Jesus was crucified next to two violent felons (Luke 23:39-43). One of them was saved and received eternal life on his dying day. We look at this account as an exceptional and staggering demonstration of grace. But I would suggest to you that this is essentially the story of every individual who experiences the grace and mercy of Jesus. There is … [Read more...]
The Means of Grace
We can all identify godly men and women that we admire. We might somehow think that they have simply been blessed with a gracious temperament. We might attribute their spiritual maturity to the fact that they grew up in a stable home with godly parents. But the reality is that spiritual maturity doesn’t happen automatically for anyone. It comes by … [Read more...]
New Sermon Series: Amazing Grace (Advent 2017)
We all have things in our past that we are ashamed of. We might even think that our baggage causes God to look at us with some measure of disdain. But the genealogy of Jesus reminds us that God delights in rescuing desperate sinners. Join us this Advent season for these amazing stories of grace, or catch up with the podcast or video stream. … [Read more...]
The Test of Gratitude
This is a holiday weekend that is centered on giving thanks. As believers, we have a general sense that we ought to give thanks for what we have and recognize that every good gift comes from the Father. But Jesus taught that gratitude was the identifying mark of every person who responds to the gospel. As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem he … [Read more...]
The Means of Grace
As we walk through life as a believer, we are constantly in need of God’s grace. And he has extended his grace freely. But we must understand that God’s grace is applied to our lives in some very specific ways. These have been referred to as the means of grace. Our faith is fortified as we engage in prayer, listen to the preaching of the Word and … [Read more...]