Have you ever heard of the Health and Wealth Gospel? It is a view of faith in Christ that has been around a while that basically says “if you are faithful enough to God, he has to bless you with health and wealth.” If you believe enough, he will heal you. If you give enough,Continue reading “Does God want you to be rich? (and healthy?)”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
When the world throws crazy at you, put on headphones – Luke 6:12-16
Today we welcome Phil Bartelt as guest blogger! Phil is a pastor in the EC Church, who, along with his family, are part of the family of Faith Church. After taking a couple weeks to fast-forward in Luke to the stories of Holy Week, Phil resumed our teaching series through Luke. With this post PhilContinue reading “When the world throws crazy at you, put on headphones – Luke 6:12-16”
Open your mind to new life – Luke 24
Last week I asked “Is there only bad news in a broken world?” This past Sunday I had some help from the elementary age kids (and some of you older “kids”!) in trying to answer that question. Becka, our worship leader, drew large a large picture of planet earth, and as I mentioned the badContinue reading “Open your mind to new life – Luke 24”
Is there only bad news and a broken world?
Hearing the bad news coming out of Kenya these past few days has been a sobering reality about our world. I know that there is tragedy and evil like that pretty much every day of every week, but this one hit home because we have close friends who are missionaries in Kenya, and my sonContinue reading “Is there only bad news and a broken world?”
How quickly we forget – Luke 19:28-44 – Palm Sunday
As I mentioned last week, for me Palm Sunday feels very strange. On one hand, there is rejoicing that the King has come. And that is true. The one and only King is there! They were right to party that day, and so should we! But on the other hand, right in the middle ofContinue reading “How quickly we forget – Luke 19:28-44 – Palm Sunday”
Palm Sunday and the Happy Ever After?
I worked at Lancaster County’s Barnes Hall Juvenile Detention Center for three years after graduating from college. There were many interesting moments in those years. One I will never forget is when I brought in the movie Ever After for the kids to view. It is a retelling of the Cinderella story with Drew BarrymoreContinue reading “Palm Sunday and the Happy Ever After?”
Is Sunday the new Sabbath? – Luke 6:1-11
Last week I introduced the next sermon in our series on Luke saying that Jesus told the Bible scholars they didn’t know the Bible. In Luke 6:1-11 he really gets in their face. At one point the Pharisees confronted Jesus’ disciples for rubbing grain in their hands on the Sabbath, saying the disciples were harvestingContinue reading “Is Sunday the new Sabbath? – Luke 6:1-11”
What happens when Jesus tells the Bible scholars they don’t know the Bible?
The religious establishment is on him. They’ve been following him ever since he splashed onto the scene months earlier, healing people and preaching and gaining a following of large crowds. These Bible teachers, these Pharisees, are the religion police of their day, and they have dispatched some agents to check Jesus out. Now they’re followingContinue reading “What happens when Jesus tells the Bible scholars they don’t know the Bible?”
Why Jesus would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints – Luke 5:27-39
Last week I introduced this past Sunday’s sermon with a game of Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition. We had a lot of fun playing the game live in worship on Sunday. I wanted to play Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition because of some lines from his song “Only TheContinue reading “Why Jesus would rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints – Luke 5:27-39”
Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition (and that time Jesus laughed with the sinners)
Are you ready to play? Remember the TV game show “Don’t forget the Lyrics”? Contestants were given parts of a song, and they had to complete the rest of the lyrics. I loved that show and always thought I would like to be a contestant, that is until I actually tried remembering the words toContinue reading “Don’t Forget the Lyrics – Billy Joel Edition (and that time Jesus laughed with the sinners)”
Engaging Scripture 