Like fish, we're constantly swimming in the waters of our culture all around us. If we're not careful, we may end up like the church of Pergamum--faithful in some ways but compromised in others. This Sunday we'll hear Jesus' remedy for the church that is compromising in both doctrine and life, and we'll consider: Are there areas of our life, our church's life, in which we're compromising our faith?
Most people in Boston don't worship Jesus. Many don't understand and are even hostile to our faith. How do we persevere and not hide or give up in the face of persecution, not to mention the sufferings day-to-day life? Jesus has an encouraging word for the church in Smyrna, and for us.
The Christian life isn't always easy. We face doubts, temptations, the consequences of our own sin--as well as trials, opposition, and consequences of others' sin or just the broken world we live in. Sometimes it's hard to keep going. Our passage this Sunday is a reminder of the faithfulness of God to us as we walk with him—that He will keep his promise to save and preserve us, his people.
We come this week to 1 Timothy's dramatic conclusion. It's as if the Apostle Paul is reaching through the page, grabbing Timothy by the shoulders, staring intensely into his eyes, and earnestly exhorting him: "Fight the good fight of the faith!" We'll explore this Sunday why the Christian life is a battle, and we'll see specifically what we're fighting for and against.
Whether at work, school, the church, or home, it's often easy to serve joyfully when things are going well. But what about when the circumstances are not ideal--or even unjust? How can we persevere in our faith and service even in hard times? We'll see this from Paul's encouragement to Christian slaves in the Ephesian church.
Chapter 3 ended on a high note with a beautiful hymn declaring the glory of the church and her Savior. But chapter 4 brings us back down to earth, so to speak, with a grave warning about those who fall away from the faith. How should Timothy and the saints in Ephesus to guard themselves and minister to others in light of this? And how can we watch out for this ourselves and for one another?
Jesus famously said that in this world believers will have trouble (John 16:33). We will all face pressure and even persecution because of our faith. The question is, in the face of opposition, will we shrink or stand? In our passage, Jesus is put on trial before the high priest. And yet there are really two trials going on. We'll see what we can learn from the strength of Jesus' faith in contrast with the weakness of Peter.
This week is the second Sunday of Advent, a season where we look back a Christ's first coming and look ahead to his second coming. We're continuing in Jesus' sermon on the Mount of Olives and will hear the crucial importance of being prepared for his arrival. How can we be wisely ready so we aren't left out of his coming kingdom?
Have you ever wondered what the end of the world will be like? In our passage this week, the disciples ask Jesus this very question. This Sunday is the beginning of Advent, when we remember the first coming of Jesus and look ahead to his second coming, as well. During this season, we'll continue in the Gospel of Matthew, hearing from Jesus' Olivet Discourse about his future return to earth—something every Christian should look forward to.
Have you ever felt like giving up? This Sunday, David Skinner, member of Mosaic Church, will encourage us with Paul's powerful exhortation in Philippians 3.
