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Showing posts from July, 2020

Let Your Light Shine

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Do everything without grumbling or arguing,   so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky   as you hold firmly to the word of life.             I’d like to shed some light – some gospel light – on an issue or two today, and I ask you to hear me all the way out.   Too much is at stake – we’re talking about the eternal welfare of immortal souls . . . too much is at stake for us not to be educated by the gospel about these things!             I stand before you today not as a human biology major or a doctor of sociology.   I’m neither a scientist nor a political scientist.   I don’t claim to be an expert on genetics or anthropogeography.           ...

The extraordinarily ordinary life of a Christian - The Christian finds rest in Jesus

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Matthew 11:25–30 25 At that time, Jesus continued, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from clever and learned people and have revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, because this was pleasing to you. 27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him. 28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). The first time the pastor saw George in church, George was in his mid-80s, with thinning silver hair and a charcoal gray suit. The pastor had gotten to know George over the past few years. Everyone enjoyed being around George...

The extraordinarily ordinary life of a Christian - The Christian loves God above all things

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Matthew 10:34–42 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. 37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 Whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple—Ame...

Witness despite persecution

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Matthew 10:24–33 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If the master of the house was called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, because there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without the knowledge and consent of your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Everyone who confesses me before others, I will a...