85 results found

Come over to Uganda

June 6, 2014 | Africa, Christ, Gary Combs, God, help, jesus, missions, prayer, Uganda

“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” (Acts 16:9 ESV). We’re leaving for Uganda tomorrow. Robin and I are joining several WCCers and members from other churches to respond to Ugandan Pastor George Mbonye’s call to

Have you learned the secret of contentment?

May 30, 2014 | Christ, contentment, Gary Combs, God, jesus, joy, peace, stress, worry

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him

The sincere faith of my mother and grandmother

May 9, 2014 | Christ, faith, Gary Combs, God, grandmother, jesus, mother, mother's day, mothers, sincere faith

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV). The church of my youth had annual revival services. We would often have an evangelist come and share how God had miraculously saved

My hope is built on nothing less

April 18, 2014 | Christ, easter, Gary Combs, God, hope, jesus, living hope, Lord, resurrection

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV). “My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare

Reading through Passion Week

April 10, 2014 | Bible readings, Christ, crucifixion, easter, Gary Combs, God, Good Friday, jesus, palm Sunday, Passion Week, 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 to “suffer” in the

Birds don’t worry

March 28, 2014 | anxiety, birds, Christ, consumerism, Gary Combs, God, jesus, materialism, value, worry, worship

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into

What’s in an honorific?

March 21, 2014 | bible, Christ, Gary Combs, God, honor, honorific, jesus, love, polite, respect

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10 ESV). The Bible teaches us to honor God and to honor one another. This is an expression of the kind of love that God both commands and instills. We cannot keep the command to love and honor one another without God’s empowerment.

The discipline of celebration

March 14, 2014 | asceticism, celebration, Christ, Dallas Willard, discipleship, discipline, Gary Combs, gnosticism, God, jesus, thanksgiving

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). The apostle Paul instructed his young protégé Timothy to stand against the false teaching of asceticism that plagued first century Ephesus. Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various worldly pleasures, often with the aim

Why support the Church?

March 7, 2014 | Christ, church, Donald Miller, Gary Combs, God, support, WCC, Wilson Community Church

“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-16 ESV). “Let us hold fast

Why then the law?

February 21, 2014 | ceremonial law, Christ, civil law, Gary Combs, God, gospel, grace, jesus, law, lawful, moral law, Mosaic law, unlawful

“Why then the law?” (Galatians 3:19a ESV). “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully” (1 Timothy 1:8 ESV). Last week, we started a new sermon series through Paul’s first epistle to Timothy. We encountered a phrase in 1 Timothy 1:8 about the “lawful” use of the law. Apparently, the