Posts by Pastor John (Page 2)

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Luke 11:1-2 NKJV Jesus’ first words were Our Father. He wanted the 12 and all who would come after to know that God truly is our Father and that we are to surrender our lives to our God who deeply loves us. We are to hallow His name because He is holy, and He is God! How do…

  We are Christ-followers (Disciples of Jesus / Empowered by the Holy Spirit / Living His Word /Set apart for Him / To make new disciples by), boldly reaching out to proclaim his transforming love, so that all may know and follow Him. Our whole purpose is to honor and adore the Living Lord! “Therefore, … since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us…

Olivia Craker Metcalf, the author of this year’s Advent devotional reminded me of an old chorus based on Psalm 119:105 that reads, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”.  Maybe you remember it, and if you do, and if you’re like me, you’re now singing it either out loud or quietly within yourself. Either way, I HOPE it is bringing you joy and a smile on your face like it did for me.…

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42-43   One of my many joys of ministry is when brothers and sisters in Christ come together for fellowship, breaking of some bread, prayer, and sharing truths that the Holy Spirit has revealed to them as they read and study God’s Word together. Such is the case every Tuesday as the church staff gathers to discuss our ministries, break…

“Everything we say and do, everything we commit ourselves to, and every situation, location, and relationship we experience is experienced between the already and the not yet. You will never understand the things you face every day until you understand that you live in the middle. Everything in your life is shaped by what the middle is like. Knowing that you are living between the already and the not yet tells you where you are located in God’s story of…

Exodus 20:1-3 20:1 “And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”  Most commentators believe this is God speaking directly to all the people! Hebrews 12:18-25 supports that thought. “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a…