Listen

 

“I told you last week. How could you forget?” 

“You did? I don’t remember.” 

“It was Tuesday after dinner. You were sitting right here. I told you. You nodded your head and said, ‘Got it.’ How could you forget?” 

That’s a common conversation not only for married couples but for any group of people who communicate frequently. We hear a lot, but we don’t tend to listen well. And that is probably because listening is hard work. 

This coming weekend we’re going to be studying the Transfiguration of Jesus. It is a defining moment in his ministry in which he gives a small group of his followers a glimpse of his divine glory and power. Shortly before this miracle, Jesus had begun to teach them that he was going to be arrested, tortured, killed, and then rise again. His disciples didn’t know what to make of it. With Jesus’ popularity on the decline, they were probably also questioning their future with him. 

Through a mind-blowing physical transformation and an otherworldly conversation with two people who had been dead for centuries, Jesus lays to rest the disciples’ doubts. But something else happens. A voice comes from the sky. A voice which can only be identified as that of God the Father. He says, “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to him.” 

What short but profound statement! “Listen to Jesus.” Which very naturally leads us to ask ourselves, “How much have I been listening to Jesus?” It’s pretty easy to hear a lot of information about him, it is another thing to listen to him and then put his words into practice. 

If you haven’t been listening much to Jesus lately, join us for one of our services. You’ll find there are some very good reasons to pay attention to what he says. Maybe what will surprise you most is how much his teachings will change your life for the better.     

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm & Sunday: 10:00 am

Different

 

“Different” is not a label most of us would like to have. We don’t want to stand out in a crowd, having people gape at us, wondering what in the world would make us act in such a weird way. One of the most courageously spectacular examples of being different took place about 2500 years ago. A megalomaniac leader had set up a huge statue in his own honor and demanded that all of his subjects bow down to it. It was the ultimate act of insecure pride. In one setting he gathered his most trusted leaders in an open-air event and commanded them to drop to their knees at the appointed moment. We don’t know exactly how many people were there, but hundreds or thousands would not be an exaggeration. When the moment came to worship the statue, every single person in the crowd prostrated themselves in worship – except three men. There they stood, all alone – totally different in a sea of conformity. If you don’t know how the story ends, check it out in Daniel three.               

Being different is something Jesus Christ taught about regularly. He insisted that if a person is going to be his disciple, they will conduct their lives in a way that very often won’t comply with current thinking. This weekend we’re going to study one of his teachings on this subject. It’s the kind of passage that makes a person wonder if it would be possible to live in such a way in our world. But it is. Throughout the centuries hundreds of thousands of people have lived distinctly different lives for one reason: Jesus Christ is their Savior and Lord. 

As you consider stepping out of the mainstream and choosing the “different” life Jesus calls you to, don’t focus on the question, “What is it going to cost me?”, but rather, “Is what Jesus teaches us about life true? 

Join us for one of our worship services.     

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm & Sunday: 10:00 am

Rose Colored Glasses?

 

                 ^{Matthew 5:3}“Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

                ⁴Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.

                ⁵Blessed are the gentle,  because they will inherit the earth.

                ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be 

             filled.

                ⁷Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy.

                ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.

                ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.

                ¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs                  is the kingdom of heaven.

These words of Jesus are beautiful, there can be no denying that. But are they practical? Can anyone possibly live out their day-to-day life following the principles Jesus presents? 

Human life has been and always will be brutally competitive. There are winners and there are losers. The losers don’t stick around long. Humble, gentle, merciful, peacemaker, open to being persecuted? All of those behavior traits would seem to lead to absolute disaster. We live in a world which if you don’t look out for yourself, no one will! 

And yet, we haven’t yet mentioned the word Jesus repeatedly used to describe the result of living out his plan for our lives – “blessed”. People define “blessed” in different ways, but one thing all the definitions have in common is that it is good to be blessed. Every human being wants blessings! And so, we are left with the confusing thought that behavior which common sense would tell us leads to a whole lot of pain and suffering, Jesus says leads to blessings beyond our comprehension. 

Jesus never said that his teaching would always be obvious. But he did prove beyond any doubt through his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead, that when he says something is good for us, we should listen carefully. Some might say the “blessed” statements of Jesus present life through overly optimistic rose colored glasses. Jesus might well respond, “But are they true? That’s what matters.”     

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm & Sunday: 10:00 am

The Recruitment Pitch?

 

“If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” 

Jesus clearly did not take Marketing 101! It just doesn’t make sense. The same one who said that he came to rescue all people for eternity now makes an individual appeal to those same people by saying they would have to give up all their personal rights and be subject to his leading, which by the way, would involve a considerable amount of discomfort. Seems like a disastrous plan to get people to buy in to his movement. But that is just the point, Jesus isn’t concerned about convincing human beings to “buy in” to what he was doing. His concern was not to flatter people into following him. No, he was inviting people to be a part of what they needed most. Jesus was interested in confronting us with divine truth. 

Sometimes people want to bargain with Jesus. They may not say it in so many words, but their attitude is, “Lord, I will follow you if you give me the kind of life I want.” That thinking, however, is something Jesus never tolerated. We don’t come to him on our terms. Instead, we surrender our rights because we believe the Truth about life, death and eternity are all found in Christ. 

When people asked about becoming one of his disciples, Jesus always encouraged them to consider seriously what they were getting into and their expectations. He never promised a joyride of pleasant experiences. Instead, he offered a realistic picture of following God in a sin broken world. An easy life? No. A never-ending adventure? Absolutely! 

Worship service times: Saturday: 6:00 pm & Sunday: 10:00 am