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The Daily Memo | April 19, 2022 | An Internal Revolution
Jesus’ freedom is a difficult thing to teach on for many reasons; let me name two. First, there are certain types who will hear this and find it an excuse to live as they please. Many characters in our irreverent age “don’t care what others think.” Their freedom is abrasive and unholy. The freedom Jesus models is not a crass “giving the finger to the world.” Or the church, for that matter. Others will dismiss the freedom Jesus offers out…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Identity Security, The Reality of Our Present World, Knowing & Being Known | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/19/2022
The Daily Memo | April 18, 2022 | You Have a New Life
The new covenant has two parts to it: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26). God removed your old heart when he circumcised your heart; he gives you a new heart when he joins you to the life of Christ. That's why Paul can say "count yourselves dead to sin" and "alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11). The story of the Incarnation…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Restored in Him, The Hope of Healing | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/18/2022
The Daily Memo | April 15, 2022 | His Cross of Peace
Somber eyes peer out from the painting Simon of Cyrene by contemporary Dutch artist Egbert Modderman. Simon’s eyes reveal the immense physical and emotional burden of his responsibility. In the biblical account from Mark 15, we learn that Simon was pulled from the watching crowd and forced to carry Jesus’ cross. Mark tells us that Simon was from Cyrene, a big city in North Africa with a large population of Jews during Jesus’ time. Most likely Simon had…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Understanding Love, Restored in Him, The Hope of Healing | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/15/2022
The Daily Memo | April 14, 2022 | Witness Marks
“See that?” The clock repairman pointed his flashlight beam on a small, fine mark roughly engraved inside the old grandfather clock he was working on in our home. “Another repairman could have put that there almost a century ago,” he said. “It’s called a ‘witness mark,’ and it helps me know how to set the mechanism.” Before the age of technical bulletins and repair manuals, “witness marks” were used to help…
Categories: What We Were Created For, The Daily Memo, Wounded Healer, Our Purpose | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/14/2022
Whatever Happened to Barabbas?
Whatever happened to Barabbas? We know a few things from reading the Gospels, but very little about what happened prior to or after his release. Barabbas is mentioned in all four of the New Testament gospels: Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:18–24; and John 18:40. His life intersects that of Christ at the trial of Jesus. Barabbas was a felon. A criminal charged with insurrection and murder. But here stands Jesus, an innocent man,…
Categories: Blog | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/13/2022
The Daily Memo | April 13, 2022 | The Logic of Fearlessness
Paul told the Philippians that living worthy of the gospel of Christ meant fearlessness before enemies. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . not frightened in anything by your opponents (Philippians 1:27-28). Then he gave the logic of fearlessness. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29). The logic is this: God has given you two gifts, not…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Spiritual Warfare, Knowing & Being Known | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/13/2022
What Is Our Role in the Last Days?
Many are confused in their understanding of the role of Christians in the last days. The days leading to Jesus' return. The Bible is clear. In Revelation 22: here's what God tells us. "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Pastor Joe gives us a briefing on why this is vitally important for every Christ…
Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/12/2022
The Daily Memo | April 12, 2022 | How to Love
Four bullets hit Pope John Paul II – two of them lodging in his lower intestine, the others hitting his left hand and right arm. This assassination attempt on the Pope in May 1981 left him severely wounded and with considerable blood loss – his health was never the same again. In July 1981, the perpetrator, Ali Ağca, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Pope John Paul II asked people to pray ‘for my brother Ağca, whom I have sincerely forgiven’. Two…
Categories: The Daily Memo, Identity Security, Understanding Love | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/12/2022
60. The Journey of Brokenness, Surrender, & Healing
Choices have consequences. Some are more devastating than others. In today's podcast, Steve shares more about his own healing journey that started some 30 years ago with a 90-day stint in Federal Prison. A lifelong believer in Jesus was tempted by what the world had to offer and it landed him in a very precarious situation. But redemption awaited. He only needed to look up and lookout. This is the beginning of that story that would lead to a book currently awaiting,…
Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/11/2022
The Daily Memo | April 11, 2022 | Built Together to Serve
In rural Amish culture, the building of a barn is a social event. It would take months for a single farmer and his family to construct a barn, but the Amish, doing it together, make quick work of it. Lumber is stocked ahead of time; tools are prepped. On the designated day, the entire Amish community gathers early, divvies up tasks, and together pitches in to raise a barn—sometimes in a single day. This is a good picture of God’s vision for the church and our…
Categories: What We Were Created For, The Daily Memo, Understanding Love | Authored by: sparrowwebsites | Posted: 04/11/2022