Month: September 2018

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20180930-The struggle is real, but Christ is the answer!

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2018-09-30 Can I see some ID? 6 – The struggle is real, but Christ is the answer! Colossians 2:1-5 “Life is hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid!” “That which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” A. I want y’all to know (1, 4-5) Know that I am with you in spirit and struggling for you. What is true instead of “plausible arguments.” A strong and orderly faith. B. I want y’all to grow together through (2): Encouragement Love Understanding Christ is the answer (2-3) Jesus Christ is all we need for our spiritual life now and forever. “Christ […]

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Life is hard

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Life is hard. Oh sure, some people have it better than others, but everybody is facing obstacles and struggles of some kind or type. Physical. Emotional. Relational. Financial. Spiritual. Or some combination of any of the above. They’re all tied together. The Buddhist idea of all this pain and misery being merely an illusion is pretty hard to swallow, and it doesn’t really help in the here and now. Life is hard. So, what do we as people living in Christ do about it? This week as we begin Colossians 2 Paul is going to address this question by helping […]

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20180923-The Incomparable Christ Lives in you

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2018-09-23 Can I see some ID? 5 – The Incomparable Christ lives in you Colossians 1:24-29 Review: Who are you? Redeemed and forgiven Saints by the grace and will of God. Where are you? In Christ and part of His kingdom here on earth on our way to heaven. Why Christ? It is because of Who He IS—creator and sustainer—and what He has done, our redeemer and Lord. Why you? It wasn’t because of you, but because of Christ. Because of who He is and what He’s done, we can follow Him by faith, hope in the gospel, and proclaim […]

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Better than a sports drink

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“Is it in you?” Most of y’all probably know the marketing campaign I’m referring to and the sports drink it promotes. Last weekend at my kid’s swim meet Lisa served in a hospitality role and helped make sure all the coaches and various meet officials and timers stayed adequately fed and hydrated over the course of three long hot days. With temperatures over 100 each day, but without the ability to get in the water to cool off, I can promise you that in addition to water, many gallons of the afore mentioned sports drink were consumed! The sports drink […]

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20180916-The incomparable Christ chooses you, part 2

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2018-09-16 Can I see some ID? 4 – The incomparable Christ chooses you, part 2 Colossians 1:15-23 Review: Who are you? “Saints and faithful brothers with an inheritance who are redeemed and forgiven by the will of God, through the gospel of grace heard and understood, by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Where are you? In Christ, part of His kingdom coming here on earth while we walk filled with Him, strengthened by Him, with a thankful heart as we make our way home to heaven. Why Christ? Because of Who He IS: the fully bodied image of the […]

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Typhoons, tyrants, and trust

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Tomorrow hurricane Florence is supposed to hit the east coast. It looks like it’s going to be a big one. Several others have recently hit Hawaii and parts of Asia. Political typhoons are also wrecking havoc on the body of Christ and in societies around the world. Our brothers and sisters in Mainland China are facing new yet familiar challenges to living out their faith. Believers in other countries face even worse, as powerful people abuse their power in order to maintain the illusion of control. So much is outside of our control. Many like to think that we humans […]

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20180909-The incomparable Christ chooses you, part 1

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2018-09-09 Can I see some ID? 3 – The Incomparable Christ Chooses you, part 1 Colossians 1:15-23 Review:   “Who are you?” “Saints and faithful brothers with an inheritance who are redeemed and forgiven by the will of God, through the gospel of grace heard and understood, by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Why Christ? Who He IS: (15) Image (15) Firstborn (17) Eternal (18) Head (18) Beginning (19) Fully God What He’s done: (16) Created (17) Holds it together (20) Reconciles through the cross (22) Presents you holy and blameless and above reproach before him What’s the big deal? […]

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“If you’re bored with Jesus, you may be following the wrong guy!”

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Seriously. Are you paying attention? Maybe the better question is, what are you paying attention to? Jesus Christ, the creator of the universe, the sustainer of everything, the Lord of all, is anything but boring. I know that we all have “spiritual droughts” from time to time, but if you’re bored with Jesus, you might need to check where you’re looking. As I’ve been preparing for this coming Sunday’s message from Colossians 1:15-23 I’ve often experienced “sensory overload.”  I find myself looking down at my keyboard and just shaking my head. Tears of gratitude running down my face. Songs of […]