Category: Sermons

Posted on

Faith that rewards

a woman in black long sleeve shirt sitting on wooden pew

We know that faith without works is dead, but it’s also true that works without faith makes it impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” This is a profound statement, and there are loads of examples that demonstrate this point. By faith, Noah built the ark. Noah had no idea what the big picture was, but by faith he knew that God would reward him. And on the list goes.

This means that our faith is necessary (maybe even more so) even when times get very tough. There is no clearer demonstration of this than when Peter walked on water. The disciples had already vowed to follow Jesus wherever he went. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water during the storm, Jesus said, “Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Jesus used the same expression (ego eimi), it is I, that God used when he revealed himself to Moses as “I AM” (ego eimi). Peter’s response signals that he understood the connection: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (vs. 28).

Jesus simply commanded, “Come.” Peter’s faith empowered him to not only believe, but to step out onto the chaos of the stormy waters with Jesus. Peter know that “whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Peter was, in fact, rewarded for his faith. It probably looked nothing like what Peter expected, but he was rewarded, nonetheless.

Posted on

Show hospitality

silhouette of man with angel wings during dawn

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained anges unawares.” Right away, we think of Sarah and Abraham, who spoke to three men near the oaks of Mamre in Genesis 18. In the form of the three angels, the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Genesis 18:9). Of course, Sarah laughed to herself thinking she was too old to have a child.

The angels proceded toward Sodom and that’s when things got very interesting. Men of the city attempted to break into Lot’s house where the angels were staying. They wanted to do crude things to the men and Lot attempted to send his daughters outside instead. Fortunately, the angels intervened and struck the men of Sodom blind. The angels instructed Lot to get his family out of the city because God was about to destroy it.

Of course we know the end of that story. Were it not for the angels warning Lot, his entire family would have been wiped out. And were it not for Lot’s hospitality, the same end would have been met. We truly never do know when we are entertaining, or have entertained, angels. But one thing we do know–the Bible is clear that we are to be hospitable!

Posted on

God is near to the brokenhearted

calm young woman looking at camera through broken window

Jesus was able to draw crowds of thousands because he treated them well. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and forgave sinners. People who were social outcasts were treated with dignity and grace. So where did this come from, and how should we respond as Christians? It turns out that kindness towards the brokenhearted has always been who God is. Psalm 34 is all about the goodness of God. “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10). But also, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (vs. 18).

Over and over again, God draws near to the brokenhearted. It’s who he is. Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison for those who are bound.”

So Jesus’ words are powerful, but not without a long history of God exercising comfort to the brokenhearted and weary: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). As Christians, we need to learn from Jesus and treat people the way he treated them. He gave rest to people who were struggling. He honored their labor and even joined forces with them.

Posted on

Worthy of the resurrection

human standing beside crucifix statue on mountain

Do you ever think of yourself as worthy of the resurrection? On Easter, Christians across the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. God so loved the world that he gave his only son for us–to live, to die, and to be raised from death. We usually focus on the resurrection story itself, but there is another lesser known story that really describes our worthiness of the being raised again.

The Sadducees (who don’t believe in the resurrection), asked Jesus a hypothetical question, attempting to trap him. In the scenario, a woman’s husband dies and, according to the law of Moses, she must remarry his next brother. This goes on, until all 7 of the brothers die. They asked Jesus whose wife she will be in the resurrection. Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore” (Luke 20:34, 35).

In fact, Jesus says they are equal to the angels and are the sons of God! Jesus said that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him. Even when we die, we are not dead! Our physical body might be dead, but our souls live on. This is the power of the resurrection of the true God!

Posted on

Joy and peace in hope

person standing on hand rails with arms wide open facing the mountains and clouds

As we near Easter Sunday, where we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, it’s important to focus on the week leading up to his death. We know the story of the triumphal entry, a story that is recorded in all four gospel accounts. Jesus was fulfilling Zechariah 9:9 when he rode into Jerusalem on a the colt of a donkey. As he entered Jerusalem, according to Luke, he wept over Jerusalem: “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:42). Just prior to this even, according to John, Jesus wept when he saw that his friend Lazarus was dead. Ironically, some of his disciples said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37).

We also know that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It turns out that Jesus, in fact, not only had the power to raise people from the dead but he also was going to be raised just a few days later! This represents a time when weeping would turn into joy and celebration. The resurrection gives us hope. We are told that we are raised with Christ in our baptism and that the faithful will be raised from the dead at the judgment. This is why Christians have hope.

Paul affirmed this in his letter to the Romans when he said, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Our joy and peace is rooted in the hope of the resurrection! We do not fear man, because God overcame the world and conquered death!

Posted on

Speaking the truth in love

person holding white and red book

Paul told the Ephesians that God gave different people with different gifts to equip the saints for works of ministry. This was for the building up of the body, attaining the unity of the faith, and to mature so that the saints would no longer be children tossed to and fro. Paul did not allow much room for immaturity. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). According to Paul, Christ holds the whole body together through its various joints.

When each part (i.e. person) “is working properly, (Christ) makes the body grow, so that it builds itself up in love” (vs. 16). In other words, we speak the truth in love, we grow up with Christ holding us together, and we then build the church up in love. We cannot build each other up in love if we are not willing to speak the truth in love. Christ set the example for us by constantly speaking the truth in love.

He was never afraid to criticize, correct, or encourage his followers. Think about some of the phrases he used: you whitewashed tombs, hypocrites, chaff, thistles, etc. Here are some other phrases: I have not seen such great faith in all of Israel, your faith has made you well, blessed are those who. . .” Jesus spoke the truth in love always, whether that was building people up or warning them to flee from their sin. Love requires us to speak truth to people and to share the gospel message of hope and salvation.

Posted on

Walking in humility

boy praying on floor

Paul gave an example of Christ’s humility and told the Philippian church to be humble like Christ. The word he uses for humility literally means “lowly mind.” The sense of the word means to not think more of yourself than you should. Having a “lowly mind” or mindset doesn’t mean you beat yourself up and have low self-esteem. Rather, it means to keep from letting your mind get inflated about how you view yourself.

Paul says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. . . ” (Philippians 2:3-5 ESV). Paul goes on to say that Christ humbled and emptied himself, coming to earth as a servant and was obedient to the point of death on a cross. He did not retaliate or use his status as the son of God to get out of punishment. Instead, he humbly served the very people who were going to ultimately take his life.

Paul agrees elsewhere. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul says that we no longer regard anyone from a human point of view. Life is different for Christians, and the way we regard others is different too: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:17, 18). Our duty is to reconcile people to God, and to do this with all humility and grace.