Nathaniel From Timfam

It's one thing to be convinced that the Lord provides our food, drink, and shelter. It's another thing entirely to be convinced that the Lord can provide identity, belonging, goodness, acceptance, approval, and forgiveness. Today we're in Genesis 22:1-18 to see that the Lord will provide.  

God's glory is not simply something to be adored, loved, or upheld. We receive God's glory. To the extent we receive it, we get strength and grit. 

The group norm in America today is overload and exhaustion. Jesus gives both physical and spiritual truths to power us for our work. 

If you know for whom you are working, that gives so much clarity to your work. Join Jesus in Mark 1:21-34 and see for whom he works. 

So many things happen that make our work not feel worth it. While we can't always change how we feel about our work, working with Jesus will make our work worth it. 

Modern work faces many problems. It is hard, frustrating toil. It is fruitless. It is pointless. We typically offer the wrong solutions to work. Jesus in his baptism sets up the right solution.

The struggle over evil and difficulty has been long and we seem to make so little progress. Christmas promises that we can conquer, even if it won't be right away. We can join in the struggle and make progress. 

What is the greatest gift you've ever given? What is the greatest gift you've ever received? Let's enjoy the greatest gift. 

You can almost tell what a gift is by how people respond. A book provokes a boring response from everyone but the most bookish person; trash provokes disgust. How will you respond to the great gift of Christmas? Watch Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1:39 -45). 

Who are you? A great question. How are you answering this question? In John 1:19-28, we watch John do something amazing. He doesn't get full of himself and claim to be someone he is not. He is humble but strong. He is a voice - someone who gets to make someone else larger, greater, and more wonderful. Who are you? 

It is certainly possible to imagine a world without forgiveness. I can imagine that everyone has problems so no one needs to be forgiven. I can also imagine that we just accept everyone, no matter what. Forgiveness is an essential part of a life where everything counts - where right and wrong actually matter. That makes forgiveness a great gift for a new world. 

Some stand firm on their own strength. Others don't have any idea how to stand firm. God lays out a way for us to stand firm based on someone else's strength.

The ability to distinguish between others making mistakes and genuine deceit is vital. The apostle Paul makes the case that someone or something out there is working to deceive us. As disappointing as that is, the splendor and glory of Jesus can enable us to hold the deceiver back. We can stand firm and powerfully hold the lawless one back.    A sermon on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The hope of Christians is eternal glory, which already breaks into the present reality. Every time we see the dead live and the smallest of absurd events take place, we see the new world that is to come. 

The reality of the end is not something that has to disturb or trouble us. 

Our families are dysfunctional to varying degrees, still, we need our families so much that we can really impart wisdom to them. Jesus sets us free from our families by placing us in an eternal family, a place where we can get healthy again. This is the power of baptism and his sacrifice of his own place in the eternal family. Lord, renew us. 

Friendship is a great relationship to picture the gospel. God freely chooses to be with us, forgive us for the sake of his son, and welcome us. Great friendships then form from the gospel. 

Humility is fleeting; as soon as you start to talk about it, it's gone. That doesn't make it any less necessary for a good life. Listen to this sermon for grace for humility. 

I tend to think good people get good lives, but that's just not the case - all sorts of people experience bad things. This truth reminds me that everyone needs to accept correction and discipline in life. What gets me through correction is the delight I experience from God. 

What piece of wisdom do you think best encourages and promotes a good life? The first wisdom from God tells us that a positive fear of him is the one thing that will start to help us make good decisions in the many situations where there are no rules in life.