a word from the pastor

The Danger of Legalism

“And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:10 It is ever a caution to us that Jesus’ main opponents were religious people. It’s as tragic as it is ironic that those thought to be the most holy in Israel, the scribes and Pharisees, ended up hating...
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Go Tell It on the Mountain

John Wesley Work, Jr. originally published “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, but it is not known whether he wrote the African-American spiritual or if it came down to him through oral tradition. One thing is clear: the Lord certainly intended the birth of his Son to be known since He announced it wit...
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Before You Read Your Bible

The best way to prepare for your day is to start with time spent with the Lord, in his Word and in prayer. But even this requires preparation--preparation of the heart. Now, I’m assuming every mature believer is in the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer. If you don’t practice this, it’s time...
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Behind Enemy Lines - Part 2

Last week my subject involved spiritual warfare to remind us how we as Christians in this world are in enemy territory. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19) The New Testament calls us to vigilance as we seek to fight the good fight of faith and stand against the sche...
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Behind Enemy Lines - Part 1

My wife and I recently watched the miniseries “Band of Brothers”, a World War II drama based on the Stephen Ambrose book by the same name. In one episode it’s pointed out to Captain Winters, the main character, that they’re surrounded by the enemy. He cooly responds, “We’re paratroopers, we’re su...
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Why Christianity Is "Fair Game" for Critics

A number of years ago Richard Dawkins was cancelled from speaking at an event sponsored by Berkeley’s KPFA radio. The station cited Dawkins’ offensive and hurtful language against Islam as the reason which was being contested by Dawkins and other supporters. The evolutionary biologist and best-se...
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Allaying Doubt

Over my 45 years of ministry I have encountered a number of young people who have struggled with doubt about their salvation. This is not uncommon, as many believers will experience some form of doubt. However, in many of these cases, a childhood experience of faith has become fuzzy in their memo...
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Have the Conversation

Much has been reported on the mass exodus of today’s youth from the church. According to Lifeway Research: “Two-thirds (66 percent) of American young adults who attended a Protestant church regularly for at least a year as a teenager say they also dropped out for at least a year between the ages ...
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What God Wants for Christmas

“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 In this section of Proverbs, Solomon is warning his son against the temptation to indulge the flesh. He advises the young man to keep his eyes to wisdom’s path because, as the following verses clearly state, there ...
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Signs of Spiritual Growth

Peter’s exhortation to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) implies that spiritual maturity is something for which we all must strive. The Apostle Paul committed himself to the church at Philippi “for their progress and joy in the faith.” (Philippians 1:25) In...
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