We all want to be more grateful, but it's often difficult. Yet when we recognize that everything we have is a gift from God, we can't help but feel grateful. And as we develop a rhythm of thanking God, gratitude fills us with joy and changes the way we experience the world.
Is the New Testament reliable? Rev. Brandon Blacksten explores the challenges of the New Testament's origins and consistency, and concludes that, ultimately, we can trust the New Testament account of the Good News of Jesus.
We all experience worry—sometimes to the point that we can't think of anything else. But our worries can tell us what we truly treasure. Jesus teaches that when we learn to treasure what God treasures, we can let go of worry and find freedom.
When building something, we start with the instructions, but instructions can't tell us how to deal with every situation. By exploring one of the most well-known sets of instructions—the Ten Commandments—we discover a pattern that shows us a way of life that's based in love.
At some point, we all realize that what got us here will not get us where we need to go. Jesus' disciples faced that situation when he ascended into heaven, and he gave them a mission that was beyond anything they had ever done before. Their response teaches us how we can respond when we enter uncharted territory.
Every day, we are bombarded by voices that compete for our time, attention, and our hearts. In a sea of competing voices, how do we discern the one voice that leads to abundant life?
While it's easy to see greed as a temptation only for the very rich, the desire for more affects all of us. Instead of accumulating as much as possible and holding on for dear life, though, Jesus teaches that generosity sets us free from greed and lets us live lives of blessing for others.
Lust can wreck our relationships and reduce our capacity for love. The virtue of chastity helps us overcome lust so that we no longer see others as object for our use, but as people with whom we can have real relationships.
Bible Text: Luke 1:46-49 | Teacher: Rev. Brandon Blacksten | Series: Surviving Christmas | "02_Dec_2018 (2nd Sermon)" from Acts 2 Sermons by Brandon Blacksten. Released: 2018.
