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The next couple of days could be pretty interesting. Schools closed. Icy roads. All that jazz. Anxiety levels will likely be up. First, please be safe. It’s been a while since we’ve had icing conditions in Acadiana. Our curiosity and inexperience can be a dangerous combination.If you are blessed to be able to stay home, why not make it a special time with the family? If you have to be out of the house, remember a warm heart can go a long way.Please pray for those who are alone or with inadequate heating. In short, isn’t this just another opportunity to be Jesus to someone?Be warm and be blessed. Nick

“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”—Matthew 11:29  My wife is a very good driver. She is very careful. But I don’t like to be driven around by my wife, or anyone else. I don’t like not being in control. When we go somewhere together I almost always drive.  I think she has found it easier to just let me drive. This picture is neither me nor my lovely wife. But you get the point. Many times, we can be that way with God. He has the steering wheel but we can help giving directions. We are willing for Him to be our copilot, but not the pilot. When Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you” (Matthew 11:29), He meant that we are to submit ourselves to Him every day in every way. A yoke was made of wood, handcarved to fit the neck and shoulders of the animal to prevent pain or discomfort. In ancient culture, the word “yoke” was a term that was used to describe submission. So when someone was described as being yoked to someone or something, […]

  “Give, and it will be given to you:  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 A king was once traveling through his kingdom. He came upon one of his subjects who was carrying a sack of wheat, produced through much blood and sweat. “Give me some of your wheat.” The king said. The farmer thought carefully and reached into his bag and removed a single grain of wheat which he fearfully handed to the king. The king took the grain. He then reached into a bag of his own and pulled out a single gold coin and handed it to his subject and rode off. Can we doubt that for the rest of his life the farmer wondered what would have happened if he had given the king the whole bag. How are we giving to the Lord, in resources and talents? By the grain, by the handful or by the sack? This isn’t a prosperity concept. God could give us a whole bag any time He wanted. But like any other endeavor, we […]

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12  What are you going to do today? Because of Jesus, the possibilities are endless.We live under grace of God and not under the law. We’ve been completely liberated from legalism! As a believer in Christ, you’re committed to a greater calling: to follow Jesus Christ. There is more responsibility in that than in being bound by rules.  And “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  What are you going to do today? Will it bring God glory by night fall? Nick

Those of you who joined us last Sunday Night for Being the Church will recognize that I have  summarized that session during our daily devotionals this week. I apologize to those who attended last Sunday night for the repetition; but I believe the teaching is worth repeating. I also believe it is worth a wider audience. What’s more important than Being the Church? It’s our purpose. This Sunday night we will discuss Faithfulness. I believe we will look at it in a way most of us never have before. I look forward to seeing all of you who were there last week. The rest of you are now caught up so you can join us without missing a beat. See you Sunday night at 6 p.m. and Be blessed. Nick

So what are the purposes of Church? Why have church? What should we be doing as the church? I think this list pretty well covers it; but I would list them in a different order. I think some purposes are more basic and form a foundation for the others. PRAYER: Prayer is foundational. No successful ministry exists without it. It should be the first thing we learn and our most common exercise. After all, it’s the method for our change and the source of our direction.  FELLOWSHIP:  I think this is next. We have to learn to “play well” with others and it is by the love for each other that we demonstrate that we are His. DISCIPLESHIP: Founded on our prayer life and love for each other we desire to grow more like our Savior. If we’re not moving forward, we’re moving back. MINISTRY: As we grow, we desire to serve. The Lord identifies the gifts among us and puts them to use. OUTREACH: Our service to each other, grows into a service outside our walls to bring others to Our Lord and into our Fellowship. WORSHIP: Most churches believe they worship. But worship is a lifestyle and […]

Acts 2:42-47 (New King James Version) 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. If we seriously want to be the church that Jesus intended it seems wise to look at what the first recorded New Testament Church looked like. Consider the verses above. Do they remind you of any church in existence today? I can’t think of one. In fact, these verses seem to describe what we would consider to be a cult, not a church. The first century church was radical. It obviously wasn’t a Sunday morning thing. They did church […]

Matthew 28:16-20 (New International Version, ©2010) The Great Commission  16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The church must never forget that it has a commission. It isn’t just to have weekly services and to do church; it’s to make disciples of the world. Wow, what a mission statement. As the church, our vision is never too large. Jesus gave us the world.  Sometimes we minimize this commission. We summarize it as “getting folks saved.” But the mission is much greater. We are to take people further to complete obedience and discipleship. Obviously we can’t make disciples who practice complete obedience unless we are obedient disciples.  How […]