Grace
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Both the secular and Christian world views the heart of man as the center of the experience and expression of life. We use many different common phrases in the church and outside of it regarding the heart. For example, if we are speaking about good intentions, we may say that someone has a “heart of…
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As the Nazi party rose to power during the late 1930’s in Germany, many were silent. However, one name is recognized although there were many who stood against the Nazi party and the evils they committed. That name is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor in Germany who is perhaps most known for his…
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My mom grew up poor on River Road in Amherst, Virginia. She lived a good life, but they didn’t have an abundance of much of anything. My mom’s father was a deer processor and a great one. Both of her parents worked to provide, but they like others who lived on that road were called…
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Practical Christian living begins and ends with the preeminence of Christ. The preeminence of Jesus Christ is His supremacy and sufficiency over all things, in all things, and through all things. When Christ is not preeminent in our lives, our practical living will suffer. For example, our Bible reading or study suffers when Christ is…
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I’m a control freak. So are you. This is why we are impatient when there is heavy traffic. It is why we get upset when we spill, drop, or break things. When the check engine light comes on and we get anxious or angry. One more thing. Great. Just my luck. Those are the things…
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The Puritan John Owen wrote, “On Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified to this world. It will become to me…
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One of the first things that I remember learning were “manners.” I remember the importance of having good manners that was stressed to me, especially by my mother. The big one as a young boy was to say, “thank you.” Don’t you hate it when someone doesn’t say it? I’ve shared this before, but I…
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True wisdom is able to discern and then do God’s will. In our study of Colossians 1:9-14 we have seen the prayer of Paul for the church at Colosse as they are facing the challenges of false teachers who are taking away from the preeminent doctrine of Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency. Christ is supreme and…
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What’s the purpose of knowing God’s will? Simply, the purpose of knowing God’s will is to then walk in His will according to His word and work. The priority of learning God’s will through His word by the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit is for our practical daily living in His will. The will…
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Everyone has quirks. One of mine (although I don’t think it is a quirk) is that I don’t let my gas tank drop below half full. My Dad never did and taught me to do the same. It leaves more available miles and normally makes filling up more affordable. That’s a tough one with today’s…
Grow With Pastor Joe 