NEWS

Acts 2:1-12 Go Go Go! Aren’t we always on the run and super busy! Pastor John Mark Comer even wrote a telling book dealing with busy-ness in our Christian life – The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. It’s a good read. Yet, even the Gospel writers tell us to Go! At the end of the books of Matthew and Mark, we are urged to Go: preach the gospel, make disciples, baptize, teach them all that Jesus taught. Whew! It’s like we’ve been appointed to a job, commissioned to a sacred task

John 20:24-29 I have some friends who are pranksters, practical jokers, and sometimes downright trolls. If I walked into a room and they started telling me the impossible had happened – you won the lottery! So-n-so celebrity just walked by and wanted to meet you! (Your best friend and mentor was just resurrected from the dead!) I guarantee I would be skeptical at best, and downright dismissive on a bad day! Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, gets me! In John 20, after Jesus h

Luke 24, Mark 16, Matthew 28 If you know me, you probably know that I love to read. From fantasy and science fiction to mysteries and non-fiction, I’m into it, but one of my favorite things is a good plot twist! Honestly, I think God loves them too. Throughout scripture God is constantly flipping expectations upside-down, choosing the unlikely, the overlooked, and undervalued to reveal his greatest truths. That’s one of the reasons the story of the women at the tomb is one

by Dwight Hartman Psalm 22 My wife Terri and I have a funny ritual we do when we leave each other – for work, shopping, anything. We kiss. Now, don’t give me one of those Hallmark movie moments and say “ahhh!” I’m not that much of a romantic. But I think it’s rooted in the idea that if we don’t see each other again, at least we parted with a kiss. The last things we do or say with the ones we love is important. My dad’s story comes to mind. Near the end of his life, he bro

by Grace Outlaw Matthew 27; John 15; Luke 23 When my son was an itty-bitty toddler, I remember a time I stopped to get fuel for my car. In the time it took me to scan my card, input my zip code and start pumping gas, I heard my son crying. I quickly opened the door to see what was wrong, and through the heart-wrenching, heaving sobs, my son only managed to exclaim one thing over and over, “You left me!” When I ducked out of sight to pump gas, my son strapped safely in his c

by Grace Outlaw Mark, Luke, & John This is Peachtree City. I will hazard a guess that the overwhelming majority of us have been at our child’s baseball game, or soccer match, and had the official make a call against our kid that was… unfair! Complete and total hogwash! Nothing gets me fired up more than when I feel like someone is coming for my kids, and I’m sure many of you can relate. And I know we’ve all seen how many of those parents react when they experience these fee

by Shelby Barker Matthew 27 It’s Saturday and it’s silent. God made himself known on Friday. He was loud on Friday. He made the earth shake on Friday. He blocked the sun on Friday. He tore the curtain in two on Friday. But today is Saturday and today it’s silent. Nothing; just grief, confusion, and silence. We don’t know for sure what the Jesus followers were doing on Saturday. But, I think this might have been the first time that they had a chance to process all that had hap

by Grace Outlaw Matthew 26:36-39 And now we approach the point of no return… We all know what is coming. Jesus will soon be arrested, tried, and put to death in the most horrific way. There is a calm before the storm. It’s quiet. It’s night. And Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane with his disciples. In Matthew 26:36-39 we read: Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter an

by Grace Outlaw Matthew & John Whenever I’ve heard someone – pastor or layperson – talk about The Last Supper, it has always been with reverence and solemnity. Frankly, I’m not going to do that. The Last Supper as we’ve come to know it, had to have been the absolute strangest Passover meal any of the disciples had ever been to! Picture Jesus, hosting a dinner party… the night before His crucifixion! The disciples thought this would be a traditional gathering of remembrance

by Grace Outlaw Matthew & John In the days leading up to Easter, we reflect on one of the most poignant moments in Jesus' journey to the cross: the betrayal by Judas Iscariot. This event, recorded in all four Gospels, serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of human nature and the depths of God's love and forgiveness. Judas, one of the Twelve chosen by Jesus, betrayed his savior for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). This act of treachery stands in stark

by Grace Outlaw Matthew 22-23 One thing I think many Christians tend to forget, is that Jesus saved his harshest words not for the prostitutes or tax collectors, but for the Jewish religious leaders! To the Sadducees who challenged him, he responded, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). To the Pharisees who tested him, wanting to trap him by his own words, Jesus called them out directly, saying, “You hypocrites! W

by Grace Outlaw Matthew 21; Amos 5 In the bustling courts of the Jerusalem temple, a scene of chaos unfolds. Money changers haggle over exchange rates, merchants hawk their wares, and the cacophony of commerce drowns out the whispers of prayer. Into this din steps Jesus, his eyes blazing with righteous anger. I don’t know about you, but that mental image terrifies me a bit. I am not a confrontational person, and the idea of seeing our loving, kind, gentle-hearted, forgiving

by David Dale Mark 11:1-11; Zechariah 9:9 Today when you hear of a triumphant entry you might think of the latest big sporting event you may have attended. We’ve been to Penn State games with a stadium full of 110,000 rabid fans, all on their feet, with smoke, fireworks, and blaring music as the team proudly enters the stadium. It’s an inspiring, exciting moment. I suspect the crowd in Jesus’ day, as he entered Jerusalem, were expecting just that spectacular moment. But what

by Grace Outlaw John 12:1-8 If I’m being honest, there are certain scenes in the Bible that don’t make a lot of sense to me unless I go back and look into the historical and cultural context that surrounds them — and this is one of them. In John 12, we see Jesus at a dinner in Bethany, six days before Passover. I’m imagining the room alive with conversation as Jesus relaxes at the table with Lazarus (who was dead just a little while ago, so we already find ourselves in an u

by Jane McAfee Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4 As the scene opens, Jesus takes a seat where he has a view of the temple’s treasury. He observes the crowds and he watches them put in their money. Lots of people. Lots of money, especially from the rich. Then a widow enters, and makes her way through the crowds and offers two small coins. And Jesus sees her. We turn to look at her too, and realize she is noticeable because she is different from the others. But she is also not wort

by Kelsey Phillips Matthew 19:14 "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." – Matthew 19:14 As we continue our journey through Lent, a season of reflection and renewal, Jesus’ words remind us of the childlike faith we are called to embrace. The disciples, thinking they were protecting Jesus from interruptions and distractions, tried to keep the children away. But Jesus, in his love and tenderness, welcome

by Gretchen Watkins Matthew 22:37-40 There are many days I struggle with life decisions. How do I handle that difficult coworker? What do I say to that person who made me mad? How do I guide my child through a challenging choice they need to make? What should I be doing with my life? Even simply, what am I going to cook for dinner? I often wonder how God wants me to handle a situation, a conversation, a decision. It would be so much easier if God would leave me a note on my

by Jeff McKinney John 11:1-44 As we journey through the Lenten season, we find ourselves reflecting on themes of mortality, sacrifice, and ultimately, resurrection. One of the most profound stories that encapsulates these themes is the account of Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, who was raised from the dead after four days in the tomb. This miraculous event is not just a display of Jesus’ power; it is a powerful reminder of the hope and renewal that we anticipate during this

by Grace Outlaw Luke 19:1-10 I think many of us can relate to Zacchaeus. We all understand how it feels to be unseen or overlooked. Maybe your parents overlooked your accomplishments growing up in favor of one of your siblings. Maybe your spouse doesn’t see or notice all you do for your family. Maybe your boss has passed you over for a promotion (or several) and you wonder if anyone truly notices you! Zacchaeus was definitely familiar with feeling small — both literally and

by Grace Outlaw Matthew 19:24; 12:12 I think I might have been a hobbit in an alternate universe. I am more than content sitting at home with a fire crackling in the hearth, a cozy blanket, a cuppa Earl Grey, and a good book (not to mention, 2x the human amount of meals per day seems like a huge plus)! In J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit, Gandalf appears on Bilbo Baggins’ doorstep late one evening and says, “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging,