Introduction: “I need thee every hour, stay Thou nearby; Temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.” As we approach Labor Day weekend and the end of our first summer meeting together as one unified body…I am struck by the focus our combined worship format has put on the theology behind the songs we sing on Sunday mornings. This week…
In the second verse of “Amazing Grace,” we sing the words: “Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” These words shows us the immense power that the grace of God has on our lives. The Gospel Coalition defines grace as:“God’s saving grace is the unmerited favor of God that reconciles sinners through Jesus Christ.”…
Have you ever played the game Bean Boozled? The basic premise is that each style of jellybean could be one of two flavors. Green could be “Lime or Lawn Clippings,” blue could be “Berry Blue or Toothpaste.” What makes the game interesting is that you cannot tell which flavor you’re getting until you eat it. If you’re unlucky enough to…
What is the crowning achievement on your resume of life? What I mean by that is, what gives your life meaning, value, and worth? What do you find acceptance and significance in? We spend our lives building our “resume” to prove to people that we belong, that we are worthy of their love and attention, that our lives have purpose…
Scripture references: James 2:24-26, Joshua 2:1, Joshua 2:15, Joshua 2:8-15, Matthew 1:5-6 and Hebrews 11:31. Introduction: “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.” This is the opening line from a song we will be singing in worship this coming Sunday. As we continue our study in James this week, we will be hearing…
What goes through your mind when you pass a car broken down on the side of the road? Sometimes I see if there is someone on the phone calling for help or what appears to me to be someone initiating an ‘action plan.’ But if I’m being honest, most times I drive right by, so focused on where I’m going…
Scripture references: Romans 5:8, James 1:2, James 1:26-27, Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalm 68:5, Isaiah 1:17, Zechariah 7:10, Hebrews 13:8, Ruth 4:18-22. Introduction: “I will build my life upon your love; it is a firm foundation.” This lyric is from a song that we will be singing as a community in worship this Sunday called: ‘Build My Life.’ What does it mean…
Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Our circumstances and mood can fluctuate many times throughout the course of a day. It’s amazing to me how I can wake up in one mood, thinking the day will play out a certain way, and then one thing happens and completely changes the direction and tone of my day.…
Scripture references: 1 Samuel 1:10-11, 1 Samuel 1:20, 1 Samuel 2:12, 1 Samuel 2:26, 1 Chronicles 6:33-37, Numbers 16, Numbers 26:10-11 Introduction: “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.” As a church, we just went through a unifying transition. This theme of ‘consecration’ has been part of our transition from our very first combined service. What…
I have a guitar that struggles to stay in tune. It’s easily impacted by the environment it’s in… humidity and temperature changes, not to mention the level of ferocity with which I’m strumming. Because of this, my guitar needs to be tuned frequently, sometimes even between songs on a Sunday morning. This guitar can make beautiful music when it’s in…