The Best-Selling Least-Read Book of All Time - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A topical study in the book of 2 Timothy - Wed, December 30, 2009. The Bible is the best-selling least-read book of all time. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings’ 150 million copies pales in comparison to the Bible’s 2.5 billion. The problem is, simply owning a Bible doesn’t help – there must be action. That’s the whole reason God wrote the Bible and a large reason why many people avoid it. So what are you doing with God’s Word? It is far more useful than a door stop, a coaster, or a paperweight, so treat it like what it is: God’s actual words!

A Simple Christmas - Luke 2:11

A topical study in the book of Luke - Thur, December 24, 2009.

Every Day Is A Party - Lamentations 3:22-24

A topical study in the book of Lamentations - Sat, December 26, 2009. With Christmas behind us and the new year ahead, we find ourselves right in the middle of celebrations. While the world has to wait around till the next holiday to have a reason to celebrate, every day is a party for those who follow Christ! Every breath serves as a reminder of God’s mercy that is new and fresh. Every day is a chance to turn things around and live for what really matters. We don’t have to wait till January 1st for a fresh start – on God’s calendar, every day is January 1st!

Party. My Manger. Be There. - Luke 2:1-20

A topical study in the book of Luke - Sat, December 19, 2009. When a baby is born, we often wonder what the future holds for that child. From the time Jesus’ birth was announced to Mary, she knew exactly what the future held: death. Jesus was born to die. Unfortunately, the birth of the Savior isn’t in the forefront of most people’s minds, because if there’s a Savior, it implies that there’s something we need to be saved from, and nobody wants to talk about that. Your response to the Savior’s birth reveals a lot about your future – He’s your only access to heaven.

Internal Affairs - Acts 6:1-7

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 6:1-7 - Wed, December, 16 2009. You may have heard someone in a moment of frustration exclaim, “I can’t win for losing!” In other words, things would be going great if things weren’t going so badly! Although from the beginning the church has faced internal and external opposition of all kinds, that phrase doesn’t work for the church. In fact, to be accurate, you’d have to reverse it: “The church can’t lose for winning.” Even when problems arise, if Christians will remain faithful, there’s not a chance of losing! The win is guaranteed!

You Are Someone's Enemy - Philippians 3:1-6

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 3:1-6 Sat, December 12, 2009. Whether you’re a Christian or not, you are someone’s enemy. If you think you can cruise into heaven because you have lived a "good" life and you do some pretty "good" things, you’re an enemy of Jesus Christ. Ouch. The good news is, there’s a better way. If, instead of trusting yourself, you trust Christ’s good works, you’re an enemy of the flesh. That’s the only way to get to heaven – not your “good” works, but His great work. Are you sure you’re headed to heaven? Jesus is the only way.

Cosmic Tug-O-War - Acts 5:12-42

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 5:12-42 - Wed, December, 9 2009. Whenever God uses someone for something great, Satan gets a little jealous. So what does he do? Satan often attacks after God works. He tries to destroy what God has begun. What we need to remember, though, as we see the battle being waged back and forth is that ultimately, God will win. In fact, it’s almost more of a game to Him – He allows a few temporary victories for Satan. However, the permanent victory belongs to God, and it is He who empowers us to boldly face the enemy’s daily attacks!

Do As I Say AND As I Do - Philippians 2:19-30

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 2:19-30 Sat, December 5, 2009. We have too many examples of how not to live: MTV, the news, celebrities, high divorce rates, etc. We all need good role models to look up to that will model what serving the Lord looks like. Three of those people for the early church were Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. Although they’re long gone now, their selfless lives still stand as examples to us today. They realized that serving God meant serving others. If you want to serve God, it starts by forgetting yourself and serving others.

When God Cleans House - Acts 4:32-5:11

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 4:32-5:11 - Wed, December, 2 2009. Cleaning may not be what you do for fun, but it’s needed. You often have to part with things that you’ve been holding onto for a while, but in the long run, it’s good to clean out the junk and reorganize. It’s the same with the church. God likes things neat and in order. When His people get out of line and cause problems within the church, God will take drastic measures to clean things up. What drastic measures do you need to take in your life so that God doesn’t have to do it for you?

A Well-Oiled Machine - Philippians 2:12-18

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 2:12-18 Sat, November 28, 2009. To keep your car running smoothly, you must maintain it regularly – check ups, oil changes, new tires, etc. If you don’t maintain it, it could break down and leave your stranded. When it comes to Christianity, the rules are similar. You must strive to maintain your relationship with Christ, always checking to make sure progress is being made and things are running smoothly. The results of this hard work pay off in the end as you become a clear reflection of Christ to a dark and hurting world.

Feast on God's Faithfulness - Psalm 37:3

A topical study in the book of Psalm- Wednesday, November 25, 2009. While we feast on tons of different foods this weekend, there’s one type of spiritual food that we shouldn’t leave out: GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. His faithfulness never ends. When you’re dealing with a struggle, a sin, or just a detour in life, God’s Word contains countless reminders that God has a plan and will never leave us. Doubting? God is faithful. Worrying? God is faithful. Tempted? God is faithful. His faithfulness sure gives us something to be thankful for!

From One Extreme to the Other - Philippians 2:5-11

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 2:5-11 Sat, November 21, 2009. If you’ve ever soaked in a hot tub then jumped out and rolled around in the snow, you know the feeling of going from one extreme to the other. It’s shocking and a bit painful, but normally worth the thrill. Jesus took it much further than a snow angel after a hot tub – He gave up heaven to come and be beaten and crucified on Earth. He left His throne to be born in an animal’s feeding trough. God became man so that He could die the death that we deserved! That is extreme! That is God’s love for us!

Truth on Trial Part 2: The Punishment - Acts 4:19-31

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 4:19-31 - Wed, November, 19 2009. The world will always try to pass judgment and tell you how to live your life. The key is remembering who the ultimate authority is. Will you bow to the world’s authority and live life bound to their rules or will you submit to the ultimate authority, God, and follow Him at all costs? Following the world will be much easier on this side of heaven, but will have far greater consequences in eternity. Trust in God’s sovereignty and bow to His authority only. It may be harder now, but your reward is coming!

Divine Duct Tape - Philippians 2:1-4

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 2:1-4 Sat, November 14, 2009. When something is broken, duct tape is often times the first thing that comes out. A little duct tape goes a long way. Although it is pretty insignificant and very simple, it can be very strong and useful to hold things together. Humility is the same way. Just as duct tape is often the first remedy when something goes wrong, we should do a humility check when something goes wrong in our lives or relationships. A little humility goes a long way and is very useful in holding things together.

Truth on Trial Part 1: The Proceedings - Acts 4:1-18

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 4:1-18 - Wed, November, 11 2009. Satan loves to rain on God’s parade. When God moves, Satan will always be right behind to take the focus off of God and attempt to stop Him. As you go into your world to share the Gospel with people, expect some opposition. When they come, don’t back down. Remain loving and polite, and get ready for any opportunity that comes your way to share the Gospel. You may not have many chances, so jump on them when they come…despite the reaction from your opposition.

A Well-Balanced Life - Philippians 1:27-30

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 1:27-30 - Sat, November 7, 2009. Physically, our bodies require a specific intake of food and water. If you don’t get enough, you can get sick. Spiritually, the results can be similar – we all need a well-balanced life. We will all face our fair share of set backs and disappointments, but if we’re living a well-balanced life, we’ll be able to stand confidently when something comes our way. Suffering is a part of the Christian life and yet, God has a plan even through that. Stay nourished so you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

"Living Life on the Lookout" - Acts 3

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 3 - Wed, November, 4 2009. Whether it’s through the way they dress, their actions, or some type of outrageous publicity stunt, people want attention. It’s natural. We were all born wanting people to pay attention to us. God operates differently. His desire for the attention is always fueled by a desire to meet people’s spiritual needs. Peter was a master at seizing opportunities to share the Gospel. If there was a crowd, you’d probably see Peter and hear the Gospel. Look for opportunities to point people to the Savior – they’re everywhere!

"The Substitute" - 2 Corinthians 5:21

A topical study in the book of 2 Corinthians - Sat, October 31, 2009. “I love you.” Those words may come easy, but if the love is true, there must be actions to back it up. Jesus said that He loved us many times for many years, but if He hadn’t proved that love, we may not have believed it. Since sin earns death, someone had to die for the sins we’ve committed. Jesus proved His love for us by giving Himself to be the substitute for our death. He died so we could live. His substitutionary death can change your eternal destination…if you’ll let it. Don’t die for your sin – He already did.

When God Plants A Church - Acts 2:42-47

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 2:42-47 - Wed, October, 28 2009. When God planted His church, He knew exactly what He was doing. Everything was lined up just right and everything was in place. He didn’t have perfect people to use to start it, but since He was behind it, it couldn’t fail. As the disciples and new Christian converts united in fellowship and worship, God began to move powerfully in their midst. The world is attracted to love and unity. As we worship God and love others, the world will be drawn in and God will be glorified!

Tunnel Vision - Philippians 1:19-26

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 1:19-26 - Sat, October 24, 2009. We live in a world where our attention is pulled in every direction. What we all need is tunnel vision. As events happen, plans change, and people come and go, our vision should stay focused on one thing: magnifying God. If we would learn to live with God’s glory always at the forefront of our minds, the results would be unbelievable. Death? Can’t wait! Trials? Not worried! Suffering? Bring it on. Don’t get distracted by the world, instead get focused on Christ and stoked for ministry!

A Super-Charged Sermon - Acts 2:14-41

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 2:14-41 - Wed, October, 21 2009. When God is given control of someone’s life, you’d better either get on board or get out of the way! A life surrendered to Christ is a very powerful thing. The disciples prayed for the gift of the Spirit and when He showed up, things changed…quickly and powerfully. That same Spirit is available for us today. It’s as simple as a prayer – confessing your sin and inviting Him in as your Savior. At that point, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you, making you capable of the unthinkable!

Uncharted Territory - Philippians 1:12-18

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 1:12-18 - Sat, October 17, 2009. While the Philippians were back home feeling sorry for Paul, Paul was witnessing a revival…while chained to Roman guards! How is that possible? He strategically used every day and every circumstance as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Can the same be said about you? Is your love for Christ evident and contagious to the people around you? Every day is a new chance to take the Gospel into uncharted territory and see God change lives through your obedience!

Defining the Undefinable - Acts 2:1-13

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 2:1-13 - Wed, October, 14 2009. God isn’t a calendar Guy. You can pencil Him into your schedule whenever you want, but be ready to rip out that page of your planner and start fresh when God is ready to move. Also, if you think you’re something special, don’t plan on being used by God – He has a habit of using the ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It may not happen when you think the timing is right, but His timing is always better. When God moves, He does so powerfully and in a way that points all the glory back to Himself.

Life-Altering Love - Philippians 1:9-11

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 1:9-11 - Sat, October 10, 2009. If you browsed through the things that Paul, Jesus, and many other Biblical authors and teachers said, you’d notice that one major theme is love. The love of Jesus Christ that should be present in your life if you are His follower is truly life-altering. It’s meant to overtake you, then overtake others! Is the love that’s in your life purely circumstantial and emotional or is it Godly and Biblical? You’ll know the difference because your life will be rocked by it and it will never look the same!

God Can Always Say "I Told You So!" - Acts 1:9-26

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 1:9-26 - Wed, October, 8 2009. “I told you so” simply means that, based on past events or prior knowledge, we predicted an event of the future. It’s a phrase we can rarely use because of our limited knowledge. God is much different. There’s never been a time that He couldn’t say “I told you so” because He always knows and always communicates everything we need to know. So, every day we have a choice: live our lives based on our limited knowledge of the future or based on God’s complete knowledge and control of the future.

The Evidence Is Everywhere - Philippians 1:3-8

From the series "To Live is Christ" - Philippians 1:3-8 - Sat, October 3, 2009. If someone told you that it was snowing outside, you’d run to the window to see for yourself. They can tell you it’s snowing all day, but without snow on the ground to prove it, there’s no reason to believe them. Same with Christianity. You can call yourself a Christian all day long, but if the evidence isn’t everywhere in your life, there’s no reason for anyone to believe a word you say. Is God at work in your life? Prove it. What do your habits, thoughts, and words say about what’s going on inside?

Living Life In the Meantime - Acts 1:1-8

From the series "To the End of the Earth" Acts 1:1-8 - Wed, September 30, 2009

Curious Correspondence - Philippians 1:1-2

"To Live is Christ" - Philippians 1:1-2 - Sat, September 26, 2009

"The Aftermath of the Ascension" - Acts 1-28

From the series "To the End of the Earth" in the book of Acts - Wed, September 23, 2009

Are You Awake?

A topical study in the book of Romans - Sat, September 19, 2009

The Purpose of Prayer

A topical study in the book of Nehemiah - Wed, September 16, 2009

Becoming Friends With Your Foes

From the series "Be Transformed" in Romans 12 - Wed, September 9, 2009

Do Things Backwards

From the series "Be Transformed" in Romans 12 - Wed, September 3, 2009

Saved to Serve - Romans 12:3-8

From the series "Be Transformed" in Romans 12 - Wed, August 19, 2009

Marriage is SO Dramatic! - Ephesians 5:22-33

Guest Speaking at Calvary Albuquerque as a part of the series "Beyond the Summer of Love" - Wed, Aug 12, 2009

Don't Give In- Give Up - Romans 12:2

From the series "Be Transformed" in Romans 12 - Wed, August 5, 2009

It Just Makes Sense - Romans 12:1

From the series "Be Transformed" in Romans 12 - Wed, July 29, 2009

Along for the Ride - Luke 5:1-11

Pastor Kevin Miller, Vertical & Velocity Student Ministries - May 23, 2009

Thomas: A Passionate Pessimist - John 11, 14, 20

Pastor Kevin Miller, Guest Speaker at Renovate College Ministry - April 19, 2009

God Can't Use ME, Can He?! - Exodus 3-4

Pastor Kevin Miller, Guest Speaker at Renovate College Ministry - March 5, 2009