Topic: Love

Ah yes. Love is in the air. 1 Corinthians 13 is the famous "love" passage. In fact, it's used more in weddings than any other passage in the Bible. One problem, this passage is not about the love between a husband and a wife. In this sermon, Mike unpacks what 1 Corinthians 13 is all about. Loving other Christians can be difficult. Especially when it comes to using our Spiritual Gifts in the Kingdom. The Apostle Paul is clear - Love others AND use your Spiritual Gifts. This sermon is a nuts and bolts picture on what that looks like and how that's done.

Enemies. We all seem to have them. We may not be able to give a great definition of who an enemy is, but we tend to know it if we have one. It can be tricky to know how to interact with and treat an enemy. Thankfully, Jesus taught us what to do with enemies. The words of Jesus can be challenging at times, but He says them for a reason. What are we supposed to do with our enemies? Hint: It looks nothing like what anyone else teaches about enemies. In fact, it's in such stark contrast it may be hard to believe. But when followed, we find the words of Jesus are true.

Micah shows us how God's not oblivious to the things that go on in our lives. He's not oblivious to the things we do, both good, and bad. When people do bad things to us, God sees.  Micah goes on to show us how to be merciful with others. It's not about getting it all just right. How can we claim to be of God and not be merciful to others?   Micah addresses these very real issues.  

Love Reveals Reality. Is it possible to love in an... read more

Remember when you went to your room and you slammed the door (gently because you didn't want your parents to get made). Or you screamed in to your pillow. You were ANGRY! Well what was making you mad? Well it was that brother of mine! I had two brothers. They made me angry all the time! But why was I really angry? It's really interesting that God asks the question, "Why are your angry?" But we respond by saying, "I'll tell you WHO made me angry. And that person has a face and a name." So who is it? "Well it's that husband of mine..." or "It's that wife of mine..." or "It's that brother in law of mine..." So who is it? And why are they making you angry? God's calling attention tot he WHY, not the who or the what. Because anger is a secondary emotion. There's something else going on.

And as Barabbas walks away a free man I picture Jesus standing there, looking at Barabbas. He doesn't say anything. He doesn't proclaim his innocence. He just looks at Barabbas... He stands there guilty of something he did not do. He just locks eyes with Barabbas. Who's Barabbas?... Barabbas is you and Barabbas is me. We are guilty. Yet He pays our punishment. Because love says, "I'll take that!"

What are we willing to give Jesus? And that's really the point of our end times study. If it takes us any place else than humility and any other place than loving Jesus, I think we're in the wrong place."

God became man and He died like a man, too. And when He died like a man he knew fully what it meant to be a man.