul asks God to send his power to do three specific things in his friends’ lives: transform them from the inside out, allow them to experience all of God’s love, and enable them to walk in the fullness of life …
I Am Not Ashamed
Jesus talks about shame, but not in a way we typically think about it. In Mark 8, Jesus makes the hard statement that if we’re ashamed of him, then he’ll be ashamed of us. These are hard words, but Jesus isn’t being harsh. He’s being real. His words call us …
A New and Living Way
Our POV: “I’d do anything to find real life!” – God’s POV: “I did everything to give you real life!” What Jesus did through the cross and that first Easter was to create a NEW and LIVING WAY. He did it for all of humanity, even the most broken and …
Inviting God’s Blessing: Hebrews 6
Living in relationship with Jesus isn’t just about receiving God’s blessing. And it isn’t just about giving and giving. It’s about living in such a way that both giving and receiving are happening in a powerful rhythm of spiritual life. That’s the kind of life God will bless. But you …
No Gospel at All
The Apostle Paul was alarmed and angry when he was writing to his friends in the region of Galatia. People had been coming into the churches there, trying to get them to follow a different gospel — which Paul said was no gospel at all. So, what is the gospel? …
Baptized by Jesus – Acts 18-19
Do you ever feel like something is missing from your faith? In Acts 18-19 we find back-to-back stories where this was the case. These followers of God had received John’s baptism, but not the baptism of Jesus. In fact, they’d never even heard the good news about the Holy Spirit. …
Are You Kidding, God?
Are we open to change, or will we say something like, Are You Kidding God? How do we respond when God speaks to us about doing something in His name? Today, Pastor Gary shares from Acts chapter 11 and how we should make changes to our life so that when …