Do you remember that hundreds of thousands have died so you can worship in freedom? Do you remember that all of your stuff, all of your possessions cannot produce life? Do you remember that you would not know joy without the care of God? Do you remember that you are here to live for God and to die to yourself? Do you remember that you are not your own, but that you were bought with a price? Do you remember the greatest Warrior who lived? Do you remember that this same Warrior gave his life so that untold millions would find life? Do you remember that this same Warrior has taken away the sting of death? Do […]
Gospel
350 posts
Kirk Cameron is committed to his family and to God as are many Christians. He thinks like many of us do. Kirk says things that you and I often say. Kirk is also like the rest of us, he is a sinner saved by grace. But there are things that are different. Many more people hear what he says than what you and I say. There is another difference. Most people and the media do not know who you and I are. So what we say about the God we love and the Bible is not published across the internet and media headlines. But Kirk, that is a different story. Kirk’s words, often the same words that you and […]
Perhaps you are one of the millions of Christians who has been horrified at a thought like this: I don’t have a conversion story, I must not be saved. I sin too much so I can’t be saved. I don’t pray or read the Bible enough, I couldn’t possibly be saved. I think God is mad at me. I just don’t think God can forgive me. I am mad that I keep sinning. I am depressed. I have failed too many times as a parent. I have a nagging sense of guilt. If you fear that you might not actually be a Christian, join Todd Friel and Pastors RW Glenn and Brian G. Hedges as they gently lead you through […]
Do your kids think that God or you will only be pleased with them if they obey him and obey you? Do your kids think that the gospel means that they must be good so God will love them? Do your kids think that they must be good for you to like them, for you to love and delight in them? Listen to your children talk about their understanding of the gospel. You may be thinking that children seldom, if ever, sit around and talk about the gospel. Actually, they do. Listen to your children talk. Listen to what makes them happy or sad. Listen to what they say about how you love them. “Mommy, I’m sorry I […]
The stone was rolled away for you! Matthew tells us that an angel from heaven came down in plain view of the soldiers who were guarding the sealed tomb. The soldiers watched in shock as the angel rolled away the stone from the tomb and sat on it. If we were there we would have expected to see Jesus walk out into the morning light. There was just one problem. The tomb was already empty. Just as he could not be hindered from entering in a locked room, he could not be contained by the sealed tomb. The stone was not rolled away so that Jesus could escape. It was rolled away so that you would […]
The Bible tells us little about the day between the crucifixion and the resurrection. Matthew does tells us that a guard was placed around the tomb of Jesus to keep it secure. The guards succeeded in their task until an earthquake shook the ground Easter morning. Then an angel appeared in brilliant white clothing and rolled back the stone and sat on it. The guards responded by going into shock. But Christ was nowhere to be found. But, I am getting ahead of things. For those who had been with Jesus for the last three years, this particular Saturday was a dark day of broken hope. Just six days before they exalted in Christ’s arrival to the cheering crowds […]
John records that at the end of his life Jesus said“it is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. These are not the actions and words of a victim. Jesus was in control of his own death. He ended his life when it was the right time, when he had finished what his Father asked him to do. No one took his life from him, he laid down of his own accord (John 10:17-18). The death of Jesus was not a random moment in time. He died in obedience when he had completed all that he had been given to do. This is what obedient love and sacrifice looks like. Jesus is our Messiah because he […]
You are familiar with the last supper. You know of the drama in the garden of Gethsemane. You are grieved when Judas betrays his Lord and Christ is handed over for trial. But there is another story of Jesus’s last night that we don’t remember so easily. It is an embarrassing story about what our hearts are really like. Just after the Lord’s Supper and just before Jesus goes to the garden to pray, there arose an ugly dispute between the disciples. I would like to say that if I had been there I would not have engaged in this display of pride. But I cannot. I, too, would have joined in the moment. The story is found in Luke […]
On a Thursday evening, 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ had come to the end of his time on earth. After 33 years of perfect obedience, less than a day remained of his time on earth. It would be a time of crushing temptation and agony. Everything that Christ had accomplished in his life came down to these final hours. From those to whom he had been the closest he would see jealousy, greed, betrayal and abandonment. From the Enemy he would again know temptation—though this time, he would not be tempted by the aroma of fresh bread, but by the opportunity to avoid unspeakable punishment for the injustice and hatred of a world plunged into sin. His own Father would […]
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead has become a fairy tale to western civilization. Easter egg hunts, new clothes, bunnies and Easter church services are all tolerated as a tip of the hat to an ancient myth. Easter break has become Spring break. This week, there will be no newscast or media story that states the fate of the world depended upon a political prisoner 2,000 years ago. If Christ had not gone to the cross there would be no human story, no newscast to talk about the events of the day. There would have been no hope given to Adam and Eve after the fall. In all likelihood, humanity would have perished in the great flood. […]