This Weekend's Message: Advent: The Sequel

Acts 1:9-11

Whether it is a bearded man holding a sign, a passionate preacher on TV, or a Mayan calendar, people are constantly predicting the end of the world. And those who buy into these predictions often face embarrassing or outright disastrous consequences. Many of us who are Christians want to distance ourselves from those who cry out, “apocalypse now,” preferring a calmer Christianity, one more focused on a personal connection to God and one another.

Still, as much as it might make us uncomfortable, the Bible clearly and boldly predicts that the same Jesus who was born in a manger will return to this earth one day. It is a teaching that can make us feel awkward and uncomfortable. It is a teaching that sounds both unlikely and unnecessary to many people in our culture. We can try to ignore it or explain it away, but it is impossible to deny the clear Biblical teaching on the subject.

What does the Bible say about the return of Christ? What will happen? When will it happen? And why does it need to happen? As so often proves to be the case with Jesus, the news of his return is better news than we might think.

-Pastor Dan Franklin

This Weekend's Message: Doing Justly: Trading Eyes and Teeth

Trading Eyes and Teeth

            It is amazing how quickly children learn the word, “Mine.” Most parents aren’t eager to pass that word along, but kids pick it up, nonetheless. And years later, as adults, most of us just as quickly shout “Mine!” if we need to protect what is ours. We cling to what is ours, whether it is our possessions, or our status, or our bank account. Rarely do we find ourselves as passionate as we become when someone threatens to take something that belongs to us. We become empowered to fight, argue, go to court, and cut off relationships.

            In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus address this instinct to protect what belongs to us. And in the passage Jesus’ words are surprising in two ways. First of all, he surprises us because he doesn’t validate these seemingly natural desires to protect ourselves. Second of all, he surprises us because he doesn’t simply tell us to stuff our selfish desires so that we can be kind to others. His response is not only surprising, but it is liberating.

Dan Franklin

Teaching Pastor