Preeminence for a Lifetime

Chris Wall • Isaiah 9:6-7 ESVOur church and community are still in the throes of navigating unusual tensions and growing uncertainty. With this in mind, the simple prayer – “Lord Remind Me” of Christmas is incredibly powerful. We are living through a time when people are searching for lasting hope. The message of Christmas is the exact opposite of a hopeless message. It is a devastating thing to be hopeless. As human beings, we are wired to be forward looking. This is a natural thing for all human beings. God reveals to us in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that God has woven a sense of eternity into the heart of all people. Lasting hope is discovered through the story of Christmas. It is this reason; God is using His word to “Remind Us” of both the meaning and the call of Christmas. The miracle of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ remains the focal point of human history. It is also the most significant expected surprise for humanity. God came in the flesh humbling Himself providing salvation to people from every tribe and tongue. Jesus came at Christmas to seek and save the lost. Salvation is every person’s greatest need. Jesus entered the world to save ALL who would come to Him. This Christmas, I am praying: “Lord Remind Me” of the reason you came into this world. ...

Chris Wall • Nehemiah 5 ESV Nehemiah Chapter 5 is quite surprising when you put this passage intocontext. God's people had just banded together to rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem in under two months cooperating in masterful ways. Next, a new threat arises coming against the people of God and it comes from within. We see up close and personal there is a bad way to use wealth and resources provided by the Lord. When we disregard others to gain more for ourselves, we miss the entire point of God's blessing in our lives. Nehemiah helps us see there is a good way to steward resources while being generous to others advancing the Kingdom of God. God's people tripped financially in Chapter 5 providing an incredible lesson for us as we live life together during difficult times. ...

Misael Gonzalez • Acts 9:1-19 Have you ever been so mad that you acted out of hate? Saul, the man in this portion of Scripture, was blinded by HATE towards God, yet encountered the LOVE of God. This murderer found real forgiveness and was transformed into a missionary by the grace and power of Jesus Christ Himself. If anything, Saul teaches us that when we have an unmistaken encounter with Jesus, it will produce an undeniable authentic change in our lives.   ...