God-Robbers

Malachi 3.6-12 NLT Ann Landers had an interesting letter in her column. It was from a girl who was writing about her uncle & aunt. She said, "My uncle was the tightest man I’ve ever known. All his life, every time he got paid he took $20 out of his paycheck & put it under … Read more

Get Focused: Life Is In the Details

Colossians 3.18 – 4.18 Household Rules (3.18-4.1) Humorous Household Rules by Ian Frazier in the article Laws concerning food and drink; household principles; lamentations of the father. © The Atlantic Monthly, Feb 1997 v279 n2 p89(2) Have you heard the old saying? “Don’t be too heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.” We … Read more

Get Focused: Look Up

Colossians 3.1-17 Key verse: Keep seeking the things above … Keep thinking about things aboveKnow who you are in ChristThe transformation: put to death, put off, put onVv 1-4 are theological foundation for the following practical verses. Focus on things above because:-you died to the old order-you are already raised with Christ so that you … Read more

Get Focused: Check the Warning Label

Colossians 2.6 – 2.23 Intro: Warning LabelsI get in my car and there are three warnings posted on my visor: high rollover risk; airbag; and seatbelt. Other places we see warning labels:prescription drugsSurgeon General’s Warning: Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.On coffee: Caution: Hot! Many warning labels today are to … Read more

Get Focused: Helping Others Get Focused

Colossians 1.24–29Colossians 2.1-5 EQUIPEQUIP is a ministry of John Maxwell which is designed to equip leaders abroad to do the work of Christ. Bill Bright predicted that 1 billion people would come to know Christ in the first decade of the 21st Century (by 2010). This is creating a need in the church:4,000 pastors needed … Read more

Get Focused: Christ First

Colossians 1. 1.15-23 What moves you?Do you have a passion for something? A hobby, sport, … Do you have something that moves you emotionally: that gets you excited, pumped up, (or triggers disappointment, anger?) On our way home from a youth event, we stopped at a McDonald’s for dinner. The last 5 minutes of the … Read more

Get Focused: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Colossians 1.1-14 Bible BasicsPaul, the authorWrote 13 letters (epistles) etters to the churches. The churches were located in different cities and the letters take their name from the people of that city. This letter is to the city of Colossae, and the people of that city are know as Colossians. The letter is ddressed to … Read more

Journey Through the Psalms: How Long?

Psalm 13 A Personal Story of DisorientationI want to share a little of my story this morning. While at seminary, my local  church affirmed my call and the leaders of the church in a formal setting affirmed my call. They would ask me different questions regarding ministry. One of their questions regarded marriage and ministry. … Read more

Journey Through the Psalms: A Well-Ordered World

Psalm 19 Getting RealOur young people today long for authenticity. If you are around them much you hear them voice, they want things to be real. When I pastored in Williamsburg, we began a time-release program for high school students and it was named, “Get Real.” It was a time for real life people to … Read more

Free to Be Me

John 8.31-39"If you were Abraham’s children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Thus states the Declaration … Read more