The most foundational doctrine of Christianity is that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the son of God and the son of man. He was virgin born, conceived by the Holy Spirit. This does not mean God came down and was sexually intimate with Mary. It means it is a miraculous conception.

Main Points:

1. The virgin birth reveals the deity of Jesus. If Jesus is not God, then he could not save us. And if Jesus did not save you, you are still lost in your sins.

2. Jesus was born as a man because he had to be a man to be our true representative on the cross. He had to be God because He is the only one capable of saving us.

3. Do not let anyone tell you the doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ is not an essential belief. It is absolutely essential. The virgin birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy and promise of God and it reveals the deity of our Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 1:14 - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Isaiah 7:14 - “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

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I’m convinced that one of Satan’s strategies is to cause us to get stuck in the “why” question. As humans, we want to understand. We want everything to be logical and rational. When life is hard we don’t want to lean on faith, we want to stand on reason.

Main Points:

1. The Christian life is a journey of faith. Our knowledge is limited. I can’t see and know everything about God and His ways. This present life won’t always make sense to me. Neither will God and His plans. But I get to choose whether I will trust Him or not.

2. But there is a better question than “why”. Instead of asking why, we must move on to the question of “what now?” I like asking, “God, what do you want me to learn from this experience? What do I need to do to experience a greater measure of your peace and comfort? How can my faith be stronger? In which ways can I grow in my faith? How can I use this experience to help others?

3. When you are going through a difficult season, it’s easy to experience a bit of spiritual amnesia. As we focus on the present difficulty, it’s common to forget all the things God has already done for us. But I’m confident that if you begin to reflect on your life, you’ll see evidence of the goodness of God. Make a list and write down the many ways God has blessed your life.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Genesis 3:5 - “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Psalm 145:9 - “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 31:19 - “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

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Today, you and I live in the river of a rapidly moving culture. It’s a culture that is rapidly moving away from truth, righteousness, and morality. It’s a culture that, as the Bible defines it, “does what is right in its own eyes.” As a Christian who has been called by God and identified by God, you have to swim. With the power of the Holy Spirit, you can swim against this culture. You don’t have to get swept away.

Main Points:

1. The New Testament teaches us that while we are in the world, we are not of the world. We live in this present world, but we do not embrace the values of a world that is rapidly moving away from biblical values. What do we do? We swim. We swim against this fast-moving current.

2. So, how do we swim? First, we swim by ensuring that our hearts and minds are filled with the Word of God. This is essential. Without knowing the truth, we won’t know which values to embrace and which ones to reject. Knowing truth is vital. Let’s make sure that every single day we are spending time in God’s Word. Read it, memorize it, meditate on it, and obey it.

3. Next, develop strong biblical convictions. In other words, know what you believe. Where do you stand? What strongly held beliefs have you developed based on what the Bible has to say? Biblical convictions help us know where the lines are that we will not cross. These convictions are not simply an opinion, idea, or viewpoint. They are deeply held beliefs that impact our lifestyle.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 12:2 - “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

1 John 2:15 - “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

1 Peter 3:15-16 - “if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way…”

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You and I know a powerful truth very well. Words have power. Our words have the power to bless, encourage, inspire, uplift, and bring hope. Our words also have the power to wound, critique, discourage, and cause pain. Every day we get a choice of which kind of words we will use.

Main Points:

1. What are “reckless words?” How do we know if we are using them? There are many types of speech that can be considered reckless and potentially hurtful. I think of unnecessary criticism, sarcasm, insensitive comments, blame-shifting, offensive jokes, public humiliation, and personal attacks.

2. Given that our words are so important, how do we guard our hearts against reckless words? How can we make sure our words bless others and bring healing? We begin by recognizing the importance of our words and by asking God to give us wisdom in what we say.

3. When we slow down and truly listen to others, we are less likely to speak reckless words. Why? Because genuine listening requires that we care about others. What they say matters. It means something to us. It’s a demonstration of love.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Proverbs 12:18 - “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Proverbs 15:4 - “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

Matthew 12:36 - “…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

James 1:19 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”

Psalm 141:3 - “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

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Jesus doesn’t offer us a philosophy to cure our weariness. He doesn’t provide a path to enlightenment or ten steps to lessen our stress. No, He offers something incredibly better. Jesus offers himself.

Main Points:

1. We all experience weariness in different ways and for different reasons. Our pace of life seems so fast that we can’t keep up. Being busy is our badge of honor.

2. In the busyness of life that creates this weariness, there must be a break in the schedule to simply be with Jesus. It’s our daily time with God that provides the strength to do everything that is before us. Sometimes we are exhausted because we have neglected to go to our source of strength.

3. Spending time with Jesus is not a duty. It’s not a tradition or an empty religious ritual. It’s not a rule to passively follow. No, being with Jesus is an invitation. Jesus himself invites us to be with Him, to spend time with Him, to learn from Him, and to be refreshed by Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 11:28-29 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

1 Peter 5:7 - “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Psalm 16:11 - “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”

John 15:5 - “...apart from me, you can do nothing.”

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What is Jesus doing today? He is building His church. We hear stories about churches closing and increasing statistics of people who won’t belong to a church community, yet you and I need to be assured of one great truth: Jesus will build His church.

Main Points:

1. Recently, I’ve been hearing this phrase more and more. “I love Jesus, but I don’t love the church.” I’m also hearing a lot of people say, “You know, you don’t have to go to church to go to Heaven; you just have to believe in Jesus. If this is your sentiment, let me give you something to consider. The church has a divine creation. Some say, “The church was man’s idea.” No, that’s not biblical. The church was God’s idea.

2. Let me ask an important question. How can we love Jesus and not love what He loves? If we have placed our faith in Jesus, how can we not be a part of what He is doing on the earth? How can we not join together with other Christ-followers to fulfill Jesus’s mission?

3. If you are a believer in Jesus, recommit to being a part of His church. Let’s love what Jesus loves and let’s be a part of the church He is building.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 16:18 - “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Ephesians 5:25 - “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Acts 20:28 Jesus “bought the church with His own blood,”

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Perhaps the lack of silence is due to our inability to find stillness and solitude. Yet, in my experience, it’s in the silence that we can hear the voice of God. Sometimes we expect God to show up and speak up in loud and dramatic ways. He certainly can do that, but in my life, I’ve heard God speak mostly in the quiet times.

Main Points:

1. Isn’t life loud? It seems everywhere we go there is noise. Every store and restaurant has music playing. Throughout the day, we have the sound of people and traffic. Our phones constantly alert us of text messages, emails, and notifications. We don’t have much silence in our lives.

2. Have you heard the whisper of God? Are you enjoying God in the silence? If life has become loud and noisy, and if you are overwhelmed and distracted, you might not be hearing the voice of God.

3. In today’s culture, there is always somewhere to go and something to do. I encourage you today to make time to get quiet with God and listen for His whisper. This whisper is a reminder of God's constant presence, calling us to listen and be attuned to His guidance.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Kings 19:11-12 - “The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

Psalm 46:10 - “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Psalm 37:7 - “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

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When the church prays together, powerful things can happen. The power of a praying church cannot be underestimated. While our individual prayer is essential, it can never replace the significance of praying together as a congregation.

Main Points:

1. Today, we live in a society marked by isolation and digital interactions. Technological advancements have brought about a sense of detachment, making it easier for people to neglect the need for coming together as a church. However, the Bible stresses the importance of togetherness. Satan seeks to disrupt this unity, recognizing that a praying church is a powerful force that can bring about transformation.

2. Prayer is not a feeble activity; it is a mighty force. It aligns our will with God's will. It transforms situations and empowers us as believers to overcome challenges.

3. As we look around at the pressing needs of our society, let us recommit ourselves to the power of united prayer. Let us be a church that seeks God's face in unison, trusting that as we gather, His presence will be made manifest, His will accomplished, and His power demonstrated. The impact of a praying church is immeasurable, and the potential for transformation is limitless.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 4:24 - “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.”

Acts 4:31 - ”After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

1 Peter 3:12 - "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”

Isaiah 59:1 - “The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.”

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