Do you have a dark past? Is life feeling messy or difficult right now? If you answered “Yes” to either of these questions, you’re not alone. All of us go through really troubling times. In the middle of it, we can feel a confusing mixture of fear, sadness, pain, longing, despair, and we wonder ifContinue reading “Hope when life is very dark – Titus 3:1-8, Part 3”
Tag Archives: love
How to have loving diversity in a church family
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Sometimes church families are like any other family, and that means we can butt heads. We don’t always see eye to eye. With the exception of ethnic diversity, my congregational is quite a diverse. Young and old. Male and Female. Rich and poor. Conservative and Progressive. IntrovertContinue reading “How to have loving diversity in a church family”
The Top 5 adjectives that should describe a church family (do you know them?)
Get out a pen and paper, or open up a note-taking app. What are the first five adjectives that come to mind if you were trying to answer the question: “What are the five top adjectives that should describe a church family?” This week we are studying 1 Peter 3:8-12 where Peter teaches how aContinue reading “The Top 5 adjectives that should describe a church family (do you know them?)”
If you want to be a loving church family, seize the 167!
Yesterday I said that Peter, in 1st Peter 1:21-25, says that a church family must love one another deeply from the heart. What is this love Peter is talking about? We all know what love is, right? It’s obvious. Love is love! Well even though there is one English word for love, Peter uses twoContinue reading “If you want to be a loving church family, seize the 167!”
The one thing you need (to make it as a stranger in the world)
In a world of partiality and discrimination and bias, where is the one place that still considers everyone impartially? The church? Nope. Martin Luther King Jr. said years ago that Sunday morning is one of the most racially segregated places in America, and it is still true today. I read an article this week thatContinue reading “The one thing you need (to make it as a stranger in the world)”
How to love and be loved when you are facing hardship
Are you going through a hard time? How are you handling it? Some of you have seen The Passion of the Christ which vividly portrays the Roman flogging of Jesus just before they crucified him. I remember watching that when it first came out in the theater, my stomach churning, tears flowing. It isContinue reading “How to love and be loved when you are facing hardship”
How God wants to restore you
Betrayal and denial. Jesus experienced both, from two of his closest followers, in a matter of no more than one hour. That had to hurt deeply. You can read the story in Luke 22:47-62. Yesterday at Faith Church we talked about what it feels like when we have been betrayed or denied. We also talkedContinue reading “How God wants to restore you”
Was Jesus’ teaching too radical? – Luke 6:27-36
Love your enemies? Give the shirt off your back? Give to everyone who asks? Last week I introduced the next section in Jesus’ sermon in Luke 6, the section he starts off famously “Love your enemies.” Jesus really has some challenging things to say here. Because Jesus’ words are so different from the prevailing truthContinue reading “Was Jesus’ teaching too radical? – Luke 6:27-36”
Being Mystics in a Messed-up World
Last week, guest writer and teacher, Tony Blair introduced us to the idea of being Christian mystics. And it is all about LOVE! Then on Sunday he visited and taught at Faith Church, and I can say without reservation that it was a powerful morning! So many people expressed their appreciation for his interaction withContinue reading “Being Mystics in a Messed-up World”
Mystics in Love
Today we welcome a guest writer, Dr. Tony Blair, president of Evangelical Seminary. We’re looking forward to this coming Sunday, March 8th, 2015, at Faith Church as Tony will be our guest teacher. As he is also a pastor, we are quite grateful to his church Hosanna, for sharing him with us! Are you aContinue reading “Mystics in Love”
Engaging Scripture 