Written by cycleguy on March 16th, 2023
There are many folks who have read the narrative of the cross so often that the reality of the pain and suffering Jesus went through “goes in one ear and out the other.” It is also true that life is a mixed bag. There are moments of pure, unadulterated exhilaration combined with moments of sheer agony.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” (I Cor. 1:23) The Jews wanted supernatural signs and the Greeks sought wisdom. But as we look at the cross, we see more. We see a combination of both the simple and the profound. The Jews weren’t going to find their sign of the miraculous on the cross, and the Gentiles weren’t going to find their wisdom in it.
What I plan to bring to light are four scenes full of meaning. As I said, many who read the account of the cross sort of just take these four scenes for granted. They are filled with meaning for us.
Scene #1- The weeping women. Luke 23:26-31
Scene #2- The heartless soldiers. 23:32-34
Scene #3- The mocking bystanders. 23:35-39
Scene #4- The thief on the cross. 23:39-43
After introducing the four scenes, my primary focus will be on the latter. I will making these three points:
- No one is ever too far gone to become a Christ-follower.
- All God wants from any individual is simple faith.
- Never doubt that God accepts you.
Please join us at 9:00 and 10:45 either in person or via live stream. Check out the church’s website for the ways and means to connect.
Posted in Doctrine, Easter, Sermon Series/Topic, The Cross | Comments Off on #InsultsandParadise
Written by cycleguy on March 9th, 2023
Quick: Word association. Disciple of Jesus. Failure:
PETER
It is hard to disassociate Peter’s name from failure. But the fact remains: all of them failed. All of them ran. Peter gets notoriety because his was so public. Brash. Bold. Boisterous. Braggart.
Peter is not alone though. We all have failed. We all have made promises to be faithful and to stand tall, only to see ourselves do a face plant. History is marred with failures. So is Biblical history.
But failure is not the end. You have heard it said in some way, I’m sure: “Falling is not failure; not getting back up is.” But the great part about Peter’s failure and what he realized is that there is forgiveness in spite of failure.
I’m guessing that no one’s failure is more highlighted than Peter’s. I’m preaching on The Sting of Failure this Sunday. But I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of leaving Peter flapping in the breeze. Jesus didn’t and I certainly won’t. Nope…Jesus restored him and made him the leader of the ragtag band of disciple/apostles.
Please join us at 9:00 and 10:45 either in person or online as we live stream our services. I know many will be traveling this week due to Spring Break in our school system, but I hope you will join us via the live stream.
ONE MORE THING! REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD THIS SATURDAY NIGHT FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
Posted in Forgiveness, God, Grace, Opinion, Preaching, Second Chance, Sermon Series/Topic, Story, The Cross | Comments Off on #TheStingofFailure
Written by cycleguy on March 2nd, 2023
Communion has been part of the church’s experience since shortly after Jesus’ meal with the disciples in the Upper Room. Down through the years there have been different ways to celebrate it:
- There have been arguments and debates over its frequency (weekly, monthly, quarterly, twice a year).
- There have been arguments over who can partake.
- There have been arguments over the elements themselves (wine or grape juice for example). During the pandemic I had one person tell me they had crackers and pop as a substitute.
- There have been different names give to it (Lord’s Supper, Last Supper, Holy Communion, or Eucharist).
If you are looking for a doctrinal treatise from me on those arguments you have come to the wrong place. My focus in this Sunday’s sermon is on the meal itself and why we have been told, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Long story short: me must not forget to remember.
This Sunday starts a two-month series on To and From the Cross. I’m taking this break from my series on Revelation to focus on the season of the Cross and the Resurrection. I plan to resume the Revelation series the first Sunday of May. Please join us in person or via live stream at 9:00 and 10:45.
Posted in Church, Doctrine, Preaching, Salvation, Sermon Series/Topic, The Cross | 2 Responses »
Written by cycleguy on February 23rd, 2023
In his book, The Ultimate Priority, Pastor John MacArthur opens with a unique story of worship gone crazy. Maria Rubio said she was frying tortillas when she noticed that the skillet burns on one of her tortillas resembled the face of Jesus. Excited, she showed it to her husband and neighbors, and they agreed. So she went to her priest to have the tortilla blessed. She testified it changed her and her husband saying she was more peaceful, happy and submissive since the tortilla had arrived. The priest, not accustomed to blessing tortillas, reluctantly did so.
She took the tortilla home and put it in a glass case with piles of cotton to make it look like it was floating on clouds, built a special altar for it, then opened the shrine to visitors. Within a few months, more than 8000 people came to the shrine of the Jesus of the Tortilla.
It seems incredible to me (to us) that this could actually happen. But there have been other instances as well. Images of Jesus in toppings of pizza. Scorched etchings on toast. Spot on a garage floor. Burn marks on a grilled cheese. We roll our eyes and cluck at the gullibility of people.
The final section of Revelation 5, verses 9-14, is full of hymns and is focused on worship. This final sermon in the first section of my series on Revelation will close the door on the whole idea of worship which is taking place in heaven and which John gets to witness. After this (beginning in chapter 6) things change.
We will focus on worship in heaven. We will also focus on worship as it takes place here on earth. Please join me in person or via live stream.
Next week begins a two month series I’ve titled To and From the Cross. More on that next week.
Posted in Doctrine, Preaching, Revelation, Sermon Series/Topic, Uncategorized, Worship | Comments Off on #TheLambisWorthy!
Written by cycleguy on February 16th, 2023
The late James Montgomery Boice tells the story of a small boy who was very absorbed in drawing and coloring an elaborate picture. His mother asked him what he was doing. “I’m drawing a picture of God,” he told her.
“That’s nice,” she said. “But, you know, nobody knows what God looks like.”
“They will now!” he answered triumphantly.
I chuckled when I read that. It is true, of course, that nobody does know that God looks like. As you read Revelation you will notice John doesn’t try to describe Him either. In fact, he doesn’t even call Him “God.” He refers to Him as the “one seated on the throne” (4:2); or “He who sat there” (v.3), or “Him who is seated on the throne.” (v.10)
Revelation 5 opens with seeing God (“Him who is seated on the throne”) with Jesus standing next to Him. Then we led into worship. Someone described worship as “letting the worth and wonder of God to sink so deeply into our soul that we respond in a wholehearted reorientation of our life.” Jesus even commented to that effect when He was asked what the greatest commandment was. His answer? “Love God first.”
John sees a scene in heaven unfolding. A mighty angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” Only One is worthy and only He is worthy of our praise and worship.
The sermon this Sunday is taken from Revelation 5:1-8-The Lion Who is a Lamb. This is like the opening salvo to a chapter full of worship. Who is worthy? The Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of David.
Join us, please, in person or via live stream at 9:00 and 10:45 to worship with us.
Posted in Doctrine, God, Jesus, Sermon Series/Topic, Worship | Comments Off on #TheLambWhoisaLion
Written by cycleguy on February 9th, 2023
The book of Revelation has a great deal to say about tribulation, conflicts, persecution and well, just about things we face every day. Thankfully, before we get to the really gnarly “stuff” of Revelation, we are given a glimpse into something we are yet to see, but will get to see and eventually be a part of.
ETERNITY.
God’s throne.
So far Revelation has been a call to be willing to suffer for Jesus, to face loss and hardship, to push aside a casual commitment and embrace a more radical faith. Here is an honest question: if I follow Jesus and it requires a radical faith and commitment to Him, am I willing to give that? Am I willing to sacrifice and give the pain and effort it will take to overcome the forces of evil and live a life that counts for Jesus?
I think we could all handle things a bit better if we knew what was ahead. In chapters 4 & 5 we are taken behind the scenes of all that exists and happens. We get to peer into eternity.
Heaven is real and I don’t need some so-called visit to heaven to tell me. This fourth chapter alone is enough to convince me that God is on His throne. WHAT A SCENE WE HAVE BEFORE US! Call me “jealous.”
Join me this week as take a behind-the-scenes glimpse into heaven. We meet in person and online at 9:00 and 10:45. I would love to have you join me/us as we continue through Revelation.
Did you know I also do a daily devotional blog? Go here for it.
Posted in Doctrine, Heaven/Hell, hope, Opinion, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | Comments Off on #GodontheThrone
Written by cycleguy on February 2nd, 2023
There are 4 perfections of God’s character that we must know and believe:
He is Immutable- He never changes.
He is Omnipotent- He is All-Powerful.
He is Omnipresent- He is All-Present (Everywhere present)
He is Omniscient- He is All-Knowing.
It was the latter attribute that I focused on last week and will continue that this week-He is Omniscient. I took us through the first 4 churches which are covered in Revelation 2. This week I am going to look at the last 3 churches, which are found in Revelation 3.
Letter #1- Ephesus- He knows what and who we love.
Letter #2- Smyrna- He knows what we are willing to suffer for.
Letter #3- Pergamum- He knows what we really believe.
Letter #4- Thyatira- He knows what we are willing to tolerate.
Letter #5- Sardis- He knows our spiritual condition.
Letter #6- Philadelphia- He knows the state of our commitment.
Letter #7- Laodicea- He knows who we are depending on.
I hope you will join me in our worship this Sunday-in person or online. We start at 9 and 10:45.
Posted in Church, Faith, Revelation, Truth | 4 Responses »
Written by cycleguy on January 25th, 2023
There are certain characteristics (attributes) of God that are non-negotiable. There are three which always come to the forefront:
His Omnipotence- He is all-powerful.
His Omnipresence- He is all-present (everywhere present)
His Omniscience- He is all-knowing.
To know those characteristics of God AND TO BELIEVE THEM is absolutely essential. As I continue my series on Revelation, I hit this week what is probably the most familiar 2 chapters in all the book- the 7 churches. I plan to take chapter 2 this week and follow up next week with chapter 3. I plan to focus on what God knows, especially on what He knows about the churches (and by proxy…us).
What does it mean He knows? He knows absolutely everything that can be known. He has no need to learn anything. He does not a computer (don’t you wish?) He doesn’t need Google (again…I wish). And He certainly doesn’t need any of us telling him what He must and must not do, or should or should not do!
I’ll be summing up the first four churches this week like this:
- Ephesus- He knows what and who we really love.
- Smyrna- He knows what we are willing to suffer for.
- Pergamum- He know what we really believe.
- Thyatira- He knows what we are willing to tolerate.
Join us won’t you? We meet in person and live stream at both 9:00 and 10:45.
Posted in Church, Doctrine, Preaching, Revelation, Sermon Series/Topic | Comments Off on #HeKnows
Written by cycleguy on January 19th, 2023
Someone has said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It is certainly hard to argue with that. I think we might all admit to forming an impression of someone before we were totally informed of who they are or what they do or the circumstances in their life. When Jo and I first met, she couldn’t stand me. I was a hot-shot basketball player (or so I thought) and arrogance oozed out of my pores. We hung around with a group of other college students and did a lot of outings together. But she still couldn’t stand me. I’d like to think my lovable charm, my dashing good looks, and my over-the-top humor won her over. But truthfully, I’m not sure what did. 🙂 Maybe I began to grow up??
What do you know about Jesus? What is your impression of Him? How would you picture Him? A handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes. (You would be wrong). Somewhat meek and mild and sort of like a milquetoast? (You would be wrong again).
John’s vision of Jesus is disturbing. Well, it was to him. It was nothing like he remembered from their 3 years together as Rabbi and disciple. John takes us into that vision in this week’s sermon from Revelation 1: 9-20. I guarantee it will wake a few folks up.
Join us won’t you? We meet in person and via live stream at 9 and 10:45.
Posted in Doctrine, Jesus, Preaching, Revelation, Sermon Series/Topic | Comments Off on #Revelation#FeastonHim
Written by cycleguy on January 12th, 2023
Until they got their own network, I used to love watching Fixer Upper. I really don’t care what people say about the show; I enjoyed it. Critics talk about whether shows like that are real or not; it matters not to me. Being very non-crafty, and being very “unhandy,” I loved watching the transformations which took place. The part I loved the most was what they called “The Great Reveal.” They would stand the person or couple in front of a big display of what their house looked like before any renovations were done. They then asked the couple if they were ready to see their new house and pulled apart the display. All you heard or saw were gasps, “O my goshes,” or even tears.
The image of pulling back the curtain to reveal what is behind it is sort of what we are being asked to do as we read the book of Revelation. God has been and is now at work in our world as He prepares us for the coming of Christ and a new world.
After an “introductory-type” sermon last week, we hit the nitty-gritty this week. Revelation wastes no time with verse 1 telling us, “The revelation of Jesus Christ…which must soon take place.” We are going to talk about several thoughts from 1: 1-8.
- It is a “revelation.” What does that mean?
- What does verse 3 hold for us?
- How does John describe Jesus in verse 4-5? How does that affect us?
Mining everything in Revelation is not easy. In fact, no matter what some say, I don’t think it can be done. But we can bring our tools and start! I hope you will join me Sunday either in person or on the live stream at 9:00 and 10:45.
Posted in Opinion, Preaching, Sermon Series/Topic | Comments Off on #HearYeHearYe!!
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