Tag Archives: Christian

April 20, 2026 · 9:00 am

The Hardened Heart

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:11-15

As the Word of God is distributed, it falls on the hearts of the hearers. Some will receive the “gospel seed” and many will not. Let’s delve deeper into this heart condition mentioned in Luke 8:4-5, 12

**The Hardened Heart (The Wayside)

Some seeds fell on the hardened path where people frequently walked. These seeds had no chance to take root and were quickly devoured by birds. This represents hearts that have become calloused and unreceptive to spiritual truths. The message bounces off, making no impact, and is swiftly snatched away by the enemy.

In our daily lives, we may encounter individuals who seem impervious to any spiritual discussion. Their hearts, like well-trodden paths, have been hardened by life’s experiences, skepticism, or indifference. Yet, we must remember that even the hardest ground can be tilled and softened over time.

Let us pray for God’s power to move over those who are experiencing a spiritual hardness of heart. May God’s power and grace overwhelm them and may they see their need for a Savior.

Tony French

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April 16, 2026 · 9:00 pm

Our Great High Priest

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can [a]have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing

Hebrews 5:1-11

Jesus Represents the Believer to the Father. We are told by the writer of Hebrews that Christ is our Great High Priest. He is our eternal Priest and Mediator before God. Consider these points about Jesus and His Priestly ministry today:

**Christ is Called God’s Son (5)

**Christ is Given An Everlasting Priesthood (6)

**Christ is a Priest After Melchizedek (6, 9-10)

**Christ Cried Out To God In The Garden (7-8)

Let us bring all of our cares and concerns to our great High Priest, Jesus Christ!

Tony French

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April 13, 2026 · 9:00 am

Sowing The Seed

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 8:11-15

In the bustling fields of life, a profound truth lies hidden in the simple act of sowing seeds. This agricultural metaphor, found in Luke 8, offers us a powerful lens through which we can understand the spread of the Gospel message and its reception in human hearts.

The parable speaks of a planter who went out to sow his seed. During the process of sowing, the seeds landed on four distinct types of terrain: the wayside, rocky ground, among thorns, and fertile soil.  Each of these represents a different condition of the human heart when encountering the life-changing message of God’s love and salvation.

The heart conditions can be defined as the following:

**The Hardened Heart

**The Shallow Heart

**The Crowded Heart

**The Receptive Heart

We will examine each of these in the days ahead.

Tony French

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April 6, 2026 · 9:00 am

Resurrection Hope

The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings hope. The promises of God’s Word rest on a steadfast assurance that results from Christ’s resurrection. When Jesus rose from the dead, every word of His teaching was verified and His ability to keep his promises was proved. The resurrection was truly the singular event that changed everything.

Many souls are searching for hope in our day. People are searching for a sense of hope in human relationships, finances, technology, and even religion. And, every day these so-called sources of hope promise much and deliver little. That’s not to say that these things are evil or unnecessary. They simply are incapable of fulfilling the longing of the human heart. Only Jesus can satiate that longing for hope, peace, and joy that we so desperately need. 

Because Jesus is alive, we can trust His Word. Because Jesus is alive, we can believe his promises. Because Jesus is alive, we can know our ultimate destination. Because Jesus is alive, we know He will be with us no matter what may arrive at our doorstep. As we examine the risen Savior, we can see more and more clearly that the empty tomb changed everything!

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, All Fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.”[1]

[1] Gaither, Bill., Because He Lives, Gaither Music Company, 1971

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April 2, 2026 · 9:00 pm

The Cross Of Jesus

Jesus’ death upon the cross is the defining moment of the Easter story. Without Christ’s sacrifice, we would be lost and undone forever. Why is the cross so important?

The cross reminds us of who we were before we received salvation. As human beings, we were lawbreakers who had sinned against God (Romans 3:23).  Jesus’ sacrifice was absolutely necessary to save us from our sins. Jesus paid the debt we could never hope to pay by absorbing our sins upon Himself (2nd Corinthians 5:21). As we view the cross, let us be cognizant of the fact that we were desperate sinners in need of a Savior.

Let us give thanks and praise to Christ for His sacrifice on our behalf. The proper response to such a marvelous gift is worship. At the cross our victory was achieved through Christ. At the cross forgiveness of sin became possible. And at the cross, Jesus overcame what we could never overcome. Let us be thankful unto Him and give honor to Jesus Christ—the  one who made it all possible.

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.

Tony French

***

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason

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March 30, 2026 · 9:00 am

Transformative Faith

9When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 

Luke 7:9

It’s important to note that while God can and does perform miracles, faith doesn’t guarantee that every prayer for healing will be answered in the way we hope. God remains sovereign, and His ways are higher than ours. Even when healing doesn’t come in this life, those who trust in Christ have the assurance of ultimate healing and restoration in eternity.

How can we cultivate this kind of transformative faith in our daily lives?

**Immerse yourself in God’s Word: Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

**Practice trust in small things: Build your faith muscle by trusting God in everyday decisions.

**Remember God’s faithfulness: Reflect on times when God has proven trustworthy in your life and in Scripture.

**Surround yourself with faith-filled community: Iron sharpens iron; let the faith of others inspire and challenge you.

**Step out in obedience: Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Let your belief lead to action.

**Persist in prayer: Even when answers seem delayed, continue to bring your requests to God with confidence.

The story of the centurion’s faith leaves us with a profound question: What would our lives look like if we trusted God’s Word as completely as this Roman soldier did? How would it change our prayers, our decisions, our relationships?

Biblical faith is not a crutch for the weak, but a powerful force that can move mountains. It’s the confidence to believe when circumstances say otherwise, the courage to obey when the path seems uncertain, and the comfort of knowing that the God of the universe holds us in His hands.

Today, let’s challenge ourselves to cultivate a faith that would amaze Jesus. A faith that believes without seeing, that places its trust fully in God, and that receives the gift of salvation with open hearts. For it is through such faith that we truly experience the transformative power of God in our lives.

Tony French

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March 26, 2026 · 9:00 pm

Enter His Rest

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:1-11

How do we access Christ’s rest?  He has promised us His peace and contentment. Let us offer three ways to enjoy the “rest” Jesus has for us day by day.

**Trust and be thankful for the salvation you received from the Lord (1-3)

**Grow in sanctification through the Word of God, prayer and the Church(4-7)

**Submit to God each day and commit to follow Christ (8-11)

Tony French

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March 16, 2026 · 9:00 am

Why Follow Jesus?

Why should we seek to live for Christ? Why do we need to seek holiness? What are the results of living for Christ? There are many! Here are three for today.

*We should live for Christ because of what Christ has done for us. He has given us His Spirit and bought us out of the bondage of sin.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God , and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

*We should learn His Word and live His Word so that we can know His will. As our minds are transformed by seeking Christ through His Word, the Church, and His Spirit, we learn to discern God’s will about life situations.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

*Finally, we should strive to live as Jesus lives because He has forgiven us. Our sins have been forgiven through His death on the cross. A life of holiness will be reflected in the ability to forgive. We forgive because the Lord forgave us.

Colossians 3:12-13  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

I pray that you will be exhorted to right living this week!

Tony French

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March 2, 2026 · 9:00 pm

The Confirmed Messiah

22Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Luke 7:22-23

As we consider Jesus as the long-awaited One, let’s ask ourselves:

** How has Jesus fulfilled God’s promises in my life?

** In what areas do I need to stop striving and rest in Christ’s righteousness?

** How can I follow Jesus’ example in loving others while standing firm in truth?

** Have I fully embraced Jesus as my only hope for salvation?

The message of Jesus is as relevant and revolutionary today as it was two thousand years ago. He came to save the lost, heal the brokenhearted, and give abundant life to those who trust in Him.  May we, like those tax collectors and sinners of old, find ourselves drawn to this Jesus – the Messiah, our standard, our example, and our only Savior.

Tony French

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February 26, 2026 · 9:00 pm

The Revealed One

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? 7 You made them a littlelower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8 and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 

Jesus is revealed in Scripture. The Bible instructs us about the nature, character, and message of Christ. There may be aspects about our Savior that remain unknown to us.  Scripture provides us with the guidance we need to understand and follow Christ.  Consider the following from Hebrews 2

**Jesus Has A Saving Ministry

**Jesus Has A Sovereign Ministry

Created All People

Cares For All People

Commissions His People

**Jessus Has A Submissive Ministry

He Is Humble

He Died For Our Sins

He Suffers For Our Redemption

Tony French

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