What are you looking for is the question of the week, the Sadducees (Religious leaders during Jesus’ time). Were faithful in their attendance at the Temple, and even attempted to lead Israel in their worship. Yet they were ignorant of truth! Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but only the one who does the will of the Father which is in heaven.” The Sadducees were lead by the Flesh, as they worshiped God because of their since of obligation. All they did the did to appease their guilt, not to demonstrate their love. They associated the bad experiences of their life with their lack of worship to God, and therefore they attempted to appease God to force God to bless them. When God did not respond to them the way they thought He should, they quickly became disillusioned with their “faith” We must understand that we do not worship God to get from Him nor to appease Him. We worship God because we love Him and desire to thank Him for all He does in our lives. Worship is not an obligation it is a privilege! … READ MORE

In Luke 2:25-35 we read about one of the forgotten characters of the birth narrative of Jesus. Simeon, was an older man who was looking for the consolation of Israel (the Messiah). He positioned himself in the one place that he was confident that he would find that Messiah – The Temple. As we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord it is essential to ask ourselves if we, like Simeon are ready to meet the Messiah. The Bible gives us three reasons why people come to the place of meeting, and it is the same reasons that people have doe throughout history, and we need to ask ourselves why we will position ourselves in church this Sunday. The sad reality is that out of those three reasons only one brings salvation and spiritual growth to those who come. This week I want to remind us of those three reasons, and ask you a simple question, why are you coming to the place of worship? There were three religious groups who were in the temple that day, the Sadducees, who came because of procedure, the Pharisees, who came because of their practice, and then we see Simeon, who came … READ MORE

Christmas is a season for giving, and one of the best gifts we give to others is ourselves. It is especially crucial during this time of year that the world sees the difference in people who call themselves Christians. The difference is not seen in that we are better than those who are tied to this world, rather the difference lies in showing others what God is doing in our lives from the inside out. I determined a long time ago, that I was going to be the friendliest person I could be wherever I go. If I was in the checkout line, I want to make the cashier smile, if I am in a restaurant, I want to make the servers feel appreciated. The reason is because the world dishes out enough grumpiness and impatience. People ae more likely to be thinking of Christ during this season more than any other time of year, and we can offer them a real live plan of salvation to make Christmas not only more special, but eternal. This Christmas take advantage of the opportunities to share Christ when they present themselves, and remember Jesus was more than just a little baby in … READ MORE