Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture: Psalm 47:1 (NIV) 1  Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Devotion: How do you express your joy to God? Do you sing praises, dance, or jump for joy? Do you clap your hands, as the psalmist exhorts us to do in Psalm 47:1? Clapping is a universal gesture of celebration, approval, and enthusiasm. It's a way we all express our joy, whether we're happy, appreciating something, or showing support. But it's more than that. It's a way of making noise, drawing attention, and creating a rhythm. The contagious nature of clapping means that one person's joy can inspire others to join in, creating a sense of community and connection that transcends physical boundaries. But clapping is not just a human activity. The Bible tells us that the trees of the field will clap their hands (Isaiah 55:12), the rivers will clap their hands, and the mountains will sing together for joy (Psalm 98:8). Clapping is part of the natural respons...

  Apparently, some kind of failure occurred with the sound for the sermon on 7/28/24. Here is the full text. Introduction           Good morning, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, I want to share this morning from the book of Jude, a short but powerful book that appears in our Bibles between the letters of John and the imposing book of Revelation. The book of Jude is not just a reminder of the need to remain steadfast in our faith, but a source of inspiration and empowerment. This steadfastness should reassure us and give us confidence, and to contend for the truth of the gospel, especially in the face of false teachings and moral decay. In my study for this morning’s message, I have found that it contains some theological and practical truths that are crucial for us to consider in our walk with Christ. Let us begin by hearing the words Jude wrote to encourage the church from this small but powerful letter and seek to apply t...

  Scripture: Galatians 6:14 (ESV) 14  But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Devotion: What does it mean to boast in the cross of Christ? How can a symbol of suffering and shame be a source of joy and glory? The apostle Paul's radical perspective on the cross transformed his life and ministry. He saw the cross not only as the means of salvation, but also as the pattern of discipleship, a transformative power that can turn suffering into joy and shame into glory, bringing hope and inspiration to all who believe. To boast in the cross means to celebrate the grace and power of God revealed in Jesus's death and resurrection. It means acknowledging that we are sinners who cannot save ourselves and that we need the mercy and forgiveness of God. It means to trust in the love and sovereignty of God, who works all things for our good and his glory. It means to rejoice in the...

  Scripture: Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV) And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10  so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Devotion: What is God's will for your life? Many Christians ask this question, especially when they face important decisions or challenges. Sometimes, we wish God would give us a clear sign or direction, but often, we have to trust Him and seek His wisdom in His word and prayer. The apostle Paul knew the importance of praying for God's will. He prayed earnestly for the Colossian believers, whom he had never met personally, but heard about their faith and love from Epaphras, their pastor. Paul did not pray for their health, wealth, or happiness, but for something more essential and eternal: their knowledge of God's wi...

  Scripture: James 5:1-6 (NIV) Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3  Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4  Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  6  You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. Devotion: The passage from James 5 is a stern warning to the rich who oppress the poor and exploit their labor. James does not mince words; he tells them that their wealth will be worthless, their luxury will turn into misery, and their injustice will bring God'...

  Scripture: Luke 12:20-21 (NIV) 20  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? 21  “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Devotion: The parable of the rich fool serves as a stark warning against the pitfalls of greed and materialism. The wealthy man in the narrative, blessed with an abundance of crops, made the fatal error of tearing down his barns to construct larger ones, all to hoard his goods. He believed he had secured his future, paving the way for a life of comfort and pleasure. However, God, in His wisdom, branded him a fool and decreed that his life would be taken that very night, leaving behind all his amassed wealth. He had failed to be rich toward God, instead living solely for his own desires. What does it mean to be rich toward God? It means acknowledging that everything we have comes from Him...

Scripture: Matthew 19:19-22 (ESV) 20  The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21  Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22  When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Devotion: How do you respond to Jesus' invitation to follow him? Do you eagerly accept his offer of eternal life, or do you hesitate because of what you might have to give up? In this passage, we see a young man who came to Jesus with a sincere question: what must he do to inherit eternal life? He claimed to have kept all the commandments since his youth, but Jesus saw that there was one thing he loved more than God: his wealth. Jesus challenged him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him. But the young man could not do it. He walked away sad, because he had great possessions. Let this be a ...

  Matthew 6:24 (NIV) 24  “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Devotion: One of the most challenging decisions we face as followers of Christ is how to handle our money and possessions. The world tells us that money is the key to happiness, security, and success. It urges us to pursue wealth, accumulate more, and enjoy the pleasures it can buy. But Jesus warns us that money can also be a dangerous trap, a false god that competes for our loyalty and devotion. Jesus does not say that money is evil or that having wealth is wrong. He acknowledges that money is a necessary and helpful resource in this life. He benefited from some wealthy supporters' generosity (Luke 8:1-3). He also praised those who used their money wisely and faithfully, such as the poor widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41-44), or the shrewd manager who made friends w...

Scripture: Luke 11:27-28 (ESV) 27  As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28  But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Devotion: What does it mean to be blessed? Often, we associate blessing with material prosperity, health, happiness, or success. We may think God blesses us when He gives us what we want or need. But Jesus teaches us a different perspective on blessing in this passage. He was teaching the crowds about the kingdom of God, and a woman in the crowd praised His mother, Mary, for giving birth to Him. She must have thought that God highly blessed Mary for being chosen to bear the Messiah. And indeed, Mary was blessed in that sense (Luke 1:42-45). But Jesus did not affirm her remark. Instead, He pointed to a higher blessing available to anyone following Him. He said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the ...

  Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) 15  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. Devotion: What does it mean to be a sinner? How do we know that we are sinners? And what hope do we have as sinners? Paul addresses these questions in his letter to Timothy, his young protégé and fellow worker in the gospel. Paul begins his letter by affirming the core message of Christianity: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. This is a trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance saying, Paul says because it reveals the heart of God's grace and mercy for all of humanity, a universal truth that we all share. We are all sinners, in need of God's grace and salvation. But Paul does not stop there. He goes on to say that he is the foremost of sinners, the chief of all who have rebelled against God and broken his laws. Why does he say this? Is he exaggerating or being humble...

Scripture: Exodus 29:45-46 (ESV) 45  I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46  And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God. Devotion: One of the most amazing truths of the Bible is that God wants to dwell with his people. He is not a distant deity who watches us from afar, but a personal God who desires an intimate relationship with us. He created us for his glory and pleasure and invites us to share in his life and love. In the book of Exodus, we see how God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and brought them to Mount Sinai, where he gave them his law and his covenant. He also instructed them to build a tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, where he would manifest his presence among them. The tabernacle was a visible sign of God's grace and faithfulness, foreshadowing God's ultimate dwelling place with his people: Jesus Christ. ...

  Scripture: Luke 20:21-26 (ESV) Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22  Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23  But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24  “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25  He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26  And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer, they became silent. Devotion: The Pharisees and the Herodians tried to trap Jesus with a tricky question. They asked him whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, the Roman emperor who ruled over Israel. If Jesus said yes, he would anger the Jews who hated the Roman occupation. He would be accused of rebellion against the government if he said no. Either way, they hoped to disc...

Scripture: Psalm 91:9-11 (NIV) 9  If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10  no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Devotion: One of the most comforting promises in the Bible is that God will protect and watch over those who trust in him. Psalm 91:9-11 says, "If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." This is not just an assurance, but a profound declaration of God's unwavering protection. It's a reminder that we are not alone or helpless in this world, but we have a loving and powerful God who cares for us and sends his angels to shield us from harm. But what does making the Lord our refuge and dwelling mean? It means more than...

  Scripture: Psalm 145:17 (ESV) 17           The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. Devotion: How do we know that God is good? How can we trust that he has our best interests at heart? How can we see his kindness in the midst of a broken and hurting world? The psalmist answers these questions by declaring that the Lord is righteous and kind in all his ways and works. This means that everything God does is consistent with his perfect character, holy justice, and tender mercy. For instance, when we experience a beautiful sunrise, we witness God's kindness in providing us with a new day. He never acts out of malice, caprice, or indifference. He never violates his own standards or promises. He always does what is right, fair, and loving, providing a reliable source of goodness in our lives. This truth gives us hope and confidence in every situation. We can rely on God's goodness when we face trials, ...

Scripture: Galatians 3:27-29 (ESV) 27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Devotion: What does it mean to put on Christ? Paul uses this metaphor to describe the radical transformation that takes place when we are baptized into Christ. Baptism is not just a ritual or a symbol, but a powerful act of God, a divine intervention that unites us with Christ in his death and resurrection. Our old identity no longer defines us, but by our new identity in Christ. This new identity transcends all the divisions and distinctions that the world makes. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. These categories are not erased, but they are no longer the basis for our status, value, or belonging. We are...

Scripture: Psalm 51:15 (ESV) 15           O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise Devotion: Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance from King David, who had committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the murder of her husband, Uriah. David was confronted by the prophet Nathan and convicted of his sin. He cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness, and asked God to restore his joy and fellowship. This passage is a powerful example of the transformative power of God's forgiveness and the restoration it brings to our lives. Verse 15 is part of David's plea for restoration. He asks God to open his lips, so that he can declare God's praise. This implies that David's sin had silenced his praise. He had lost his ability and desire to worship God, because he knew he had offended God and broken his covenant. He felt ashamed and unworthy to speak of God's goodness and glory. But David also knew that only God could heal ...

  Scripture: Galatians 6:1-2(NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. Devotion: We all, as human beings, make mistakes and fall into sin at some point in our lives. No one is perfect, except Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again to give us new life. But how do we respond when we see a fellow believer struggling with sin? Do we judge them, ignore them, or condemn them? Or do we follow the example of Christ, who came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance? Remember, we are all equally vulnerable to sin, and it is our shared humanity that calls us to respond with empathy and understanding. Paul tells us in Galatians 6:1-2 that we who live by the Spirit should restore those caught in sin gently and humbly, without being self-righteous ...

  Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV) I have become all things to all people, that by all means, I might save some. 23  I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Devotion: In this passage, the apostle Paul describes his approach to evangelism and ministry. He says that he has become all things to all people, meaning that he adapts his style and language to different audiences, without compromising the core message of the gospel. He does this for two reasons: first, to win some people to Christ, and second, to share in the blessings of the gospel himself. Paul's strategy is based on his love for God and his love for people. He wants to glorify God by fulfilling his calling as an apostle and a preacher of the good news. He also wants to serve people by meeting them where they are and addressing their needs and questions. He does not impose his preferences or opinions on others, but respects their culture and background, fos...