The God of Creation and Re-Creation

Have you ever noticed the unmistakable similarities between the beginning of the book of Genesis and the beginning of the book of John? Take a moment to examine both passages and notice the similarities: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The...

Earned by God and Given to Us

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV In these two verses, the apostle Paul tells us that salvation is a “gift of...

Welcome: Sinners Only

Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and...

The Only Resolution You Need

It’s the first week of the new year — a time when everyone takes a moment to reflect on last year and make a list, at least mentally, of things they would like to do differently this year. Most of us call these lists our new year’s resolutions. Up...

The Definition of True Worship

Worship. A word we hear and use all the time, but most of us do not fully understand. Just what does it mean to worship? We so quickly say that we go to church on Sunday to worship God, but what does it really mean to worship God? If we are not really sure what it...

Created for Now or Eternity

One of the main things I have come to understand in life is this: belief determines behavior. Now, not all of our behavior flows directly from our beliefs, for each of us can be very good at behaving irrationally at times. But, for the most part, our behavior flows...