July 2018

A Strange Calling

In 1 Peter 2:21 we read, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” This verse is laden with language that should cause all true disciples of Jesus to sit up and take notice. It speaks of calling, […]



Forgive As Christ Forgave You

Elisabeth Elliot was made a widow and single mother on January 8, 1956 when her husband, Jim Elliot, and four of his missionary friends were speared to death by the Huaorani people of Ecuador while trying to reach them with the Gospel.  It would have been easy for Elisabeth to wash her hands of Ecaudor, […]



Pray Like Jesus – Part 2

As part of our sermon series on becoming sincere, from-the-heart imitators of Jesus we have been studying a portion of scripture (Matthew 6:5-15) from the Sermon the Mount where Jesus gave a significant amount of instruction on prayer. In verses 5-8 Jesus gives us some general guidelines for prayer and then in verse 9 Jesus […]



June 2018

Pray Like Jesus – Part 1

***The audio file for this sermon was corrupted.*** In Colossians 4:2 it says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” The word used here in the phrase “devote yourselves,” is the Greek word, “Proskarterountes.” Other Bible translations render it as “Be constant in prayer,” “Continue steadfastly in prayer,” or […]



I Have Given You An Example

Come with me into the upper room. As we enter we smell and see a dinner laid out on a low table. Around the table are some men, and there is Jesus. I don’t know how we would recognize Him, but I suspect that the Holy Spirit that lives within us would leap in recognition […]



A Christian Welcome

Here in the United States we often greet one another by shaking hands, but shaking hands is not the norm everywhere around the globe. For example, in parts of Asia it is customary to bow. The French often greet each other with air kisses. In Malaysia you place your hand over your heart. It’s a […]



May 2018

The Supernatural Oneness of the Church

No sooner did Adam bite into the forbidden fruit than sin, death, and conflict was born into the world, and today it stains everything. The eating of that fruit was a violent act. It shattered the mirror of creation which had reflected and imaged forth the peace and perfection of God and all creation fell […]



A Family Resemblance

Last week we wrapped up our two week study through Philippians 2:3-11, focusing on the humility of Jesus, which is an attribute that verse 5 explicitly commands that we also share as sincere, from-the-heart imitators of Jesus’ example. This week we move on to another challenging scripture John 13:34-35, which says, “A new commandment I […]



A Humble King, A Humble People

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by comparing a wise man who builds his house on the rock with a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. The wise man is described as one who hears Jesus’ words and does them (Matt. 7:24) whereas the foolish man is described as someone who hears […]



Humility Part 1

In our Bibles we find a number of what I call “Christ-imitator” verses. These are those verses that point us toward some aspect of how Christ related to us and then exhorts us to follow His example in how we relate to others in the church and the world. (Some examples are John 13:34-35, John 17:20-23, Ephesians 5:23 and 25, Romans […]