Just a Minute!

There is only one message that saves and that is the message concerning Jesus Christ.

Paul was very clear on this. He didn’t use fancy words in his communication.

He simply preached the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus.

Add to this message or take away from it and you have emptied it of its power.

That’s what the Corinthians did.

And it caused all kinds of confusion within the church.

Sadly, the same is happening today.

There is nothing you can add to the Gospel that will make it more powerful or valuable.

Think about it. Is there anything you could add to his death that would make you more forgiven or add to his resurrection that would make you more alive in him?

So Let me encourage you today to Stand firm in the message concerning Jesus. And don’t let anyone tell you that Jesus is not enough.

Categories: Jesus Christ Grace New Covenant

Jesus met a woman at a well in Samaria.

An interesting conversation transpired which eventually led the woman to say,

“I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Well how did she know? Where did she get her information?

From the prophets of old.

They told the story of Jesus and built within the people an expectation of his coming.

This woman was waiting for that day to happen.

So Jesus declared to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

What was Jesus claiming?

That he was the long awaited Messiah, the Savior of the World.

And his words were good news to the Samaritan.

In these troubled times we live in, I pray they are good news to you.

Categories: Jesus Christ

Did Jesus really say that he was God?

That’s the question the skeptics raise time and time again.

And it is true, there’s not a verse in the New Testament where Jesus literally says “I am God.”

But when you read the Bible, it is clear that people who heard him understood exactly what he was claiming.

For example, when Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”, the Jews picked up stones to stone him.

Jesus questioned these leaders, “For which of these miracles do you stone me?”

“Not for any of these, they replied, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

They heard Jesus loud and clear.

What about you? Do you know that Jesus is God?

It’s truth that will change the way you live.

Categories: Jesus Christ

Phillip made a simple request.

“Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

So Jesus answered him, “Don’t you know me Phillip?

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”

There is no other person that has made such a stunning statement.

No one in their right mind would dare to say such a thing.

But Jesus did.

Why? Because it was and is true.

As Jesus said, I and the Father are one.

So If you want to see what God is like.

If you want to know God personally and intimately.

Look to Jesus.

He is the way, the truth and the life.

And When you’ve seen him, you’ve seen the Father.

Categories: Jesus Christ

A certain ruler that asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Before Jesus gave his answer, he asked the ruler “why do you call me good?”

At first glance, that seems a little odd.

But Jesus went on to explain.

No one is good except God alone.

He wanted this rich young man to know exactly who would be answering his question.

But did the young ruler make the connection that Jesus Christ was indeed God in the flesh?

And if he did, was he willing to listen and do what Jesus told him to do?

And that’s the point for all of us.

Do we really believe that Jesus is God and that he is good, and if so are we willing to trust him?

How about you? Are you willing to trust the goodness of your Savior?

Categories: Jesus Christ Grace

What was the first verse you ever memorized?

For me it was Proverbs 3:5 and 6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding:

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Here is the Christian life in its clearest and most basic terms.

Trust the Lord and acknowledge Him.

It took me a long time to fully glean the simplicity of this wisdom.

My own understanding kept getting in the way.

I thought there was much more for me to do than merely trust the Lord.

But the more I added the more confused and frustrated I became.

Maybe that’s your story.

Let me encourage you today to simply trust and acknowledge the Lord.

You’ll rejoice in how he will make your paths straight.

Categories: Bible Faith Christian Living

Relationships…talk about the ultimate challenge in life.

Learning to get along with another human being is just plain hard.

Your beliefs get tested and all your inner struggles and insecurities get revealed.

Yet, you power through because you know relationships are the best part of life.

To care and to be cared for. To know and to be known. To love and to be loved.

Now relationships like this don’t just happen. They are built. And the good ones are built through trust and faith in Jesus.

They are built with

• Patience
• Kindness
• Truth
• Protection
• Trust
• Hope
• Perseverance

…the love of God.

And when they are built on the love of God, Relationships truly are the best part of life.

Categories: Christian Living Love

What if the Ten Commandments were God’s final word to you?

Would it be good news to your soul?

I know you want to say yes, but deep down you know you can’t live up to those laws. It’s impossible

You’ve tried and discovered that Paul’s word ring true…

"no one will be declared righteous in his sight through obedience to the law” (Romans 3:20).

So where does the law leave you? – judged, condemned, and dead in sin.

That’s the Old Covenant, a ministry of condemnation and death.

But thankfully the law was not God’s final word.

Live out the full story of the Law and it ends at the foot of this cross. Look up and see God’s final word to you – Jesus Christ.

And Jesus came that you might have life and have it to the full.

Categories: Old Covenant New Covenant Righteousness/Justification

The future of America is at stake.

It is a popular headline during this election cycle.

And to be clear, there is much at stake.

So much so that both sides are using the high stakes to play on our emotions by painting a gloomy and bleak future if their candidate isn’t elected.

How is a Christian to respond?

First there is no need to look to the future with fear and uncertainty.

Or play the dreaded what if games.

Regardless of who is elected, Jesus is still the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And as Paul wrote to the Colossians, “in Christ all things hold together.”

So look to him, the one who died and rose again and let him put your heart and mind at ease.

Categories: Christian Living Faith

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

This verse is a key stop on the Roman road to salvation.

And it’s important to understand this truth.

If you don’t know you’re a sinner, you will never turn to Jesus as your savior.

But did you know that Paul didn’t end his thought there.

In the next verse, he delivered this incredible piece of news…

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.

You were once a sinner, but now because of the shed blood of Jesus, you stand as righteous in God’s sight.

You didn’t earn that right standing. No one could.

It was freely given to you as a gift of grace.

Rejoice today. Because of Jesus, you are right with God. And that’s good news.

Categories: Sin Salvation Faith