First Baptist Family of Asheboro, NC

  We are indeed a new creation.   Everything has been and is being made new.   New can be a good thing.   In Colossians chapter 3 the people of Colossae have been marginalized like they’re second class believers.   Paul tells them they too are children of God.   Paul writes about God’s design, what it means to be a new creation, to have the Holy Spirit of God inside you.   God’s design for us is to be made new.   Maybe you tried something new recently?   It’s exciting.   I tried a new kind of cookie on Christmas.   It was a red velvet cake cookie.   I took a bite and then I ate the whole thing!   Exciting can also be challenging. God has designed us to have a new way of thinking.   Those of you who grew up in church, when you came to Christ not much changed.   Those of you who were not in church before you came to Christ it was a huge change for you.   This is a practical section of Scripture.   Pau...

                                            Hand of God - Save Me by Younsung Kim This is a rescue story, Jesus coming to us, the story of the prophets.   This is what they were waiting for:   Jesus to come to the rescue.   I have this old brown replica of a church building.   The steps and steeple are broken off.   It’s banged up and in bad shape.   Why would I keep something like that?   I’ll tell you why a little bit later.   We are kind of like this damaged building.   Jesus came for each of us, even in our broken state. In Galatians 4 Paul is writing to the church at Galatia who is under attack.   They’re being told they’re not real believers.   People are saying things like, “God didn’t really come for you.”   Paul writes them this letter to tell them yes, Jesus came for ...

  As Christmas approaches we picture a nativity.   Baby Jesus is in the center and the others are standing around him.   Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and if you’re historically incorrect, the wise men are there too.   There’s a cow, a donkey and even sometimes a chicken.   The center of the nativity is the person of Jesus.   The question that’s asked is, Who is this child?   What’s he come to do?   We have the answer in Luke 2. The angels tell us.   He is the Christ of Christmas.   Jesus is Lord.   We are a contrarian people.   We don’t like anyone lording it over us.   We are independent but we still need a King over our heart.   How many times have you said to yourself, “I cannot believe I just said that!”?   We are aware of the weaknesses in our hearts.   In Jesus we have the One who comes for our soul; Jesus is a gift for us.   Jesus is the One we can entrust our hearts to.   Jesus is our g...

  In Psalm 22:3 the KJV reads, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel .” Other translations translate the word inhabitest as enthroned.   In practice, that’s not necessarily what we mean.   If I’m praising my child, I’m giving an affirmation to them.   It means god is present in moments when we are lifting ourselves up to Him.   God inhabits this space when we meet together.   God is always available.   God gives His presence to us.   We are no longer strangers to God.  Have you ever been in a group and someone introduced you to someone you already know?  It’s a good feeling when we already know someone.  Paul says you are no longer a stranger to God.  You know God.  This is a good reminder for us that we come to God not as a stranger.  In Colossians 1 God is the Creator of everything. Jesus takes first place.  What does it mean for God to be first in our lives? Follow Jesus. Who a...

  Colossians 1:15-17 is part of an old song, a hymn.   I’m reminded of a visit with my parents when my nieces discovered an old record player.   They didn’t know what it was!   I had the privilege of showing them how to use it and it was interesting to listen to it.   There’s something nostalgic about the crackling sound it makes.   This song, Colossians 1:15-17, is over 2,000 years old.   As we take communion together today this is a sacred moment for us.   We do this with our brothers and sisters around the world.   This song was sung by the earliest believers.   It’s a song about who Jesus is.   It’s an early hymn. Jesus is our Creator. In creation God is visible.                            15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, H...

  Psalm 84 is an image of people going to worship together and as they go it’s raining.   As they approach Jerusalem the rain reminds them of God’s strength.   May the rain remind us of God’s peace and strength today. A couple of weeks ago I ordered lunch and it came.   Everything was in order but there were 2 milkshakes we didn’t order!   We didn’t pay for those.   We got more than we deserved.   That’s grace!   God has given us so much more than a couple of milkshakes. In Colossians 1:1-14 Paul is writing from prison.   As he writes to the people of Colossae he reminds them of the grace and power of God. Paul was in prison for several years, quite a long time. God spoke to him and he wrote these letters.   If Paul wasn’t in prison we wouldn’t have these letters today.   In our imprisonments, in our times when we aren’t doing what we think we should be doing, God uses these times. Growth begins when we embrace grace.  ...