Theme of the Day: Rethinking Commitment Religious sociologists sometimes divide Christians into two groups: committed Christians and cultural Christians. The former are usually defined as those who are active in a congregation, who pray regularly, who read Scripture, etc. The latter are those individuals who call themselves Christian and perhaps have some Christian beliefs. Yet, […]

Theme of the Day: Rethinking The Solution To Sin While not every religion uses the word “sin,” they all embrace the concept. Every religion acknowledges that mankind’s flawed attitudes or misguided actions are a source of pain, both now and potentially in eternity. So, every religion offers a solution: a set of laws, a moral […]

Theme of the Day: Rethinking The Worth Of Worship Person A never attends worship. He can’t see the point. Person B attends every week out of a slavish sense of obligation. Her mind wanders during the services, for she views the activities of worship merely as tasks for her to complete. Who is worse off? […]

Theme of the Day: Rethinking Suffering Under The Cross We know that the cross was an instrument of torture and execution. However, Scripture also uses the term “cross” to refer to any suffering that one endures because he is believer: the painful denial of the desires of the flesh; ridicule and persecution from unbelievers; etc. […]

Theme of the Day: Rethinking Trials, Tests and Temptations “If God loves us, why doesn’t he remove all the trials and tests and temptations that we face?” That question demonstrates the religious assumption that those things are bad. They aren’t. In the hands of a loving God, they are tools by which he refines our […]

Theme of the Day: Revealed As The Son Of God In His Glory We began this worship series in the Jordan River. At his baptism, Jesus heard his Father’s glorious voice: “You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark 1:11). From that day, in word and deed, Jesus began to reveal more about himself. He […]

Theme of the Day: Revealed As The One Who Heals And Helps Martin Luther once said, “Where God built a church, there the devil would also build a chapel.” Satan and the other demons hate God. They demonstrate hatred by hurting those that God loves in any way they can. The epiphany Christ wants us […]

Theme of the Day: Revealed As The Prophet With Authority Authority is the power to determine what happens, the ability to give direction or even commands. Authority is limited. Authority is limited in duration. Parents have authority over their children until they grow up and move out. Authority is limited in scope. A governor has […]

Theme of the Day: Revealed As The Messiah Through The Ambassadors He Calls To whom does the work of salvation belong? Simple question. There is only one Savior. But this is how perfect Jesus is. So that our lives might have profound meaning and eternal purpose, he shares some of that work with us. He […]

Theme of the Day: Revealed As The Messiah Who Calls Us To Follow Him We try to hide our faults and failures from others. We want people to see us at our best. Perhaps we assume that if people knew what we were really like, they would want nothing to do with us. There’s no […]