“Is he your first?” My answer gets stuck in my throat as the barista hands me a coffee and tries to eke smiles out of my four-month-old, who seems far more interested in stuffing fingers into his mouth than smiling. That question gives me paus...

Main Idea: The Lord Jesus saves His disciples from their pride 1. Jesus saves from the pride of human greatness Pride…Humility…Isaiah 66:2; Isaiah 57:15    2. Jesus saves from ...

With God as our loving King: We can pray to God with confidence that he hears usThere is good reason for us to prayGod will respond to our prayer...

Main idea: Jesus is the Lord and Savior who rescues from self-sufficiency and unbelief Faith: Knowledge (Notitia)Conviction (Assensus)The Will (Fiducia)   Four responses: ...

A life committed to self-denial shows others God (John 14:6-11) A life committed to self-denial is nourished by God’s will (John 4:34) A life committed to self-denial is motivated by future joy (Hebrews 12:1-2; John 17)...

I am super excited about the topic for our upcoming Transform Conference! Dr. Stuart Scott is going to help us all develop a better understanding of what God’s will is, and how we are to seek to live it out faithfully. Here is my attempt to give...

Introduction  Main idea: Jesus’ true followers deny themselves and take up their cross daily Repentance/Faith=Salvation+works  NotRepentance/Faith+works=salvation    Focus on the s...

I learned a couple lessons from golf this year. And I don’t think I’m the first one to learn these sorts of life lessons from the very difficult game. But perhaps the application I’ve thought through has some distinctiveness to it. Now, I ad...

Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul around 62 A.D., most likely from a Roman prison where Timothy was accompanying him. Paul writes about the superiority of Christ who is Lord over all creation and Lord over the church. He is superior to al...

We are a caffeinated and competent people, with no shortage of things to go and do. There always seems to be another problem to conquer, a new technology to employ, a new mindset to engage. We are good at fixing problems and we like it that w...

The call to be a part of God’s family has always been coupled with the call to be careful hearers and deliberate doers of his word. The two are inseparable when we understand rightly who God is. “Hearing and Doing” are both the initial call ...

Our most daunting decisions will be driven by our daily disposition. Deuteronomy 10 and Ecclesiastes 11 lay a strong foundation for understanding what this means. When we apply some very practical principles from these passages, and other biblical...

While drinking coffee at Siam Mall with Alcides (missionary pastor in the Adeje church) on our recent visit to Tenerife, he asked me to share any life advice with the two youth who accompanied him. I responded, “persevere!” I saw the ...

Three pursuits of careful hearers so that we may be true disciples and make true disciples of Jesus Christ Sermon Notes Main Idea: Three pursuits of careful hearers so that we may be true disciples and make true disciples of Jesu...

Quitting is relatively easy! You just quit! You just walk away! Persevering is significantly more difficult! You must continue! You must keep going! The author of the Bible book called Hebrews knew of this probability of drifting away. He ...

Notes The Dynamics of True Hearing (Luke 8:1–8, 11–15)The Source of True Hearing (Luke 8:9–10)...

How God‘s redemptive story centering on Jesus changes how we make our decisions...

Hospitality is welcoming the stranger – the needy and the vulnerable – Into your home and life and treating them like family because God has welcomed you and made you His family when you were needy and vulnerable....

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has co...

Have faith in Jesus like the Centurion.  Sermon Notes  Introduction: Main idea: Have faith in Jesus like the Centurion Setting the stage 1. Dependent 2. Loving 3. Generous...

I often hear people refer to themselves or others as having “an addictive personality.” Some people do seem to have a stronger propensity than others for getting “hooked” on certain behaviors. That propensity exists in everyone to some deg...

This study is designed to be used in a Growth Group setting, meeting regularly with others to go over the answers and insights of each lesson. The Study Guide is based on the book: 10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Donald ...

How can you have assurance of salvation? The answer is found in your response to Jesus... Sermon Notes Big Idea: Examine your response to Jesus to see if you will receive salvation or final judgment. ...

Christians must cultivate a heart of mercy by looking to Jesus and helping others look to Jesus. Sermon Notes Introduction Theme of Luke: Certainty of the SaviorReview of Luke 6:36-42 ...

Jesus calls His followers to understand and imitate the mercy of God.  Sermon Notes Introduction Main Idea: Jesus calls His followers to understand and imitate the mercy of God—here ar...

This week we have a group bible study time where Brian Sayers guides us through how to study the bible using Hebrews 12:18-29 as a sample passage....

What is the role of the church member in a worship service? Sermon Notes Introduction & Review Two Weeks Ago: The Word-Filled Worship ServiceRead the Word, Pray the Word, Sing the Word, Preach the Wor...

This morning’s message focuses on the role we as individual worshipers play during our corporate worship gatherings, but I wanted to also take some time to see how we can apply what we’ve been learning about biblical worship to our lives outsi...

What do you do when you are in a trial? Do you pray to God, but answers don’t come? Does God seem distant and you feel alone? Do verses like; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah...