James 5:13-20, “publicly confessing sin” [Listen]

Our culture today is desperately looking for real meaning, purpose, hope and relationship. This is GOOD NEWS for us here today – we have that to share. We have that to share in the person of Jesus and we should have that to share in our fellowship. God’s design is that we live meaning, purpose, hope and relationship! The problem is that much of what passes for Christianity today is nothing more than a different version of the world’s priorities and values. In the end it’s about the money, it’s about the “club”, it’s about self – how can we spin the Bible so that we can live for this world’s priorities and still talk like my loyalty is to Jesus and the Kingdom. Read the rest of this entry »

Matthew 25:14-30, “working for the Master” [no audio - I messed-up]

Last week we examined the great commission and found that those who follow Jesus; those who are the salt of the earth and light of the world are to be about their father’s business – making disciples.  Today we’re going to look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  This contains a VERY important message for us. Read the rest of this entry »

Matthew 28:16-20, “our calling: make disciples” [No Audio]

As we have just thought about the the forgiveness of our sins through the death of Jesus and the new life he gives through his resurrection, I can’t help but think of those who followed Jesus 2,000 years ago and what they must have been thinking – can you imagine? There was a lot at stake here. Some of them had been “walking” with Jesus for three years. They had seen amazing miracles and heard phenomenal teaching which, on the one hand, had “captured” the crowds and given them hope that Jesus really was the one who would rescue them. On the other hand Jesus infuriated the religious power-brokers of the day. Read the rest of this entry »