Can you remember playing copycat as a child?  Sometimes you might copy a parent because you wanted to be just like them.  You might copy a sibling simply to annoy them.  Today’s message is a short one and very crucial.  We are called as beloved children to copycat Jesus.  We are called to live as He lived.  Let’s look at what Ephesians 5 has to say about this together today.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

A short passage but rich in meaning and importance.  First we are reminded of the great love that God has for us.  This is both an example and a motivation to live for Him.  We are also reminded of the example of Jesus who loved us so much that He gave his life up for us.  We in turn are called to follow that example of love in our lives.  That means putting others before ourselves.  That means at times sacrificing our own desires so that we can love others well.  We live in a me first world but we are called to live you first lives.  Today and everyday seek to “copycat” Jesus.  Put others before yourself and live a life of sharing His love with the world.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

What makes a follower of Jesus different? Obviously we have the spirit of God dwelling within us.  We also still have our sin nature leading us to the desires of our flesh.  We have the teachings of Jesus and His word to guide us in how to live and we are called to live lives of love.  Let’s look at what Ephesians 4 has to say to us about living a different life. 

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We are reminded to put off our old selves, be made new in the attitude of the mind, and put on the new self.  Let’s look at those three things today.  Putting off our old selves is simple in concept but can be difficult at times.  If you set a goal to eat healthy and then sit in a house filled with junk food most likely you will eventually slip up.  The same is true in our lives when it come to our “old self”.  What and who we surround ourselves with helps us to put off the old self.  This also is true when it comes to the attitude of our minds.  What we fill ourselves with affects our attitude and mindset.  Reading Scripture, listening to worship music, prayer, and fellowship with fellow Christians are all ways we can renew our minds and set them on Jesus.  This attitude adjustment also helps us to put on the new self as way.  We find that more and more we are living by the spirit and less by the flesh.  As humans we will always struggle, but by God’s grace and through His strength there is hope that we can live the lives Jesus calls us to live. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

In professional sports there is a term busts.  It refers to those who have great talent but never seem to live up to their talent.  Sometimes it’s a lack of hard work, other times they just can’t seem to put all that talent together when it counts.  Some collapse under the pressure of expectations.  Whatever the reason they just don’t utilize their gifts the way others expected.  I wonder sometimes if we can be spiritual busts at times.  Not living up to the gifts and calling that God has on our lives.  Paul talks a little bit about this in Ephesians 4.  Let’s look at it together today.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul urges us to live a life worthy of our calling.  We all have been given spiritual gifts from God.  We all have a calling to use those gifts to share the love of Christ and build up His church.  When we do that well the church thrives and people are drawn to Jesus.  Other times we get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect our gifts and calling.  Paul also calls us to unity in this passage and reminds us that we are all serving under one faith, one spirit, one God, one Baptism.  A team that is unified with one goal, using their gifts and talent is tough to beat.  I pray that we might all be a team like that.  Working together to share the love of Christ with a world that needs Him. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Today we continue to march through the book of Ephesians. Paul offers a wonderful prayer to the church in Ephesus here in chapter 3 that is a great prayer for us all.  Let’s look at it together today.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Paul prays that we might be strengthened through God’s power. He prays that Christ would dwell in our hearts.  Prayers are offered that we would be rooted and established in love that we might have power together with God’s holy people to grasp just how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ for us is.  That we might be filled with the full measure of God who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.  Think about all of that for a moment.  That is an amazing prayer that we should all cling to.  God’s strength, God’s presence, and God’s love which is more than we can even grasp.  The amazing thing about this prayer is that we already have all of these things through Jesus.  Hold on to that truth today. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever felt left out or not included? In the early church the Gentile believers felt this way.  Most of the leaders of the Way had their background in Judaism.  This led to the Gentiles being “outsiders” and at times looked down upon.  This new religion which was beginning was really just Judaism where the Messiah had come.  Many Gentiles, led by the missionary work of Paul, began to comer to faith.  Through the work of Jesus on the cross these two groups became one group.  Let’s look at Paul’s words about this from Ephesians 2.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Through the work of Jesus on the cross peace has been made between us and God and also between Jew and Gentile. Our God is a God who makes broken things and broken people whole again.  One day soon we will all worship Him together in unity and in His presence.  Just as God brought us “outsiders” in we should reach out to those who often find themselves in the margins of society.  Loving the least and the lost is what Jesus did and it’s what He calls us to as well.  Today and everyday make it a point to intentionally show love to someone who might be on the outside.  Who knows you just may point them to Jesus

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever really poured yourself into something.  Maybe it was a project for work or a home improvement project.  Maybe you built something yourself.  Perhaps you made a work of art.  When you pour yourself into something like that you feel a sense of pride and ownership in what you have done.  You have made a masterpiece.  In Ephesians 2 we are told that we are God’s masterpiece.  Let’s look at that passage together today. 

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Greek language used here in verse 10 which we translate handiwork means the skilled work of a master craftsman.  That’s what you are from God.  You are His masterpiece.  Created by Him to do good works which he has prepared in advance for you to do.  These works do not earn us favor with God but are a result of the work He has already done in our lives found in the previous verses.  God has a plan and a job for you that He specifically designed and created you to do.  You were made with a purpose.  I don’t know about you but to know that I am God’s masterpiece created for a purpose makes me want to get to work fulfilling that purpose.  Go out and be the masterpiece that you are!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Today is Halloween.  A day where people put on costumes and transform into something new.  It is also Reformation Day.  A day when we celebrate Martin Luther nailing 95 theses to the Wittenberg door and starting the Protestant Reformation.  It led to a return of the understanding and significance of God’s amazing grace.  Let’s look at Ephesians 2 where there is a bit of a combination of these two ideas. 

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Paul reminds us that while we were dead in our sins and living by the flesh, we now put on the spirit and are made alive in Christ.  This is possible not because of our own doing but simply because of the amazing grace of God in our lives which we receive through faith.  We are called to live by the spirit not to earn favor with God but simply out of gratitude for what He has already done and continues to do in our lives.  So today whether you put on a costume or watch the Luther movie (it’s really good) reflect on God’s grace in your life.  Thank Him for that great gift and live your life for Him in response.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

This morning I woke up early and went for a little walk.  I found myself feeling incredibly grateful for you!  The people of Advent truly are a blessing.  I thought of this prayer in the opening chapter of Ephesians as I reflected upon our church so I thought I’d share it as it is my prayer for you all.

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The Faith and Love of the people of Advent truly is amazing.  I pray that God would use each and every one of you to do things for Him that are beyond your wildest imagination.  I pray that we might all have a fresh and renewed sense of the incredible love that God has for us.  I pray that through His power we might share that love with others.  I pray that God would strengthen us all for the journey we face and that we might sense His presence each day as we walk through life. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Do you have people in your life who you know have your back no matter what?  People that you know will not let you fail.  It is a blessing and comfort to have people like that.  People who will walk through life with you, encourage you, challenge you, and be with you through your highs and lows.  David and Jonathan had a relationship like this.  David could trust Jonathan to determine if his life was safe with King Saul or not (turns out it wasn’t).Let’s look at one such account of this found in I Samuel 20.

Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. 18 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. 21 Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. 23 And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”

It is of great comfort to know that whatever challenge we face in life God is with us through thick and thin.  It is also a blessing to have others walk through life’s journey as well.  Sometimes people like that are hard to find.  I encourage you, be that type of person for others.  When you are that type of person you inevitably attract others to be that for you in your life as well.  Be a Jonathan to the David’s in your life and soon you will find that others will have your back as well.  Life is better together. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had to work or prepare for a while for something important?  Maybe it was a presentation at work or a sales pitch.  Perhaps you can remember preparing for an exam or test.  Maybe your job requires certifications that you must prepare for.  Maybe you have prepared for an athletic endeavor or competition.  We prepare for things so that we are ready when it matters.  Have you ever thought about your spiritual life in that way?  Paul addresses this idea in his writings to Timothy.  Let’s look at 2 Timothy 3 together today.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul wants to remind Timothy to be prepared and thoroughly equipped.  He wants him to be ready for whatever life might throw at him.  Paul’s solution to this preparation is Scripture.  When we read, study, and even memorize Scripture it is an incredibly powerful tool for us on your journey of life.  When we recall it, utilize it, and live according to its teachings life just tends to go better.  We are more effective in our battle against sin and in our ministry of sharing God’s love with the world.  I pray that we all would be prepared.  Dig in to God’s word, it truly helps!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave