AM Sermon
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Colossians 3 tells us some of the ways we can live a life devoted to Christ. Paul first speaks generally about the things we must do, like setting our minds on things above, but as the chapter progresses, he gets more specific. He tells us things we shouldn’t do and then gives examples of what we should do instead.
Those of us who were baptized in Christ’s name, and have committed our lives to Christ, should understand that we are dead to the world. That commitment we made allows us to live, but it also demands a life devoted to Christ,…
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In recent years, the phrase "This is the Way" has become instantly recognizable to Star Wars fans everywhere. That's because the titular character of The Mandalorian series often utters this motto to express his commitment to his strange alien religion. Never take your helmet off? This is the Way. Adopt a cute alien baby? This is the Way.
But the idea of a religion being called the Way is nothing new, and Disney has never been shy about pilfering ideas from the public domain. In fact, we see throughout the book of Acts, that the Way was what people called the…
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“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” – Mark 10:13-16
With VBS just behind us we have focused, and rightfully so, on our children and lessons…
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Avoiding the Big Rocks of Sin
by Mark Roberts
Thirty years ago the Exxon Valdez did the inexplicable. The huge tanker grounded on a reef, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. The effect on the animals, water, and plants was catastrophic and recovery continues to this day. How could a supertanker with all that navigational technology possibly ram head-on into a well-marked reef?
Last week, a friend asked me if I had heard the heartbreaking news that two Christians I knew had left their spouses and run off into adultery together. How… -
Eli was the high priest of Israel. He was a good man, but his two sons were a different story: they were “worthless men” who “did not know the Lord” — that is, they did not respect God’s authority (1 Samuel 2:12). Eli’s sons abused their position as priests for selfish gain, showed disregard for the sacrifices they administered, and even used the women who served outside the tabernacle for their own sexual pleasure (verses 12-17, 22).
Eventually a word came from the Lord: “I am about to judge [Eli’s] house forever…
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One of the intriguing stories of the book of Judges is the death of Abimelech, He murdered his rival brothers at Shechem and ruled Israel for three years. He got his just deserts when, while seeking to expand his dominion, he was killed by a woman at the city of Thebes.
The city had just been defeated by Abimelech and his troops; the remaining citizens, men and women, gathered in the city watchtower, seeking refuge from Abimelech and his warriors. The army surrounded the tower and was positioned to burn it and destroy all its fear-stricken residents. A woman…
