The Christian Life
The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast down their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11) Nothing says “I’ve made it in life” like wearing a crown. It is a status symbol, an almost universally recognized image of authority and nobility. In our world, the few who receive a crown receive a thing of tremendous value.
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May 23, 2018 // 0 Comments
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) We often forget how loved we are. This is the source of most of our problems in life. When we fail to realize God’s love for us, we become frantic, sin entangles us, our worries prevail, our hearts grow cold. As a result, there’s little to no room for Jesus in our noisy, crowded lives. What can be done about this? If we’ll simply pause here for a moment, God can speak into our situation. Over every competing voice in our lives, He’ll tell us exactly what we need to hear—that in Christ we are loved with an
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May 16, 2018 // 0 Comments
Ah, stubborn children…who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! (Isaiah 30:1–2) As a kid, I think I got poison ivy just about every summer. The red, bumpy rash would cover my arms and legs, and drive me crazy with incessant itching. If you’ve ever had poison ivy, you know what I’m talking about. It’s the worst. In the book of Isaiah, the people of Judah were itching all over with a desire for security and relief from the looming threat of an Assyrian
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May 9, 2018 // 0 Comments
…in your thinking be mature. (1 Corinthians 14:20) Worship leader and scholar Chip Stam once said, “A mature Christian is easily edified.” This means that people who are advancing in Christian maturity will probably find it much easier to enjoy church than people who are not. Immature Christians tend to want gathered worship to scratch their particular itch. They often assume that things like music, preaching, and kids ministry ought to adhere to their expectations and preferences; and when they don’t, church is hard to enjoy. On the other hand, mature Christians are
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May 2, 2018 // 0 Comments
Then Solomon built a high place… (1 Kings 11:7) Jesus said that “a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). This was certainly true for Israel after Solomon’s passing. Solomon began his kingship with God-given wisdom and honor, yet turned from the Lord later in life, giving his heart to his idolatrous wives by building high places for their gods (1 Ki. 11:1-8). As a result of Solomon’s unfaithfulness, God promised judgment; the kingdom of Israel would be divided (11:31). A generation later, God’s Word was fulfilled. David’s throne in
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April 25, 2018 // 0 Comments
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:8–9) Philip’s request to see the Father reveals that he hadn’t yet understood who Jesus is. Of course, at some level, Philip knew that Jesus had been sent by God. But he still wanted that oh-so impressive spiritual experience. Ironically, he was totally oblivious to the fact that he was already with
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April 18, 2018 // 0 Comments
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) “Whose fool are you?” That’s the question LifePoint will be considering this Easter. If you’re planning to join us (8:00, 9:30, or 11:00AM), here are a few simple ways you can make the most of it: (1) Attend our Good Friday service. Join us this Friday, March 30th at 6:30pm for an evening of remembrance. We will focus on Christ’s crucifixion through singing, prayer, the Lord’s Supper, and listening to
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March 28, 2018 // 0 Comments
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1) When getting to know someone, it’s common to be asked, So what do you do? That question is an implicit inquiry about your career or lifestyle. In response, you’re expected to say something like: “I’m a stay-at-home mom.” Or: “I’m a marketing consultant.” More than simple curiosity, though, this familiar question reveals something profound—that what we do tends to define us. Our career, lifestyle, ambitions, relationships—these things often provide for us
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March 21, 2018 // 0 Comments
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. (Ecclesiastes 5:1–3) If we thoughtlessly stroll into church each week, too preoccupied to be mindful of God’s presence, we are being foolish. Instead, Solomon advises, we must be
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March 14, 2018 // 2 Comments
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain… (Exodus 20:7) When I was a kid, I assumed that taking the Lord’s name in vain was a commandment people tended to disobey when stubbing their toe on the coffee table. Today, I still believe it’s not a good idea to thoughtlessly invoke the divine name under such circumstances, no matter how badly your pinky toe smarts. But I’ve come to understand that taking the Lord’s name in vain is much weightier than that. It’s actually a matter of true worship versus false worship. You see, when God laid out the
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March 7, 2018 // 0 Comments
