| Matthew 1:18-25 | What's in a Name? | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Advent Season | |
| During the Season of Advent, we celebrate the arrival of the Word made flesh, the Lamb of God who appears in the world. He is called Jesus, the salvation and help of the Lord, the one who would redeem humankind from their sins. He is called Immanuel, |
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| James 5:7-10 | Affirming the Yet to Come | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Second Coming | |
| During the Season of Advent, we affirm the surety of God |
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| Psalm 72:1-7 | Awaiting the Royal Son | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Second Coming | |
| During the Season of Advent, we remember the announcement of the prophetic promise, that the Messiah will come and reign with the justice and righteousness of God as Royal Son. He alone can accomplish this rule, and he alone can through his shed blood make us fit to enter the coming glorious refreshed earth and renewed humanity, with he himself as its Sovereign and Lord. Let us look to him alone as our source and salvation, the only One worthy to rule in God |
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| Romans 13:11-14 | Keep Watch | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
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| During the Season of Advent, we anticipate the promise of the coming of Messiah, and prepare ourselves for his coming with cleansing, repentance, reverence, and longing. Knowing that our Lord at any moment could appear, we ready ourselves, cast off the works of darkness, walk as those who are children of light, awakened from sleep, on the brink of a new dawn of righteousness and life. |
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| Deuteronomy 7:8-9 | God's Covenant Faithfulness | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Prayer | |
| Let God Arise! Prayer Guide - Spiritual Warfare Series, #1: According to Scripture, the triune invisible God made a covenant promise to fight his enemies, the ancient foes of humankind and the universe. This Church Year we reflect on the work of God in Christ through the lens of the ancient battle God is waging on behalf of his creation. This Advent season, a time of preparation and waiting, we who love the city and the Gospel turn our hearts to the one who swore by himself that he would rescue his world through his own royal Son, who is also Messiah and Lord. |
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| Jeremiah 23:5-6 | We're Going to See the King | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Second Coming | |
| The prophetic testimony integrates perfectly with the apostolic witness: the Messiah will one day reign and rule in righteousness, bringing salvation and security to the people of God. All will be accomplished through the grace of the our God, the LORD, our righteousness. We know from history and by faith that Jesus of Nazareth is the Man of God's own choosing, the Messiah anointed as King who will rule forever in a new heavens and earth. The King is our Lord and Savior, and soon and very soon we will see him face to face. Let us live each day confident that we will see the One who singlehandedly brought us life through his death and the Cross. He alone reigns as Victor, and he alone will rule as King. |
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| Job 19:23-27 | When All Hope Is Gone | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Hope | |
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| Habakkuk 2:1-4 | God's Still on the Throne | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | God's Sovereignty | |
| In the wake of troubles, trials, and tribulation, even the most stout-hearted disciples can experience real doubt and discouragement. Although the promise and vision of God seems slow or delayed, we can be confident that our God is a God of covenant faithfulness, who will never renounce his will or change his mind. His promise is sure and certain, and though it delays, it will certainly come to pass. The righteous live by faith. |
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| Philemon 1:19-25 | Above and Beyond the Call of Duty | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christian Leadership | |
| Christian love is extreme, rooted in exaggerated love, depending on outlandish mercy, and expressed in striving for peace above and beyond the call of duty. Remember the extreme road our Lord Jesus walked in order for you to touch the Father |
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| Philemon 1:8-18 | Show Me Some Love | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christian Leadership | |
| The greatest motivation to kindness, love, and reconciliation among us is the love of Christ demonstrated to us. Our experience of the love of Jesus ought to fortify us from chronic hate, irritating wounds, and mean-spirited wrangling. Now, in Christ enemies can become friends, disagreements can be healed, and conflicts resolved. The forgiveness of God is the power behind our own. Let us forgive one another, for we have been forgiven in Christ. |
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| Philemon 1:1-7 | Down to the Bone | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christian Leadership | |
| Never underestimate the power of your own fullness, depth, and refreshment in Christ Jesus. Philemon |
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| Colossians 4:7-18 | Fulfill Your Ministry | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christian Character | |
| In a world that will constantly tempt us to wander, with a flesh that wars against our souls, and with a mortal enemy seeking to destroy us, we are called by Christ to finish the race. He has granted to us the privilege to represent his interests, to be fellow workers of the Kingdom, and to suffer and serve the church of Jesus. Every man and woman of God will be tempted to turn and run, to lay down their sword, to quit the race. Let us remember those valiant warriors who, in the face of struggle and opposition, stood strong for Christ and his Gospel, and won the reward for those who persevere to the end. Only Christ can see us through to the end. |
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| Colossians 3:5-4:6 | Fleshing Out the Christ Life in Life | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christian Character | |
| Because we have died to sin and the world, we are now called to renounce the ways of our pagan immorality: all forms of sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness we repudiate. Joined to Christ now through faith, we put away all things which obscure the light of our life in Christ: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscenity. Instead, we speak the truth in love, fleshing out the Christ life in our families, on our jobs, and our dealings with those who do not know Christ. As God |
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| Colossians 3:1-4 | Look at the Things You Can't See | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christian Devotion | |
| Through faith in Christ, we have died with Christ and been raised with him to walk in new life. Since our life is hidden with Christ in God, we ought to seek the things above, setting our mind on the things in heaven, not on the things on earth. These |
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| Colossians 2:6-23 | Workin' on a Building: Be Rooted in Christ | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christ's Superiority | |
| In a world of self-made religion and self-help craziness, let us be careful to stay rooted in Christ. Through faith in his Cross, we have been baptized in him, having died with him, been buried with him, and now are joined with him in new life through his resurrection. He as Christus Victor has overcome our sin debt, canceled out the effect of our trespasses, forgiven all our sins, and conquered our foes. Only in him do we find strength as our Head to grow to spiritual maturity, and only through his power do we find the victory over evil and its effects in our lives. Do not be taken captive through philosophy, ritual, or the latest self-help craze. Christ Jesus is sufficient for all needs regarding the will and purpose of God. |
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| Colossians 1:21-2:5 | Paul's Mission and His Pastoral Concern | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Mission | |
| The mission of the apostles was to so proclaim Christ in all his fullness and beauty that everyone would be warned, taught, and grounded in him as the source of both life and salvation. The simplicity of this burden is captured in their pastoral concern: our single desire in ministry is to keep watch over the souls of those under our care that they may remain stable and steadfast in the faith of Christ. Only in him is wisdom, and only in him is life. |
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| Colossians 1:13-20 | Jesus Christ, the Lord of Deliverance, Creation, and Reconciliation | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Mission | |
| No confession is more foundational in Christian theology than the lordship of Jesus Christ |
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| Colossians 1:1-12 | The Absolute Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Christ's Supremacy | |
| In connection to all things regarding the revelation of God to humankind and the redemption accomplished for our salvation, Christ Jesus is supreme and sufficient. No moral system, no philosophy, no religious devotion, and no spiritual discipline, in and of itself, can supply us with the life, forgiveness, and hope that faith in our Lord Jesus Christ can provide. In him, all the fullness of God dwells, all the redemption of God is complete, and all the hopes of the saints are placed. He is supreme; he alone is sufficient for all. |
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| Philippians 4:10-23 | A Truly Blessed Assurance | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Assurance | |
| As Paul learned how to experience contentment in the midst of whatever situation he faced, so we too can learn to depend on the all-sufficient resources of the living Christ to give us the strength to face whatever life brings us as we follow the path of God. This is the open secret of the Christian life, available to each one of us who walk in the footsteps of the Master. |
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| Philippians 4:5-9 | Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude | Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis | |
| | Meditation | |
| As we walk in this confused, sinful world, may we learn to be anxious and fearful of nothing. Rather, through thankful prayer and godly meditation may the very presence of God rest with us, and his peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Only through God can we hope to retain a sense of freedom and purpose in a world so cold and mad with lust and power. May his peace rule and abide with us as we seek him in prayer and meditation. |
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