Blog Archives

Redemption, Repentance, and God's Grace

9/27/2024

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.' So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully....

Luke is the only Gospel writer who includes the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), and there are several reasons why this account fits well within the themes and purposes of Luke's Gospel.

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I AM the Door of the Sheep

9/24/2024

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Jesus said, “I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). This powerful statement from John 10 reminds us of the safety, salvation, and abundant life we find in #Christ alone. Just as the shepherd protects the sheep, #Jesus is our only way to enter into a relationship with #God. He’s not just a door--He’s the Door! When we enter through Him, we find #peace, provision, and the promise of eternal life Read about this powerful #truth.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes several profound "I AM" statements that reveal His divine nature and the depth of His love for us. One of these statements, found in John 10:7, 9, is particularly comforting and full of meaning.

"So Jesus again said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, I Am the Door of the sheep....I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:7,9

These words, spoken by Jesus, offer us a powerful image of safety, salvation, and abundant life. To fully appreciate His declaration as "the Door," we need to understand the context in which He spoke these words. In John 10, Jesus is addressing a group of Pharisees—religious leaders who were questioning His identity and authority. He uses the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate His relationship with those who believe in Him.

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How to Rear a Missionary in Your Home

9/20/2024

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Ever wondered how to #plant the seeds of #missions in your #child's heart? As #parents we have an incredible #opportunity to shape the next #generation of #missionaries--right at home! In this latest #blogpost, you'll @discover 5 #practical and heartfelt ways to nurture a love for missions in your #children. You don't have to be an expert, you just have to have a willing heart. Head to the #blog now for #parenting !insights on how you can begin #fostering a spirit of missions in your home today!

Since the advent of YouTube and Google, I feel like some of the most asked questions in internet search engines probably begin with two words – “How to…” I know that is the case for my internet searches. Sometimes it is something simple like how to check the tire pressure on a bike or maybe how to make banana bread. Sometimes it’s something that I need for a spreadsheet formula or some other computer need well beyond my personal expertise. I don’t remember a time that I had internet access that when I searched for a “how to” that the results didn’t come back with some kind of answer. Now we have the AI responses to add to the actual websites or videos to help us or maybe to confuse us even further. Today, I want to share some personal experiences along with some helpful hints for those of you who have influence over a child or young person in your life. I know this may, on the surface, seem a little out of my depth.

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I AM the True Vine

9/17/2024

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In John 15:1-11, #Jesus declares, “I AM the True Vine,” beautifully portraying our relationship with Him. As the branches, we are called to #abide in Him for #spiritual nourishment, fruitfulness, and #joy. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit without the vine, we cannot thrive without Jesus. As we stay connected, #God prunes and refines us to bear more fruit--love, joy, #peace, and so much more. Let’s embrace the joy of abiding in Him today! #AbideInChrist #TrueVine #SpiritualGrowth #BibleStudy

In John 15:1-11, Jesus presents one of His most vivid and profound metaphors: "I AM the vine; you are the branches." This imagery beautifully encapsulates the pure essence of a believer's relationship with Jesus Christ as it emphasizes dependence, fruitfulness, and the necessity of our abiding in Him.

Let's dive into this passage today to understand its significance and how it applies to our lives.

In John 15:1, Jesus begins by stating, "I AM the True Vine, and my Father is the Vinedresser." Here, Jesus sets the stage for the metaphor by identifying Himself as the "True Vine," in contrast to other "vines" that might represent false sources of spiritual nourishment. God the Father is depicted as the Vinedresser, the One who cares for the Vine and carefully prunes and nurtures its branches.

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10 Ways to Love Like Jesus

9/13/2024

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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know you are My #disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). Want to love like #Jesus? Dive into

In John 13:34-35, Jesus gives His disciples a new and profound command:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This call to love as Jesus loves was not just for the disciples of that day, it is also for us as well. It is both simple and challenging commandment

How can we emulate the perfect love of Jesus Christ in our daily lives?

The Bible offers us numerous examples of how God expresses love, and how we can draw from these examples to guide our own actions.

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I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

9/10/2024

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Discover the depth behind Jesus' declaration in John 14:6:

In the Gospel of John, one of the most profound statements Jesus makes is found in John 14:6, where He declares, "I AM the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." This powerful declaration is not only a cornerstone of the Christian faith but also offers us deep comfort and guidance. Let's explore the context, meaning, and implications of this statement today.

The setting for this declaration is the upper room during the Last Supper. Jesus knows that His crucifixion is imminent, and He seeks to comfort His disciples, who are troubled by the news of His impending departure.

He begins with, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" (John 14:1-2).

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A Song in the Night

9/6/2024

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I've always had a deep love for music--it’s been a part of me since I was just a child, plunking out tunes on the family piano and harmonizing with my brother. Music has been my way of worshipping God and serving others. But there’s one time when singing feels almost impossible: in the night, during seasons of deep sorrow and pain. In this latest blog post, we dive into what it means to have a

I have always loved music. My mom tells stories of when I was only 3 or 4, plunking out tunes of my own creation on the family piano or compelling my brother to sing along with me and instructing him to sing the “regular bit” (melody) while I would sing “that other bit” (harmony).

I am grateful that God has given me not only a love for music but has also gifted me at least some small measure of talent. And I feel immensely blessed to use what He has given to worship Him and serve the church over many years. Singing songs of praise to God and encouraging others through God’s truths set to music is something I am always excited about!

However, there is one time I have trouble with wanting to sing, a time when it feels not only difficult to do so but almost impossible.

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