God

What Does the Bible Say About Santa Claus?

Jim Denison
17 Dec 2020
no comments
Santa Claus

Christmas Is a Holiday . . . and a Holy Day   With the Christmas season upon us, Jim Denison, co-founder of Denison Forum, pastor, author and digital-ministry leader, offers surprising insight on Christmas traditions and Santa Claus. “What does the Bible say about the jolly old man we see every Christmas in malls and advertisements? The short answer, of course, is nothing,” Denison said. “But there’s more to the story about Santa, just as there is more to the many other traditions associated with Christmas.” “There is also a contentious debate over the secularization of Christmas, and as a […]

-Read More

The Promise of Christmas

Dr. Tommy Boland
no comments

“For the word of God will never fail” (Luke 1:37 NLT).   For far too many even in the church today, Christmas has declined into little more than “gift-giving” and “get-togethers.” The questions that are foremost in the minds of many are, “What did you get? What did I get?” Well, throughout the month of December, I would like you to consider this question: What is the most glorious promise of Christmas? To be sure, there are many promises that are expressed through the Babe in the manger, but there is one that rises above all the rest, and that […]

-Read More

promise

Jesus Our Emmanuel

Julie Anne Vargas
10 Dec 2020
no comments

There are so many wonderful things that come with the Christmas season, and Christmas music about Jesus has to be top of my list. I have to admit that I started streaming Christmas as my life’s soundtrack starting mid-November. I just can’t help myself. There’s something about the words of Christmas hymns and ancient chant-like melodies that stir my soul and wrap me up in wonder. It’s almost as if time stands still and calls us to remember, to reflect, and to ponder the goodness of God in His incarnation. As the weather changes outside and it gets (slightly) cooler, […]

-Read More

Fire and Fur Coats

Stephan Tchividjian
8 Dec 2020
no comments

There is an old Jewish term, tzaddik im peltz, meaning, “a righteous man in a fur coat.” There are two ways of keeping warm on a cold night. You can wear a fur coat or light a fire. Wear a fur coat and you warm only yourself. Light a fire and you warm others. The year 2020 has been one of the most unusual years of my life (and I could be so bold and suggest the same is true of you). The year has been polarizing. We have all experienced loss and gain, peace and fear, loneliness and community […]

-Read More

Faithful Leaders Are Made Not Born

Edwin Copeland
4 Dec 2020
no comments
faithful

We’ve all heard the popular phrase that leaders are born, not made. While I’m not going to argue whether or not that statement is true or not, I will contend that faithful leaders are made not born. The reality is that our region needs faithful leaders more than ever before. Each and every one of us stands on the shoulders of faithful men and women of God. We’d know some of their names, but the vast majority of these faithful leaders are nameless. Single mothers who prayed daily. Fathers who would awaken before dawn to meet with the Lord. Youth […]

-Read More

Giving Thanks for the True Bread from Heaven

Dr. Tommy Boland
19 Nov 2020
no comments

For the last three months we have been engaged in a new apologetic focus: Surprised by Jesus: Encountering Christ in the Old Testament. I have been preaching this as a sermon series at Cross Community Church, and it is available for you to hear at sermonaudio.com/thecrosscc Because this is the month of Thanksgiving, I thought we should pause to give thanks for the True Bread from Heaven. We will continue with our three-part formula for finding Jesus in the Old Testament by using these three headings: The Problem, The Promise, and The Person. Next month we will have a special […]

-Read More

bread

Freaking Out

Stephan Tchividjian
12 Nov 2020
no comments
freak

I am assuming that you are either experiencing profound peace or a level of anxiety and freaking out that you find almost unbearable. Perhaps your reality is dictating these emotions. You are deeply devoted to your country, your church, your career, your circle of friends etc. However, your emotions are affected by the latest news, a text, a conversation, something you read or simply what side of the bed you woke up on. Sometimes these thoughts and feelings may vary by the hour. Therefore, how in the world are we supposed to lead a normal, healthy and somewhat meaningful life, […]

-Read More

Freedom

Romney Rogers
5 Nov 2020
no comments

Les‘s article on freedom  in last month’s Good News made me start thinking about the importance of understanding what it means to be free in Christ. I know Les was making the point that freedom in Christ is not a license to do anything we want, and because of current noise from the world we live in, I think it is even more important that Christians be able to explain to those around them how our world view is at times directly opposite from those in our work place, neighbors, friends and even family members. So I thought I would […]

-Read More

Nourish Your Nazareth

Bill Brutus
4 Nov 2020
no comments
Nazareth

My love for music started at a young age. I loved the melodies, harmonies and tones. Music was just something that caught my attention no matter where I was or what situation I was in. There would even be times where in the middle of a dream, I’d conjure up a melody. Some of those melodies I still remember today. Because of this love for music, I got to end up in interesting situations, but never in a million years did I ever imagine myself being where I am today. Basically, I never thought I’d be using music for the […]

-Read More

Church Connect: A New Opportunity Emerges

Eric Solomon
no comments

Forty years ago, South Floridians across hundreds of different ethnic backgrounds, race and life stages gathered to hear one of the icon evangelical figures to this day. They listened intently as Evangelist Billy Graham passionately commanded the attention of those in Lockhart Stadium as he gracefully pointed them towards Jesus Christ. Thousands were saved. Fast forward 20 years and you’ll find over 300,000 South Floridians gathered across the beach in Fort Lauderdale to participate in one of this community’s largest evangelistic efforts to-date: BeachFest. Thousands were saved.    Church Connect: A New Opportunity Emerges Alongside hundreds of other local churches, […]

-Read More