Satan is real. Temptation is real. Demonic activity is rampant and powerful. True repentance and faith require us first to admit that we are powerless on our own to defeat the devil. His grasp is too much for us. Faith then looks to our Lord, who took sin and Satan seriously for us. By the … [Read more…]
The Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate once asked, “What is Truth?” It would seem that he was questioning whether there was such a thing as absolute truth, a truth that applies to every human being. We may sometimes wonder whether what we hear is the truth or not and when we do, it’s important to look … [Read more…]
Quarantine is a term for isolating people suspected of carrying some infectious or contagious disease. In Latin, the term literally refers to “forty days.” The forty-day season of Lent serves as a sort of quarantine for sinners, a time when the medicine of repentance and faith in God’s Word brings healing and deliverance from sin, … [Read more…]
In our Scripture Lessons this Sunday, we find people going up against intimidating forces…David vs. Goliath, Sinful Humans vs. Temptation to Sin, The man Jesus vs. the Fallen Angel, Satan. How could David defeat the Giant Soldier Goliath? How can we possibly stand against the temptation to sin? How could a tired Jesus defeat Satan? … [Read more…]
The season of Lent has long been a time of devotion, self-denial, and repentance. We do not weep for Jesus, but humble ourselves and grieve over our sins that made Jesus’ suffering and death necessary. We find comfort when witnessing His Love for us in His Word. Let it be our prayer that our Heavenly Father … [Read more…]
It seems like a stupid question, doesn’t it? If I point a 2,200 lumen flashlight in your eyes in the middle of the night it may seem as bright as the Sun. If I point the same flashlight at in the middle of a bright sunny day you may not think it’s so bright. The … [Read more…]
In 1896, a Congregationalist Preacher named Charles Sheldon wrote a novel entitled: In His Steps. it was inspired by a series of sermons that he preached to his congregation in Topeka, KS. It sounds like a good step until you read that Mr. Sheldon believed Jesus was more of a moral figure than a savior; … [Read more…]
I recently saw a post online that featured two pictures of the same house taken the same time on consecutive days claiming to prove that life on earth is a computer simulation. Seriously…just like the movie series the Matrix. In our worship, Jesus the Son of God tells a story and teaches us about the … [Read more…]
We continue our study of Matthew 8:1-13 this Sunday. Last week we met a Jew with Leprosy. This week we encounter a Gentile Soldier, a Centurion whose young servant is paralyzed and suffering. We note his humility in approaching Jesus — much like the Leper — and marvel with Jesus at His Faith, which recognized … [Read more…]