Kingdom of God

Our Perspective

March 16, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

When Jesus is our Lord, our perspective on time, resources, career, marriage, and money changes. We want to represent Jesus well in every area of our lives. If we don’t have this desire, then Jesus is not our Lord. Contrary to some popular teaching these days, when you surrender your life to Jesus, everything changes. To make Jesus your Lord is to reject every pleasure and desire we have ever known.

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Everything becomes about Jesus. All things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17), not just some things. Life as we have known it ceases to exist. This is why Jesus explains few will enter through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). Most people will insist on carrying so much stuff from their life before Jesus that they cannot squeeze through the narrow path leading to eternal life.

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Repent

October 31, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

As John the Baptist began preaching, he had a very simple message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus began His public ministry with the same message: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15). This message rings as true and relevant today.

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In a world where everyone believes they have their truth and morals have become a relic of the past, the need to repent has never been greater. God sets the rules for living because He created everything that lives. He is the author and judge, and our only role is to obey Him. Instead, we’ve spent millennia thumbing our noses at the One who loves us most.

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Serve God and God Alone

September 29, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

The first three commandments provide almost everything you need to know to live a life pleasing to God. Last week we did a high-level flyover of all ten commandments of God’s law (see “The Ten Commandments”). Some may wonder why I’d bother spending more time on such a well-known passage of Scripture from the Old Testament. The reason is God’s law forms the bedrock of our faith.

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It is this law that shows, without the blood and resurrection power of Jesus, we are lost. So I want to dive a little deeper into the first three commandments today: do not have any gods other than God, do not make anything an idol, and do not disrespect the name of God. I think we can sum up these commandments by saying we must serve God and God alone.

The Wrong Battles

August 15, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

In a world and country that is increasingly hostile to the ways of Christ, it’s easy to lose perspective and begin fighting the wrong battles. The battle for our culture is important, no doubt about it. At the same time, it is not the most important fight. Even if we lose the battle for the culture, God’s plan will carry on undeterred. If you’re like me, it’s hard to not be dismayed at the moral decline all around us.

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Not so long ago, America was seen around the world as a Christian nation. We can debate for years what that actually meant and how well America lived up to such a platitude, but that was how the world saw the USA. Things have changed. To see it unfold in my lifetime has been both sobering and maddening.

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The Tragedy of Neglect

July 28, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

Few things are more detrimental to your walk with Christ than ignoring the little things. The tragedy of neglect is that good habits disappear quickly when left untended. The disciplines you’ve instilled in your life that have allowed you to make great strides in your walk with Christ can dissolve overnight if you don’t do the work of maintaining them every day. Cherished relationships wither and fade if we do not feed them.

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We must renew our commitment to living the life of a disciple every day. We can never take our foot off the pedal and begin coasting. There are no days off. Without daily attention and determination, the pull of sin will undermine everything we live for and relegate us to a weak and wasted life.