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Do you ever wonder if what you are doing really makes a difference? In such a big world with so may people around us and so much going on, it’s easy to feel insignificant. Foolish as it may sound, Jesus promises us that every one of us is stunningly unique and has a part to play in God’s work in the world. When we embrace that promise, we have confidence that we really can make a lasting difference by what we do.
Read MoreYou may have heard it said, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Maybe you believe it’s true…especially when it comes to you. Foolish as it may sound, Jesus says that we CAN actually change, no matter how old we are or how set we are in our ways.
Read MoreWe all tend to avoid suffering at all costs. And that makes sense. Yet some people seem to thrive despite amazingly difficult circumstances. Some even claim they would not change a thing after a time of suffering because of the change that suffering brought into their life. As foolish as it sounds, we believe that God can actually transform our suffering into blessing both for us and for those around us.
Read MoreEveryone has made mistakes and carries around the scars to prove it. Most of us, however, are pretty good at hiding them, even from ourselves. Eventually, feelings of regret, shame, and guilt will catch up with us, causing us to wonder if we will ever find healing. Foolish as it may sound, Jesus promises that we can find freedom and healing through His free gift of forgiveness...no matter what we've done in the past.
Read MoreCentral to the Christian faith is the belief that Jesus proved that He was who He claimed to be by rising from the dead. Without this miracle Jesus is just another false messiah -- deluded into believing He was the son of God and foolishly giving His life to save the world. But the resurrection proves that Jesus' death rescued us all and that His mission to restore God's creation is accomplished. Best of all, Jesus taught that, because He lives, we shall live also! He is the first fruits of all who believe. We too will one day rise again!
Read MoreThe scene was strangely familiar, at least to those with good memories. A beloved son, destined to die, was on his way up the mountain. The donkey. The wood for the sacrifice. It was all there! Why would God demand such a sacrifice? Why would the young man go along with it? What good could possibly come from this?
Read MoreOn at least two occasions, Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people, multiplying just a few loaves of bread and fish to supply all that was needed. That same multiplying power is present in us, as we accept His invitation to extend our ministry to make even more disciples.
Read MoreIt's time to get started connecting people to Jesus. We all know that this is the mission that we, the Church, have been tasked with. Making it happen, though, is another story. This week you'll be challenged to make this mission a reality in your life through the story of how Prince of Peace in Palatine started a brand new church just a few short years ago.
Read MoreThe disciples or followers of Jesus were taken to many places because they followed Jesus and some of those places were not comfortable for them. So where are those uncomfortable places for me, today? They are crossing cultural barriers, going deeper in relationships, and having a solid understanding of who I am and who God is.
Read MoreQuestion: Where do we most often find the largest number of new believers in Jesus? Answer: Where churches do something new to share the love of Jesus with the people in their community.
Read MoreWay back at the beginning, God planted the seeds for multiplication deep into the DNA of His people, starting with Adam and Abraham, catching fresh wind with Jesus' disciples, and continuing to this day. In fact, the Gospel compels God's people towards a multiplication mentality in a way that can't be ignored.
Read MoreDiscipling others is not optional for those who wish to follow Jesus. It's what we were put on Earth to do! None of us drift towards discipleship, so we need to build some intentionality into it to get started and stay on track.
Read MoreWhen we watch Jesus making disciples in the Gospels, we observe a pattern that we can replicate. While it seems presumptuous to invite others to follow us, we can find relief when we remember that they are not so much imitating us as imitating Jesus.
Read MoreA disciple is someone who watches Jesus and imitates Him on a daily basis in order to become like Him for the good of others. This is the heart of Joining Jesus on His Mission and showing others how to do the same.
Read MoreGod has already given us what the world so desperately needs, but we don't have it in us to give it away, at least to the degree that God has planned. To do this -- that is, to become a disciple on mission for the good of others -- takes quite a bit of work. Fortunately for us (and for the world), Jesus is up to the task, and as soon as we begin following Him as part of our daily life, so are we!
Read MoreThe Mission of God is the one thing that ties together what God was doing in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, as well as what He is doing in the world right now. His purpose is clear: He wants to redeem and restore all things. His strategy is clear, too: He wants to use us to bring His kingdom to the people closest to us in small, tangible ways.
Read MoreThe primary task of God's church on earth is quite simple: Make Disciples. Doing it is another matter entirely. While the work may seem intimidating and beyond our abilities, it is actually much simpler than we make it out to be.
Read MoreWe hear Simeon's prophetic words: Jesus was to be a "light for revelation to the Gentiles" as well as "glory to His people Israel" (Luke 2:32). Jesus was born and dwells among us. Salvation is Here! So, what's next for the Christian?
Read MoreBethlehem. It was a small, sleepy town just outside the big city, but when its newest inhabitant was born, it became a place that the world would never forget.
Read MoreAn unknown town in the hill country of Judea. It was a place that everyone would eventually forget, but, hidden from the eyes of the world, God was still at work.
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