Tag Archives: Christian

August 18, 2025 · 9:00 am

Unity

The Lord loves unity among His people. His desire is to see His people living in oneness. Christ is glorified as we, His people, relate to one another in unity. Consider these verses:

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

 John 17:11 “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.   

John 17:22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;

John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:23 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Colossians 3:14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

May we continue to grow in oneness, unity, and love!

Tony French

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August 14, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Endings

3 If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Ecclesiastes 11:4-3

These verses are somewhat cryptic in nature. What is meant by these sentences? Perhaps the writer is reminding us of the inevitable fact that all things eventually end in this life. Nothing lasts forever “under the sun.”

The clouds form, give rain, move, and then vanish. Trees are planted, they grow, and eventually, they die and fall. The inevitable monotony of life goes through these cycles many times per day unhindered.

As humans, we realize that our lives are limited. This realization ought to spur us on to make the most of the time we have left. We will face God one day—may we commit to spending our lives wisely for Christ.

Tony French

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August 11, 2025 · 9:00 am

Spiritual Training

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Mark 13:31

The Bible: Preparing The Christian By Strengthening The Christian

Have you ever wondered how to live a life that pleases God? Psalm 119:9 poses this question: “How can a young man cleanse his way?” The answer follows immediately: “By taking heed according to Your word.” The Bible serves as our preparation manual for godly living. It equips us with the knowledge and wisdom we need to navigate life’s challenges and to serve God effectively.

Think of the Bible as a spiritual gym where we exercise our faith muscles. The more we engage with it, the stronger and more prepared we become to face life’s trials and temptations. It shapes us like a potter molds clay, preparing us to be vessels fit for God’s use.

Tony French

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August 7, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Wise Stewardship

Wise Stewardship

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. 2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

This week we continue looking at wisdom for the day. How can we live among the vagaries and vanities of life? Let’s explore.

The preacher’s teaching instructs us to be wise stewards of our resources. His theme in these verses is investing for the future. We are called to prepare for the future and be wise in how we lay aside present and future provision realizing that God is the source of all that we have been given.

Verse 2 addresses reducing risk through investment diversification.  This advice is wise in monetary investing. This principle can also be relevant in relationships and various other aspects of life. Let us invest in a wide variety of people so that we will have the friends we need when we need them.

In Verse 6, Solomon echoes this theme of wise stewardship. The verse reads “In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that.” Once again, diversity of investments is wise and provides a hedge against failed crops and failed speculations. Investing in relationships, however, brings a far greater reward.

Tony French

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August 4, 2025 · 9:00 am

Trust

Life is uncertain and life is difficult.  Who can we trust in when our needs arise? Who can help us?

We learn very early that life is uncertain. And, each passing year only affirms this truth more and more. Is there any hope?

Yes, His name is Jesus. There is hope in Christ. We can trust Him in all things. Trusting Christ will not make our lives perfect. But, we will never be ashamed when we trust Him.

Consider these thoughts from God’s Word………………..

**We can trust in Christ’s goodness

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

**We can trust in Christ’s presence

Matthew 28:20 And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

**We can trust in Christ’s peace

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

I pray that you will blessed this week as we continue to trust in Jesus!

Tony French

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July 31, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Promises

17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time– For strength and not for drunkenness! 18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. 20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter. 

Ecclesiastes 10:17-20

Keep something in mind as you read through Ecclesiastes. Life may feel chaotic, but it isn’t truly out of control.  God is in control. He is sovereign over all things. He providently works the “counsel of His will” for His glory and for “our good.” (Ephesians 1:11 & Romans 8:28).

Seeing that all this is true, we can trust God. Life possesses inherent meaning, and it is not appropriate to characterize God as inactive.  He is working on our behalf and moving history to His desired end.

We cannot trust our feelings and emotions alone. Feelings can fool us. We must trust in the revealed word of God. He will do what He has promised.

**He has promised His presence (Matthew 28:20)

**He has promised His power (Romans 15:30)

**He has promised His peace (John 14:27)

**He has promised us a place in heaven (John 14:1-3)

Trust in God’s promises. They are trustworthy and true.

Tony French

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July 28, 2025 · 9:00 am

Loved

You are loved! You are loved more than you can ever know.

The Bible tells us how much we are loved. God’s Word has revealed the one, true God who loves us in word and deed.

He loves us unconditionally……

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He loves us unwaveringly…….

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He loves us sacrificially……

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We should never frustrate the love of God by living in willful sin. But, we know that He will forgive us when we call on Him in repentance. (1 John 1:9-10)

We know that it may not always feel like God loves us. But, we also know that His love is not based on feelings. God loves us because He chooses to love us.

Always remember the love God has for you. May this simple truth undergird and encourage you this day, and every day!

Tony French

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July 21, 2025 · 9:00 am

Persuasive Force

 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the persuasive force for salvation and growth in the life of a Believer. Maturity and growth occur through the study and application of God’s Word. The Scriptures promote maturity, joy, and peace for the Christian. 

The Bible isn’t just a moral guidebook; it’s a powerful tool that God uses to draw us to Himself. Through its pages, we discover the grand narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. We learn about our own sinful nature and our desperate need for a Savior. But we also encounter the incredible news of God’s love and grace, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It’s through Scripture that we’re persuaded of our need for salvation and led to put our trust in Christ. But the Bible’s persuasive power doesn’t stop at salvation – it continues to work in our lives, urging us towards spiritual maturity and deeper devotion to God.

Tony French

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July 17, 2025 · 9:00 pm

Careful Living

1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-4

Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with application for the hearer. The last three chapters give instructions on how we are to live in the meaninglessness of life. It is advisable to give this matter careful consideration at this stage.

The writer commences with a warning against folly. Folly could be thought of as mindless pursuits that lead to nowhere. Folly doesn’t have to be sinful (though at times it includes sinful acts.) Even good things when done in mindless, non-thoughtful manner can be considered folly.

The preacher is making a point. Life is short and we need to be live carefully and thoughtfully. Recreation and fun have its place in our lives. But, when we are totally given over to these things they become our idols. We can lose God’s blessing and opportunities for growth when our time is occupied with folly.  Therefore, we need to avoid folly and use our time wisely.

Tony French

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February 17, 2025 · 9:00 am

Love One Another

“Love one another.” (John 13:34)  This command is given 15 times in the New Testament. Over and over again, we, as Believers, are commanded to love one another. It is one of the most oft-repeated directives in all of Holy Scripture.

We should love one another because Christ first loved us. (1 John 4:19)  Jesus’ love was shed abroad through His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. He loved us when we were far from Him. (Romans 5:8-11)  Therefore, we should love one another as God has loved us. Christ’s love for us should serve as an impetus for loving our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us also love one another because it reflects the character of God. The Scriptures teach us that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)  Love is not optional if we desire to accurately reflect the truth of God as we seek to minister and witness to the lost. Our love for one another is a most powerful “proof” that we are in Christ. (John 13:35)  People can argue with many things. But, they can’t argue with our love for one another when it is portrays the nature of God.

We ultimately love one another because it is commanded by the Word of God.  The command is clear and direct. If we are Christians who take the Scriptures seriously, we must love our fellow believers.

Yes, we are called to love all people. Learning to love all people begins with learning to love our fellow Christian. It is not always easy, but, it is always worth the cost.  Will you make a commitment to grow in your love for one another today?

Tony French

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