Listen Now

At the end of Matthew's Gospel we hear the word "Go!" Jesus has just given the signal, the “green light” for the church to get moving! In love for our Savior, and all that He has done for us in securing our salvation by His death for us on the cross and His glorious resurrection, who isn’t chomping at the bit to do just that? But, hang on a moment, go .. and do what?

You and I can’t help but marvel at how God has revealed Himself to us in His Word. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three distinct persons in one divine being. How do you and I even begin to wrap our heads around that? While acknowledging the details we step back with the disciples and notice how the picture becomes crystal clear.

Here in Genesis Moses recorded, by inspiration of God, how you and I, and everything, came into being. And in summary says, “This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created.” Today, many Christians have mistakenly wondered if this announcement is really necessary. But it really is! And here’s why.

Did you know that every Thursday, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, an organization called the U.S. Drought Monitor releases a map showing where drought conditions are found, and how severe they are, across the U.S. and its territories? However, another important announcement comes out every week - in fact each Sunday. The Holy Spirit points us to refreshing good news.

It's not unusual to hear, that when the emergency lines are flooded during a storm, "not everyone who called for help could be reached.” The fact that not everyone can be saved is a sad reality of such situations. But here’s what makes what Peter announced at Pentecost so extraordinary.  Everyone who calls on the Lord, without exception, will be rescued from condemnation and the everlasting destruction from sin and be brought safely to eternal life. Everyone.

What God did at Pentecost is remarkable. Underlining the fact that the the Good News of our salvation in Christ is for all people, the Spirit enabled the apostles to preach in the languages of everyone who was present. As much as we marvel at what the Holy Spirit did on this day, we might overlook the ever greater miracle He continues to do this day in our midst.

It's the kind of thing you hear about in movies. Someone searches to find you and let you know that you have received a remarkable inheritance that changes everything. Paul has such an announcement he wants to share with you .. and it comes from God.

Jesus’ ascension assures us, not only of the ongoing and powerful presence of our Savior, but also, that He continues to be active in His ever-growing kingdom and Church. What Luke has recorded is not simply two volumes of a sweeping historical novel, with a compelling narrative of what took place in the past. It points us also to Jesus’ work in our midst today.

Today’s forecast will include “a mix of sun and clouds.” Okay, so which is it? Will it be overcast with rain possible or filled with beautiful, sunshine? How should we plan our day? There's always a certain level of foreboding and uncertainty when you see clouds in the sky. However, with our Savior's ascension, now even a cloudy day bring us to look up in great joy and be reminded of truly comforting and remarkable promise.

Have you ever wondered why the world, your friends or even your family, may not see what you see? In love, we desperately want our friends and loved ones to see our Savior and all that He has done for them. However, like looking through a broken viewer at a scenic outlook, it's not surprising to hear them say, "I can't see anything." Here's where the work of the Holy Spirit comes in. Apart from the Spirit, the world has no spiritual sight or knowledge. Good News! Jesus not only tells us about the Holy Spirt, but He also points us to the means through which He works to create faith. In the Gospel, He reveals what our Savior has done for us.

Have you ever thought of the church as an ocean going vessel? It may surprise you to know that for the centuries the Savior’s church as been portrayed in art and architecture as a ship. However, is this a cruise ship or a rescue ship?

When Paul saw all the idols in Athens, you might think that He would have thrown up his hands and thought, “The people are saturated with false worship and philosophies.  How can I ever get them to recognize their need for God?”  You and I might share this despair, when we look around at a world which has sunk so far into depravity and yet, at the same time, thinks it has everything figured out. What can you do in a culture in which folks think, “I don’t need God.” But Paul didn't despair. In fact, take a look at the remarkable approach he took.

Before His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus assured the disciples with this wonderful news: “In my Father’s house are many rooms.”  Furthermore, He told them, “I am going there to prepare a place for you.”  This news brought great comfort, not only to the disciples, but to believers of every generation to follow.  However, in our covetousness, it’s easy to lose sight the nature of this comfort and how wonderful it is.

Is it possible to exchange church for ... a chicken dinner? The early church sought to meet the need of the Greek-speaking widows who were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So they gathered in faith to come up with a solution. We get a great opportunity to see the congregation of believers in loving action and how it responded in service. However, if you notice, they were careful not to give up the ministry of God's Word in order to do it.

As we continue to bask in the glorious Good News of Easter, our Savior’s resurrection, and the salvation that we have in Him, Peter invites us to join him in giving thank to God. He opens his first letter saying, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Now he goes on to direct our attention to what’s essential to the healthy growth of this new life.

“You’re gonna have to go through me.” There’s a familiar phrase from the movies. A defender places themself between the attacker and their intended target and announces, “If you plan to hurt him, you’re going to have to go through me first!” This image probably isn’t the one that comes to mind when Jesus says, “I Am the Gate,”or “I Am the Door.” But it’s just one part of the comfort that is ours in this reassuring announcement from our Savior.

One day, our scars – the reminders of our foolishness, our failures and frailty – will be gone. But these scars our Savior showed the disciples are a 'badge of honor.' They’re the welcome reminder of our Savior’s triumph over sin and death.

In describing the early days of the Christian Church, Paul tells us, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” It’s hard not to be wistful hearing these words as we’re told that each year fewer and fewer people attend church or claim to be Christian. Attempts to reverse this trend over the decades have ranged from careful programs to gimmicks. So, it’s interesting to back up a few verses and see what was taking place when Luke recorded this growth. While it may not sound trendy, it's still effective.

“God, help me. Please show Yourself to me.” Has this prayer every crossed your lips when you’ve found yourself in danger, guilt or despair? It may surprise you to hear how our risen Savior answers this prayer and where He directs our attention. Episode artwork by Jan van't Hoff courtesy of FreeBibleImages.com. Used by permission.

Have you ever found yourself puzzled by the promises of Scripture and how they tie into the events of Good Friday and Easter? If you have, you're note alone. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus, on Easter, found themselves in a similar situation. They knew God’s Word, they’d heard it and read it, but it didn’t seem to come together and make sense. However, with patience and love, Jesus showed them from Scripture how His death on the cross was necessary. Our crucified and risen Savior is the key to understanding all of the Scriptures.