"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."John 15:18The world will hate us. That's not a possibility, it is a certainty. We don't need to try and make the world hate us. Jesus isn't giving us permission to posture adversarially toward the world. He isn't giving us an excuse to be combative and offensive. He is simply stating the fact that his kingdom and his gospel ar...  Read More

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."John 15:5John 15 slows me down. I hate it. My mind is frenetic. My heart is busy. My inner world is urgent. But all of this is toward nothing specific. And the language of "abiding" is a broom stick in the spoke of my life as it speeds by Jesus.To abide is ...  Read More

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”John 14:1A Solution To Our ProblemsOur hearts being troubled in this world is nothing new. How could it be otherwise? This world is troubling after all, if we are paying any attention. What is new, from Jesus here, is a way to deal with the trouble that surrounds us and arises within us.Our default way through the trouble of thi...  Read More

“... and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. ”John 14:16-17There is a sort of echo in John 14:16 of Proverbs 9:10. Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Jesus particularizes that thought as if to...  Read More

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."Colossians 4:2At the beginning of the year James cast a vision for 2020. Of course, he had no idea what this year would bring but, we never know that. He started with this verse in Colossians 4 through v. 6 and urged us to stay low, stick together, and make disciples. Staying low is about humbling ourselves before God; seekin...  Read More

This entire section of Scripture is so profound and deep. Meditating on each idea is a worthy use of our time. Today, though, I can't help but zero in on v. 34-35."A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."Let's take it by each phrase....  Read More

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”— Jesus, John 14:1This world is troubling. It's troubling on many levels in fact. In John 14:1, Jesus offers himself as a way to untrouble us in the midst that which is troubling. My desire to enter into a week-long media fast this week, and to invite you into that with me, is to take John 14:1 seriously. These are troubling day...  Read More

Here we are on day 1 of a week-long media fast. I've received some questions seeking to clarify what qualifies as "media" in this media fast. I don't take that to be people trying to get around the spirit of exercise, but more a recognition of how media-laced our lives are. So, for my part, I'm trying to abstain from all unhealthy media use which busies my soul with the cares of this world and sab...  Read More

Joe Hwang and Rachel Furnish are two of the most evangelistically gifted people in our church family. They love Jesus, love the gospel, love people and love obeying Jesus as ambassadors of Christ. Here is a story of what the Spirit is leading Rachel and the Hwangs into together:https://youtu.be/Rms7r9VqSTY...  Read More

Due to COVID-19, we have not gathered in person for church since early March. Because we rent a school, when and how we are able to begin gathering again is not ultimately up to us. As we continue to wait things out and explore other alternatives, we are ready to begin gathering together responsibly for worship and fellowship on Sundays. As of June 14 we will continue to stream our Sunday service,...  Read More

We want to create a forum to serve and equip parents during this ongoing season. Plus, Adam is just funny and entertaining so please watch this informational video....  Read More

Three things have coalesced to create this post.I preached yesterday on Psalm 124 and stated within my introduction that in many ways, gospel ministry is a ministry of reminder. The entire message was framed as four important reminders; the whole context of the Songs of Ascent we're walking through is the spiritual renewal around festivals of remembrance. Those ideas are one piece of this post.Ano...  Read More