Incarcerated Contentment

Aaron Mann

Incarcerated Contentment

How did he do it? All of the persecution. All of the time spent in jail. A life exhausted for the advancement of something greater than himself. He was someone who knew both poverty and plenty. Both abundance and need. What was his secret?

In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul reveals that his "secret" to life was, in fact, no secret at all. He teaches us that the key to true joy in this lifetime is not found in the circumstances that surround us, but in Christ and in Christ alone. True joy is found in a contentment in all that He is and all that He offers. Join us for worship this Sunday!

The Spirit's Gift

Rev. Stacey Cox

The Spirit's Gift

In the film The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her pals the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow journeyed to see "the wonderful Wizard of Oz." The Wizard was thought to be some kind of god, until Toto, Dorothy's dog, rips the curtain back revealing reality. The Wizard was far from a god; he was just a guy operating a bunch of controls behind a green curtain. To see life as it really is is a gift. This is the work of the Holy Spirit; it's the gift He offers. Reality. Sunday we explore this marvelous gift the Holy Spirit offers this Christmas season.

Your Gift

Rev. Lane Stephenson

Your Gift: The Lord is Our Righteousness

What will we offer to God on the day when we stand before the One unto whom all secrets are known? Will our lives be like a "white elephant gift" that is ornately wrapped only to conceal a useless or frivolous gift? Or will we stand before God with the righteousness required of us? This Sunday we see the gospel foreshadowed in Jeremiah 23:5-6 as we look at a prophecy given some 600 years before the birth of Christ. God promised the coming of the King whose name is "the Lord is our righteousness." The great news of the gospel is that God Himself provides the righteousness He requires of us!

The Son's Gift

Rev. Stacey Cox

The Son's Gift

When our daughter Anna was a child, buying Christmas presents for her was simple. If it had anything to do with the lovable, purple dinosaur known as Barney, we couldn't go wrong. Barney hung the moon and filled our home. For several Christmases, Barney was the perfect gift. Question: What would be the perfect gift for God the Father, which would make him smile with pleasure? What do you get the guy who literally has everything? His Son knows. Sunday we continue our Advent series with, "The Son's Gift"!

The Father's Gift

Rev. Stacey Cox

The Father's Gift

A big part of Christmas in America is the presents. And there are basically two types of people when it comes to shopping: Those who began shopping in June and those who begin on Christmas Eve. And every January, the second type resolves that they are going to become the first type, but they never do. One of the problems with the second type is they tend to buy presents that are spontaneous, expensive, and not particularly useful. But on that first Christmas many years ago, God the Father gave us the most precious gift He has, and the gift we most needed. Sunday we begin our Advent series "A Very Different Christmas" and kick it off with "The Father's Gift"!

Jesus is the Gospel

Rev. Stacey Cox

Jesus is the Gospel

If you were asked, 'What is the gospel? What's the good news?' how would you respond? Paul began his letter to the church at Rome with the bold statement that he was "not ashamed of the gospel"! Paul closes his letter by reminding us of the gospel - what it is, and what it does. Sunday we conclude our series in Romans with "Jesus is the Gospel"! Hope you'll join us.

Gospel Credits

Rev. Stacey Cox

Gospel Credits

At the end of every film you will find credits, a list of those who contributed in one way or another in the making of a movie. Actors and actresses are listed, as well as everything from the director to the producer, from costumes to cameras, lighting to location. Clearly it takes quite the crew to create a film. This is equally true where the drama of redemption is underway. Paul illustrates this in his closing remarks to the church at Rome. So many stories and contributions are captured in Paul's parade of names. And the apostle loved each one! Join us Sunday for "Gospel Credits"!

A Missionary Heart

Rev. Stacey Cox

A Missionary Heart

It's common knowledge that how we perceive ourselves and the world around us greatly determines how we live our lives. A biblical understanding of who we are, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are headed is crucial in living a life of God-honoring purpose. We see all of this at work in Paul's concluding remarks to his friends in Rome. Hope you'll join us Sunday for "A Missionary Heart."

The Hero of the Reformation

Rev. Stacey Cox

The Hero of the Reformation

October 31, 2017 marks the five-hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. With a strike of his hammer on the Wittenberg Castle Church door, a backwater monk set in motion, albeit inadvertently, a movement that set the world ablaze with the gospel. Luther's public act of defiance of papal authority swiftly gained traction, flipping centuries of church tradition and abuse on its head. The gospel was turned loose and everything changed. But according to Luther, he really did nothing. The Reformation's hero was another. Hope you'll join us Sunday for "The Hero of the Reformation"!

Building the Body

Rev. Stacey Cox

Building the Body

With the recent earthquakes in Mexico and South America, we have been reminded of a basic fact of physics: nature doesn't tolerate shortcuts. Sketchy blueprints and cheap building materials can be dearly expensive. Poorly-crafted structures in seismic hot-spots tend to tumble down. Construction materials and methods matter, not only when pouring foundations and erecting walls, but also in the life of the church. Let's talk about it Sunday, as we continue our study in Romans with "Building the Body."

Walk In Love

Rev. Lane Stephenson

Walk in Love

It's likely that you have some strong ideas and convictions over what Christians may do or not do in terms of every day conduct. Perhaps you have arrived at those convictions through much thought and prayer. Or, it may be that those convictions are unconsciously formed by your background and life experiences rather than by Scripture. Regardless of how you have arrived at those convictions, they are rules of conduct for you and they are important.

We come from different backgrounds, have different life experiences, and sometimes have differing views over what is permissible conduct for Christians. What are we to do when we differ over matters of conduct that are not clearly delineated in Scripture? In Romans 14:13-23, Paul gives counsel for believers who faced such challenges. His words call us to seek the well-being of the church by walking in love for one another.

Stop Trying to Fix People

Rev. Stacey Cox

Stop Trying to Fix People

There are a few things that can weary me: Harassing mosquitoes, cable news, unrelenting presbytery meetings, and the mistaken notion that I can fix anyone. (I could list more, but whining also wears me out, and I don't want to be a whiner). Fixing people is way above my pay grade. And it's above yours too. That's God's business. He alone changes people. Sunday we take a look at it. Hope you'll join us!

Wake Up, Christian!

Rev. Stacey Cox

Wake Up, Christian!

We are regularly bombarded with news of natural disasters. A Cat 5 hurricane approaches and fear grips the heart, but how much do we tremble at the thought of God's impending wrath upon sinners? Wild fires ripping through the TN mountains startle the senses. Yet, we read as Peter describes a coming day when God will consume this world with fire and we yawn. It's easy to drift into a spiritual slumber. Paul speaks to this sluggish state in our passage Sunday. Hope you will join us for "Wake Up, Christian!"

The Christian and the State

Rev. Stacey Cox

The Christian and The State

A rule of etiquette -- in business, at the dinner table, at the barbershop and elsewhere - is "never talk about religion or politics." These subjects are but one reason holiday meals with family can be so - well - 'interesting.' Sunday we are tossing this adage out the window and addressing both simultaneously and for good reason: Scripture isn't silent on their intersection. In view of God's mercies to us, what should be the Christian's attitude towards governing authorities? Join us Sunday for "The Christian and The State"!

What Love Looks Like

Rev. Stacey Cox

What Love Looks Like

We use the word LOVE so loosely now we're in danger of losing its meaning. What is love? The great 20th-century icon Forrest Gump famously said, "I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is." What is it? What's the difference between "loving" your favorite (insert college team here) and loving your relative who hurt you deeply? Or loving a Christian brother versus loving someone who is hostile towards your faith? That's where we are headed Sunday. Make plans to join us for "What Love Looks Like"!  

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Gospel Shipmates

Rev. Stacey Cox

Gospel Shipmates

 

The ship was an ancient Christian symbol. It was a picture of the church cutting through the sea of disbelief and darkness, the troubled waters of this world, but finally reaching Heaven's safe harbor with the souls of God's redeemed. Question: Which type of ship did early Christians envision the church to be? Did they have a 1st century 'Love Boat' cruise liner in mind or was it a ship of war, a battleship? Mission and mindset make all the difference for the voyage ahead. This was so in the 1st century and holds true today. Make plans to join us Sunday as we explore this important matter!  

What's In Your Obituary?

Rev. Lane Stephenson

What's In Your Obituary?

What's in your obituary? Or perhaps I should say, "What is not in your obituary?" For things important to the world are often insignificant in God's sight. Through Paul's admonition of Romans 8:3-8 regarding spiritual gifts, we learn that the first mark of presenting ourselves to God as a living sacrifice (vs 1-2) is that of committing ourselves to one another in the body of Christ. Our life together calls for a proper view of ourselves so that we may faithfully utilize our God-given gifts for the well-being of the one body. In these words, we find direction for a well-lived life that brings honor to God.

Walkology: Putting Feet to Our Faith

Rev. Stacey Cox

Walkology: Putting Feet to our Faith

During a game, a coach will typically draw his players in at halftime. Whether ahead or behind, a good coach wants to rally his team - motivate them to finish strong. Developing players is a never-ending task. This is the essence of what we find Paul doing in the second half of his epistle to the Romans, where he transitions in Romans 12 from deep theology to practical "walkology." We are to live out what we believe. That's where we are headed Sunday. Hope you'll join us!