If you show me your friendships, it will reveal the direction of your
life. The community you choose could be the difference between living in
darkness or living in light. We first must enter into fellowship (koinonia) with
God, and that fellowship will ensure that we live in the light of truth. It is a
beautiful thing when groups of people fellowship with God and enter into
fellowship with one another. Sometimes this means we have to search for a
new community that can help us live into the light.
Renewed Love
January 17, 2021 • Pastor Jerry
When we love something or someone, we are eager to talk about it. How often do we talk about Jesus and the things of God? If the answer is very little, maybe it is because we love the things of the world more. Many of us
within the church have left our first love in pursuit of lesser things. Just before Jesus’ crucifixion, the Bible tells us that even Peter loses his love for Jesus as he denies him three times. Distraught and defeated, he and the disciples go back to fishing after Jesus’ death. When Jesus shows back up on the beach, Peter is quick to join him. Jesus reinstates Peter by asking him three times if he loves him. Jesus reminds him that their love for one another can be renewed. If we renew our love for God, it will play out in loving God’s people.
Renewed Purpose
January 10, 2021 • Pastor Jerry
God has created each of us with a plan for our lives. We are his
handiwork, and he longs for us to take part in the good work that he has for us
to do. In order to come alive to this plan for our lives, we often have to die to
the way we used to live. In the book of Acts, we learn of an interesting
character named Saul who is persecuting the early church. He does it with
zeal. He lives for it. But then, Saul encounters Jesus along the road to
Damascus and he is miraculously transformed. His purpose is renewed as he
no longer is hunting down Christians, but becomes a church planter and
writes the vast majority of the New Testament letters.
Renewed Spirit
January 3, 2021 • Pastor Jerry
WEEK ONE:
“Renewed Spirit”
Beyond our physical body lies our spirit. This spirit has been placed within us by God and it must be taken care of. Sometimes our spirit can become weary and defeated because of sinful decisions we make. In order to renew our spirit, we must repent and believe the gospel. This gospel is put on display in the story of Zacchaeus. When Jesus meets him, he is a thieving traitor who is only thinking about himself. When he encounters the love of Jesus in his home, Zacchaeus’ spirit is renewed and it is evidenced by his extreme transformation. He used to cheat and steal, but now, he becomes generous and eager to make things right.
Psalm 51:10-12// Luke 19:1-10
