Category Archives: Bible

Forgiveness (Following Christ Today)

Posted on January 31, 2023 by salooper57

These classes are all about what it means to follow Christ today, but we are not following Christ when we refuse to forgive; we are standing still. So many of us have trouble with this, but forgiveness – and the … Continue reading →

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Forgive Him (#2): Following Christ Today

Posted on January 24, 2023 by salooper57

The church of Jesus Christ was intended to be a society of forgiveness, modelling God’s forgiven in its relationships with others. This is a chief way the gospel is conveyed. Yet, we are not very good at forgiving. One reason … Continue reading →

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Committed to Christlikeness (2 Cor. 3:16-18)

Posted on January 22, 2023 by salooper57

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for … Continue reading →

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The Intentional Cultivation of Desire: Good and Bad

Posted on January 21, 2023 by salooper57

In the 1960s, Hula Hoops and TV dinners were in. In the 1970s it was pet rocks and fondue pots. In the 1980s, there were padded shoulders and Hacky Sacks. You couldn’t go out without seeing fanny packs in the … Continue reading →

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Forgive Him (Following Christ Today)

Posted on January 17, 2023 by salooper57

You cannot read the Gospels without getting the impression that forgiveness is a big deal. Jesus wants his people to be the most forgiving on earth – “not 7 times, but 70 times 7”! How do we do that? What … Continue reading →

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Seven Reasons to Commit to Christ (Col. 1:15-20)

Posted on January 15, 2023 by salooper57

This message was especially encouraging to people. If it encourages you, please let me know by leaving a comment. – Shayne The vision statement at Lockwood Church describes the reality we hope to see in this way: Committed: to Christ, … Continue reading →

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The Christian View of Wealth: A nuanced perspective from Jesus

Posted on January 14, 2023 by salooper57

Reading time: approximately 4 minutes. What is the Christian view of wealth? I don’t ask about the “religious view” of wealth because I am not qualified to present the views of other religions. Perhaps I should not even speak of … Continue reading →

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Do Not Throw Away Your Confidence

Posted on January 7, 2023 by salooper57

In our day, when so many people are “deconstructing” their faith, this warning to the Hebrews seems very contemporary. If faith can be deconstructed, it should be, and the clutter – the pietistic flotsam and jetsam carried on the tide of faith – thrown out. But the rash way in which some people are going about it almost guarantees that beliefs that warrant keeping will be discarded. Continue reading →

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The Ultimate Hero’s Journey: The Story of Jesus (Phil. 2:1-11)

Posted on January 4, 2023 by salooper57

When my son Kevin preaches, people take notes – including me. I’ve learned so much from him! It’s funny: ten or so years ago, when a staff position opened at our church and Kevin asked if I thought it was … Continue reading →

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The Telescoping Reality (Luke 2:1-14)

Posted on January 1, 2023 by salooper57

Have you seen a telescoping spyglass? There is a wide cylinder in which a narrower cylinder rests, in which a yet narrower cylinder rests, and perhaps several more. I think our view of reality is likewise telescoping. We live in the narrow end and view our world through the lens of our own experiences. But we and our experiences are contained within a family circle, and our family circle exists within a community, and our community exists within a nation, and our nation exists within a world. Continue reading →

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