Archive for the ‘ Hope ’ Category
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:11, CSB
God wants to give us all good things according to His will, and that includes the hope of eternity and power to live for today.
This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16, CSB
We work in this world to usher others into the rest of Christ, knowing Christ paid for our eternal rest through His agonizing death because of His love for us.
He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.
Isaiah 40:11, CSB
We work in this world to usher others into the rest of Christ, knowing we await the perfect rest of God’s loving care, walking in His guidance and to those who are wandering astray.
Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness.
Isaiah 60:3, CSB
We work in this world to usher others into the rest of Christ, taking His light to this dark world to show them rest from sin, anxiety, and fear.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6, CSB
We work in this world to usher others into the rest of Christ, sharing the rest from sin and anxiety found in the forgiveness and reconciliation of Christ.
Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.
Hebrews 4:9, CSB
We work in this world to usher others into the rest of Christ, knowing we await the perfect rest of eternity with our Lord.
I preached again!
I was once again at Paulden Christian Fellowship, planned for nearly two weeks, so before the events of the first full week of September 2025. Fortunately and unfortunately, the message was ready for this week. I also was dealing with a cold.
As usual, below are my rough notes (in fact, very rough notes this time), so there is a deviation from what is written and what was said. (P.S. I made the correction to the PowerPoint that I reference in the sermon.)
[Intro]
[Read passage]
Recent events also show it continues.
Rise in Persecution: In the past 15 years, so many Christian businesses, ministries, and individuals have faced civil and criminal legal troubles for standing for their biblical faith, such as the Masterpiece Cakeshop and Jack Phillips in Colorado.
(I think Kim Davis of Kentucky is a slippery story, and musician/activist Sean Feucht is creating problems.)
Step on toes: Remember that political violence happens on both sides. (Gabbi Giffords, JFK, MLK, abortion bombings of the 1980’s-90’s and later in 2020’s, shots fired/knives bared at the White house in the past four administrations).
Both sides of the political aisle have ramped up violent rhetoric.
But this serves as a reminder that we have a message that divides:
v. 11: Unlike Paul, most of us don’t get a message straight from Jesus confirming anything past today, but we have the message that He is with us (Matthew 28:20; John 16) and that we have hope of eternity when we die (Luke 23:43).
vv. 12-15: Some conspiracies are true, and people will hate us for preaching righteousness.
vv. 16-22: We fight for life and light & reveal darkness, but we remember those made in God’s image.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
Matthew 5:3, CSB
The message has not changed, knowing that we are unable to do anything good enough to earn eternal life, but God in His goodness and grace has made a way for us through His Son, Jesus.
This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.
Ezekiel 37:5, CSB
God loves us and calls us to life in Him. He can revive us from spiritual deadness, and we have hope in Christ for the resurrection from the dead and eternity with Him.
“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8, CSB
A life of holiness relies on Christ in all things, realizing God is always with us and guiding our steps as we trust Him.
a simple man of God 