From the Blog
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The Catastrophe (Flood)
Have you ever looked at the world and wondered, “How bad does it have to get before God does something?” Violence, corruption, moral confusion… it can feel like evil is winning and God is silent. Genesis 6–9 shows us that God is never indifferent to sin, but He is also never absent in mercy.
Moses recorded how God judged the sin and rebellion of humanity by sending a worldwide flood to destroy all the living, yet preserved a remnant by providing an ark of salvation for Noah and his family. We can see how God reveals both His justice and His mercy in the account of the Flood. -
The Creation (and the Fall)
If we don’t understand the beginning of the story, we will misunderstand everything that comes after it. We won’t understand: who we really are, why the world is so broken, or why Jesus had to come.
Genesis 1–3 is not just the start of the Bible, it’s the foundation of reality. If we get the beginning wrong, the rest of the story won’t make sense. But if we get this right, suddenly the beauty we long for and the brokenness we live with both have an explanation. And so does our hope.
From creation to consummation, the Bible tells one great story of a good and holy God rescuing His broken world through Jesus. THE STORY begins…
In the book of Genesis, Moses recorded the story of how God created the heavens and the earth, creating humanity in His own image and calling it very good, yet after humanity’s rebellion, He promised a coming offspring who would defeat the serpent who tempted them to fall. -
A Vision for the World
Today we’re talking about the HARVEST—how God wants us to have His vision for the world. And what is God’s vision for the world? Jesus tells us in Mark 16:15: "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'"
This is God’s vision for the church. It’s God’s vision for me and for you! The challenge for many of us is not that we disagree with God’s vision, but that we feel overwhelmed by it. We hear the vision, but the world? That’s just too big for our minds to grasp! For others it’s more a matter of feeling disconnected from it.
How do ordinary believers like us move from feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from the mission to experiencing the joy of meaningful partnership in God’s vision for the world? That’s exactly what the apostle Paul helps us see in Philippians 4. In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he expressed his joy for their partnership with him for the gospel, viewing their generous support as a spiritual investment that fueled the gospel’s advance and brought glory to Jesus. -
A Vision for Your Work
People often find their identity in their work, in their resume or in their bio. If your vision for work is only about the "gain" on your resume, you will eventually hit a "Now what?" wall.
Two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul showed us how to move past that wall. Writing from a Roman prison, the apostle Paul testified to the Philippian believers how he had counted his past achievements as "loss" and redirected his vision toward pursuing his upward calling in Christ Jesus. We can redirect our vision for our work toward pursuing our calling in Christ Jesus. -
A Vision for Your Family
Without a vision for your life from God, life slowly loses direction and purpose. Most homes, and churches, don’t fall apart all at once. They drift. Conversations get shorter. Patience gets thinner. And many of us are exhausted, not because we don’t care, but because we’re trying to hold relationships together with our own strength. When God’s vision is missing, both our house and God’s house slowly lose their warmth and direction.
So, how do we stop the drift? How do we move from a home that is "perishing" for lack of vision to a home that is thriving in the Spirit? How do we get God’s vision for our house and God’s house?
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he reminded believers that since they had already been given the mind of Christ, they were called to live out of that new mindset in all their relationships. We are called to live out of the new mindset we have in Christ in all our relationships. -
A Vision for Your Life
Some of us may feel like we have no vision for our life at all. We’re drifting, reacting, just trying to get through life. Others of us do have a vision, but it may be unclear, incomplete, or even in conflict with God’s purposes. We know what we want, where we’re going, and how we plan to get there. But our vision may be shaped more by ambition, fear, or trying to stay in our comfort zone, rather than following Christ.
Whether we have no vision or the wrong vision, the problem is the same: our hearts need to be aligned with God’s vision for our lives. And that’s exactly what the apostle Paul prays for in Philippians 1. From a Roman prison, he shows us how God changes the heart so that our vision becomes aligned with His purposes.
In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he expressed his joyful gratitude and pastoral affection for them and prayed that they would grow in following God’s vision for their lives. We can choose to follow God's vision for our lives. -
The Incarnation
The INFINITE became an INFANT. The ETERNAL ONE entered human history. At Christmas, we celebrate the staggering truth that the One who CREATED all things stepped into His own CREATION. God did not send a MESSAGE from heaven, He sent the MESSIAH, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ––God in the flesh!
But here’s the question: Why does the incarnation matter to us today? Why should it move our hearts and change the way we live? Because too often the true meaning of Christmas gets buried under shopping lists, wrapping paper, and holiday festivities. We enjoy the celebration, but miss the meaning. If we’re not careful, we can celebrate Christmas and overlook Christ.
In the second chapter of Luke’s gospel, he gave a historical account of the incarnation, describing the humble birth of God’s Son and the angelic announcement to shepherds watching their flocks nearby. In this birth announcement, we can see the true meaning of Christmas revealed. -
The Magnificat
Does the message of Christmas, of Christ’s coming, cause you to make much of the Lord? To esteem Him highly? To call Him great! Or do you struggle during the Christmas season? You’re tired of all the “Jingle Bells” and Santa songs on the radio? You’re overwhelmed by the crazy busyness and expense of the gift buying and present wrapping, home decorating…and it’s giving you a “Bah! Humbug!” attitude this Christmas? Or maybe it’s that present you won’t be buying, the stocking you won’t be hanging, the empty seat at the table that won’t be setting… that’s got you feeling a lack of joy this Christmas?
But what if we’re focusing on the wrong things at Christmas? What if there’s a more faithful way to respond to the true and good news of Christmas?
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded that when Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, she was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit, and her unborn baby leaped for joy in her womb, leading both women to faithfully respond to the Good News of the coming Messiah. -
The Annunciation
Like Mary, many of us struggle to understand that God wants to do something significant in our lives. We look at our resumes, our past mistakes, or our current limitations, and we think, "God couldn't possibly use me. I'm nothing special." We tend to think God's favor is something we have to earn, achieve, or qualify for. We need to know today that God’s activity in our lives isn't based on our performance, but on His unmerited favor. If we miss this, we miss the heart of the Gospel.
Luke’s account shows us a different way. It shows us that God breaks into ordinary history to reveal His extraordinary, unmerited grace to ordinary people.
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded how the angel Gabriel announced God’s gracious favor to Mary, revealing the miraculous conception of God’s Son and assuring her through God’s Word and power so that she might respond in faithful submission. -
A Greater Shepherd
We live in a world filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and spiritual drift. Many believers feel ill-equipped to live lives that truly please God. We often try to rely on our own strength, self-help strategies, or even religious routines rather than trusting the One who is greater than all our problems and needs. Some of us feel wounded, weary, or wandering. Like sheep, we easily go astray. What we need most is not more effort, but a greater Shepherd.
That’s why today’s message is so important. The author of Hebrews closes with a benediction that points us to Jesus, our Great Shepherd, who alone can equip us to live lives pleasing to God.
In the book of Hebrews 13:18-25, the author concluded his letter to the Jewish background believers by offering a benediction asking God to equip believers through Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, to live lives pleasing to God.