St. John's UCC 6/19/24 St. John's UCC 6/19/24

The Blessing of a Spiritual Father

Ask God to guide you. Choose your model from Scripture and from life. As Hezekiah chose his spiritual father, so can you. And ask God to use you, to make you a spiritual father to those who need one.

St. John's UCC 6/12/24 St. John's UCC 6/12/24

Faith and Cynicism

May God help us as we move beyond cynicism as we focus on the greatness of God and our potential for good in our world.

St. John's UCC 6/5/24 St. John's UCC 6/5/24

God’s Spirit, God’s People on Mission, Pt. 2

God’s mission for his people is clear. He will empower us to the degree that we will fulfill his mission. How fully do you sense the Spirit at work in your life today?

St. John's UCC 5/29/24 St. John's UCC 5/29/24

Rest for Your Souls

Doesn’t finding rest for your soul sound much more appealing than bemoaning an inescapable state of busyness?

St. John's UCC 5/22/24 St. John's UCC 5/22/24

God’s Spirit, God’s People on a Mission

Many of us approach ministry and evangelism as though we are on trial; in fact, the Lord Jesus is on trial. You are the witness, called to the stand to share what you have experienced personally. The verdict is not up to you. Your job is simply to tell what you know.

St. John's UCC 5/15/24 St. John's UCC 5/15/24

Her Strength Comes from the Lord

What rainbows are you seeing in the clouds of distress and despair? Let the Good Shepherd be your rock and your anchor and trust in Him.

St. John's UCC 5/8/24 St. John's UCC 5/8/24

Overcoming Apathy and Indifference

Only the good shepherd, when we have a clear vision, primarily his love for us, can provide what we truly need. Over and over again, we need to plead: “Lord, remind me of how much you love me.”

St. John's UCC 5/1/24 St. John's UCC 5/1/24

Discovering Rest When You’re Exhausted Part 2

Listen to his invitation again: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30

St. John's UCC 4/25/24 St. John's UCC 4/25/24

Discovering Rest When You’re Exhausted, Part 1

Jesus was often busy but he was never in a hurry, because he knew exactly who he was, and he followed the lord and he was confident in his love with the father and that’s the way we can live as well. So, how is your pace, how are you doing? Would you describe your life as, yes, experiencing a lot of unrest, dis-ease, in your spirit?

St. John's UCC 4/18/24 St. John's UCC 4/18/24

Discovering Peace in Anxiety, Part 2

The grace of God has come to us and as the deer pants for the water our soul cries out to God because he has made us for himself and you will never find rest, until you turn to him and give your life to him.

St. John's UCC 4/10/24 St. John's UCC 4/10/24

Discovering Peace in Anxiety, Part I

Don’t be surprised when you have to reconstruct your friend group, constantly, during the seasons of life. You’ve got to stay faithful and reach out to others, this is God’s plan for you. We’re never meant to be alone and what happens with our mental illness and challenges that we face is that we tend to alienate and isolate ourselves. Don’t let it happen.

St. John's UCC 4/4/24 St. John's UCC 4/4/24

Is Easter Just Another Nice Holiday?

One day we’ll have his purpose, and peace, and power forever. Not just for Easter, but for every day. We need him every day. And we can have him, every day.

St. John's UCC 3/28/24 St. John's UCC 3/28/24

Come to Christ, the King of Peace

We’re longing for, we hungering for a better world. Everybody knows it, believer or not, the world is broken. We’re like a fish out of water, gasping for air, we know that this is not what it’s supposed to be. So even our grief is an expression of faith.

St. John's UCC 3/21/24 St. John's UCC 3/21/24

The Passion of the Christ is You

He chose to die, for you. Before he made you, he knew he would die for you. That’s how much he loves you. The passion of the Christ is you.

St. John's UCC 3/14/24 St. John's UCC 3/14/24

Pouring Out Our Hearts in Prayer

May our attitude in prayer be laced with confidence, boldness, and humility as we come before the Father.

St. John's UCC 3/7/24 St. John's UCC 3/7/24

When Prayer Becomes Idolatry

The only way to living this out is not simply by doing the right things, but doing the right things for the right reasons.

St. John's UCC 2/29/24 St. John's UCC 2/29/24

Living Water

We are surrounded by a world that is either trying to drink sand or despairing that they are thirsty creatures living in a universe with no water. And we – you and I – often join them in doing the same things: whether filling our mouths with sand or despairing of our hopeless condition. So let us come to Christ by having compassion on those around us and be conduits of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is what Christ has called us to. This is the gift that God has given us. Amen.

St. John's UCC 2/22/24 St. John's UCC 2/22/24

Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil, Part II

We need to declare war against sin in our lives. Explore your sources of strength, what do you have in your arsenal? How are you putting on the whole armor of God? Who is your accountability partner or confidant who will encourage you, help you to see your blind spots and one who you trust and talk about your struggles or mistakes in your life?

St. John's UCC 2/15/24 St. John's UCC 2/15/24

Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil

So who do we fight? We fight the devil and the satanic forces that are at work in our lives. Living in this awareness of the enemy is essential to a thriving Christian life.

St. John's UCC 2/7/24 St. John's UCC 2/7/24

And Forgive Us Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors

As Jesus was nailed to the cross, he prayed that God would forgive the people that were killing him. Among those were you and me. Jesus wants us to live forgiven and to forgive. Who do you need to forgive today?

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