Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1.2-4 Trials are a reality of life. We can't avoid them, but instead should expect various trials. James had in mind all sorts of trials...

Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12.1-2 This ev...

The celebration of Advent begins Sunday, November 30. It is always a special season of focus. Advent simply means coming. Our focus centers around three comings of Christ: His arrival in history as a baby born of Mary, His return in fearsome glory at the end of time and His entrance into our own lives. This season we will be encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus. As we see t...

Halloween and Time Change: Both An Opportunity Is there any other time during the year that fifty or a hundred or more people come to your door in a span of a few hours like they do on Halloween? I would imagine the answer would be no for all of us. Halloween is the one time out of the year when the world comes to your front door. So, think through what you could do to en...

This Sunday, we begin a study on the book of Jonah. No doubt you think of a great fish when you hear Jonah mentioned, but this book is really about our great God. Jonah goes through a painful experience to discover the true character of God. As we learn from his experience may God reveal things in our own hearts, so our heart may look more like God's....

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4.23 This past Sunday, we learned about the secrets of influencing your culture for the glory of God from Daniel. He truly thrived in Babylon and we can as well. If you were to peel pack the layers of Daniel's life and get to the core of who he is I believe you would find a young man ...

Jesus says, The Scriptures testify of Me. John 5.39 This past Sunday, I encouraged those who may not be on a Scripture reading plan to take three of Paul's letters (Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians) and read them from now until the end of February. Those letters have a total of 16 chapters. You could take a chapter a day with some extra days left or you could even rea...

Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven. Matthew 9.2 As we have been walking through Matthew over the last 3 ½ years, we have learned that Jesus has authority over all things. We see in Matthew 9 with this man who is paralyzed, that Jesus has authority over disease, the physical and over sin. Jesus heals this man of his sin first before He heals him of his physic...

Quick Update: Thank you for your faithful giving this Advent season. Currently $68,900 has been given and we have $13,100 left to reach our goal. If you still plan to give before the end of the year you may do so online, by mail with a postmark before January 1 or swing by the church office. Do call before you come by the office to make sure someone is there [(972) 492-460...

It is hard to believe that we have crossed over the halfway mark of December. Before you know it we will be ushering in a new year. As we enjoy these final days of December and this last full week of Advent, I wanted to remind you of our Advent giving. Our Advent giving goal is $82,000. $52,000 goes toward our regular monthly needs for December and then $30,000 goes towar...

Seeing Jesus with The ShepherdsLuke 2.8-20 2.8: In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. The same region Near Bethlehem, which is called the city of David (2.4). This is where Joseph and Mary were to go and register due to the census decreed by the Roman government. The prophet Micah declared hun...

This past Sunday, we saw just a part of the interaction around the Last Supper, but there was much more that happen around the table and much more said by Jesus to His disciples. Tuesday night I shared with our men Jesus' closing words at the table that night and the desire He has for us through a prayer that He prays to the Father. The prayer to the Father is in John 17 a...

There are times after I preach that I have much more to say or some points thatI want to emphasize. This Sunday was one of those where I would have loved to have an hour long discussion with some question and answer time to talk through this great parable. So, I thought I would write some more thoughts and make some points of emphasis, as I revisit the parable of the talen...

Let us not forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10.25 This past week, I had a sister in the Lord say something that has caused a phrase she said to come back to my memory often. She had asked about a brother in the Lord and I had shared that he had fallen out ...

And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to Him, 'Caesar's.' Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's". Matthew 22.20-21 As we heard this past Sunday, we have an obligation both to government and God, as those part of the kingdom of God. Faithful and obedient followers...

For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100.5 God is truly faithful from one generation to the next. I can attest to that from Him taking a middle school student who you thought was not listening on the back row and putting him in an unreached area of the world that you can't even mention due to security rea...

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6.9 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3.13 Paul knew we would be weary living in this fallen world, but he warned us when it came to being tempted with growing weary of doing good. We are called to persevere, overcome and endure ...

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6.9 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3.13 Paul knew we would be weary living in this fallen world, but he warned us when it came to being tempted with growing weary of doing good. We are called to persevere, overcome and endure ...

But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4.13-14 When we are persecuted for our faith we are facing the same kind of suffering that Jesus...

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now ha...

We are redeemed with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1.19-21 This Sunday is the...

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Colossians 4.2-4 We began our 6 week By Name challenge l...

Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers. - Sidlow Baxter As a church, our mission is to be disciples, who make disciples for the glory of God. Part of being a disciple and making disciples is praying for lost people and asking God to bring the kingdom of God to hearts were it doe...

This Sunday, we wrap up our series on prayer. In my conversations with those in the body over the last couple of weeks it has been encouraging to hear how God is challenging you and encouraging you during this series. My prayer is that we would not put prayer on the shelf when the sermon series is done. Instead I pray that this series fuels us for the days ahead to obey Je...

The seed is the word of God. Luke 8.11 I love the word of God and pray that love would grow deeper and deeper to reflect the love the Psalmist speaks of in Psalm 119. I love the Scriptures because they tell us who God is and what He desires for us. As others have said regarding the Scriptures, it is God's love letter to us. As followers of Christ we are called to share th...

According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1.20 Not sure if you have heard of the name Charles Poland yet, but he is the brave and heroic bus driver who was killed while trying to keep a man from ente...

I wanted to draw your attention to a new sermon series coming up in a couple of weeks. On Sunday, February 10 we will begin a four week study on prayer. The series will end on Sunday, March 3. During that time we are inviting everyone to join a LIFEgroup beginning on Sunday, February 3. That first week will be a time of connection and fellowship. Then the next four weeks i...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was light of menAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1.1-4, 14 The...

This is something God has been teaching me over the last year and really landing on my heart these last few weeks. We have heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. I have learned that it takes a people to adopt a child. Since being matched with a very brave birth mom and anxiously awaiting next Tuesday when our new daughter will be born, I have been refle...

Advent Gatherings: Sundays, December 2, 9 and 16 at 9 and 11 amSunday, December 23 at 10:30 amMonday, December 24 at 5 pm The celebration of Advent is always a special season of focus. During this time we focus on three 'comings' of Christ: His arrival in history as a baby born of Mary, His return in fearsome glory at the end of time and His intermediate entrance into ou...

We have learned over the last few weeks about the mission of God and how God has set apart the church to live out His mission. Significant to the church living out and growing up in the mission of God is the joyful labor of its elders. Elders have been called to gladly and eagerly shepherd the members of the church, so that they will grow up in Christ and live out His miss...

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age. Matthew 28.19-20 The focus of our church is to be disciples and make disciples fo...

We have learned over the last five weeks what God says about marriage. We have been invited to get in sync with God about marriage. Sunday, we closed our series with looking at the importance of having a good communication system in marriage. Besides our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, nothing else is more important to the development of genuine oneness than co...

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. Matthew 19.6 This past Sunday, we heard God's heart for marriage. God has ordained from the beginning that marriage be between the two different sexes (male and female), that they would leave their former lives of dependence on their parents, enter into this new relati...

I heard a story yesterday at a conference I was at that I wanted to share with you. This lady shared how she was once a missions director at a church, but now a full-time mom. As a full-time mom she has not stopped living a life of mission. In fact, my take was that she was being more missional now. She shared how three Halloweens ago her family decided to stay at ho...

We need an awakening in the church, in homes and in marriages to God's order and the unique roles He has given to marriage. We need to stop grieving the Holy Spirit and take heed to the words of the apostle Paul (Ephesians 5.14-18). As Christians, we must rise up from the dead ways of our old sinful life and awaken to the new life that God through Christ has awakened in us...

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34.3 King David invited the people of Israel to join him in glorifying the Lord with him. David desired for others to join him in living out the very purpose for which they were created for. What is the purpose of man? This of course has been a question asked throughout time. Scripture testifies the f...

As mentioned Sunday, our children receive take home material each week from their classes. This material is great to use for your family devotionals during the week, for times in the car or for dinner time. This week you could really have fun with the lesson your child learned about how God saved the Israelites from Egypt by using shaving cream. My kiddos got the bigges...

The apostle Paul defined the church as the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3.15). As the body of Christ it is our most critical task to uphold and proclaim the truth of God. This affects every area of our lives, but over the next five weeks I want to focus on the truth about marriage. It is not new to you that the sanctityof marriage in our day is being tarni...

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery ...

And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I said to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18.2-4 I wanted to take you back to a portion of Sunday's message. Reflect on the text and t...

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and ...

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Matthew 16.19 This past Sunday we learned the following about the church from Matthew 16.13-19: The church are redeemed people People become the church by the revelation of the FatherJe...

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28.19-20 Earlier this week, Jee-Young (Pastor of Nahnum Church) and I were reflecting on this passage together. What did the word ...

Paul says to the Corinthian church that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13.8). What did Paul mean by this? I believe Paul meant that love never fails in the sense of falling away when the physical and temporal things on which affection rests pass away. The type of love he was talking about outlasts temporal things. In fact, this type of love will never end, but will last f...

This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. Matthew 15.8 As I reflect on the message from Sunday there is one big thing I conclude. Jesus wants our hearts. The heart is the center of who we are. It is the center and seat of spiritual life. The heart is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purpos...

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Matthew 9.36-38 Jesus wants His disciples to pray. Obviously He did on the above occas...

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Matthew 9.36-38 Summer officially begins June 20, but in reality it started when the k...

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Hebrews 13.7 Today is a sad day, but also a day filled with joy. This morning a great man of faith passed from this earth into Paradise to be with His Savior.Dr. Wayne Allen who has served as the Pastor Emeritus of FBC Carrollton left this eart...

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learn...

For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack." 2 Corinthians 8.13-15. ...

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7.12 (ESV) I was sitting and watching Nightline Wednesday night with Annette and the top story was the news of the reversal of President Obama on same-sex marriages. There is a lot to say about that, but I think the thing that stuck out the most for me was so...

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24.3-4 The desire of my wife and I is that wisdom would fill our home just as Solomon speaks of. Though we desire it to be a thread through the fabric of everything we do there is one place in particular that is sacred...

Psalm 119 is a beautiful poem of celebration and complexity. It is a lengthy work praising not the Scriptures, but the Author of the Scriptures. C. S. Lewis compared it to a piece of embroidery, done stitch by stitch in the quiet hours for the love of the subject and for the delight in leisurely, disciplined craftsmanship (Reflections on . . ., pp. 58-59). The second se...

It is important as followers of Christ that we continue to grow in our knowledge of Jesus. It is not merely for intellectual exercise, but to grow in our love relationship with Him. One thing about Jesus that we don't talk about much, but need to understand is the thought of Jesus being the firstborn.What does that mean? On Palm Sunday, we looked at Jesus' entry into Je...

I am looking forward to tonight and hope to see you there. It is always a special time to gather on this Thursday of Holy Week. This day is called Maundy Thursday. What does Maundy mean? Great question! Maundy Thursday, gets its name from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment, remembering Jesus' words to the disciples during the Last Supper, "A new commandmen...

As we learned this past Sunday the setting and context of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was most intriguing. It was Passover time, and Jerusalem and the whole surrounding neighborhood were crowded with pilgrims. William Barclay records that nearly 2.5 million could have been in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. John MacArthur says nearly 2.6 million. They both share the...

This Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week with what the Christian church calls Palm Sunday. It is the day that the church remembers Jesus' beginning movements to the cross, the grave, the resurrection and eventually His ascension with it all starting with His entry into Jerusalem. I want to invite you to join us for our Holy Week gatherings. Below is a snapshot of them. ...

Morality has sent, is sending and will send people to Hell. That is why the words of Williams Tyndale are so fitting when he cries out to God, Deliver us from morality. Morality is not Christianity. Morality is the conformity to rules of right conduct or behavior. It is the vain effort of seeking to be good and righteous without Jesus. This is why the overchurched, unchurc...

And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and theworry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13.22 As I have been walking and running in the morning this week I have been keenly aware of the weeds overtaking yards in my neighborhood. In fact, the other morning I saw...

We need the empowering grace of God. We need the gospel. This is true both to save us and make us morelike Jesus. It is at times though in our Christian walk we function with a 'try harder' belief. We also are prone to a 'list based' religion with our will power being the force behind us. Such living is what is called morality or even legalism. These two things are not Chr...

Psalm 46 has been a great refuge for our family the last few weeks. My wife broke both her feet and had surgery Thursday on the right foot. The left foot will be operated on in about three or four weeks. The family and I are so thankful to everyone for your prayers, the meals, help with the kiddos and more. We are truly blessed by your abundant generosity. Psalm 46 is a...

(This was taken from Randy Alcorn's writing on William Carey in both his book, Why Pro-Life?, and his online writing as well. Some changes have been made. Thank you to Randy for showing us that William Carey is a man we should imitate. Fresh back from India I am so thankful for William Carey and the seeds he planted in that land for the gospel. Oh how sweet the fruit is to...

To steal a line from Randy Alcorn, I could teach the Bible and stay away from talking about issues like abortion, but the reality is I could not live the Bible and stay away from it. The issue of abortion and fighting for the life of the unborn is a human issue, a moral issue, a Sovereignty of God issue, a biblical issue and a great commission issue - calling us to blow th...

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2.20 As we heard Sunday, the crucified life is lived by faith in Jesus Christ. This Monday I was sitting and reflecting on the message with pastor Jee-Y...

The mission of God is big. He has called us to spread His name, His gospel and glory to those who are hopeless. This is humanly impossible. Jesus' disciples learned this truth in Matthew 17.14-21 when Jesus pointed out to them that the humanly impossible could be done if they had faith like a grain of mustard seed (17.20). Jesus had commissioned the disciples to do this...