We launched a new series on the church yesterday.  My first sermon was The Church: God’s Plan from Ephesians 2:18-22.   My hope through this series is that we’d have our eyes on the Gospel and all the corporate implications that are hard-wired into its realities.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

So Winter Storm Jupiter has come and gone here in Central KS.  It certainly affected a lot of things over the weekend.  Power was lost in certain places, snow, and travel difficulties happened.  We even cancelled services on Saturday so that our people wouldn’t feel compelled to get out in the middle of the mess.  In some ways, the storm under-delivered.  But, the storm brought all kinds of benefits to me:

1. I enjoyed my first Sunday out since the middle of June.  That’s right.  It’s been a long stretch of ministry on Sundays happening.  And, being able to step away for a weekend proved fairly refreshing.
2. We had some good family time at home.  Now, there was no big agenda.  Kids played on devices, watched movies, and read. We got out in the afternoon a bit to drive around and see how things were.  So, that was a fun family time.
3. All things considered we made the best decision.  I tend to beat myself up at times when a decision is made and can be second-guessed in hindsight, but the reality is that we were warned and asked to not travel unless it was necessary.  The storm could have packed a wallop that would have been problematic for us.  Using that data, we stepped into a decision with all the info we had to serve our people in the best way.  And, it was good.

I hope you survived the weekend.  And, I hope now that it’s ended, you can take time to consider ways that God extended kindness to you through it.  Have a great week.

My 1/8/17AM sermon from Crestview Bible Church entitled Meditate is now online.  The sermon wrapped up our church’s Week of Prayer by encouraging people to be those who take in God’s Word.  Specifically, I reminded my listeners that reading God’s Word doesn’t make you a believer in Jesus, you should probably slow down and meditate more, as well as showing how the Bible’s end game is equipping us for good works.

We had Small Group last night and used Paul Tripp’s article 5 Reasons to Read the Bible in 2017 in our discussion.  I hope your Sunday was profitable.

Christmas Eve is always one of our highlights at Crestview as we gather for Carols and Candlelight.  My short meditation on why Jesus was born is now online.   I hope you are encouraged and still drawing hope and encouragement from the amazing good news that Christmas brings our way.

My 12/25/16AM sermon, Tidings of Comfort AND JOY from Luke 1:26-45 and Luke 2:1-20, is now online.  This wrapped up a short series on how the Christmas message leads to tidings of comfort and joy.  This week’s message focused in on JOY.  I tried to define the concept of joy and help show how the Bible points us toward joy.  I hope it encourages you this holiday season.

My 12/18/16AM sermon, Tidings of Comfort using Matthew 1:18-25 as a guide, is now online.  My sermon is shorter than I typically preach.  It wrapped up the Children’s Christmas Program we had at Crestview in the morning.  Our children did an amazing job of centering us on the story of Christmas.  My words simply helped bring a conclusion to what they said.  Specifically, my message had to do with God coming near to save sinners.  I hope it encourages you to look to Christ this Advent season.

My 12/11/16AM sermon, Following Jesus from John 21:1-25, is now online, including Small Group Questions.  This sermon wrapped up my 37 sermons in the Gospel of John.  It’s been an amazing year walking with Jesus in this book.  This sermon pressed us to be followers of Him as we see who He is, He deals with our past, and focuses us on Him.  I hope it encourages you.

This past Sunday, I read the following prayer from the Austin Stone Story team related to Advent and the theme of love:

O GOD OF LOVE,

Stir our affections to the most radiant wonder in all of the world: the advent, the giving life and work in the person of your beloved Son, Christ Jesus.

He, the perfection of our eternal hope secured.

He, the glorious manifestation of exquisite, flawless, and transcendent love.

He, our Redeemer King.

When all creation groaned in plight, affliction, and death,

You gave us this holy night–

a newborn King,

a Prince of Peace, a heritage of hope.

When we feel unable to rise, too sluggish to respond, too content with the world’s shadows of satisfaction,

Steady our gaze on the cross,

Where Your inexhaustible, indestructible, all-consuming love is displayed,

Where Your perfect sacrifice paid the debt our sin accrued,

Where the light of Your love absorbed all darkness in us.

You have shown us love

from the beginning of time, through the ages, and for eternity forevermore.

We are saved, sealed, and satisfied

by Your love, through Your love, and for Your love.

O God, You are Love!

You are light and life, our greatest prize!

Your steadfast love is our eternal refuge.

You are our reason to worship.

Unabashedly, adoringly, with full voice and fervor we sing:

Praise be, to our God and King,

Our beloved, our fortress,

Our love and hope forevermore!

Amen.

 Saturate Conference

This past weekend, I went to Kearney, NE to take part in a Saturate Everyday conference.  Led by Jeff Vanderstelt, it was a deep dive in to the Gospel and how that shapes communities that are serious about reaching out in mission to their communities.  Jeff is not only someone who has thought a lot about these things.  He’s also someone who lives it.  His book, Saturate, and forthcoming Gospel Fluency, are good words on what it looks like to be Jesus’s disciple on mission.  I returned late Saturday night to preach on Sunday.

 Elder’s Retreat

Then, at 1PM Sunday afternoon, I left to go to Kansas City with our Elders.  We’re pictured here enjoying some KC barbecue.  Why do we get away?  Because while we pray each elder’s meeting, it often feels rushed.  Retreat allows us to take our time and pray through many issues.  Also, there are some things in church life that require longer discussions.  The month to month, week by week we do keeps us busy and often free from being able to think about bigger vision for ministry.  So, we try to get away regularly.  We got back yesterday in time for the Women’s Ministry Event at Crestview.

So, this was my weekend…how was yours?

My 12/4/16AM sermon, Peace Be With You from John 20:19-31, is now online.  The sermon got at the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus in which He propelled His followers outward, addressed their doubts, and called them to believe.  I hope this sermon encourages you and helps you stand in awe and wonder this Advent season.