by Robby McAlpine | Jul 27, 2019 | Church Life, Discipleship, Evangelism, Forgiveness, General, Healing, Messy Church, Practical Theology
“But one thing I do: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” ~ Philippians 3:13-14 Memory can be a tricky thing. Case in...
by Michael Sterns | Jul 17, 2019 | General
John 15:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and...
by Brad Blocksom | Feb 27, 2019 | Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, General, New Testament, Scripture
Mark 14:32-42 Failure in the Garden Last time Jesus predicted of the disciples “You will all fall away.” This time we see, at least the beginning, of that failure realized! They have now arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane. And Jesus instructs the...
by Kenny Burchard | Jan 11, 2019 | General, Interviews
Hi friends. Thanks for stopping by to watch this 30 minute video announcement as I discuss the big pieces of how it is that the Burchard family finds ourselves being called into reconciliation and full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. You’ll hear these...
by Kenny Burchard | Jan 8, 2019 | General, Poetry
Over the years I have written a bit of poetry. I dug out an old journal with some of my writing today and found this one called “The Spirit of Adoption” written back on April 9, 2005. What is interesting about this poem is that I was two months away from...
by Michael Sterns | Dec 12, 2018 | General, Practical Theology
Philippians 4:11-13 …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether...
by Michael Sterns | Nov 1, 2018 | General
1st Corinthians 12:12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. I live in Franklin, TN. It is a very churched town. There are big churches and small churches. There are seeker-sensitive churches. There...
by Michael Sterns | Oct 25, 2018 | General, Practical Theology
Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? I just recently celebrated two years at the church that I work at. It is an absolute honor and privilege to work at this church, and it is incredible working with my...
by Kenny Burchard | Jul 14, 2018 | General, Sunday Gospel Reflections
This Sunday’s Gospel reading is Mk. 6:7-13 “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick— no food, no sack, no money in their...
by Kenny Burchard | Jun 18, 2018 | Biblical Studies, Humor, New Testament, Old Testament, Politics, Satire, Scripture
Below, you will find every text in the entire Bible (Old Testament and New), that definitively and substantively directs the United States of America in how it, as a sovereign nation, is to construct its immigration laws. I would be interested to hear in the comments...
by Kenny Burchard | Jun 6, 2018 | General, Practical Theology
I recently asked my friends on social media to participate in a yes-or-no survey of fifty different theological beliefs. I’m going to do my best to try to share some of my findings over the course of several posts, and this is the first. A bit about the...
by Kenny Burchard | Apr 8, 2018 | Sunday Gospel Reflections
The entire biblical text and the reading below are meant to be read aloud in the company of friends and fellow believers, followed by discussion, confession, and prayer. This is the Sunday’s Gospel Reading from John 20:19-31 (ESV) in the Revised Common Lectionary....
by Kenny Burchard | Mar 23, 2018 | Sunday Gospel Reflections
The entire biblical text and the reading below are meant to be read aloud in the company of friends and fellow believers, followed by discussion, confession, and prayer. This is Palm Sunday’s Gospel Reading (option B) from John 12:12-16 in the Revised Common...
by Kenny Burchard | Mar 14, 2018 | General, Humor
I grew up in a pretty non-religious family. We made fun of Christians quite a bit when I was growing up for lots of different reasons. One of the reasons was that some of them tended to “talk funny” when reading the Bible or praying. They seemed to have...
by Kenny Burchard | Nov 16, 2017 | Humor, Satire
DURHAM, NC – For many people, the Bible can be an overwhelming and intimidating book. For pastors who stand and teach from the Bible every Sunday, the task can be daunting. How can one person work through all that material, and how can people finally get to a place...
by Michael Sterns | Nov 1, 2017 | General
Matthew 25:31-46 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the...
by Kenny Burchard | Oct 10, 2017 | General, Humor, Satire
Grand Rapids, MI – A recent survey of over 10,000 Calvinists confirms what all Calvinists have long believed to be true, but for which they now have undisputed, quantitative evidence: Calvinists think Calvin is awesome. In a recent online survey conducted by the...
by Michael Sterns | Sep 7, 2017 | General, Scripture
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! Working with people in the context of a local church is hard. I don’t think I have to explain it. If you’ve done anything with people, you’ll know that people sometimes suck. Some people intentionally...
by Michael Sterns | Apr 12, 2017 | Biblical Studies, General, New Testament
1st Corinthians 1:18-25 (NRSV) For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will...
by Michael Sterns | Dec 22, 2016 | Biblical Studies, General, New Testament
John 15:11 NLT I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! So last week, I skipped over this Advent theme of “joy.” I’m not one of those people that forces myself to speak on something if...
