The Bible begins with seasons. God creates them in the first chapter of Genesis. The cycle that unfolds based on the seasons fill the rest of the Bible in many different ways. And in particular, four seasons related to growth emerge: plowing, planting, watering and harvesting. So it is with nearly everything that God does, whether corporately (in the life … Read More
Having the Best Christmas Ever Even If It’s The Worst Christmas Ever
Below I’m honored to publish a GUEST POST from my wife, Tracy Bradford. _____________________________________ Christmas week has started! School is out of session, Christmas is only days away, and everyone is hustling and bustling with the busyness of the Christmas season… Oh, Christmas Week! You have so much potential! You hold the hopes of merriment, joy, happiness, hopefulness, and much … Read More
Waiting on David
Advent, the Christian season that starts the Christian calendar and focuses on the coming of Jesus, starts today! Throughout Advents (ending on Christmas Day), I’m posting thoughts about the coming of Jesus and explaining some things about Christmas that might not be clear to you.Have you ever wondered why Jesus is referred to as the son of David in the … Read More
What is Advent?
Advent is the season of expectant preparation that involves the four Sundays before Christmas and Christmas Day itself. Advent literally means “coming”. It involves reading scripture, prayer, and often the lighting of candles. This coming Sunday it will begin and we will be encouraging our congregation to begin a period of Bible reading and prayer in a way to mark … Read More
PRAY-ER–Persistence
Yesterday’s message explored the promise of Jesus found in Luke 11:10 about asking, seeking and knocking. Check out the outline below, as well as the video of the service. Jesus teaches that there are different kinds of prayer–involving asking, seeking and knocking. Check out here how these kinds of prayer make a practical difference about how you’re approaching God in … Read More
Pray-er: Great Books on Prayer
To go along with the series called “PRAY-ER”, I wanted to point you to some rich resources on prayer. When I was a teenager, one of the significant spiritual mentors in my life pointed me to many of these books, and I am greatly in debt to him for it because they are rich in their power to move one … Read More
PRAY-ER–Intercede
What does it mean to “intercede” for someone in prayer? What difference does it make to be an “intercessor” in prayer? How can you move people and circumstances closer to God through prayer? How does a person “intercede”? These questions and more are addressed in this message that saw a powerful response and many people making decisions for Christ yesterday … Read More
PRAY-ER: Prayer and Victory
When you’re praying for victory in a spiritual battle in your life, does it matter how long or how intensely you pray? What are the primary ingredients in prayer? This week’s message dealt with prayer that happens to overcome spiritual battles in your life, drawing from the story of Moses in Exodus 17. See the outline and the message below! … Read More
The Whys of Worship
Last Sunday’s message on worship and the worship that followed were powerful! Check out the video and the outline to message below! OUTLINE: THE WHYS OF WORSHIP Exodus 3:1-5 “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain … Read More
PRAY-ER–August 2015 Sermon Series
This August, Sunday mornings at First Assembly Community Ministries in Lafayette, Indiana will be focused on becoming a person who prays, a PRAY-ER. Check out the planned messages below, along with dates, primary ideas and pertinent passages. I’m looking forward to this series of messages and seeing our church grow deeper into a life of prayer! DATE … Read More