What is the reward for being a good Christian? In politics, if you do a good job, you are usually rewarded with the opportunity to run for a higher office. If you do a good job on a sport’s team, you are usually rewarded with a starting position or more playing time. Success in the business world often ends up with promotions and salary increases. In almost all organizations, doing well is rewarded with more responsibility, more perks, and...

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On next Sunday morning, January 22, 2012, I will be preaching on Romans 15.30-33 where the apostle Paul asked the believers in Rome to strive together with him in prayer. I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32so...

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There is a guy on the internet who calls himself the “Goal’s Guy.” His mission is “to provide for you the opportunity to create a focused, goal-directed life and business culture that delivers results.” According to him, the Top Ten Goals for 2012 are to (1) lose weight and get in better physical shape, (2) stick to a budget, (3) reduce debt, (4) enjoy more quality time with friends and family, (5) find your soul mate, (6) quit...

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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was...

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When the angel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to bear the Son of God in her womb, this should have been incredible news. The Jewish people had been longing for the advent of the Messiah for over 700 years, and one would think that Mary would have been ecstatic about the news, even more so that she had been chosen to play a significant role in the advent of the Messiah.  But Mary could only see all the reasons why God...

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On this Sunday night, we have the opportunity to ordain three men to the deacon ministry: Terry Lindsay,  Clint Hopson, and Casey Gordon. The office of deacon was established very quickly in the early church. There were deacons in the churches in Philippi (see Philippians 1.1) and Ephesus (see 1 Timothy 3.8-13). By the second century, church leaders like Justin Martyr and Tertullian were already writing about the role and responsibilities of...

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