Here is a sermon I preached this past Sunday morning on helping our young people build their lives on a Firm Foundation. Please give it a listen.
Sep
14
Category Archives: Family
Mar
25
What Makes the Church Great?
Last weekend I spoke at a youth rally where the theme was “Make the Church Great Again.” As I was preparing my lesson, I couldn’t help but think about just a few of the reasons the church is already great.
The People. I have been a part of the Lord’s church for over 20 years now and one thing I have come to appreciate is the wonderful people who make up the church. Christians are some of the kindest and most generous people I know. Whenever a need arises, Christians and Christian organizations are some of the first on the scene to help serve (Gal. 5:13).
The Place. When a person obeys the Gospel the Lord adds them to His church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). Everyone who has been added to the church is now a part of the family of God (Eph. 2:13-22). What makes being a part of the family of God so unique is that this spiritual family is not bound by ethnicity or location. When a person is added to the church that person becomes family with other brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world.
The Price. As amazing as the church is, it should come as no surprise that the establishment of such a unique blessing didn’t come free of cost. The Bible tells us our beloved Lord and Savior purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). What a huge price to pay. And yet, Jesus gave His blood so you and I could be a part of His glorious church and enjoy all the blessing that come with being a member of His kingdom.
The Period. We have heard the saying, “All good things must come to an end.” When it comes to the church Jesus purchased, this is far from the truth. The church is eternal (Dan. 2:44). When time on earth for all mankind ends, the Lord will deliver up the kingdom to God (I Cor. 15:20-24). For those who are a part of the kingdom (church), they will be received into heaven.
Friends, we don’t have to make the church great again; it’s already great. We just have to open our eyes and see the beauty of the church and help lead others to find that greatness as well.
Now that’s Something to Think About!
Jan
07
When Your Greatest Teacher is a 3 Year Old
It was only three short years ago that my life was completely turned upside down. Most of the time when this happens it’s never a good thing. Having your world turned upside down usually involves some aspect of heartache and pain, but not this time. On January 6th, 2012 at 8:19 a.m. God blessed Miranda and me with a little baby boy. Little did I know that this small bundle of joy would be one of my greatest teachers; a teacher from whom I would learn some of life’s most important lessons more fully.
As a parent you are suppose to teach your children, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). That was and still is my plan for Caden. However, in the three short years he has been a part of our lives, he has taught me much about some of life’s greatest lessons. He has taught me about love, patience, care, concern, affection, kindness, joy and a host of other things. But, perhaps the greatest lesson of all deals with God’s love.
I have always been told about how much God loves me. As a minister, I have spent a great amount of time telling others how much God loves them as well. However, until I had my own son, I don’t think I ever truly understood the depth of God’s love for me.
The apostle John wrote, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:9-11).
God’s love for us as His children is unlike any kind of human love. I love my son with all my heart. And yet, as much as we love our children, it fails in comparison to the love God has for us as His children. His love for us propelled Him to offer His only son as a sacrifice for sin so we could have hope of salvation from the wages of our own sins. According to Paul, the wages of our sins is death (Rom. 6:23).
Friends, God loves YOU so much He was willing to offer up His only son to suffer humiliation, shame, torture and even death so you might be able to spend an eternity with Him. Jesus himself said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
God loves the whole world and every one living in therein. And yet, although His love is universal, His abounding love is very much personal towards each one of us. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
The love of God is truly hard to comprehend. The closest I have come to comprehending God’s love for me is by examining the love I have for my one and only son. It is an amazing kind of love; a kind of love that would propel me to do anything for him and his well-being.
Yesterday my son Caden celebrated his 3rd birthday. I don’t know where the last three years have gone, but it has been the greatest three years of my life. I hope and pray God will bless our family with many more wonderful years together. With those years may God work through my son to teach me many more important lessons along the way, lessons I might otherwise never truly understand.
Happy 3rd birthday, Caden! Daddy loves you more than words can say.
Oct
03
Fixing Broken Relationships
Photo Credit: Max Mayorov via Compfight cc
Relationships have lost their permanence. It does not matter whether its marriages, friendships or careers, relationships just don’t last like they once did. Perhaps part of the reason for this is because people today do not know how to handle relationships that are fractured or broken. When bad things happen between us and others, we just walk away instead of trying to fix the problem.
The Bible places a great deal of importance on peace and reconciliation. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). God wants His children to be people of peace. Honestly though, this is not always very easy. In fact, it’s quite hard, even sacrificial to an extent.
Of all the people we read about in the Bible, Joseph may have understood this better than anyone; after all, he was sold by his brothers into slavery. Notice how Joseph handled the broken relationship with his brothers.
- Joseph handled the relationship privately (Gen. 45:1). He could have made a big spectacle in front of all his friends and servants, but he didn’t. He knew that would only make things worse. As Christians, we are to look out for the interest of others (Phil. 2:3-4). I highly doubt us making something about our relationships with others public, as looking out for their best interest.
- Joseph handled the relationship uniquely (Gen. 45:2-4). It would have been easy for Joseph to ignore his brothers and let them think he was still a slave or worse, dead. However, that’s not what Joseph did. He approached his brothers and reminded them of the relationship they once shared (“I am your brother, Joseph”). How many of us are willing to approach the people who have wronged us?
- Joseph handled the relationship maturely (Gen. 45:5-11). When Joseph stood face to face with his brothers, he did not attack them for what they had done to him. In fact, he does not even blame them. Instead, Joseph proves his maturity and trust in God by forgiving his brothers. He even invited them to come live near him so he could provide for them and their children.
- Joseph handled the relationship lovely (Gen. 45:14-15). When all was said and done, Joseph kissed and wept over all his brothers. He didn’t shake their hands or pretend like he didn’t care. He hugged and kissed each one of them. By doing this Joseph proved his love and forgiveness to his brothers.
For the first time in about 20 years, Joseph and his brothers were able to talk and enjoy being in one another’s presence all because of the way Joseph handled their broken relationship.
Friends, if you have a relationship that is broken and needs to be fixed, take time today to seek peace and mend the relationship. By taking such action others will know we are disciples of Jesus (Jn. 13:35).
Now that’s Something to Think About!
Oct
17
The Blessing That Continually Blesses
God has been so very good to me. He has given me so many wonderful blessings during my time on earth and I am grateful for every one. However, there is one blessing outside of my salvation that I am most thankful for. It is the one blessing I can’t imagine my life without. This blessing is such a blessing becasue it continually blesses my life. The blessing I am talking about is my wonderful wife and son (Miranda and Caden), although today’s post is focused on Miranda.
Today, marks the third wedding annivesary for Miranda and me. I am so blessed to have this wonderful woman of God as my best friend, my partner, the mommy of my little man, my spouse, my biggest fan, the best mother a child could ever dream of having and my wife. She makes me a better person and a better follower of Christ. Thanks to her, I am able to pursue a career that I absolutely LOVE! Even though it is time consuming, demanding and a lot of times an underappreciated work, she supports and encourages me to continue investing in the lives of young people, pointing their hearts toward Jesus. She does this because not only does she love me, but she loves young people too.
I can’t imagine doing everything she does on a daily basis. Being a mommy is a full time job alone, not to mention the housework, cooking, and cleaning she does. On top of all this, she is always right there by my side when it comes to my ministry. She attends almost everything we do, cooks for it and invests herself in the lives of the young people, all the while trying to balance time with our adorable little son, Caden, who LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his mommy.
I will never fully understand everything Miranda does to make my life, my work and my walk with God everything it is. I can’t imagine my life without this angel from above and I pray I never have to.
Thank you Miranda for being all that you are to Caden and me. We love you more than you will ever truly realize.
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.
I Love You Miranda Morton!!!