I have some relatives that are lost without Christ and that breaks my heart. I know people that claim to be believers in Christ and yet, they are living in rebellion and that brings great sorrow to my heart. When I see the wickedness of the world, it disgusts me and I pity them. When…
Have you ever had the feeling of impending doom? You don’t know what it is, but you just feel like something bad is on the horizon. There are many stories of people who had such experiences. Some say it’s a premonition; a warning of something to come. In Jeremiah 4:5-18 we see the announcement…
As you study the Gospel of John you will find that there are seven “I am” statements made by Jesus. Those “I am” statements include: Though not counted among the seven “I am” statements, there are seven claims made by Jesus in John 8:32-59. These claims came as Jesus continues a discussion with the Jewish…
We live in a world of virtual reality. We escape the realities of life by creating our own reality through a virtual world behind the screens of our devices. One can be whoever he or she wants to be with the stroke of the keyboard or the swipe of a phone. However, no matter how…
Many years ago Dr. Gary Chapman became known by his classic book on the five love languages. It is said that everyone has a love language. We accept love and communicate love in different ways. The five love languages identified by Dr. Chapman include: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and…
It is in this special time of year that we celebrate the coming of our Savior to the world. One of the ways we remember the meaning of this time of year is by lighting the advent candles. Advent is basically a four-week period of time counting down the days until Christmas. The word ‘advent’…
We all have a story. Every story is unique and different. Every story is real. When it comes to telling others about Jesus, the best method is to tell your story. Share your testimony. Tell how your life has been changed by the power of the Gospel. No one can argue with your story. …
When I go into a restaurant with my family, I always position myself where I can see the room and the nearest exit. I guess this is the protective nature in me as a man. When I go into a public place (especially with my family) I look over my surroundings and even consider various…
A few nights ago we were watching Captain America. The setting is World War 2 and before Captain America was allowed to engage the enemy and save the world, he was given a P.R. assignment. He traveled from city to city performing on stage to promote the war effort. No doubt you have seen the…
The anthem of the Christian faith is none other than Amazing Grace. It is a hymn that has been sung millions of times by great choirs to soft whispers at the death bed of a loved one. I doubt John Newton would have ever imagined that his hymn would be the most sung and recorded…
There are many things that describe Jesus. We have seen some of those descriptions in our study thus far in the Gospel of John. Remember, the purpose of John’s Gospel is to reveal who Jesus is. He is the Word that became flesh. He is the light of the world. He is the bread of…
One of my favorite treats is a Krispy Kreme Doughnut. There are only two doughnuts worth eating: original glazed and chocolate glazed. A few years ago I told my wife that they need to sell in the store a box of a dozen doughnuts that has six original glazed and six chocolate glazed. Low and…
Over many years of pastoral ministry, I have seen many things. Nothing really surprises me anymore. One of the most heartbreaking experiences is seeing a marriage in trouble. When a spouse breaks trust it opens the door to all sorts of consequences. When someone crosses that forbidden line; it takes a miracle for there to…
Stewardship Devotional Day 10The Treasure Principle #3 – Treasure In addition to stewardship of our time and talents, we are also to be good stewards of our treasure. This is the part of stewardship that is most common to our vocabulary. It has to do with money. How we invest the resources God has…
Stewardship Devotional Day 9The Treasure Principle #2 – Talents In God’s Divine Sovereignty and by His grace, He has given every person certain talents and abilities. He has also given by the Holy Spirit, every born-again believer certain spiritual gifts. These talents and spiritual gifts are to be used for the edifying of the…
Pastor Chris Noland 