Covenanting Together as God’s Family

Every time you register a new membership or subscription, or even install a new app on your phone, you are required to check a box that says you read and agree to the terms and conditions. Do you actually read those terms carefully? Are you being truthful when you check that box? I suspect most people just . . .

Finding Our Joy in Christ

What do you see as the source of ultimate joy?  What is the one goal that you are seeking after that you believe, once it is achieved, you will be truly satisfied? So often we find, that once we have achieved such a goal, that the happiness is short-lived.  Very soon, we see that there is another horizon we want to reach, another mountain peak that looks like the ultimate accomplishment.  Could it be that all the things we have been seeking to give us happiness and fulfillment are just mirages?  Have you ever considered that Jesus is the ultimate …

The Inner Life of a Disciple

The last time we met we talked about four words that define what a follower of Jesus should be doing.  You can watch that message here.  There have been a lot of messages preached on those four words and on the outward actions of a disciple in general, and those truths are important, but something is often missing.  All too often someone gets excited about being a faithful disciple for Jesus.  They go to church, get involved, and work hard at spreading the Gospel.  Soon, however, they begin to tire, they begin to get discouraged because of the lack of …

A Discipleship Evaluation

While we seem to use the word “Christian” most often to describe a follower of Jesus, it is actually one of the least used terms in the New Testament.  Much more often we are described as followers or more commonly “disciples” of Jesus.  All of these terms are significant and should be used thoughtfully, for they define our identity.  Unfortunately, we regularly use them with considering either their meaning or the impact they should have on our self-identity. Today I want to offer four words to help shape our underständing of the word “Disciple” and how it should affect the …