Change requires the Holy Spirit

 

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT).

You need more power than just willpower in your life. You need God’s power in your life.

The “fruit of the Spirit” are the qualities that God puts in your life when the Holy Spirit lives through you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.


Read more...

Praying for an unbeliever

 

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NASB).

If you asked 50 random people, “How do you get to Heaven?” you’d get a lot of different answers. But most of them would be based on the idea that you can (and have to) earn your way to Heaven.

Read more...

Significance Comes from Serving

“Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace” (1 Peter 4:10 NCV).

To experience significance in life, you must serve with others in ministry. Ministry just means doing good to other people.

Significance does not come from status or a hood ornament on your car or a logo on your shirt. Significance does not come from a bigger salary. Significance does not come from sex. 


Read more...

Christmas is a Season of Giving

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”(John 3:16 NIV).

During this Christmas season, you’ll hear one word more than any other. It’s not “merry,” “tree,” “Santa,” or even — unfortunately — “Jesus.”

Read more...

10%? Try 100%

Am I supposed to tithe 10%? Is that an Old Testament concept? I heard Pastor Shawn say that it’s not 10% it is 100%, what in the world does that mean?


Read more...

The Devastation of Control

Control, it’s the first lie the snake used to describe God. It exposed Adam and Eves nakedness. It’s the introduction of condemnation and shame, the origin of the law of sin and death, the birthplace of every religious thought and action thereafter. Control, it masquerades in the religious rhetoric of holiness; its wars are holy, its politics, its inquisitions, its crusades, its genocide, its prejudice, discrimination, racism, sexism, its abuse – all painted with the brush of fanatic righteousness.

Read more...

You Are What You Eat

 
Like it or not God is concerned with our physical health.  It’s a stewardship issue.  How are we taking care of the bodies we have been given?  I find this topic is often taboo in the church.  It seems to be the one area we all just ignore.  However, it is a matter of management.  We are all held accountable for the things we are in charge of.  That includes our bodies.  We have to be careful of what we put in our mouths.  We need to think before we eat.


Read more...

Hey Dad, “You Have What it Takes”

 
– The main question every boy asks himself is
“Do I have what it takes?” Can I be a hero? Will I be able to fight for what is important in life? Dad’s must answer this question for them. Boys want their fathers to be impressed
 with them.
 


Read more...

Jesus is too Clever

 

Jesus’ movement will disrupt the Jewish system very, very profoundly. He is going to turn things upside down and inside out. The world will never be the same. Literally. But there is a precision to his every move.

He will not be baited into their traps; he will not be sidelined as a member of “this group” or “that position.” Guilt by association is an easy trump card in public life.

Read more...

Notorious Sinners

 
As we read The Bible we begin to see how God responds to things. Doing 

daily devotions

 re-patterns the way we think and transforms the spirit of the mind. Then, when we face similar situations as Jesus did, we begin to respond in the same way. 
 

Luke 15: 1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

Michael Yaconelli in his book messy spiritually talks about a group of people that they call themselves “Notorious Sinners” 

Read more...

 Note Banner Widget

Leave a Reply