sinners

Your Mess Becomes Your Message

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1a I have witnessed it’s the sinners, the mess-ups, and those who make a muck of things who make some of the greatest disciples. If I go to my doctor with an unknown condition that I cannot cure, and my doctor says, “You know what? I had that, too. I know just the cure.” That makes me feel pretty good. That is what the transforming power of discipleship is all about. Jesus says, “I’ve seen this before. Let me show you.” There is truth to the old adage, “Your mess becomes your message. Your test becomes your testimony.” Just remember that there’s no tragedy; there’s no falling short, that God cannot turn around. I had this radical experience in high school where I

July 16, 2022 No Comments

Who Are Your Friends?

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.” – Psalm 1:3 As we continue the study of Psalm 1 it begins “Blessed (Happy) is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or take seat in the company of mockers…” Picture this Psalm boldly asking the question, “Who are your friends?” It doesn’t say blessed is the one who’s not a sinner, it says blessed is the one who doesn’t hang out with sinners. Did you catch that? Blessed is the one who doesn’t walk with or chill out with sinners. As a Pastor, I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from a grieving mother or father who lost a child to some untimely tragedy, whether it

June 8, 2022 No Comments

Perfection Not Required

“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” – Mark 2:17 It’s probably unorthodox for a pastor to say this, but I want to have a church filled with sinners. There are plenty of congregations filled with saints and people pretending to be perfect, but I don’t believe that’s what the Body of Christ is supposed to look like. The church is not meant to be a country club of righteous friends who meet to pat each other on the back, but rather a gathering of thirsty, weary souls yearning for His Living Water. As disciples of Jesus, we’re broken people who want to be better, and we strive toward sanctification, righteousness, and Godliness. But most importantly, we receive the Lord’s love so we can love each other, especially

August 4, 2021 No Comments

Will You See Him?

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” – Isaiah 53:2 I often wonder if I had been alive when Jesus roamed the earth if I would have given Him the time of day. While it’s easy to assume that our Lord had a magnetism that captivated everyone who crossed His path or that He was a celebrity who was widely accepted by society, this really wasn’t the case. He hung out with sinners and outcasts, and while many paid attention to Him, their reaction wasn’t always positive. You see, our Savior was actually quite “fringy,” especially to the devout Jews. In a culture that had its own routine and bustle, not to mention very distinct religious traditions, many walked by Him lost in the busyness of their day. Still others considered Him a lunatic because of the

February 2, 2021 No Comments

Embrace Those Who Are Broken

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” – Matthew 9:13 I believe one of the biggest challenges generational Christians face is internalizing the truth that Jesus came to save sinners. I know this was the case for me. I grew up in the world of church and in a subculture that was religious and somewhat legalistic. I was a “good kid,” and I wanted to be accepted by the people who surrounded me, but I had no idea that I was missing out on one of the greatest hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry. I think this is why I have often been drawn to the story of Peter, who was originally called Simon. In Hebrew, his name was pronounced “Shimon,” and it means “to hear or obey.” Since monikers in the Bible are often associated

January 6, 2021 1 Comment

Your Mess Becomes Your Message

Who Are Your Friends?

Perfection Not Required

Will You See Him?

Embrace Those Who Are Broken

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