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Showing posts from January, 2021

Judge Not

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Matthew 7:1-6 (ESV)  "Judge not" has become the mantra of our culture as it increasingly seeks to equate tolerance  with acceptance . Many people attempt to use Jesus's words here as a means to prohibit someone from evaluating the choices of another. The irony is, these same people are guilty of the very thing Jesus is warning us about. It is obvious
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The Struggle is Real

Where there are people, there are problems. I know this isn't a new epiphany, but this is the thought that came to mind in light of our recent series on Covenant Membership. As I continued through my Bible reading plan this morning, I was reminded that the church is not the building, but the people; the imperfect people. It doesn't matter which church you call home, eventually the imperfection of others, and your own  imperfection will come to the surface. This isn't just true within the walls of your church building. It is also true in the walls of your home. It is true in your marriage, in your family, in your neighborhood, at your office, at the gym, and at the grocery store. Everywhere you go, you are surrounded by people who make mistakes, and your church is no exception. All of this imperfection means that in all of our relationships, roles, and responsibilities we will eventually be faced with problems given enough time .  We live in a broken and sinful world and we
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Study Guide: Galatians 5:16-26

1.        Why is the Holy Spirit so vital to the life of a believer? 2.        What does it mean to “walk” by the Spirit? (correlates to what word in v18) a.        Exodus 31:3 b.        Ephesians 5:18 3.        How do these verses relate to what is said regarding the work of the flesh? a.        Flesh Defined – Galatians 2:20 b.        Practice – How can missing this one word change how we read this passage? c.        Works Evident – Romans 1:18-22, 1 John 3:10 d.        Results – Galatians 5:21, Galatians 6:8, Romans 6:23 4.        Examine the Negative List a.        Are there words that need to be defined or clarified? b.        Is there any order, progression, or anything that stands out in this list? 5.        Examine the Positive List a.        Are there words that need to be defined or clarified? b.        Is there any order, progression, or anything that stands out in this list? 6.        Paul is addressing the Galatians who have been trick
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Fully Known, Fully Loved

When we have people in our lives that are close to us, those individuals that really "get us", we treasure those relationships and consider ourselves to be very fortunate. In my own life, I think about my wife, someone who is familiar with not only my ambitions and motivations but also my fears and struggles. I think about my oldest son, who shares a common interest in music, enjoys watching constant reruns of "The Office", and has a similar sense of humor. When we say that someone "gets us",  we are saying that this person is more than just an acquaintance. This is someone who knows more than a few basics facts about us. This is someone who is dear to us because they know us on a deeper, personal level. Today, as I was reading a verse that I have read so many times before, I found myself coming to a complete stop. So many times I had read this verse or heard someone teaching this passage with my eyes looking towards the future that I had missed
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Do Not Lose Heart

Anytime someone asks me how God speaks to us today, my first response is through the Bible. God's primary means of communicating to us about who he is and who we are is found in his own revelation to us in Scripture. In the Old Testament, he speaks to us throughout history, through poetry, through his law, and by the mouths of his prophets. In the New Testament, he speaks through his Son - Jesus, as we read the eye-witness accounts of the gospels, see the creation and confession of the early church, and are encouraged by the writings of the apostles. God primarily  speaks through his word... but he can also speak through our circumstances, through situations and other people. This morning, I was reminded of the latter. In our Sunday School class, we have decided to devote one Sunday each month to focus on prayer. Rather than have prayer be the two shorter bookends to a longer lesson or lengthy discussion, one Sunday each month we have decided to invert our "order of se
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