Ephesians 2:1-10 - What is a Christian?

Ephesians 6:10-20 - How Do We Grow Amid a Spiritual Fight?

Last Sunday afternoon, we continued our short series thinking about our church’s membership questions by hearing from Ephesians 6:10-20 together. In this passage, Paul reminds us that we are in a spiritual war. We are not fighting against other human beings; we are fighting against Satan himself. How can we stand firm against such a strong foe? We can be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, knowing that Jesus Christ has already defeated Satan at the cross. Even more, Jesus has given us armor for the battle. We especially looked at the armor of God under three big headings: salvation, Scripture, and supplication. As we understand the gift of our salvation more, as we read and meditate on the Scriptures, and as we pray to God for help, God helps us to stand firm and to grow as Christians. This week, take some time to thank God for the gift of our salvation, to consider how you can know and treasure God’s Word even more, and to pray for other Christians as they too seek to follow after Jesus faithfully.

Ephesians 2:1-10 - What is a Christian?

Last Sunday afternoon, we continued our series on our church’s core beliefs by considering what a Christian is from Ephesians 2. In particular, we saw that all of us were spiritually dead sinners who followed the sinful desires of our heart and the lies of Satan instead of following God our Maker. As sinners, we all deserved God’s judgment. But God has saved us by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone! We could never do anything to make ourselves alive, but God has done it all in and through Jesus Christ. When we really begin to see the wonder of God’s grace, it should make us long to serve God with new enthusiasm—not to earn His love but because of how much He already loves us in Jesus Christ. This week, take some time to re-read Ephesians 2:1-10. As you do, thank God for His amazing grace and pray for His help to increasingly walk in the good works He has prepared for us.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 - The Bible

Sunday afternoon we started a new sermon series exploring some of our key beliefs as a church by hearing about the Bible together from 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5. In particular, we saw that the Bible is God’s Word, completely true in all that it says. The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to save us by showing us Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit also uses God’s Word to sanctify us by teaching us God’s will. We also saw the link between the Bible and preaching: because the Bible is God’s Word, we are to preach and to hear the Bible Sunday by Sunday. This week, take some time to consider your own Bible reading habits. Do you have a regular habit of reading the Bible by yourself, with your family, or with other Christians? What small steps can you take this week to love and to read God’s Word a little more?

Galatians 1:1-9 - Don't Chase a Different Gospel

On Sunday afternoon, we looked at the opening verses of Galatians. We saw that Paul wanted his readers to be clear on the gospel, the most important news, the news that you need to believe in order to be saved. The gospel is all about Jesus, that He has saved us from sin by his death and resurrection. It is all about what Jesus has done for us, not what we do. This is the opposite of how our lives usually work. We never deserve to be saved and loved by God. We can never been good enough, religious enough, or from the right family. It is all Jesus, not us. This means that we should be often joyful and thankful rather than burdened by duty and effort. We should serve God and others as a response to Jesus, not because it is needed for God to love us. Take some time to thank God for Jesus, and consider why you serve Him.

Leviticus 26:1-46 - Blessing or Curse

Last Sunday afternoon, we finished our series in Leviticus by hearing from Leviticus 26 together. This is a confronting chapter which shows us both God’s blessing for obedience and God’s curse for disobedience. We saw that while God’s blessing is unspeakably glorious, God’s curse is unspeakably terrible. Ultimately, all of us deserve God’s curse for our sins. Yet the wonder of the gospel is that Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s law to earn God’s blessing for us, and Jesus also suffered the curse that we deserved for our disobedience. Surely Jesus is the perfect Savior that we so desperately need! How should we respond? By confessing our sins to God and by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This week, take some time to read back through Leviticus 26. As you read, thank God that Jesus willing took God’s curse for us and that He brings us God’s blessing. Then, consider if there are patterns of disobedience or sin in your life that God is calling you to repent of and address by the power of His Holy Spirit.