I Corinthians

The Cost of Following Jesus

April 17, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

Many Christians seem to be confused about the cost of following Jesus. I blame the watered-down preaching that has invaded our pulpits over the last century. Particularly in the age of the celebrity pastor, the truth of the gospel and all it implies has been distorted, perverted, and sometimes outright ignored. Know that following Christ will cost you everything. It won’t require you to give up a few things but to abandon everything (Matthew 16:24-26).

cost of following Jesus,surrender,commitment,discipleship,priorities

You cannot follow Jesus without cost. If living for Christ does not result in a radically different life, you aren’t following Jesus. If serving Him costs you nothing, you aren’t serving Him. You are fooling yourself for any number of selfish reasons because the cost of following Jesus is noticeable, and it is significant.

Risen Indeed

April 10, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

Jesus Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! The resurrection of Jesus is the defining moment in all of history. It is the pivotal event that divides our dating system. No event has ever made a greater impact on the world, and no event brings more joy to the hearts of those who trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

risen indeed,Jesus is risen,ressurection,empty tomb,Easter,hope,fear,God's Kingdom,salvation,hope,Kingdm of God

While Good Friday is a somber and reflective day, Easter is full of hope and celebration. But the celebration of Easter must not end when Monday morning arrives. He rose on Sunday, but on Monday we must remember He has still risen indeed. Our life has hope, meaning, and purpose only because the tomb remains empty today.

[Read more…] about Risen Indeed

Why Do You Go to Church?

March 20, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

Why do you go to church? I am assuming in this dark age that you still make every effort to gather with fellow believers each week. This is, after all, the Lord’s instruction given to us through the writer of Hebrews when he admonishes us to not forsake gathering together (Hebrews 10:24-25). God’s people are to meet regularly with one another to share praises, worship, and burdens.

why do you go to church,purpose,the church,worship,music

We are the family of God (John 1:12; Galatians 3:25-26; Romans 8:16-17) and indeed the very body of Christ in this world (1 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:24). There is great strength and encouragement to be found when we gather among others of like mind and faith. Our brothers and sisters remind us we do not fight the good fight alone.

Running the Race

March 6, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth contains the familiar passage where he compares living life for Christ with running a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). It’s a great analogy not only because the road we travel is long but also because of the discipline it requires to stay on the path. Any form of athletics is by its nature a competitive process.

running the race,fight the good fight,discipline,commitment,mission,focus,perseverance

Everyone who competes wants to finish first, but only one can. In some events, like a marathon, participants are content to only finish, regardless of winning or losing. Both hold lessons for us. No one runs a race without a goal, and no one achieves their goal without putting in a lot of hard work before the race ever begins.

[Read more…] about Running the Race

Making People Uncomfortable

February 27, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

Are You making people uncomfortable with the way you live? That may seem like an odd question until you realize Jesus made a habit of making those around Him uncomfortable. If we want to live like Jesus, shouldn’t we be less concerned with having everyone like us and more concerned with making people uncomfortable when we interact with them? I’m not certain where the goal of getting along with everyone came from, but it’s ridiculous if you think about it.

making people uncomfortable,commitment,discipline,discipleship,focus,mission,purpose

We are called to stand out and be different (1 Peter 2:9). We are also called to be bold and proclaim the name of Jesus (Matthew 10:32; 1 Corinthians 16:13). By obeying those two commands alone, there is no way we are going to be the “go along to get along” kind of people. When we choose Jesus, we choose to ruffle more than a few feathers by the way we live.