We want to be known and accepted, but often we’re afraid that if people really know us, they won’t accept us. Yet Jesus knows us fully and loves us unconditionally, and his acceptance means we are free from worrying about what others think.
This weekend as we celebrate the Fourth of July, we also reflect on the role that we as Jesus’ followers have in continuing to make our country and this world a better place. Pastor Mark has a message about how we can disagree better, love all people, and find power in unity.
In the final week of our sermon series, “People of the Light,” Pastor Mark guides us through the end of 1 Thessalonians to help us understand how to live a great life and to discern God’s will for our lives.
The disciples of the early church anticipated Christ’s return in their lifetime. In this week’s message, Pastor Mark continues teaching from Paul’s first letter, as he explores the questions about what happens when we die and what happens at the end of time.
Faithfulness is about much more than marriage. It is steadfastness and trustworthiness in all areas of our lives, and as we learn to be faithful to God in all things, we can endure all things.
When we face criticism, we often respond with anger, denial, or defensiveness, but that causes us to miss a great opportunity for growth. Paul shared wisdom with the Thessalonian church to help them persevere through challenges, and that wisdom can help us remain steadfast through obstacles, persecution, and criticism today.
There are few things more powerful than a community of people that is strong and healthy, but too often, communities are neither, focusing more on convenience, greed, and image management than supporting one another. In the Acts 2 church, we see an inspired example is possible when we become a community that gives life.
On Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit came and filled the followers of Jesus, and because the same Spirit is present in us, we are never alone.
Life is richer when we share it with other people—as long as we can figure out how to live with them. At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares wisdom about how to live with other people in such a way that our life is built on a firm foundation.
Christianity is more than “not doing anything wrong.” Christianity answers the two great questions we all have to answer: “Who is really well off and “Who is a genuinely good person?”
