Main Point and Overview:   The Apostle Paul knew from the beginning that when Jesus called him to Gospel ministry, his purpose would include great suffering. In fact, every time he suffered, he used it as a catalyst for preaching the Gospel. He didn’t see comfort or security as his top priority. Some may say that he was reckless in how he lived; I prefer to say that he was relentless in what he be...  Read More

James 2:1“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”Favoritism. As a grandmother, I know I’m not supposed to have favorites, BUT... last week, one of the grands guessed my age to be 41. That grand just might be my favorite! That’s a fun story, but there is another, and I have some regrets about it. It took place a quarter-century ago on a cold, ...  Read More

Galatians 3:8We’ve all heard the saying “There is something for everyone.” The implication is that everyone will find something that suits them. It is often a tag line for an amusement park or a movie. Sadly, modern churches are promoting the same message, conforming to cultural norms for the sake of being popular and accepted. I prefer to look at the Gospel, God’s plan, as “one thing for everyone...  Read More

Luke 2:8-10 When Debbie and I were first married, she accompanied me on a Wyoming hunting trip. We were hunting mule deer on a cattle and sheep ranch that encompassed more than 150,000 acres. This was in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and was beautiful country. As we were entering a large, several-hundred-acre pasture, a herd of sheep heard us opening the gate and came racing over the hill l...  Read More

Acts 17Have you ever had to stand your ground against a group of people who don’t agree with you? Maybe it was arguing why the Lions are the greatest football team to ever exist against your entire family, who are tired of watching them lose year after year. Maybe you’re a die-hard fan of pineapple on pizza, but your spouse and kids can’t stand it. Maybe you value going to church on Sunday, and yo...  Read More

Acts 15 Have you ever played a board game with “house rules”? Each board game gives you a clear list of instructions on how to play the game exactly as it was made. A “house rule” is when someone adds a rule, takes away a rule, or changes a current rule. A common house rule in Monopoly is that any time you have to pay a tax or fee, the money goes to the middle of the board. If you land on the Free...  Read More