Scripture for Sunday, Sept 5th: I Corinthians 13

Sermon Title: Love is the Best of the Best

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protect, always truts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophey in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disppears. When i was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror then we shall see fact to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully even as I am fully known. And now these three remains: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Faith, hope and love are the greatest graces, but love is the greatest of all because it contains all virtues. The other virtues are concerned with human duties or with deeds that will cease when our earthly needs and trials cease. Love bears all of these virtues and points us to God. Love looks towards God, does all for Him and soars above all to see Him.

Writer E.B. Pusey reminds us that there are four stages of love for God and others: (1) fallen humanity is to love himself or herself; (2) loving God and others for one's own sake (i.e., loving God for the blessings we receive from Him); (3) loving God and others for His sake (i.e., responding to God's love for us); and (4) loving God for Who He is and loving others through that love. What stage of love for God are you in today?

This Sunday I will talk about how faith is better than unbelief, hope is better than despair and love being the best of all. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for Sunday, August 29th: Matthew 7:13-14

Sermon Title: If You Catch the Wrong Bus, You End Up in the Wrong Place

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Here's some devotional thoughts about this passage from the great Bible scholar, FB Meyer:

"It must be admitted that, in its first stages, the broad way is generally easy and rather delightful. The boat launched on the flowing stream sweeps merrily and pleasantly along, the gradient of the road slopes so as to make walking easy, the sun shines, and the path is filled with bright flowers. But to a life given up to self-indulgenece, there is only one end - destruction.

There is a more excellent way, but it is too narrow to admit the trailing garments of passionate desire, too narrow for pride, self-indulgence, greed and avarice - it is the Way of the Cross, but it leads to Life! We all want to see life - and the remarkable thing is that those who expect to get most out of it by self-indulgence miss everything; whilst those who seem to curtail their lives by following Christ, win everything. Few find and enter this path, is the lament of our Lord. Let us put our hand in His, that He may lead us into the path of life, 'that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.'"

This Sunday I will speak about this "more excellent way", a life that is committed and obedient to Christ, and fears the "broad road", the life of sin. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for Sunday, August 22nd: Mark 10:17-22

Sermon Title: There Is A Key That Unlocks Yourself

As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on His knees before Him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good - except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," He said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

This young man is not introduced in the Gospel of Mark, but the Gospel of Luke recognizes him as a member of the ruling council or court ("ruler"). See Luke 18:18-30 and Matthew 19:16-30 for their versions of this story. Notice that the young man asked, "What must I do...?" He thought that eternal life was something to be earned. Jesus taught that eternal life was something to be received just as a little child receives a gift (see Mark 10:14-15). Jesus noticed this and says, "One thing you lack..." What the young man lacked was a heart that was disengaged with the world; his heart was attached to his riches and power above all. Thus, he was placing his riches and power over Christ and Christ was declaring to him that He would require full allegiance.

Also notice verse 21, "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Even though the young man was not fully committed and did not decide to follow Jesus, Jesus still loved him. I believe we can apply this verse to each of us, as Christ looks at us and loves us (see Romans 8:35-39). What a powerful thought - the Creator of the Universe looks at us with love.

I will speak about this and more on Sunday as we examine how the truth of Christ, the love from Christ and faith in Christ can literally transform our lives. See you then!

Scripture for Sunday, August 15th: John 21:15-17

Sermon Title: You Don't Have to Reinvent the Wheel

"When they had finished eating, jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.' Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

Peter had denied the Lord three times and now Christ was giving him the opportunity to affirm his belief in Him three times. Notice Peter's response to Christ question, "Do you love me?" Peter responses, "Lord you know all things; you know that I love you." Peter was unwilling to compare himself with the other disciples (see John 13:37) or speak about the depth of his love in his response (see Matthew 26:33). His modest response reflects the fact that he learned not to trust in his own heart (see Luke 22:62) and he now knew that his ability to please the Lord was from God alone, not based on his own strength (see I Peter 2:25).

If the Lord asked you if you love Him, how would you respond? Would you say, Lord, you know how much I give, how often I attend church, pray and help others? Or would you say, Lord, I love you more than other Christains? Or perhaps the best answer would be, "you know Lord." I am not perfect, I often fail you, I always need your forgiveness, but you know Lord, I love you.

Why did Jesus ask Peter to "feed" His lambs? Find out the answer to that question this Sunday morning, as I talk about how "feeding" the "lambs" will encourage us to attend church and live morally. See you then!

Scripture for Sunday, August 8th: Deuteronomy 31:6,8

Sermon Title: God, the Greatest Partner that We Could Ever Have!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."

"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

The Isrealities were faced with having to confront and defeat their enemies as they were to move into the Promise Land. The Lord's exhortation to them was "be strong and courageous" (see Joshua 1:6; 10:25). Notice that God did not instruct them to trust in their own abilities and strength. Rather, they were to trust in God, Who would "never leave" them nor "forsake" them (see Joshua 1:9).

These verses speak to us of God's accompanying power that is with us in all our journeys and assisting us in all our work. Whatever our expectation is of God, He is doing so much more; you cannot expect too much from God ("He will never leave you"). God knows without Him you cannot do anything and because of this, He will continue to be with you ("nor forsake you").

This coming Sunday is Vacation Bible School Sunday and we hope to have several of the kids from our Saturday one-day VBS in attendance. I will focus the message on how God is the Greatest Partner we can have because He never leaves us, always helps us and forever loves us. Hope to see you then!