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The Daily Memo | November 1, 2021 | What is the Church?
Most people think of the church as a building, but that’s not the biblical definition. It isn’t merely a meeting place for social interaction, scriptural instruction, and service projects. Rather, the church is composed of all those who have been redeemed by Christ. He is the head of church, and believers are called His body. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” He was referring to the…
Categories: What We Were Created For, The Daily Memo, Safe People & Safe Community | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 11/01/2021
The Daily Memo | October 29, 2021 | No Condemnation
We can all relate to Paul’s dilemma in today’s passage. These verses describe the internal struggle we have with sin, even after salvation. When we give in to temptation, we’re often plagued by feelings of condemnation and may wonder if God has abandoned us. That’s why Romans 8:1 is such a comforting “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” When the Savior went to the cross on our behalf, He…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Understanding Love, Spiritual Warfare | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/29/2021
The Daily Memo | October 28, 2021 | Your Heart and the Heart of God
Against the flesh, the traitor within, a warrior uses discipline. We have a two-dimensional version of this now, which we call a "quiet time." But most men have a hard time sustaining any sort of devotional life because it has no vital connection to recovering and protecting their strength; it feels about as important as flossing. But if you saw your life as a great battle and you knew you needed time with God for your very survival, you would do it. Maybe not perfectly&mdash…
Categories: Walking With God, The Daily Memo, Restored in Him, Knowing & Being Known | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/28/2021
The Daily Memo | October 27, 2021 | I Am _____
God introduced Himself to Moses with just two words: "I AM." Typically that phrase needs a third word to complete the sentence. But because God is everything and everyone and everywhere that He needs to be in every moment, His name doesn't need a third word. You and I, on the other hand, need that third word to anchor our identities to specific, tangible, descriptive terms. But completing the "I am _________" sentence is not as easy as it sounds. We…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Identity Security, A New Name | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/27/2021
The Daily Memo | October 26, 2021 | Take My Hand
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” …
Categories: Walking With God, The Daily Memo, The Hope of Healing, Knowing & Being Known | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/26/2021
The Daily Memo | October 25, 2021 | Is It Your Dream or God’s Dream?
“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.” (Mark 8:35 NLT, second edition) How do you know if you are living for your dream or God’s dream? You may think you were created to get up, go to work, come home, watch TV, and go to bed, to make a little money, retire, and die. Really? You think that’s all God put you here for? If your dream is truly…
Categories: What We Were Created For, The Daily Memo, Knowing & Being Known, Our Purpose | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/25/2021
The Daily Memo | October 22, 2021 | Free to Submit
Depending on the circumstance, submission can be positive or negative. When it’s imposed, relationships are corrupted and people are wounded. (That’s one reason we condemn slavery and human trafficking.) But when submission is voluntary, it becomes a beautiful expression of love—which is what characterizes followers of Jesus. Consider the relationship between God and His Son. The Father didn’t demand Jesus’ death for our sins—Jesus chose…
Categories: Walking With God, The Daily Memo, Understanding Love | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/22/2021
The Daily Memo | October 21, 2021 | Hitting Your Full Stride
We haven’t yet seen anyone in their true glory. Including you. Yes, Mozart did start writing symphonies as a child, and Picasso could draw before he could talk. But most human beings are profoundly thwarted in their “calling” here because of wounding, assault, envy, or circumstances that would never let them fly. For most human beings on this planet, work ranges from disappointing to oppressive. What does the kingdom offer those men who work the Indonesian…
Categories: What We Were Created For, The Daily Memo, Restored in Him, Our Purpose | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/21/2021
The Daily Memo | October 20, 2021 | You Can Be Saved, No Matter What You’ve Done
Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, everything you’ve ever done wrong is forgiven. God forgives you freely, completely, instantly, and repeatedly. Even if there were no such thing as a Heaven — but of course there is — it would be worth believing in Jesus just to get a clear conscience. I’ve talked to thousands of people, and I know that most people are carrying secret guilt, secret regrets, and secret shame. You can be completely forgiven…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Identity Security, Restored in Him, The Hope of Healing | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/20/2021
Out of Lukewarmness into the Light
The world is extremely divided. God is allowing things to happen that challenge the strongest in the Faith. Opportunities abound for us to lose hope in a way that God never intended. What is at the heart of it all? I posted on this subject in a Podcast and one of our daily memos written by Francis Chan. This is how he profiled the lukewarm Christian. Someone who attends church regularly, but it’s what's expected of them. They believe good Christians should do so.…
Categories: What We Were Created For, The Hope of Healing, The Reality of Our Present World, Spiritual Warfare | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 10/19/2021