Christ Church Blog https://www.cckpca.org Mon, 18 Mar 2024 21:33:53 -0500 http://churchplantmedia.com/ Another Year, Another Season of Grace https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/another-year-another-season-of-grace https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/another-year-another-season-of-grace#comments Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:56:17 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/another-year-another-season-of-grace Today marks the beginning of another year – 2024. Our reckoning of time itself points to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is 2024 A.D., short for anno domini or “in the year of the Lord.” All of history is so divided into the period before (B.C.) and after (A.D.) the birth of Christ. What is true of the calendar should also be true of our lives. Each year we have is a gift from God, just as Christ is the Father’s great gift. This perspective is important as we face the challenges of the new year and seek to make the most of the time we have.

Listen to Jesus

Far too often, the voices we hear in public are designed to make us ungrateful, miserable, and angry. “Look at all that is wrong with the world!” they cry. “Be outraged at this!” “How can anyone have hope when THIS is happening,” is the constant shriek of those who do not know God. Whether it is designed for profit off of misery or the fulfillment of the proverb, misery loves company; these voices do not have our best interest in mind. The effect of such discouragement is to cause us to take our eyes off of the Lord. Life has always been, and will always be, hard in a world cursed by sin. I am sure you have faced challenges in 2023 – it might have been sickness, relationship problems, or job difficulties – struggles that can even cause us to doubt the care of our Heavenly Father. But we must remember the words of our Savior: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Once we realize that our happiness does not depend on us, we are prepared for the year to come. There is no reason to fear the future, for the one who holds us is the Sovereign King of time itself.

Look for Blessings

Instead, let us face the new year with an expectation of seeing God at work in our lives. The Lord has promised to make us more and more into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And best of all, He has promised that we will be His people and He will be our God (Jer. 30:22). So are you looking for all the ways that God is blessing you? One of our problems is that we receive so many blessings that we forget to thank the Lord. When was the last time you thanked God for light, air, or rain? The Lord has brought you through 2023, and He will be with you in 2024. Don’t take my word for it – God Himself has promised it! I am looking forward to a new year with a new granddaughter, another blessed year with my wife and children, and a year filled with encouragement from Christ Church. Take some time as the year begins to list for yourself the blessings you have received in the past year and the anticipated blessings in 2024.

Fill Your Year with the Word

The beginning of the new year is also a time to remind yourself of the importance of the Word of God. You don’t have to read through the whole Bible in a year, but making a commitment to read God’s Word every day will be a great blessing. There are many different plans you can use for reading the Bible in a year, or two years, or even listening to the Bible in a podcast format. There are many different apps that you can use (YouVersion, Logos, Reading Plan, among others), or you can print out a plan the old-fashioned way and put it in your Bible to keep track of your progress. Treasure up the Word in your heart, and the Holy Spirit will point you to God’s grace in your life.

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Today marks the beginning of another year – 2024. Our reckoning of time itself points to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is 2024 A.D., short for anno domini or “in the year of the Lord.” All of history is so divided into the period before (B.C.) and after (A.D.) the birth of Christ. What is true of the calendar should also be true of our lives. Each year we have is a gift from God, just as Christ is the Father’s great gift. This perspective is important as we face the challenges of the new year and seek to make the most of the time we have.

Listen to Jesus

Far too often, the voices we hear in public are designed to make us ungrateful, miserable, and angry. “Look at all that is wrong with the world!” they cry. “Be outraged at this!” “How can anyone have hope when THIS is happening,” is the constant shriek of those who do not know God. Whether it is designed for profit off of misery or the fulfillment of the proverb, misery loves company; these voices do not have our best interest in mind. The effect of such discouragement is to cause us to take our eyes off of the Lord. Life has always been, and will always be, hard in a world cursed by sin. I am sure you have faced challenges in 2023 – it might have been sickness, relationship problems, or job difficulties – struggles that can even cause us to doubt the care of our Heavenly Father. But we must remember the words of our Savior: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Once we realize that our happiness does not depend on us, we are prepared for the year to come. There is no reason to fear the future, for the one who holds us is the Sovereign King of time itself.

Look for Blessings

Instead, let us face the new year with an expectation of seeing God at work in our lives. The Lord has promised to make us more and more into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And best of all, He has promised that we will be His people and He will be our God (Jer. 30:22). So are you looking for all the ways that God is blessing you? One of our problems is that we receive so many blessings that we forget to thank the Lord. When was the last time you thanked God for light, air, or rain? The Lord has brought you through 2023, and He will be with you in 2024. Don’t take my word for it – God Himself has promised it! I am looking forward to a new year with a new granddaughter, another blessed year with my wife and children, and a year filled with encouragement from Christ Church. Take some time as the year begins to list for yourself the blessings you have received in the past year and the anticipated blessings in 2024.

Fill Your Year with the Word

The beginning of the new year is also a time to remind yourself of the importance of the Word of God. You don’t have to read through the whole Bible in a year, but making a commitment to read God’s Word every day will be a great blessing. There are many different plans you can use for reading the Bible in a year, or two years, or even listening to the Bible in a podcast format. There are many different apps that you can use (YouVersion, Logos, Reading Plan, among others), or you can print out a plan the old-fashioned way and put it in your Bible to keep track of your progress. Treasure up the Word in your heart, and the Holy Spirit will point you to God’s grace in your life.

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Leadership in Ezra https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/leadership-in-ezra https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/leadership-in-ezra#comments Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:14:52 -0500 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/leadership-in-ezra Whenever the people of God find themselves in disarray, there arises a need for proactive, bold, and God honoring leadership. The days of Ezra are a time such as this. The period of Ezra is marked by the rebuilding of both the physical temple as well as the spiritual wellbeing of God’s people. God, in his surprising providence, has given the Israelites a way back home under the reigns of favorable Persian kings like Cyrus (600-530BC), and Artaxerxes (465-424BC). He has put “such a thing into the heart of the king” (Ezra 7:27). In Ezra 7, we see the numerous blessings God gives to his people including great wealth, resources, political protection, and blessing from the most powerful empire on the earth. Yet more valuable than these, he gives the people leaders to guide them.

What qualities mark Ezra as a leader? How is it that he could so effectively steer God’s people back to covenant faithfulness? Let me offer two reasons:

First, Ezra was “skilled in the law of Moses” (7:6). He had a deep appreciation for, and a profound knowledge of the word of God. But it goes much further than this. For Ezra, the word of God was not something to be admired from afar. Merely an ideal never to be reached. Instead, Ezra was “skillful” in the law. That word indicates quick and decisive action. It pictures a man who is ready, equipped, and prepared to act in every circumstance. Being skilled in God’s word kept Ezra from two great errors. First, he did not hesitate unnecessarily. Of course, we must always be cautious in our acts, but we must never be indecisive. Ezra could be quick to action because he knew the powerful truth of God’s word. For example, God had prophesied through Jeremiah that the exile would end after 70 years. Ezra had witnessed God's fulfillment of the prophesy firsthand and knew that whatever is spoken of in God's word is sure and true. Second, knowing God’s word kept Ezra from foolish actions. Decisiveness without direction is dangerous. Zeal that is unguided will only bring disaster. Ezra would fall into neither error, but instead would lead by God’s command. It is for this reason that Ezra insists on being a lifelong learner and teacher of God’s word. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (7:10). What a blessing it would be for God to give us leaders such as this, who insist on sitting under his word, always learning, and always growing; Leaders who will feed the sheep from that same bountiful feast.

Second, Ezra carried with him a conviction that he would be used greatly by God, only if he walked by faith and entrusted himself to God. Ezra relied on no human strength. Like Paul, he showed forth God’s strength in his own weakness (2 Cor 12:9). At the end of Chapter 7, Ezra comments on God’s faithfulness:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:27-29)

Ezra had a certain conviction of God’s providence in his life. He longed to see God’s will be done, and he gave himself wholly to that plan. Notice that he is not confident in his own strength, but rather in the revealed will of God. Ezra sees how God is acting and fulfilling his word, and how he is being drawn in to be used of God. In that knowledge he takes courage and moves from faith to action.

What would it look like if Christians today lived like this? That we not only knew the promises of God but also expected the fulfillment? That we not only knew God was working in the world, but that he was working in our midst and in our church? What if we by faith entrusted ourselves to that work of God? What if we pleaded with God to let us join him in his glorious plans? What if we had leaders today doing this? What if we had more Godly pastors, teachers, and shepherds who zealously pursued the glory of God by seeking to do his will? There is only one way to know. Pray for wise leaders in the church, who are skillful in God’s word, and convinced in the strength of almighty God. And pray for many to imitate them.

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Whenever the people of God find themselves in disarray, there arises a need for proactive, bold, and God honoring leadership. The days of Ezra are a time such as this. The period of Ezra is marked by the rebuilding of both the physical temple as well as the spiritual wellbeing of God’s people. God, in his surprising providence, has given the Israelites a way back home under the reigns of favorable Persian kings like Cyrus (600-530BC), and Artaxerxes (465-424BC). He has put “such a thing into the heart of the king” (Ezra 7:27). In Ezra 7, we see the numerous blessings God gives to his people including great wealth, resources, political protection, and blessing from the most powerful empire on the earth. Yet more valuable than these, he gives the people leaders to guide them.

What qualities mark Ezra as a leader? How is it that he could so effectively steer God’s people back to covenant faithfulness? Let me offer two reasons:

First, Ezra was “skilled in the law of Moses” (7:6). He had a deep appreciation for, and a profound knowledge of the word of God. But it goes much further than this. For Ezra, the word of God was not something to be admired from afar. Merely an ideal never to be reached. Instead, Ezra was “skillful” in the law. That word indicates quick and decisive action. It pictures a man who is ready, equipped, and prepared to act in every circumstance. Being skilled in God’s word kept Ezra from two great errors. First, he did not hesitate unnecessarily. Of course, we must always be cautious in our acts, but we must never be indecisive. Ezra could be quick to action because he knew the powerful truth of God’s word. For example, God had prophesied through Jeremiah that the exile would end after 70 years. Ezra had witnessed God's fulfillment of the prophesy firsthand and knew that whatever is spoken of in God's word is sure and true. Second, knowing God’s word kept Ezra from foolish actions. Decisiveness without direction is dangerous. Zeal that is unguided will only bring disaster. Ezra would fall into neither error, but instead would lead by God’s command. It is for this reason that Ezra insists on being a lifelong learner and teacher of God’s word. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (7:10). What a blessing it would be for God to give us leaders such as this, who insist on sitting under his word, always learning, and always growing; Leaders who will feed the sheep from that same bountiful feast.

Second, Ezra carried with him a conviction that he would be used greatly by God, only if he walked by faith and entrusted himself to God. Ezra relied on no human strength. Like Paul, he showed forth God’s strength in his own weakness (2 Cor 12:9). At the end of Chapter 7, Ezra comments on God’s faithfulness:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:27-29)

Ezra had a certain conviction of God’s providence in his life. He longed to see God’s will be done, and he gave himself wholly to that plan. Notice that he is not confident in his own strength, but rather in the revealed will of God. Ezra sees how God is acting and fulfilling his word, and how he is being drawn in to be used of God. In that knowledge he takes courage and moves from faith to action.

What would it look like if Christians today lived like this? That we not only knew the promises of God but also expected the fulfillment? That we not only knew God was working in the world, but that he was working in our midst and in our church? What if we by faith entrusted ourselves to that work of God? What if we pleaded with God to let us join him in his glorious plans? What if we had leaders today doing this? What if we had more Godly pastors, teachers, and shepherds who zealously pursued the glory of God by seeking to do his will? There is only one way to know. Pray for wise leaders in the church, who are skillful in God’s word, and convinced in the strength of almighty God. And pray for many to imitate them.

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New Sermon Series on the Family https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/new-sermon-series-on-the-family https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/new-sermon-series-on-the-family#comments Sat, 15 Jul 2023 16:10:09 -0500 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/new-sermon-series-on-the-family Pastor Greco is beginning a new sermon series during a break in his series in the Gospel of John. We will look at the family, an institution God has given us as a blessing and for our good. The series starts on July 30 and will go through the end of September.

The family is at the foundation of God’s creation. In the Garden of Eden, before sin entered into the world, God formed the family. Since that time, the family has been a central part of every human society. Husbands and wives have come together to become fathers and mothers, raising children for the benefit and blessing of individuals and society. In many ways, our modern society seems to have forgotten the importance of the family. God has given instructions to fathers, mothers, and children about how to care for each other and follow His design. In this sermon series, we will explore God’s blueprint for the family, challenges that come to the family, and God’s provision for the family.

The Model: the Family of God (1 John 2:28-3:3) - July 30, 2023
The Foundation: Marriage (Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:22-33) - August 13, 2023
Fathers: Leading and Forming (Malachi 4:5-6; Hebrews 12:7-11; Ephesians 6:4) - August 20, 2023
Mothers: Discipling and Caring (2 Tim 1:3-7; Isaiah 49:14-15; Isaiah 66:13) - August 27, 2023
Children: the Gift of God (Mark 10:13-16) - September 3, 2023
The Enemies of the Family (1 John 2:15-17) - September 10, 2023
Prayer: the Hope of the Family (Matthew 15:21-28) - September 17, 2023
Teaching: Building Up the Family (Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 78:1-9) - September 24, 2023

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Pastor Greco is beginning a new sermon series during a break in his series in the Gospel of John. We will look at the family, an institution God has given us as a blessing and for our good. The series starts on July 30 and will go through the end of September.

The family is at the foundation of God’s creation. In the Garden of Eden, before sin entered into the world, God formed the family. Since that time, the family has been a central part of every human society. Husbands and wives have come together to become fathers and mothers, raising children for the benefit and blessing of individuals and society. In many ways, our modern society seems to have forgotten the importance of the family. God has given instructions to fathers, mothers, and children about how to care for each other and follow His design. In this sermon series, we will explore God’s blueprint for the family, challenges that come to the family, and God’s provision for the family.

The Model: the Family of God (1 John 2:28-3:3) - July 30, 2023
The Foundation: Marriage (Genesis 2:18-24; Ephesians 5:22-33) - August 13, 2023
Fathers: Leading and Forming (Malachi 4:5-6; Hebrews 12:7-11; Ephesians 6:4) - August 20, 2023
Mothers: Discipling and Caring (2 Tim 1:3-7; Isaiah 49:14-15; Isaiah 66:13) - August 27, 2023
Children: the Gift of God (Mark 10:13-16) - September 3, 2023
The Enemies of the Family (1 John 2:15-17) - September 10, 2023
Prayer: the Hope of the Family (Matthew 15:21-28) - September 17, 2023
Teaching: Building Up the Family (Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Psalm 78:1-9) - September 24, 2023

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Ring in 2023! https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/ring-in-2023 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/ring-in-2023#comments Sun, 01 Jan 2023 08:00:00 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/ring-in-2023 It is time to turn the calendar again from one year to another. As I grow older, I become more and more aware of the change of the year – even if I am far less likely to stay up long enough to celebrate it at the moment! The dawn of a new year is a time for us to take stock of our lives and what the Lord has done, both in us and for us. It’s not that January 1 brings about some kind of magical transformation, but it reminds us to both look back and look ahead.

Looking Back

Take some time this week to look back at your life and the Providence that God has given to you. I recommend making a list (either “old school” on paper or on an electronic device) and setting forth for yourself all of the struggles, accomplishments, and changes that have come to you. Even the little things matter. Then ask yourself a question: have I been in prayer about these things during the year? Have I asked the Lord for strength in my struggles (Psalm 118:14), or have I just tried to muddle through? Have I given the Lord praise for all I have accomplished this year, knowing that every good gift is from above (James 1:17) and that my accomplishments come from God’s blessing (1 Cor. 4:7). Looking back also prepares you to face the future. The future is unknown to you, and while you can prepare for various eventualities, you are sure to face unexpected challenges, sorrows, and joys. Reminding yourself that the Lord has promised never to leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), and that He has kept that promise in the past, is the surest way to have confidence for the future.

Looking Ahead

But the new year is more than just a retrospective on life. It is also an opportunity to think about the future and make preparations for how you want your life to be better. That starts with a commitment to cling to the Lord. I write this almost every year, but it remains true: the new year serves as a spur to recommit to spending time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. Do you have a daily Bible Reading Plan? There are many available on our ministry partner, Ligonier Ministries’, website. Find one that works for you. There are New Testament-heavy plans, Chronological reading plans, and even plans that run for two or three years! Don’t think that you must be able to accomplish a goal to start; it is the reading itself that is important. So if you know you have not been able to read the whole Bible in a year, make the effort to read it in two or three. One Bible “reading” plan that I have found helpful is a podcast from Crossway Publishers. There are several versions that you can subscribe to and download to your device. You can then listen to the Bible as you drive, exercise, or even do chores. You may not think it will be as effective as morning quiet time with a Bible, a highlighter, and coffee, but it certainly is better than nothing (which is often the alternative)!

Look for Opportunities

A final encouragement I would like to give to you is to look for opportunities in 2023. The Lord gives us opportunities to use our gifts, share the gospel, and be a blessing to others.  Don’t get so busy in the everyday that you fail to recognize when someone needs an encouraging word. The Christian life is meant to be active and a blessing to others. Find opportunities to serve, ministries to get involved in, and times to get together with others. The Lord will bring such opportunities to you – you simply need to recognize them and act on them. May the Lord bless you richly in 2023.

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It is time to turn the calendar again from one year to another. As I grow older, I become more and more aware of the change of the year – even if I am far less likely to stay up long enough to celebrate it at the moment! The dawn of a new year is a time for us to take stock of our lives and what the Lord has done, both in us and for us. It’s not that January 1 brings about some kind of magical transformation, but it reminds us to both look back and look ahead.

Looking Back

Take some time this week to look back at your life and the Providence that God has given to you. I recommend making a list (either “old school” on paper or on an electronic device) and setting forth for yourself all of the struggles, accomplishments, and changes that have come to you. Even the little things matter. Then ask yourself a question: have I been in prayer about these things during the year? Have I asked the Lord for strength in my struggles (Psalm 118:14), or have I just tried to muddle through? Have I given the Lord praise for all I have accomplished this year, knowing that every good gift is from above (James 1:17) and that my accomplishments come from God’s blessing (1 Cor. 4:7). Looking back also prepares you to face the future. The future is unknown to you, and while you can prepare for various eventualities, you are sure to face unexpected challenges, sorrows, and joys. Reminding yourself that the Lord has promised never to leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), and that He has kept that promise in the past, is the surest way to have confidence for the future.

Looking Ahead

But the new year is more than just a retrospective on life. It is also an opportunity to think about the future and make preparations for how you want your life to be better. That starts with a commitment to cling to the Lord. I write this almost every year, but it remains true: the new year serves as a spur to recommit to spending time with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. Do you have a daily Bible Reading Plan? There are many available on our ministry partner, Ligonier Ministries’, website. Find one that works for you. There are New Testament-heavy plans, Chronological reading plans, and even plans that run for two or three years! Don’t think that you must be able to accomplish a goal to start; it is the reading itself that is important. So if you know you have not been able to read the whole Bible in a year, make the effort to read it in two or three. One Bible “reading” plan that I have found helpful is a podcast from Crossway Publishers. There are several versions that you can subscribe to and download to your device. You can then listen to the Bible as you drive, exercise, or even do chores. You may not think it will be as effective as morning quiet time with a Bible, a highlighter, and coffee, but it certainly is better than nothing (which is often the alternative)!

Look for Opportunities

A final encouragement I would like to give to you is to look for opportunities in 2023. The Lord gives us opportunities to use our gifts, share the gospel, and be a blessing to others.  Don’t get so busy in the everyday that you fail to recognize when someone needs an encouraging word. The Christian life is meant to be active and a blessing to others. Find opportunities to serve, ministries to get involved in, and times to get together with others. The Lord will bring such opportunities to you – you simply need to recognize them and act on them. May the Lord bless you richly in 2023.

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Celebrating Christ This Christmas https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/celebrating-christ-this-christmas https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/celebrating-christ-this-christmas#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/celebrating-christ-this-christmas How do we celebrate Christmas? Easy! Even the youngest among us knows how. We put up a Christmas tree, decorate our houses, go to Christmas parties, give and receive presents, drink hot cocoa and so much more. Perhaps I could ask a more specific question. How do we celebrate Christ at Christmas? How can we center our celebrations around the one who matters most?

The very first Christmas is recorded in Luke 2. Mary has just given birth to the promised child, and the shepherds in the field have been visited by angels with a message and a grand show of angelic worship (Luke 2:8-14). The Shepherds, curious about the boy, come to find him and report to Mary all they had seen and been told by the angels. Mary’s response is revealing. “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (2:19). What is Mary doing? She is fixing her mind and her heart on the full glory of her savior Jesus. By treasuring up these thoughts, she is guarding them, protecting them. Like a precious object we lock away and keep safe. Nothing else will steal her mind away from the thought of her child and savior.

Not only that, but she also ponders these things. That is, she considers them over and over again. Like a person in such deep thought that they begin to converse with themselves! She is peering into a deep mystery. One that is profound, mysterious, and overwhelmingly magnificent. What are these thoughts? No doubt she is thinking about the good news that Christ brings. The angels tell us that Christ himself is “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (2:10). He is called a “savior” (2:11). Simeon will later proclaim to God, “my eyes have seen your salvation” (2:30) as he gazes upon the infant child. Mary is in awe that God has provided the greatest gift. A light in the darkness! A hope for everlasting life!

Perhaps even greater than this, Mary is fixated on the divine identity of her baby. He is the Christ of God, the Son of God, Immanuel forever. He is “Christ the Lord” (2:11). Yet, shockingly, he is the one “wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (2:12). Mary is pondering the great doctrine of the incarnation, full of awe and wonder.

Most of all, Mary is considering the glory of this one she has been given. The angels proclaim at his birth, “glory to God in the highest” (2:14)! In Christ, God’s glory is displayed. He displays God’s mercy as a savior. He displays God’s faithfulness as the fulfillment of promise. He displays God’s holiness as the redeemer from sin. He showcases the glory of God like no one else!

This Christmas, do as Mary did. Treasure Christ in your heart. Treasure the fullness of his character, mission, and identity. Set you heart and mind on him and let nothing steal your gaze from him. This Christmas, let us celebrate Christ!

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How do we celebrate Christmas? Easy! Even the youngest among us knows how. We put up a Christmas tree, decorate our houses, go to Christmas parties, give and receive presents, drink hot cocoa and so much more. Perhaps I could ask a more specific question. How do we celebrate Christ at Christmas? How can we center our celebrations around the one who matters most?

The very first Christmas is recorded in Luke 2. Mary has just given birth to the promised child, and the shepherds in the field have been visited by angels with a message and a grand show of angelic worship (Luke 2:8-14). The Shepherds, curious about the boy, come to find him and report to Mary all they had seen and been told by the angels. Mary’s response is revealing. “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (2:19). What is Mary doing? She is fixing her mind and her heart on the full glory of her savior Jesus. By treasuring up these thoughts, she is guarding them, protecting them. Like a precious object we lock away and keep safe. Nothing else will steal her mind away from the thought of her child and savior.

Not only that, but she also ponders these things. That is, she considers them over and over again. Like a person in such deep thought that they begin to converse with themselves! She is peering into a deep mystery. One that is profound, mysterious, and overwhelmingly magnificent. What are these thoughts? No doubt she is thinking about the good news that Christ brings. The angels tell us that Christ himself is “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (2:10). He is called a “savior” (2:11). Simeon will later proclaim to God, “my eyes have seen your salvation” (2:30) as he gazes upon the infant child. Mary is in awe that God has provided the greatest gift. A light in the darkness! A hope for everlasting life!

Perhaps even greater than this, Mary is fixated on the divine identity of her baby. He is the Christ of God, the Son of God, Immanuel forever. He is “Christ the Lord” (2:11). Yet, shockingly, he is the one “wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (2:12). Mary is pondering the great doctrine of the incarnation, full of awe and wonder.

Most of all, Mary is considering the glory of this one she has been given. The angels proclaim at his birth, “glory to God in the highest” (2:14)! In Christ, God’s glory is displayed. He displays God’s mercy as a savior. He displays God’s faithfulness as the fulfillment of promise. He displays God’s holiness as the redeemer from sin. He showcases the glory of God like no one else!

This Christmas, do as Mary did. Treasure Christ in your heart. Treasure the fullness of his character, mission, and identity. Set you heart and mind on him and let nothing steal your gaze from him. This Christmas, let us celebrate Christ!

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An End of the Year Meditation https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/an-end-of-the-year https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/an-end-of-the-year#comments Fri, 31 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/an-end-of-the-year Once again, the end of the calendar year is upon us. In one sense, time keeps rolling on. I realize I am a year older and (hopefully) a year wiser. 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of my marriage and watching my children (now all adults) grow and take on new challenges. For the first time in 20 years, we traveled away from home for Christmas – but that was still to a Greco home, to our son and daughter-in-law living in Maryland. The longer I live, the more I realize that the Lord is in control of my life and that I am blessed. I am blessed with good health (for the most part), a wonderful family, and a congregation that I am privileged to serve.

As is my habit at this time of year, I want to encourage you to think about all the ways that the Lord has blessed you. He certainly has treated you "better than you deserve" in His Son, Jesus Christ. Christmas time reminds us that when all was dark, when all seemed lost, when we were unable to save ourselves – the Father sent the Son to be our redeemer. And the coming of Christ brings hope into even the most difficult of situations. We need not fear death (what a wonderful thing in this time of COVID!); we don't have to solve the world's problems; and we can know that God accepts us in Christ. When everything around us is uncertain, Jesus is our rock and stay.

Following Jesus does not mean that we are perfect or have all the answers. We certainly learned that this past year in our study of 2 Samuel. David was the "man after God's own heart" who was given God's covenant promise of an everlasting kingdom, and yet over and over again, he failed and needed the grace of God to go on. Do you sometimes feel like you are treading water? That the same problems of life keep repeating themselves? Know that the Lord does not give up on His children when they fall into the same sins or experience the same trials. His promise is "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

This coming year we have a great deal to look forward to as a church. After a COVID pause, our Foreign Missions Conference will be back on the weekend of February 18-20. After that, I will begin a new sermon series in the Gospel of John, "That You May Believe." We will learn together, eat meals together, pray together, and worship together. I am praying that 2022 will be a year in which Jesus shows Himself clearly and especially. Will you pray with me to that end?

As you face the challenges of 2022, the best way to be prepared is to focus on the Word of God. The Bible is ever-relevant, ever-helpful, and ever-comforting. The new year is an excellent time to take up again (or start) the habit of daily Bible reading. There are numerous ways to do that, from reading the New Testament intensively to reading passages from both the Old and New Testaments daily. Our partners at Ligonier Ministries have 18 different Bible reading plans that you can explore HERE. May the Lord bless you richly in 2022!

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Once again, the end of the calendar year is upon us. In one sense, time keeps rolling on. I realize I am a year older and (hopefully) a year wiser. 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of my marriage and watching my children (now all adults) grow and take on new challenges. For the first time in 20 years, we traveled away from home for Christmas – but that was still to a Greco home, to our son and daughter-in-law living in Maryland. The longer I live, the more I realize that the Lord is in control of my life and that I am blessed. I am blessed with good health (for the most part), a wonderful family, and a congregation that I am privileged to serve.

As is my habit at this time of year, I want to encourage you to think about all the ways that the Lord has blessed you. He certainly has treated you "better than you deserve" in His Son, Jesus Christ. Christmas time reminds us that when all was dark, when all seemed lost, when we were unable to save ourselves – the Father sent the Son to be our redeemer. And the coming of Christ brings hope into even the most difficult of situations. We need not fear death (what a wonderful thing in this time of COVID!); we don't have to solve the world's problems; and we can know that God accepts us in Christ. When everything around us is uncertain, Jesus is our rock and stay.

Following Jesus does not mean that we are perfect or have all the answers. We certainly learned that this past year in our study of 2 Samuel. David was the "man after God's own heart" who was given God's covenant promise of an everlasting kingdom, and yet over and over again, he failed and needed the grace of God to go on. Do you sometimes feel like you are treading water? That the same problems of life keep repeating themselves? Know that the Lord does not give up on His children when they fall into the same sins or experience the same trials. His promise is "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

This coming year we have a great deal to look forward to as a church. After a COVID pause, our Foreign Missions Conference will be back on the weekend of February 18-20. After that, I will begin a new sermon series in the Gospel of John, "That You May Believe." We will learn together, eat meals together, pray together, and worship together. I am praying that 2022 will be a year in which Jesus shows Himself clearly and especially. Will you pray with me to that end?

As you face the challenges of 2022, the best way to be prepared is to focus on the Word of God. The Bible is ever-relevant, ever-helpful, and ever-comforting. The new year is an excellent time to take up again (or start) the habit of daily Bible reading. There are numerous ways to do that, from reading the New Testament intensively to reading passages from both the Old and New Testaments daily. Our partners at Ligonier Ministries have 18 different Bible reading plans that you can explore HERE. May the Lord bless you richly in 2022!

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A Thanksgiving Prayer https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/a-thanksgiving-prayer https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/a-thanksgiving-prayer#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/a-thanksgiving-prayer We live in an increasingly self-centered world. Driven by social media outrage and the challenges of a global pandemic, we can fail to recognize all the blessings we have been given. I understand that inflation is alarming and worrisome, tensions are high surrounding COVID, and that threats of conflict looming on the horizon. But have you stopped to consider just how good you have it? Are you thirsty? Just go to any number of faucets in your home and get clean, healthy water to drink. Cold? Hot? Flip a switch (or open an app on your smartphone), and your environment is modified to your desire. Need food? Go to a store where you can get fruit in the middle of winter or any number of packaged meats ready to cook and serve. Kings and Emperors throughout history could have dreamed about such creature comforts.

How is all this possible? Is it because we are inherently more moral than our ancestors? A casual glance at the news will refute that theory. Is it because we are more worthy than our ancestors? On what grounds could we say that? Men and women who have gone before us worked hard and sacrificed. The only answer that satisfies is that we are the beneficiaries of the grace of God. The One who made all things and preserves them by His almighty power has blessed us with more blessings than we can imagine. A good Thanksgiving exercise would be to take the advice of the old hymn and “Count your blessings, one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done.”

Thanksgiving is a time when we are reminded that much has been given to us. So how can you cultivate a heart of thanksgiving? A starting point would be to listen to the Apostle Paul:

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6–11)

Generosity produces thanksgiving. By giving freely of what we have, we are reminded that the Lord has promised to continue to provide for us. And that makes us thankful. So this Thanksgiving, look for ways to be a blessing to others around you: family, friends, co-workers, even strangers. May the Lord bless you with gratitude this Thanksgiving!

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We live in an increasingly self-centered world. Driven by social media outrage and the challenges of a global pandemic, we can fail to recognize all the blessings we have been given. I understand that inflation is alarming and worrisome, tensions are high surrounding COVID, and that threats of conflict looming on the horizon. But have you stopped to consider just how good you have it? Are you thirsty? Just go to any number of faucets in your home and get clean, healthy water to drink. Cold? Hot? Flip a switch (or open an app on your smartphone), and your environment is modified to your desire. Need food? Go to a store where you can get fruit in the middle of winter or any number of packaged meats ready to cook and serve. Kings and Emperors throughout history could have dreamed about such creature comforts.

How is all this possible? Is it because we are inherently more moral than our ancestors? A casual glance at the news will refute that theory. Is it because we are more worthy than our ancestors? On what grounds could we say that? Men and women who have gone before us worked hard and sacrificed. The only answer that satisfies is that we are the beneficiaries of the grace of God. The One who made all things and preserves them by His almighty power has blessed us with more blessings than we can imagine. A good Thanksgiving exercise would be to take the advice of the old hymn and “Count your blessings, one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done.”

Thanksgiving is a time when we are reminded that much has been given to us. So how can you cultivate a heart of thanksgiving? A starting point would be to listen to the Apostle Paul:

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6–11)

Generosity produces thanksgiving. By giving freely of what we have, we are reminded that the Lord has promised to continue to provide for us. And that makes us thankful. So this Thanksgiving, look for ways to be a blessing to others around you: family, friends, co-workers, even strangers. May the Lord bless you with gratitude this Thanksgiving!

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What is the most important promise in the Bible? https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/what-is-the-most-important-promise-in-the-bible https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/what-is-the-most-important-promise-in-the-bible#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/what-is-the-most-important-promise-in-the-bible What is the most important promise in the Bible? Some suggest it is Genesis 12:1-3 which states, “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’”. Well, perhaps this is not the most important, but is sure is up there with the best of them! What is it that makes this promise so important? What makes this promise so foundational is that it serves as a driving force behind much of redemptive history. In fact, I would say this promise reaches as far as the events visioned in Revelation 21-22. Here is what I mean.

When God promised Abraham a people, a nation, a land, and a blessing for the whole world, he likely did not understand the full extent of these promises. He probably imagined an earthly kingdom, with people who worshipped God and blessed the various nations of the world through their piety and knowledge. Actually, something like this was very real in the time of David and Solomon. Just go read 1 Kings 4 and see how the author links Solomon to the Abrahamic promises (Gen 12:1-3; 22:17). Yet this kingdom did not last but was torn apart by idolatry and wickedness. Either God’s promises failed with Solomon, or he had a better plan. That better plan came in the form of the very Son of God, who came preaching a new kingdom. This kingdom would be spiritual and not of this world (John 18:36). This kingdom would be filled with believers who were delivered out of the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). This kingdom would bless the world, as Jesus told his disciples to declare his name to every nation of the earth (Matthew 28:19). And this kingdom would find its ultimate expression in the age to come and in a heavenly city called Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26; Revelation 21:2).

What God promised to Abraham is a foundational promise. It is a promise which continues to be unfolded to this very day. If you think about, you are a part of this promise too! You, who have faith, have been blessed by Abraham’s greater son, Jesus Christ. And even today you and I spread that blessing even further as the gospel goes forth. Praise the Lord that even 3000 (give or take) years later he has not abandoned his promise. He is true to his word, this day and forever!

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What is the most important promise in the Bible? Some suggest it is Genesis 12:1-3 which states, “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’”. Well, perhaps this is not the most important, but is sure is up there with the best of them! What is it that makes this promise so important? What makes this promise so foundational is that it serves as a driving force behind much of redemptive history. In fact, I would say this promise reaches as far as the events visioned in Revelation 21-22. Here is what I mean.

When God promised Abraham a people, a nation, a land, and a blessing for the whole world, he likely did not understand the full extent of these promises. He probably imagined an earthly kingdom, with people who worshipped God and blessed the various nations of the world through their piety and knowledge. Actually, something like this was very real in the time of David and Solomon. Just go read 1 Kings 4 and see how the author links Solomon to the Abrahamic promises (Gen 12:1-3; 22:17). Yet this kingdom did not last but was torn apart by idolatry and wickedness. Either God’s promises failed with Solomon, or he had a better plan. That better plan came in the form of the very Son of God, who came preaching a new kingdom. This kingdom would be spiritual and not of this world (John 18:36). This kingdom would be filled with believers who were delivered out of the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). This kingdom would bless the world, as Jesus told his disciples to declare his name to every nation of the earth (Matthew 28:19). And this kingdom would find its ultimate expression in the age to come and in a heavenly city called Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26; Revelation 21:2).

What God promised to Abraham is a foundational promise. It is a promise which continues to be unfolded to this very day. If you think about, you are a part of this promise too! You, who have faith, have been blessed by Abraham’s greater son, Jesus Christ. And even today you and I spread that blessing even further as the gospel goes forth. Praise the Lord that even 3000 (give or take) years later he has not abandoned his promise. He is true to his word, this day and forever!

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Winter storm update for Friday, February 19, 2021 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/winter-storm-update-for-friday https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/winter-storm-update-for-friday#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2021 17:00:00 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/winter-storm-update-for-friday The winter storm that hit the Houston area (and almost all of Texas) appears to be heading out. After a chaotic week, things are returning to normal for many of us. Today is cold (45°), but clear and dry. In fact, it reminds me of much of my life growing up from October to March! It looks like tonight will be the last of the below-freezing nights, with temperatures expected to be in the 60s on Sunday.

The rolling blackouts here were challenging, especially because, in our home, the loss of electricity meant the loss of heat and hot water. It seemed like just as power had been restored for a significant time and we thought we were past the loss of power, the power would go out again! We were blessedly spared any plumbing incidents inside our home – only having a sprinkler pipe outside crack and separate. That made us shut off the water to the house, but the pipe was sufficiently repaired the next morning. We will need to have that sprinkler pipe area redone, but it can wait for warmer weather and the greater availability of plumbers. We have had power, heat, and hot water since Wednesday afternoon. Circumstances like this make me much more grateful for things that I normally take for granted!

We had friends and congregants who did experience bursting pipes, water leakage, and longer loss of water. Because plumbers are so overbooked, Christ Church has teams out helping people, but the lack of plumbing parts has made it difficult to make repairs. A specific prayer request would be that stores would be able to restock parts soon. Our church did not have any damage – only being without power intermittently for a couple of days. We are able to have Sunday morning worship, Sunday school, and Sunday evening worship as scheduled.

The loss of modern conveniences is very hard on us, and I cannot imagine what it is like to live every day without clean running water or steady electricity. Yet there are millions of people today for whom that is a daily reality. All the more reason to be grateful for what we have been given, and to be generous with what we have!

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The winter storm that hit the Houston area (and almost all of Texas) appears to be heading out. After a chaotic week, things are returning to normal for many of us. Today is cold (45°), but clear and dry. In fact, it reminds me of much of my life growing up from October to March! It looks like tonight will be the last of the below-freezing nights, with temperatures expected to be in the 60s on Sunday.

The rolling blackouts here were challenging, especially because, in our home, the loss of electricity meant the loss of heat and hot water. It seemed like just as power had been restored for a significant time and we thought we were past the loss of power, the power would go out again! We were blessedly spared any plumbing incidents inside our home – only having a sprinkler pipe outside crack and separate. That made us shut off the water to the house, but the pipe was sufficiently repaired the next morning. We will need to have that sprinkler pipe area redone, but it can wait for warmer weather and the greater availability of plumbers. We have had power, heat, and hot water since Wednesday afternoon. Circumstances like this make me much more grateful for things that I normally take for granted!

We had friends and congregants who did experience bursting pipes, water leakage, and longer loss of water. Because plumbers are so overbooked, Christ Church has teams out helping people, but the lack of plumbing parts has made it difficult to make repairs. A specific prayer request would be that stores would be able to restock parts soon. Our church did not have any damage – only being without power intermittently for a couple of days. We are able to have Sunday morning worship, Sunday school, and Sunday evening worship as scheduled.

The loss of modern conveniences is very hard on us, and I cannot imagine what it is like to live every day without clean running water or steady electricity. Yet there are millions of people today for whom that is a daily reality. All the more reason to be grateful for what we have been given, and to be generous with what we have!

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Evening Service (2/14) Canceled https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/evening-service--2-14--canceled https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/evening-service--2-14--canceled#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0600 https://www.cckpca.org/blog/post/evening-service--2-14--canceled Our 6:00 PM evening service on Sunday, February 14, 2021, has been canceled. The weather forecast is for low temperatures not seen in decades in Houston, with the addition of freezing rain, sleet, and (perhaps) snow. We want you to stay safe and driving on slick and icy roads after dark (and without much experience with that) is risky.

Our morning services (including Sunday school) will be held as scheduled. We have a video archive of our recent morning and evening services HERE, and older services HERE for you to watch online this Sunday evening. 

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Our 6:00 PM evening service on Sunday, February 14, 2021, has been canceled. The weather forecast is for low temperatures not seen in decades in Houston, with the addition of freezing rain, sleet, and (perhaps) snow. We want you to stay safe and driving on slick and icy roads after dark (and without much experience with that) is risky.

Our morning services (including Sunday school) will be held as scheduled. We have a video archive of our recent morning and evening services HERE, and older services HERE for you to watch online this Sunday evening. 

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