70 results found

Ask the Pastor – 3/14/22

March 14, 2022 | ask the pastor, Christ, feast of weeks, festivals, fulfillment, Jewish feasts, pentecost

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

Ask the Pastor – 02/05/2022

February 5, 2022 | ask the pastor, Christ, jesus, one year bible, prophet, son of god

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.

Daily Devotions for Passion Week 2020

April 2, 2020 | Christ, easter, Holy Week, jesus, palm Sunday, Passion Week, resurrection

“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,

A reading plan for Passion Week

March 23, 2018 | Christ, crucifixion, empty tomb, jesus, palm Sunday, Passion Week, Passion week reading plan, suffering

“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

Three gift ideas for Jesus’ birthday

December 15, 2017 | Christ, christmas, christmas offering, gifts, missions, offering

“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

The only thing that counts is…

November 3, 2017 | Christ, faith, legalism, license, licentiousness, love, Spirit

“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

Moving from selfie to healthy

September 1, 2017 | Christ, community, friendship, God, health, oneness, selfie, selfishness, spiritual

“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

Giving good gifts at Christmas

December 22, 2016 | Christ, christmas, gifts, God, jesus

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11 (ESV) How do you celebrate Christmas? Decorations, lights, a tree, special foods and candies… I’m

Questions about Rockin’ Christmas?

December 16, 2016 | Christ, christmas, Gary Combs, God, gospel, mission, outreach, Rockin Christmas

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those

The joy and sorrow of cross cultural ministry

June 24, 2016 | Christ, church, church growth, cross cultural ministry, God, gospel, hispanic, jesus, nations

“And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27 ESV). I’m a little sad. We recently had to close the door on our Hispanic ministry. We launched our Spanish-speaking worship services on Easter Sunday 2012 and within two