How do you discern the call of God on your life? The story of Jonah teaches us a lot about God’s call on our lives. Jonah was called by God to be a messenger of the truth and a messenger of peace! That is what missionaries are called to do—to carry God’s truth as messengers of peace. God’s call on our lives is twofold—it’s the call to “come” and the call to “go.” 1.) God calls you to come. God calls you to come to Christ through salvation. He offers you a personal invitation to join...

In the Bible, the disciple Thomas earned the title “Doubting Thomas” because he doubted that Jesus appeared to the disciples. But after he saw Jesus, Doubting Thomas went from skeptical to fully surrendered. Are you living like Thomas? 1.) Thomas lived skeptical. What questions have you brought in regard to your relationship with God? Jesus invited Doubting Thomas to examine His wounds and confirm that it was really Jesus in the room. 2.) Thomas lived surrendered. Doubting Thomas...

Pastor J. Mark Johns from Canvas Church joins us to talk about living sent both locally and globally. One way we can do this is by sponsoring children to release them from poverty in Jesus’ name. We have no idea the ripple effect our obedience and faith can have. Pastor Mark reminds us that everything in this world has some sort of ripple effect. This means that what we do matters, and our choices today can impact the future for us and others. Join us for Live Sent weekend as we talk about...

Pastor Phil closes out the Hope for Us series by pointing out that our liberties and rights as Christians ultimately don’t come from the government. They come from God.   What is the role of government in society? How one views the role of government in society is a biblical issue. The biblical worldview of America’s Founding Fathers was that God, not government, is the giver of our fundamental rights.  Our Founding Fathers' biblical understanding caused them to set up a system limiting...

God has charged every generation with the responsibility of passing on the faith to the next generation. We are where we are as a nation because the last four generations have failed to do so. God has given parents the primary responsibility for the practical education and spiritual preparation of their children. The heart is the most important part of the human being, and God knows a child’s heart is developed in the home. What do we need to teach our children as a part of their...

What is the purpose of law in human society? God instituted civil authority for the peace and prosperity of society, apart from which there would be anarchy. God’s primary purpose for human government is to protect its citizens from violent offenders. The purpose of law is to maintain order and peace in society. Religion shapes culture, and culture shapes laws. A nation’s legislation always reflects its civilization’s worldview and religion. Three things to remember during this...

Every society needs a higher moral authority, or it falls into moral anarchy. Moral destruction leads to the collapse of civilization. Apart from internal morality that comes from a higher authority, humans abuse their personal liberty, turning it into self-idolatry leading to the collapse of society (Romans 1:21-28). When a society embraces moral anarchy, God judges that culture by allowing collapse from within or calamity from without. As Christians, our posture must be both conviction...

Romans 1 reveals how the truth sets us free from the lies of the culture and the captivity of our feelings.   As Christians, our allegiance must be to the Kingdom of God and the multi-ethnic family of God. Faith in God is the reason for our salvation, and people with faith in God can never be controlled by another.   Religion shapes culture and culture shapes laws. What happens when a civilization abandons faith in God?  Truth suppression.  Lies take us into captivity. It’s the truth that...

Hebrews 13:1 gives practical next steps for believers to take so that they can become more like Jesus. 1.) Next steps at home: a. Love more (v. 1) • Host people (v. 2) • Help people (v. 3) • Honor marriage (v. 4) The Gospel should impact the most intimate places in your home. b. Live content (v. 5) • You have God’s presence (v. 5b) • You have God’s help (v. 6) 2.) Next steps at church: a. Learn the Gospel (vs. 7-14) b. Offer a sacrifice of praise (v. 15) c. Do good and share (v. 16) d....

Jesus is the only way to God. No one can come to the Father except through Him. In Hebrews 12, the author invites his audience to choose Jesus and the freedom and grace offered under the New Covenant. There is a better way for us to come to God. Hebrews 12:18-29 contrasts the old way with the better way… 1.) The old way. We all fall short of God's glory. No one can reach His standard in their own strength. The Israelites sought peace with God through sacrifices, but they didn’t need to do...

The author of the Book of Hebrews encourages his audience to run with endurance like the cloud of witnesses before us. Jesus will chasten us to help us lighten our load so we can run with endurance. If you want to lighten your load, you need to do 3 things: 1.) Change your perspective. Christ’s working in your life will bring about refinement and renewal as you look to Jesus. 2.) Pursue peace and holiness. You’re called to pursue peace and holiness with everyone. This is how you live set...

Jesus will chasten you until you lay down that weight or sin you refuse to lay down. His chastening is not because He’s against you but rather because He’s for you. He wants you to run your “faith race” with endurance. The chastening of the Lord is not the same as punishment. It’s a word that means discipline and correction. As God’s children, Jesus took all our punishment for all our sins. As a born-again child of God, He doesn’t punish you for sin but rather disciplines you for it. The...

Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent. Hebrews 12:1-2 calls believers to run the faith race with endurance. We can be encouraged as we run because we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. How to run the race with endurance: 1.) Run with faith. Like others before us have run their race of faith, this is our time to run our race of faith. 2.) Run with fortitude. It’s the extra weight you carry that wears you down, and it’s the sin you carry that...

Faith is believing and obeying God even when it seems impossible. Our faith in God produces eternal impact. How does faith produce eternal impact? 1.) Our faith in God tears down strongholds. Don’t tell God about the impossible. Tell the impossible about God and watch Him give you victory. 2.) Our faith in God redeems our stories. God can take our broken pieces and make masterpieces. He can redeem your story and use you for His glory. 3.) Our faith in God eliminates excuses. Being...

Faith is believing something is so, even when it isn’t so, so it will be so, because God says it’s so! Faith that IS something is a faith that DOES something! We are all running the race of faith. In Hebrews 11, Moses teaches us how to run the race of faith. 3 Ways Faith Runs: 1.) Faith runs to God’s promises. 2.) Faith runs to heaven’s rewards. 3.) Faith runs to Kingdom risk. Moses’ parents chose to obey God's word over Pharaoh's. He learned from their example, and he ultimately chose...

Being faithful doesn’t mean life won’t be painful. All the faithful people listed in Hebrews 11 lived lives of profound pain and suffering. Real faith cannot be ruined by suffering. It’s refined by suffering. Faith is believing something is so, when it isn’t so, so it will be so, because God said it’s so. Faith is believing God will perform all that He’s promised. It’s trusting in what God has said no matter what you see. Abraham is the spiritual father of the faithful. He embodies the life...

We know Christ’s return is near because He and His apostles gave us signs to look for! The examples of Enoch and Noah in Hebrews 11 teach us how to live by faith in these last days. While the world rebelled against God, Noah and Enoch worshiped God. Because of their faith in God, they escaped His judgment. Noah and Enoch lived by faith as they obeyed God. Their lives and stories are prophetic pictures of the Church and the nation of Israel. • Enoch is a picture of us—the Church! Enoch was...

Hebrews 11 is commonly called the “Hebrews Hall of Faith.” The author illustrates what faith is using stories associated with some of the greatest names in Hebrew history. The way to God is never based on our works for God! The way to Him is always by putting our faith in Christ’s work for us. What faith is not: • Faith is not a feeling. It’s more than an emotion. • Faith is not empty religion or superstition. • Faith is more than merely wishful thinking. What faith is: • Faith is...

Hebrews 10:19-39 emphasizes both the blessings of salvation and the dangers of apostasy. It calls believers to draw near to God, hold fast to their confession, and consider one another in love. Key points to consider: 1.) What Every Christian Should Do: Draw near to God with a true heart and full assurance of faith (vs. 22). Hold fast to the confession of hope without wavering (vs. 23). Consider one another, stirring up love and good works (vs. 24). 2.) What Every Christian Should Not...

Under the Old Covenant, worshippers had only shadows that pointed to Christ—the substance of our salvation. The “shadow” of Christ and His blood—the blood of bulls and goats—could not take away sin! Christ’s victory over death and sin was made final on the cross. His sacrifice was better than any other sacrifice offered under the Levitical Law. Why is Christ the Better Sacrifice? 1.) The sacrifice is connected to the incarnation of God’s Son. 2.) The sacrifice is connected to the...

Religion is a distortion of redemption. Religion always turns the symbols of our salvation into the substance and the sources. The message of Hebrews is to stop putting your hope in the rituals and symbols and start putting your hope in the true sources of salvation—the reality of what Jesus did at Calvary! What did both the Old and New Covenants have in common? 1.) Both the Old and New Covenants were ratified by blood. 2.) The Old Testament saints were saved on the same basis as those in...

All the elements of the earthly tabernacle are a “shadow” of heavenly realities. The implements of worship under the Old Covenant were shadows pointing to Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross ushered in the New Covenant. There are several symbols in the Old Covenant that foreshadow the New Covenant. Shadows of the New Covenant as pictured by the Old Covenant: 1.) The Old Sanctuary. 2.) The Old Sacrifices. 3.) The Old Symbols. 3 things about the New Covenant as pictured by the Old: 1.)...

The Jewish followers of Jesus tried to embrace the New Covenant (Grace) while still hanging on to the Old Covenant (Law). Elements of the Old Covenant were merely “shadows” of the reality of the New Covenant. The contrasts between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant: 1.) We have a better Priest. 2.) We have a better Tabernacle. 3.) We have a better Mediator. 4.) We have better promises. How does the New Covenant make new and better promises? 1.) It is an internal covenant. 2.) It is a...

Hebrews 6:9-20 reminds us that Christ is the anchor for our souls. His character is immutable, and His promises are true because He cannot lie.  3 questions to ask yourself as you read this passage:  1.What am I anchoring my soul to?  If you are anchored to Christ, your life will produce this fruit:  Labor in love (vs. 10a)  Minister to the saints (vs. 10b)  Diligence and rejection of laziness (vs. 11)  Learning from and imitating other believers (vs. 12)  2. Is God a trustworthy...