RLC: Giving
Today we begin one of the most challenging weeks – Giving. There are more Red Letters about giving than almost any other subject. Why is that? Because Jesus loves to give! He gave His life for the life of the world. Jesus wants us to reflect Him in how generous we are with others. Don’t think your giving makes a difference? Bring what you have to the Lord. With just a little – five loaves and two fish – Jesus can do a lot? WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Jun 2, 2019RLC: GivingRLC: GivingToday we begin one of the most challenging weeks – Giving. There are more Red Letters about giving than almost any other subject. Why is that? Because Jesus loves to give! He gave His life for the life of the world. Jesus wants us to reflect Him in how generous we are with others. Don’t think your giving makes a difference? Bring what you have to the Lord. With just a little – five loaves and two fish – Jesus can do a lot?
- May 26, 2019RLC: ServingRLC: Serving
We are motivated by expectations. We give and serve but we expect something in return. We may start without expectations but at some point, we ask, “What’s in it for me?” As we follow Jesus and put his words into action, He calls us to serve without expecting anything in return. This is the true heart of a servant? - May 19, 2019RLC: ForgivingRLC: Forgiving
As followers of Jesus we are always asking, “What is my purpose?” We ask the question, but do we really want the answer? What if the answer is to forgive that person who has wounded you deeply? What if the answer is to put down your self-righteous stones that make you feel better than others. What if Jesus is calling His followers to be known for what they are FOR than what they are AGAINST? - May 12, 2019A Matter of Identity
- May 6, 2019RLC: BeingRLC: BeingBefore we are called to do anything for Jesus, we are called to spend time with Jesus. However, in our desire to follow Jesus we often jump into action and forget that our DOING flows out of our BEING with Jesus. In the coming weeks, Jesus will call us to Forgive, to Serve, to Give, and to Go. None of these are possible unless we first learn to abide in Being with Jesus.
- Apr 28, 2019RLC: IntroductionRLC: Introduction
More than half of the words in the Gospels come from the mouth of Jesus. These are the Red Letters of Scripture. We memorize them, we quote them, we write books about them, we post them on social media. Jesus called us to do none of these things. He called us to do them! God’s Word is living, active and life-changing for those who read, mark, learn and inwardly digest it. Let us open our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we embark on this 40-day challenge.
- Apr 21, 2019Consider JesusConsider Jesus
Consider that this morning we celebrate a victory - Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was slain for our sins, but He has risen from the dead! Through baptism and faith in His Name we have forgiveness and eternal life. That means that because He has risen, we too will rise. That’s something to celebrate! … Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! - Apr 18, 2019Love is the GreatestLove is the Greatest
The night before He dies, Jesus shows His disciples how great His love is for us by doing the work of a servant and washing His disciples' feet. Love is so great, it moves us to do sacrificial things! - Apr 14, 2019Love is Fulfilling PromisesLove is Fulfilling Promises
Jesus knows He will soon die when He rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Yet, He goes to Jerusalem anyway. Matthew says He does so, in part, to fulfill a prophecy from Zechariah. Jesus keeps this promise in the prophecy out of His love for us. - Apr 10, 2019Love is All ThingsLove is All ThingsForgiveness and love are intimately connected. You will never be able to love someone well if you are not able to forgive them for the times they do not love you well. We should seek, on the one hand, never to lead someone we love into sin while, on the other hand, forgiving others when they tempt us into sin, or sin against us.
- Apr 7, 2019Love is TruthfulLove is TruthfulAchan’s lie hurts not only Achan, but the whole Israelite community. To love someone is to tell the truth, even when the truth embarrasses us, or is tough for them to hear!
- Apr 3, 2019Love is ForgivingLove is ForgivingForgiveness and love are intimately connected. You will never be able to love someone well if you are not able to forgive them for the times they do not love you well. We should seek, on the one hand, never to lead someone we love into sin while, on the other hand, forgiving others when they tempt us into sin, or sin against us.
- Mar 31, 2019Love is Not IrritableLove is Not IrritableIn Jesus’ parable, a judge gives a woman what she wants because she won’t stop bothering her and it irritates him! Jesus promises that, no matter how many times we “bother” God, He will never become irritated with our pleas!
- Mar 27, 2019Love is Not Self SeekingLove is Not Self Seeking
In a culture that is selfish, we are called to be selfless. Being selfless helps us connect with others better because it focuses us on them and their needs.
- Mar 24, 2019Love is Not RudeLove is Not RudeIt is easy to be rude when someone angers you. But rudeness only ruins relationships! When we are tempted to be rude, we should instead forgive someone for whatever it is that is tempting us toward rudeness.
