Jesus told a parable about a man who was beaten and left for dead. When the only the Samaritan would stop and care for the man, Jesus asked those around him "Who acted like this man's neighbor?" The crowd obviously said, "The one who showed mercy." Jesus would also teach elsewhere that there are only two commands that sum up the law - to love God and to love one's neighbors. Thus, to be a good, loving neighbor, we have to serve others by showing mercy. Sunday, we move deeper into the BLESS tool as we look to see how to serve those around us. 

Many of my favorite memories in life are from meals. There is something about eating with someone that creates a deep sense of connectedness. It is also a great way to break down barriers and share the hope of the gospel with those around us. This week, we will explore how food and drink are a great way to open the door to share the hope of the gospel with those around us. See you Sunday at 10 am! 

Last week, we started a look at how we can be a blessing to our neighbors and friends with one simple step - praying for them to come and trust Jesus. This week, we take a look the next step in how we reach our friends and neighbors with life-giving gospel hope and that is by learning to listen. But there is one step that is of vital importance when it comes to listening to what our friends, neighbors, family, and even culture are saying and that is learning to care about them and why they are saying it. See you Sunday as as we see how the Apostle Paul is an example for us on how we can listen in such a way as to show how much we care. 

This week we begin a new series that's a little different than our usual time in God's Word. As your pastor, I think I know you all pretty well and as such, I know you all have big hearts and you care deeply about your friends, family, and neighbors. You want to bless them and have each of them come to know and trust Jesus as you have. But there is a problem. We often struggle with the best way to show those around us the love of Christ. Over the next six weeks, we will take a look at how we can be a B.L.E.S.S.ing to those around us and I can't wait to show you this week why it is important we begin with prayer! 

One of the things I've grown to like about Revelation is that they ask a lot of questions. In chapter five, they asked who can open the scroll and in chapter six they ask who can stand on the day of God's great wrath. The fun thing is that they also give the answers. The lamb that was slain is worthy to open the scroll and in chapter seven, we see the answer as to who can stand on the day of God's great wrath. Who is it? Well, you'll want to join us Sunday to find out!

Last week, we saw how because Jesus died and rose again, he is worthy to execute God's plan for dealing with sin on the earth. This week, we begin to see that plan begin to take shape. It's a vivid picture and our temptation is to focus on the imagry rather than the message. Our aim is to focus on the message of the text so that we hear the message of God. That's our aim this week as we begin to see the scroll be opened. See you Sunday at 10 am as we explore what happens when "The Seals are Broken". 

Last week, we saw how in the midst of a chaotic world, God remains on his throne, completely in charge. But God is not sitting on his throne passively waiting or watching. God is active in the midst of the chaos of the trials and tribulations of the age and he will remain so until the day that he culminates history. Best of all, he already knows how he will accomplish all that he wants to. Combine this truth with the reality that Jesus came to earth, died, and rose again victorious over the grave leads us to one conclusion - the same conclusion that was in the throne room and that is that Jesus is worthy. We'll discuss this more Sunday as we see just how Jesus is "The One Who is Worthy". 

After a couple of months away, we resume our study in Revelation this week with an abrupt scene shift. When we left, Jesus had just finished talking to the seven churches and giving them the encouragement to endure to the end so that they could be overcomers. Now, at the start of chapter four, we see a sudden change in the letter as John is invited into the very throne room of God. This week, we'll see how the context of the text influences how we interpret what we see. See you Sunday at 10 as we consider what we see in "The Throne Room of Heaven". 

Before we jump back into Revelation next week, we'll continue a discussion we started last fall on prayer. One of the challenges we see in the New Testament is the call to be people who remain consistently steadfast in prayer. What sort of person lives with this steadfast devotion to prayer? That's our aim this week. See you Sunday at 10 am as we continue our ongoing series "Teach Us to Pray" with a look at "Steadfast Perseverance in the  Prayerful Life". 

As we wrap up our time in Micah this week, there is one question left for us to answer. If last week showed us what not to do while we wait for the coming of the Shepherd-King, this week shows us what we should do while we wait. What do we do when we look out and see a broken and dysfunctional world while we wait for the second coming - that is the question we will answer this week. 

According to the ad executives, "Snickers Satisfies". But if we are honest, every product is meant to satisfy some desire in some way. The problem with Snickers is that no matter how many you eat, eventually you will get hungry again. In the same way, our text points out the futility of life. And the reason for it is sin. So, how can this help us? We'll see Sunday as we take this text in how it can help us wage war on our sins. 

There are vereses in Scripture that are often printed on coffee mugs and motivational posters. Our text this week is one of those passages. But, just because they are often quoted doesn't mean that those who quote it always get it right. Our task this week is to see what God intends for us to know about Micah 6:8 and how we can apply it to our lives. Can't wait to see you all as we look at this often quoted verse and see if we get it right!

Years ago, I was on my way home from a short term missions trip when I almost couldn't leave the country. Our group got to the security gate and somehow my passport wasn't stamped. The guard told me to go back to customs and through some difficulty, I finally got my passport stamped and I could leave. But as I think back, what would have happened if the customs agent or the guard were corrupt? What if they demanded money (I really had none on me)? What if they accused me of something and I was hauled off to jail? I had no way of contacting my group who were safely on the other side waiting for the plane. Thankfully, everyone was honest and I got to come home. Sunday, we'll look at a people who weren't honest but very corrupt and we'll see what God has to say about it. Ring in the new year with the first sermon of 2025! See you then! 

The Bible makes a lot of promises and if we are honest, a lot of them seem way too good to be true. How can we know that God will keep all his promises? He tells us what to look for. In Micah 5, in a passage written over 700 years before the birth of Christ, we see that God says the promise that all Micah says is true will happen with the birth of a king in Bethlehem. Now, every year in December, we celebrate that birth as it reminds us that God keeps all his promises - especially the one that there is hope for those who are exiled from God. See you for our annual Christmas Eve service at 6 pm on 12/24 - and bring a friend as well!

The Bible makes a lot of promises and if we are honest, a lot of them seem way too good to be true. How can we know that God will keep all his promises? He tells us what to look for. In Micah 5, in a passage written over 700 years before the birth of Christ, we see that God says the promise that all Micah says is true will happen with the birth of a king in Bethlehem. Now, every year in December, we celebrate that birth as it reminds us that God keeps all his promises - especially the one that there is hope for those who are exiled from God. See you for our annual Christmas Eve service at 6 pm on 12/24 - and bring a friend as well!

Back in my younger, tough guy days, if there was a conflict between myself and someone else and words were exchanged, you might hear someone ask me if I was threatening them. In my attempt to appear tougher than I really was, I would respond "No, that's not a threat. It's a promise." It sounded good, but I'll be honest, I'm glad I never was pushed beyond that. Our text this week in Micah also has some promises for people to be aware of, some good and some bad, and we can count on God keeping his word. Sunday, we'll see how these promises should serve as both an encouragement for us and a warning for those who reject his word. 

One of my favorite Bible verses is Revelation 21:5 where Jesus proclaims "Behold, I am making all things new!" And we like to think about how Jesus came to make us personally new creations in him or how he will redeem and restore the natural order of things but have you ever considered that he is also going to make government new? He is - there will be a new government with Jesus as King and this is incredibly good news. See you Sunday at 10 am as we explore this and in the conclusion I'll share how this truth gives you an answer to that grumpy relative who complains about the government at Christmas dinner!

As I was doing a little shopping on Black Friday, I stumbled across a shirt that had a picture of a dead theologian wearing a Santa hat that said, "You're all on the naughty list!" And after last Sunday, that's sort of where our study in Micah left us. This Sunday, we see how God, in spite of all our sinful short-comings, will keep all his promises - including the greatest promise of all! 

As the calendar turns from November to December, our attention turns from harvest and Thanksgiving to winter and Christmas. And in that, our thoughts turn carols, cocoa, and cookies - all the joyfulness of the season. But as much as we celebrate the coming of Christ, we often let those celebrations overshadow the reason that Jesus came. If we forget why Jesus came, we lose a huge part of why we should celebrate. This week, we begin a series in the prophet Micah that will see us looking at the Bethlehem prophecy on Christmas Eve. Until then, we'll start with a reminder that Christmas is coming - and remember why our savior had to come in the first place. 

Thanksgiving begins the holiday season and it's a time of joy and celebration. But for many, it's a time of regret, sadness, loss, and defeat. Life, and all that it brings, makes it impossible to give thanks for a life filled with challenging circumstances. But what if I told you the Bible gives us something greater to be thankful for, something that no matter what you are dealing with it can never be taken away, something you can always rejoice in? That's what we will look at this Sunday as we pause for a week before starting our Christmas celebration by asking the question - how can a life of thankfulness give us peace? Warning - it's probably not the way you are thinking. 

I mentioned last week that of the seven churches in Revelation, two received no rebuke, only commendation and encouragement while four received some combination of both rebuke and encourangement. Now, if you can do basic math, you'll know that is six, not seven. What about this last church? Well, it's the church that Jesus doesn't like to see at all - so much so that he has no words of encouragement for them! If you're following along, you know it's the church in Laodicea and this week, we wrap up our look at these churches with the only church that Jesus had nothing good to say. 

The first time someone called me Pastor, I have to admit that there was a big part of me that felt like an imposter. I mean, I know what lurks in my heart and it certainly wasn't pastoral by any means. Over time, I can say that while I no longer feel like an imposter, it's not because of me. It's because of the same thing Jesus tells the church in Sardis to do. What is that? We'll explore more this Sunday at 10 am. 

The first time someone called me Pastor, I have to admit that there was a big part of me that felt like an imposter. I mean, I know what lurks in my heart and it certainly wasn't pastoral by any means. Over time, I can say that while I no longer feel like an imposter, it's not because of me. It's because of the same thing Jesus tells the church in Sardis to do. What is that? We'll explore more this Sunday at 10 am. 

When we last looked at Revelation, we saw how the church is to encourage one another to run the race with endurance and not compromise with the world. This week, we see a church that had the opposite problem with those who had decided to listen to the world and not to Jesus. How does Jesus react to those who compromise their values with a sinful world? We'll see this week as we pick up in Revelation with "The Church in Thyatira". Can't wait to see you then! 

One of my greatest desires is that we would be a church that lives in a steadfast dependency upon God in prayer. We've made it a key value of who we hope to become in Christ. But to do that, we need to spend some time studying and praying. Starting this week, we will occassionally take a Sunday to hear from God on the subject of prayer and to actually spend some time praying ourselves. I can't wait to open God's Word with you as we enter the school of prayer to learn how to pray! See you Sunday at 10 am! 

In 1990 the EFCA Conference defined ordination in the following way: “Ordination in The Evangelical Free Church of America is the act of publicly setting a person apart for Christian ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands by others in ministry and the leadership of the local church; thus recognizing God’s call upon his life; his gifts and training for ministry; his commitment to teach and preach the sacred Scriptures.” This Sunday, we will recognize Pastor Thomas as one called out by God to lead and preach to the local church. We hope you will be able to join us at 10 am - and then stick around afterwards for a family meal to celebrate all God has done in this church and in Pastor Thomas' life! 

It's no secret that we live in a world that is often contrary to the ideals and precepts laid out in Scripture. The temptation to go along with what the world wants is strong. How do we deal with a world that demands we compromise our values in light of the what they believe? Surprisingly, this isn't new, it's what the next church in line had to deal with. Sunday, we'll see what the church in Pergamum had to deal with and what we can learn from it. 

The other day, I had a prayer call with some of our partners in South Asia. One of the men asked for prayer as he was about to travel to deal with some false charges against him that stem from him being a Christian. Persecution is still real today all over the world, just as it was when John wrote the words we will study this week almost 2,000 years ago. And while we may not suffer persecution like those around the globe or those in John's day, we can learn a powerful lesson on how to deal with the struggles in our own life. Can't wait to see you Sunday as we study Revelation 2:8-11 and the Church in Smyrna.

As we head into chapter two of Revelation, we get to meet the original audience of this book - the seven churches. As we get a glimpse into their lives, we get a bit of a reflection of our own. King Solomon was right, there is nothing new under the sun. Because this is true, we know that we can learn from this group as we read what was written to them. And this week, we see a church that in its pursuit of theological purity forgotten how to love. How so? See you this week at 10 am to find out! 

Two years ago, while in South Asia, a local pastor picked me up at the airport. He hadn't seen me for three years and he pointed out that I had put on some weight. While I didn't appreciate his pointing it out, at least he still recognized me. Sometimes people change so much over time, that they are almost unrecognizable. This is what happened to John knowing Jesus at the beginning of Revelation! Imagine the beloved disciple not knowing who Jesus was. Thankfully, he realized who was speaking to him and it changed everything. How so? Well, join us this Sunday morning and find out!

Who a message is from matters. If I tell you I have a check for you for a million dollars, you’ll laugh because you know I can’t possibly cover it. But, if I tell you that Warren Buffet told me that he has a check for a million dollars for you, you might get excited because the messenger is not me, but the one who can cover the check. Last week, we kicked off our study of Revelation and learned that the purpose of this book isn’t to scare or intimidate us but instead to bring us joyful hope as we learn more about Jesus. This week, we continue in chapter one and we’ll see who this message is for, but more importantly, who the message is actually from. Hint: it’s not John! 

When Mel Gibson wrote and directed The Passion of the Christ, his intent was to bring the drama of Good Friday to life. But even to this day, people debate if it is a horror film and while the film was in the theaters, many fans of the slasher genre flocked to see it. Many people missed the intent of the film and made it something else altogether. This week, we begin a series of messages in Revelation which has also been misinterpreted and misapplied in people’s lives. But, if you take the time to read it, despite the imagery presented, the story is actually one of joy and enduring hope. Make plans to join us Sunday as we begin our series Enduring Hope: A Look at Revelation with a study of the first three verses of chapter one. 

The other day, one of Julie's nephews (and mine too!) was honored by Barry Manilow for his work he has done as a high school band instructor. During the announcement from the stage, Barry Manilow noted that he always wanted to be a teacher so when he discovered his passion for music in high school, he knew he would be a music teacher. Our nephew had clarity in what he wanted and where he was going. When you have clarity in life, it changes everything. We wrap up our look at Gospel Clairity this week and seek to answer one last question. How is our life different when we have gospel clarity? We'll see you Sunday at 10 am to find out! 

Last week, we started a discussion on why gospel clarity matters in the life of a Christian. But, there is one question that may matter most of all. Is the Gospel trustworthy? Why should we believe that it is true? That is the question that we wrestle with this week as we continue our look at 1 Corinthians 15. Hope you can join us Sunday as we consider why the gospel is believable - and why it matters in the first place. See you at 10!

Last week, we started a discussion on why gospel clarity matters in the life of a Christian. But, there is one question that may matter most of all. Is the Gospel trustworthy? Why should we believe that it is true? Is the Gospel such good news that it is too good to be true? That is the question that we wrestle with this week as we continue our look at 1 Corinthians 15. Hope you can join us Sunday as we consider why the gospel is believable - and why it matters in the first place.

It's been said that it only takes four generations to lose a message. The first generation accepts the message. Then, the second generation assumes the message. By the time the third generation comes around, the message is assumed. Then the fourth generation loses the message. We've seen this historically in churches when the gospel no longer becomes the message that is accepted and becomes the message assumed. If we want to ensure we have the gospel to pass down to future generations, we need to take time to remind ourselves what the gospel is. Over the next four weeks, we'll explore what it means to have "Gospel Clarity" as we look at 1 Corinithians 15. 

This week we wrap up our look at Paul's two letters to the Thessalonian church. Over the past four months, we've heard a lot of what was on Paul's heart for these new believers and as such, before we move on to our next sermon series next week, we should take this final look at Paul's second letter to see what he wanted to leave the church with. These final words of Paul to these belivers have a message for us as well that we'll look at Sunday at 10 am. 

Waiting is hard. But even harder is what do you do while you wait. You don't start a big project while you wait to see the doctor. You don't start a novel while your oil is getting changed. There is something about how you spend your time while you wait that is hard to figure out. But, as our text this week shows, how we we wait matters. How so? We'll discuss it more on Sunday. See you then!

Martin Luther once said (allegedly, I wasn't around to record him) that his day was so busy that he could not survive on less than 3 hours of prayer. For me, I can't help but notice the busier I get, the more hectic I am, the more my prayer life dwindles. I have a feeling that I am not alone. Even the best at prayer struggle in living a prayerful life and often when life goes sideway, prayer is often left at the wayside. How can we combat this? We'll talk about it this week. 

There are some doctrines that are harder to grasp and accept than others. This week, Paul takes us to one of those doctrines. But, even the hard doctrines and the ones we have trouble accepting are much easier to understand when we understand them in with the purpose in which they were written. We'll discuss "The Purpose of God's Saving Choice" this week and our aim is to see how it brings comfort to us. 

If there is a figure in end-times theology that gets a lot of attention is the figure of the lawless one, the antichrist. Paul, in his reassurance to the Thessalonians that they had missed the return of Christ, discusses the lawlessone in our text this week. But not as a way to scare people or move them to watch for the coming of this enemy of God. No, Paul does so in such a way that he wants the Thessalonians - and us by extension - to keep our eyes on the one who has overcome and will win in the end.

When you see the suffering in the world, when you walk the road of suffering in your own life, it's easy to conclude that God doesn't care about you or anything else. But, the truth is that God does care and he sees your suffering. And beyond that, he is doing something with it and about the suffering you and others experience. And that is an incredible joy to know that ours is a God who sees and a God who cares and a God who is working in our suffering. Hope to see you Sunday at 10 am as we consider how God is working in the problems of our lives. 

This week we continue our study of Thessalonians by moving on to Paul's second letter to that church. Some time has passed, but the circumstances have not. The church is still struggling in some areas and is still under persecution. There were many things working against that church and yet, we see in the first four verses that they were growing in faith and love. Why? Well, we'll have to consider what we talked about last week to have it make sense. 

Sometimes when we get to portions of our Bible, we feel like the demands on our lives aren't very realistic. Take our text this week, for example. Paul gives over 15 commands in the first 11 verses of our text. And as you read them, your faith becomes far more of a drudgery than a delight. But that's not Paul's aim. Yes, he wants the church to behave a certain way but not to earn God's favor but because he knows that in the end, Jesus will make it happen. How? Join us today to find out. 

There has been a lot of talk in recent days about a person's identity. And it makes sense. Our identity matters a great deal on how we see ourselves and how we see the world. So, it makes a great deal of sense that when Paul wants to continue encouraging the Thessalonians that he appeals to their identity in Christ. But why did they need encouraging? That's important as well. Sunday, we'll look at not only why the church was discouraged but why Paul took them back to their identity in Christ as the solution. 

While I was a chaplain at a retirement home, I learned very quickly that funerals never become easy. There is something about the finality of death that when it comes for our loved ones, we have no choice but to grieve and to mourn. But just as we discussed last week, how we do that changes in light of the fact that Jesus is coming back. This Sunday, we will look at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and see how understanding what comes next gives us hope today as we look in death's face. See you Sunday - and bring your mom along so we can honor her as well! 

If you can remember the 1980's, they you probably remember The Bangles and their hit song "Walk Like An Egyptian". In the height of the MTV era of music, the video showed band members, grandmas, business men, police officers, and even Princess Diana doing the signature hand gestures that go along with the song. There is something fun about walking in silly fashion. But how walk, according to our text this week, has serious consequences. Which ones? See you this Sunday at 10 am to find out.  

This week, we're excited that Pastor David Tank from Waukee Community Church will join us to continue our study in Thessalonians. Can't wait to hear what God has laid on his heart as he opens the Word for us. See you Sunday at 10 am! 

As we've started our study in Thessalonians, we've established that the reason Paul sent Timothy back to them was because he was afraid that all he had done was a waste. The question I wonder is why did Paul think this way. And in Thessalonians itself there are a few clues in the text, along with what we read in Acts and in other epistles, that help us understand why Paul was so concerned. And the reason Paul was so worried was that everywhere Paul went, he faced great opposition to what he was doing. Likewise today, where the gospel goes forth, the enemy of God awaits to hinder the work. In the face of persecution and opposition, how should we respond? That's what we will look at Sunday at 10 am! Can't wait to see you and a friend then!

Last week during sermon prep, the message took a turn I didn't expect. And then it took another turn when I wasn't able to say all that the text says in one message. So this week, we'll wrap up our time in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and the marks of Genuine Gospel Preaching with the last three of those marks. I hope you'll join us as we take that look this Sunday and as we gather for communion. See you Sunday at 10 am!  

Last week, we began our series in Thessalonians by seeing that we must keep our eyes on Jesus and live in the hope of the resurrection if we want to see transformation in our lives. This week, Paul continues this initial section of Paul greeting and telling the church he is thankful for them by reminding them how Paul served them while he was in Thessalonica. And in this, we get a glimpse of what it means to live a life in service of Christ. The question we have to wrestle with this week is in light of all that Paul suffered to bring them the gospel, was it worth it? Spoiler alert, it is, but probably not for the reason you think it is. Can't wait to see you Sunday at 10 am!

I've mentioned my love of Easter Sunday and how excited I get to gather as the church to worship and celebrate that Jesus is not dead but is alive. Yet, every year, after the service is over, I sit down and can't help but feel a little dejected. I often feel that way after Christmas morning or maybe you've felt that way after a big event in your life like a wedding or graduation. The reality of "now what" is real. And it was no different for a church in a city called Thessalonica after the Apostle Paul came and shared the good news about Jesus. Now what? That's what we will look at starting today on Easter Sunday.   Hope to see you and your family and friends Sunday at 10 am!

Every year, during the Passover, we pause and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means for us. This year, on Good Friday, we'll ponder one line at the end of the crucifixion narrative in Luke's Gospel. At the end of 23:56, Luke writes, "On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." What does Jesus' work on the cross acomplish that allows the believer to rest? We'll reflect on this Friday at 7 pm. 

As we wrap up our time in the Proverbs, the last few weeks have shown us that if we truly want to understand the text, we can't forget that the Bible tells one consistent story about how God is redeeming a sinful people to himself, through Jesus, by the Spirit, for his glory! And this week, we see that the end result of that redemption is the gift of not just eternal spiritual life, but new and redeemed physical life through the power of Christ. We get a jump on our Easter celebration this Sunday as we consider "The Wisdom of Wisdom" as we look at Proverbs 3:7-8.  Can't wait to see you Sunday at 10 am! Due to a technical issue, we only have an audio recording of this week's message.

This week we are blessed to have Eddie Passmore open God's Word with us. Eddie is the executive director of Mexico Caravan Ministries, a goup that serves the poor in Mexico by building shelters to open doors for the gospel. Through this service, young people develop a heart for all of God's people, cultivating a heart to reach the lost around the globe. His message this week will focus on the great need to take the gospel where it isn't known! I hope you will be able to join us to see what God is doing to advance his kingdom around the world! 

Last week, we began our last stretch (for now) in the Proverbs with the question "Are the Proverbs promises or principles?" And I shared with you why I stray a bit from a lot of conventional wisdom and say that I see them as promises but with a healthy caveat. We interpret all of them through 2 Corinthians 1:20 which tells us that all of the promises of God find their Yes in him - and that him is Jesus. So, we're going to test this out for the next few weeks as we look at the rest of Proverbs 3:1-10 and also answer how we can find favor in the sight of God and man.

If there is one thing that I've learned as a Christian, it's that we tend to want to over correct. If we see a wrong or destructive teaching, we tend to want to go the other direction as far away as we can. We're not alone in this - the religious leaders of Jesus' day were known for this. The problem is that when we do this, we can miss out on many things that God intends for us as a result of living the way he intends for us to. We don't need to be afraid of receiving what God intends for us to receive as a result of faithful living. Can't wait to explore this well-known passage with you this Sunday at 10 am!

There is a quote that is often attributed to Mark Twain that goes something like, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." The funny thing is that it is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln as well. One researcher has determined that it originates in 1907 with a book by Maurice Switzer. The funny thing is, that research is wrong. It's actually much, much older. How much older? Be sure and join us as we continue our look at the Proverbs with "The Wisdom of Watching Your Words". 

Years ago, I was challenged by Hebrews 12:2-3 and the truth that Jesus was able to endure the cross because he knew what was on the other side. "For the joy set before him" is how the author of Hebrews lays it out for us. Interestingly, this echoes back to our passage in Proverbs (4:20-27) for this week. How so? You'll need to join us either in person or online this Sunday. Hope to see you at 10 am as we continue our study in the Proverbs.

There is a sad reality that if you are paying attention to the way things work, you'll realize that everything in this world is broken. And in this, we try and fix what is broken with the things of this world, but they never work. But God has had a plan from before things were broken on how to fix it - we just need to listen to his instrustions. This week, we'll take a look at Proverbs 16:1-9 and see how it is wise to pay attention to God and what he has to say. 

Our text this week deals with a touchy subject of marital fidelity. As I studied the text, the question came up in my mind as to why someone would cheat on their spouse. According to a study I found online from last year, the strongest motivator for an affair is dissatisfaction in your physical relationship with your spouse. In other words, if you find your intimate relationship unsatisfactory, you are far more likely to seek out intimacy with someone else. It seems that satisfaction leads to fidelity and faithfulness. This week, we will see how this rule for our marriages holds true for our relationship with God as well. Hope to see you Sunday as we continue our study in the Proverbs. 

One thing I've learned over the years is that when asked if they will go to heaven, most people will answer with "I hope so!" Now, we've discussed how Biblical hope isn't like worldly hope in the past, but how sad it is that for most people they barely have worldly hope that when their life is done they will see Jesus. That's not how he wants it. This week, we'll look at Proverbs 1:20-33 and see how if we listen to God's wisdom, we can have the eternal security we all crave.

Last week, we started our look at the Proverbs with the premise that end goal of wisdom isn't a good life or a civil society but instead it is the worship of Jesus himself. This week, we put that theory to the test. Why should we abstain from sin when everyone in the world is telling us to dive head first into it? Should we abstain because it "hurts our witness" or destroys our relationships? Or, is there something bigger at play? I hope you'll join us Sunday at 10 to see why the Wisdom of Abstaining is far more important than you think!

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Now, I generally go to bed early and get up before anyone else. Does this mean I'm automatically healthy? Not in the least. Does it make me wealthy? Again, not if my bank account is correct. What Franklin shared was a proverb which is a short, memorable saying that explains how life generally works, and while his proverb isn't in the Bible, there is an entire book of these sayings giving us principles and guidelines on how to live. This Sunday, we start a series that discusses several of these and as such, we see how we can have "Wisdom for Life".