What is the first thing that comes to our minds when we are faced with challenges, difficulties, or problems? As human beings, our first instinct is often to look for someone who can help us. We call a friend. We call a relative. We think about who might have the resources, connections...
Do you have trouble staying awake and alert for a 45-minute sermon, or even just a 30-minute sermon? If so, you would have made a good friend of Eutychus. He was a young man in the ancient church of Troas, a major city in what is now northwestern Turkey. Acts 20 says the Apostle Paul spent about...
“I think you can do it.” I had not heard those words from my mom before. With a pout and a bit of bewilderment, I sized up my situation. Before me was a buttered piece of French toast, loaded with maple syrup, ready for me to eat. The problem was it needed to be cut, and my mom had...
A few weeks ago, I was meditating on Ephesians chapter 1 when something struck me freshly: God has lavished us with an astonishing number of blessings simply because we are in Christ. Reading through verses 3 to 14, I started counting and by the time I finished, I had ten distinct gifts: We...
I have been reflecting on 2 Corinthians 3:17–4:12.2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”Freedom to do what?Freedom to be all that I was created to be—to walk with God, to be in fellowship with God, and...
Pastor Tyler has been encouraging our church family to look for tangible ways to show Christ’s love to our neighbors, friends, families, and even strangers. Our church continues to reach out in myriad ways. The Bible makes it quite clear that we’re to serve others as Jesus did. Mark...
The very day I became a Christian, I felt burdened to learn music. Up until that time, I never once even thought about music in any meaningful way. Music was never a part of my family, and, given my annoyance with the kinds of music my friends listened to, I believe I might have said that I...
Greater Portland, one big topic that I have noticed in Paul’s letters to the churches and to new Christians is transformation. And who better to preach about transformation than Paul? He was one of the biggest persecutors of Christians, and at the end of his life he was himself persecuted...
You are here for a specific purpose.God placed you in this exact moment of history. Your life is not random, and it’s not mainly about you. It is about advancing the Kingdom of God.Your life and story are a unique fingerprint and key to share about the Kingdom. The highs and lows...
It seems like all families or groups create traditions that become identifying structures to make the group unique. Some traditions are for a short time and then they fade away. Other traditions are worth keeping and effort is made to continue the tradition. Greater Portland has a rich tradition...