But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.What you have is all you’ll ever get. And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.Your self will not satisfy you for long.And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it. “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.
Don't...
1. Drown in the shallow-end of believing our own hype and press because your temporary resource supply appears to be limitless.
2. Drown in the shallow-end of believing that our ego is the extent of our psychological, emotional and most importantly spiritual needs - the idol of the 21st century culture is the self.
3. Drown in the shallow-end living only for the party and not the press of living into the radical refinement of the Reign of GOD - life isn't just about a good time, life is about purpose.
4. Drown in the shallow-end of people's empty flattery, which might gas us up, but is often a result of our inability to tell the truth; truth-tellers are persecuted by those who enjoy false narratives.
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July 14, 2023
In Christ, we are blessed by association because having a relationship with Christ is based on the authenticity of our faith. We have a shared identity with the Redeemer, and because of this we are blessed with both eternal provision.
continue readingThere are 2 critical things we need to do to ensure we are caring for ourselves during this radically challenging season:1. Practice holistic self-care 2. Invest in and care for others
continue readingAs disciples we have a personal responsibility to inspect what we produce.
continue readingThe blessing in the text is not regulated to the reality of the hearers' experiences but revealed through relationship with the Teacher; the blessing is in the Person, Jesus. In other words, Jesus is letting these hungry and weeping hearers know that their change is connected to accessing the words He is giving them.
continue readingSermon 1 in this series will tackle the Lucan Beatitudes with the goal of bringing these words of blessing back to earth a bit. I do not know about anyone else, but I desire to know that the blessings of the Lord, the fulfillment of the Lord and the goodness of the Lord are not just regulated to the great by and by, but that as a citizen of the realm of GOD I can access the blessed life even while passing through this rocky world.
continue readingWe are called to move from a premise of revenge to operating as agents of restoration which is difficult and counter to our natural inclinations of paying others back for the wrong they have done toward us.
continue readingThese are the ways I prepare for the floods of life: 1. I have to have a relationship with Jesus that surpasses flattery and is founded on a resilient faith - yes there are many of us who specialize in religious language but do not yield to a redemptive relationship with Jesus.
continue reading"We are Loving, Living and Serving for the Sake of Jesus Christ"
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