Serving With Jesus

We all think that it would have been better if we could have lived in the first century when Jesus was doing his ministry. But we have the biblical record of his ministry in the gospels and in many ways we can enjoy the same relationship with Jesus today as the original disciples did so many years ago.

Sent By Jesus

What are the implications of following Jesus? Does he just want us to make ourselves comfortable until he comes?

Jesus sent out his disciples into the surrounding towns to preach the good news about him. We need to learn from them what Jesus expects from us.

The Too Familiar Jesus

The Gospel accounts tell us that although Jesus was well received in many towns and villages during his ministry, at home in Nazareth people were offended by his teaching. They thought that he couldn't be more than the young man they had known. They kind of thought, "Who does he think he is?"

Is it possible to be too familiar with Jesus?  What happens when we are?  How should we relate to him instead?

Playing Powerball Lottery (or not)

Well, I didn't win the 1.6 billion dollar powerball lottery last night.

Not too surprising, since I didn't buy a ticket.

As I see it, I had a great deal more to lose than I had to gain from entering the lottery. Even if I had won 1.6 billion dollars I would have lost something of infinite value.

God has blessed me with great blessings. My wife and I have been able to purchase our own home. Our combined income is not huge, but it supplies our daily bread. Every week I can sit down and pay our bills. We can buy modest items we desire. We have enough left over to give generously to our church and to help out some people in their various needs.

But it is not so much about what we can afford to buy or do. It is about our sense of gratitude and contentment in God's daily provision. 

Sometimes our cash flow is tight. There are many things we cannot afford to buy. There are things we cannot afford to do. But we are ok with that. We are genuinely content. We have a general sense of peace and wellbeing. We have what we need. We are secure in God's gracious care for us.

There is no better place for us to be. Contentment is the goal and we are already there.

As I spent time in prayer the other morning I was thanking God for all his blessings when it occurred to me that I could buy a lottery ticket. But as I thought about it I realized that I could not enjoy this great sense of contentment and pursue windfall riches through a lottery (or any form of gambling) at the same time. That pursuit of riches is contrary to a sense of contentment. If you are content, you don't need to play. If you play, you will be damaging your sense of contentment.

So I didn't play and I didn't win - and I'm not a bit sorry. I am perfectly happy throwing myself into God's arms every morning and asking him to provide my daily bread. This is where I want to be.

Hope For The Helpless

What is it like when someone comes to the end of their resources? What can they do when there is no hope? How can they proceed when they are desperate?

How can we comfort people who are facing suffering and death? Should we give them a pep talk? Should we shoot them a slogan like "You've got this!" or "Everything will turn out ok!"??

Jesus offers real hope for the helpless - and we all need this help.

Sermon In A Sack - A Dollar

Jesus said that we are all entrusted with different gifts that we are supposed to put to use in a way that will honor and please God. We should take that very seriously. How we respond tells us more about ourselves that we may realize.