How Jesus wants you to be the light of the world – Christmas 2022, Part 5

In this week of Christmas posts, we’ve learned that Jesus shines his light into our lives so that we can be a part of his family.  In a previous post this week, I mentioned that one of Jesus’ earliest followers, a guy named Paul, wrote in 2nd Corinthians that people can be deceived so thatContinue reading “How Jesus wants you to be the light of the world – Christmas 2022, Part 5”

How Jesus fulfills a prophecy about being light in the darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 4

One of the guys who wrote the story of his friend Jesus, as I said in an earlier post this week, was Matthew.  Matthew, like John, was one of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus around for three years, learning from Jesus how to shine light in the darkness of the world.  Matthew tells usContinue reading “How Jesus fulfills a prophecy about being light in the darkness – Christmas 2022, Part 4”

Why display lights for Christmas? – Christmas 2022, Part 1

One of the reasons I enjoy driving on a clear evening during the holidays is that there are so many Christmas lights out.  In my opinion, LED technology has enhanced Christmas lights.  They are precise and bright and fairly inexpensive.  There are people who put candles in their windows, or throw a few lights aroundContinue reading “Why display lights for Christmas? – Christmas 2022, Part 1”

Why we need a second Advent – Advent 2022, Week 4, Part 5

Editor’s Note: This post is written by guest blogger, David Hundert. David is a current Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary. As we conclude our observance of Advent 2022, did you know we need a second advent? The need for the second advent is twofold. First, in 2 Peter 3:8-9 we read, But doContinue reading “Why we need a second Advent – Advent 2022, Week 4, Part 5”

Repentance comes before restoration – Advent 2022, Week 4, Part 4

Editor’s Note: This post is written by guest blogger, David Hundert. David is a current Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary. In the previous post, we talked about the importance of repentance. Why is repentance needed? Consider what the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah once more. Isaiah 64:6 reads, “All of us haveContinue reading “Repentance comes before restoration – Advent 2022, Week 4, Part 4”

What to do when you meet Jesus – John 4:27-42, Part 2

In John 4:1-42, there are two major themes running side-by-side.  The first we talked about last week: Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman about worship.  Now this week, we’re looking at Jesus’ interaction with his disciples during this episode.  They travel with Jesus from Judea, heading north to Galilee. When they arrive in the SamaritanContinue reading “What to do when you meet Jesus – John 4:27-42, Part 2”

What my dog’s howling taught me about how God wants to change the world – Easter 2022, Romans 8, Part 5

We live just down the road from a local volunteer fire station, so we hear the fire siren quite regularly.  If my dog is outside when the siren goes off, my dog will start howling.  I don’t know why he doesn’t howl inside.  Only outside.  But here’s the thing.  He cannot control the howling.  WhenContinue reading “What my dog’s howling taught me about how God wants to change the world – Easter 2022, Romans 8, Part 5”

How to conquer pain, death and loss – Easter 2022, Romans 8, Part 4

We have begun the season of Easter 2022 seeking to understand how the resurrection of Jesus gives hope to the separated, the condemned, the suffering. Paul’s words in Romans chapter 8 have already been inspiring. Now we turn to the amazing end of the chapter, and Paul’s message just keeps getting better.  Let’s start byContinue reading “How to conquer pain, death and loss – Easter 2022, Romans 8, Part 4”

How to be made right – Galatians 1:1-5:15, Part 3

I told a story in the preview post about how I was not right. I made the stupid decision to smack my head against a beam. Maybe you’ve done very dumb or very bad things as well. My guess is that just about all of have at one time or another. Do you need toContinue reading “How to be made right – Galatians 1:1-5:15, Part 3”

How Advent inspires us to share the good news about Jesus – 2 Thessalonians 3, Part 1

Editor’s Note: Once again I welcome David Hundert as guest blogger this week! Thanks David, for filling in for me. In this four-part series, David concludes our Advent 2021 series, Ready for the Return, in which we studied 2 Thessalonians. Consider this irony: In 2019, if you stayed home and did nothing, you were consideredContinue reading “How Advent inspires us to share the good news about Jesus – 2 Thessalonians 3, Part 1”