July 17, 2025 |
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 ESV). What if the goal of communication wasn’t just to be heard—but to become one? This Sunday, we’re launching a new 4-week teaching series called “Family Talk.” In a world where communication is often loud but
July 10, 2025 |
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24 (ESV) After sixteen weeks of walking verse by verse through the greatest sermon ever preached, this Sunday we’ll hear Jesus’ final words in the Sermon on the Mount. If
March 24, 2024 | Luke 23:32-46 |
Although Christ entered Jerusalem on a Sunday to adoring crowds waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matt. 21:9), Christ exited Jerusalem on a Friday to an angry crowd shaking their fists and yelling, “Crucify him!” The crowds in Jerusalem were divided in their response to Jesus. They had different views of Jesus and took different sides. The message of Christ and His cross still divides people today. It still calls people to choose sides.
You and I weren’t in Jerusalem when Jesus made his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday 2,000 years ago. Nor were we there when He was hung on a cross between two criminals. We may not have been there, but the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross calls all of us to answer: “Which side of the cross are you on?”
In the gospel according to Luke, he recorded that Jesus was crucified between two criminals, one on the right side and one on the left side. They were both criminals facing death, both seeing and hearing how Jesus faced death. Yet they chose different views of the cross of Christ. They chose different sides. We are faced with the same choice. Which side of the cross will you choose?
March 14, 2022 |
Pastor Gary Combs responds to a question about a recent One Year Bible reading. The question is from the reading in Leviticus 23, concerning the “Feast of Weeks.” This feast is also called the Feast of Harvest. The question was: “Isn’t the Festival of Harvest a fall festival? Whereas Jesus was crucified after Passover in
February 5, 2022 |
Pastor Gary Combs responds to a question about this week’s One Year Bible readings. He responds to a question about why many of the 1st Century followers of Jesus thought he was a prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah raised from the dead.
April 2, 2020 |
“And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” (Luke 22:15 ESV). This coming Sunday begins what many Christians call Holy Week or Passion Week. It is called “Passion” week because of its connection to the Greek word πάσχω (pas’-kho), which means to feel heavy emotion or passion,
March 23, 2018 |
“And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” (Luke 22:15 ESV). This coming Sunday begins what many Christians call Holy Week or Passion Week. It is called “Passion” week because of its connection to the Greek word πάσχω (pas’-kho) which is usually translated as “suffer” in the
December 15, 2017 |
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:10-11 (NKJV) The wise
November 3, 2017 |
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” – Galatians 5:6 (ESV). “Neither moral exertion nor moral failure counts. Period.” – Tim Keller, Galatians For You The apostle Paul wrote that the only thing that counts is “faith working through love.” Neither circumcision [representing legalism, which
September 1, 2017 |
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3 (NLT) Welcome to the “Selfie” Generation! We live in a culture that encourages us to focus on self-worth, self-improvement, and self-esteem. Our self-image seems to be more important to us than a true sense of health