This month we are approaching Easter Sunday which we often call Resurrection Sunday, for it is a remembrance of that first Easter Sunday on which Jesus Christ our Lord rose from the grave. While it is good and right for us to celebrate Easter each year, perhaps we also need reminding that every Sunday is a resurrection Sunday. Indeed, each Sunday that we gather is a continued celebration of the Risen King and of our expectation of His return to rule and to reign forevermore.
Did you know that a majority of people would respond positively to an invitation from a friend or family member to attend church? In fact, a personal invitation is by and far the most effective means of getting someone to attend a church service. Additionally, Easter is one of the top three times during the year that people are willing to go to church (with Christmas and Mother’s Day).
My challenge to YOU: take a chance and invite someone to church this Sunday.
There are so many poignant and moving songs on Prepare Him Room, but I wanted to highlight one that I find particularly beautiful to listen to. “There Blooms a Rose in Bethlehem” is a magnificent song that is subtle in sound yet powerful in message. As with the other songs on the album there is a great effort to show the movement from prophecy to fulfillment to salvation. But in addition, this song brings out the future hope of resurrection that we have in Christ.
This Christmas I would love for you to behold the wonder and mystery of Christ’s love and work for you by coming into the world to save you from sin and death. The true meaning of Christmas is found in the person of Christ rather than in presents under the tree. We all know this to be true, but it can be hard to find tangible and practical ways to look beyond the presents to the Person. Using an Advent resource that can guide you and your family through the various passages and themes that make up the Christmas story of Christ come to save people from sin. To that end, I have curated a list of resources that you can use for this very purpose. Some of these are freely available online while you can purchase others from a bookstore or online store. I hope that these resources will be a blessing to you and that they will guide you in worshiping Christ this Christmas.
Celebrity culture is a problem for Christianity just as it is for the wider society. We have a tendency to esteem some men and women above others and fall into the faulty notion that somehow they are better than everyone else. Without doubt, God has granted to some singular and spectacular gifts, and those to whom He has entrusted such things should use them powerfully and wholly for His glory. But we must resist the temptation to think that some person is the source of power and therefore should receive the honor due to God alone.
This past Sunday, I mentioned in my sermon about an interaction that people sometimes have with the preacher after church. The interaction is well-meaning, and folks are generally trying to tell you, “Good job preacher!” However, if we really think about the comment that is said, we may want to rephrase our praise for the preacher.
We’ve finished our I AM series at Lakewood, and I wanted to share it with you too! Follow the link to access the entire sermon series.
At Lakewood, I’ve been preaching through the I AM statements in the gospel of John. My hope for this series is that it would help those who listen to understand Jesus from His own words. Jesus is the center of Christianity, the center of His church, and hopefully the center of our lives. As such, we must perceive Him as He is so that we might know, worship, and serve Him as we should. In studying for my sermon on John 10:11-21 where Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd” I came accross this section from one of C. H. Spurgeon’s sermons. It says beautifully what I am trying to communicate in this series of sermons.
One of the significant motivations for a typological interpretive framework is to help us see just how unified the Old and New Testaments are. So often, we think of ourselves as “New Testament” Christians. But truly, we are people of the entire Word. While there are many aspects of the Old Testament that have been fulfilled in Christ, we can’t excise the Old Testament from our Bibles—or at least we shouldn’t. I fear that we actually do become modern-day Marcionites at times. Not confessionally, but practically in the way that we read the Bible.
If deconstruction is impossible for a true believer, then what’s up with so many who seem to be “deconstructing?” The short answer is that those who truly deconstruct (and I am not here talking about doubt or even struggling through church hurt) are actually abandoning the faith. They have given the appearance of belief while all along failing to prove that faith with fruit.
At Lakewood, we are currently working through the letter of Paul to the Colossians. The central themes of the letter and of Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians are built on the centrality, supremacy, deity, and lordship of Jesus Christ. As such, I began to try to trace out what practical significance the doctrine of Christ’s lordship had for our everyday walk in Christ. Here are seven practical ways that the Lordship of Jesus matters to us day by day.
The word "Gospel" has often been hijacked in Christian culture. It is basically a buzz word that churches and ministries often use but in such a fuzzy or undefined way that it is virtually meaningless. This is a tragedy because the "Gospel" is priceless and powerful. Indeed, Paul writes, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16-17) The Gospel stands as the center of Jesus's ministry (Mark 1:15) and of His Word. It is not something that is fuzzy, foggy, or sentimental. It is good news of great joy!
Perhaps the reflection of “all that we say and do” is not merely limited to our children but extends to all of those that we significantly influence in our lives. I know this to be the case in my own home and not just with my children. This is the case all around us, whether at home, work, church, or any other venue where we carry influence. People reflect what we show them.
Transitions are great times to try new things. Associating something fun with the milestone of entering a new grade at school can be a powerful opportunity to set your child's expecations for the year to come. Join us for a few tips on how you can use this time as a teachable moment for your kids. #FamilyFriday
Getting your kids to do chores around the house is a definite challenge. But it's worth the effort becuase chores are great teaching tools and lessons for life for your kids. Watch for some encouragements and tips on chores and how they can be opportunites in your home. #FamilyFriday
Sometimes the days really are long, and you become so tired of doing the same things over and over again. I wanted to encourage in those moments to look for glimpses of grace and growth in yourself and in your family. Often our kids will do something that astonishes and surprises us. These are reminders from the Lord that our efforts to teach and train our children are making an impact even when they many not seem too. #FamilyFriday
Someone once said, “A father is someone who carries pictures where his money used to be.” Most dads can probably sympathize and chuckle at that statement. Contrary to popular jokes around Father’s Day, Dads aren’t dispensable dummies. Instead, they are essential pieces of God’s plan for the prosperity of the family, the church and society at large. Join me today for a look at how important dads really are. #FamilyFriday
