First Baptist Shreveport

Difficult relationships are not healed by avoidance.  In 2 Samuel 14, David encounters a delicate situation with his son Absalom.Do we deeply see others we're in relationship with? Some reasons we fail in this:- we're too self centered to try - we're too anxious- we reduce them to one characteristic- we freeze people in time Sometimes in difficult relationships, we are are unwilling to step toward forgiveness or reconciliation.  We must honestly search our hearts to see if we have done our part.  In 2 Samuel 14, David is called on to break the cycle of difficult relationships in his family.  Have you taken steps to really see those in your life?  Justice and mercy is better than avoidance and bitterness. Is there a small step we can take to not avoid others? Do we need to apologize?  Forgive?  Is there someone we can attempt to really see?   

2 Samuel 12There is a temptation in life to live like we are God- functional atheism.  This is the oldest temptation in all of Scripture (Genesis and satan tempting Jesus)David finds himself in a place he did not mean to go (Bathsheba, murder,  betrayal)After he overcomes this, he is in a more dangerous position. Power drunk and sin blind. Sin does this to all of us. Is there an area in your life where sin maybe wearing a disguise?David has to recognize his sin - first hurdle.  David sees the sin of others in the story Nathan tells him. David explodes with pity and judgment. Two feelings  that They make us feel righteous and holy. We have to recognize our own sin. David does this with Nathan. People like to reject the whole category of sin. Hurdles to restoration -1 - Admitting sin 2 - Moving through brokenness3 - Accepting Gods forgivenessForgiveness and restoration and repair is the work that Jesus came to do for us.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8If you heard that there was a man eating lion roaming around South Highlands or Spring Lake or Broadmoor, would you think “well that’s good to know.  If I run into him when I go to get the mail I’m sure I’ll figure something out.  Or would you take some steps to defend yourself ahead of time against this lion? King David, as described as “a man after God’s own heart” raises hopes.  He does do many great things, but in 2 Samuel 11, we have an account of David’s great sin.  Why is David vulnerable to this sin? -He was unguarded and unaccountable.  Samuel was gone, his best friend Jonathan had been killed, and his closest advisors were at war.  Power can breed cruelty and arrogance and here David was alone and unchecked.- David has all he wants and now he is adrift having lost his mission.  He had a listlessness and a boredom that led him astray. When we are confronted with temptation to sin, we can and should think about not only what Jesus WOULD do but what Jesus DID.  He lived in prayerful communication with the Father, he lived in community with the disciples, he lived a life of worship, he knew scripture- all of these things prepare us and help us guard our hearts against temptations. Just like we see in this story of sin, it all tends to escalate. Are you unguarded and unaccountable?Are you on the roof… tempted? Are you escalating and hiding?Are you self deluded? All of us are sinners, but there is a wonderful promise and good news for us: “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

In this passage, King David is at the pinnacle of his power and wealth.  He considers building a house for God.  God then appears to David and emphatically says no.  God has a different, greater plan.Sometimes the things we want are not the best things for us.Sometimes we can talk ABOUT God and not TO God.  David might have been moving from being full of God to being full of himself.  (Eugene Peterson)God, the great Giver, is doing something greater.  (Psalm 50:9-15)David finds out that God’s plans are better than he could even have ever asked or imagined.   What God is up to is immeasurably MORE.  Are you in control?  Self-sufficient?  Or can you shift gears and recognize the gift of God that allows us to love as a response to that gift?  

The movement of the Ark of the Covenant in this story was a human centered effort with disastrous results.  David learns that worship can be dangerous and we should approach God on God’s terms.  We do not have a domesticated God that we can manage or control by superstition.  Worship is dangerous when we put ourselves at the center.  It’s easy to come into worship with an entertainment mindset.  It’s not about us.  It’s about honoring God.  Worship is not about singing the songs we like or don’t like.  Worship is presenting ourselves to the Lord- to listen and learn, to set our hearts before God to be shaped in Christ’s likeness.  We could get caught up in an autopilot mode to come to worship.  Instead, we could pray for help, encouragement, and conviction to center ourselves before God so that God is at the heart of our worship.  Later, we see David losing himself in the worship is God.  Worship is dangerous when we hold back our best.  David ends up dancing and giving his all when he comes into Jerusalem.  We should present our very best in worship- heart and soul.  Worship can be dangerous when we focus on other people rather than God.  Let’s present ourselves fully to God- the One who is worthy of all praise.  

Are you in Christ today?  And how do you know?  Romans 10:9 says that “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That’s how we join in this explosion of life that happens at Easter!The first word we have from our resurrected Lord is REJOICE! (Matthew 28:8)  It’s a word for us today, too.  We can have hope even on our worst day, even when we experience tremendous loss.  This is the power of resurrection because death does not have the final word in our lives. The Pharisees show us that when we are comfortable and we are in control, we tend not to want to hear about a new world because we like what we have here thank you very much.  Do we care more about control than about truth? The guards were “like dead men.” They were assigned to guard a corpse and themselves became like corpses. Are we frozen in fear? Where do you picture yourself in this story?  Joining resurrection life is possible for us!  You don’t have to be perfect.  In fact, it requires that we aren’t perfect and aren’t able to do it on our own.  When we are in Christ, we will be raised too.  Jesus is ready to welcome you with open arms with a call to rejoice. 

This is the week that we remember Jesus’ passion - Holy Week.  Today we’re looking at Judas and the role that he played in the story of this week. Judas was trusted and considered trustworthy as he was the keeper of the money.  How did he come to betray Jesus? 1- Judas betrayed Jesus because he loved money.  Does our loyalty have a price?  Do we have greed working in our hearts? 2 - Judas betrayed Jesus because he wanted a different kind of Messiah.  Isn’t it arrogant to think that our plan is better than God’s plan?  To seek power and position rather than seeking first the Kingdom of God?  Yet we’re still tempted today.3 - Judas betrayed Jesus because he gave into temptation and evil.  How many of us stumble and fall?  All of us sin.  But will we stay on the road with Jesus when our pride is wounded and obedience is costly and we’re disappointed? Peter also betrayed Jesus but Peter believed in the power of Jesus to forgive sins- even his own.  Peter’s failure wasn’t the end of the story because Jesus’ death wasn’t the end of the story.  When we believe in the power of Jesus’ death on the cross, our sins aren’t the end of our story either.  This is why we can cry, “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’

In 2 Samuel 1 we see David dealing with grief and loss when Saul dies.  Almost half of the Psalms, many written by David, are Psalms of LAMENT.What does grieving well look like? - If we live in denial of death, we cannot live well.- There are no shortcuts in grief.  It is not linear and it is ongoing.- We can and should honestly bring our grief before God.  - There are no healthy ways to avoid grief.  - God knows loss and understands our grief.- Because we are people of the resurrection, we know that death will not have the final word.Present your hurt, your pain, and your loss to Jesus.  You will be comforted and find hope.

Are we pursuing what is good, beautiful, and true in our lives?  In 1 Samuel 25, we see Nabal, an independent, self-made and self-interested man reject a request for generosity, insulting David.  David doesn’t take it well and is ready for violence.  Nabal brings out the worst in David.  But Nabal’s wife Abigail intervenes, showing us that beautiful living calls us back to God.  Abigail sends gifts and offers humility and grace.  She recognizes David’s authority and brings down the temperature, de-escalating the situationHow can WE live more beautiful lives?Identify our Nabals (what draws out coarseness, hatred, anger in our lives?)Seek out Abigails (spend time with those who remind us of God’s beauty, goodness, and truth)Live like Jesus (keep studying Jesus’ life, reflecting Jesus’ love)Beautiful living is God-centered and other-focused.  Let’s live more beautiful, Jesus-shaped lives.  

Maybe the comfort and security that we all crave is actually spiritually dangerous for us. In 1 Samuel 24:4-7, we see David in a cave in the wilderness of En Gedi showing great restraint and honor to Saul when it would have been so easy to justify taking his life.  Because of his faith and trust in the Lord, David acts with forgiveness and mercy. Forgiveness transforms the forgiver. AND Forgiveness sometimes transforms the forgiven.There is no guarantee that the people we forgive change but responding with goodness, mercy and love is not about ignoring the actions but refusing to become evil in response to those actions. Are you harboring bitterness, resentment or hate in your heart?  How can you make things right this week?  How can we follow the example of David and the Son of David by doing everything in our power to make things right?

In 1 Samuel 17:57- 18:5, we see David go from a solitary man to a man with a friend. Today's technology has us more connected than ever but at the same time, we have become more isolated than ever before.  We are experiencing what some have called a "friendship recession." What can we learn from David and Jonathan? -Before David was friends with Jonathan, David was friends with God.  God should be at the heart of our relationships. -Friends give and help encourage and correct us on the right paths. We have so many choices for how to spend our time, but can we go out and inconvenience ourselves to risk friendship?  We need friends more than ever! David was "a man after God's own heart," willing to join his heart with God and with others. Who will you reach out to this week?

In the story of David and Goliath, we see that fear had become the common currency of Israel.  They become immobilized by the taunts of a single man.  Enter David.  Eugene Peterson says of Israel- they have a "failure of imagination." But David has a God-dominated imagination. We also have a problem imagining that God can use small things to accomplish big things.  Saul has a Goliath-drenched imagination.  But David has the Spirit of God.  He goes out to fight Goliath  proclaiming the Lord's name. "... It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17:47The Lord will deliver us as well.  We will have opposition, but it is God who saves.  We can't let our weak imaginations limit what God does in our lives.

As we continue our series in 1 Samuel 16, we see that Saul's lack of leadership had consequences.  In today's passage, Samuel went out on priestly business to anoint a new king.  At first look, he thought he might be replacing one obvious choice for another, but as Jesse's sons came forward, we see that God is looking deeper than we do. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7Too often, we judge a book by its cover.  But God sees the heart.  If you've ever felt unseen, know that God sees. you and knows you.  He looks at your heart, sees the deep places, the complex places.  He sees all our sinfulness and yet the hope of the gospel is that there just isn't enough darkness in you to chase away God's love.  God sees your weakness and he knows your flaws and he's ready to do a good work in you.

It's amazing what the Spirit of God can do with willing hearts!The story of Saul's son Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14 shows us that faith requires overcoming paralysis and taking a step.  We can always put off decisions to serve and obey God, but faith requires action.  Faith ultimately requires us to jump in and be ALL IN.  Faith has its own arithmetic. In 1 Samuel 14:6, Saul rightly remarks that "The Lord is not limited to saving by many or by few."  Jonathan + God = MORE than enough.  God changes the math.   It can be easy for us to be discouraged and lose hope, but this is the day the Lord has made.  This is the day for us to jump all in and be all in for Jesus.  

Sometimes things and events are not what they seem.  In 1 Samuel 9 we see that a story of lost donkeys actually turns out to be the appointing of a king!  Sometimes God sets up divine appointments for us.  Sometimes God is doing something we can't even imagine.  Ultimately, God has bigger things in mind than you becoming just a little bit better version of yourself- God is all about heart transformation.  Pray this week:  Lord what are you doing with my day?  What are you doing in my life?  Keep your eyes and ears open for God's presence and God's nudges and divine appointments where we can learn, serve, and love today. 

What would you do on an ideal day?  This week's sermon explores 1 Samuel 7 as Jeff preached from his office on a livestream while the FBC Shreveport campus was covered with snow and ice!  

If we let politics lead and shape us, if we barter for blessings, or if we treat God like a vending machine, we may be putting God in a box.  He doesn't belong to us, we belong to Him.  Do we obey only when it's convenient?  Is there something you've been holding onto and trying to justify?  The way to measure is through Jesus and His teaching- to love God and love others.  Jesus came to bring us transformation, to be our Lord and our King.  

In our second week of looking at the book of 1 Samuel, we take a look at Samuel's calling.  He didn't recognize God's voice at first, but came to understand that God was indeed calling him.  Like Samuel, when we're in close proximity to God and God's people, we can hear our own callings better.  The timing may be difficult, but even imperfect people can help us boldly live out our callings. The question is not if God still calls, but the question is how will we answer?  

In 1 Samuel, Hannah brought her heart before God in an honest way.  As we work through 1 and 2 Samuel in the coming weeks, we’ll see that God often bypasses the powerful and the impressive and instead will work through the faithful, the overlooked.  If you feel like Hannah at the beginning of this new year, maybe struggling, be assured that very often this is the point at which God starts to work, starts to move. Our struggles can be the soil of God’s great work in our lives.  

Christmas is the culmination of a long season of waiting.  After Advent, the world settles down and we ask, “what’s next?”In Luke chapter two, we hear again the story of the shepherds- ordinary, lowly, workers that we don’t know a lot about - but what we do know is that the night the angels appeared to them was the most memorable night they had ever had. Their response to the angelic chorus was to go and see.  After they saw, their response was to go and to tell.  What if our shouts on the mountainside created an avalanche of good news?  The shepherds go back to the fields, but they’re not the same. Jesus changes everything. When we encounter Jesus, nothing will ever be the same.  After you meet Him, you are a person changed by and beholden to Jesus Christ- not by obligation but by desire. Christmas has come.  What now?  It’s discipleship.  We learn, we gather, we worship, we study, we take up our crosses, we put away sin and put on the armor of God, we are known as God’s people. In Matthew 19:16, we see the contrast of the rich young ruler v. the shepherds.  The rich young ruler goes away sad because he had great wealth.  The shepherds go rejoicing and praising God.  Jesus’ message is to put to death everything that stands between you and Jesus.  But we have to choose to change.  Jesus doesn’t force it, but extends an invitation.  All we have to do is reach out and take it.  It doesn’t matter where we meet Jesus- wherever we meet Him, we have the chance to go away changed.  Now that Christ has come, will you go away like the shepherds, rejoicing and praising God?  Or will you go away like the rich young ruler, going away sad, because you have met your savior and found him wanting?  How will we return?

Immanuel, "God with us," has come to speak to the deepest longing of our hearts.  May you find rest in the hope, peace, joy and love of Jesus this Christmas!  

Sometimes we silence ourselves and feel like our voices don’t matter.  We may even feel like we don’t have a voice.  Zechariah was silenced, but sometimes Advent calls for us to speak and maybe even to shout about what God has done.  Luke 1:46-56 records Mary’s song - her response to what God is doing in her life.  Mary was young, without much agency in kind of an insignificant place.  Nazareth was a small town never mentioned in the Old Testament.  She wouldn’t have thought she had much of a voice either.  The rich and powerful then and now tend to have loud voices, but in this moment, Mary finds HER voice.  In Luke 1:38, she offers her willing heart:  “Behold, the Lord’s bondservant; may it be done to me according to your word.”  She then becomes a prophet as she pours forth praise in her song, the Magnificat.  Clearly she has been reading, longing, and listening.  Mary’s song is revolutionary- prophesying about how Jesus will overturn the world’s powers.   It may even make us uncomfortable, but the gospel without discomfort ceases to be good news for the world.  Mary is exuberant, celebrating with Elizabeth.  We don’t need self-silence, but to exult with Mary:  “My soul magnifies the Lord!”  God is always with us, knows us, and sees us.  We must magnify the Lord.  We must grow in our knowledge of God’s greatness and how big God is (Psalm 139:1-7)It’s easy for us to live ungrateful lives.  We need stories of the faith and we need each other.  “We meet one another as bringers of the message of salvation.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer We say with Mary, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior because ______________.”What is your because?  Who needs to hear that from you?  

How do you feel during a pause?  Do you always try to fill the silence?  What are we afraid of?  What do we think we will find in the silence? When Zechariah was told by the angel that Elizabeth would become pregnant, Zechariah's questioning unbelief resulted in his silence throughout the pregnancy.  There are times when silent wonder is the best we can add to a moment.  There are moments where the truest response to God is not our self expression but our reverent attention to what God is doing.  Advent may be just such a time.  Advent is about the coming of Christ.  We struggle with darkness, but as Frederick Buechner has said, "Advent is like the hush in the theater before the curtain rises."  What does quiet bring to Zechariah?  1 - HumilityIn quiet, we stop injecting ourselves into every moment.  2 - Attention (to God and other people) Zechariah is forced to listen during this season.  Does our speech bless those who are closest to us or should we do more listening?  Maybe we need more silence and listening in this Advent season. Read about what Zechariah says when he regains his speech and reflect on it this week.  Advent invites us to pause and to sit in the stillness.  What would it look like to practice silence before the Word of the Lord this week?  

Today as we light the first of the Advent candles, we’ll consider Jesus as the Light of the World. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus doesn’t say I am A light of the world, but THE light of the world.  It is audacious and exclusive.  The light calls us to Him.  We can stop our frantic search for truth or hope because it is found right here in Christ. Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus is not confined to borders.  He is the light of the world, radically inclusive and international.. During the Jewish festival of tabernacles, there were offerings of water and of light.  During the festival, 16 pillars of oil were lit, lighting up Jerusalem with wonder.  It is in this context that Jesus said He is the Light of the world. The Light of Jesus guides us.  Jesus doesn’t lay out the whole path of our lives at once, but gives us enough light for the next step, to keep going. The Light of Jesus reveals.  So much of sin thrives in darkness, but the Light of the world reveals it. Exposure to the Light isn’t cruel, but an act of mercy, a path to confession and repentance and forgiveness.  Sin’s goal is our destruction, but Jesus came to save us. The Light of Jesus defines the truth.  Knowing the truth can feel impossible or extremely relative in today’s culture.  But it is Jesus that is the Source of truth.  We need to look to Him to find truth. The Light of Jesus gives us hope.  In Isaiah’s prophecy, it says “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light…”. Our world feels so dark, so full of violence and corruption, but the promise is that there is a light of hope ahead of us.  We are called to live in such a way that gives hope to other people. When the Light arrives, it demands a response. “Whoever follows me…”.

How do you define home?  A residence or a house?  They say “home is where the heart is” which gets at something more: where we belong, where we can be honest and real.  In John 15:1-8, Jesus says “live in Me… Make your home in Me…” (MSG) We cannot live separated from the vine.  He is the Source.  We need to remain connected to Jesus.  There is a Greek word, Meno, that is used throughout scripture.  It means to abide, remain, or to make your home with.  Following Jesus could be seen as an act of HOME-MAKING.  Jesus prepares a place for us and we make our home with Jesus.  We make our home with Jesus by staying close to Him (John 1:39) We make our home with Jesus by sharing His meal (John 6:53) We make our home with Jesus by staying in His word (John 8:31)We make our home with Jesus by living in His love (John 15:9)We practice this love among imperfect people.  It’s not always easy.  It requires love and peace.  We have a call to consistency.  We do life with Jesus and invite Him into every part of it. Being together- living WITH Jesus- this is God’s desire for you.  

John chapter 14 starts with a mood of anxiety, but Jesus responds with words of comfort and promise.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me… I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  If you need a map, Jesus is the map.  If you need a guide, Jesus is the guide.  If you need a path, Jesus is the path.  When we get to get to know someone, there is a way to go about doing that.  How do we get to know Jesus?  We read the Gospels.  We put down our phones and look to Him and His character.  God gives us a way to know Him- He gave us Jesus.  We don’t have to clean up our act or do a bunch of good things to know Him- this is not the path.  We meet God through grace and forgiveness.  We meet Him through Jesus.  Jesus says I am the Way.  

Crisis moments are never convenient.  In John 11, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus about their brother Lazarus- “Lord, he who you love is sick.” Jesus loves Lazarus and his sisters and Lazarus is very sick, but Jesus waited two more days before he went back.  This doesn’t always add up for us.  When we are in crisis, it is so hard to wait. Martha says to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. “ So many of us have had an “if you had been here” moment. When Jesus went back, Jesus was deeply moved- even angry.  Jesus wept.  But Jesus said he is the resurrection and the life.  He has the power to turn the worst in life to bring something good - even something that would bring glory to God. Can all of our pain and suffering fit into this idea?  Sometimes it’s hard to see in our pain and in our grief. “…Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory.” CS Lewis The Lord turned the cross into a victory.  Jesus has the power to redeem the worst that we experience. The future is here, now.  He is the resurrection and the life not only in the age to come, but now. Jesus is the turning point of history.  As CS Lewis has pointed out, Jesus, by making these claims, is either Lord, lunatic, or liar.  Jesus is the center of our hope.  In Jesus we find life and we find resurrection. Do you believe this? His is still the voice that calls sleeping hearts awake.  He’s calling us to practice resurrection in life and to live as people already raised.

Who do you follow? When we follow someone, we need to be discerning.  In John chapter 10, Jesus uses the metaphor of the sheep and a shepherd:“I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11The character of the Good Shepherd:- KALUS :  Jesus uses the word “Kalus” here which means good, beautiful, wise.  The Pharisees would have recalled Ezekiel 34:11-16 in which God sends a servant of David to shepherd the people - KNOWS THE SHEEP :  Jesus knows all about you- your hurts, your weaknesses, your hard days - Psalm 139 - “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…” - LEADS US AND CALLS US BY NAME : Jesus goes ahead of us- we follow a path that Jesus has taken. When we listen to the voice of Jesus, we are going somewhere He has already gone. - LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP : Contrasted with the hired hand, Jesus gives His very life for us. The mission of the Good Shepherd: - Other sheep (Gentiles, all the world) - A new relationship for us, a relationship of love and acceptance Jesus, our Good Shepherd, meets our deepest need.  The Good Shepherd is calling you - in Him we find forgiveness, peace, and wholeness. Who are you following?

Jesus’ “I AM” statements are poetic declarations, helping us know who He is.  In John 10:7, Jesus says he is the gate for the sheep and whoever enters through Him will be saved.  Before this in John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind.  The Pharisees are upset about the healing and Jesus’ authority- THEY wanted to be the gatekeepers.  But Jesus says HE is the way to life.  He is the gate.  The blind man may have been kicked out of the synagogue, but Jesus changed his life.  His testimony was simple:  I was blind but now I see. At its core, a door divides.  The most important thing in life is knowing God and choosing to follow Jesus.  Jesus present a choice to us: “Here I am, I stand at the door and knock…”. Jesus invites us to follow Him.  The door is open, guiding us.  The door is open, guiding us.  Jesus is the door to hope, forgiveness, peace and life that is full and free. 

One of the ways God has revealed himself to us is through a litany of names and titles throughout scripture. These names and titles work together to give us glimpses of who God is.  We’re starting a new 7 week sermon series about God’s “I Am” statements: the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Gate, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the True Vine.  Jesus knew we, as humans, wouldn’t quite understand so he shares who He is through these metaphors to convey to us that He is grand beyond our imagination. He is more than a single name can capture.  He is mysterious and divine and above all, He comes to bring us life.  Matthew’s Gospel tells us about how Jesus related to God and that He was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and that He was a direct descendant of David, a King bringing the Old Testament into a new era.  Mark, the shortest Gospel, portrays Jesus as a suffering servant.  Luke’s Gospel conveys how Jesus related to humanity.  John’s Gospel emphasizes the answer to the question who was Jesus of Nazareth.  John 6:35 “I am the Bread of Life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  We can fill up with lesser satisfactions, but Jesus says He is the Bread of Life. Jesus alone satisfies the heart. If you are tired of searching for your next fill, of striving for satisfaction that is just out of reach.  It’s not a romantic relationship, promotion, house or car that will fill you up… it is only Jesus.  If you’re here today and you’re hungry or you’re tired of chasing that next fill, you’re invited to the table.  Jesus says come to Me.  

In the 1720’s, a young educated man in Europe named Count Von Zinzendorf encountered a painting of Jesus by Domenico Feti that posed a question.  In Latin at the bottom of the painting, the question was “I have done this for you- what have you done for me?” This art and this question sparked to all-consuming devotion and a life long commitment by Zinzendorf.  Some years later, a group of Moravian refugees sought shelter in the Lutheran region of modern day Germany and Zinzendorf gave them land on his estate.  They formed a community and named it “Hernhut” which means “on the watch for the Lord.” In 1727 they came to a brotherly agreement and at a Wednesday prayer meeting on August 13th, the Holy Spirit prompted them to start a prayer watch- a 24 hour, 7 day a week prayer movement that lasted 100 years. Their movement was Mission Driven. “Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten; as long as Christ is not.” Count Von ZinzendorfWhat has Jesus called us to do?  What has Jesus called me to do? Their movement was Other Focused. “It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor.” Count Von ZinzendorfPeople became missionaries all over the world. “Declare the glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” Psalm 96:3 Their movement was Vision Pursuing. The Moravians stayed true to the vision they adopted.  It was slow work, but they invested in people and places all over the world, devoted to unity and to generosity and humility all along the way.  This is WHY we are undergoing renovations on our campus- so we can make disciples that can go out and tell about Jesus! Their movement was Edge Expanding. “The Lamb has conquered.  Let us follow him.” Count Von Zinzendorf Are we ready to MOVE?  To be part of a movement? Consider your commitment to the Witness, Neighbor, Freedom, Care and Bible paths. In what way is God calling us to MOVE?

Christians around the world face significant challenges and persecutions to gather and worship.  Today, we’re looking at the Freedom Path of the Baptist World Alliance’s 2033 Movement.  In the USA, we live with a remarkable amount of religious freedom- so much so that we can take it for granted.  But just because we don’t experience religious persecution here doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about it for Christians around the world.  Almost 4.9 billion people live in countries with serious or very serious violations of religious freedom (21wilberforce.org).We can pray!  The Baptist World Alliance has a petition to sign:  https://acts2movement.org/covenant/Religious liberty is a sacred right endowed by God.  Matthew 28:16-20 - the account of Jesus giving the disciples the Great Commission - includes the phrase “and some doubted.”  In this moment of doubt, Jesus didn’t coerce them or force anything.  Instead it says that Jesus came to them.  The Jesus model is to go to people in love.  “Forced worship stinks in God’s nostrils.”  Roger Williams Jesus SAID.  Jesus invited.  He made following him a choice.  This is the path that Jesus has given us: showing up, sharing the story, allowing people to choose.  When we become persecutors of others, we leave the way of Jesus.  We need freedom of belief.  Our job is the Great Commission and we pray for changed hearts that will change the world.  

We all desperately need connection with those around us yet we are on a trend to more and more social isolation.  Across the board, Americans report having fewer and fewer friends.  The impact of loneliness on mortality has been found to be as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day!  Our 2033 Movement path focus for today is the NEIGHBOR path.  A strategy for obeying the Great Commission is that we would start with the people around us! Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan is an illustration of how a lot of times, our neighbors are very different from us.  We can resist loving our neighbor because of fear.  It takes faith, willingness, courage, and boldness.   But Jesus has called us to this work- to let all people know they are loved by God.  In our world of loneliness, how do we share the love of Jesus around us?  Here’s a good guide:B- Begin with prayer*L - Listen to themE - Eat with themS - Serve themS - Share your faith*the “Bless” app can be a good tool to help you get started! Another way to love our neighbor is by neighborhood chaplaincy- knowing our neighbors and providing support and encouragement.  In a world of isolation, be a person who connects.  Even small acts of love push back against loneliness and despair.  The Great Commission doesn’t require us to cross the ocean, it could require us just to cross the street.

Sometimes we have expectations of people, but we experience hypocrisy- the outside doesn’t match the inside.  This can happen to all of us- we can have high ideals but we can give in to sin and temptations.  This week, we’re focusing on the “care path” of our 2033 Movement initiative.  So many Christians live with an unseen faith.  In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us in the Great Commission us to teach his followers “to obey everything I have commanded you.”  This means to observe, to follow, to hold onto, to PERSIST in obeying.  In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus tells the Pharisees to clean the inside of the vessel first so that the outside will be clean.  In Matthew 7:15-20, he talks about a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  If we are holding up the cross, then our lives should look like Jesus’ life.  It can be a waste of time sharing our faith if we’re not living out our faith.  Over and over, Jesus connects our relationship with God with our relationship with others.  Today, we’re more isolated than ever before.  Inaction can be contagious.  We experience our lives through screens.  We can grow numb or callous to suffering, but Jesus set an example of compassion for us.  As a church we support all kinds of missions and ministries, but what if we all took another step to serve?  Maybe Jesus is calling us to something new.  Let’s take steps on the care path together.   

We need hope more than ever.  How does hope spread? From the time of Jesus until now, it has spread from life to life, from story to story.  In Acts 1, Jesus tells the disciples that they will be witnesses. Are we muted when it comes to our faith?  Do we openly talk about how Jesus makes a difference in our lives?  Many times fear and rejection hold us back.  You don’t need a complicated formula or degree to articulate what a difference Jesus has made in your life.  Five strategies for preparing your testimony:  Reflect on your life’s challenges as testimony opportunities.  Highlight God’s provision and presence in those challenges.Be authentic- share both the struggles and the victories.Highlight God’s role in your transformation. Keep it simple and relatable.  End with hope- point people to Jesus.  When we are silent, we may miss opportunities to share.  We need vibrant messages of hope.  Are you willing to take steps to witness? Prepare your testimony.  Practice your testimony.  Pray about opportunities to share your faith.  Think about setting goals to share your faith. Will you unmute your story?  

What if we had an important letter from home but we never bothered to open it?  The Bible is God’s love letter to us!  Are we reading it?  Are we committed to God’s word? Jesus’ Great Commission tells us to “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19We are called to the nations to spread the word.  We are called to ALL nations, not just one culture.  There are about 1,100 languages left that don’t have the Gospels translated into their languages.  Translation a key part of the Great Commission.  Our Bible path challenge this week:Will you read the Bible 4 or more times this week? Will you be a part of helping others have God’s word? Will you demonstrate God’s word in how you live?  

There’s never a bad time to set a good goal. Goals really can move and change us and challenge us.  Over the next six weeks, we’re going to be talking about goal setting, aligning ourselves with the Great Commission and the Baptist World Alliance’s 2033 mission. Today we’re thinking about goals as in Hebrews 12:1-3:“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” This is one of several places in scripture that compares the Christian walk to running.  Here, Hebrews is describing a RELAY RACE - hidden in the word “therefore.” Just before these verses in Hebrews 11, we see the faithfulness of those who have gone before us- the great cloud of witnesses as described in this hall of fame of the faith - “the world was not worthy of them.” It’s essential in a relay race for the next person to take the baton and be ready to run! When we set a goal, we choose to do some things and NOT to do others.  In our case, we leave behind the sin that weighs us down- that so easily entangles. This is an endurance race and we are to run with perseverance.  It's a marathon, not a sprint- we have to keep going. We have a perfect model in Jesus- the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  Keeping our focus on Jesus helps us not to lose heart.  Hebrews 12 doesn’t tell us to run harder- it tells us how to run. Let’s run.  Together!

We are all prone to procrastination, but sometimes it helps to think through tasks and create smaller, achievable goals.What unfinished task has God given us? In Matthew 28:18-20, we find The Great Commission: “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:  I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The key verb is GO!  We rarely travel by accident.  We plan, we book ahead of time, we focus. In eight years, the year 2033 is roughly the 2,000th anniversary of the resurrection- a good milestone for us to consider the charge Jesus gave us in the Great Commission.  How can we make disciples of all nations by the year 2033?  How are we doing?  Are we content with the progress? There are 7,000 unreached people groups in the world and many people in our city who live without the hope of the gospel.  The Baptist World Alliance has laid out five paths for us to focus on as we consider this work:  witness, freedom, Bible, care, and neighbor. We find several commissions in scripture:1- Genesis 12:1-3, God with Abram, that every nation on earth would be blessed 2- Psalm 96:3, to declare God’s glory and deeds among all people3- Matthew 28:18-20, The Great Commission4- Romans 1:5, “to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his names’s sake.”We need to turn these ideas into action.  As a church, we will be going through 40 days of devotions on these ideas together.  How can we take steps to make progress on these paths together?  We are all called to be a part! 

We are like sheep and Jesus is like the shepherd.  We wander off the path a lot because we are prone to sin and this is why we need a shepherd.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” We WILL go through the valley of the shadow of death. There is no avoiding it.  How do we react to being in the valley of the shadow of death? We would usually be afraid because as humans that is our natural reaction.  BUT, the verse says we shall fear no evil.“YOU ARE WITH ME:” the outstanding truth of Psalm 23.  WE don’t want to walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  It’s hard. But overall, it isn’t about HOW we do it, it’s about WHO walks with us.  Fear is pervasive today.  Our culture feeds on fear.  But God doesn’t want us to fear.  He provides for us in times of suffering, even while we are surrounded by enemies.  God wants to give us rest.  True rest is found in Him.  God’s goodness and faithfulness PURSUES us.  

What does Psalm 23 mean to you? It’s a psalm of God’s protection, care and provision.  Sometimes we can slide into feeling like we can provide for ourselves.  Sometimes we’re too proud or too distracted to realize how desperately we need God as our provider.  The Lord is our shepherd.  Sheep need a shepherd.  The Lord is my shepherd.  This is a personal relationship.  God is available to us every day through prayer and scripture.  I shall not want.  God sometimes surprises us by providing exactly what we need for all the crises we face.  Jesus gives us meaning, a calling, a destination, a family, peace, and rest - our yoke is easy and our burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).  He maketh me lie down in green pastures.  We don’t like to be made to do things, but sometimes we don’t even know what we need.  God provides what is essential for us even when we don’t know what we need. He restoreth my soul.  We have so many opportunities today to abuse our souls.  Today, we can live our lives almost completely alone.  Our screens and algorithms can fill our minds with outrage, violence, and negativity, but we are called to think on what is honorable and true (Philippians 4:8).  Instead of brain rot, we need restoration for our souls.  Green pastures.  Quiet waters.  God wants to restore your soul.  

This week, we are considering what the Bible says about Hell and judgement.  Of the 23 times Jesus mentions it,  Hell is most often spoken of regarding the need for repentance. Universalism is the idea that everyone goes to Heaven, but this runs into problems- there is no true justice and nothing matters.  Judgement is necessary for us to feel purpose.  Jesus has called us to non-violence, but that only works if we can trust that God will ultimately administer justice. "If God was not angry at injustice and deception and did not make the final end to violence, God would not be worthy of our worship." Mirosalv Wolf In John 12:35-48, Jesus says, "... the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day." Who will face judgement? 1.  Actions - Those who ought to live better. 2.  Words- Those who ought to be more careful with their speech. 3.  Judgementalness- Those who have "oughts" for other people's actions and speech "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 We are judged by what we know of God in Jesus Christ- it's a matter of the heart.  Jesus came to save us and pay for our sins.  He desires for all of us to be saved, but he does not force it. How will you respond to Jesus? "There are only two kinds of people in the end:  those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell, choose it.  Without that self-choice there could be no Hell.  No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.  Those who seek find.  Those who knock it is opened." CS Lewis, The Great Divorce

What is our vision and idea of heaven?  Many pop culture misconceptions about what heaven is can flood our imagination, but what does Jesus say about heaven? In the Gospels, heaven is mentioned 126 times.  Many times the concept of “Kingdom of Heaven” is used-  sometimes it is a reference to God’s presence.  What Jesus says:  What we experience after death is like coming home.  (John 14:1-6)The path to heaven is through Jesus (John 14:6, John 3:16)Jesus often used word “life” and “eternal life.”  (John 11:25-26) He also used the metaphor of a banquet or a party.  Resurrection is our future and our future is life.  Revelation paints a picture of a New Heaven and a New Earth. We don’t know exactly what it will be like, but we do know that Jesus is Lord, giving us life and He invites us to join Him.  

Last week’s sermon was about how God interrupts his people as individuals to call us into deeper trust.  This week, we look at the church and see how disruption is a consistent part of our story.  The Body of Christ is alive and dynamic.  She has a mission that requires us to go and to do, to stretch and to change.  When the church experiences disruption, it’s never meant to destroy, but to deploy.  There are no forces from within or without that will stop the Bride of Christ.  When disruption knock on our doors, it’s not a herald of the end, it’s an opportunity for growth.  Acts 5:17,40 tells us about a time in the early church when things were going well until the disruption of persecution came, but it never changed their tune.  Stephen was put to death by stoning, but in Acts 8, when the church was scattered because of this persecution, they preached the word wherever they went.  We also need to stay committed to the mission.  When change comes, we need a powerful, unifying vision.  During these times, we should expect God to be faithful.  The faithful followers of the early church could never have imagined the fruit of their faithfulness in this time of displacement- it led to widespread evangelism.  They didn’t leave as refugees, but as missionaries. You cannot squash the church- it’s like kicking a dandelion.  God is faithful.  He didn’t promise us an easy life, but a full one.  He is making things new. We are not a people of stagnation, but of adaptation.  Everything is secondary to the mission.  We keep going.  

Nobody likes to be interrupted. Interruptions remind us that we’re not in control.But one thing we see clearly in Scripture: God interrupts.From creation, to Joseph, David, the disciples, and ultimately the Incarnation—God steps in, disrupts, and redirects. He interrupts to change us, to invite us into deeper trust and a greater life.The story of Paul is a story of interruption. Raised in a system that resisted change, Saul was hunting down Christians. Then, in a flash, Jesus breaks in and everything changes.God uses interruptions to help us know Him more.They are invitations to deeper purpose and faithful service. When God calls us, He also equips us with gifts to serve His kingdom.God’s interruptions also lead us to love one another, putting aside petty divisions and choosing Christlike love.They aren’t easy. Interruptions bring change, and change can bring pain. But they are ultimately good. Jesus calls us to a better path, a higher way, the way of selfless love.

Listening is essential to our relationship to God.  The Hebrew word for listen is SHEMA.  In Hebrew culture, there is an expectation to respond to what one hears.  It was a listen AND obey scenario.  Listen AND act.  In fact, in ancient Hebrew, there is no separate word for listen and obey- they were just two sides of the same coin.  In today’s passage in Isaiah, we see what happens not only when we listen, but also when we don’t listen.  What’s the cost of not listening to God?  Abiding peace and intimate relationship with Him.  But God is a God of redeeming grace.  He has hope for us and a better plan for us.  When we DO listen to God, we experience a new thing- joy and peace that lasts.  How do we do that?  Accepting Jesus as Lord of our lives is the first step.  Next is a daily commitment to listen to God.  James 1:22-25 encourages us to digest, understand, and obey the word of God. Jesus, our Good Shepherd trains us to listen to His voice.  Henri Nouwen says that, “Jesus’ life was a life of obedience.  He was always listening to the Father, always attentive to his voice, always alert for his directions. Jesus was ‘all ear.’ THAT is true prayer: being all ear for God.  The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the presence of God.  How can we listen every day?Pray for othersStudy God’s word Serve others“Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends…” Henri Nouwen “A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking.  But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer listening.”  Soren Kierkegaard When we begin to listen, it becomes easier to hear that faint, small voice.  God is always there.  We always have a chance to listen to Him.  

Let’s start with what the Kingdom of God is not.  It is not any modern nation, not Republican or Democrat.  It is not Christian Nationalism. We don’t build, bring, or extend the Kingdom of God.  But instead: Jesus’ coming brought the Kingdom of GodThe Kingdom of God starts small and spreads everywhere The Kingdom of God is where God sets things right The Kingdom of God is here… but it is also coming The Kingdom of God is a gift We enter, receive, and inherit the Kingdom of God.  We are not the heroes of the kingdom and we are not the King.  We belong to the King and we enter the Kingdom of God when we are faithful and serving and embodying Jesus’ teaching.  When we are following Jesus’ mission, purpose, and plan, we are in the Kingdom of God.  

There Was Darkness: Jesus’ Death and BurialWeekly Devotional 6.30.2025“Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn?…In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” Amos 8:8-9When Jesus was crucified, several cosmic events occurred that underscored the significance of that moment and helped those who witnessed it finally understand who Jesus was. The darkness across the land and the great earthquake not only symbolized God’s righteous anger but also displayed His divine judgment and wrath on sin. These events, along with references to David, the fulfillment of the suffering servant prophecies, the tearing of the temple veil, and the resurrection of the saints, all pointed to one thing: truly, Jesus was the Son of God. When we consider the significance of everything that just happened, as well as the events that would follow in three days and thereafter, one cannot help but make the same profession of faith that Jesus is Lord and seek to affirm, honor, and glorify the crucified Christ.

June 22, 2025 - Dr. Jeff RainesWhat is the Gospel? - Romans 1:1-7What is the gospel?In Greek gospel means good news and here in the book of Romans Paul is laying out this theology in a systematic way. So how does the gospel, this good news, come and how is it shared? According to N.T. Wright in his book, “Simply Good News”: 1.  It comes to a historical context of need, despair/hopelessness. Jesus is the good news. He came into history at a time where there had been great longing for God to act, to remove the oppressionive forces. 2. It promises a wonderful future that had been out of reach. Jesus brings the promise of heaven and abundant, eternal life. In Revelation 21:3-5it says, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eye. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away.” 3.  In the meantime, we live with hope and excitement for what is coming. We are called to a different kind of living in the meantime. We live with hope. We know the outcome is assured. What do we do with this good news? We share it. Like the woman at the well after realizing Jesus was indeed the Messiah, she runs into the village and tells everyone about her encounter with the Living Water. So how do we understand our story, our experiences with the Good News and how do we share it?

Mocking the King: Jesus’ Trial and CrucifixionWeekly Devotional 6.23.2025Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Galatians 3:13 Towards the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry, the religious leaders’ plan was always to swiftly condemn and execute Him (Matt. 26:1-5). The late evening trial and false witnesses served as methods to expedite His death sentence. When the crowds testified against Jesus and mocked Him, oppressing and afflicting Him, He remained silent and endured their actions as the Suffering Servant (Isa. 53:7). They were witnessing the prophecies about the Messiah unfold. Still, their religiosity and political loyalty blinded them from seeing who Jesus truly was.

Today we’re looking at a letter from Paul to the church in Corinth.  The Corinthian church was like a rebellious teenager- they thought they knew it all and that Paul wasn’t measuring up.  Corinth was a thriving metropolis and they thought highly of themselves.  They were very superficial- just like us.  We judge people for their looks and what they have.  We are image obsessed.  It’s easy to lose heart and be discouraged, but Paul sets out his hope in these passages.  What drives Paul is not the approval of the Corinthian people - it’s the message of the Gospel he brings.  “But we have these treasures in jars of clay…” It’s not important for Paul to look important.  We are simply clay pots- chipped and broken- it’s what’s on the inside that counts.  Our jar is our body and soul and the treasure is the Spirit of God within us.  This is a great reminder for us that: We don’t have to be perfectWe have strength in our weakness Jesus faced opposition in life and Paul did as well, so we can expect it.  But we can look to that treasure in our life for strength.  Paul was able to look back and realize that he was pressed and distressed, but not destroyed even though it may have felt like it at the time.  Maybe you’re in the middle of it and “perplexed” and “distressed” really captures how you feel right now.  If you’re asking God why, this passage can remind us that difficulty doesn’t mean that we’re on the wrong track.  Don’t give up.  Don’t lose heart.  In fact, the things you pass through now, God can redeem and use later on.  “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’…” 2 Corinthians 12:19