During His earthly ministry Jesus demonstrated authority over Scripture, authority over evil spirits, authority over nature, authority over sickness, and authority over sin.
As the disciples followed Jesus, their eyes were opened to the limitless nature of His authority. Instead of operating as “a lord” He was operating as “THE Lord” but even this wasn’t fully formed until after His death & resurrection.
Christianity isn’t an irrational leap into trust, but an invitation to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Belief is meant to move you to experience, and this experience will lead you to deeper trust. When we recite the Creed, we commit ourselves to believing, but also to tasting, experiencing…
Faith that isn’t connected with ancient Christianity becomes untethered from the strong foundations that Jesus and the apostles established. Doctrine that isn’t connected with ancient faith, can become influenced by current philosophy, culture, and thought and can lead us away from truth by placing emphasis in things other than what is foundational. These belief systems can border on becoming individualistic…
We have talked about how we experience the themes of Christmas, HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE through Jesus’ first advent, but how each of these themes are sadly muted from our reality today. We experience them in some way, but they are sometimes overshadowed by sin and our broken world. We experience them in part, but a day is coming when we will experience them fully…
Since the gift isn’t a thing, but a person, the gift is given as an invitation into relationship. God invites us not to just enjoy a disembodied blessing, but to enjoy relational closeness with Himself. He wants us to come and experience Him, to enjoy His closeness, to enjoy life as He created it to be …
The story of the first advent is a story of the reversal of fortunes which results in JOY for the humble…
God notices the lowly, raises up the humble, forgives the sinner, and rewards the righteous. While the proud, powerful, and prosperous may experience circumstantial happiness, they will miss out on the deep satisfaction of joy that comes from positioning ourselves under the care and control of the God of heaven…
When the story ends, and Jesus returns to establish His eternal Kingdom, peace, joy and love will be given freely to those who humble themselves before God…
As Christians today, we live in the middle between the manger and the Kingdom come. We have received the promise of the presence of Christ in us, the hope of glory. We know the promise that He is coming back again to establish His rule and reign in a new Kingdom on earth.
We know that what we hope for will be delivered because He who promised it is trustworthy and true. But until that day, like Christians of old, we wait with anticipation, with preparation, learning His way and living it well.