September 22, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Luke 10:38–42
Whatever we do with our time is what we are doing with our life.
Unfortunately, we live in a world filled with acceptable distractions, so we find ourselves wasting time without even realizing it. And as the world’s pursuit of pleasure and convenience continues to expand our options, it becomes even more important to focus our attention on things that really matter.
Time is a limited resource, and if we aren’t careful with it, then that which should be used for WORSHIP will inevitably end up in the category of WASTE.
All of My Money
September 15, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Matthew 19:23–24
Money can be a pretty polarizing topic. But Jesus didn’t seem to shy away from the conversation. And in our current culture, we could use His opinion more than ever. It may be hard to believe, but we currently live in one of the wealthiest societies that the world has ever known.
That means that whenever scripture has something to say about “the rich,” it’s not just talking about billionaires.
Jesus has an interesting encounter with a wealthy young man who is eager to do the will of God. But he soon discovers what God requires, and its a much higher price than he’s willing to pay. In the story, Jesus warns us all about the potential trappings of wealth - not because it’s wrong for us to have so much, but because it’s dangerous for anyone to share so little.
All of My Desires
September 8, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Matthew 16:24–25
It may be difficult to admit - but even our desires are broken.
We can’t climb out of our fallen condition in life, because we want the wrong things from it. Interestingly enough, our persistence in trying to satisfy our own thirst IS actually the very thing that makes us thirsty. This dilemma is what it means to live “according to the flesh.”
It’s a hopeless cycle, but somehow we still believe that we can just "want" our way into a better life. But Jesus teaches us a much better way to live - one that requires denying ourselves, so that we might find true fulfillment in Him.
Can You See the Difference?
September 1, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Mark 8:25
God doesn't start anything that He doesn't intend to finish. So the question is... can you see the difference He's making along the way?
Washed in the Word
August 25, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • Ezekiel 36:25–27
The problem with washing anything is that it’s bound to get dirty all over again.
Such is the condition of the human heart. 😕
Even if we’ve been forgiven of our sins, we may find ourselves choosing them all over again. We stumble, fall, and eventually go astray, but God’s love pursues us anyway. In doing so, He brings a unique and transformative option - one that causes us to pursue Him in return. In this manner, God’s redemptive plan doesn’t just clean us on the outside, it actually cleans us on the inside - by the washing of the Word.
Deep Clean
August 18, 2024 • Courtney Harkness • John 13:8–9
God wants it all. Everything in creation that has been corrupted and confiscated by sin…
He wants it all back.
But recovering what has been lost also means redeeming that which is broken. And unfortunately for us, we just so happen to be both - broken AND lost.
Consequently, God’s plan of salvation includes a process of sanctification as well. More and more, His grace pushes beyond the outer surface of our lives to reach the inner areas of resistance that live deep within our souls. His persistence in this is undeniable, and one thing is painfully clear:
If I am to truly belong to the Lord, then I must be willing to give Him All of Me.
