Thanksgiving Rest
God created us with a need for rest, which the curse and our culture have magnified, and we should use Thanksgiving as a chance to receive God’s gift of rest.
Genesis 1:31-2:3
Authentic Faith In A World Of Illusion
We must resist this fallen world, remembering that authentic, eternal life and joy Is found in God, not in this fading evil order of illusion that is passing away.
1 John 2:15-17
Living A Blessed Life In The iWorld
The blessed life for which we were created is not found in the technology of the iWorld and the glow of its screens but in the Presence of God and real human relationships.
Psalm 20:7
Real Relationships In A Cyberspace World
We were created for real, physical, face to face relationships, but the iWorld encourages relationships mediated by various forms of technology.
2 John 12; 3 John 13-14
Community In An Individualistic World
We are called to community, serving one another and putting the needs of the community ahead of our own, but the iWorld encourages radical individualism.
Philippians 2:4
Restrained In An Indulgent World
Christians are called to a life of self-denial and bearing the cross in order to follow Jesus, but the iWorld encourages a life of indulgence and instant gratification.
Luke 9:23
Resting In A Relentless World
We need consistent times to rest and remember redemption, but the iWorld is relentless in its opportunities and demands, giving no room for this.
Mark 2:27
Enduring In A Transient World
We are called to live for that which endures – things which have been passed down for generations, and which should be passed on to generations to come. But we live in a world of perpetual novelty, which is dominated by the trendy and the trivial, and is often disdainful of that which has gone before.
Psalm 78:1-8
Focused In A Distracted World
Walking with God requires us to give focused, sustained reflection to God, His Word, our lives, and the world in which we live. But we live in a world of constant distractions, making sustained, focused reflection and living very difficult.
Luke 10:38-42
Idolatry In the iWorld
Christians must be vigilant to keep themselves from Idols – anything we look to in place of God, assigning it god-like powers to give us what should be sought in God alone. Idolatry is rampant in the iWorld, and is concentrated in and perpetuated by technology.
1 John 5:21
Contextualizing Without Conforming
We are called to engage our current culture, contextualizing the Gospel so that it will be accessible to our friends, but we must be aware of the unique but ever present dangers that come with each culture, age and technology, understanding the world will always try to seduce our hearts away from Christ and the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Called To Citizenship
Christians are called to serve God in their nation and culture, submitting to their leaders, and serving in the government and wider culture with unbelievers to promote the common good, always remembering that their true home is the new heavens and the new earth.
Romans 13:1-7; Jeremiah 29:4-7; Philippians 3:20-21
Understanding Our Calling
Calling refers to the specific tasks and responsibilities given to us by God, through which God works to serve our neighbors and promote the common good, restraining the effects of the curse and bringing blessing to every realm of life and every corner of creation.
1 Peter 4:10-11; Jeremiah 29:4-7
Living as Citizens of Two Kingdoms
Christians are citizens of the common kingdom because they are humans, but they are also citizens of the redemptive kingdom because they have been born again in Christ, and they must never confuse or merge these kingdoms. John 17:14-18 Reading: Psalm 47:1-9 Listen to the teaching Look at the teaching […]
The Call, Christians, and Culture
Our primary identity comes from God’s call placing us in Christ, but He has also given each of us individual calls – a particular mixture of desires, gifts, talents, responsibilities, relationships, and opportunities that we receive from God and develop and nurture throughout life to allow each of us to love and serve God and our neighbor.
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Dare To Be A Daniel: Living As God’s Sojourning Exiles
Daniel serves as an example of how God sojourning exile people are to remain distinct in their faith and worship yet labor with unbelievers in the common kingdom, in order that God may use us to draw people into His redemptive kingdom.
Daniel 1
God’s Sojourning Exile People (Part 1)
In this age Christians are sojourning exiles, serving with unbelievers in our common kingdom and culture, as we long for our heavenly home.
Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16
Christian Support of Politics and the Law
A video answering the question of whether or not Christians should/can support unbiblical political positions or laws.
The Law of Moses and Civil Government
The Mosaic covenant of law was given to Israel for life in the promised land and was never intended as the basis for government in the common kingdom, and even its function within the people of God has changed with the new covenant.
Deuteronomy 31:9-13
Giving Caesar His Due
Government has been given by God as part of the common kingdom of man to promote justice and maintain order, and Christians are called to pray for and submit to their government whenever possible.
Romans 13: 1-7
The Lord of the Rings – Understanding Sphere Sovereignty
Government has been given by God as part of the common kingdom of man to promote justice and maintain order, and Christians are called to pray for and submit to their government whenever possible.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
A Tale of Two Kingdoms (Part 2)
After the fall, God instituted a distinction between the kingdom of man, the realm of common grace ruled through general revelation, and the kingdom of God, the realm of saving grace ruled through special revelation.
Romans 2:14-15
A Tale of Two Kingdoms (Part 1)
After the fall, God instituted a distinction between the kingdom of man, the realm of common grace ruled through general revelation, and the kingdom of God, the realm of saving grace ruled through special revelation, in order to preserve the human race and redeem His people.
John 18:33-36
Creation, Culture, and the Curse
Humans were created to cultivate culture by ruling and developing God’s creation, but the fall caused significant changes in creation and necessitated redemption.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-17; 3:14-20
God’s Heart for Crisis Pregnancies
God has a heart of compassion towards crisis pregnancies, both for the unborn child and the woman.
Proverbs 24:11-12