Church

When it comes to how we approach our spiritual lives, many of us only look at the tip of the iceberg. We only focus on what appears on the surface. I go to church. I pray before meals. I hold the door for strangers. I pay my taxes. Since I do all (or most) of these things, I must be a pretty good person. In fact, compared to that guy over there, I’m a really great person. I can live that way and never worry about what lies below the surface. Based on my experience, it's not the exposed parts of the iceberg that do the most damage. By focusing on externals, I can convince myself that I'm doing alright ... and avoid having to deal with what is in my heart. That way of living eventually catches up to you. Jesus put it this way: "For it is from within,…

As a young child, I can remember sprawling out across the living room and watching The Wizard of Oz on our old Zenith television. I was fascinated by Toto the dog, the Munchkins, and a bit terrified by the Wicked Witch of the West. At the time, I was too young to have a crush on Judy Garland. Then there was Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion. Actually, the Cowardly Lion.  Scarecrow wants a brain, Tin Man desires to have a heart, and the Cowardly Lion needs courage. It's an interesting twist on stereotypes. The needs of the Scarecrow and Tin Man make sense - of course a scarecrow wouldn't have a brain and a metal box would need a heart. But we don't usually think of lions as cowards. When C.S. Lewis wrote Chronicles of Narnia, he portrayed Jesus as a lion called Aslan. In the first book, a young…

We are growing in Christ to the extent that we are increasing our ability to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. As a church, we want our members to mature in every aspect of their Christian walk. This growth includes our knowledge of God and his Word, our sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit, and having our values shaped by the gospel.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here.

When Jesus is asked to identify the greatest commandment in the Law, he chooses Deuteronomy 6:5 – the command to love God first and foremost. As a church, we are calling our members to love God before anything or anyone else. God himself says, “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8). When we love anything or anyone before God, we are robbing him of his rightful glory. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in…

To live in the Spirit is to be led by the Spirit. One of the practical manifestations of being led by the Spirit is not living in fear. Instead, we have been adopted into God’s family with the full rights and privileges that come with being his sons and daughters. Being led by the Spirit also includes sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, since we are now co-heirs with Jesus of God’s inheritance.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here.