04.06.21 Feed

DON’T BECOME COMPLACENT

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, much ink has been spent warning about a 4th wave if we become complacent and let our guard down on all the COVID protocols. But I’m not here to write about masks, actually I’m talking about the days after Easter. You see, our Christian tradition is to put all our focus on Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, and the crescendo of it all – Easter Sunday. But then come’s Monday, and now Tuesday. And like an athlete after the biggest game of the year, it’s easy to become complacent and stop all the good habits we formed preparing our hearts for Easter.

But what if this year you changed that narrative? What if, instead of seeing Easter as an ending, you saw it as a beginning to live life as a new creation? What if you stopped allowing the never-ending news cycle to control your feelings and instead grounded your life in a never wavering trust in Jesus? And what if this week you put new habits in place to allow this flourishing spiritual life you established before Easter to become your New Normal? Jesus wants this relationship to keep growing. Stay the course.

Monday after Easter

Easter is a beginning, not an ending.
It’s THE beginning, the fresh start all of our hearts long for. It isn’t about fluffy bunnies and pastel colors — it’s about the radical death, relentless love, and revolutionary power of our God. Read More…

Faith That Persists Above Feelings

Part of having a relationship with Jesus means spending time regularly to connect. Rick Warren writes a thought provoking daily devotional you can have sent to your inbox. Yesterday’s devotional challenges you to not allow your feelings to drive your faith. Take a look and perhaps you will want to subscribe.

Death to Life

A message about Jesus’ “Woes” to the pharisees is an unusual Easter message, but when you preach Easter EVERY year, sometimes you want to change it up. If you’re longing for a traditional Easter message, check out one of my favorites from 2015. Read the Message.

Relationship is Better

Message Discussion Questions

We hope the message from each Sunday sticks with you beyond the Sunday morning worship service. Take a moment to consider the questions below, and even better, talk to somebody (who attends the church or doesn’t) about them.

1. Why do you think some could be drawn to religion (right beliefs, behavior, rituals, etc.) over a relationship with Jesus?
2. Why do you think Jesus was so hard and confrontational with the religious leaders in Matthew 23?
3. As Jesus critiqued religion, do any of his critiques surprise you? If so, so why or why not?
4. Of the problems of religion Jesus pointed out, what do Christians today need to be most aware of (or are tempted by) and why? (Religion burdens, brags, blinds, busies, buries)
5. What can you do to make sure you don’t fall into the trap of religion?

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