God's Kind Sovereignty

This past Sunday, I preached about the importance of going to the feet of Jesus with the cares and concerns of this life. I briefly stated that our prayer lives reveal how we are doing with this. Scripture says:

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Four Principles for Better Fellowship

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

As we assemble for fellowship, we are to consider how to stir up one another toward the two goals of love and good works. The word translated "stimulate" in the passage above literally means to provoke or contend. These are words that are typically associated with negative events in our minds, but it need not be that way. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that just as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another--sparks and all.

The Whole World in His Hands

"If it weren't for the sovereignty of God, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning."

That's a statement my favorite theology professor from Bible College would say all the time. What he meant by that was that if God wasn't in control, he would be hopeless and crippled with anxiety. Conversely, he was also saying that because God is in control, he can get up each day and move forward, trusting in the Father's care.

Go to the Expert Craftsman

I've been on another one of my "This Old House" kicks lately. Roku has two channels that play old episodes non-stop, and I find the shows to be equally entertaining and informative. And I appreciate the irony of watching guys slave away to build a house while I recline with a snack, watching them. One day, the information will come in handy, I'm sure. But I digress.

One of the most amazing aspects of the show is how the experts seem to know everything about every issue they encounter. They are able to diagnose and advise on the spot with thorough observations and plans, along with great precision. There is seemingly no problem that can stump them.

Get Out of Your Spiritual Rut

 

There are times when we find ourselves in a rut. At times, it happens to one of our skills (also known as a "slump"). It can also happen to our relationships (one might call it a "rough patch"). It can even happen to our relationship with the Lord. How are you to live for God when you feel like your relationship with Him is in a rut? The answer we need is not too complicated or too deep. In fact, the most basic and well-known advice is "just what the doctor ordered" when we find ourselves slumping in relationship with God.

What It Really Means to Love

Out of all of the "Christian words" out there, "love" might be the one that needs defining the most. For many, love is nothing more than a pitter-patter in the heart, or a warm, sensational feeling. For others, love is a romance word, associated with intimacy and Valentine's Day tokens of affection. Others more consider love to be a bad word: either a figment of man's imagination--an idea that hasn't worked out in personal experience--or a word that should just be avoided altogether because of its childish or effeminate overtones.

Life in the Thought of Death

We naturally seek to avoid too many thoughts about death. It's dark and depressing--a grievous reality. Whether we consciously recognize this fact or not, we all know that death is not the way it's supposed to be. The fall of Adam, bringing sin into the world, has brought in death through that sin. Our minds don't want to dwell on it.

The Things That Never Change

How would your life change if the economy crashed?

If another pandemic broke out?

If grocery stores emptied?

If you lost it all?

Habakkuk has something to say about this. If you're wondering who Habakkuk is, he's a prophet in the Old Testament who has a Bible book named after him. He's right there between those other well-worn books in your Bible, Nahum and Zephaniah.

Some Unique Summer Reads

For all intents and purposes, summer is now upon us. If you're looking for some books to read that you've never flipped through before, one of these six might fit the bill. I've chosen these because each of them is unique in the content presented, the way the content is presented, or (most often) both. Enjoy your summer break!

All Things In Common

The fellowship room in our church building has been dubbed "The Koin." Some might wonder if we are terribly bad spellers, since "coin" starts with a "c." Others might wonder why we're naming rooms after loose change anyway.

Well, the fact of the matter is that this room's name comes from the Greek word koinonia. It's the word for "fellowship," as in the following verses: