Skip to main content

November 5, 2023 - 1 John 3:1-3

 Living Between the Now and Not Yet

This Sunday we'll celebrate All Saints Day and reflect on what it means to live as saints passing through this world as citizens of God's kingdom. Our text from 1 John 3 reminds us that we have already been adopted as God's children through Christ's sacrifice, yet what we will become has not been fully revealed.


In the sermon I'll be focusing on three key themes:


  1. We live in holy tension between the "already" and the "not yet" - already claimed by God yet still being transformed into Christ's image.
  2. Our growth in holiness and sanctification is a lifelong process as God molds us gradually into the likeness of Jesus.
  3. Our hope of beholding Christ face-to-face motivates us to pursue purity of heart in this life.


To illustrate these themes, we'll look at the evolving stories of saints like Augustine, Therese of Lisieux, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who aimed toward heaven while navigating the complexity of life on earth.


As we prepare our hearts for Sunday, here are some questions to ponder:

  • What tensions or paradoxes do you experience in trying to follow Jesus in today's culture? How can the example of the saints inspire you?
  • What spiritual practices or habits help you make steady progress in your lifelong journey of sanctification?
  • How can fixing your hope more fully on seeing Jesus strengthen and spur you on toward greater Christlikeness?


Let's encourage one another with the stories of saints who have gone before us and redouble our efforts to live as saints awaiting our eternal home. I look forward to worshiping with you all as we glorify our holy God this All Saints Day!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where Is God in the Texas Flooding? July 6, 2025

This afternoon, I received a phone call from a dear church member about the tragic flooding in Texas. We discussed the question that weighs heavy on many hearts: how could something like this happen in a Christian state, at a Christian camp, with precious children as victims? I must admit, I have wrestled with this myself over the last couple of days, spending the afternoon in prayer and tears, seeking comfort in God's word. As you may have heard, devastating flash floods struck central Texas on July 4th. At least 69 people have lost their lives, including many children, and 11 children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, remain missing. Rescue teams continue their urgent search as families wait in unimaginable anguish. You too may ask why God would allow this to happen. This question has echoed through the centuries from the faithful throughout Scripture. Job asked it. The psalmists cried it out. Even Jesus Himself, in His darkest moment on the cross, cried, "My Go...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Tale of Two Confessors - October 27, 2024

This Sunday is Reformation Sunday.  In my sermon we’ll explore one of Jesus’ most powerful parables in Luke 18:9-14, often referred to as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. In this story, Jesus contrasts two men praying in the temple: one who boasts of his righteousness and another who humbly asks for mercy. Through this parable, Jesus challenges us to examine our own hearts, asking whether we trust in our own goodness or rely fully on God’s grace. We'll look at how this message, though spoken thousands of years ago, speaks directly to our modern tendency to divide ourselves into categories, just as the Pharisee did. As we prepare for worship, I invite you to reflect on the ways we sometimes fall into self-righteousness or, on the other hand, isolate ourselves through feelings of unworthiness.  How do we let these mindsets affect our relationship with God and others?  What might it look like to approach God with true humility, trusting not in ourselves but...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 7, 2024 - Matthew 2:1-12

  The Journey of the Magi: A Symbol of Our Spiritual Quest This Sunday I'll be preaching on the familiar story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1-12. However, my message will explore some new dimensions around their long, arduous journey seeking Jesus. I'm going to look at how the Magi can become a metaphor for our own spiritual quests in life. We all hunger for deeper meaning and connection with God. This often requires effort and overcoming struggles along the way. Just as the star led the Magi through unknown lands to Jesus, God provides us guiding lights to keep pursuing him. My sermon will highlight three main ideas: the diligence required in seeking God, attending to God's guidance through "stars" of insight, and offering our gifts fully once we draw close to Jesus. The Magi never gave up through their difficult travels. They followed the star closely to reach their destination. And upon arriving, they laid down their most valuable possessions in worship of Ch...
Post a Comment
Read more