Penny Road Church of the Nazarene

Pride

jlw — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:02:27 +0000

Pride…what a sneaky monster. I’m not talking about the pride that you feel when your child does good at a recital or a sporting event. I’m talking about that monster that cloaks itself in light and beauty while all the time devouring the soul and separating us from our Creator. Pride is so slick that we can feel our egos swell with how humble we are. Pride destroys families, shatters friendships, corrupts countries, but worst of all, it separates us from the blessings of God. Come this Sunday as we travel with Namaan down to the river of humility.

Tithing

jlw — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:05:04 +0000

Each of us has a doorway to blessing. For those that walk through the doorway, there is no amount of discussion, skillful avoidance, or assault that can persuade them that God does not bless the tithe. When we consider that Jesus demands everything that we are and have, tithing is really a simple teaching that should be considered the first step in a life of joyful giving. When we teach tithing, we fall 90% short of the truth. Do an Amazon search on tithing and be amazed at how many people flock to books that allow them to avoid God’s will. It will never cease to amaze me that I can get up in front of a group of people and tell them that to follow Christ you must give Him your life, you must die, you must give your very soul to the roar of amens and hallelujahs, but if I mention that the wallet belongs to Him, every Ph.D. with a book to sell is willing to explain why that just isn’t so. It is a shame! Because, if truth be known, God blesses a tither in a glorious and beautiful way. I would never preach tithing if I really believed it was just to fund the brick and mortar of a non-profit organization, but because of the testimony of so many people throughout my life, and because of what I can claim as my own testimony now, God opens the floodgates of Heaven on those who trust him with their wallets and purses. See you Sunday as we look at what God expects from us, but also at His glorious promises to us.

Go To Church!

jlw — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:18:18 +0000

This 2nd week of stewardship month, we will be looking at how we can be good stewards of the Church. I have heard people say that they are members of the universal church in order to avoid attending a local church. That’s a giant copout! Jesus and the disciples were not vague about what they were doing. They saw missionary work as building local churches. The church is a community within a community and also a community above all others. People in other areas of the world risk their lives to get to church. Why is it that we, who are blessed with such freedom, are tempted to forego church in favor of attending our favorite sporting event? Come this week as we talk about what the church is, what it provides, and why it is important for us to be good stewards of the Bride of Christ.

Family Under the Rainbow

jlw — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:29:03 +0000

We are entering stewardship month. A month when we talk about the ways in which God expects us to invest ourselves for His purposes. This week, we will be looking at the family. All of us have loved ones over which we wish we could somehow wave Moses’ staff and have them come to know Christ as their savior, but just because we ourselves do not have the power to save does not mean that we do not have power. We have mighty power through God. We have power to protect, power to prolong, and most of all, we have power to live mightily for the Kingdom. If we do this, we are promised that all things needed will be given to us. I believe that if we seek Him first, our family has a better chance than all the parenting magazines, educational institutions, and government initiatives could ever possibly provide. Stewardship of family is found in the bowed head of a father and mother who seek Christ.

Least and Greatest

jlw — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:30:06 +0000

Jesus tells us some strong things about the Law. He said that he came to fulfill it. He said that those who break it and teach others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom. He also told us that those who wish to obey them must do a better job than the Pharisees did if they are to enter the Kingdom. Besides being a mighty blow to the pride of the Pharisees, this really lowers the hammer on those of us who have not paid the Law much mind in the misconception that Jesus has abolished it. He has not done away with it; rather he has fulfilled it and given us the opportunity to truly live within the Law of a loving Father.

Revealing Continued

jlw — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:32:52 +0000

Do you worry about tomorrow? Do you make up situations to complain and worry about? Do you question God with hypotheticals? Do you have no rest because your eyes are looking this way and that way? This week, we will be looking at how Jesus reveals our faith. If you are reading this, then God has sustained you a lifetime until this very moment. He cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, and your condition, no matter what it is, is testament that he cares for you. He will care for you tomorrow in sickness and health. He will care for you tomorrow in squalor and in wealth. He will be there in life, and he will be there in death. Do you believe, or is all of that just a religious cop-out to you? Is he trustworthy, or have we just come up with fanciful ways to avoid the hard questions? I believe that Jesus cares and that God is in control. I believe it not as a cop-out, but because I have witnessed it myself. Dear Lord in Heaven, I believe! Help my unbelief!

Are You Sure?

jlw — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:58:31 +0000

Jesus reveals many things. This last week, Jesus asked, “What did you come to see?” This week he asks, “Do you want to be healed?” Our first response is, “Of course we want to be healed!,” but is that the truth? Being healed means you have to give up the special parking spot, you will lose other special privileges, and all the help you have grown dependent on will disappear. Being healed requires quite a bit more from you than you might think. See you Sunday, as we hear Jesus ask, “Are you sure about this?”

What Did You Come To See?

jlw — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:20:18 +0000

You know those Jesus name plates that you have to stare at for a while to ever see properly? Once you see His name, you can never view the plate incorrectly again. Jesus spent a lot of time trying to get people to just be honest about what they where experiencing. I love optical illusions, but the thought that my entire perception of the world might be incorrect is frightening. Truth be known, that is exactly what is going on. “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:5) Even John the Baptist has his moment of wondering exactly what it is he has been experiencing. Wouldn’t you like to have the wisdom to know truth and to live in truth. Jesus tells us that there is a way! See you this Sunday as we watch Jesus begin to smash the fun-house mirror that has kept us in the dark.

Christmas Services

jlw — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:25:58 +0000

Come join us in worship on Christmas Eve at 6pm and Christmas morning at 10:30am. See you there!

Cantata

jlw — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:54:01 +0000

This Sunday we will be celebrating the coming Christ child in music and song as Penny Road Choir guides our worship in this years remembrance of the greatest birthday of all!