May
11
A Church On Fire
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The church that was born on Pentecost Sunday was on fire, ablaze with the coming of the Holy Spirit and marked by intense fellowship, earnest prayer, and fervent outreach. The first Pentecost was unique and historically momentous, but let’s be open to the dynamic of the Holy Spirit in our day as well. Scripture from Acts 2:1-21.
Jan
25
Following is my sermon given at the recent funeral of Garrett Steven (January 15, 2008 - January 18, 2008), my great nephew, who was born with a condition called “anencephaly.” My thanks to those of you who prayed for Garrett, his parents, Brian & Kristine, and the family. - MAJ
A verse of Scripture that has taken on special meaning for Brian & Kristine in this season of their lives is …Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Last August, Brian & Kristine received the news that would both rock their world and change them forever. The precious child growing in Kristine’s womb had anencephaly. This term, unfamiliar to most of us, immediately catapulted to the forefront of our awareness as we scrambled to make sense out of this new reality. But no amount of understanding would erase the pain of this stark revelation. Read more
Oct
24
Prayer and Mission
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A crucial part of the CoJ vision is to be a congregation that is “world impacting.” The gospel message of forgiveness and freedom through faith in Jesus Christ is life changing good news and definitely worth sharing, beginning in our own back yard and extending to the far corners of the world. That means we’ve got work to do - a mission to accomplish. Why then are we talking about prayer? Talking to God seems so passive. Why spend time talking to God about the world when we could be talking to the world about God? What’s the connection between prayer and mission? Read more
