Today I had the opportunity to share some thoughts inspired by my recent trip to General Santos, Philippines. While I was away I preached 18 times in 7 days. I was involved in some exciting and emotional ministry opportunities: a conference for tribal church pastors and leaders, visiting newly planted churches, preaching on the radio...
Author: City of Refuge
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Matthew 26:47-54 “The Reverence of Surrender”
Last week we talked about Mark 14 where Jesus told the disciples “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night . . .” Peter immediately disagreed with Jesus and began to argue, in fact, Peter was so sure that Jesus was wrong that he didn’t even hear the rest of...
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Philippians 1:9-11 “Praying for the Depths of Our Hearts”
Paul has shown us so far that two of the bedrocks of Christian friendship are thanksgiving and prayer. It is difficult if not impossible to have “fellowship” with someone that we are not thankful for. Fellowship is far more than agreement, unity or even friendship. Fellowship, as it is defined in Scripture is partnership, it...
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Mark 14:27-31 “Arguments”
Two weeks ago I wrote in my journal “Why are we having an argument instead of a conversation?” I was referring to everything that is going on around us and everything that our current circumstances want to cause within us. Arguments are the language of division. They are not the difference of opinions, different experiences...
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Avery Covington: “The Reach of God”
This past Sunday we had the privilege of having Avery Covington share the Word of God with us. Avery combined Psalm 23:1-2 and Luke 7:11-17 to share with us about God’s character. He leads us, He guides us, He is moved with compassion for us and in all situations and at all times, whether we...
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Joshua 5:13-15 “Are you for us . . .?”
Joshua is one of my favorite biblical characters. I love the character that he lived with, how he was always willing to serve, that his leadership was birthed by following Moses into God’s presence and that he didn’t let frustration, disappointment, a lack of experience or even the unwillingness of those that he was leading...
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Philippians 1:5-8 “Fellowship, Confidence and the Gospel”
Paul began this letter to his friends in Philippi by telling them that every time he remembers them he does two things, he thanks God for them and he prays for them joyfully. Tonight we are going to begin to see why Paul feels so strongly for this group of people, what it is about...
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I Chronicles 13:1-14 “Uzzah’s Life Mattered”
What does it mean to be a shepherd? In the literal it’s to tend sheep. A shepherd leads, protects and provides for the flock that is left in his care. He fights off enemies, he leads to safety, he sets boundaries that keep each sheep and all the sheep within his sight and he teaches...
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Philippians 1:2-5 “Grace, Peace and Fellowship”
The last time we were together we basically studied two words from Philippians 1:1, bondservants and saints. Paul begins the letter by setting himself and Timothy in position as the servants of Christ and then addresses the entire church, every single person within the community as saints in Christ. The focus of the entire letter...
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II Corinthians 5:14-21 “For Our Sake, Again”
Three and a half months ago we started studying this passage with the same verse that we will end with today, “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Everything that has ever been done for mankind, from our...