Certainty In An Uncertain World
“Grace-fully God’s”
August 24th, 2008
2 Samuel 9:1-8, 13
God, out of love for his son Jesus and the penalty he paid on the cross, demonstrates grace to the believing person. Just as David sought out Jonathan’s son, God seeks each of us: people who are spiritually disabled, apathetic, hiding from God, successful, broken, or just floating through life. He waits excitedly to restore, to bless, to see our faces as we realize the unbelievable gift he has waiting for us.
Looking Sideways
August 17th, 2008
Exodus 20:17
What does it means to covet something… say your neighbor’s Lexus, or her husband, or that boat alongside the house? When we see someone win the Powerball Lottery- is that coveting? How about if its your cousin, or your good buddy at the office? God doesn’t just write things down on stone tablets- he messes with our minds, and with our hearts.
Good as Gold, or is it Fool’s Gold?
August 10th, 2008
Exodus 20:16, Matthew 5:33-37
“8 of 10 = 10% +”
August 3rd, 2008
Exodus 20:15
The eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15) seems pretty straightforward: “Thou shall not steal.” Okay, so you don’t steal a pack of gum from the supermarket. You don’t keep the extra change the cashier accidentally gives you. The list of what you won’t do can go on and on, but there’s a different question at work here: “What WILL you do?” Are you stealing from God? Are you tithing? Are you giving God 10 percent of your FIRST fruits or leaving God the leftovers? Are you frugal in your use of the world and what you need to sustain your life? Are you endeavoring by “all just and lawful means to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as your own?” (Westminster Larger Catechism 7.251). Here again in the eight commandment, God challenges the condition of our heart – helping us change from the inside out – challenging who we love best of all: God or ourselves.
PG Living in a XXX World
July 27th, 2008
Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27-30
Everything in our society seems so sexualized; and now, we’ve got Hannah Montana wannabes swarming stages across America. I guess that’s better than the Brittany Spears wannabes from a couple of years ago. There is something God has placed deep within us that society has learned to exploit; what is it, and what can we do about it?
Anger in Your Heart
July 20th, 2008
Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:17-22
Commandment #6 seems pretty straightforward: “Do not kill.” When we begin to think a bit harder… what about capital punishment? Soldiers in Iraq? “Make my day” gun laws? Then Jesus gets hold of it in the Sermon on the Mount, and begins to look at it from the inside out… and that’s when all of us really begin to squirm.
Relational Parenting
July 13th, 2008
Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 5:1-4
Kids- we’re busted! How are we doing at “honoring” our parents? Freud’s influence suggests that we’re to somehow minimize their role in our life- how does that jive with these words? And parents- we’re busted! The Apostle Paul holds the fifth commandment up to us like a mirror; what does it teach us about parenthood, and our trust in God?
Blue Laws or Sacred Rest ?
July 6th, 2008
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-8
Does the calendar make July 4 special, or is what happened on that day fill July 4 with meaning? Do we shoot off fireworks by habit, or do we stop to reflect on the meaning freedom? In much the same way, we’re to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. Are we made for the Sabbath, or the Sabbath for us- that’s what Jesus wanted to know; what is it?
What's In A Name?
June 29th, 2008
Ex. 20
This third commandment points out the significance of using God's name. What is appropriate? When is making an oath such as, "So help me, God" alright? Perhaps understanding the name of God will deepen your connection to God -- come find out if that might be true for you!
The Cancer of Idolatry
June 22nd, 2008
Exodus 20:4-6
Where are the idols in your life… in our lives? Do they look like the great American Express god, or the awesome Reds-Bengals gods? How are the all-important GPA gods? There’s the public opinion gods, the work-out gods, the GE-P&G-FOMOCO gods, the lowest gas price gods. What do you worship, and how much power do you give it over your life?
No Other Gods
June 15th, 2008
Exodus 20:1-3
The commandment is very straightforward, right? And it should be easy to do, right? Why is it then, that the Israelites have such a hard time keeping this first commandment? Today we'll look at how watching for, recognizing, and talking about God's story in our own lives keeps God, well, God, and will help us in keeping things in their proper order.
A Royal Priesthood
June 1st, 2008
Exodus 19:1-8
From the time of Moses, the Hebrew people had a special relationship with God. At the same time, they took on a special relationship with the world. People of faith continue to have a covenant relationship with God and the world; what is it, and how are we doing?
