In Jeremiah 35, God uses a small band of nomads as a living object lesson for the people of Judah. The Recabites - descendents of Jonadab, son of Recab - aren't Israelites & they aren't exactly normal either. But for generations, they've continued to rigorously adhere to the seemingly random commands of their forefather. Their ability to simply "trust and obey"...to live lives of faithful commitment seems to be exactly what God is looking for from His people.
The story of Ruth serves as an example of loyalty to Naomi, her mother-in-law, who is a vulnerable widow. But Ruth herself is vulnerable! Her vow to never leave Naomi involves Ruth leaving her past behind and facing an extremely risky future as an outsider. She serves as an example for Christians who live in an individualistic culture where anything that gets in the way of our personal interests is an obstacle to be eliminated.
Staging a house makes it look good so that just the right person will be impressed enough to buy it. The problem is a staged house loses all of its functionality. Churches can be staged as well. When we focus on how church looks, it’s easy to lose sight of the church’s function. Jesus clearly lays out the mission of the church in Matthew 16.
The resurrection of Jesus brings newness of life to the believer. This newness means that the Christian can start living eternal life by putting off the old self. In this message, Bob discusses ways that we can walk in newness without being burdened by the old life.
The earliest statements about the historical Jesus make clear not only that he died, but that he was crucified. In 1 Corinithians 1, Paul insists that the crucifixion was not merely a way of killing Jesus, but also a model of how God wants Christians to live. In this message, Bob details the gruesome nature of the crucifixion to help understand the significance of the suffering of Jesus.
We need to learn how to tell the difference between what we can control and what we cannot. In this passage, Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus gives at least 7 reasons why we should not over worry about things. In this sermon we focus on two. First, we need to learn how to let go of the things that are beyond our control. When we do so, we let the Holy Spirit work. Second, we need to stop waiting for the worst scenario. Jesus uses creation as an encouragement to wait for the best.
Rodney Plunket returns for a conversation with Bob about Mission, Calling, and Preaching, as well as reflection on how his time at White Station has shaped his view of Ministry.
The world has a terrible history of dividing people into arbitrary groups that do more harm than good. In this message, Monte Cox makes the case for treating people of other skin colors, Christian groups, world religions, and no faith in Jesus as people who are loved and sought by God.