A New Humanity
Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, God has been planning to make a new humanity, one made in the image of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, “45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not…
Read MoreActs 8
Today in the Pentecostal handbook we see the spread of the church to Judea and Samaria as a result of Jewish persecution in Jerusalem. Philip, one of the first seven deacons, is used in a mighty way on two separate occasions reminding us that God can still build His church no matter the circumstances. Three…
Read MoreA Cool Example to Understand Spending Eternity Knowing God
I mentioned in my second service sermon today that the goal of life is to know God according to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17. This will continue in eternity and never end, yet we will never be bored. As an example, I said consider that when I hold my camera at the mirror- it reflects…
Read MoreGod’s Masterpiece
God made us for His purpose and we will never be happy until we find our purpose in Him! Ephesians 1:1-23 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord…
Read More100,000 Disciples for Jesus
This board held the plans to take over the world at Metro Praise International today! J/k But it did show how we can raise up 100,000 disciples in Chicago in 10 years! RECAP FROM TODAY’S SERVICES If each of our 185 youth/adult attendees in both services make one disciple a year, that then make a…
Read MoreDear Pastor…
Dear Senior Pastor, if you don’t like your schedule- change it. You don’t like your church- let someone else pastor them who will love them. You don’t like your pay- go sell used cars. You don’t like helping people- find another occupation. You need help- submit to other pastors who can help you (message me…
Read MoreCursed by Works vs. Saved by Grace
Some people when faced with the audacious claims of Christianity say, “It sounds too good to be true.” However, the truth is, “It’s too good not to be true.” In other words, only God Himself could devise such a plan in which all people can be saved not by works but by grace through faith.…
Read MoreHow Do Your Filter Your Thoughts?
Here is an oldie but goodie from my files on how to filter your thoughts through Paul’s list in Philippians 4:8. I just sent it to a friend facing a challenging time. As Christians we need to remind ourselves that we don’t need to think about everything that enters our minds nor do we…
Read MoreActs 7
In chapter 7 of the Pentecostal handbook we learn how God worked with Stephen, one of the new deacons, in a mighty way and that he was the first martyr in the Christian church stoned by the Jewish leaders. Acts 7:1 Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” 2 To this he replied:…
Read MoreThe Cravings of the Flesh vs. The Fruit of the Spirit
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17,21, “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Peter said in 2 Peter 1:3-4,…
Read More