"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."
PROVERBS 3:5-6
PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, MATTHEW 25:14-30
THE QUESTION OF OUR STANDARD OF MEASURE Went to the doctor recently. You know the ropes. Call your name, greeted warmly, asked to go through the gamut of preliminary markers; get your weight. I got on, number came up and I looked at the nurse and was like, that can’t be right? She smiled. Was asked to stand and get my height (I stretch like nothing else). She audibly said…
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Luke 14:1-24 – A Self-Seeking Seating Chart
What’s the key to greatness? One of Jesus’ disciple’s favorite things to argue about was who was the greatest… In Luke 9:46 an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. What’s up with that?! You would think that after walking with Jesus for 3+ years, they might have learned about the source of power and authority, and probably shouldn’t have been arguing about…
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Acts 20:17-38 – In Between the Mundane and the Ordinary
It seems like in recent history there has been an uptick in our culture of what some are calling the “happiness craze.” There have been thousands of new books published on the topic… here’s just a few titles… Happy Money, Happiness for Beginners, and the Happiness Advantage… with this in mind… I find it pretty interesting that most studies are now arguing that pursuing happiness tends to not provide happiness… …
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The Dangers of Apathy: A Sermon on Faith, Service, and the “Whatever It Takes” Mindset
In the world we live in, it is often said that we should “fake it until we make it.” This expression, implying that we should act as though we are confident or skilled in something, even if we aren’t, has a way of creeping into every area of our lives. It is something that many can relate to, especially in moments when we feel ill-equipped or unsure. But when this…
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Hard Hearts and Calloused Hands – Whatever It Takes – Luke 15:11-32
You ever heard a story that just makes you audibly gasp? Airport security is serious business, not only here, but in airports around the world. Brother Lance Tamerius is the director of the Christian Campus House at the University of Missouri… he is also on the board of directors at WISE Bible College. He would bring college students to WISE’s campus every break. One year…the trip went great, but his…
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When “Good” Doesn’t Cut It – Whatever It Takes – Mark 10:17-31
Over the last number of years there has been a wave of reality TV shows. Survivor, Amazing Race, the Bachelor, the Bachelorette, Fixer-Upper. There was one that was popular a while back… it was called Hoarders. Did any of you watch any episodes of Hoarders? Could any of you have been on an episode of Hoarders? It details the lives of people who have an inability to let things go.…
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Whatever It Takes – 2 Corinthians 11:23-33
First Sunday of 2025… let’s start here… “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38) The Message paraphrases that verse this way… “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back…
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At the Center of It All – Daniel 7-12
This is week 9 of our study through Daniel. We’ve learned about how Israel was taken into exile. Babylon came in and slaughtered innocent people, desecrated Israel’s temple, and took captive Israel’s best and brightest… hoping to mold them into their image, into their liking. We’ve also learned about how God showed up for them despite being foreigners in a strange land … in the fiery furnace, in the lion’s…
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Simplicity in the Midst of Chaos: Lessons from Daniel’s Faith
Life in Chaos: Daniel’s Story and Ours Growing up, Garth Brooks’ music was everywhere, and one song that always resonated with me was “The Dance.” The lyric, “For a moment, all the world was right,” is something many of us can relate to. Before life took a dramatic turn, Daniel might have said the same. But soon enough, his world was turned upside down. He was taken captive, forced to…
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Daniel 6:1-16a – When No One is Looking
The headline read… “Fairy Tale Princess Story Turns Sour After Newlyweds Lose Money.” A sad title that morning in the Daily Herald in Chicago. A newlywed couple had left a black-zippered case on the roof of their car as they sped away from their wedding reception to begin their honeymoon. The case had all their wedding gift money; in it $12,000. By the time they reached their destination it was…
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