Articles Tagged '' (Page 26)

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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Leave, Go, and Bless

As Abraham showed us, God's greatest promises often come packaged as our greatest sacrifices, hardest challenges, and longest journeys.

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of God's incredible journey of redemption and how Abraham was the one who began this journey demonstrating great faith when he followed God for a destination he did not yet know.

Seed, Towel, Promise, and Torchlight: Intro

Yes, the seed is still enough of a mystery to keep me interested while I wait for the full blessing of its secrets to reach full bloom.

Phil Ware begins a four week series on seed, towel, promise, and torchlight as he looks at Jesus' last hours on earth and what they mean for us.

Anticipation!

While we remember Jesus, let's also remember all those who love Jesus that make up our huge, worldwide family.

Phil Ware continues his reflections on Holy Communion by reminding us of coming reunion that The Supper ensures will happen!

Self-Destructive Power in Building Monuments to Ourselves

In absolute arrogance and stupidity, the people of the plains of Babylonia set out to make a name for themselves.

Phil Ware and James Nored share through words, images, and video the story of the Tower of Babel and the self-destructive danger of pride and arrogance.

It All Hinges on This

How can we know if our lives make a difference and truly matter?

Phil Ware helps us to better understand both Mark's message about where true life is found and also his outline and organization of his gospel around the hinges to the story provided by the stories of two blind men that Jesus heals.

He Entered Your World

God drew near to us in Jesus, so why would we not come to him with our challenges, troubles, and trials?

Max Lucado reminds us that Jesus longs for us to draw near to him in our times of troubles, problems, challenges, pain, and trials.

Grace Beyond the Flood

Each passing generation beckoned the deepening shadows of evil, corruption, violence, and wickedness until these four held the world in their ever-tightening grip.

Phil Ware and James Nored share ideas in video and writing of the grace God brought to humanity after their repeated rebellions as the journey down the story of redemption and as they find their story in God's story.

The Lord is Near

The Lord longs to be near us when we feel most alone, especially in our last journey through the valley of shadows.

Phil Ware reminds us that in our darkest times the Lord, our good Shepherd, wants to be near us and make his presence known to us.

God of Gracious Love

Life without grace leaves us with a distorted understanding of God.

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of God's grace: both his common grace and his sacrificial grace meant to save us from our sinful failures and save us to share his gracious purposes with the world.

Once for Him, Once for Us!

Jesus is my beloved Son. What he says not only pleases me, but it is my fullest truth.

Phil Ware reminds us that God said almost exactly the same words to his Son twice, yet he spoke the first time to affirm his Son and the second time to let us know we must listen to the Son.

Worthy!

How can I take this bread and wine as someone worthy?

Phil Ware reminds us that we share in The Supper, not because we are worthy of Jesus' sacrifice, but because we've been made worthy by his sacrifice!

Grace for the Worst of Us... Even Me!

It took several years for him to dig out of the hole he made for himself with his lack of appreciation for grace and his own need of it.

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that not only is God's grace available in his love and mercy but also that mercy and grace is available to all, even the worst of sinners, like you and me!

Breathtaking!

For God so loved us that he came to our world as a child.

Phil Ware reminds us of the divine titles for Jesus in Matthew 1 and then drives home the point that this divine Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, came to us as the child, Jesus.

Living Beyond the Formula

Jesus > You + X (all your dos) + Y (all your dont's)!

Jordan Harrell helps us understand what Jesus meant when what matters is in our hearts!

The Expertise and Artistry of God's Grace

Grace is the mercy and love of God freely shared with us. Grace is also the style, the way in which God shares this mercy and love

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that not only is God's grace available in his love and mercy, it is also beautiful in the artistic style he brings us this beauty!

Affirming Their Best and Not Giving Up in Their Stumbles

I can't help but believe that every time Peter heard a rooster crow, he also remembered the Lord's words of affirmation and assurance.

Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus affirmed Peter's value and his return to useful service BEFORE Peter's stumbling denials by the fire.

His Peace

There have been many times in my life that I believed I would only find peace when...

Tom Norvell reminds us this Lord’s Day that Jesus came to give us peace and that peace is meant to be a blessing in the middle of the chaos and uncertainty we face in our world.

Broken: But NOT Forever!

Why did this brokenness, this pain, this shattering, come upon us if it is not God's intention for us?

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that sin, both rebellion and missing God's goal of goodness for us, has reaped destruction on all we touch, but that this is not what God intended for us, there is redemption coming!

What Jesus Can't Do!

Why did Mark include it in his gospel? After all, his gospel is the shortest and most compact story of Jesus among the four gospels!

Phil Ware looks at Mark 6:1-6 and reminds us that this story is for us because we are Jesus' family, relatives, and hometown!

Our Chorus is the Gospel

'The verses are the blues, the chorus is the gospel.'

Patrick Odum picks up a line from a Bruce Springsteen interview and helps us understand the need for being real about our struggles but also celebrating our hope in the gospel.

Where Are You?

Why are our relationships with God such a mess, with each other full of conflict, and with our world so destructive?

James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that sin, both rebellion and missing God's goal of goodness for us, has reaped destruction on all we touch.

Simple Beginnings, Profound Impact

Can anything good come from Nazareth?

Phil Ware reminds us not to put away Jesus with the Christmas lights and blow up snowman, but to remember that Christ is alive in us!

Words We Long to Hear

What words do you most long to hear from Jesus today?

Phil Ware continues his series called Beyond Bread and Wine and focuses on the three sets of words we most long to hear.

Wonderfully Created

How are we to view ourselves and each other in this magnificent creation?

James Nored and Phil Ware look at Genesis 1 and the Bible's story of Creation and remind us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Dry Pine Needles and Cold, Dusty Attics

Jesus' real-to-life circumstances, along with his dangerous predicaments caused by his divine reality, are comforting to me.

Phil Ware reminds us that as we clean up from Christmas and New Year, the mess left after the holidays should remind us of the hard times Jesus and his family faced after his birth.