Theme of the Day: The Church that Forgives as God Forgives The starting point of forgiveness is the inconceivable mercy and forgiveness of God for the sinner. So, as a group of forgiven sinners, the church forgives as God forgives. Anytime we try to imitate God, we quickly realize our inadequacy. Yet today God tells […]

Theme of the Day: The Church Fulfills Its Role as Its Brother’s Keeper The privilege, responsibility, and importance of the task of being our brother’s keeper all rest in the words from today’s Gospel that follow Jesus’ divine directive. The keys of the kingdom have been placed into our hands. It is our privilege and […]

Theme of the Day: A Church that Takes Up Its Crosses Some churches teach that if one follows God, God responds by granting prosperity and peace. Today Jesus teaches that is nonsense. The Son of God tells us that if we are his disciple, if we are part of his Church, we will have to […]

Theme of the Day: A Church that Knows Jesus Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Make no mistake. That is the most important question in the world. And it is a question every human must answer. A complimentary answer can still be dead wrong. Some in Jesus’ day thought he was John […]

Theme of the Day: A Church for All People “All are welcome!” Is that true at our church? Historically, it rarely is true. In the gospels, the average Jewish person would have thought it odd, even offensive, if someone who wasn’t an Israelite walked into their place of worship. Taking it a step further, some […]

Theme of the Day: The Christian Answers Doubt with Faith Wherever faith clings to the promises of God, doubt is always lingering in the back of our mind, constantly asking the serpent’s garden question, “Did God really say?” How striking to think that one must have faith in God before it is even possible to […]

Theme of the Day: The Christian Trusts God to Provide The hardest times to trust in God are the times we need him most. It’s easy to trust God when your job is great, your health is fine, your relationships are strong, your family is well. It’s easy to trust God when the sun is […]

Theme of the Day: The Christian Seeks Spiritual Wealth What do you consider your life’s priorities? If you made a list, what would be near the top? Faith, family, and friends would probably head the lists of many. Financial security and health would be right up there. Reputation and recreation would likely make the cut. […]

Theme of the Day: The Christian Lives as Wheat among Weeds The wheat that grows in the Middle East is a variety that looks much like wild grass or weeds. It is difficult to tell wheat and weeds apart until shortly before harvest time, when the wheat stalks develop a head containing the kernels of […]

Theme of the Day: The Christian Is Planted by the Word Planting seed by hand can seem magical. In your hand the seed looks insignificant and lifeless. Yet you put the seed into the soil, and the natural process of life begins. All by itself, the seed germinates and sprouts and reaches to the sun. […]