Being in the right group, studying the right things, living a decent life—it feels like that ought to be enough. But in Acts 13, Paul announces to a synagogue full of people who had done exactly that: there are things the Law of Moses simply could not free you from, and being part of the in-group won’t close that gap.
When a winter forecast keeps bouncing around, most of us know better than to cancel everything over what might never arrive. Luke opens his Gospel with the opposite claim: this is no chance of grace next week, but the report of what has already been fulfilled among us—Jesus actually coming in history.
We don’t want to simply know about a miracle that happened long ago and was forgotten thereafter. We need to know that there is a consistency in God’s care, too.
As we continue in Ephesians 2, Paul helps us to think about the difference between being called to do “good works” and earning God’s favor through our works.
The wonder of what God does for us is so much greater when we don’t forget the story behind it.
Solomon, Rehoboam, and Jeroboam all treated God’s promises like something they could improve on or control on their own terms only to encounter the pavement courtesy of the black ice of sin. Our efforts end like that, but God’s faithfulness outlasts our failures.
As we continue in Ephesians 2, we’re reminded of how God loves us even when we are of no value at all.
We return to Ephesians in a new series in the second chapter and to start us off Pastor Tim reflects on our state without God.
A folding map only works if you already know where you are. Enough wrong turns, and you’re stuck staring at it with no idea how to find yourself—let alone get back on course. Psalm 89 asks what God’s promises do for those of us who aren’t the Hannahs and Davids, who look at the map and go the wrong way.
As we wrap up our series in John 5, we are confronted with the most important question: do we believe His words?