Stay awake
Advent is the season of preparation—preparing to remember Christ’s first coming at Christmas. As we begin this season, though, we are reminded that our true preparation is for his second coming which we continue to wait for. Today, though, the focus is less on what we are waiting for, but how we should wait.
Hope, inheritance, and power
I’m sure we can all agree that unity is a good thing to strive for in any context, but especially the church, but we’re historically terrible at maintaining it. It is faith in Christ that truly unites the church and gives us hope.
Risk and reward
Last week, we heard the Parable of the Ten Virgins. This week, we have the Parable of the Talents. We can take three main points from the parable today: the master trusts the servants; fear cripples while faith produces; faith involves risk.
Ready and waiting
Jesus tells a series of parables about what will happen on Judgment Day and how God will sort the righteous from the unrighteous. Like anything to do with the end times, the parable of the ten virgins (or ten bridesmaids) is both a warning and a promise.
Back to basics
500 years after the Reformation, we are still susceptible to the same temptations: taking control of God’s Church and our salvation. As we commemorate the Reformation, let’s return to the truth of God’s Word and trust in Him to save us and sustain His holy people.
Who gave you the right?
When Jesus’ authority is challenged, He shows His wisdom that reveals who He really is—the Son of God sent into the world. He then goes a step further to show His opposers just what it means to reject Him as the Son of God in the parable.
Freedom in faith
In Romans 14, St. Paul provides some helpful advice for a group of Christians who are finding it hard to get along because of their differences in opinion. Sound familiar?
How to gain your brother
Jesus often speaks in riddles and cryptic language, but not today. Here, He offers some practical advice for resolving conflict and encourages us with His promise to be present, even with all our issues.
The counter-cultural cross
The cross of Jesus is counter-cultural in almost every way. Christians are called to carry their own crosses, going against the grain just as much.
The kingdom of heaven
The kingdom of heaven (or the kingdom of God) is hidden, it is more valuable than anything else, and it is available to us.