Easter Every Day
Resurrection apart from death is not resurrection. It is reconfiguration. It is reinterpretation. It is renovation and remodeling. But it isn't resurrection....
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Resurrection Reassurance
Are you experiencing the “much more” of Christ's resurrected life? Specifically, are you reassured by His resurrection that God's purpose, God's plan for your life is alive and well because Jesus is alive and well?...
How the Apostles Might Encourage Us to Use a Church Directory
If [ancient church] directories did exist, and were made available to every believer in each local church, what might the apostles say in their letters about this kind of resource? As those who have just received a newly updated copy of our own church directory, this question is certainly relevant....
Who is the Object of Your Faith?
The 'faith emphasis' (or focus) of the New Testament doesn't direct us away from the God of the Old Testament. It fulfills it. But in doing so, it confirms that Jesus must be God, for only God is worthy of being the object of our saving and sanctifying faith....
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Our Advent Devotional
I'm excited to begin an Advent journey with you using Pastor John Piper's book, "Joy to the World: Daily Readings for Advent"...
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Now Thank We All Our God
How could Thanksgiving be the same in a year when almost everything else has been 'out of sorts'? Sadly, it won't be. But while many will understandably miss the familiar holiday habits and hugs, the troubling issues of 2020 cannot change the word that God has issued about giving thanks: "...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)...
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Seven Proverbs-Inspired Prayers for Our Leaders
Did you know Proverbs includes around fifty verses that mention (or are part of a passage that mentions) either a “king”, “ruler”, “prince”, or “noble”, or that speak to a royal context or function? If we desire healthy and effective leadership in our lives, prayer is one powerful way to genuinely make a difference. To that end, here are seven Proverbs-inspired prayers for our leaders....
Take Your Temperature
Every Christian is a disciple of Jesus. But that doesn't necessarily mean every Christian is walking in spiritual healthiness as a disciple... In light of [the reality of spiritual] unhealthiness, it is vitally important for every follower of Christ to take his or her spiritual 'temperature'....
Who are You Voting for in November?
Contrary to what you might be hearing (even from some respected, Christian leaders), who you vote for in the upcoming presidential election is not a biblical mark of genuine, saving faith, nor is it inherently an unrighteous act if you vote for the so-called 'wrong' candidate (whoever that is in your context)....
The Coronavirus Corrective
When we hold on firmly to the biblical definition of church, public health measures may force us to revise our plans, but they simply cannot restrict the church from being the church. Throughout history, and throughout the world, even today, the Church has always been flexible enough to adjust the form of its life together, without veering from the function of its life together....
That Time Jesus Referred to the Foreign Woman as a “Dog”
When we read often-neglected stories like this, we're reminded that it's very easy to slip into a mentality of, “Jesus? Oh yeah, I know Jesus. I know all about Jesus.” But God is so good to unsettle us in terms of the often unsettling truth about the real Jesus....
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7 Bible Verses to Consider in Light of COVID-19
Many people today are looking for answers. Pandemics, like most crises, have a way of driving us in that direction. But many seem hungry for more than just health advice, social guidelines, and up-to-date statistics... I would offer up that these people are looking for what we might call spiritual answers. That collection of ancient scriptures we call the Bible is (and for...
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NEW POST: Salvation Through Sickness, Not From It
At a time when sickness is on the minds of so many, the 'benefits package' offered by the often-termed 'prosperity gospel' might seem especially appealing. What is the prosperity gospel? It's the belief (popular in many Charismatic and Pentecostal circles) that Jesus came, not simply to save you from sin and self, but from disease and debt as well... But is this really wha...
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Manly Monday Meditations
Welcome, Gents! On this regularly-updated post (every Monday) you will find a thought or two about true manliness in light of God's word. These thoughts will be drawn from the previous week's New Testament readings (from our "5-on-5" Bible Reading Plan). I hope you will... 1. Prayerfully read with us through the New Testament in 2020. 2. Prayerfully consider the current...
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Christmas in the Park
We're excited for the opportunity to bring a Christmas blessing to the community on Monday evening, December 23rd at Sundance Park. Our hope for this "Christmas in the Park" event is to host a kind of informal Christmas Eve service, under the stars from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. But to pull this off WE NEED YOUR HELP!...
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How Great Pain Can Point Us to a Great God
For many, painful circumstances drive us toward one of three, general stress responses: fight, flight, or freeze...But what if we added “faith” to that list? It was C.S. Lewis...who said: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”...
Keep Reading10 Reasons Why, Though Awful, the Idea of Hell is Not Absurd
When we consider what the Bible tells us about hell, it is undoubtedly awful. But is it absurd? Is the idea of hell unreasonable? Some people believe so. But hell is clearly taught in Scripture. In fact, Jesus spoke about it more than anyone else. So what can we do? What should we do with this Christian concept of hell in a 'hell no' society?...
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Six Steps to Talking About Jesus
Join us for a new six-week study on the how and why of sharing Jesus with others....
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Flapjack Fundraiser Helpers!
Youth and Youth Parents! Our second Youth Camp fundraiser is coming up on Saturday, June 15th atApplebee's restaurant in Goodyear. Our Youth will be your servers for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast! Here's how you can help: 1.Register Your Student Server!Enter your students name in the comment section below (FYI, comments don't appear right away), and downlo...
Keep ReadingThe STORY of LIFE Workshop
Ever wanted the "big picture" of the Bible? Eager to know the whole story of Scripture, and how all the pieces fit together? Join us for "The Story of Life" workshop....
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