Today we continue our season of Advent and light the second candle, the Candle of Peace. Our Advent theme this year is “A Stained Glass Baby Book.” Many of our mothers kept a baby book with details and highlights from our first few years of life. In our Advent season, we will walk through some…
We are called by Jesus to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That’s not just those who live next door to us, but they’re certainly included, and there is no better place to start than right next door. It’s not an accident that you are their neighbor. God wants to use you to show…
Today we begin our season of Advent and light the first candle, the Candle of Hope. Coming from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “a visit,” Advent is the Christian season of preparation for Christmas. In the Advent season, we keep in mind both “advents,” both “visits” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second…
Guilt and shame from our sin are very tricky things. Even though we may actually be objectively forgiven by the grace and mercy of God, we may struggle with subjectively feeling forgiven. In other words, although God may have declared us innocent through Jesus, we sometimes struggle with still feeling guilty here on earth. In moments…
Prayer is one of God’s precious graces to us. It has many purposes for our life and growth, but have you ever thought about how prayer is meant to be an instrument of humility in our lives? In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus, by example, teaches us how to pray. Of course, this passage is best known…
Persecution is simply a reality for Christians in this fallen age. Paul said, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Timothy 3:12). While we here in America face softer forms of persecution such as pressure to conform to the world and slander, our brothers and sisters around…
King David waxed poetic in Psalm 122 when he said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’” Do you have that same sentiment when it comes to going to the church house? I pray so. Sadly we often think of church in terms of “I…
One of my new favorites in our worship song list at South Campus is simply titled “Holy Spirit.” It’s uncomplicated lyrically and musically but is powerful as it directly addresses the Holy Spirit in the chorus: Holy Spirit, you are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory, Lord, is what…
It’s hard to believe that a year has already gone by since the launch of Eastwood’s new South Campus building, but that’s exactly how long it’s been. Our first service in the new building was Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015. Time flies when you’re serving the Lord! South Campus was a God-sized vision, and by…
In January we preached and prayed for a great harvest, but we know there are many enemies of the harvest. Gardeners and farmers have to guard against all sorts of pests that look to steal the harvest, but they also have to work against time so that they don’t miss the harvest. Harvest season comes,…