Nathaniel From Timfam

Is religion about being a good person? If so, why did an entire nation fail because of something else entirely? Not politics, not economics, and not even morality. 2 Kings 17, especially 7-37.

In 1 Kings 21, powerful officials use a weak system to take advantage of a citizen. The failure of corruption destroys not only the citizen, but eventually the officials too. Where is justice? At the cross.

Everyone deals with sadness, failure and struggles in life. We should reflect on those failures and how we feel. When we do that, we've got to learn to separate how we feel about ourselves (despairing of ourselves) from how we feel about life in general. Elijah teaches us.  1 Kings 19

The story of Abraham and Abimelek, Genesis 20:1-18. Abraham did not just tell a version of the story. He himself first believed a version of the story. That was the start of his failure. 

God's response to the spiritual crisis in our lives is not to say he is done with us, or to get rid of us, but to do a new thing for us. He turns sin into our salvation. He turns death into our deliverance. He makes the broken into a blessing.  Isaiah 43:16-24 

You can't be encouraged without facing the reality of who you are and what is going on. That's why Jesus' encouragement always says woes and difficulties. Then he has opened up his heart and poured it out, so our hearts can be full.  Enjoy Luke 6:17-27

Land can be more than just a place to call home or make a living. Land can be a symbol of something far greater. Land is a place where God lives and God's people live with him. 

It stinks to go it alone when there are so many difficult things to do in life, and nothing is better at giving us a great group of people to work with than a just judge. 

God envisions a new way for us to handle our finances. It's not equality of opportunity or equality of outcome. It's economic impartiality. It's driven by the judgment that Jesus experienced for us, so that everyone benefits, no matter what we've done. Enjoy James 2:1-13. 

There is a certain kind of good that Christians do. It's not driven by a need for acceptance or approval. It's driven by a rich appreciation of everything God has done. It's gospel good. 

We can bring one thing with us in a messy, chaotic, and troubled world that will really make a difference. The gospel can turn this upside down world back around. Let's bring the gospel with us this fall! 

Whether we are single or married, God warns us about hard hearts. With hard hearts, we are not whole people - we're frustrated, bitter, and hurt. God wants to make two people into one, which is the same thing he does for one. He makes us one whole person. Let's pursue that and enjoy it. 

If we follow Jesus, there are consequences. We can see that from Jesus himself. He died for bringing good news. We've can be ready to endure whatever consequences come our way because Christ experienced the worst consequences for us. 

Jesus brings his new kingdom with his life, death and resurrection. It's a life of forgiveness, deliverance, and renewal. Since he has fed our souls, we join him in his new work.  A sermon on Mark 6:30-44

A great group is amazing - motivated by a common cause, united around a common creed, developed by common tactics - a great group impacts people. The greatest group is gathered by a supernatural spirit. God gathers such a group. 

Safety is an understandable, basic human need. We want to be physically and emotionally safety. Jesus does not deny this need. He risks everything he is and has for us, so that we are guaranteed an eternal safety. What risk will you take? 

Love is the most important or essential part of our security. It's the one thing, more than anything else, that enables actual living. Only the love of Jesus - a love that is so great that he calls us friends - is great enough to fill our lives. John 15:9-17

Sometimes nonreligious people are better at doing good than even religious people. Simon recognizes the incredible power of the Holy Spirit and he wants it. But only the power of the Holy Spirit in him can change him so that the Holy Spirit works through him. 

The story of Easter, the story of the death and the resurrection of Jesus, is the one story that speaks to all of us. Jesus both confronts us and raises us up through it. No one is excluded. We can all celebrate this story.